Kamal Menghrajani is an Indian-American cancer physician. She has been appointed to the 2023-2024 class of White House Fellows, which offers the opportunity to work at the highest levels of the Federal government of the United States. She is working at the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President with the Cancer Moonshot and Health Outcome teams.

Wiki/Biography

In 2011, Kamal Menghrajani attained a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, 3-year postgraduate degree in medicine from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine . In July 2020, she completed her Master of Science (MS) degree in Biostatistics from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, in New York. She is a member of the Global Health team at Mailman School of Public Health. 

Family

Parents & Siblings

There is not much information about her parents and siblings.

Wife & Children

On 18 September 2021, Kamal Menghrajani married Rajiv Magge, an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Weill Cornell Medical College and an Assistant Attending Neurologist at Presbyterian Hospital, NewYork. She has no children yet.

Kamal Menghrajani with her husband, Rajiv Magge

Career

She was the co-founder of Nourish International, a student movement that works on the impacts of extreme poverty. She worked for this organisation from January 2003 to May 2006. In August 2006, she joined the National Institutes of Health as a NCI Research Fellow and worked there for 11 months. In June 2007, she joined ABC News as a Medical Unit Reporter and worked for next three months. From June 2012 to June 2015, she served Michigan Medicine, based in Ann Arbor as a Resident Physician. In July 2015, she joined Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as a fellow member. In one year she became Chief fellow, and in August 2018, she was promoted as an attending physician. In August 2023, she resigned from her job. She has been appointed to the 2023-2024 class of White House Fellows by the U. S. President, Joe Biden, which offers the opportunity to work at the highest levels of the Federal government at Washington, District of Columbia, United States. ^[1]LinkedIn – Kamal Menghrajani

Yesterday, President Biden announced my appointment as a White House Fellow https://t.co/lUBPDLmF7g

As the first oncologist ever selected, I'm excited to lead, serve, and innovate for our patients in this new role with the Cancer Moonshot and Health Outcomes teams @WHOSTP

— Kamal Menghrajani, MD, MS (@KamalMe) September 22, 2023

Awards, Honours, Achievements

• In 2018, Kamal Menghrajani was awarded the ASCO Young Investigator Award in memory of Sally Gordonis by the Conquer Cancer Foundation. ^[2]ASCO Connection

•  In May 2023, her team, Candy Therapeutics won the Sigma Millipore High Impact Award at Nucleate, New York.

Facts/Trivia

• Her expertise is in leukaemia and her research interests are in clonal hematopoiesis, genomics, and assessing advanced therapeutics via clinical research. Kamal Menghrajani, while working with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discussed the advanced research of acute myeloid leukaemia during an interview.

• Kamal Menghrajani has served oncology patients at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai and Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala. ^[3]The Economic Times

• Kamal Menghrajani is the only Indian American in the cohort of 14 other members in the 2023-24 class of White House fellows. ^[4]NDTV
  

  Kamal Menghrajani with 14 other members (extreme right in the front row) 2023-24 class of White House fellows

Shreya

Zahoor Ahmad Bhat is a senior lecturer of political science, PhD scholar, and an advocate. ^[1]Hindustan Times

Wiki/Biography

Zahoor Ahmad Bhat was born in Pakistan. He is an alumnus of the University of Kashmir. Zahoor Ahmad Bhat holds a law degree.

Family

There is not much information about his family.

Parents & Siblings

There is not much information about his parents and siblings.

Wife & Children

There is not much information about his wife and children.

Religion/Religious Views

Zahoor Ahmad Bhat follows Islam.

Career

Zahoor Ahmad Bhat is a senior lecturer of political science at Government Higher Secondary School Jawahar Nagar in Srinagar.

Controversy

Jammu and Kashmir’s administration withdrew the suspension order against Zahoor Ahmad Bhat

Zahoor Ahmad Bhat appeared in the Supreme Court in favour of Article 370 in the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state and raised a legal challenge to the nullification’s validity of Article 370 which granted J&K a semi-autonomous status. Due to this, Zahoor Ahmad Bhat was suspended from his job by the Jammu and Kashmir administration headed by Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud. After the court hearing, two senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Rajeev Dhavan raised the issue of his suspension. Kapil Sibal said,

He took leave for two days. Argued before this court and went back and was suspended,” Sibal said. The bench, also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai and Surya Kant, asked Venkataramani to talk to the J-K Lieutenant Governor and look into the issue. “This should not happen. Someone arguing before this court gets suspended…,” the bench said. Venktaramani replied that he would look into the issue.” ^[2]Hindustan Times

On 28 August 2023, the Supreme Court assigned Attorney General R. Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to investigate the sudden suspension of Zahoor Ahmad Bhat.

