Must Read News

Five Indian Americans join AI Safety and Security Board

A panel comprising Arvind Krishna, Satya Nadella, Shantanu Narayen, Sundar Pichai, and Arati Prabhakar will offer guidance on ensuring the safe and secure development and deployment of AI technology. They are among the 22 inaugural members of the AI Safety and Security Board, convened to advise on these critical matters. This board, established to oversee the safe integration of AI technology into the nation’s critical infrastructure, will provide counsel to the Secretary of Homeland Security, various private sector stakeholders, and the broa ..... Read More

Ram Shriram awarded Stanford’s Gold Spike

Stanford University bestowed this year’s Gold Spike Award upon Ram Shriram, an Indian American educationist, alongside Angela Nomellini. University president Richard Saller presented the accolades during an April 20 dinner, as per a university press release. The Gold Spike Award, the university’s pinnacle of volunteer service recognition, is granted by Stanford Associates, a distinguished group of alumni showcasing extensive and enduring dedication to the institution. Described as an intellectually curious changemaker, Shriram’s p ..... Read More

India’s manufacturing growth continues: HSBC

India’s manufacturing sector kicked off April on a robust note, marking the second-fastest pace of improvement in three-and-a-half years. Fueled by rising market demand, firms experienced a notable uptick in new business intakes and ramped up production levels, according to the latest HSBC PMI data. Although April saw a slight dip compared to the previous month, the HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) remained above the neutral mark of 50.0, signaling the sector’s continued strength. Input stocks expanded ..... Read More

India to be Citroen’s 2nd largest market in 5 years: CEO

Citroen, the renowned French automaker, eyes India as a future powerhouse market. Thierry Koskas, the company’s global CEO, aims to make India their second-largest market within five years, closely trailing France. This optimism stems from India’s status as the world’s third-largest automotive market, offering immense growth potential. To actualize this vision, Citroen is implementing a threefold strategy. Firstly, they plan to expand their dealership network across India, aiming to triple their presence to 200 touchpoints by ..... Read More

India, Norway extend health cooperation with NIPI Phase 4

The 4th phase of the Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI) saw Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra and Deputy Ambassador of Norway Martine Aamdal Bottheim signing documents to extend cooperation in various health schemes. Since its inception in 2006, NIPI has provided support to several Indian states such as Odisha, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, enhancing maternal and child healthcare facilities. This health initiative, a collaboration between the Governments of India and Norway, builds upon the succe ..... Read More

Women face perimenopausal depression, study finds

A recent study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders suggests that women are more prone to experiencing symptoms of depression during the perimenopause phase compared to their premenopause or postmenopause years. Conducted as a meta-review, researchers examined the risk of developing clinical depression and depressive symptoms across different menopausal stages. The analysis, comprising seven peer-reviewed longitudinal prospective studies with over 11,965 participants, focused on females aged 18 and above who were pre-, peri-, or post ..... Read More

India-Nigeria Currency Settlement: Economic Boost

India and Nigeria are progressing towards finalizing an agreement on a local currency settlement system, a move intended to bolster the economic bonds between the two nations. This initiative unfolded during the second session of the India-Nigeria Joint Trade Committee (JTC) held in Abuja, where both countries explored various sectors ripe for collaboration. These sectors included crude oil, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, and the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Numerous Indian companies have already establ ..... Read More

Priyanka: Mom ‘returns favor’ by caring for Malti while we work

Ever since Malti Marie Chopra Jonas joined their family in 2022, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas have made her their top priority. Despite their demanding careers, they make a concerted effort to create meaningful moments and dedicate quality time to her whenever possible. While their work obligations sometimes keep them away, they entrust Malti to the care of Priyanka’s mother, Madhu Chopra, ensuring she receives attentive and loving care. Priyanka recently expressed gratitude for her mother’s support, acknowledging her role in caring f ..... Read More

