Author: Bhakti Sharma

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Mr. Piyush Goyal, revealed that the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) has pledged a $100 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) commitment under the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). This significant investment could potentially lead to an influx of $400-500 billion in total investment proposals for India. The agreement, which is anticipated to come into effect by year-end, includes participation from EFTA nations—Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. Over the next 15 years, this initiative is expected to generate around one million jobs in India. A major component of the pact is reduced or zero…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the United States has been described as “very important” by Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF). The visit, scheduled for February 12-13, will focus on strengthening geopolitical ties, enhancing trade relations, advancing technology transfer, and addressing illegal immigration concerns. Aghi emphasized that early discussions between PM Modi and US President Donald Trump would help align both nations on shared economic and strategic objectives. “This visit is all about ensuring continued geopolitical alignment. Trade and economic cooperation, along with technology transfer, will be key areas of discussion. Additionally,…

India is poised to become a global manufacturing hub for wind turbines and related components, thanks to its strong industrial ecosystem and supportive policies. According to Mr. Girish Tanti, Vice Chairman of Suzlon Energy Ltd, initiatives such as the proposed National Manufacturing Mission in the Union Budget 2025-26 and the emphasis on clean tech manufacturing will play a vital role in achieving this goal. India already maintains 64% local content in wind energy projects, a significant advantage over the 20% seen in solar energy. With nearly 2,500 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contributing to the wind energy supply chain,…

Panera Bread has announced the appointment of Santhosh Kumar as its new Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective February 12. Kumar, a seasoned IT executive with vast experience in digital transformation, will report directly to Interim CEO Paul Carbone. In his new role, he will spearhead the company’s technology division, overseeing the implementation, integration, and advancement of digital solutions across more than 2,200 Panera locations. Interim CEO Paul Carbone expressed enthusiasm about Kumar joining the team, emphasizing his strategic expertise and proven leadership in technology-driven innovation. “Santhosh brings a strong combination of industry knowledge and technical experience, making him a valuable…

A shocking revelation has surfaced regarding USAID, a key American government agency, inadvertently funding a Pakistan-based organization linked to terrorism. Despite being banned by the US government, the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), received financial aid through USAID. The group has a history of orchestrating deadly attacks, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, six of whom were American citizens. Even after scrutiny over its funding practices, USAID continued disbursing funds to FIF, raising serious concerns. The organization was blacklisted in 2010, yet it received financial support through a US-based charity, Helping Hand for Relief…

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy co-hosted the inaugural X Space event for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), addressing rumors surrounding Ramaswamy’s exit from the department after the Trump administration’s inauguration. It had been speculated that Musk removed Ramaswamy from DOGE, but Ramaswamy clarified that there was no falling-out. According to Ramaswamy, DOGE evolved into a tech-focused entity, and the law prevented him from holding the role while running for Ohio Governor. During the event, Musk, Ramaswamy, and Senators Joni Ernst and Mike Lee discussed DOGE’s progress, criticized government spending, and announced the closure of USAID. As the event wrapped…

In a significant development, an India-bound US C-17 military aircraft carrying approximately 200 deported illegal Indian migrants departed from Texas earlier today. This marks the first major crackdown on illegal Indian immigrants by US President Donald Trump since assuming office last month. The deportation follows a series of discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump during their phone call on January 27, ahead of PM Modi’s scheduled visit to Washington on February 13-14. Since January 24, similar deportation flights have been arranged for Guatemala, Peru, Honduras, and other nations as part of Trump’s aggressive stance on illegal migration—a…

India must enhance its steel-making capacity by 100 million tonnes (MT) by 2030 to avoid dependence on imports, according to Steel Secretary Sandeep Poundrik. Speaking at an event hosted by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in New Delhi, he addressed concerns about global overcapacity and sluggish demand affecting the domestic steel industry. Currently, India has an installed steel capacity of approximately 200 MT, with an additional 20 MT incorporated in 2022-23. To align with the National Steel Policy (NSP) 2017, the country must reach 300 MT by the decade’s end to meet future demands. Poundrik highlighted the necessity of…

A delegation of 118 members, comprising heads of mission, diplomats, and their spouses from 77 countries, is set to visit the ongoing Mahakumbh in Prayagraj on Saturday. The announcement was made by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, during a press briefing. Addressing concerns about reports of a stampede, Jaiswal confirmed that the visit would proceed as planned on February 1. Meanwhile, a three-member judicial commission has been formed to investigate the tragic stampede that occurred during the Mauni Amavasya festivities at Mahakumbh. The incident, which took place early Wednesday at the Sangam, claimed at least 30…

A star-studded fundraiser titled “Together for LA” took place at the iconic Hotel Bel-Air, drawing attention to the families and children devastated by the recent Los Angeles wildfires. Hosted by author Jay Shetty and real estate mogul Anita Verma-Lallian, the event raised an impressive $700,000 in just a short time. The funds will be donated to Baby2Baby, a non-profit organization that has already provided over 6 million emergency supplies to families affected by the fires. Verma-Lallian, who heads Arizona Land Consulting and Camelback Productions, became widely known when she moved into the former home of Matthew Perry. Despite her own…