Must Read News

Deepfake Alert: PM Modi Raises Alarm Over Garba Video

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern about the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) for generating deepfake videos, including instances featuring him. During a BJP Diwali event, he disclosed that he had urged the ChatGPT team to identify and flag deepfakes, emphasizing the need for responsible technology use. PM Modi highlighted an example of a deepfake video showing him participating in the Garba dance, a festival tradition in Gujarat. He called on the media to educate the public about such deceptive videos and stressed the importa ..... Read More

India’s GDP to expand 6-7.1% in 2024-2026; S&P sees strong prospects.

India’s economic growth prospects are expected to remain robust in the medium term, projecting an annual GDP expansion of 6-7.1% during fiscal years 2024-2026, according to S&P Global Ratings. The report, titled ‘Global Banks Country-By-Country Outlook 2024,’ highlights positive trends in the banking sector, anticipating a decline in weak loans to 3-3.5% of gross advances by March 31, 2025. Structural improvements, including sound corporate balance sheets, stringent underwriting standards, and enhanced risk management prac ..... Read More

Indian American CEO Jo Varshney Wins Prestigious Stevie Gold

VeriSIM Life, a pioneer in AI-enabled R&D decision de-risking for drug development, proudly shares that its founder and CEO, Jo Varshney, has achieved the prestigious Gold Stevie Award in the healthcare category during the 20th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business. The Stevie Awards, recognizing outstanding women entrepreneurs, executives, and employees globally, received over 1,600 nominations across 100 categories this year. Varshney, honored as one of the seven finalists for the “Most Innovative Woman of the Year – Healthcare” awar ..... Read More

Rhodes Scholarships Awarded to Four Indian-American Scholars

Four Indian-Americans, Mrinalini S. Wadhwa, Aishani Aatresh, Suhaas Bhat, and Nayantara K. Arora, have been selected as Rhodes Scholars. Established in 1902 by Cecil Rhodes, these scholarships offer exceptional young individuals worldwide the opportunity for full-time postgraduate study at the University of Oxford. Mrinalini S. Wadhwa, a senior at Columbia University majoring in history and mathematics, has a rich academic background and co-founded a program providing English curriculum for low-income Indian students. At Oxford, she aims to pur ..... Read More

Genpact Names Balkrishan Kalra as CEO Following Tyagarajan’s Retirement

Genpact, the New York-based professional services firm, has appointed Balkrishan Kalra as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) following the retirement of ‘Tiger’ Tyagarajan. Kalra, currently serving as the Global Business Leader for financial services, consumer, and healthcare, will officially assume the role on February 9, 2024. With a career spanning over 30 years, Kalra is known for assisting companies in their growth journey, and he has been associated with Genpact since 1999, holding various leadership positions. Expressing his e ..... Read More

Biden Elevates Indian American Shakuntla L Bhaya to Crucial Position

US President Joe Biden has designated Shakuntla L Bhaya, an Indian American, to a key role in the Council of the Administrative Conference of the United States. The White House disclosed multiple appointments on Wednesday, emphasizing Ms Bhaya’s extensive legal experience as a co-owner of Delaware law firm, Law Offices of Doroshow, Pasquale, Krawitz & Bhaya. Specializing in cases involving serious injuries due to unsafe decisions, she has also played a pivotal role in Delaware politics, contributing to the Democratic Party’s Sta ..... Read More

India’s October 2023 exports: US$ 62.26B, +9.43% from October 2022’s US$ 56.90B.

In October 2023, India is poised to witness a 9.43% surge in exports, totaling US$ 62.26 billion, and an 11.10% growth in imports, reaching US$ 79.35 billion. For April-October 2023, merchandise and services exports are estimated at US$ 437.54 billion, a slight decrease of 1.61%, while imports are projected at US$ 495.17 billion, reflecting a 7.37% decline. The specific figures for October 2023 highlight a notable increase in merchandise exports to US$ 33.57 billion and imports to US$ 65.03 billion, compared to October 2022. However, during Apr ..... Read More

India Advances: Kohli Century, Shami Heroics Propel Win

India’s World Cup journey remains on track as they secured victory against New Zealand in Mumbai. Despite a resilient effort by Daryl Mitchell, who played a remarkable innings, New Zealand fell short by 70 runs in their pursuit of 397. Mohammed Shami’s seven-wicket haul and Virat Kohli’s milestone century were pivotal in India’s triumph. Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar with his 50th ODI hundred, solidifying his position as the tournament’s top run-scorer. The Wankhede Stadium witnessed moments of brilliance as Ind ..... Read More

