Must Read News

Google starts applications for India’s Startups Accelerator

Google announced the commencement of applications for the ‘Startups Accelerator: AI First’ program in India, offering three months of equity-free support to startups addressing diverse industry challenges through artificial intelligence (AI) applications. In a blog post, the tech giant highlighted the program as part of its global initiative, providing early-stage startups leveraging AI, machine learning (ML), and Cloud technology with essential tools to tackle pressing global issues. Selected startups will benefit from mentorshi ..... Read More

India showcases PM-KUSUM solar scheme at World Energy Congress

India’s Power Secretary, Pankaj Agarwal, discussed the Narendra Modi government’s initiatives to advance solar power during the 26th edition of the World Energy Congress, aiming to align with COP28 renewable energy commitments. At a Ministerial Round Table Conference, Agarwal highlighted initiatives like the PM-KUSUM Scheme and solar rooftop programs, promoting environmental sustainability and job creation. He mentioned the Indian Carbon Market as another step towards sustainability. The PM-KUSUM Scheme targets 10,000 MW of Decen ..... Read More

King Charles elevates Lord Ajay Kumar Kakkar

Britain’s King Charles III has conferred new Knight Companions of the Most Noble Order of the Garter to distinguished individuals, including senior British Indian medic Lord Ajay Kumar Kakkar and musician Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber. Lord Kakkar, aged 59, has been honored for his exemplary public service and achievements. His selection for one of the country’s oldest ceremonial orders is distinct from other annual royal honors as it does not require prime ministerial advice. A citation issued by Buckingham Palace highlights Lord Kakkar’s med ..... Read More

India, UAE set to exceed US$ 100B non-oil trade by 2030

Since the implementation of the free trade agreement in May 2022, there has been a significant uptick of 15% in India-UAE trade, as reported by Mr. Ahmed Aljneibi, the Director of the CEPA Council. Both countries are on track to surpass the goal of achieving US$ 100 billion in non-oil trade by 2030, a target made feasible through the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in May 2022. Speaking at a business roundtable in Jaipur, Mr. Aljneibi highlighted the remarkable growth in bilateral trade, emphasizing the piv ..... Read More

India 4th in global military spending: US$ 83.6B in 2023

In 2023, India maintained its rank as the fourth-largest global spender on military, allocating a substantial amount of US$ 83.6 billion for upgrading weapons and combat systems, as per the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report. The top three spenders on military spending were the United States (US), China, and Russia, respectively. This allocation marked a 4.2% increase in India’s military expenditure compared to 2022, showcasing the nation’s strategic commitment to bolstering its defense capabilities, ..... Read More

ISRO prepares for 2nd Gaganyaan test flight today

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to conduct the second test flight of the uncrewed Gaganyaan mission on April 24, marking another significant stride in space exploration, as stated by ISRO Chairman S Somanath during an Astronautical Society of India (ASI) event in Ahmedabad. Scheduled for April 24, the airdrop test is part of the Gaganyaan project, with two more uncrewed missions slated for next year and a manned mission potentially by the end of the following year, provided all goes smoothly, as announced by Somanath on ..... Read More

Ayushmann Khurrana: Actors rent clothes; stylists manage wardrobe

It’s widely known that many Bollywood stars opt to rent clothes rather than buying them to stay trendy. Actor Ayushmann Khurrana recently addressed this trend and expressed appreciation for Diljit Dosanjh’s sense of style. He also shared a story about his brother, Aparshakti Khurana, leveraging his own fashion sense. Ayushmann addressed the prevalent renting culture in Bollywood, stating, “The entire Bollywood is on rent. Do you think we buy all our clothes?” He detailed how stylists procure clothes for them. He empha ..... Read More

Bhavini Patel loses to Summer Lee in PA 12th district

Bhavini Patel, an Indian American, faced defeat in her attempt to unseat progressive Democrat Rep. Summer Lee in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District. Lee secured nearly 61 percent of the votes, confirming the strength of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party in Western Pennsylvania. During the campaign, Patel criticized Lee’s stance on a ceasefire in Gaza and accused her of neglecting the district’s Jewish community. Patel labeled Lee as an extremist, advocating for unity within the Democratic Party and suppor ..... Read More