Facts/Trivia

• Zahoor Bhat was praised by the people for fighting against the black Law (Re-registration circular of Vehicles) in the High Court of J&K enforced by RTO in Jammu & Kashmir.

Shreya

Jaahnavi Kandula (1997-2023) was an Indian student, who was studying in Seattle, United States. In 2023, she died after being hit by a patrol car driven by police officer Kevin Dave in Seattle.

Wiki/Biography

Jaahnavi Kandula was born in 2000 (age 23 years; at the time of death) in Andhra Pradesh, India. She was raised single-handedly by her mother in Adoni, Andhra Pradesh. In 2021, she went from Bengaluru to the United States for a student exchange program. She was pursuing a master’s degree in information systems at Northeastern University in South Lake Union in Seattle and was expected to complete her graduation in December 2023. ^[1]NDTV World

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 4″

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Family

Parents & Siblings

Her mother is an elementary school teacher.

Husband

She was unmarried.

Death

On 23 January 2023, she was killed by a patrol car driven by police officer Kevin Dave in Seattle. Reportedly, Dave was driving the car at 74 mph (119 kmph). He was attending an emergency call when his car hit Jaahnavi at the intersection of Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street. She was thrown over 100 feet away after the car hit her. Jaahnavi was rushed to the Harborview Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries. ^[2]The New Indian Express The night she died, her uncle Ashok Mandula flew to Seattle to make the arrangements for taking her body back to India. ^[3]India Today However, the police officer did not face any criminal charges due to a lack of sufficient evidence. ^[4]Hindustan Times

Facts/Trivia

• On 12 September 2023, the Seattle Police Department released a clip on the internet which was recorded by the body camera of police officer Daniel Auderer, a drug recognition expert, who was given the task of checking if Dave was under the influence of any substances on 23 January 2023. In the recording, Daniel’s conversation with guild President Mike Solan could be heard. ^[5]The New Indian Express Before bursting out into laughter and calling Jaahnvi a regular person, Daniel said,
  

  She is Dead.”

  Further, he could be heard saying,

  Yeah, just write a check. Eleven thousand dollars.’’

  Concluding the call Daniel said,

  She was 26 anyway, she had limited value.”

• After the video went viral on social media, India firmly brought up the issue with the US authorities and demanded a thorough investigation and punishment for those responsible for the incident. ^[6]NDTV World On 13 September 2023, the Consulate General of India in San Francisco expressed deep concern about the incident in a post on X, which read,
  

  Recent reports including in media of the handling of Ms Jaahnavi Kandula’s death in a road accident in Seattle in January are deeply troubling. We have taken up the matter strongly with local authorities in Seattle & Washington State as well as senior officials in Washington DC for a thorough investigation & action against those involved in this tragic case. The Consulate & Embassy will continue to closely follow up on this matter with all concerned authorities.”

Recent reports including in media of the handling of Ms Jaahnavi Kandula’s death in a road accident in Seattle in January are deeply troubling. We have taken up the matter strongly with local authorities in Seattle & Washington State as well as senior officials in Washington DC

— India in SF (@CGISFO) September 13, 2023

Amisha

Dr Will Cole is an American Functional Medicine Practitioner and author. He hosts a podcast named The Art of Being Well and consults with people all over the world over a webcam.

Wiki/Biography

Dr Will Cole was born on Thursday, 6 October 1983 (age 40 years; as of 2023). His zodiac sign is Libra. He graduated from the Southern California University of Health Sciences which he attended from 2005 to 2009. He is also a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC). Further, he has certification from the Institute for Functional Medicine. ^[1]LinkedIn

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 8″

Weight (approx.): 75 kg

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Family

Parents & Siblings

His father is now deceased. Will Cole has a brother.

Will Cole with his father and brother

Wife & Children

Dr Will Cole is married to Amber Cole. Together, they have two children, a daughter and a son named Solomon.

Dr Will Cole with his wife Amber Cole

Dr Will Cole with his wife Amber Cole and two children

Religion

Will Cole follows Christianity.

Address

111 Whitehead Ln # 100, Monroeville, PA 15146, USA

Career

Functional Medicine Practitioner

Ketotarian

Published on August 28, 2018, “Ketotarian” written by Dr Will Cole and published by Avery / Penguin Random House presents a unique approach that combines the benefits of ketogenic eating with plant-based foods. This (mostly) plant-based plan is stated to enable individuals to burn fat, increase energy, manage cravings, and reduce inflammation. It caters to various dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian diets. The book guides readers on a healthy journey towards weight loss, improved physical and mental performance, and overall well-being. “Ketotarian” aims to revolutionize the traditional approach to keto diets, making it inclusive and accessible to a broader range of individuals.

