Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

The 22nd edition of the Air Staff Talks between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the French Air and Space Force (FASF) took place in New Delhi from September 29 to October 1, 2025. The high-level discussions aimed to deepen bilateral defence cooperation, focusing on joint training, combined exercises, professional military education, exchange of best practices, and operational coordination. The event was co-chaired by Air Vice Marshal SK Taliyan of the IAF and Brigadier General Nicolas Chambaz of the FASF, highlighting the mutual commitment to strengthening strategic ties between the two air forces. According to the Indian Air Force, these…

Mansi Manoj Kasliwal’s journey from Indore to the forefront of astrophysics began at age 15, when she moved to the United States to attend boarding school. Encouraged by a mentor to explore science, she quickly found herself involved with NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope during her undergraduate studies at Cornell University. Witnessing the telescope’s first data arrive sparked a lifelong passion for studying the cosmos. This early inspiration has now led Kasliwal to a historic appointment: she has been named the director of Caltech’s Palomar Observatory, becoming the first woman to lead the facility in its 75-year history. Known for her…

The Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA), a US-based organization, has announced a new phase of astronaut selection for an upcoming Blue Origin New Shepard flight, confirming that India will be one of five nations guaranteed a seat on board. Alongside India, citizens from Nigeria, Indonesia, Brazil, and Thailand will also secure a spot, while a sixth seat remains open to applicants worldwide, excluding individuals from sanctioned countries. This mission marks a breakthrough in democratizing access to human spaceflight, with the selection process being conducted through a Telegram mini-app called Mission Control, powered by the TON blockchain. The platform allows…

 The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) celebrated the Men in Blue’s emphatic triumph over Pakistan in the Asia Cup final, calling it both a sporting and symbolic statement. India clinched the continental crown for the ninth time with a five-wicket win at the Dubai International Stadium, a result that resonated far beyond the scoreboard. Following the victory, the BCCI posted a sharp message on social media: “3 blows. 0 response. Asia Cup Champions. Message delivered.” Alongside the remark, the board confirmed a prize of $2.5 million (₹21 crore) for players and support staff in recognition of their…

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed major changes to the H-1B visa program, shifting from a random lottery to a weighted selection system designed to prioritize higher-paid and higher-skilled foreign workers. Published in the Federal Register on September 24, 2025, the new framework aims to incentivize U.S. employers to offer competitive wages and recruit talent for positions requiring advanced skills. Under the proposed system, the allocation of H-1B visas will be guided by the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) wage levels. Registrations for workers at OEWS wage level IV will be entered into the selection pool…

 On September 23, President Donald Trump delivered a lengthy address at the United Nations General Assembly, sharply criticizing the UN and its policies while reiterating his controversial assertion that he ended multiple conflicts, including the India-Pakistan standoff. Speaking for nearly an hour—well beyond his allotted 15 minutes—Trump lambasted the organization for “empty words” and inefficiency, referencing technical difficulties during his speech as emblematic of its shortcomings. Trump expressed frustration that he had to personally intervene in global conflicts, claiming that the UN had failed to support his peace efforts. He cited a rejected $500 million proposal to renovate the UN…

Indian officials have reinforced their request for the United States to ease sanctions on Iranian and Venezuelan crude if it expects India to scale back its Russian oil imports. The appeal came during meetings in Washington this week with US counterparts, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Officials warned that simultaneously restricting Indian refiners’ access to crude from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela could trigger a sharp increase in global oil prices. Sources cited by Bloomberg emphasised that cutting off all three sources at once would destabilize the international energy market, potentially causing widespread economic repercussions. The delegation’s visit follows…

 On Thursday, India successfully conducted the test firing of its Agni-Prime missile from a rail-based mobile launcher system, marking a historic first-of-its-kind achievement. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded the milestone, highlighting that the rail-launch system will provide the armed forces with cross-country mobility and enable missile deployment within a short reaction time while maintaining reduced visibility. “This successful flight test positions India among a select group of nations capable of operating canisterized launch systems from a mobile rail network,” he noted. Senior scientists from DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and officers from the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) observed the…

Jayanta “Jay” Bhattacharya, born in 1968 in Kolkata, India, has emerged as a pioneering figure at the intersection of medicine, economics, and public health. In 2025, he made history as the first Indian-American to lead the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he now plays a central role in shaping national medical research and health policy. Bhattacharya’s academic journey is notable for combining medicine and economics in a unique way. He earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s in economics from Stanford University by 1990, graduating with honors and Phi Beta Kappa recognition. During his undergraduate years, he also experienced a…