Author: Akancha Mishra

 Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi called on Indian Americans to actively confront growing prejudice and bigotry by speaking up, building coalitions, and deepening political engagement. Speaking at the India Abroad® Dialogue in Chicago, he warned that silence could leave the community vulnerable as anti-Indian sentiment rises and political violence escalates. Krishnamoorthi shared personal experiences with hate speech, including a Florida official’s call for his deportation, which he countered with composure and defiance. He outlined three key strategies for the community: first, to speak up against bigotry and prejudice; second, to show solidarity by defending others facing discrimination; and third, to ensure active…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to co-chair the 16th India-UAE Joint Commission and the 5th India-UAE Strategic Dialogue in Abu Dhabi alongside UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The high-level engagement follows Jaishankar’s participation in the Sir Bani Yas Forum, reflecting the growing strategic depth of ties between the two nations. Following his engagements in the United Arab Emirates, Jaishankar will travel to Israel for bilateral consultations with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. The visit underscores India’s sustained diplomatic engagement in West Asia amid evolving regional dynamics. Ahead of his visit,…

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has signaled optimism over the ongoing India-US trade discussions, stating that a deal is meaningful only when both nations benefit. His comments come after a U.S. Trade Representative official described India’s proposals as the “best ever” during recent negotiations. While Goyal did not provide a timeline for the finalization of the bilateral trade agreement, he noted that if the United States is satisfied with India’s offerings, the agreement should be formalized without delay. Goyal was responding to remarks by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who praised India’s proposals as unprecedented. “Their satisfaction is very…

India and the United States have made substantial progress in settling long-standing trade disagreements, and officials now believe a long-awaited bilateral trade pact could finally be sealed by March. Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran said the overall outlook for FY27 remains positive and noted that the Indian rupee continues to trade below its true value when compared with economic fundamentals. Speaking with Bloomberg Television’s Haslinda Amin, Nageswaran said he would be genuinely surprised if the long-pursued agreement with Washington does not come together by the close of the financial year. He admitted he initially expected the deal to be…

India and Brazil have intensified their defence partnership as Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi held high-level meetings in Brasília with Chief Advisor to the Brazilian President Celso Amorim and Defence Minister Jose Mucio Monteiro to explore deeper collaboration across the defence industry and capacity-building sectors. The discussions provided a comprehensive review of the expanding bilateral defence engagement, with both sides focusing on strengthening operational cooperation, enhancing training exchanges, improving maritime security mechanisms, and advancing joint efforts in maritime domain awareness. The two countries also examined opportunities for long-term interoperability and co-development initiatives within the defence industry. The…

Karnataka cadre IAS officer Darpan Jain has been selected as India’s new chief negotiator for the upcoming trade discussions with the United States. A member of the 2001 batch, Jain currently serves as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and has been deeply involved in India’s trade engagements with several countries over the years. He will represent India during the talks scheduled for December 10 and 11, where both sides aim to accelerate work on the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). The negotiations will cover a broad range of trade issues, with tariffs expected to be one of…

India and Kenya held discussions to strengthen cooperation in the healthcare sector, with a focus on pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, medical devices, and capacity building. Indian High Commissioner to Kenya Adarsh Swaika met Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale to review ongoing collaboration and identify areas for deeper engagement. The Indian High Commission described India as a trusted and long-standing partner of Kenya, noting that Indian pharmaceutical products hold a significant share of the Kenyan market due to their quality and affordability. India also remains a preferred destination for thousands of Kenyans seeking medical treatment each year, underscoring strong confidence…

Tata Electronics has secured Intel as a prospective customer for its upcoming semiconductor facilities, a development seen as a strong vote of confidence in India’s growing chip manufacturing ambitions. Industry observers say the move signals Intel’s belief in India’s ability to eventually become a meaningful player in the global semiconductor supply chain. The electronics arm of the 156-year-old Tata Group—known for its diverse businesses spanning everything from salt to software—is investing nearly $14 billion to construct India’s first full-scale semiconductor fabrication plant in Gujarat. Alongside the fab, the company is also setting up a major chip assembly and testing center…

US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker has arrived in India for an official visit aimed at advancing strategic cooperation across security, technology, and regional priorities. Her engagements include Foreign Office Consultations with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, where both sides are expected to review developments in the Indo-Pacific and assess progress in bilateral cooperation. The US Embassy in India said Hooker’s visit reflects Washington’s commitment to strengthening the partnership with New Delhi and supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific. The embassy noted that the discussions will help advance the administration’s priorities on national security, economic ties, and…

India’s growing prominence as a technological and strategic partner was a central theme this week in Washington, where top US lawmakers and experts warned that the global race for artificial intelligence is entering a decisive and highly contested phase. Their concerns focused on China’s accelerating push to embed AI across civilian, industrial, and military systems—an expansion they believe could reshape global power balances. During a Senate hearing on December 2, members of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy examined how China’s rapid AI progress intersects with geopolitics, defence innovation, and semiconductor access. While…