Author: Bhakti Narayanan

PM Modi Gets Historic Welcome in Croatia Visit Prime Minister Narendra Modi received an overwhelming and emotional welcome in Zagreb, Croatia, as he became the first Indian Prime Minister to officially visit the country. The event marked a historic milestone in India-Croatia relations and formed the final leg of his three-nation tour that also included Cyprus and Canada for the G7 Summit in Kananaskis. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic personally received PM Modi at Franjo Tudman Airport with full ceremonial honors, reflecting the importance of the visit. PM Modi expressed his gratitude for the special welcome and termed the visit…

Chicago Sinfonietta kicks off its vibrant 2025–26 “IGNITE” season with a bold, cross-cultural celebration titled Bollywood & Beyond, showcasing the transformative power of music. IGNITE reflects the orchestra’s mission to inspire connection, creativity, and cultural understanding through a global lens. From premieres to powerful reinterpretations, the new season honors changemakers and traditions alike, all while centering the rich musical heritage of Chicago. Opening weekend sets the tone with a stunning tribute to Indian cinema and symphonic innovation. Bollywood & Beyond invites audiences to experience the first-ever orchestral adaptations of beloved Bollywood melodies, premiering in Chicago under the baton of Indian…

Spiritual leader and Isha Foundation founder Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev has been awarded the Global Indian of the Year honor by the Canada India Foundation (CIF). The recognition was announced during CIF’s annual gala in Toronto on May 22, 2025, celebrating his far-reaching contributions to sustainability, well-being, and societal transformation on a global scale. Sadhguru’s environmental leadership—especially through the Save Soil initiative and Cauvery Calling campaign—has sparked worldwide action on soil regeneration, agroforestry, and eco-conscious farming. These movements, grounded in both scientific research and community participation, aim to restore degraded lands and ensure long-term food and water security. Accepting the award,…

The investigation into the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI-171 has entered a vital phase as officials successfully recovered the second black box—officially known as the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)—on Monday. This development follows the earlier discovery of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), found atop a nearby building shortly after the crash in Ahmedabad. The CVR plays a critical role in aviation investigations. It records all sounds inside the cockpit, including pilot conversations, radio transmissions, warning signals, and background mechanical noise. This data enables crash investigators to reconstruct the final moments of a flight in extraordinary detail, down to…

The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of Air India flight AI-171, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad last Thursday, has been located, according to officials leading the investigation. The recovery marks a major development in efforts to determine what caused the devastating crash that claimed 270 lives. The aircraft, a London-bound Boeing carrying 242 passengers and crew, went down over BJ Medical College minutes after departure. Until Sunday, only the flight data recorder (FDR) had been recovered. The CVR was later found on the rooftop of a building struck by the plane. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, PK Mishra,…

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a phone call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who informed him of the escalating tensions in the Middle East following Israel’s recent military offensive against Iranian facilities. Modi posted on X that he conveyed India’s deep concern over the situation and stressed the need to swiftly restore peace and stability in the region. The conversation follows a wave of global concern triggered by Israel’s coordinated attacks on Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of several top Iranian scientists and defense officials. Israel justified the operation as a…

India-UK FTA Likely to Unlock Extra Trade Worth £25.5 Billion The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which eliminates tariffs on 99% of Indian exports to the UK and 90% of UK exports to India, is expected to unlock an additional £25.5 billion in trade value, said UK Trade Commissioner for South Asia, Harjinder Kang. Speaking during a panel discussion in Mumbai, Kang called the FTA “a blueprint for the next chapter of UK-India economic cooperation.” With £43 billion in existing bilateral trade and a projected £25.5 billion increase, the agreement promises significant gains for both manufacturing and services sectors. Key…

 India successfully thwarted nearly 2 million cyberattacks aimed at its national power grid over the course of just over a week, during the high-tension period of Operation Sindoor, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced on Thursday. Speaking at a press conference commemorating 11 years of BJP-led governance, Khattar emphasized that with the rapid advancement of technology, the threat landscape has also expanded — especially with cyber threats becoming increasingly sophisticated. However, he assured that the government has made significant strides in fortifying India’s digital defenses. “Our cybersecurity systems have effectively neutralized the threats. Around 2 million cyberattacks were attempted…

The much-anticipated Axiom-4 mission, featuring Indian Air Force pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, has encountered yet another delay. SpaceX, the aerospace company managing the mission, identified a leak involving liquid oxygen (LOX) during post-static fire inspections of the Falcon 9 rocket. As a precautionary measure, the launch has been postponed to allow time for repairs and revalidation testing. Originally scheduled to lift off on June 11, 2025, the mission aims to transport Shukla and three other astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Dragon spacecraft. However, the plan has faced multiple delays, with this latest setback stemming from technical concerns…

As a crucial tariff window approaches, India and the United States are making urgent diplomatic efforts to finalize an interim trade agreement. This limited-scope deal could lay the groundwork for a broader economic relationship targeting $500 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. Following four days of intensive, behind-closed-doors negotiations in New Delhi, officials from both nations have expressed optimism over the progress made. The negotiation teams, led by India’s Rajesh Agrawal and representatives from the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), made headway in several critical areas. Their talks revolved around reducing tariff barriers, improving market access for key…