Must Read News

India to Exceed $23.46 Billion IPO Fundraising

India is poised to set a record in 2025, with equity raised through Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) projected to exceed $23.46 billion, according to a report by Pantomath Group. With 76 companies generating $15.25 billion in IPO fundraising during the first 11 months of 2024, India has outpaced both the United States and Europe in the number of IPOs. This achievement highlights the nation’s growing prominence in global financial markets. Although the United States remains the leader in total IPO value, raising $35.6 billion in 2024, In ..... Read More

Trilogy Alert: Ranbir Kapoor Confirms ‘Animal Park’ Saga

Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor has officially confirmed that his blockbuster film Animal is the first chapter of a thrilling three-part franchise. Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the sequel, titled Animal Park, is already in development, with filming scheduled to commence in 2027. Speaking at the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, Ranbir shared his excitement about the trilogy’s ambitious scope. He revealed that Vanga had been crafting ideas for the sequels even before the release of the first movie. This long-term vision promises to expand ..... Read More

“Stree 2 Creators Drop ‘Param Sundari’ Starring Sidharth, Janhvi

Bollywood stars Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor will share the screen for the first time in Dinesh Vijan’s upcoming film Param Sundari. Directed by Tushar Jalota, this cross-cultural love story is set against the scenic backwaters of Kerala and is slated for theatrical release on July 25, 2025. On December 24, the makers unveiled the first-look posters on social media, revealing Sidharth’s stylish casual look and Janhvi’s vibrant ethnic attire. Another poster showcased the pair in traditional South Indian outfits, with Sidharth ca ..... Read More

Sam Joshi Seeks Re-Election as Edison Mayor, Highlights Indian-American Support

Sam Joshi, the first Indian-American mayor of Edison, New Jersey, is running for re-election, with his current term ending in December 2025. At just 34 years old, Joshi has garnered significant support from the Indian-American community, who have been pivotal in his campaign. Speaking to the Times of India, Joshi highlighted that Indian-Americans form the majority of his donors, including first-time contributors, and many young Indian-Americans are interning in his administration. Joshi’s campaign focuses on his record as mayor, which include ..... Read More

Trump Taps Indian-American : H-1B Cap Next?

In a move highlighting the growing presence of Indian-Americans in U.S. politics, President-elect Donald Trump has named Sriram Krishnan, a well-known Indian-American venture capitalist, as the Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Krishnan’s new role positions him to influence key areas like technology and immigration reform in the country. This appointment aligns with ongoing U.S. government discussions about removing the country cap on H-1B visas. Such a reform ..... Read More

Mutual Funds Surge 40% as Equity Leads Growth

According to the Association for Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), India’s mutual fund industry witnessed a significant 40% growth in asset size, rising to $798 billion in November 2024 from $572 billion in November 2023. The surge was primarily driven by retail investors’ growing preference for equity schemes. Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) witnessed a 48% rise, with contributions soaring from $2 billion in November 2023 to $2.97 billion in November 2024. Equity-oriented schemes now constitute 59.7% of the total mutual fund assets, a n ..... Read More

Baby John Marks Varun Dhawan’s Biggest Global Release

Varun Dhawan’s highly awaited action-thriller Baby John premiered globally today, setting a new milestone in his career with the actor’s widest release to date. Spanning over 1,250 screens across 1,000+ locations in 75+ countries, the Christmas morning debut of this mass entertainer brought festive excitement to fans worldwide. The unprecedented scale of Baby John’s release highlights Varun Dhawan’s rising influence as an international star, cementing his status as a global Bollywood icon. The film, directed by Atlee and featuri ..... Read More

Can Healthy Eating Tackle Chronic Pain?