The Inflammation Spectrum

“The Inflammation Spectrum,” written by Dr Will Cole and published by Avery / Penguin Random House on October 15, 2019, explores the significant impact of inflammation on various health issues. It explains that inflammation exists on a continuum, ranging from mild symptoms like weight gain and fatigue to more severe conditions such as hormone imbalances and autoimmune disorders. The book highlights the crucial connection between what we eat and how we feel, as each meal can either fuel or combat inflammation. It encourages readers to identify the best foods for their needs, promoting food freedom and overall healing. Through quizzes and empowering advice, the book guides readers towards nourishing their bodies with healing and delicious foods, fostering a deeper love for their bodies.

Intuitive Fasting

“Intuitive Fasting,” authored by Dr Will Cole, was published by Goop Press / Rodale on February 23, 2021. This innovative book presents a four-week intermittent fasting plan that aims to rejuvenate metabolism and enhance overall well-being. By promoting intuitive eating patterns, it empowers readers to develop a deeper understanding of their body’s needs and achieve metabolic flexibility, enabling them to function optimally and nourish their health effectively. With practical insights and valuable guidance, “Intuitive Fasting” offers a transformative approach to fasting that fosters mindfulness and metabolic balance for lasting wellness.

Gut Feelings

“Gut Feelings,” authored by Dr Will Cole and published by Goop Press / Rodale on March 21, 2023, is a comprehensive guide that explores the intricate connection between diet and emotions. The book offers a transformative 21-day plan, empowering readers to reset their relationship with their bodies and address gut inflammation caused by stress, shame, and trauma. Dr Will Cole sheds light on the crucial connection between physical and emotional health, providing readers with a framework to comprehend the gut-brain link and leverage it for better well-being. He emphasizes how stress and shame can trigger gut inflammation, leading to detrimental effects on overall health, a phenomenon he terms “Shameflammation.” Through his 21-Day Gut Feeling plan, Dr Cole empowers readers to revitalize their relationship with food and body, bridging the gap between emotions and well-being. By tapping into their gut feelings, “Gut Feelings” promises to be a transformative journey, enlightening readers about the power of holistic health and the profound impact of intuitive and mindful eating. ^[4]Dr. Will Cole Further, Dr Cole has released ingestible supplements named ‘Gut Feelings’ that supposedly help the mind and body connection, and he claims that it improves one’s mood and gut. ^[5]Dr. Will Cole

Dr Will Cole with his book ‘Gut Feelings’

Achievements

• Dr Will Cole is on the list of Dr Axe’s “Top 50 Functional Medicine and Integrative Doctors”. ^[6]Dr. Axe

Favourites

• Beverage: Tea

• Restaurant: True Food Kitchen

• Drink: Wine

• Dessert: Peanut Butter ^[7]Dr Barbara Sturm

Facts/Trivia

• Dr Will Cole has appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show to talk about his book ‘Gut Feelings’.

• Dr Will Cole follows an intermittent fasting diet. ^[8]Goop

• Dr Will Cole loves history and attributed this to being an Enneagram Type 5.

• Will Cole has two dogs.

• The clothing brand Museum of Peace & Quiet has released clothing in collaboration with Will Cole.

• Dr Will Cole is a health guru to Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow. ^[9]New York Post
  

  Gwyneth Paltrow with her health guru Dr Will Cole

Sharon

Tafari Campbell (1978-2023) was a personal chef who served as White House Chef for eight years under George W. Bush and Barack Obama. He died near Martha’s Vineyard by drowning in July 2023.

Wiki/Biography

Tafari Campbell was born on Sunday, 12 March 1978 (age 45 years; at the time of death) in Dumfries, Virginia, U.S.A. His zodiac sign is Pisces. He developed an interest in cooking while growing up and became a trained chef later.

Tafari Campbell (left) in his teens

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 9″

Weight (approx.): 75 kg

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Family & Ethnicity

He belonged to an African-American family.

Parents & Siblings

There are not much details available about his parents and siblings.

Wife & Children

He got married to Sherise Campbell on 9 October 1999. The couple had twin sons named Xavier and Savin.

Tafari Campbell during his marriage in 1999

Tafari Campbell with his wife, Sherise Campbell

Tafari Campbell with his son

Tafari Campbell with one of his twin sons

Relationships/Affairs

He dated Sherise Campbell for a brief period of time before marrying her in 1999.

Tafari Campbell with his girlfriend, Sherise Campbell

Religion

He followed Christianity.

Career

White House Chef

He started working as a White House Chef during the Bush administration and was one of the four chefs who were retained when Barack Obama became the president. He worked for eight years at the White House.

Tafari Campbell (right) with George W. Bush

Tafari Campbell (left) working at the White House

Tafari Campbell (right) working at the White House

Personal Chef

After Obama left the White House, he served as the personal chef of Barack Obama and his family for a few years before opening his own personal chef business in 2016 which he named Thymeless Creations.

