Author: Deepika chandrasekar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been described as the world’s most popular politician by a leading Norwegian newspaper, reflecting the growing international attention surrounding his political influence and leadership style. The publication highlighted Modi’s sustained public support, strong electoral performances, and expanding global profile as factors contributing to his international recognition. It also pointed to India’s rising geopolitical importance and the Prime Minister’s active engagement on global platforms as key reasons behind his popularity beyond national borders. Over the past decade, Modi has emerged as one of the most recognisable political figures globally, leading India through major economic reforms, digital…

A saree worn by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist Nandini Harinath during a landmark moment of India’s Mars Orbiter Mission has been showcased at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The exhibit highlights India’s growing achievements in space exploration while also recognizing the contributions of women scientists in the field. The museum has included the garment as part of its space exploration collection, describing it as a vibrant red and blue saree with intricate patterns. The display features a mannequin dressed in the outfit along with details explaining its significance during India’s historic Mars mission.…

India is set to host the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting this week, marking an important diplomatic event that will bring together senior representatives from member and partner countries to discuss global challenges and strengthen multilateral cooperation. The meeting will be held on May 14 and 15, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar presiding over the sessions. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Foreign Ministers and delegation heads from BRICS nations will participate in the discussions. As part of the official schedule, the visiting leaders are also expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their stay in India. MEA…

A Hindu prayer focused on peace, harmony, and unity was presented at the White House during the National Day of Prayer observance, reflecting the religious diversity that continues to shape the United States as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary of independence. The prayer was delivered by a volunteer associated with the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, widely known as BAPS. The organization stated that the participation symbolized the inclusion of Hindu traditions within national interfaith gatherings in the United States. At the beginning of the prayer session, attendees were invited to pause for reflection by closing their eyes and…

The United States has reiterated its commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties with India, as both nations continue advancing negotiations on a proposed interim trade agreement. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor stated that the Donald Trump administration is focused on expanding economic engagement between the two largest democracies. Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry Annual Business Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Gor emphasized that Washington aims to reduce regulatory barriers and create more opportunities for cross-border trade. He also encouraged Indian companies to increase their investments in the United States, stating that such partnerships would benefit both…

India and the United States are moving closer to finalizing an interim trade agreement, with a US trade delegation expected to visit India later this month for further discussions. According to a government official familiar with the negotiations, the proposed arrangement is nearing completion after months of extended talks between both countries. India is currently pushing for a reduction in the tariff levels that were earlier discussed during negotiations. Officials from New Delhi argue that the effective tariff rate has already declined to nearly 10 percent following a recent ruling by the US Supreme Court. India believes the revised legal…

India and the European Union are moving closer toward what could become one of the largest free trade agreements in the world, a pact expected to influence nearly 2 billion people and account for almost one-third of global trade activity. Officials and industry leaders believe the proposed agreement could redefine economic cooperation between the two regions while strengthening global supply chains and investment partnerships. Speaking at a Federation of European Business in India event focused on the India-EU trade negotiations, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce Darpan Jain described the proposed agreement as the “mother of all deals” because…

New York City officials have unveiled a major $95 million investment aimed at reducing chronic flooding in Brooklyn’s Homecrest neighborhood through an advanced Cloudburst stormwater management initiative. The project was jointly announced by Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani along with senior officials from the city’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Parks Department, Department of Transportation, and Public Schools system. The initiative represents a large-scale effort to modernize urban infrastructure in response to increasingly severe weather patterns. The Cloudburst system is designed to manage sudden, heavy rainfall events that overwhelm traditional drainage networks. Instead of relying solely on underground sewer expansion, the…

The United States has indicated that a long-anticipated trade agreement with India is approaching its final stage, with officials suggesting that both nations are now close to resolving the remaining issues. US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stated on Tuesday that India and the United States are “very, very close” to finalizing the deal, noting that only a small number of outstanding matters remain before the agreement can be concluded. According to Landau, the negotiations have progressed significantly, and both sides now need to overcome what he described as the “last hurdle” in the process. His remarks reflect growing…

India’s export sector achieved a historic milestone in FY26, with total outbound shipments of goods and services rising by 4.6% year-on-year to reach a record US$ 863.11 billion. The latest figures, released by the Commerce Ministry, showed a notable increase from FY25 exports of US$ 825.26 billion, reflecting the country’s ability to maintain steady trade growth despite a difficult global economic environment. The strong export performance came amid persistent international challenges, including geopolitical instability, slowing demand in key economies, supply-chain disruptions, and inflationary pressures affecting global markets. Even with these obstacles, India managed to sustain momentum across both merchandise and…