Raja Krishnamoorthi honored by WEF

Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has been honored with the 2023 Public Officials Award by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) for his remarkable contributions to clean water legislation and advocacy for water safety. The award recognizes his documented and significant efforts in these areas, leading to improvements in the water environment. Krishnamoorthi’s advocacy work includes supporting crucial legislation such as the Great Lakes Restoration Act, the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Action Act, and vario ..... Read More

PM Modi lifted 400M from poverty: JP Morgan CEO

Jamie Dimon, CEO of global banking giant JP Morgan Chase, commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts in uplifting 400 million people out of poverty in India. Speaking at an event hosted by the Economic Club of New York, Dimon praised the economic reforms initiated by the Modi government, suggesting that some could be adopted in the US. Dimon applauded Modi’s resilience in challenging outdated bureaucratic systems, labeling him as “tough.” He acknowledged the criticism faced by Modi from the liberal press while a ..... Read More

Why Indian-American Journalists and American Media are Negative About India? – By Raj Shah

    You’ve probably heard the expression “half-full” or “half-empty” used to describe how people tend to focus on either the positive or negative aspects of a situation. Extrapolating this comparison, I regret to state that most Indian-American journalists and American media outlets’ coverage of reporting on India not only sees the glass half empty but also sees fingerprints all over the glass. Not only do they cover mostly negative news about India, but they also cover half the truth Amol Parth ..... Read More

India-born Tarun Ghulati challenges Sadiq Khan for London Mayor

Tarun Ghulati, a Delhi-born businessman and investment expert, believes his background is what London needs to revitalize itself as the “global bank of the world” and attract the necessary investment. Running as an Independent candidate against Sadiq Khan for London Mayor’s third term, Ghulati aims to lead the city like a seasoned CEO, prioritizing profitability for all residents. In the upcoming local elections on May 2, Ghulati, aged 63, stands among 13 contestants vying for the mayoral position and seats in the London As ..... Read More

Katherine BirbalSingh wins UK school prayer ban challenge

Katherine Birbalsingh, an Indian-origin school principal known as “Britain’s strictest headmistress,” recently celebrated a UK High Court ruling that upheld her school’s ban on prayer rituals, which had been challenged by a Muslim pupil as discriminatory. Birbalsingh, who heads Michaela School, a secular secondary school in Wembley, north London, defended the ban on religious prayers, stating that it aligned with the school’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment. Despite half of the school’s pu ..... Read More

Diabetes test risks late diagnosis in UK’s South Asians

New research suggests that diabetes tests commonly used in the UK could be providing inaccurate results for tens of thousands of South Asian individuals, potentially leading to delayed diagnoses. This study identified a genetic variation prevalent among South Asians, affecting the outcomes of a diabetes test commonly used for type 2 diabetes in the UK. The HbA1c test, measuring average blood sugar levels, may yield falsely lower results in South Asian individuals with this genetic variation, potentially leading to delayed diagnoses, as indic ..... Read More

Jain Acharya Lokesh honored with US Presidential Award

Jain Acharya Lokesh, the founder of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharati and World Peace Centre, received the American Presidential Award at Capitol Hill in Washington, marking a historic moment as the first Indian monk to be bestowed with this honor. The accolade comprised the Presidential Award, Golden Shield, Certificate of Honor, and a citation bearing President Biden’s signature. US Congressman Brad Sherman presented the certificate and citation, as announced by Ahimsa Vishwa Bharati. President Biden lauded Acharya Lokesh’s humanitarian en ..... Read More

Alia Bhatt, Sakshi Malik on Time’s 2024 influential list

Time magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People of 2024’ roster, unveiled on Wednesday, featured several prominent Indians, such as Alia Bhatt and Sakshi Malik. The list also featured Ajay Banga, Satya Nadella, and Dev Patel. The lineup extended beyond entertainment and sports, encompassing figures like Jigar Shah, Priyamvada Natarajan, and Asma Khan. Here’s a closer look at some of the featured Indians: Alia Bhatt: Recognized for her international debut in “Heart of Stone,” Alia’s blend of star appeal ..... Read More

