Author: Bhakti Narayanan

 French President Emmanuel Macron added a touch of cinematic flair to his diplomatic visit to Mumbai on Tuesday, holding a special interaction with prominent figures from Indian cinema. Accompanied by First Lady Brigitte Macron, he met celebrated actors Anil Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee, Richa Chadha, and Shabana Azmi, along with filmmaker Zoya Akhtar and Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej. Sharing highlights on X, Macron called the actors “legends of Indian cinema,” noting that culture serves as a bridge between nations. Actor Anil Kapoor also posted about the meeting, describing it as an inspiring exchange on cinema, culture, and the strong ties connecting…

The India AI Impact Summit 2026, ongoing at Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam, is focused on exploring how artificial intelligence can serve the public and advance inclusive growth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized on the second day of the five-day event. Sharing his thoughts on X, Modi highlighted that intelligence, rationality, and effective decision-making ensure that science and technology deliver real benefits to society, with AI playing a key role in this transformation. The summit, which began on Monday, has assembled an impressive gathering of over 100 government officials—including more than 20 heads of state and 60 ministers or vice ministers—alongside 500…

Sujit Singh received a prestigious recognition at a recent spiritual gathering hosted by the Hindu American Temple and Cultural Center (HATCC), also known as the Sri Guruvaayoorappan Temple, commonly referred to as the Shri Krishna Temple. Founded in 1988, the nonprofit temple serves as a central hub for spiritual, cultural, and community activities across New Jersey. Singh was honored for more than a decade of dedicated service to over 600 residents with disabilities and their families. His efforts have focused on enhancing quality of life, promoting inclusion, and strengthening support systems for caregivers. Through his work, Singh has become a…

Defending champions India delivered a commanding performance to defeat Pakistan by 61 runs in their crucial Group A encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The victory not only reinforced India’s dominance in this fierce rivalry but also secured their qualification for the Super Eights stage of the tournament. Setting a competitive total of 175 for 7 in 20 overs, India ensured that Pakistan never truly threatened the target, eventually bundling them out for 114 in 18 overs. The foundation of India’s total was laid by Ishan Kishan, whose aggressive 77 shifted the momentum early in the innings. His…

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a series of senior appointments across critical city agencies on February 10, aimed at improving service coordination and delivery across government departments. Among the new leaders, Nisha Agarwal was named Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People With Disabilities, where she will oversee efforts to ensure city programs, infrastructure, and services are accessible and inclusive for all residents. Mayor Mamdani highlighted Agarwal’s extensive background in government, law, and advocacy as key to her ability to collaborate with city agencies and the disability community. He emphasized the importance of accessibility, stating that New York…

Rolls-Royce has announced plans to significantly scale up its operations in India, signalling deeper collaboration across defence, civil aviation and energy sectors. The company is exploring opportunities to co-develop a next-generation combat jet engine, marking a potential milestone in India’s pursuit of indigenous military capabilities. The proposed collaboration includes the development of a 120 kN class combat jet engine core, positioned as a fast-track pathway for India to achieve an indigenous next-generation propulsion system. The offer includes full technology transfer and intellectual property ownership for India, supported by dedicated design and manufacturing infrastructure. The British engineering major indicated that these…

 India expects to finalise and sign the legal framework for its interim trade agreement with the United States before the end of March, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said during an exclusive interview at BIOFACH 2026 in Nuremberg. He noted that while the joint statement between the two nations has outlined the main contours of the deal, converting it into a legal document requires careful coordination and drafting. Agrawal expressed cautious optimism about the timeline, acknowledging potential delays but emphasising that both sides are working to make the agreement operational by March. He highlighted that India’s competitive strength lies in labour-intensive…

India’s High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Rajeev Kumar, met Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and advancing cooperation across key sectors. The meeting focused on expanding areas of mutual interest and reinforcing the growing partnership between the two countries. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening diplomatic engagement and enhancing collaboration in development, security and people-to-people exchanges. The engagement builds on the momentum generated by recent high-level interactions between the two nations. India has steadily expanded its outreach to Pacific Island countries, positioning Papua New Guinea as a key partner in the region. Earlier engagements between…

The White House has issued an updated factsheet on the India-US trade framework, a day after its initial release, moderating several key claims regarding India’s obligations on product purchases, tariffs, and digital trade. This revision follows the recent announcement of an interim reciprocal trade agreement, aimed at strengthening bilateral commerce, which was finalized after a phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. In the initial factsheet, the US stated that India “committed to buy more American products, including over USD 500 billion of energy, information and communication technology, agricultural, coal, and other goods.” The updated…

The US–India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) has unveiled plans to spearhead the most extensive American corporate delegation ever assembled for India, marking its role as an official partner of the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The high-profile gathering is scheduled to take place in New Delhi from February 16 to 20, in close coordination with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, underscoring the growing centrality of artificial intelligence in bilateral engagement. USISPF confirmed that more than 120 top executives and senior technology leaders from the United States will participate in the summit, describing the move as a pivotal moment…