Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

Image courtesy: X/@abkhaleel Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel will arrive in New Delhi on Thursday evening for a three-day visit. During his trip, he is set to engage in discussions with India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar on Friday at Hyderabad House. Dr. Khaleel, appointed as Maldives Foreign Minister on September 30, 2024, by President Mohamed Muizzu, previously served as the nation’s Minister of Health. Known for his acknowledgment of India’s vital role in aiding the Maldives’ rapid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Khaleel has maintained a consistent focus on deepening bilateral ties. In October 2024, he…

India has made impressive strides in renewable energy, surpassing an installed capacity of 205 GW by the end of 2024. This progress has positioned the country as a significant player in clean energy, with annual additions projected to quadruple by 2030. The government is targeting an ambitious renewable energy capacity of 500 GW by 2030, requiring $32 billion annually to achieve this goal. In 2024 alone, a record-breaking 24.72 GW capacity was added, primarily from solar and wind projects, alongside a surge in rooftop solar installations under the PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Despite these achievements, challenges persist, including high…

Rojita Rai, a senior at Fairfield High School in Ohio, has been awarded a full four-year scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania through the QuestBridge National College Match program. She is the first student from Fairfield High to receive such an Ivy League scholarship in 12 years. Rojita is one of 2,626 students selected nationwide for the prestigious scholarship, which is the highest number of recipients to date. The average unweighted GPA of the honorees is 3.94, with 92% of them ranking in the top 10% of their graduating class. Notably, 83% of this year’s recipients are first-generation college students.…

At the previous Inc42 MoneyX conclave, industry leaders expressed optimism about the Indian startup ecosystem, despite concerns about the funding winter. Sanjeev Bikhchandani of Info Edge refuted claims of a funding freeze, while Rajan Anandan from Peak XV Partners revealed that the VC firm had over $2.34 billion in dry powder. Their confidence stemmed from the belief that many startups were focusing on solid, sustainable businesses, not just cash-hungry ventures. However, just after this event, funding levels dropped drastically. Weekly funding plummeted from $200 million in mid-July to just $42 million a week later. This decline marked one of the…

Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, and their daughter Raha made a heartwarming appearance at the Kapoor family’s annual Christmas lunch, just as they did last year. Raha, who had already made waves with her debut appearance before last Christmas, once again captured attention during the event. In a viral video, Alia is seen gently requesting the paparazzi to keep their voices down so that Raha wouldn’t feel scared. Dressed in a lovely white frock and sitting comfortably on her father’s lap, Raha sweetly greeted the photographers, saying, “Hi, Merry Christmas.” The photographers, delighted by the moment, responded with cheerful greetings in…

Sam Joshi, the first Indian-American mayor of Edison, New Jersey, is running for re-election, with his current term ending in December 2025. At just 34 years old, Joshi has garnered significant support from the Indian-American community, who have been pivotal in his campaign. Speaking to the Times of India, Joshi highlighted that Indian-Americans form the majority of his donors, including first-time contributors, and many young Indian-Americans are interning in his administration. Joshi’s campaign focuses on his record as mayor, which includes maintaining flat property taxes despite high inflation, improving infrastructure, enhancing senior citizen services, and ending Edison’s internet monopoly. Public…

Recent research highlights the potential benefits of a high-quality, antioxidant-rich diet in alleviating chronic pain, particularly for women. A study published in Nutrition Research found that individuals with better diet quality, rich in whole, nutrient-dense foods, reported lower levels of chronic pain, regardless of their body fat percentage. The study suggests that diet quality directly impacts pain levels and physical function, especially among women. The research, which analyzed data from the Whyalla Intergenerational Study of Health (WISH) involving 654 adults, found that body fat levels had no significant effect on the link between diet quality and pain. Instead, those consuming…

The Indian aviation sector is poised for substantial progress in 2025, driven by major mergers, expanded fleets, and enhanced infrastructure. Air India completed its merger with Vistara on November 12, consolidating operations under partial ownership by Singapore Airlines. The unified carrier now connects over 90 destinations and serves 120,000+ passengers daily. Additionally, the Tata Group streamlined its operations by merging Air India Express and AIX Connect, differentiating full-service and low-cost offerings. Fleet expansion was a focal point, with Air India ordering 100 Airbus planes in December, adding to its earlier 470-plane order. IndiGo marked its 18th anniversary with the addition…

The “World Meditates with Gurudev” event achieved a historic milestone, earning recognition in multiple record books, including the Guinness World Records, Asia Book of Records, and the World Records Union, according to a press release by the Art of Living Foundation. This groundbreaking event brought together millions from across the world, setting a new standard for collective meditation. The first World Meditation Day, celebrated by over 180 countries, focused on unity and inner peace. The event began with a session at the United Nations and culminated in a live meditation led by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar from the World…