Infosys Prize 2023 Celebrates Excellence: Indian Americans Shine in Scientific Contributions

The Infosys Science Foundation (ISF) has announced the laureates of the Infosys Prize 2023, recognizing significant contributions in six categories. Bhargav Bhatt, Fernholz joint professor at the Institute for Advanced Study and Princeton University, has been awarded in the Mathematical Sciences category for his groundbreaking work in arithmetic geometry and commutative algebra. The Foundation specifically highlighted his collaborative efforts in prismatic cohomology with German mathematician Peter Scholze, introducing novel concepts in the rea ..... Read More

Kohli Soars: A Century to Remember, Breaking Records in Style

Virat Kohli’s 50th one-day century at Wankhede Stadium was a quintessential display of his signature style. While typically known for his precise singles and doubles, this time, the celebration was extraordinary. Completing his century, Kohli bowed to cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and sent a kiss to his wife Anushka Sharma. The Wankhede crowd, including notable figures like David Beckham, Madhuri Dixit, and Rajinikanth, erupted in cheers, creating an unforgettable moment. Beyond the celebration, Kohli’s innings highlighted his exc ..... Read More

PM Modi Initiates ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ for Development

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha emphasized the significance of tribal welfare in Jammu and Kashmir since August 2019. During the virtual launch of ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Raj Bhawan Srinagar, Sinha highlighted the administration’s commitment to empowering tribal communities through diverse initiatives. Acknowledging the importance of tribal welfare, Sinha expressed gratitude to PM Modi for initiating outreach activities in Bandipora and Rajouri. The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, aimed at ..... Read More

Alia Bhatt sends love to mom Soni Razdan on Pippa screening day.

Actress Alia Bhatt couldn’t attend the screening of her mom Soni Razdan’s show “Pippa,” but she compensated with a sweet Instagram post. Sharing a red carpet photo of her mom from the screening night, Alia praised her as a “casual queen” and expressed excitement for “Pippa” on Amazon Prime. Soni Razdan’s support crew included husband Mahesh Bhatt and elder daughter Shaheen Bhatt, captured in a heartwarming family picture during the event. Discussing her grandchild turning one, Soni Razdan ex ..... Read More

Aspirational Young India fuels India’s future growth: Piyush Goyal.

During the inaugural speech of the ‘DPIIT-CII National Conference on Ease of Doing Business’ in New Delhi, Mr. Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, highlighted the pivotal role of aspirational young India in driving the country’s future growth. He emphasized India’s economic improvement in the last five years, transitioning from being among the weakest to one of the strongest, crediting fundamental economic reforms by the government. Acknowledging the industry’s support, Mr. Goyal discussed the o ..... Read More

Indian Americans succeed in regional polls.

Indian American candidates achieved notable successes in the Nov. 7 local and state elections, highlighting the community’s growing political impact despite representing just over one percent of the U.S. population. Suhas Subramanyam, re-elected to the Virginia State Senate, previously served two terms in the House of Delegates. A former White House technology policy advisor, he made history as the first Hindu elected to the Virginia House. Business leader Kannan Srinivasan, an Indian immigrant, won a seat in the Virginia House of Delegat ..... Read More

Indian-American doctor appointed Oregon Health Authority director.

Governor Tina Kotek has designated Dr. Sejal Hathi as the head of the Oregon Health Authority, effective January 16. In this capacity, she assumes responsibility for ensuring equitable healthcare access and overseeing behavioral and public health systems throughout the state. Governor Kotek expressed gratitude, noting Hathi’s unique qualifications—ranging from frontline medical experience to policy shaping in the White House and founding non-profits focused on women and girls’ leadership. Previously, Hathi served as the state health ..... Read More

Kohli chasing Tendulkar’s record at World Cup: Will he succeed?

Virat Kohli, the star cricketer from India, boasts an impressive tally of 49 ODI centuries. Presently engaged in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, he anticipates two upcoming chances to surpass his compatriot Sachin Tendulkar’s longstanding record for the highest number of ODI hundreds. In his first opportunity, Kohli aims to break the record against the Netherlands in Bengaluru, with all eyes on him during this crucial match. However, if unsuccessful, another opportunity awaits in the semi-final against the fourth-placed team. Shoul ..... Read More

Vicky Kaushal reveals doubts about playing Sam Manekshaw in “Sam Bahadur.”

