Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

Nikki Haley launched her debut TV ad for the GOP presidential primary, urging voters to move beyond past chaos. Titled “Moral Clarity,” the ad aligns with her campaign’s $10 million advertising plan across Iowa and New Hampshire. As Haley gains traction in the GOP primary, she competes with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to challenge current front-runner, former President Donald Trump. The Koch network recently endorsed Haley, while DeSantis, though losing ground in polls, disputes their accuracy, emphasizing voter sentiment. AFP Action polling reveals a shift from DeSantis to Haley in both New Hampshire and Iowa, with Trump maintaining a lead.…

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Narendra Modi, clinched victories in three pivotal state elections in India ahead of the looming general elections. The BJP retained power in Madhya Pradesh and secured wins in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, while the main opposition Congress claimed victory in Telangana. With more than 160 million eligible voters, these outcomes were closely watched, but their significance in predicting Modi’s chances in the general elections is limited. State elections often revolve around regional concerns, distinct from the national issues addressed in general elections. Despite Congress winning key states in 2018, the BJP later swept the…

Gita Gopinath, an esteemed economist, was recently awarded the Bernhard Harms Prize by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy during the Geoeconomics Conference at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. Moritz Schularick, the institute’s president, hailed her as a leading figure in international finance and macroeconomics, while Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan, a professor at the University of Maryland, commended her as both a superb scholar and influential policy maker. Currently serving as the first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Gopinath previously held the position of the fund’s chief economist. In this role, she played a pivotal role…

In a recent address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored that his guarantees have transformed into a trustworthy commitment, urging citizens to consider his delivery of promises as a basis for re-electing him in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Modi emphasized a redefined caste categorization, focusing on the youth, women, poor, and farmers as his priority for empowerment. Termed as “Modi guarantees,” this commitment contrasts with opposition promises, labeled as mere guarantees, highlighting the BJP government’s track record of fulfilling assurances. The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, aimed at saturating government schemes, garnered widespread support, with people identifying it as the “Modi…

US Representatives, namely Pramila Jayapal, Warren Davidson, Zoe Lofgren, and Andy Biggs, have collaboratively drafted a letter articulating their opposition to the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) within the scope of the National Defense Reauthorization Act (NDAA). Addressed to Speaker Mike Johnson, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell, the letter emphasizes their collective concerns about privacy issues. Rep. Jayapal underscores the significance of prioritizing Americans’ privacy and calls for a comprehensive overhaul to safeguard Fourth Amendment rights and personal data. The lawmakers stress the necessity of subjecting Section 702 reauthorization to…

In a disturbing pattern linked to deepfake technology, actress Alia Bhatt joins a growing list of celebrities victimized, including Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif, Kajol, and Sara Tendulkar. A circulating deepfake video portrays a girl resembling Alia Bhatt engaging in explicit gestures, causing widespread concern on social media. Closer examination reveals the girl isn’t Alia Bhatt; her face has been digitally superimposed on another person’s body. This incident follows Rashmika Mandanna’s earlier concern about a deepfake video. A similar digitally altered video featuring Kajol emerged, with her face morphed onto another woman’s body, changing clothes on camera. Fact-checking platforms clarified its…

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, reaffirmed the country’s longstanding relationship and support for a two-state solution on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Addressing the UN General Assembly, Kamboj emphasized India’s zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and the universal obligation to uphold international humanitarian law. She condemned civilian deaths, labeling them unacceptable, and called for responsible actions from all parties in addressing the humanitarian crisis. Kamboj advocated for collective international efforts to de-escalate tensions and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestine. Welcoming humanitarian pauses, she disclosed India’s contribution of 70 tonnes of goods,…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers in New Delhi on Tuesday. Although the meeting’s agenda wasn’t disclosed, it was reported that PM Modi urged ministers to actively engage in the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, a large-scale outreach campaign aimed at highlighting central schemes. During the meeting, the prime minister emphasized that the outreach program is a crucial part of building a “viksit Bharat” (developed India). He directed ministers to concentrate on disseminating information about how the government’s schemes are positively impacting various sections of society. To amplify the campaign’s reach, vehicles are being…

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address at the birth anniversary celebrations of Jain mystic Shrimad Rajchandraji. Referring to Modi as a ‘yugpurush’ (man of the generation), Dhankhar drew parallels between Mahatma Gandhi and Modi, noting that both leaders have reflected on the teachings of Shrimad Rajchandraji. Highlighting Gandhi’s role in securing India’s freedom through truth and non-violence, Dhankhar acknowledged Modi’s contribution in steering India towards long-cherished development goals. However, he expressed concern about forces opposing the nation’s growth and urged against hindering positive developments. During the event, Vice President Dhankhar received the Janakalyan Hitaishi…

In the 1960s, “Flower power,” a term symbolizing peace within the hippie culture, took on a new, literal meaning in the farms of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, India. Led by Dr. Deepa Senapathi from the University of Reading, a team collaborated with the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation to enhance crop yield and quality by strategically planting marigold, sunflower, sesame, cowpea, red gram, or black gram alongside crops like mango and moringa. The initiative aimed to attract a greater variety of bees and insects to these companion crops, subsequently improving pollination for main crops. Notably, the introduction of marigold amidst moringa…