Tafari Campbell’s personal chef business card of Thymeless Creations

Death

Tafari Campbell died by drowning at the age of 45 years. Police recovered his body from Edgartown Great Pond near Barack Obama’s home on Martha’s Vineyard on 24 July 2023. Allegedly, he had gone into the lake on 23 July 2023 to do paddle boarding with another person who could not be identified. Later, a person called the police department and informed them about the drowning of a person. The police team started a search and rescue operation on the night around 8 pm 23 July 2023. His body was recovered around 10 am on 24 July 2023 by sonar about 100ft (30 meters) from shore at a depth of about 8ft (2.4 meters), and he was not wearing a life jacket. Some people alleged that he did not know swimming; however, some people claimed that he was a good swimmer and raised suspicions about his death. Barack and Michelle Obama were not present at their house when Tafari’s body was recovered; however, they released a statement and condemned his death. They said,

Today we join everyone who knew and loved Tafari – especially his wife Sherise and their twin boys, Xavier and Savin – in grieving the loss of a truly wonderful man.” ^[1]The Guardian

Facts/Trivia

• He loved playing golf and lifting weights during his leisure time.
  

  Tafari Campbell playing golf

  

  Tafari Campbell during a gym session

• He was a movie buff and often watched films.
  

  Tafari Campbell with his wife, Sherise Campbell, after watching the film Black Panther

Amit

Sai Varshith Kandula is an Indian-American teen who crashed a U-Haul truck into security barriers at Lafayette Square near the White House in Washington, DC on 22 May 2023.

Wiki/Biography

Sai Varshith Kandula was born in 2004 (age 19 years; as of 2023). He graduated from Marquette High School in St. Louis, Missouri in 2022. He did some certificate courses in data analytics with some prominent organisations including Google and IBM.

Family

Sai Varshith Kandula belongs to a Telugu family in Chesterfield, Missouri, United States.

Parents & Siblings

There is not much information about his parents and siblings.

White House Truck Ramming Row

On 22 May 2023, Sai Varshith Kandula was apprehended by police after his audacious act of ramming a U-Haul truck into a security barrier at Lafayette Square near the White House in Washington, DC. His radical intent was seemingly to “assassinate Joe Biden, get to the White House, seize power from the government, and be put in charge of the nation.” The post-arrest investigation unveiled that Kandula rented an orange and white coloured box truck from U-Haul, an American rental company, in Herndon, Virginia, upon arriving at Dulles International Airport after travelling from St. Louis on a one-way ticket at approximately 8:00 pm. After barreling the vehicle into the security barriers, he reportedly exited the front seat and started waving the red swastika-emblazoned flag before he was taken into custody. Investigators later retrieved a medley of items from the vehicle including the Nazi flag, duct tape, a backpack, and a notebook filled with written content.

A Nazi flag and other objects were removed from the truck

Reportedly, Sai Varshith, during interrogation, claimed his mission to the White House had been a success in the sense that he had conveyed his message to entities such as the United States Secret Service. He said,

Either way, whether I got into the White House or not, my message was received.”

When probed about his awareness of the consequences of his actions, he admitted that he had anticipated his arrest. Throughout the interrogation, Kandula referred to a “green book,” which he described as a vessel for his thoughts. He revealed that he had been jotting down his plans to breach the White House and his envisioned actions once in power in this green book. The U.S. Park Police levelled a range of charges against Sai Varshith including threats to assassinate, kidnap, or cause harm to the president, vice president or their relatives, assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless driving, trespassing, and the destruction of federal property. The formal complaint alleges Kandula caused damages exceeding US$1,000 to the White House’s external barriers.

A US Park Police officer while inspecting a security barrier for damage in Lafayette Square park near the White House

Facts/Trivia

• According to sources, Kandula looked up to Adolf Hitler as a strong leader. It is reported that he perceived the Nazis as having a glorious past, a sentiment he expressed during the course of the investigation. ^[1]New York Post

• It is said that he participated in the student council during his sophomore year at Marquette High School.

• In an interview, Aniket Sharma, a friend of Varshith Kandula, provided some insight into Kandula’s personality. According to Sharma, Kandula was typically reserved and introverted. He noted that Kandula, who enjoyed playing tennis, wasn’t particularly communicative and their interactions were often brief. Contrary to the developing narrative, Sharma emphatically denied that Kandula was a white supremacist or aligned with neo-Nazi ideologies. ^[2]New York Post

• According to his LinkedIn profile, Varshith aims to be a data analyst and is skilled in Python and Java programming languages. He has completed some certificate courses in data analytics with some prominent organisations including Google and IBM. ^[3]Sai Kandula – LinkedIn

Chandni

Mahsa Amini (2000-2022) was an Iranian woman who is known for being killed by the police forces in Iran for violating Iran’s strict dress code. She died on 16 September 2022 in Tehran after being in a coma for three days.

