Category Archives: Amazing Feats

Hyderabad makes history as U.S. smashes visa records in India

The demand for visas across all categories witnessed an exceptional surge, recording a remarkable 60% increase in applications compared with 2022.

Hyderabad emerged as one of the top four student visa processing posts in the world, along with Mumbai, New Delhi, and Chennai, while the U.S. Consular Team in India has set unprecedented visa records in 2023.

The demand for visas across all categories witnessed an exceptional surge, recording a remarkable 60% increase in applications compared with 2022. Hyderabad played a pivotal role in this surge, contributing significantly to India’s representation, with one in every 10 U.S. visa applicants originating from the country.

The U.S. consular team in India issued over 140,000 student visas in 2023, setting a record for the third consecutive year. Consequently, Indian students now constitute the largest group of international graduate students in the United States, representing over a quarter of the one million foreign students studying in the country.

Maintaining a focus on employment visas, Consular Team India streamlined processes by consolidating most petition-based visa processing in Chennai and Hyderabad. This strategic move resulted in the efficient processing of over 380,000 employment visas for Indians and their family members in 2023, with minimal appointment wait times. Looking ahead to 2024, a pilot programme will enable eligible H1B holders to renew their visas in the United States, further simplifying the process for this group.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL: Indian-American 9-year old Preesha Chakraborty listed in world’s brightest students list

Preesha Chakraborty, a nine-year-old Indian-American schoolgirl, was named in the “world’s brightest” students list by the prestigious Johns Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth.

Preesha Chakraborty, a nine-year-old Indian-American schoolgirl, was named in the “world’s brightest” students list by the prestigious Johns Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth, based on the results of above-grade-level tests of over 16,000 students across 90 countries.

Preesha is a Warm Spring Elementary school student in Fremont, California, and took the US-based Johns Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth (JH-CTY) test in Summer 2023 as a Grade 3 student, a media release said on Monday.

Preesha figured in the list after the results of above-grade-level tests of over 16,000 students from more than 90 countries around the world were assessed, it said.

She was honoured for her exceptional performance on the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test), ACT (American College Testing), School and College Ability Test, or similar assessments as part of the CTY Talent Search.

Less than 30 per cent of students qualify each year for either High Honors or Grand Honors/SET based on their test scores.

She aced in the test’s verbal and quantitative sections – on par with the 99th percentile of advanced Grade 5 performances – and bagged the Grand Honors, according to the press release.

The achievement qualifies Preesha for more than 250 Johns Hopkins CTY’s Online and On-Campus Programmes for advanced students in grades 2-12 in mathematics, computer programming, chemistry, physics, reading, and writing.

Preesha is a lifetime member of the universally renowned Mensa Foundation, the oldest high-IQ society in the world, where membership is open to people who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardised, supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test.

She achieved this accomplishment at age six by securing 99 percentiles in the national level NNAT (Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test), which assesses K-12 students for gifted and talented programmes. Preesha loves travelling, hiking, and mixed martial arts outside of studies.

According to her parents, Preesha has always been passionate about learning and has consistently displayed exceptional academic abilities.

“This is not just recognition of students’ performance on one test, but a testament to their curiosity and capacity for learning,” Amy Shelton, Executive Director of the CTY, said.

“These students have demonstrated enormous potential, and now we encourage them to seek out experiences and communities that help them challenge and stretch their knowledge, connect with other young scholars, understand diverse perspectives, think critically, and pursue their goals confidently,” Shelton said.

Founded in 1979, CTY is a centre for innovation dedicated to advancing the field of gifted education through research on testing, programmes, and other support for advanced learners. 

source/content: indiatodayne.in (headline edited)

REGIONAL / COMMONWEALTH: LEADERSHIP: Darasing Khurana Appointed As ‘Commonwealth Year Of Youth Champion’ Along With UK’s Prince Edward

India’s Darasing Khurana is the second person in the world to be appointed as ‘Commonwealth Year of Youth Champion’.

Darasing Khurana, ever since he entered showbiz, has represented India globally on various platforms. In fact, he has been a guiding force for the youth by empowering them in more ways than one. Now adding to it, he has now been appointed as the Commonwealth Year Of Youth Champion 2024. With the latest feat, he has become the first Asian and the second person in the world to hold the title along with Prince Edward of the UK. 

