Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

Archaeologists in Tamil Nadu have unearthed a striking 10th-century Buddha idol without its head, discovered along the banks of an irrigation tank in Avudaiyarkovil, Pudukkottai district. The find, made on Tuesday by the Pudukkottai Archaeological Research Forum during a routine survey, is a significant addition to the growing body of evidence highlighting the region’s Buddhist past. Manikandan, the Forum’s founder and a researcher with the Department of Ancient Science at Tamil University, Thanjavur, noted that the excavation is part of a larger project documenting Pudukkottai’s historic monuments under the guidance of Forum President Karu. Rajendran. The idol was located near…

Postal agencies in Australia and Switzerland have become the latest to suspend parcel shipments to the United States, joining a fast-growing list of countries impacted by Washington’s abrupt tariff reforms. The move comes just days before new U.S. trade levies take effect on Friday, August 29. Australia Post confirmed on Tuesday that it would “partially suspend postal sending to the United States and Puerto Rico, effective August 26 until further notice.” The agency said the decision was unavoidable after the Trump administration introduced sweeping changes to customs and tariff rules. These include ending the de minimis exemption for low-value imports…

United States Vice President JD Vance has strongly defended the Biden administration’s decision to impose secondary sanctions and tariffs on India, calling them an essential component of Washington’s broader economic strategy against Moscow. Speaking on NBC News’ Meet the Press on Sunday, Vance explained that the measures were aimed at tightening restrictions on Russia’s oil revenue streams, which continue to fuel its war in Ukraine. “The President has applied aggressive economic leverage, for example the secondary tariffs on India, to make it harder for Russia to profit from its oil economy,” Vance stated. He added that Russia could only return…

Against the backdrop of rising friction in India-US relations, Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra has stepped up diplomatic outreach with a series of meetings with senior US lawmakers. The talks come after President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian exports, alongside a 25 per cent penalty on New Delhi’s imports of Russian crude oil. Kwatra met Representative Darrell Issa, Chairman of the House Judiciary GOP Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, AI and the Internet, where the two discussed the importance of energy security and mutually beneficial trade. In a post on social media, Kwatra expressed gratitude for Issa’s…

India is preparing to take a transformative step in its defense sector by developing 5th-generation fighter jets in collaboration with French aerospace giant Safran. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made the announcement while addressing the Economic Times World Leaders’ Forum 2025, underlining the government’s commitment to strengthening national security and advancing the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Singh revealed that India will not only design and manufacture these advanced jets but will also produce their engines within the country. “We are about to start engine manufacturing in India with Safran,” the minister said, highlighting the importance of indigenous capacity-building in defense technology. As…

India is expected to weather the impact of the US tariff hike of 50% more effectively than many other nations, thanks to its robust domestic demand and sector-specific exemptions. According to S&P Global Ratings, the tariff increase, effective August 27, will have uneven effects across industries. Labour-intensive sectors like textiles and gems and jewellery may experience only moderate disruptions, while pharmaceuticals, smartphones, and steel are relatively insulated due to existing exemptions, prior tariffs, and strong internal consumption. Other sectors, such as capital goods, chemicals, automobiles, and food and beverages, are likely to face the most significant adjustments. The US move…

Indian companies are grappling with the steepest earnings downgrades in Asia as analysts trim forecasts, citing the impact of higher U.S. tariffs. Forward 12-month earnings projections for India’s large and mid-cap firms have been cut by 1.2% over the past two weeks, the biggest decline in the region, according to LSEG IBES data. The reductions follow another weak corporate earnings season, continuing a slowdown that began last year and has weighed heavily on benchmark indexes. While India’s economy remains largely domestic, with Nifty 50 companies earning just 9% of their revenue from the U.S., the new tariff regime — reaching…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi on Tuesday, marking an important step in shaping India-China ties. Following the meeting, Modi highlighted that the two nations were witnessing “steady progress” in their diplomatic relations, built on mutual respect and understanding of each other’s concerns. Reflecting on his last meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan during the BRICS Summit, Modi noted that the dialogue had laid the foundation for improved bilateral engagement. He added that he looked forward to continuing talks with Xi in Tianjin later this month during the Shanghai…

India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has said that relations between India and China are showing an “upward trend,” with the border situation remaining calm since the leaders of the two countries met in Kazan last year. His remarks came during the 24th round of Special Representatives (SR) dialogue on the boundary issue with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Wang Yi arrived in India on Monday for a two-day visit to discuss a wide range of matters, including the border situation, trade relations, and the possible resumption of direct flight services between the…

A Pennsylvania-based nonprofit, the Drishti Foundation, has announced its annual fundraising run and walk to benefit blind and visually impaired children across the region. Scheduled for Sunday, September 7, the event will be held in Wayne, Pennsylvania, and will feature both a 5K run and a 1K walk. This year’s program will be hosted in collaboration with the Royer-Greaves School for Blind in Paoli, Pennsylvania. Organizers said that proceeds from the event will be used to strengthen the school’s vocational training initiatives, offering blind and visually impaired individuals opportunities to build essential life and work skills. The Drishti Foundation was…