Firms Learn from Knowledge-Gap Failures: Study

Gopesh Anand and Ujjal Kumar Mukherjee note that firms gain greater insights from design-related recalls compared to process-related ones. They analyze organizational learning from failures, categorizing them into “slip-ups” and “knowledge gaps.” “Slip-ups” entail knowing the correct course of action but failing to execute it, while “knowledge gaps” involve unknowingly making mistakes. Their study, based on voluntary product recalls of over 100 publicly traded US firms in medical devices and pharm ..... Read More

Sunita Williams to pilot Boeing’s Starliner

Indian American astronaut Sunita Williams is gearing up for her third journey to the international space station aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, scheduled for May 6. Alongside astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore, Williams will embark on the first piloted flight of Starliner, launching atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket at 10:34 pm EDT. Upon a successful launch, they are anticipated to dock at the space station on May 8, with a return to Earth planned for May 15 or shortly after. NASA intends to commence operational Starlin ..... Read More

India triumphantly conducts a test of the SMART missile system

The Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system was effectively tested by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, situated along the coast of Odisha. The SMART system, a next-generation missile-based lightweight torpedo delivery system, aims to enhance the Indian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities beyond conventional ranges. Comprising advanced sub-systems like a two-stage solid propulsion system and precision inertial navigation system, SMART carries an advance ..... Read More

Trudeau Supports Khalistanis in Canada

Amidst strained relations with India, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada is positioning himself as a champion for Khalistanis, which has further soured ties between the two countries. During a Khalsa Day event on Sunday, where pro-Khalistan sentiments were vocalized, Trudeau pledged to safeguard the rights and freedoms of the nearly 800 thousand Canadians of Sikh heritage, stating that his government would stand against discrimination and hatred directed at the Sikh community. This declaration comes at a time when Khalistanis in Canada hav ..... Read More

NHPC partners Norwegian firm for Indian solar tech

NHPC Limited, a hydropower company, has recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ocean Sun, a Norwegian firm specializing in floating solar technology. Under this agreement, NHPC and Ocean Sun will collaborate to demonstrate the efficacy of Ocean Sun’s floating solar energy technology, utilizing photovoltaic panels mounted on hydro-elastic membranes. The specific sites for implementing this technology will be identified by NHPC. This collaboration aligns with NHPC’s ongoing commitment to sustainable development ..... Read More

131B UPI transactions in FY24: Finance Minister

During the ‘Viksit Bharat Ambassador’ event, Minister of Finance, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, celebrated India’s significant uptick in digital payments. Notably, she cited an impressive 131 billion transactions via Unified Payments Interface (UPI) during FY24, totaling US$ 2.39 trillion (Rs. 200 trillion). Sitharaman commended the widespread adoption of digital payment technologies, emphasizing their penetration even in rural areas, showcasing a broad spectrum of citizens engaging in these transactions. In her address, she spotlig ..... Read More

Century-long dispute: Temple in Thailand, Cambodia

For more than a hundred years, Cambodia and Thailand have been locked in a heated dispute over the ownership of the ancient Hindu temple, Preah Vihear. This contention dates back to Cambodia’s independence in 1954 when Thailand assumed control of the temple, leading to ongoing tensions between the two nations. The disagreement extends beyond just the temple itself, with conflicts over the surrounding land exacerbating the situation, occasionally erupting into violence. Notably, a clash occurred in October 2008, and in April 2009, Thai ..... Read More

USIBC launches AI Task Force for policy, innovation

A new AI Task Force initiated by the US-India Business Council (USIBC) sees Bala Subramanian (UPS), Akash Shah (BNY Mellon), and Inderpreet Sawhney (Infosys) joining to foster collaboration and innovation. The task force aims to shape AI policy and innovation through cross-sector collaboration, as discussed in its inaugural virtual meeting on April 25. The USIBC’s objective is to align U.S. and Indian leadership in the AI ecosystem, promoting common AI concepts and principles and ensuring industry competitiveness. The event gathered leade ..... Read More

