Author: Bhakti Narayanan

India’s space ambitions continue to surge, marked by the successful launch of a 4,400-kg communication satellite — one of the heaviest ever placed into orbit by the country, according to a report. The feat highlights the technological advancements achieved since India entered the space age with the launch of Aryabhata in 1975, placing ISRO firmly among the world’s leading spacefaring nations. Over the decades, ISRO has developed a robust and diversified launch capability through vehicles such as the PSLV, GSLV, and LVM3. According to a report by Times of Oman, the upcoming Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) is expected to…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar wrapped up a significant diplomatic day in New York by leading the Consul Generals Conference, where he acknowledged the dedicated work of India’s missions across the United States. Addressing representatives from every Indian Consulate in the country, along with officials from the Embassy in Washington, he praised their contributions to elevating India-US relations and supporting one of the world’s largest overseas Indian communities. Sharing highlights from the meeting on X, Jaishankar noted that the gathering included Consuls General from New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, and Boston. He emphasized that the…

The United States has signaled that negotiations on a long-delayed trade agreement with India are finally gaining traction, with a senior administration official stating that recent exchanges have delivered “a lot of positive developments.” The shift comes after Washington softened its earlier criticism of India’s purchases of Russian oil, reducing tensions that had slowed trade discussions for months. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the official said the Biden administration is working with India on two separate but interconnected tracks: a reciprocal trade pact and ongoing monitoring of India’s crude oil imports from Russia. The official noted that both fronts have…

In a remarkable cross-continental initiative, Indian Americans are transforming the lives of blind children in rural India through the Ek Kadam Aur Foundation (EKA)—a nonprofit registered in both the United States and India. Founded by Dr. Satish Tripathi from Chicago, the organization combines compassion and technology to bring education and independence to children who have long been overlooked. EKA’s flagship project, ‘Arunodaya,’ meaning Sunrise in Sanskrit, is devoted to empowering more than 288,000 visually impaired children across India. The program provides individualized, home-based learning for children between the ages of five and seventeen—many living in areas with no access to…

The Modi government has announced a $5.1 billion Export Promotion Mission (EPM) along with an expanded Credit Guarantee Scheme to boost India’s export competitiveness amid tough global trade conditions. The initiative, approved by the Union Cabinet, will run from fiscal year 2025–26 through 2030–31, integrating multiple export support programs into one streamlined framework aimed at making India’s exports more resilient and globally competitive. The EPM seeks to modernize India’s export strategies by merging existing initiatives such as the Interest Equalisation Scheme (IES) and Market Access Initiative (MAI). The focus is on key sectors hit hardest by recent US tariff hikes,…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Niagara, reaffirming India’s intent to rebuild and strengthen bilateral ties with Canada. The meeting came amid efforts from both sides to reestablish diplomatic warmth following months of strained relations. In a post on X, Jaishankar congratulated Anand for successfully hosting the G7 foreign ministers’ conference and acknowledged the progress made under the New Roadmap 2025, a strategic plan aimed at expanding cooperation across multiple sectors. “I look forward to the further rebuilding of our bilateral partnership,” he shared, emphasizing…

A large Indian trade delegation is set to embark on a four-day visit to Moscow starting Tuesday, marking a significant step in India’s efforts to expand its export base beyond traditional markets. The visit, organized by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), comes as India looks to counter the impact of heightened tariffs imposed by the United States under President Donald Trump’s administration. The delegation, comprising over 20 exporters from the engineering and tools sector, will participate in the MITEX Tools Expo in Moscow from November 11 to 14. This sector represents nearly one-fifth of India’s total merchandise exports,…

 Renowned sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar has once again made India proud, earning two Grammy nominations at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, adding to her already impressive list of accolades. The British-Indian artist, who has been nominated 11 times in the past, now celebrates her 12th and 13th nominations, solidifying her legacy as one of the most respected names in global music. Her soulful single “Daybreak” earned a nomination for Best Global Music Performance, while her latest album “Chapter III: We Return to Light” — created in collaboration with Alam Khan and Sarathy Korwar — received a nod for Best Global…

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) announced on Friday that it has finalized a $1 billion agreement with US aerospace giant General Electric (GE) to supply 113 F404-GE-IN20 engines, along with a comprehensive support package. These engines will power the 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A jets under the Indian Air Force’s modernization plan. HAL revealed the development through a post on X, confirming that the deal was signed on November 7, 2025. The company stated that engine deliveries will begin in 2027 and continue through 2032, coinciding with the phased rollout of the LCA Mk1A fleet. The original contract for the…

In a landmark moment for diversity and representation in American politics, 40-year-old Swaranjit Singh Khalsa has been elected as the first Sikh mayor of Norwich, Connecticut. Representing the Democratic Party, Khalsa’s victory marks a defining step toward inclusivity and multicultural progress in the city’s leadership landscape. Khalsa, who first entered public office as a city council member in 2021, emerged victorious in a three-way mayoral race against Republican Tracy Gould and independent candidate Marcia Wilbur. His win carries deep symbolic weight, as he becomes the first baptized Sikh to hold the mayoral office in a city with only around ten…