Author: Deepika chandrasekar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the Order of Oman on Thursday, the Sultanate’s distinguished civilian honor, by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik in recognition of his efforts to enhance bilateral relations between India and Oman. The award was presented during PM Modi’s ongoing two-day visit to Muscat, which represents the final leg of his three-nation tour, following stops in Jordan and Ethiopia. This accolade adds to PM Modi’s growing collection of over 28 prestigious civilian awards from foreign nations, which recently include Ethiopia’s Great Honour Nishan and Kuwait’s Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer, reflecting his global diplomatic engagement and contributions…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he feels “very much at home” during his visit to Ethiopia, calling it a moment of great privilege to address the Parliament of the African nation. PM Modi received a warm welcome as he arrived to address the Joint Session of the Ethiopian Parliament, marking the 18th Parliament in the world that he has addressed. Speaking to lawmakers, the Prime Minister said it was wonderful to be in Ethiopia, the “land of lions,” drawing a personal connection by noting that his home state of Gujarat in India is also home to lions. “I…

The arrival of the first snowfall of the season brought a calm and almost dreamlike stillness to the Akshardham temple in New Jersey, as a soft blanket of snow settled across its expansive marble complex. The pristine white snow transformed the sprawling courtyards, walkways, and architectural details, creating a striking contrast against the temple’s intricate stonework. Photographs from the site captured the main shrine and surrounding structures coated in fresh snow. Domes, spires, and finely carved surfaces appeared dusted in white, emphasizing the craftsmanship of the temple’s design. At the heart of the complex, the central golden statue became an…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday underscored the importance of revitalizing historic trade relations between India and Jordan to unlock new economic opportunities. Speaking about the longstanding commercial ties, he noted that India is currently Jordan’s third-largest trading partner and emphasised that bilateral engagement should extend beyond mere trade figures. “India holds the position of the third-largest trading partner of Jordan. While numbers are important in business, our goal is to build a sustainable, long-term partnership,” PM Modi said. He highlighted the need to restore historic trade routes, recalling the era when commerce flowed from Gujarat to Europe through Petra.…

India and Jordan held discussions on the possibility of using nuclear energy as a clean form of power during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the West Asian nation, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday. The talks reflected a shared understanding between the two countries on the role of nuclear energy in addressing climate change and ensuring long-term energy security. Addressing a special briefing in Amman, Secretary (South) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Neena Malhotra, said the discussions were general in nature but underscored a common view that civil nuclear energy can be an important component of…

 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…