Wiki/Biography

Mahsa Amini was born on Saturday, 22 July 2000 (age 30 years; at the time of death) in Saqqez, Iran.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 5″

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Family

Parents & Siblings

Mahsa’s father’s name is Amjad Amini and his mother’s name is Mojgan Amini. Her brother’s name is Kiaresh Amini.

A collage of Mahsa’s brother (left) and parents (right)

Wife & Children

Mahsa was unmarried at the time of death.

Religion

She follows Islam.

Caste

She belongs to the Kurd caste. ^[1]The Guardian

Mahsa’s arrest by police

On 13 September 2022, Mahsa was arrested by the guidance patrol when she was travelling to Tehran with her family. The police claimed that she violated the public implementation of hijab regulations and for not wearing her hijab according to government standards.

Police brutality on Mahsa

After getting arrested by the police, she was taken into police custody when her brother heard the police officials beating Mahsa. Later, she was taken to Kasra Hospital and was admitted to a coma. The doctors at the hospital said that she was brain dead after suffering from brain injury including bleeding from the ears and bruises under the eye. On 16 September 2022, she died after being in a coma for three days.

Mahsa Amini admitted to coma after police custody

Protest after Mahsa’s death

On 16 September 2022, there were protests in various cities in Iran after her death. People shouted slogans like “woman, life, freedom”, and “death to the dictator.” The protests also took place outside the Kasra Hospital in Tehran, where she was admitted, and the protesters sprayed pepper on them to stop them. During the protest against the Islamic Republic of Iran’s strict dress code, many people were killed by the police. In some cities, women in the crowd were seen burning their hijab. People on social media were also protesting against her death. Some Iranian women cut their hair in support of the protest and posted videos on social media. Due to the increasing protests, the Iran government stopped access to many apps including Instagram and WhatsApp.

Police denied beating Mahsa

The protesters demanded justice for Mahsa and asked for a change in strict hijab laws. The police officials shared a video on social media in which Mahsa was seen falling unconscious on the ground. They claimed that she was not harmed by the police, but suffered a heart attack.  They talked about this and said,

Resuscitation was performed on the patient, the heartbeat returned and the patient was admitted to the intensive care unit. Unfortunately, after 48 hours on Friday, the patient suffered a cardiac arrest again, due to brain death. Despite the efforts of the medical team, they failed to revive her and the patient died.”

Death

On 16 September 2022, she was killed by Guidance Patrol for a dress code violation in Tehran, Iran. ^[2]Alarabiya News

Facts/Trivia

• Mahsa is called by the name Jina Amini and Zhina Amini by various media houses. ^[3]Vogue ^[4]Women NCR Iran

• Leah Remini, an actress took to Twitter and talked about the incident and said,
  

  Killing of Mahsa Amini is unacceptable under any circumstances, but the fact that she was arrested for wearing an inappropriate hijab makes it even more appalling.”

• Khaby Lame, a social media influencer talked about Mahsa’s death on Instagram and said,
  

  The biggest war for women’s rights and human rights is happening in Iran. If you live on earth and remain silent, you will never be able to speak about women’s rights again.”

• At Mahsa’s funeral, her father did not allow to perform Islamic prayers at her funeral. In a video that went viral on social media, her father said,
  

  Your Islam denounced her, now you’ve come to pray over her? Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? You killed her for two strands of hair! … Take your Islam and go.”

Tanvi

Harini Logan is an American student of Indian origin who won the Scripps National Spelling Bee 2022.

Wiki/Biography

Harini Logan was born on Friday, May 9, 2008 (age 14 years; as of 2022), in San Antonio, Texas, US. Her zodiac sign is Taurus. She pursued her schooling at The Montessori School of San Antonio, San Antonio, United States. As of 2022. she is in grade 8. ^[1]The Economic Times Since childhood, she has actively participated in various extra-curricular activities. She presented a project on France at a Multicultural fair at her school.

Physical Appearance

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Family

Harini Logan’s parents hail from Chennai, India. ^[2]Rampriya Logan- Facebook Her father, Logan Anjaneyulu, holds the position of Director at Valero Energy Corporation. Her mother, Rampriya Logan, worked as a consultant at Cognizant. Her younger brother’s name is Naren Logan; he was born on 16 May 2016.

Harini Logan with her parents and brother

Spelling Bee Competitions

When Harini was in first grade she developed an interest to participate in the spelling bee competitions by watching the Scripps National Spelling Bee 2013 with her family on the TV. She embarked on her journey as a speller in second grade, participating in NSF Regional Spelling Bee. She first participated in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2018 in which secured 323rd place in the competition. In 2019, she ranked 30th, and in 2021, she ranked 31st. In 2019, she became the winner of the San Antonio Express News Regional Spelling Bee second time in a row.

