Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, along with two others, have successfully undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) and are set to land back on Earth on Tuesday evening. NASA is broadcasting the return journey live as the SpaceX Crew-9 “Dragon Freedom” capsule transports the four astronauts back from the ISS. Accompanying Williams and Wilmore are SpaceX Crew-9 astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov. The two NASA astronauts originally traveled to the ISS on June 5 aboard a Boeing Starliner spacecraft. However, due to technical malfunctions, they remained on the ISS while NASA sent…

Holi, the vibrant Hindu festival of colors, has gained widespread recognition in the U.S., with celebrations expanding from traditional gatherings to large-scale public events. Anshul Virmani, a software consultant and event planner in Pennsylvania, notes that his colleagues start inquiring about Holi long before his own children do, eager to participate in the “color festival.” Over the past decade, Holi celebrations have grown across the country, filling weekends with a variety of events. South Asian communities are finding innovative ways to celebrate, from family-friendly gatherings in parks to neon-themed Holi parties in nightclubs. These events are also attracting a diverse…

Dr. Nirav D. Shah, a distinguished epidemiologist recognized for his leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic, is set to join Colby College as a visiting professor in the Department of Statistics this fall. Shah, who formerly served as the director of the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention, will teach courses in public health while assisting in the development of Colby’s expanding public health program. Before stepping into academia, Shah held a leadership position at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. During his tenure at the Maine CDC, he became a trusted public figure, leading pandemic…

Jainendra K. Jain, a distinguished physicist at Penn State’s Eberly College of Science, has been honored with the 2025 Wolf Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking contributions to quantum matter and topological properties of two-dimensional electron systems in strong magnetic fields. The Wolf Prize is a prestigious international award recognizing individuals in science and the arts for their contributions to humanity. Jain shares this honor with physicists Mordehai “Moty” Heiblum and James Eisenstein. Expressing his gratitude, Jain acknowledged the role of his students, collaborators, and researchers in advancing his theory of composite fermions. Reflecting on his journey, he shared his…

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has appointed four new deputy mayors, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to making the city safer and more affordable. The newly appointed leaders include Adolfo Carrión, Jr. (Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce), Suzanne Miles-Gustave (Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services), Jeffrey D. Roth (Deputy Mayor for Operations), and Kaz Daughtry (Deputy Mayor for Public Safety). Each brings extensive experience to their respective roles and will play a crucial part in advancing the city’s initiatives. Mayor Adams highlighted his administration’s achievements over the past three years, including passing three balanced budgets, creating…

Naina Agrawal-Hardin, a senior at Yale College, has been named one of 35 U.S. scholars in the 2025 class of Gates Cambridge Scholars. This prestigious postgraduate scholarship, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, covers full tuition for study at the University of Cambridge. In April, 65 additional international scholars will be announced, bringing the total class to 100. Agrawal-Hardin will pursue a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) degree in Anthropocene studies, focusing on how climate change projections have historically been interpreted by governments, the fossil fuel industry, and the public. Her research aims to advance the field of transnational…

India secured another global cricket title by defeating New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final with a four-wicket victory. The match, held in Dubai, saw Rohit Sharma lead the chase with a commanding 76 off 83 balls, while Lokesh Rahul’s steady 34 not out helped India reach 254-6 in 49 overs, sealing their third Champions Trophy win. Jubilant celebrations erupted across Indian cities, including Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, and Guwahati. Earlier in the match, New Zealand, opting to bat first, posted a competitive 251-7 in 50 overs, aided by half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell. The slow, two-paced pitch made…

Dr. Vikas Dudeja, MBBS, FACS, has been appointed chair and department executive officer of the Department of Surgery at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. Pending approval from the Iowa Board of Regents, he will assume his new role on June 30. As the department chair, Dr. Dudeja will lead faculty representation and serve as a key liaison within the Carver College of Medicine, UI Health Care, and with medical professionals across the state and nation. Currently a tenured professor and director of the Division of Surgical Oncology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Dr. Dudeja…

US President Donald Trump has claimed that India has agreed to significantly lower its tariffs on American goods, attributing the move to his administration’s pressure. Speaking at the White House, Trump criticized India’s trade policies, calling them “restrictive,” but said they are now changing. “They have agreed to cut their tariffs way down now because somebody is finally exposing them for what they have done,” he said. His remarks come as India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal leads a delegation in the US to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement. The Indian government has remained tight-lipped about the ongoing discussions.…

The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, has announced the appointment of Vasundhara Naik as a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario, Family Court, in Ottawa. Her appointment reflects the highest standards of judicial excellence and integrity. Justice Naik, previously a founding partner at Robins Naik LLP in Ottawa, replaces Justice D.L. Summers, who resigned on December 16, 2024. Raised in India, Justice Naik completed her B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) at the National Law School of India University. Justice Naik’s legal career began in New Delhi, where she worked in human rights and…