He was officially appointed for the post by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC. Talking about him, the dignitary said, “With your exceptional commitment to youth development and empowerment the Commonwealth is confident that your voice will resonate with young people across borders and inspire positive change. Your dedication to this cause aligns perfectly with the values of the Commonwealth and we believe that your influential voice and advocacy will greatly contribute to the success of our endeavours during the Year of Youth.”

With undertaking the title, Darasing Khurana will be required to provide informed and targeted messaging to governments, youth organisations, the private sector and the general public. He would be the high-profile spokesperson, who would be instrumental in guiding and promoting youth development and empowerment across the Commonwealth. Throughout his tenure, he would collaborate closely with key stakeholders, participate in significant events, thereby aiding in shaping the future of youth in the Commonwealth member countries.

For those caught unaware, Darasing bagged the Mister India International title in 2017. Since then, he has been working for the betterment of the youth. He is also the brand ambassador of DATRI, world’s second largest blood stem cell donors’ registry, and the founder of Pause.Breathe.Talk Foundation to provide affordable mental health care to people. He is also known to work with UNICEF India as a youth advocate.

source/content: outlookindia.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL / NATIONAL: MANUFACTURING & AVIATION : MAKE IN INDIA : Airbus contracts Dynamatic to make doors for A220 aircraft

Will double sourcing from India from a value of $750 mn to $1.5 bn.

French aerospace manufacturer Airbus on Thursday announced the awarding of a contract for the manufacturing and assembly of its A220 aircraft doors to Bengaluru-based Dynamatic Technologies in what it called “one of the largest aerospace export contracts to India.”

Dynamatic will manufacture and assemble the cargo, passenger and service doors along with the over-wing emergency exit doors for the A220 family aircraft, which total to eight doors per aircraft.

The order signifies implementation of “complex assembling and integration of aerospace manufacturing, which will create downstream opportunities in the Indian aviation supply chain,” Airbus CEO Remi Maillard, President and Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia said at a press event.

Thursday’s contract is also among the orders that will enable Airbus to double its sourcing from India, which is valued at about $750 million every year. This is expected to rise to $1.5 billion over the next few years.

To a question on when Airbus plans a final assembly line for commercial aircraft given large orders from IndiGo and Air India, Mr. Maillard said Airbus provided more jobs and more value for India today than any Final Assembly Line (FAL) will achieve.

According to Dynamatic’s Udayant Malhoutra only 15% of value generated from manufacturing an aircraft comes from a FAL.

Airbus recently announced a FAL for H125 helicopter for the private sector and in 2022 announced a FAL for C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL / NATIONAL: EDUCTION / MATHEMATICS WORLD RECORDS: Two Mumbai Students Aadhya Shetty & Pratham Mehta Bag ‘Top in the World’ For Mathematics Award

Two students from Mumbai’s Kanakia International School were awarded the “Top In The World” title for Mathematics at the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards.

Aadhya Shetty and Pratham Mehta received the “Highest Mark In The World” for the Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (without coursework) category.

Cambridge Assessment International Education recognizes the achievements of exceptional Cambridge Learners worldwide through the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards. The title ‘Top in the World’ is given to students who have attained the highest global standard in a specific subject. Aadhya Shetty and Pratham Mehta have been acknowledged for achieving a perfect PUM score of 100 in mathematics in the June 2023 Cambridge Examination.

Ms. Shuchi Shukla, the principal of Kanakia International School, Chembur, emphasising the school’s dedication to holistic education said,”Aadhya and Pratham have etched their names in the institution’s history with this remarkable feat. Additionally, I would like to thank Ms. Priya Pathak and Mr. Prashant Kamble, our math teachers, for their contribution in guiding our students towards this exemplary achievement.”

source/content: freepressjournal.in (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL / NATIONAL: EV : Yamaha Motor leads $40 million funding in e-scooter startup River

The company entered the domestic EV market with its first e-scooter, Indie, in October last year, and in January it opened its first River store in Bengaluru.

Electric scooter startup River on Tuesday announced it has raised USD 40 million (Rs 335 crore) in Series B funding led by Japan’s Yamaha Motor Co, Ltd. The funds will be utilised for scaling up the distribution and service network, among others.

“The investment is a significant boost for our plan to build a billion dollar global utility-lifestyle brand by 2030. We have built a great base in R&D and manufacturing over the last two years and now, it’s time to grow,” said Aravind Mani, Co-founder and CEO of River.