Harini Logan at San Antonio Express-News Regional Spelling Bee (2019)

In the 2020 Canada-USA International Spelling Bee Championship, she secured second place. She was the first runner-up in WishWin’s 2021 Senior Spellathon.

Harini posing with her WishWin Spellathon 2021 trophy

On 27 March 2021, Logan won the Brauntex Bee Regional Spelling Competition at the Brauntex Theatre paving her way into Scripps National Spelling Bee. On 3 June 2022, she rose to popularity when she won the Scripps National Spelling Bee after defeating Vikram Raju in the competition’s first-ever lightning-round tiebreaker. The competition was held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill. During the competition, Harini correctly spelt 22 words in the spell-off with ‘moorhen’ being her final winning word, as compared to Raju who spelt only 15 words. The finalists Vikram Raju and Harini Logan failed to correctly spell two words in a row between Rounds 13 and 18 when the jury initiated a 90 seconds spell-off. It was announced that the contestant who would spell as many words as possible correctly would become the winner. Apart from awards from Merriam-Webster and Encyclopedia Britannica, Logan received a cash prize of $50,000 and a Scripps Cup.

An image of Harini Logan receiving the Scripps Cup (2022)

Favourites

• Food: Minestrone soup

• Author: Roshani Chokshi

• Subject: Science

Facts/Trivia

• She was sponsored by Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre Association for the Scripps National Spelling Bee 2022.

• She was trained for the competition by the renowned spelling bee coach Grace Walters, who is a resident of Texas and a student at Rice University.

• Surprisingly, Harini was mistakenly eliminated from the Scripps National Spelling Bee over the word “pullulation,” which she defined as “the nesting of mating birds” whereas the jury asserted that the correct answer was “the swarming of bees.” Consequently, Walters and Navneeth, Harini’s spelling bee coaches, along with Harini’s mom, Priya, rushed to the jury after which the head judge Mary Brooks renounce the jury’s decision. She said,
  

  We did a little sleuthing after you finished, which is what our job is, to make sure we’ve made the right decision. We did a little deep dive in that word and actually the answer you gave to that word is considered correct, so we’re going to reinstate you.”

• In an interview, she talked about the lightning round, which was introduced a few months before the Scripps National Spelling Bee and said,
  

  When it got introduced last year, I was a bit terrified, to be honest..I go slow. That’s my thing. I didn’t know how I would fare in that setting.”

• She was a voracious reader since childhood.

• A skilled musician, Harini plays the piano, the recorder, and the ukulele.

• She loves creative writing and plans on publishing a book by the time she enrols in high school.

• She draws inspiration from Kamala Harris, the first Indian-origin US Vice-President.

• She is also fond of playing Tennis.
  

  Harini playing Tennis

Tamanpreet

Kasia Gallanio (1976-2022), also known as Kasia Al Thani ^[1]Wikipedia, was the princess of Qatar. She was the third wife of Abdelaziz bin Khalifa Al-Thani, uncle of the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. On May 29, 2022, Kasia was found dead inside her home in the Spanish city of Marbella.

Wiki/Biography

Kasia Gallanio was born on Sunday, October 2, 1977 (age 45 years; at the time of her death), in Krakow, Poland. Her zodiac sign is Libra.

Kasia Gallanio’s childhood picture

While she was a child, her family moved to the United States, where she studied at California State University. ^[2]World Stock Market

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 6″

Weight (approx.): 55 Kg

Hair Colour: Brown

Eye Colour: Black

Figure Measurements (approx.): 34-28-34

Family

Kasia Gallanio was of Polish descent. ^[3]Worabia Trends

Parents & Siblings

Kasia’s mother’s name is Halina Pieczonka. She had a sister named Nina Georgala and a brother named Ahmed Ashmawi.

Kasia Gallanio’s father

Kasia Gallanio with her mother

Kasia Gallanio and her brother

Kasia Gallanio with her sister

Husband & Children

Kasia Gallanio got married to Abdelaziz bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the son of Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani (former Emir of Qatar), in 2004. Her husband served as the oil minister and minister of finance in the Qatar government from 1972 to 1992. She had three daughters, Sheikha Malak, Sheika Yasmin and Sheikha Reem. While two of her daughters are 17-year-old twins, her youngest daughter is 15 years old.