Recent research highlights the potential benefits of a high-quality, antioxidant-rich diet in alleviating chronic pain, particularly for women. A study published in Nutrition Research found that individuals with better diet quality, rich in whole, nutrient-dense foods, reported lower levels of chronic pain, regardless of their body fat percentage. The study suggests that diet quality directly impacts pain levels and physical function, especially among women. The research, which analyzed data from the Whyalla Intergenerational Study of Health (W ..... Read More

Professor Kieran Fernandes Appointed Executive Dean at Durham University

Durham University has announced the appointment of Professor Kieran Fernandes, of Indian origin, as the new Executive Dean (Business), effective April 2025. With over 20 years of experience in academic leadership and research, Professor Fernandes brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role. Currently, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Development & Engagement and Professor of Operations Management at Durham University Business School, he has held numerous leadership positions, including Head of Department and Associate Dean for Internation ..... Read More

ISRO’s Final 2024 Mission: Gateway to Elite Global Space Club

India is set to achieve a major milestone in space technology with the SpaDex mission scheduled for December 30, 2024. This mission, led by ISRO, will position the country among the select few capable of docking spacecraft in orbit, a feat currently mastered by the United States, Russia, and China. The Space Docking Experiment (SpaDex) will deploy two spacecraft, the Chaser (SDX01) and the Target (SDX02), into a low-Earth orbit approximately 470 kilometers above Earth. These spacecraft, launched aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket from Sriharikota, A ..... Read More

Government Launches AI Tools for Consumer Protection

On December 24, 2024, the Indian government unveiled several initiatives to bolster consumer protection, spearheaded by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. These efforts include launching cutting-edge AI-driven tools such as the National Consumer Helpline, the e-maap portal, and the Jago Grahak Jago mobile app. These advancements are designed to empower consumers, detect deceptive marketing practices, and expedite dispute resolution. Prominent e-commerce players like Reliance Retail, Tata Sons, and Zomato have pledged their support to improve the saf ..... Read More

ISRO to launch SpaDex on Dec 30 for space docking tech

To mark a significant stride toward establishing India’s space station and interplanetary ventures, ISRO is gearing up to launch the SpaDeX mission on December 30 at 9:58 PM from Sriharikota using the PSLV-C60 rocket. This mission is designed to develop and showcase cost-effective space docking and undocking technologies, a crucial capability for India’s ambitious space goals. Once successful, India will join an elite group of four nations with space docking technology. The SpaDeX mission will utilize two small spacecraft, Target and Ch ..... Read More

Sunita Williams and Crew Send Heartwarming Christmas Greetings from Space

Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and her crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) extended warm Christmas wishes to people on Earth. Despite being far from home, Williams shared a heartfelt message, wishing everyone a ‘Merry Christmas.’ The festive video showed the crew, wearing Santa caps, gathered around a small Christmas tree, creating a cheerful atmosphere in space. As the ISS Commander, Williams expressed her excitement at spending the holiday season with her six fellow crew members in orbit. In the video, ..... Read More

PM Modi unveils Khajuraho projects and honors Vajpayee’s centenary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for a series of significant development initiatives in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, on Wednesday. Among these, the PM initiated the Ken-Betwa River linking project, India’s first interlinking of rivers under a national perspective plan. This ambitious initiative aims to provide extensive irrigation benefits to districts in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, positively impacting lakhs of farming families. During his speech, PM Modi praised the progress made under Chief Ministe ..... Read More

Mary Millben Praises PM Modi for Honouring Jesus Christ

American singer Mary Millben, known for her admiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, praised him for publicly honoring Jesus Christ. On Tuesday, Millben shared her Christmas greetings with PM Modi on social media, expressing gratitude for his acknowledgment of her “saviour” during a Christmas event hosted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) in Delhi. She posted on X, formerly Twitter, expressing gratitude: “Bless you, @PMOIndia. Jesus Christ is the ultimate gift and embodiment of love. Thank you #PMModi for public ..... Read More

Pitt’s New Vijayalakshmi Innovation Center Set to Revolutionize Women’s Health with AI

At a recent event at Pitt University, the launch of the Vijayalakshmi Innovation Center for Women’s Health Analytics and Research (VIHAR) was announced, with Vanathi Gopalakrishnan sharing her excitement for the ambitious initiative. Gopalakrishnan, associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics, humorously noted that some people initially mistook the project for a yoga program, but clarified that VIHAR’s goal is to push the boundaries of women’s health research, particularly through artificial intelligence. The cente ..... Read More

