Author: Deepika chandrasekar

 India on Monday rejected U.S. accusations that it is “dumping” rice into the American market, clarifying that its exports consist largely of premium-grade basmati rice, which typically commands higher prices than non-basmati varieties. The remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that additional tariffs could be imposed on Indian rice, alleging that India was selling shipments at prices below their normal value. Indian trade secretary Rajesh Agrawal addressed the issue, stating, “We don’t see a prima facie case of dumping, and as far as we know, the U.S. has not started any anti-dumping investigation either.” He emphasized that India’s…

India’s steady rise as a major economic power is increasingly enabling it to play a pivotal role in strengthening the Global South, driven by shared priorities of resilience, inclusion, sustainability and locally relevant innovation. Analysts note that India’s development trajectory is offering a compelling alternative model for emerging economies seeking balanced and inclusive growth. The 2023 G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration reflected this vision by advocating a more representative, secure and digitally enabled global growth framework. The agenda resonated strongly with developing nations, reinforcing India’s role as a bridge between advanced and emerging economies. Observers have highlighted that India’s ascent…

Tanishq, one of India’s most trusted jewelry houses, has taken another major step in its North American journey by launching two new boutiques in Tysons, Virginia, and Orlando, Florida. These openings mark the brand’s eighth and ninth stores in the United States, reinforcing its long-term commitment to connecting with customers across key American markets. Both inaugurations featured festive celebrations, including ribbon cuttings, diya ceremonies, live music, and the participation of distinguished guests. The new 5,500 sq. ft. Virginia showroom is located at Tysons Corner, positioned at 8065 Leesburg Pike, Suite 120. Set in one of the country’s most vibrant retail…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump held a telephone conversation on Thursday, using the exchange to assess the progress made under the India–US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Both leaders noted that cooperation between the two countries has continued to grow steadily across multiple sectors. According to the official readout, Modi and Trump discussed how to maintain momentum in strengthening bilateral trade ties. Their conversation also covered plans to deepen collaboration in critical and emerging technologies, energy, defense, national security, and other core pillars connected to the India–US COMPACT framework—an initiative designed to accelerate military coordination, boost…

India and the United States continued to advance their strategic partnership as India’s Ambassador to Washington, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, met Senator Brian Schatz, Deputy Secretary of the Senate Democratic Conference and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to discuss deeper engagement in energy, technology and innovation. Kwatra said the meeting included an exchange of perspectives on ongoing bilateral defence cooperation and a review of key regional developments that shape the India–US agenda. The Indian envoy also met US Representative Dina Titus to explore avenues for expanding cooperation in technology, tourism and trade. He expressed appreciation for her consistent…

Amazon announced plans to invest more than $35 billion in India through 2030, reinforcing its long-term commitment to one of its fastest-growing global markets. The investment will be spread across the company’s three key strategic pillars — AI-led digital transformation, export expansion, and large-scale job creation — alongside continued business growth in the country. The announcement was made at Amazon’s annual “Smbhav” summit, where company leaders highlighted the alignment between Amazon’s India roadmap and the country’s national priorities. According to the company, the new investments will enhance AI capabilities, strengthen logistics and digital infrastructure, support millions of small businesses, and…

Indian-American executive Neal Mohan, who heads YouTube, has been selected as TIME magazine’s 2025 CEO of the Year. The publication describes Mohan as a key force in shaping global culture because YouTube determines what billions of viewers watch, discuss, and share every single day. A portion of his early education took place in Lucknow, where he also learned Hindi and Sanskrit—an experience that he has often said helped shape his worldview. TIME’s profile emphasizes that YouTube has an enormous influence on the world’s conversations and trends, and Mohan is the person steering that influence. The magazine compares his role to…

China has described India, Russia and itself as key emerging economies and important members of the Global South, stressing that strong relations among the three will help advance regional and global stability. Speaking at a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said cooperation between the nations aligns with their long-term interests and supports wider peace and development efforts. Guo noted that China is prepared to work with both India and Russia to advance bilateral ties and manage relations through a strategic and long-term approach. He said Beijing seeks steady and healthy ties with New Delhi, aimed at…

Premera Blue Cross, one of the Pacific Northwest’s most prominent not-for-profit health insurers, has announced that Rajat Puri will become the company’s new Chief Operating Officer. The company shared the update from its Mountlake Terrace, Washington headquarters, emphasizing that Puri will play a central leadership role in strengthening technology, operations, and service delivery for millions of members. Premera President and CEO Jeffrey Roe welcomed Puri to the executive team, noting that his expertise in scaling processes and technology solutions will be a major asset. Roe highlighted Puri’s collaborative leadership style and his ability to build systems that enhance both member…

Jayshree Ullal has hit a historic milestone, becoming the highest-ranked Indian professional manager on the Hurun India Rich List 2025. Her financial ascent puts her ahead of globally recognized tech leaders Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella, marking a defining moment for Indian-origin executives around the world. Ullal also becomes the wealthiest Indian woman in the professional manager category. According to the list, her estimated net worth stands at roughly $6 billion, placing her firmly at the top of the ranking. In comparison, Satya Nadella holds a net worth of about $1.2 billion, far behind Ullal’s position, while Google’s Sundar Pichai…