India aims for top 5 chip maker status by 2029

In 1969, Robert Noyce, co-founder of Intel, explored setting up a fabrication unit for integrated circuits in India. However, India’s facility size didn’t align with Intel’s ambitions. Despite a setback, India initiated semiconductor ambitions with the Semiconductor Complex Ltd, which faced a fire in 1989. Today, global economies, including India, pursue self-sufficiency in semiconductor chip manufacturing post-Covid. While Intel hasn’t considered India for a fab yet, Micron, PSMC, and Renesas have invested in India&r ..... Read More

India Leads Global Digital Outsourcing: Survey

The joint survey by Nasscom and Avasant revealed that India remains the preferred destination for global businesses seeking to enhance their digital services offerings worldwide. Over half of the companies surveyed across various sectors chose India for third-party outsourcing, particularly in industries like travel, telecom, media, entertainment, construction, and engineering. Additionally, many companies outsourced digital services work to their capability centers in India, with a significant portion opting for nearshoring operations. Key ..... Read More

U.S. Sanctions Suppliers to Pakistan’s Missile Program

The Department of State is identifying four entities under Executive Order 13382 for their involvement in supplying missile-related items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, particularly its long-range missile initiatives. The Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant, based in Belarus, has provided specialized vehicle chassis crucial for Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program, aiding launch support equipment for ballistic missiles developed by Pakistan’s National Development Complex (NDC), which focuses on MTCR Category I ba ..... Read More

Abortion: A Hindu Perspective by Dr. Mohini Shinde

Looking through the Hindu lens at abortion in the wake of the Roe versus Wade reversal From the earliest times, Hindu scriptures have clearly denounced and condemned the practice of abortion unless the life of the mother was in danger due to a complication in pregancy. Hinduism believes the fetus is a living entity, a conscious being who deserves to be protected. Hindu scriptures refer to abortion as garha-batta, meaning “womb killing” and bhroona hathya, meaning “killing the undeveloped soul.” A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swam ..... Read More

Anti-India Sentiments in the US by Dr. Mohini Shinde

DisInfo Lab, a company with the motive of unveiling fake news, just came out with its own research report titled, “Operation Tupac – Decoding The Longest War” in response to the USCIRF (United States Commission on International Religious Freedom) report where USCIRF labeled India as a “Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC)” and clubbed India with known terrorist countires like China, North Korea, and Pakistan. In the introduction of the report, DisInfo Lab listed a few events which took place throughout the ..... Read More

“You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself.” Swami Vivekananda By Dr. Mohini Shinde

Swami Vivekananda, an Indian spiritual leader and philosopher who believed that self-belief and faith were closely connected. He famously said, “You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself”. This statement encapsulates the idea that before we can have faith in something larger than ourselves, we must first understand our own worth and have faith in ourselves. Let us explore why Swami Vivekananda believed that self-belief and faith go hand-in-hand and how this belief has impacted his teachings. The Philosophy of Swami ..... Read More

Silicon Labs has appointed Radhika Chennakeshavula as its CIO

Radhika Chennakeshavula joins Silicon Labs as CIO Radhika Chennakeshavula will become the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Silicon Labs on April 24, 2024. Silicon Labs is a leader in safe, intelligent wireless technologies for a more linked world. In addition to managing enterprise applications, coordinating IT operations, and leading data analytics activities, Chennakeshavula will lead the company’s digital transformation ambitions in her new position. Before coming to Silicon Labs, Chennakeshavula worked for Western Digital as the ..... Read More

Youth employment in India rises: 1.5 million net members enrolled in February 2024

The provisional payroll data for February 2024 released by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) show a positive trend in employment figures. An expansion in the organized labor market is reflected in the figures, which show a net rise of 1.548 million members for the month. The data also provide insight into the age and gender distribution of the recently enrolled members, pointing to positive trends in youth employment and more diversity in the workforce. Notably, the data shows that a significant 56.36% of all newcomers ..... Read More

Must Read book: India’s G20 Legacy: Shaping a New World Order

Pathbreaking, Historic, Transformational – the list of adjectives describing India’s G20 presidency is a long one. India’s G20 Legacy: Shaping a New World Order includes original perspectives and insights by practitioners, diplomats, and strategic experts that illuminate the multi-faceted legacy of India’s G20 presidency. Edited by Manish Chand, a leading foreign policy expert and author, India’s G20 Legacy: Shaping a New World Order is an invaluable reference for policy-makers, practitioners, scholars, students ..... Read More