Author: Bhakti Narayanan

Seychelles President Patrick Herminie arrived in New Delhi on Thursday to begin a five-day State Visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) welcomed the President, highlighting the 50 years of longstanding, multi-faceted diplomatic relations between the two countries. This marks President Herminie’s first visit to India since assuming office in October 2025. During his stay, he will meet President Droupadi Murmu and hold discussions with PM Modi on bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest. His itinerary includes visits to Chennai and Mumbai, where he is scheduled to attend…

Justice Sanjay T. Tailor, a seasoned jurist with more than 20 years on trial and appellate courts, was sworn in to the Illinois Supreme Court on January 30, becoming the first Asian American to serve on the state’s highest judicial body. The ceremony, held in Chicago, was conducted by Chief Justice P. Scott Neville and attended by Justice Tailor’s wife, three children, and dignitaries including Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. Local television channels broadcasted the event live. In his remarks, Justice Tailor expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in him and reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the Illinois judicial system serves…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host his annual “Pariksha Pe Charcha” (PPC) on February 6, 2026, connecting with students to discuss exam-related stress, motivation, and mental wellbeing. Announcing the event via his official social media account ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), PM Modi highlighted that this year’s edition has expanded its reach beyond the national capital to include locations such as Coimbatore, Raipur, Devmogra, and Guwahati, making the event more inclusive for students across India. Pre-events were also conducted in these regions to engage participants ahead of the main interaction. This year, Pariksha Pe Charcha has seen a record participation of 4.50…

India and Tanzania have reviewed the expanding scope of their defence partnership, holding detailed discussions on cooperation in military training, maritime security and defence industry collaboration. The dialogue reflected growing strategic convergence between the two nations, particularly in safeguarding regional security and building long-term defence capabilities. Senior officials from both sides examined ways to deepen collaboration across traditional and emerging domains, including cyber security and artificial intelligence. The discussions also explored new areas such as counter-terrorism cooperation, peacekeeping training and specialised capacity building in niche defence technologies. Maritime security emerged as a key focus area, with both countries emphasising the…

India’s High Commissioner to Fiji, Suneet Mehta, held discussions with the Speaker of the Fiji Parliament, Filimone Jitoko, focusing on strengthening bilateral cooperation and deepening parliamentary engagement between the two countries. The meeting reaffirmed the importance of strong legislative ties as a pillar of the broader India–Fiji relationship. Both sides explored avenues to enhance cooperation across development initiatives, infrastructure support and capacity-building efforts, reflecting a shared commitment to long-term partnership. The engagement also highlighted India’s ongoing developmental assistance in Fiji, including community-focused projects aimed at improving essential services such as water supply. India’s support for grassroots infrastructure continues to play…

US Congressman Shri Thanedar has kicked off the 2026 election cycle with a strong financial position, reporting $6.4 million in cash on hand at the close of 2025, according to his campaign’s year-end finance filing. The Detroit-area Democrat said this fundraising advantage would enable him to communicate his record to voters in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District and showcase his legislative priorities ahead of the upcoming election. “This ensures Congressman Thanedar can share with voters in the 13th District the work he has done and how he is advocating for them,” the campaign stated. Representing Detroit and surrounding communities, Thanedar has…

India’s hotel industry is entering a sustained growth phase and is expected to deliver robust earnings expansion over the next three years, supported by strong demand, rising room rates and improving operating metrics. Industry earnings are projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 16 to 21 per cent through FY28, driven primarily by consistent increases in average room rates and record-high occupancy levels across major urban and leisure destinations. Demand has remained broad-based, supported by domestic travel, corporate activity and a steady recovery in international tourism. Higher contribution from meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, along with weddings and…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Palestine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Varsen Aghabekian, in New Delhi on January 30, 2026. The discussions focused on development cooperation, the Gaza Peace Plan, and key regional developments. After the meeting, Jaishankar shared on X that both sides had exchanged views on advancing cooperation and agreed on new initiatives to strengthen the partnership. Aghabekian arrived in India the previous day to participate in the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, reaffirming the strong ties between India and Palestine as well as their shared commitment to collaboration within the Arab world. She highlighted…

 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday tabled the Economic Survey 2026 in Parliament, setting the official tone on India’s economic performance amid global uncertainties and evolving trade challenges, including US tariffs. The Economic Survey, a key pre-Budget document, will outline India’s projected GDP growth estimates for FY26 and FY27, offering an assessment of the country’s macroeconomic health and short- to medium-term prospects. It provides a comprehensive review of annual economic developments and highlights structural reforms shaping India’s growth trajectory. Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran is expected to later explain the Survey’s key findings, including policy reforms and critical issues…

India has indicated that its trade negotiations with the United States are approaching a decisive stage, with government sources describing the discussions as having made very strong progress and moving close to a favorable conclusion. Officials emphasized that engagement with Washington continued actively even as India finalized political understandings related to its free trade agreement with the European Union. According to sources, the conclusion of the India–EU agreement was not used as a bargaining tool in discussions with the United States. They clarified that the final phase of the EU negotiations did not involve any reference to the US and…