Must Read News

PM Modi begins 45-hr meditation at Kanyakumari’s Vivekananda Rock

With the conclusion of campaigning for the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced a 45-hour meditation session at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari on Thursday. Upon arriving in the evening, Modi first offered prayers at the Bhagavathy Amman Temple before proceeding to the memorial. Modi’s meditation at Dhyan Mandapam, where Swami Vivekananda is believed to have had a divine vision of ‘Bharat Mata,’ will last from Thursday evening until the evening of June 1. Due to his vis ..... Read More

India hosts Geneva event; commits to proactive health actions

India, in collaboration with Norway, UNICEF, UNFPA, and PMNCH, organized a side event in Geneva focusing on the health and wellbeing of women, children, and adolescents. Held during the 77th World Health Assembly, the event underscored India’s dedication to proactive measures in addressing the health needs of these demographic groups. Apurva Chandra, Union Health Secretary, led the Indian delegation, highlighting the progress and initiatives undertaken by India in this domain. The event aimed to share emerging evidence and insights, foste ..... Read More

Pramila Jayapal: Navigating Immigration’s Labyrinth

Reflecting on her personal immigration journey from India to the US at the age of 16, Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal renews her advocacy for immigration reform. In a video shared as part of the #SpreadAAPILove campaign initiated by STOP AAPI Hate during Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) Heritage Month, Jayapal recounts navigating the intricate immigration system. Arriving in the US with $5,000 from her parents to pursue her American dream, Jayapal spent 17 years navigating the complexities of immig ..... Read More

Archika Dogra: 2024 Spirit of Princeton Winner

Archika Dogra, an Indian American, is among the eight students awarded the 2024 Spirit of Princeton Award, which celebrates Princeton University undergraduates for their positive contributions to campus life. Established in 1995, the award honors students who exhibit dedication to various aspects of the undergraduate experience, including student organizations, athletics, community service, religious life, residential life, and the arts. Dogra, a senior majoring in computer science from Bellevue, Washington, has actively engaged in campus activ ..... Read More

Campaigning for Final Phase of Lok Sabha Elections Hits Peak

With only three days remaining for the final phase of Lok Sabha elections, campaigning has reached its peak. This phase will see voting for 57 Parliamentary Constituencies across seven states and a Union Territory on June 1.In this phase, there are 904 candidates competing in total. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a senior leader of the BJP, addressed a public meeting in North 24 Parganas district in support of the Barasat and Basirhat Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal. During his speech, Modi emphasized his administration’s zero tole ..... Read More

Research explains aging’s impact on movement speed

As individuals age, their natural movements tend to slow down, which researchers attribute to factors such as a slower metabolism, loss of muscle mass, and decreased activity levels over time. Recent studies from the University of Colorado Boulder suggest that older adults may move slower because it requires more energy for them compared to younger adults. This discovery, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, holds promise for developing diagnostic tools for conditions like Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. To delve into this phen ..... Read More

India growth broadens: Morgan Stanley predicts 6.8% for 2024

Morgan Stanley, in its recent report titled ‘2024 Global Economic Midyear Outlook,’ suggests that India’s robust growth, already evident and accelerating, may become more widespread across both consumer and business spending sectors. The firm attributes India’s strong growth to three key megatrends: global offshoring, digitalization, and energy transition. The investment bank forecasts a growth rate of 6.8 percent in 2024, slightly below the Reserve Bank of India’s projection of 7 percent, and anticipates a grow ..... Read More

Krishna Rao joins AI startup Anthropic as CFO

Indian American strategic finance leader Krishna Rao has taken on the role of chief financial officer at the artificial intelligence startup Anthropic. His appointment is expected to be instrumental in shaping the company’s financial strategy and operations, particularly as it aims for international expansion. The company announced Rao’s appointment on May 21, highlighting his nearly two decades of experience as a strategic finance leader for prominent, customer-focused brands and as an investor. Anthropic emphasized that Rao would ..... Read More

Maldives Adopts India’s RuPay Service to Boost Economy

The Maldives is poised to implement India’s RuPay payment system, a significant move expected to bolster the Maldivian Rufiyaa. While the exact launch date remains undisclosed, this initiative is viewed as a critical step toward enhancing the nation’s financial stability. Maldives’ Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, noted that India and China have agreed to use their local currencies for bilateral trade. This approach aims to decrease dependence on the US dollar and promote regional financial integration. Recent re ..... Read More