The company entered the domestic EV market with its first e-scooter, Indie, in October last year, and in January it opened its first River store in Bengaluru.

The Series B funding round also saw participation from existing investors Al-Futtaim Automotive, Lowercarbon Capital, Toyota Ventures and Maniv Mobility, River said.

With the latest capital infusion, the total funding secured by the company since its inception in March 2021 stands at USD 68-million (Rs 565 crores), according to River.

With this funding, the company plans to scale the distribution and service network across the country and invest further in R&D for future lineup of products.

“The collaboration with Yamaha will help us leverage the design and technology capability that we have built at River.”, said Vipin George, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, River.

The company said its maiden e-scooter, Indie, has been fully designed and developed at its R&D facility in Bengaluru and manufactured at its Hoskote manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Bengaluru. 

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: NATIONAL: DEFENCE / NAVY: 46 nations have confirmed their participation in MILAN-2024 to be conducted in Vizag, says Navy Chief Admiral Hari Kumar

Hopefully, there will be meaningful discussions on the naval activities that will benefit the participating counties during the exercise to be organised from February 19 to 27, says Admiral Hari Kumar.

Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral R. Hari Kumar has said that 46 counties have confirmed their participation in MILAN-2024 to be conducted in Visakhapatnam from February 19 to 27, and four more will be confirming their participation soon.

Admiral Hari Kumar was speaking to the reporters onboard INS Sandhayak, the Navy’s survey vessel, which was commissioned by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh here on February 3 (Saturday).

“The Navy has invited 60 counties. Hopefully, it will have a meaningful discussion on naval activities that will benefit the counties and the city as well,” he said.

Admiral Hari Kumar said that MILAN would also include visits to local sites by the participants.

Referring to the recruitment of women in the Navy, Admiral Hari Kumar said, “Now, all roles and ranks are open to women in the Navy. Women can join any role in the Navy. We look at the individual’s ability and commitment, not gender,” he added.

INS Sandhayak would double as a hospital at sea in case of any casualty in the ships, he said, and added that three more Sandhayak-class ships would be inducted by next year.

“The Navy is very particular about the nation’s security and its network. The Anti-Piracy Act brought in during December 2022 gives more power to the Navy to counter any anti-national activities,” he said.

“We have indigenously developed anti-drone equipment. We have also deployed ships for anti-drone operations,” Admiral Hari Kumar added.

Talking about the status of Indian Navy in the Maldives, he said, “We have good military relations with the Maldives.”

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL: ARTS & CULTURE / MUSIC: Grammy Awards 2024: India takes centre-stage at the 66th Grammy Awards 2024 as Shankar Mahadevan, Zakir Hussain Win Laurels

In a post on X, Indian music composer Ricky Kej said that this is a great year for India at the Grammys.

The most coveted award ceremony of all time, the Grammys, is here. And currently, we see Indian talent shining on the prestigious platform. Our homeland took centre-stage at the 66th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles after Zakir Hussain was named the Best Global Music Performance for his work in Pashto alongside Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer, featuring Rakesh Chaurasia.

Shankar Mahadevan also took home the award for Best Global Music Album at the Grammys for This Moment. Taking to X, Grammys shared the post and wrote: “Congrats Best Global Music Album winner – ‘This Moment’ Shakti. #GRAMMYs.”

In his acceptance speech, Mahadevan said, “Thank you boys. Thank you God, family, friends, and India. India, we are proud of you…Last but not the least, I would like to dedicate this award to my wife whom every note of my music is dedicated to.” 

In a post on X, Indian music composer Ricky Kej said that this is a great year for India at the Grammys. He wrote: “Ustad Zakhir Hussain, the living legend creates history by winning 3 Grammys in one night!!! Rakesh Chaurasia wins 2!! .. and I am blessed to witness it.”

Kej added, “SHAKTI wins a GRAMMY! Through this album 4 brilliant Indian musicians win Grammys!! Just amazing. India is shining in every direction. Shankar Mahadevan, Selvaganesh Vinayakram, Ganesh Rajagopalan, Ustad Zakhir Hussain. Ustad Zakhir Hussain won a second Grammy along with virtuoso flute player Rakesh Chaurasia. Brilliant!”

