Author: Bhakti Narayanan

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reaffirmed their growing defense partnership during the 13th Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting, which took place in New Delhi on July 30, 2025. Unfolding for the first time at the Secretary level, the meeting was led by India’s Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and UAE’s Under Secretary of Defense, Lt. General Ibrahim Nasser M. Al Alawi. The dialogue underscored the intent to align defense cooperation with the rapidly expanding relations in commerce, investment, and people-to-people exchanges. A key area of focus was the strengthening of military training programs. India proposed customized training…

 India has emerged as the leading exporter of smartphones to the United States for the first time during the April–June quarter of 2025, overtaking China in a dramatic shift driven by Apple’s strategic manufacturing decisions. According to data released by Canalys, now part of Omdia, smartphones made in India now account for 44% of all US-bound shipments—up significantly from 13% in the same quarter a year ago. Meanwhile, the share of Chinese-assembled phones imported by the US fell sharply from 61% in Q2 2024 to just 25% in Q2 2025. Apple has been at the center of this change, ramping…

In a major international development, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has officially named The Resistance Front (TRF), a known proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as the perpetrator behind the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam. The attack, which occurred on April 22, claimed the lives of 26 civilians, most of them tourists, and marked one of the deadliest attacks on Indian soil since the 2008 Mumbai strikes. The UNSC’s monitoring committee released its findings on July 24, linking TRF to the brutal incident. According to the report, five terrorists attacked a popular tourist location in Pahalgam, resulting in the mass killing…

 On July 29, 2025, Indian Ambassador to Egypt Suresh Reddy hosted India’s Under-17 squash team in Cairo during their participation at the World Junior Squash Championships. This prestigious event, held at the Black Ball Sporting Club from July 27 to August 1, has gathered 38 teams from 22 nations. The Indian delegation includes four male and four female players. Among them, 17-year-old Anahat Singh stood out by clinching a bronze medal in the individual women’s singles category. Her win marks a milestone—India’s first medal in the junior squash worlds since 2010, when Dipika Pallikal last secured one. The Indian women’s…

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered a strong statement in the Rajya Sabha, declaring that India is no longer a soft state. He confirmed that Indian security forces have successfully neutralized the three terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam massacre, which resulted in the loss of 26 civilian lives. Addressing the Upper House during the debate on Operation Sindoor, Singh stated that forensic analysis had conclusively matched the weapons recovered from the encounter site with those used in the Pahalgam attack. According to Singh, the coordinated operation led to the elimination of all three militants, reinforcing the government’s commitment to a zero-tolerance…

On July 28, renowned Baloch human rights advocate Mir Yar Baloch addressed a heartfelt letter to Indian Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The message, arriving just hours before a scheduled debate on Operation Sindoor in Parliament, commended the Indian government and citizens for their unified stance against terrorism fueled by Pakistan. Writing on behalf of the 60 million citizens of the Republic of Balochistan, Baloch extended warm solidarity to India’s 1.4 billion people. He lauded India’s firm position against Pakistan-backed cross-border attacks and praised the decision of opposition parties to align with the government and military during a pivotal national…

On July 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid heartfelt homage to the fallen Indian soldiers who gave their lives in the 1999 Kargil conflict. As the nation observed the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, PM Modi reflected on the unmatched bravery and dedication of India’s armed forces, commemorating the country’s decisive victory over Pakistani intruders. Taking to social media, the Prime Minister shared his message with the nation: “Warm wishes to fellow Indians on Kargil Vijay Diwas. This day reminds us of the unmatched bravery and selfless sacrifice of the brave sons of Bharat who laid down their lives…

  India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal voiced optimism about finalizing a long-pending trade deal with the United States ahead of an August 1 deadline, which threatens to trigger steep 26% tariffs on Indian exports. “I’m always confident,” Goyal told Bloomberg TV in London on Thursday, describing his meetings with US officials as warm and constructive. He praised US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer as “very dear friends,” underlining the friendly nature of the talks. Despite months of back-and-forth negotiations, Goyal insisted there were no major obstacles remaining and clarified that contentious issues such as immigration and…

At the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit in Georgetown, Guyana, the Indian High Commission hosted a major technology exhibition spotlighting cutting-edge innovations from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Held on the sidelines of the summit, the event emphasized India’s growing role in global sustainability through space and scientific advancements. The technologies on display addressed pressing issues like climate adaptation, agricultural resilience, resource mapping, and environmental protection. The exhibition was organized in partnership with the Government of Guyana, underlining the deepening collaboration between India and Guyana in science and sustainable development.…

A British F-35B stealth fighter jet, part of the UK Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales carrier group, has successfully resumed operations after spending over a month grounded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in India. The aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing on June 14 after encountering adverse weather conditions that prevented it from returning to its base ship. Following the emergency diversion, the jet experienced a technical snag involving its hydraulic system. Initial assessments were carried out by engineers from the aircraft carrier, who later determined that assistance from a UK-based engineering unit was essential. A specialist team…