Cannes 2024: Anasuya Sengupta Wins Best Actress in Flea Market Outfit

Anasuya Sengupta has made India proud as the first Indian actress to win the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. She received this prestigious accolade for her portrayal of Renuka in the film “The Shameless.” Interestingly, Anasuya revealed on Instagram that the outfit she wore for the award ceremony was a last-minute purchase from a flea market in Cannes. In her post, she shared a series of photos from the event, including one where she is dressed in a white outfit paired with chunky gold jewelry. Other photos feature h ..... Read More

Janhvi Kapoor on Sridevi’s Death: Influence on Religious Beliefs & Superstitions

Janhvi Kapoor’s journey in the film industry reflects her resilience and dedication, positioning her as one of the most hardworking actresses of her generation. Known for embracing challenging roles, she continually hones her craft, refusing to shy away from risks. However, her career ascent was shadowed by the untimely demise of her mother, Sridevi, just before Janhvi’s debut film, “Dhadak,” hit the screens. In coping with her mother’s passing, Janhvi found solace in certain superstitions inherited from Sridevi ..... Read More

University of Southampton names Lord Patel as Chancellor

Lord Patel of Bradford and Justine Greening have been named as the new Chancellors of the University of Southampton, marking the first occasion the university has appointed two individuals to this position. They succeed Ruby Wax, the comedian, in this ceremonial role. The Chancellor serves as the primary lay officer of the University, with significant responsibilities including presiding over graduation ceremonies. This ambassadorial role is crucial for the ceremonial aspects of the university. Lord Patel’s career began in social work bef ..... Read More

WHO Chief, Union Health Secy perform yoga in Geneva for Yoga Day

In anticipation of International Yoga Day, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra and World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus participated in a yoga session at the ‘Walk the Talk’ event in Geneva. This event, organized by India, the United Nations Geneva, and WHO, saw senior officers from the Indian delegation joining the Health Secretary and WHO Director General in performing yoga asanas at the Place des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare shared a post on X, stating, “ ..... Read More

India’s ‘new working class’: outearning parents twofold

India’s burgeoning “new working class” is propelling the nation towards its ambitious goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy. At the forefront of this movement is Gaurav Chaudhary, popularly known as “Technical Guruji,” who wields significant influence across various social media platforms, capitalizing on India’s digital revolution. With access to inexpensive digital data, India’s population exhibits a voracious appetite for content consumption, a trend that Gaurav has adeptly tapped into by offerin ..... Read More

Ankur Gupta’s breakthrough at CU Boulder: 1-minute laptop charging

An innovative study led by Ankur Gupta and his team of CU Boulder scientists suggests a potential revolution in charging technology. Gupta, an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, hails from Delhi, India, and began his academic journey at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, followed by a stint at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned his MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering. Their research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sc ..... Read More

Harleen Marwah joins WH Environmental Justice Council

Harleen Marwah, a Pediatric Resident Physician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, holds the role of Founding Chair for Medical Students for a Sustainable Future. This group, comprising medical students, is dedicated to mitigating and tackling the health impacts associated with climate change. Marwah’s efforts in this regard were recognized when she received the 2020 Emerging Physician Leader Award from Health Care Without Harm. This accolade acknowledges individuals, like Marwah, who demonstrate a fervent dedication to susta ..... Read More

Senator awards Dr. Shukla Liberty Medal for pioneering pediatric work

Senator Toby Ann Stavisky honored Dr. Hari Shukla with the Liberty Medal on the Senate floor, celebrating his significant contributions to neo-natal pediatric medicine. Dr. Shukla, a long-time resident of Queens, has operated a medical practice in Flushing for over thirty years, primarily serving the South Asian community and treating thousands of young patients. Dr. Shukla has earned international recognition for his advancements in treating premature infants. His most notable contribution is the development of a mathematical formula, known as ..... Read More

