Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

The European Union’s top leadership will visit India as chief guests for the 77th Republic Day, coinciding with the much-anticipated India-EU summit. The visit comes as both Delhi and Brussels confirm that negotiations on a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) are nearing completion, with most chapters finalized and only a few remaining areas of discussion. Originally launched in 2007 and relaunched in 2022, EU-India trade talks were accelerated in February 2025 during European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s visit. The planned agreement aims to strengthen trade while also elevating the long-standing strategic partnership first formalized in 2004. The summit will…

India has become the world’s second-largest 5G market, now serving over 400 million subscribers, trailing only China, Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed. Since the nationwide launch of 5G networks in 2022, coverage has expanded to nearly 99.6% of districts, reaching approximately 85% of the population. This achievement has been supported by the installation of around 469,000 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), making India one of the fastest-growing 5G markets globally. Minister Scindia highlighted that roughly 250 million people have already adopted 5G services, reflecting a rapid transformation of India’s mobile ecosystem. The widespread adoption is not limited to…

On January 15, Democratic Congressman Shri Thanedar introduced the Abolish ICE Act in the U.S. Congress, advocating for the complete elimination of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Thanedar, who is of Indian origin, criticized ICE for prioritizing aggressive enforcement over due process since its inception in 2003. “Since its creation, ICE has emphasized enforcement and intimidation rather than protecting citizens’ rights,” Thanedar remarked, highlighting what he described as ongoing terrorization of Americans. The lawmaker explained that this bill builds on his previous initiatives to hold ICE officers accountable, including last year’s legislation aimed at ending qualified immunity for ICE personnel.…

Sergio Gor, the newly appointed US Ambassador to India, visited the US Consulate in Mumbai on Friday, marking his first official trip to the city. Gor shared his excitement on X, highlighting the efforts of his team to enhance the US-India partnership. His arrival comes shortly after presenting his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 14. In his remarks, Gor expressed gratitude to former President Donald Trump for his trust and emphasized his commitment to advancing the US-India partnership across security, trade, energy, and technology sectors. He underscored the importance of India as a strategic partner,…

India and the League of Arab States reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral engagement during a high-level meeting held in Cairo. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh met Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit to review cooperation across political, economic, and cultural sectors. The discussions highlighted the broad scope of India’s engagement with the Arab League and emphasized shared interests in expanding collaboration. Both sides welcomed the upcoming second India–Arab Foreign Ministerial Meeting, scheduled to take place in New Delhi later this month, viewing it as an important platform to advance dialogue and partnership. Following the…

Global spending on artificial intelligence is projected to reach $2.52 trillion in 2026, marking a sharp 44 per cent year-on-year increase, according to a new report released on Thursday. The report highlights that AI adoption is increasingly being shaped by organisational readiness and human capital maturity, rather than investment size alone. According to Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst John-David Lovelock, enterprises with greater experiential maturity are now prioritising proven business outcomes over speculative AI potential. A significant portion of the projected growth will be driven by foundational AI investments. Spending on AI-optimised servers alone is expected to rise by 49 per…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the Pongal festival in New Delhi by joining a vibrant celebration hosted at the residence of Union Minister L Murugan. The gathering brought together members of the Tamil community, senior government officials, and well-known personalities from the cultural and film fraternity. During the event, the prime minister described Pongal as more than a regional harvest festival, calling it a global celebration that reflects the values of one of the world’s oldest living civilizations. In his address, Modi underlined that Pongal is deeply connected to agriculture and honours the dedication of farmers whose labour sustains society.…

India’s economic and diplomatic ties with Iran are under renewed scrutiny following a U.S. announcement that countries maintaining trade with Iran could face a 25% tariff if they seek business relations with the United States. Government officials have indicated that India is planning to reduce its trade with Iran further in the current fiscal year due to external economic pressures, even as it prepares to host Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian during the upcoming BRICS summit. The summit marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Iran. Despite the U.S. tariff threat, sources suggest the impact on India will…

India formally launched the logo, theme, and official website for its BRICS 2026 chairship during an event in New Delhi, marking the country’s fourth time leading the influential economic grouping. The launch was led by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and signaled the start of India’s preparations to steer BRICS at a time of global uncertainty and shifting geopolitical dynamics. India assumed the BRICS presidency on January 1, taking over from Brazil. The upcoming chairship holds added significance as BRICS approaches two decades since its formation. Over the years, the bloc has emerged as a key platform for emerging…

New York City Hall has announced the appointment of Lekha Sunder as the city’s new Deputy Communications Director, a role that places her at the center of shaping official messaging and coordinating communication efforts across municipal departments. The appointment reflects Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s focus on strengthening how City Hall engages with residents, media organizations, and stakeholders. Sunder became closely associated with Mayor Mamdani’s political journey earlier this year when she joined his primary campaign. During the campaign, she played a significant role in expanding its media presence and ensuring consistent messaging across multiple platforms. Her efforts helped integrate traditional outreach…