Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

NITI Aayog and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India have solidified their cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a collaborative framework across various domains. These domains encompass Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) localization, data-driven monitoring, Aspirational Districts and Blocks, and more. The MoU underscores their shared dedication to expediting progress toward the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals. The MoU signing took place in the presence of Mr. B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, who observed the signing by Dr. Yogesh Suri, Senior Advisor (SDGs), and Ms. Shoko Noda, Resident Representative of UNDP India. Mr. B.V.R. Subrahmanyam…

Indian Americans have warmly received the film “The Vaccine War,” directed by award-winning filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri. They praised it as an enlightening portrayal of Indian scientists, particularly women, who played a pivotal role in helping India combat COVID-19 effectively amidst challenging circumstances. Agnihotri, currently on his “India for Humanity Tour, USA,” showcased the movie to select audiences across various cities, earning a standing ovation in a Maryland suburb near Washington DC. The film revolves around Indian scientists overcoming obstacles, including interference from foreign entities, to successfully develop a COVID-19 vaccine during demanding conditions. The movie’s emphasis on highlighting the contributions…

In the movie “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani,” Dharmendra and Shabana Azmi portray characters who were long-lost lovers reuniting to share a late-life romance. The film, which was released in theaters last month, garnered attention for a kissing scene between the veteran actors. Esha Deol, daughter of Dharmendra, discussed her father’s kissing scene during an interview with Zoom. She expressed that there should be no age barrier for love or kissing, praising her father’s romantic nature and professionalism. Esha also touched on the emotional aspect of watching the film as Dharmendra’s daughter, particularly during poignant scenes. Sunny Deol, another…

In the perspective of External Affairs Minister Mr. S. Jaishankar, the primary objective of the G20 revolves around advancing economic growth and development. He emphasized that addressing critical issues faced by the Global South is essential for achieving this goal. Mr. Jaishankar, while addressing the B20 Summit organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) prior to the G20 Summit scheduled for September 9–10, highlighted various factors that have led to the Global South becoming more of a consumer than a producer. These factors include scale, subsidy, technology, human resources, and strategic choices. He pointed out the prevailing dominance of…

The upcoming phase of the ‘Rozgar Mela’ organized by the government is being prepared for, aiming to create employment opportunities. This initiative, which is part of a larger effort to provide jobs for 1 million young individuals in the central government sector, will see Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributing over 51,000 appointment letters tomorrow. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to virtually address the newly appointed individuals. Scheduled to take place at 45 different locations across the nation, the Rozgar Mela intends to recruit candidates for various roles within central armed police forces like the CRPF, BSF, SSB, Assam Rifles, CISF,…

Sridhar Venkatesh and Anuj Dayal, Indian American tech professionals, have been appointed to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Alumni Association (MITAA) board of directors. Venkatesh has been inducted as an at-large director for the financial year 2023-2024, while Dayal assumes the role of a term member for FY 2023-2026 within the MIT alumni board. The board collaborates with MITAA’s CEO and staff, working under the framework of institute policies, to represent the interests of MIT’s community of around 147,000 living alumni. Serving as the Senior Vice President of Products at Alluxio, USA, Venkatesh holds extensive experience in product management and…

The Government of India, in partnership with state governments, is initiating the ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikaar’ program, known as the ‘Invoice Incentive Scheme,’ aimed at promoting the practice of requesting invoices for all transactions. The scheme seeks to reshape cultural and behavioral norms by positioning the act of demanding a bill as a rightful entitlement. As stated by the finance ministry, the scheme will feature 800 monthly lucky draws for GST invoices, offering rewards valued at $120.97 (Rs. 10,000), along with 10 draws granting prizes worth $12,097.24 (Rs. 10 lakh) each. Furthermore, a quarterly draw will encompass all invoices uploaded…

The creators of “Jawan” launched overseas advance bookings for the film over 20 days before its release, and it has already garnered $1.21 million in the US alone. As Sunny Deol’s “Gadar 2” gears up to surpass box office records set by his previous release “Pathaan,” Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film is already generating substantial revenue through advance ticket sales. Scheduled for a September 7 release, “Jawan” has secured $1.45 million in advance bookings exclusively in the US, as reported by ETimes. Also read: Gadar 2 crosses $48.2 million, film likely to challenge Pathaan and Baahubali 2 Approximately 10,000 tickets…

Vivek Ramaswamy, an Indian-American entrepreneur turned politician, experienced a surge in popularity and online fundraising following his inaugural Republican presidential debate. Taking place on August 24, the debate propelled Ramaswamy into the spotlight, driving significant financial support to his campaign. Within the first hour post-debate, Ramaswamy’s campaign reported a total fundraising amount exceeding $450,000, with an average donation of $38. Ramaswamy, aged 38, is a contender in the upcoming United States presidential elections. His standout performance during the debate was noted by various sources. Popular Axis reported that Ramaswamy dominated the GOP debate in the absence of Donald Trump. Initial…

A recent report published by real estate firm Colliers has indicated that the Indian office sector is poised to experience an estimated 40-45 million square feet of gross leasing activity across the leading six markets in 2023. This forecast exceeds Colliers’ initial prediction by 10-15%. Attributed to the report titled “India Office Market-Changing Winds,” the heightened demand is credited to a robust economic outlook. Data for the report was compiled from six prominent Indian cities, namely Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune. The year commenced with cautious activity, as the first quarter saw a gross absorption of 10.1 million…