Embed from Getty Images

Kasia Gallanio’s daughters

She divorced Al-Thani after a few years of their marriage and accused him of sexually abusing one of her daughters. However, Al-Thani has always denied the allegations. For over 15 years, she had been engaged in a legal battle with her ex-husband, Abdelaziz bin Khalifa Al-Thani, over the custody of their children. Reportedly, on May 19, 2022, the Paris court rejected her request for custody. The judge postponed the case until a psychological assessment was made on Kasia as she was suffering from nervous breakdowns for a long time. All her children resided with their father on the luxury Avenue Montaigne in Paris.

Relationships/Affairs

At the age of 19, while she was on a trip to Paris, she met Abdelaziz bin Khalifa Al-Thani, a former minister in the government of Qatar, and fell in love with him. They both dated each other for a while and then decided to get married. Reportedly, Al-Thani was cast out of the royal family in 1992 as he allegedly tried to overthrow the Emir of Qatar. Therefore, he moved to France and got settled there.

Religion

She followed Islam. ^[4]Kasia Gallanio- Instagram

Career

In 2007, Kasia launched a luxury gifting company named Savoir-Faire.com. The company went into voluntary liquidation in 2010. In 2018, Kasia joined the business team of the French Professional Football Club FC Martigues.

Death

Kasia Gallanio was found dead inside her home in the Spanish city of Marbella on May 29, 2022. The cause of her death is believed to be a drug overdose. Reportedly, the police visited her house on May 29 after receiving multiple complaints from her youngest daughter, who lived in Paris. Her daughter told the police that Kasia had not responded to her phone calls for several days. On reaching her house, the police found her laying dead in her bed. There were no signs of violence on her body. ^[5]World Stock Market Talking about Kasia during a media conversation, Louis Spagnuolo, a friend of Gallanio in Marbella, said,

I knew her very, very well and I’m overwhelmed by the news. She was a very good person and those who knew her loved her.”

He added,

She loved her daughters immensely and would never leave them. She was dead of drugs and had never been an alcoholic.”

Favourites

• Food: Sushi

• Actress: Sophia Loren

• Attire: Kaftan

• Travel Destination: London

• Horse Whisperer: AlcantarA ecuestre

• Fashion Brand: Chanel

Facts/Trivia

• According to some sources, Kasia Gallanio had a U.S. nationality. ^[6]Bharat Times

• Kasia loved partying and enjoyed a luxurious life.

• According to French media, Gallanio was battling depression and drug and alcohol addictions. She was living alone in Spain and was hospitalised for several months as she was suffering from nervous breakdowns.

• In 2009, Kasia discovered fraudulent activity on her husband’s account at Barclays Bank in Marbella after which she filed legal action against the bank. Later, the bank settled for an undisclosed amount.

• Kasia was often spotted consuming alcohol on various occasions.
  

  Kasia Gallanio during her vacation

• An avid dog lover, Kasia had two pet dogs named Honey and Bella.
  

  Kasia Gallanio with her daughters and pet dog

• Kasia was featured in Hello magazine. She was also featured on the cover of the Porter magazine.
  

  Kasia Gallanio featured on the cover of Porter magazine

• Kasia had a huge collection of Birkin bags by Hermès.
  

  Kasia Gallanio’s collection of Birkin bags

• She owned a few horses and loved horseriding.
  

  Kasia Gallanio with her horse

• She followed a non-vegetarian diet.
  

  Kasia Gallanio’s Instagram Post

• Kasia owned an SUV with her name engraved on it.
  

  Kasia Gallanio’s car

• A social worker, she had hosted several workshops for sick and underprivileged children.
  

  Kasia Gallanio hosting a workshop for sick and underprivileged children

• She was an avid smoker.
  

  Kasia Gallanio smoking a cigarette

• She is also referred to as Kashounia. ^[7]Kasia Gallanio- Instagram

• She was very active on social media and had more than 500k followers on her Instagram account. ^[8]Kasia Gallanio- Instagram

• During an interview, while talking about her daughters, Kasia said,
  

  Two of my daughters are Twins. They wanted to live with me and for that, he punished them by cutting off all communication with them. This is very sad, children need both parents. The little one is not allowed to talk to me and this hurts me a lot as it seems that they are blackmailing her and manipulating her with all the luxuries they offer her. I feel like a part of me is missing.”

• In one of her Instagram posts, Kasia talked about the situation that she was going through. She said,
  

  I have been struggling with posting this on my IG but after getting so many messages of support and how so many parents are in the same situation……I decided to share my story. First, a man should never disrespect the mother of his children and vice versa. No matter how mad, upset or jealous or spiteful the father of my kids is …………. I am doing whatever I can to provide, protect, love, raise, feed and educate the girls like no one else will. I’m not perfect but I try my best.

  Kasia added,

  Children should NEVER be used as victims or pawns when the parents can’t get along. The father of my children Prince Abdulaziz Khalifa Al Thani has not paid one cent for child support for a over a year now to help me support and raise our children. In my opinion this is outrageous, unfair, embarrassing and a real shame. No matter on what financial level or status you are …..it’s really immoral because again the kids are the casualty …. However it’s more humiliating when you are a billionaire prince of QATAR.”