Betting markets predict 310 seats for BJP, says Raamdeo Agrawal

The primary concern in the Indian equity markets right now revolves around the outcome of the ongoing elections for the Lok Sabha, India’s lower house of Parliament. Key questions include how many seats the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will secure, how many its allies will win, and whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party will maintain its majority in Parliament. In the 2019 elections, the BJP won 303 seats on its own, with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which it leads, securing a total of 352 out of 543 seats. Despite ..... Read More

New documentary premieres: Yoga & Hinduism’s Journey to America

In May, PBS platforms will debut “America’s First Guru,” a documentary directed by Raja Choudhury and produced by A Thousand Suns Academy. The film delves into Swami Vivekananda’s influential journey, introducing Yoga and Vedanta to America in the late 19th century. At the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago, Vivekananda’s profound teachings on Yoga, Vedanta, and Hinduism captured hearts, igniting a spiritual revolution. His impact extended beyond the Parliament, as he established the first Hin ..... Read More

California hotline shows FBI reporting gap for Hindu hate crimes

The CA vs. Hate program’s inaugural report, released on May 22, highlighted that in California, anti-Hindu incidents ranked as the second most common religion-related hate crime reported to a state-sponsored hotline over the past year. Administered by the California Civil Rights Department, the hotline, with support from organizations advocating for minority groups, received 1,020 hate crime reports. Of these, 36.9% targeted Jews, 14.6% Muslims, and 23.3% Hindus. The data, while shedding light on concerning trends, is limited in its repre ..... Read More

How the Metaverse Could Transform Hindu Faith Engagement

Imagine receiving the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita directly from Lord Krishna. This isn’t a fantasy involving a sci-fi time machine whisking you back to the Kurukshetra war. Instead, picture yourself in your living room, embodying the role of Arjuna, seeking guidance for your personal struggles through the wisdom of the Gita, delivered by an avatar of Krishna, visible through Ray-Ban Meta glasses. This futuristic scenario is becoming a reality through the metaverse environment inspired by the Mahabharata, combined with a specialized AI langua ..... Read More

India’s Coffee Exports Increased by 12% in FY24

India experienced a significant rise in coffee exports, which increased by 12.22% to reach $1.28 billion in the fiscal year 2023-24. This growth was driven by a higher demand for Robusta coffee in international markets, as reported by the commerce ministry. In comparison, coffee exports were valued at $1.14 billion in the previous fiscal year, 2022-23. As Asia’s third-largest coffee producer and exporter, India cultivates both Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties. Arabica beans are characterized by lower caffeine content and a sweeter, sm ..... Read More

UP Ghar Wapsi: Nisha as Radhika, Nida as Nidhi, facing death threats

In Uttar Pradesh, recent incidents have come to light involving Ghar Wapsi, where Muslim women have embraced Sanatan Dharma in Bareilly and Sitapur districts. In Bareilly, Nisha, now Radhika, married Rajesh Kumar, while in Sitapur, Nida Bano, now Nidhi, married Rachit Kumar. Both weddings, occurring on May 18, 2024, were conducted with Vedic rituals amidst chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ by Hindu organizations. On May 18, Nisha and Rajesh approached the Agastya Muni Ashram in Bareilly, presenting their proof of adulthood to Pandit K.K. ..... Read More

Google to manufacture drones in Tamil Nadu for global export

Google, operating under its parent company Alphabet, is exploring the possibility of establishing drone manufacturing facilities in Tamil Nadu, India, as part of its expansion strategy into the Indian market. Discussions are reportedly underway between the tech giant and the Tamil Nadu government to set up production plants for drones. If the plans proceed according to Google’s intentions, drones manufactured in India will be exported to countries like the US and Australia, according to a report by Moneycontrol. Alphabet’s subsidiar ..... Read More

Check Anant-Radhika’s 2nd pre-wedding bash details: date, venue, guest list

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding festivities seem far from over. After the lavish three-day celebrations in Gujarat’s Jamnagar, Mukesh and Nita Ambani are reportedly organizing a second pre-wedding extravaganza. During the initial festivities in Jamnagar, which saw a gathering of nearly 1,200 guests, notable figures like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Rihanna, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Shah Rukh Khan, Alia Bhatt, and Katrina Kaif attended the events. Media sources suggest that the second pre-wedding celebration will t ..... Read More