Neeta Bhasin Appointed First Indian American Woman to NY State AAPI Commission

On December 12, a historic event unfolded in New York with the inauguration of the New York State Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission. During this momentous occasion, Neeta Bhasin, the founder of Diwali at Times Square and Sammaan for All, was appointed as a commissioner. The mission of the Commission is to improve the economic and social well-being of AAPI communities while addressing critical issues like health and education. The Commission, established in response to the rapid growth of the AAPI population and the challe ..... Read More

Govt striving to make India the world’s food basket: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

India’s agriculture sector, which contributes 18% to the national GDP, has proven its resilience, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging stronger than many global counterparts. Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing the agricultural sector. During the Platinum Jubilee Conference of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (AERC) in Pune, he highlighted the importance of bringing agricultural research from labora ..... Read More

Aviation boom: India gears up for 2025

The Indian aviation sector is poised for substantial progress in 2025, driven by major mergers, expanded fleets, and enhanced infrastructure. Air India completed its merger with Vistara on November 12, consolidating operations under partial ownership by Singapore Airlines. The unified carrier now connects over 90 destinations and serves 120,000+ passengers daily. Additionally, the Tata Group streamlined its operations by merging Air India Express and AIX Connect, differentiating full-service and low-cost offerings. Fleet expansion was a foca ..... Read More

John Chambers Predicts a Strong Year for India and AI Growth

The U.S. stock markets closed with broad gains yesterday, though still below their record highs, while Europe and China saw positive movements this morning. US futures for the S&P 500 indicated further upward movement ahead of the market opening. Nvidia’s stock surged nearly 4% following the Biden administration’s investigation into China’s semiconductor industry, potentially setting the stage for additional roadblocks to foreign chip competition under the incoming Trump administration. In other news, John Chambers, for ..... Read More

Modi promotes harmony at Catholic Christmas gatherings

Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the enduring importance of love, harmony, and brotherhood during the Christmas celebrations hosted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI). He encouraged everyone to embrace these core values, which are intrinsic to the teachings of the Lord Christ, as a way to strengthen society. Addressing attendees at the CBCI headquarters, Modi expressed his sorrow over ongoing violence and social disruptions across the globe. He stressed the urgency of adopting a human-centered perspective to tackle pr ..... Read More

Remembering Mohammed Rafi: Lesser-Known Facts on His 100th Birth Anniversary

On December 24, 2024, India marks the 100th birth anniversary of one of its most legendary playback singers, Mohammed Rafi. Renowned for his unmatched versatility and timeless voice, Rafi remains an icon in the world of Bollywood music. His rich legacy is evident in the numerous hits he delivered for Bollywood stars like Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, and Rishi Kapoor. Despite passing away in 1980 at the age of 55, Rafi’s music continues to touch hearts across generations. Rafi was born on December 24, 1924, in Kotla Sultan S ..... Read More

Indian-Americans in Key Roles in Trump’s New Administration

President-elect Donald Trump is set to assume office next month on January 20, bringing in a wave of new appointments as part of his 2.0 administration. Several Indian-Americans, including prominent figures like Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard, and Vivek Ramaswamy, have been entrusted with significant roles, showcasing their influence in shaping key policies. Vivek Ramaswamy, the biotech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, is expected to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Collaborating with Elon Musk, Ramaswam ..... Read More

NASA-ISRO’s NISAR Satellite Set for March 2025 Launch

NASA and ISRO have announced that their long-awaited Earth observation satellite, NISAR, will likely launch in March 2025, after delays pushed back its initial 2024 launch date. The NISAR satellite, developed jointly over a decade, will provide comprehensive monitoring of Earth’s ecosystems, land, and sea ice, with remarkable precision. Using dual-frequency radar—NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band—NISAR will gather data to track environmental changes and monitor natural hazards. The satellite, weighing 2.8 tonnes, ..... Read More

Indian Startup PierSight Set to Launch Maritime Surveillance Satellite

PierSight, an Indian spacetech startup, is preparing to launch its first maritime surveillance satellite, Varuna, later this week. This satellite, which uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology, is designed for all-weather maritime monitoring and marks India’s first private demonstration of SAR satellite technology. The satellite is part of a planned 32-satellite constellation aimed at providing comprehensive ocean surveillance with a rapid 30-minute revisit cycle. The Ahmedabad-based startup has overcome significant challenges in devel ..... Read More