Aakanksha

Meticulous proofreader with a keen eye for grammar, punctuation, and clarity. Committed to polishing content to perfection and maintaining a professional tone throughout.

Anna Menon is an American astronaut and a lead space operations engineer at SpaceX, who was chosen as a crew member for the 2022 space mission ‘Polaris Dawn’ on 14 February 2022.

Wiki/Biography

Anna Wilhelm Menon hails from Houston, Texas.

A snip of Anna Menon’s Instagram profile

She first dreamed of flying to space in fourth grade when her teacher Alison Smith Balch (daughter of Space Shuttle Challenger pilot Michael J. Smith) took her to NASA’s Johnson Space Center. At the space center, Anna experienced a day in the life of an astronaut and flight controller in Mission Control center, which left her mesmerized.

Childhood picture of Anna Menon at NASA’s Johnson Space Center

After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Spanish from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, she pursued her master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at Duke University in North Carolina. ^[1]Polaris Program

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 5″

Hair Color: Medium Blonde

Eye Color: Light Brown

Family

Parents & Siblings

Anna Menon’s father’s name is Chandler Wilhelm, and her mother’s name is Laura Wilhelm.

Anna Menon with her father

Anna Menon with her mother

She has two siblings, a sister, Rachel Wilhelm, and a brother, Alex Wilhelm.

Anna Menon with her sister, Rachel Wilhelm

Anna Menon with her brother, Alex Wilhelm

Husband & Children

On 15 October 2016, she got married to the Indian-American physician Anil Menon at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 5501 Main St at Houston, TX 77004. Anil is a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force, emergency medicine physician, and NASA astronaut candidate. Born to a Ukrainian mother and Indian father, Anil was raised in Minnesota US. Together, they have a son named James Menon (born in 2018), and a daughter named Grace Elizabeth Menon (born in 2020).

Anna Menon with her husband and children

Relationships/Affairs

In 2013, Anna Wilhelm made acquaintance with Anil Menon at a mutual friend’s party, where they danced together to Carly Rae Jepsen’s song ‘Call Me Maybe.’ At the party, Anil wrapped his arm around Anna while talking to the media, a gesture that left Anna surprised. At that time, they were working together at NASA. Consequently, after three dates, Anil proposed to Anna for marriage at Lucy Peveto’s art gallery.

Anil and Anna while working together on SpaceX’s mission

Career

NASA

Before joining SpaceX, she worked as a biomedical flight controller at NASA for seven years. At NASA, she assisted space station crews from mission control center, helped to integrate international partner engineers and medical care, and led the planning and execution of all biomedical operations for Expedition 47/48.

SpaceX

Apart from being a mission director, the engineer also serves as a crew communicator for SpaceX. She has managed the development of crew operations and served in mission control at SpaceX. Headquartered in Hawthorne, California, SpaceX is an American aerospace manufacturer and provider of space transportation services, founded by tech billionaire Elon Musk. At SpaceX, Menon led the implementation of Dragon’s crew capabilities and has also aided in the development of the crew communicator operator role. The Dragon spacecraft developed by SpaceX is known for its capability of returning significant amounts of cargo to Earth and is the first private spacecraft to take humans to the space station. She also developed operational responses for vehicle emergencies, such as fire and cabin depressurisation, a process in which conditioned air is pumped into the spacecraft to create a safe and comfortable environment for crew flying at high altitudes. She has served in mission control during multiple cargo and crew Dragon missions including Demo-2, Crew-1. CRS-22 and CRS-23. On 14 February 2022, she was chosen to be part of the crew of the space mission ‘Polaris Dawn,’ a planned private human spaceflight mission, operated by SpaceX on behalf of Shift4 Payments CEO Jared Isaacman. The human spaceflight was set to launch in the fourth quarter of 2022 from the Kennedy Space Center of NASA in Florida, the United States. For the spaceflight, she served as the medical officer and mission specialist. Apart from Jared Isaacman and Anna Menon, the crew consists of American pilot Scott Poteet and American astronaut Sarah Gillis.

(Left to Right) Polaris Dawn’s crew- Jared Isaacman, Anna Menon, Sarah Gillis, and Scott Poteet

Facts/Trivia

• In her leisure time, Anna enjoys hiking, flying small airplanes, and doing salsa dance.

• She appeared in the 2021 American five-part docuseries ‘Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space,’ which was released and streamed on Netflix.
  

  Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space (2021)

• During the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, she actively worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) for water and sanitation response. She has also volunteered with the NGOs Engineers Without Borders and Engineering World Health.

Tamanpreet