The artistes mentioned were nominated for the Grammy Awards alongside others such as Susana Baca, Bokante, Burna Boy, and Davido.

source/content: indulgexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: HEALTH & MEDICINE: RESEARCH: British Indian Doctor Tony Dhillon to undertake ‘ground-breaking’ Cancer Vaccine trial

Dr Tony Dhillon, a Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, proposed the idea for the trial and has worked with Professor Tim Price in Australia for the last four years to develop the vaccine.

A British Indian doctor is the chief investigator of a “ground-breaking” trial of a vaccine to treat early bowel cancer for patients worldwide, following a UK-Australia collaboration between scientists and doctors.

Dr Tony Dhillon, a Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, proposed the idea for the trial and has worked with Professor Tim Price in Australia for the last four years to develop the vaccine.

The trial, announced recently, will be run by the Cancer Research UK Southampton Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Southampton in collaboration with Royal Surrey and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide, Australia.

“This is the first treatment vaccine in any gastrointestinal cancer and we have high hopes that it will be very successful. We think that for a lot of patients, the cancer will have gone completely after this treatment,” said Dr Dhillon.

“This is ground-breaking. I feel as if we are on the edge of something really big here. The vaccine makes the immune system go after the cancer. It will be life-changing because it means that potentially, patients may not need to have surgery – they may just have the vaccine,” he said.

There will be 10 sites for patients to be enrolled – six in Australia and four in the UK, with 44 patients to be enrolled in the study over an 18-month period.

The vaccine will be used to treat patients before surgery, in the hope that it will cause the body to attack the cancer. It would mean any surgery would be less invasive. It is also hoped that the strength of the vaccine could support the immune system to respond if there is a relapse and the cancer returns later on.

“We are hugely proud to have been involved in the launch of this ground-breaking new vaccine. As the fourth-largest cancer centre in the UK, helping to fight cancer is a huge part of what we do and this will really provide an opportunity for bowel cancer patients and give them real hope of beating the disease,” said Louise Stead, Royal Surrey Foundation Trust Chief Executive.

Patients will have an endoscopy, and then a tissue sample will be tested to see if they are eligible for the trial. If they are, they will have three doses of the vaccine before having surgery to remove the cancer.

The trial will be available for just 44 patients around the world. After the trial finishes, the vaccine will either be licensed for use or if it’s successful, a bigger study will be carried out.

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is the third most common cancer, with a worldwide annual incidence of over 1.2 million cases and a mortality rate of approximately 50 per cent. 

source/content: tribuneindia.com (headline edited)

REGIONAL: ASIA : SPORTS/ATHLETICS : Asian Half Marathon Championship 2023: Sawan Barwal Wins Bronze Medal; Men’s team Bags Gold

The Indian women’s team also won the bronze medal at the inaugural edition of the event in Dubai.

Indian long-distance runners won three medals – one gold and two bronze – at the Asian Half Marathon Championship 2023 in Dubai on Saturday. This was the inaugural edition of the athletics event.

India’s Sawan Barwal clocked 1:04:30 to win the bronze medal in the men’s individual category. The Indian athlete was 13 seconds short of his personal best of 1:04:17 timed at the Delhi Half Marathon in New Delhi last month.

Japan’s Daisuke Doi claimed the gold medal with 1:03:43 while the silver medal went to the People’s Republic of China’s Kegu Yang, who timed his run at 1:04:04.

Among the other Indians in the fray, Kartik Kumar, the silver medal winner in men’s 10,000m at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, clocked 1:05:21 to come fifth, while Abhishek Pal, who won the 10,000m bronze at the Asian Athletics Championships 2023 in Bangkok earlier this year, was 13th with 1:08:05.

The Indian trio of Sawan Barwal, Kartik Kumar and Abhishek Pal combined to take the gold medal in the men’s team event.

In the women’s category, Poonam Dinkar was the best Indian finisher at ninth with a time of 1:19:28. Kavita Yadav, with 1:19:33, and Rima Patel, with 1:19:40, finished 10th and 11th, respectively.

India also won the bronze medal in the women’s team event.

Asian Half Marathon Championship 2023: Indian medal winners

  • Sawan Barwal – bronze medal in men’s individual event
  • Sawan Barwal, Kartik Kumar and Abhishek Pal – gold medal in men’s team event
  • Poonam Dinkar, Kavita Yadav and Rima Patel – bronze medal in women’s team event

source/content: olympics.com (headline edited)