Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

Indian American Aparna Chennapragada has assumed the role of Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, where she leads generative artificial intelligence (AI) endeavors for Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Designer. Microsoft’s CEO and Chairman, Satya Nadella, extended a warm welcome to her, expressing anticipation of her contributions. Chennapragada articulated her enthusiasm for leveraging generative AI to create products that effortlessly translate intent and creativity into reality. She stated her focus on AI-first creation experiences spanning Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Designer. She underscored her passion for developing and scaling products that combine robust technology with intuitive user experiences to solve customer challenges, recognizing…

India is set to emerge as a global hub for medical technology and devices, according to Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. Speaking at the India MedTech Expo 2023 curtain raiser, he pointed to market projections that foresee a remarkable increase to $50 billion by 2050. This event is scheduled for August 17-19 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, coinciding with the G20 health ministers’ summit. Minister Mandaviya emphasized the medical device sector’s significance, envisioning India as a major manufacturing center for medical equipment. He outlined the goal of increasing India’s market share from 1.5% to 10-12% in the next 25 years, citing the National…

As per an official announcement, negotiations for a trade deal between India and Peru are set to commence on October 10th, 2023, with the primary aim of enhancing bilateral commerce and investment. The trade agreement will involve a substantial reduction or elimination of customs duties on a wide range of traded goods between the two nations. The Commerce Ministry announced that there will be a unique set of discussions for the India-Peru trade deal, taking place virtually on the 10th and 11th of October. During these negotiations, both parties will delve into various aspects, including rules of origin, trade in…

A scientist of Indian origin, Aroh Barjatya, affiliated with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, is gearing up to launch three scientific rockets into space on October 14, 2023. This launch is strategically planned during an annular solar eclipse when the moon partially obscures the sun. Barjatya, a professor of Engineering Physics and director of the Space and Atmospheric Instrumentation Lab (SAIL) at Embry-Riddle, is at the helm of a NASA rocket mission involving multiple institutions. The primary aim of this mission is to investigate alterations in Earth’s upper atmosphere, with potential implications for both air and ground communication systems. The…

Displaying a style of hockey that has catapulted them into the ranks of medal contenders globally, the Indian men’s hockey team secured the gold medal at the Asian Games, beating Japan 5-1. This marked their fourth gold in 19 Asian Games editions and reaffirmed their dominance in the continent. Their consistent performance earned them a coveted spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics, making them the fourth team, alongside France, the Netherlands, and Australia, to secure their berths. In the final against Japan, India’s victory came courtesy of skipper Harmanpreet Singh’s two goals (32nd, 59th minutes), complemented by strikes from Manpreet…

The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft accomplished its mission goals on the Moon, but the Vikram lander’s surprising ‘hop experiment’ garnered attention from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), as reported by Hindustan Times. This experiment involved an unplanned return to the lunar surface on command, hinting at new possibilities for future moon missions. One of the major challenges faced by the ‘Vikram and Pragyan’ duo was reactivating after enduring frigid temperatures as low as -200 degrees Celsius. The hope was that if the onboard instruments survived these extreme lunar conditions, the modules could revive and continue their mission of transmitting lunar data…

Induced AI, an emerging startup specializing in enterprise AI automation, recently achieved a significant milestone by securing $2.3 million in a recent funding round. This funding round attracted notable investors within the industry. One of the prominent figures in this investment was Sam Altman, a co-founder of OpenAI, who played a pivotal role by contributing his extensive knowledge and experience. Other key participants in this funding round included Peak XV, SV Angel, Signalfire, Superscript, IDEO Colab Ventures, Human Capital, On Deck, Untitled Ventures, along with various other investors. Founded earlier this year by two young entrepreneurs of Indian origin, Aryan…

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, describing him as a “very wise man” during an event. Putin highlighted the significant progress India has achieved under Modi’s guidance, emphasizing the positive political relations between the two countries. He stated that India’s development aligns with the interests of both India and Russia, fostering cooperation on various agendas. Putin’s praise follows the G20 Summit in India, where the New Delhi Declaration was adopted. This declaration, seen as a “milestone” by Moscow, emphasized peace in the Ukraine conflict without assigning blame to Russia, marking a shift from…

S. Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister of India, recently concluded an 8-day visit to the United States, earning praise from top officials of President Joe Biden’s administration. During a special reception hosted by India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, in honor of Jaishankar, President Biden himself hailed Jaishankar as the “architect” of modern US-India relations. The event drew the attendance of notable figures from the Biden administration, including US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma, Neera Tanden (President Biden’s domestic policy advisor), Dr. Rahul Gupta (Director of the White House Office of National Drug…

On October 3, the tenth day of the Asian Games came to a close with India adding eight more medals to its collection. Notably, Indian athletes Annu Rani and Parul Chaudhary achieved a historic milestone by winning the country’s first-ever gold medals in women’s javelin throw and women’s 5000m events, respectively. Annu Rani achieved gold with a remarkable throw of 62.92 meters, marking her second Asian Games medal, having previously won bronze at the 2014 Asian Games. In the women’s 5000m final, Parul Chaudhary secured gold by crossing the finish line in 15:14.75. The 28-year-old athlete had earlier won silver…