During the trailer launch event of his upcoming film, “Sam Bahadur,” Vicky Kaushal, portraying Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, shared insights into his initial apprehensions about the role. The actor expressed doubts about his suitability for the legendary figure, feeling he wasn’t good-looking enough for Meghna Gulzar’s project. Reflecting on when Meghna revealed her intention to make a film about Sam Manekshaw during the Raazi shoot in Patiala, Vicky admitted secretly Googling the Field Marshal’s photo and consideri ..... Read More

Netherlands tweak lineup for World Cup showdown with India.

The Netherlands has modified its ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup squad for the final match against India. Pacer Ryan Klein’s exclusion due to a back injury led to the promotion of young batter Noah Croes into the 15-player lineup. The tournament’s Event Technical Committee approved the change, allowing Croes to potentially play in the Sunday clash against undefeated India in Bengaluru. Despite limited international experience, Croes, who played one ODI during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier, now has the opportunity ..... Read More

US singer Mary Millben backs PM Modi, urges women against Nitish Kumar.

African-American actress and singer Mary Millben expressed admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, lauding him as the “best leader” for India, emphasizing his support for women and his role in fostering the US-India relationship and global economic stability. As the 2024 election season unfolds in the United States and India, Millben sees it as an opportunity for positive change, urging the replacement of outdated policies with voices aligning with citizens’ values. Explaining her support for PM Modi, Millben’s love ..... Read More

Boomitra, Indian-American-led firm, clinches Earthshot Prize for environmental impact.

Boomitra, a global soil carbon marketplace founded by an Indian American, secured one of the five Earthshot Prizes in Singapore. Recognized in the ‘Fix Our Climate’ category, Boomitra, meaning “friend of the earth” in Sanskrit, excelled in emissions reduction and boosting farmers’ profits. The platform advocates soil restoration and regenerative agricultural practices through a verified carbon-credit marketplace, collaborating with over 150,000 farmers across economically disadvantaged regions in Africa, South Amer ..... Read More

Indian Americans among MIT’s 13 Takeda Fellows for 2023-24 health research.

Two Indian American students from MIT’s School of Engineering, Vivek Gopalakrishnan and Priyanka Raghavan, are among the 13 selected Takeda fellows for the 2023-24 academic year. Supported by Takeda, they will focus on groundbreaking research, including remote health monitoring and ingestible devices for diagnostics. The MIT-Takeda Program, now in its fourth year, collaborates on AI applications in health and drug development. Vivek Gopalakrishnan, a PhD candidate, aims to improve neurosurgery through biomedical machine learning, creating ..... Read More

Rajeev Chandrasekhar announces upcoming India AI Program launch.

Mr. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, has unveiled plans for the upcoming India AI program. Assuring exceptional funding and design, he envisions a shift in the startup ecosystem’s focus towards practical applications in governance, security, and agriculture. The potential launch date is speculated to be December 11, 2023, coinciding with the three-day Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) summit in New Delhi. Mr. Chandrasekhar’s participation in the AI Safety Summ ..... Read More

India launches ‘Women for Water’ campaign, promoting water governance awareness.

The initiative “Women for Water, Water for Women” aims to enhance women’s involvement in water governance. Spanning three days, the program raises awareness and imparts firsthand knowledge of water treatment processes through visits to Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) in participants’ respective cities. On its inaugural day, over 41 million women from various states engaged in the heart of the campaign during “Jal Diwali.” The program successfully empowers women through knowledge, fostering a sense of ownership ..... Read More

Florida Southern College Appoints Laly Joseph as Endowed Chair

The Ann Blanton Edwards School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Florida Southern College has recently announced the appointment of Dr. Laly Joseph as the endowed chair in nursing, holding the prestigious title of the Dr. Keith R. Berend ’92 endowed chair. Dr. Joseph, an Indian-American with a wealth of experience, is a board-certified adult nurse practitioner, boasting eight degrees and certifications, and she brings over three decades of expertise in the field of medicine. Earlier this year, Dr. Joseph was appointed as the dean of the A ..... Read More

Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal’s AI service startup launch

Binny Bansal, the co-founder of Flipkart and a billionaire, is launching a new startup focused on the AI-as-a-service space. The venture is aimed at global customers and will build on Bansal’s success in Indian e-commerce. An article in Newsbreak describes how Bansal has hired 15 AI experts for the new startup, set to launch its services in the coming months from its base in Bangalore and HQ in Singapore. The main thrust of the business is the provision of AI talent, products and services to businesses, following the model of outsourcing ..... Read More