Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

The National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) actively collaborates to enhance human rights and bolster National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in the region. NHRC Chairperson, Justice Arun Mishra, and Secretary-General Bharat Lal participated in the ‘Regional Meeting’ of the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) of NHRIs in Geneva, aiming to strengthen partnerships and improve human rights standards. NHRC India, via social media, highlighted the involvement of Chairperson Justice Arun Mishra and SG Bharat Lal at the APF Regional Meeting in Geneva. They reiterated NHRC India’s commitment to enhancing human rights and quality of life while reinforcing NHRIs in the region.…

India Ratings and Research has raised its GDP growth forecast for FY25 to 7.1%, citing several factors contributing to this positive outlook. They attribute the upward revision to sustained government capital spending, improved corporate and banking sector balance sheets, and the initiation of a new phase in private corporate investment. However, they caution that uneven consumption demand and challenges in exports due to sluggish global growth could limit growth prospects. They stress the importance of broader-based consumption growth, particularly emphasizing the need for sustained real wage growth for lower-income households. Furthermore, the agency predicts a significant increase in private final…

Multinational corporations are capitalizing on their India-based global capability centers (GCCs) as pivotal hubs for the development of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) applications, as highlighted in a recent report by ANSR. These GCCs serve as dynamic platforms for incubating proof-of-concept (PoC) initiatives, facilitating the rapid digital transformation across diverse sectors. Positioned as leaders in pioneering GenAI applications, India’s GCCs benefit from a rich talent pool, strategic cost management, and the nation’s burgeoning focus on artificial intelligence. At AB InBev GCC India, GenAI goes beyond mere cost optimization, with Mr. Vijoe Mathew, the global director of analytics, underscoring the GCCs’ role…

Modi is scheduled to speak at two political gatherings in the Berhampur and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha constituencies on Monday, according to a party official. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is also set to commence a two-day trip to the state starting Saturday, where he will engage with intellectuals and journalists. Following his rally in Berhampur on April 28, Nadda will return to Odisha on Sunday to strategize for the elections, as confirmed by BJP state unit vice-president Golak Mohapatra. Mohapatra further informed reporters that the BJP chief will participate in party events in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, while the External Affairs…

India’s manufacturing sector kicked off April on a robust note, marking the second-fastest pace of improvement in three-and-a-half years. Fueled by rising market demand, firms experienced a notable uptick in new business intakes and ramped up production levels, according to the latest HSBC PMI data. Although April saw a slight dip compared to the previous month, the HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) remained above the neutral mark of 50.0, signaling the sector’s continued strength. Input stocks expanded significantly, reaching levels unprecedented in 19 years of data collection, driven by optimistic expectations of sustained demand growth. Pranjul Bhandari, HSBC’s…

Ever since Malti Marie Chopra Jonas joined their family in 2022, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas have made her their top priority. Despite their demanding careers, they make a concerted effort to create meaningful moments and dedicate quality time to her whenever possible. While their work obligations sometimes keep them away, they entrust Malti to the care of Priyanka’s mother, Madhu Chopra, ensuring she receives attentive and loving care. Priyanka recently expressed gratitude for her mother’s support, acknowledging her role in caring for Malti. While en route to work in France for her upcoming film, Priyanka took to Instagram to…

The suspense surrounding the selection of Congress candidates for the Amethi and Raebareli seats in Uttar Pradesh persists as efforts persist to persuade Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, or at least one of them, to enter the electoral fray. Amethi and Raebareli are scheduled for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20, yet the Congress has not yet disclosed the candidates’ names. The deadline for filing nominations for the fifth phase seats is May 3. Sources reveal that while both Rahul and Priyanka show reluctance to contest from Raebareli or Amethi, attempts are underway to…

In a recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers examined the impact of diets containing real meat versus plant-based meat alternatives on cardiovascular health and diabetes risk. Plant-rich diets are known to benefit heart and metabolic health due to their abundance of vitamins, fibers, and antioxidants. However, transitioning to such diets can be challenging for regular meat consumers due to cultural, historical, and social influences, as well as economic factors. Plant-based meat analogues (PBMAs), designed to mimic real meat using sustainable ingredients, are gaining popularity worldwide. This study compared the effects of diets based on PBMAs…

Machine learning algorithms have been harnessed to forecast how gut-produced metabolites bind with receptors in both the gut and the brain. A recent compilation of metabolite-receptor pairs offers researchers insights into the microbiome’s potential role in Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, conducted an extensive evaluation of over 1 million metabolite-receptor shapes to identify potential binding pairs. This method shed light on the biological pathways influenced by these metabolites and revealed the functions of certain receptors. Lead author Feixiong Cheng, PhD, highlighted the significance of gut metabolites in physiological processes and the challenges in manually deciphering their interactions.…

A groundbreaking study conducted by 10 researchers from five institutions unveiled a close genetic relationship between the Vedda, an indigenous community in Sri Lanka, and the Indian population. The study, published in the journal Mitochondrion and reported by CSIR-CCMB, employed an extensive analysis of high-resolution autosomal and mitochondrial genomes. It sheds new light on the early settlement of Sri Lanka and the ancient genetic connections between the Vedda and other Asian populations. Despite the Vedda’s status as one of Sri Lanka’s least studied indigenous groups, their distinct linguistic and cultural characteristics have long fascinated scientists and historians. Dr. K. Thangaraj,…