India votes in second phase, Modi’s BJP leads

Millions of Indian citizens participated in the second phase of the national elections, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi aiming to rally support through his assertive Hindu nationalist approach. Despite scorching temperatures reaching 42 degrees Celsius, voters queued outside polling stations as voting commenced at 7 a.m. local time. According to election officials, approximately 60.96% of the 160 million eligible voters cast their ballots in the second round. The results of this phase are critical for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (B ..... Read More

India, trusted partner for Nepal: Minister Piyush Goyal

In a video message at the third Nepal Investment Summit, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, expressed India’s enduring commitment to Nepal’s development, emphasizing their longstanding partnership. Goyal underscored the deep-seated friendship and mutual aspirations for prosperity shared between Nepal and India, highlighting India’s consistent support in fostering Nepal’s growth. During the summit’s inaugural session, Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, reiterated India’s pledge ..... Read More

Chandrayaan-3 impacts Indian perception abroad: Jaishankar

In his address on Monday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted the shifting perception of India globally, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and technological achievements such as the Chandrayaan-3 mission. He emphasized that decisions made within India are closely observed and have far-reaching implications worldwide. Jaishankar noted the significant impact of India’s COVID management and space exploration endeavors on Indians living abroad, showcasing the country’s prowess on the global stage. Jaish ..... Read More

Tesla eyes India, Mexico for 2025 plants

Tesla intends to produce its $25,000 electric car in India and Mexico by 2025 or later, following Elon Musk’s strategy of maximizing current factory capabilities. The company aims to reach an annual production of 1.8 million vehicles by 2023, with factories in the US, Germany, and China, although its total capacity amounts to 3 million vehicles yearly. During an earnings call, Musk forecasted a 50% production surge by 2023, suggesting full utilization of existing capacity by 2024, potentially extending into 2025. This timeline aligns w ..... Read More

Are plant meats healthier than meat?

In a recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers examined the impact of diets containing real meat versus plant-based meat alternatives on cardiovascular health and diabetes risk. Plant-rich diets are known to benefit heart and metabolic health due to their abundance of vitamins, fibers, and antioxidants. However, transitioning to such diets can be challenging for regular meat consumers due to cultural, historical, and social influences, as well as economic factors. Plant-based meat analogues (PBMAs), de ..... Read More

India’s power output to grow fastest in a decade

India is expected to witness a robust growth of 9.3% in power generation, reaching 1,900 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) by March 2025, as projected by the internal federal power ministry. This acceleration, the swiftest since at least 2011-12, is attributed to intense heatwaves and a rebound in the economy, resulting in an average annual increase of around 8% in electricity production post the pandemic slump in 2020-21. The surge in power generation is anticipated to be primarily driven by fossil fuel-fired plants, constituting over 76% of the to ..... Read More

India leads global AI race, data shows

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has delineated a distinct divide among nations, with some leading the charge while others lag behind. According to a recent study conducted by NetApp, a prominent player in data infrastructure, countries such as India, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States (US) are spearheading AI adoption and innovation. In contrast, countries like Spain, Australia, and Germany are categorized as trailing in this technological evolution. Collaborating with Savanta, the report surveyed over 1,300 executive ..... Read More

Dr. Ashish S. Patel named chief at Phoenix Children’s

Phoenix Children’s Hospital, a premier acute pediatric facility in Arizona, has appointed Ashish S. Patel, MD, an Indian American, as physician-in-chief of its expanding health system. Dr. Patel now heads four of the hospital’s eight clinical centers, including Emergency and Diagnostic Medicine, the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, the Aerodigestive Clinic, and Medical Subspecialties, according to an official statement. In his new capacity, Dr. Patel also supervises hospitalist medicine, mental and behavioral health services, and ..... Read More

India urges SCO: Zero-tolerance to terrorism

During the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting convened in Astana under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane underscored the imperative of adopting a stringent stance against terrorism in all its manifestations. The gathering, attended by heads of defence departments from SCO member states, the Secretary General, the Director of the Executive Committee of the Organisation’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), and Belarus’ Minister of Defence, culminated in a joint declarat ..... Read More