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USISPF Appoints Lalitambika Kumari to Key Role

The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), headquartered in Washington, DC, has announced the appointment of Lalitambika Kumari, also known as Lali, as its new Manager for Higher Education, CSR, and Parliamentary Engagements (India). In this role, she will lead efforts to advance the Forum’s education initiatives, promote philanthropic programs, and strengthen collaborative policy dialogues between both nations. Kumari’s position will involve building and nurturing academic collaborations, expanding cross-border opportunities, and su ..... Read More

Modi, Putin Hold 45-Minute Talks Post SCO Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, where he called on member nations to stand firm against terrorism. In his address, Modi highlighted the urgent need for coordinated global action and stressed that no country should maintain “double standards” when tackling terror. He thanked the member states for their solidarity after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives. Modi further urged the SCO to ensure that nations supporting or enabli ..... Read More

Modi: India, Russia Stand United Even in Tough Times

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin showcased their longstanding camaraderie during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin on Monday. The two leaders were seen walking hand in hand before meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping, exchanging smiles and words through translators. Putin, addressing Modi warmly as his “dear friend,” later offered him a ride in his armoured Aurus limousine, a symbolic gesture that drew global attention. Modi, sharing pictures from the ride on X, said that India and ..... Read More

India, Philippines Unite for Space and Electronics Growth

India and the Philippines have taken a major step toward strengthening ties in the fields of space and electronics with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement, finalized between the Satcom Industry Association-India (SIA-India) and the Electronic Industry Association of the Philippines Inc (EIAPI), focuses on boosting collaboration in satellite communication, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, embedded systems, and advanced space electronics. The partnership seeks to create a strong platform for joint research, ..... Read More

Trump to Address UNGA, Modi May Speak Days Later

US President Donald Trump will deliver his first address of his second term at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 22, the White House confirmed. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump plans to reassert his “America First” vision, with particular emphasis on tariffs and trade policies that he argues protect US industries. Trump’s UN appearances in the past have often drawn global headlines. In 2017, he threatened to “totally destroy North Korea” while ridiculing Kim Jong-un as “Rocket Man.” His subsequent ..... Read More

Modi urges ‘Make in India, for world’ with Japan’s tech edge

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Japan for the 11th annual summit, where he addressed top business leaders and emphasized India’s growing global importance. “The world is not just watching India, it is counting on India,” he declared, encouraging Japanese companies to strengthen their investments in India. Showcasing India’s progress, Modi pointed to the success of Japanese companies like Suzuki and Daikin. He described Japan as a “tech powerhouse” and India as the “talent powerh ..... Read More

India, Japan to partner on next Chandrayaan mission: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his official visit to Japan, emphasized a renewed phase in India-Japan cooperation while meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Addressing the media after their discussions, Modi announced that both countries would collaborate on the upcoming LUPEX (Lunar Polar Exploration) mission, part of the Chandrayaan program. This mission aims to study the permanently shadowed regions of the moon’s south pole, a scientific leap that promises to deepen humanity’s understanding of lunar resources ..... Read More

Tech Entrepreneur Ethan Agarwal Enters 2026 California Race

Tech entrepreneur Ethan Agarwal has officially declared his candidacy for California governor in 2026, positioning himself as a Democrat who champions capitalism and meritocracy. In an interview with Axios, the 39-year-old emphasized his pro-business approach, contrasting himself with progressive candidates like Senator Elizabeth Warren and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani. “We share common ground on issues like reproductive rights, gun control, LGBTQ protections, and immigration,” Agarwal said. “But I strongly support capitalism and meritocracy a ..... Read More

PM Modi Pushes Nuclear Reform, Sets 100 GW Goal By 2047

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking at the India-Japan Joint Economic Forum in Tokyo, announced a major policy shift by opening India’s nuclear energy sector to private players. Describing this as a landmark decision, he said nuclear power will now follow defence and space in welcoming private participation. Highlighting India’s investment-friendly climate, Modi stressed that the country enjoys political stability, economic predictability, and policy transparency. “India is the fastest-growing major economy today, and soon it will b ..... Read More

Modi-Ishiba $68B pact may boost AI, chips, defence, trains

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic ties ahead of a key summit. The discussions come at a time of rising global trade frictions, particularly due to new US tariffs. According to reports, India and Japan are preparing to finalize a landmark agreement valued at $68 billion. The deal, which may be signed on August 29, 2025, will focus on ramping up Japanese private sector investments in India. Over the next decade, Tokyo aims to channel 10 tril ..... Read More

Xi’s ‘secret letter’ to Murmu may reset India-China ties

A discreet letter sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Indian President Droupadi Murmu in March has emerged as a turning point in India-China relations, according to a Bloomberg report. The note, later passed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signaled Beijing’s cautious willingness to improve ties after years of strained relations. An Indian official described the communication as an effort to “test the waters on improving ties,” with the message carefully calibrated to avoid overcommitment. The outreach coincided with rising trade frictio ..... Read More

PM Modi-Xi meet at SCO hints at India-China thaw

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled for a bilateral meeting on August 31 in Tianjin, China, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. This will mark the first in-person encounter between the two leaders in nearly a year, following a period of strained relations. The summit is being viewed as a crucial step toward restoring normalcy after tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which escalated following a fatal border clash in 2020. Their last summit in October of the previous ..... Read More

Priya Talreja Wins 2025 Fulbright-National Geographic Award

Priya Talreja, an urban planner from Fremont, California, has been selected as one of only five recipients nationwide to receive the 2025 Fulbright-National Geographic Award. The $20,000 fellowship will support her innovative research in the Azores, Portugal, focusing on sustainable transportation strategies tailored to local communities. Talreja, a graduate of Mission San Jose High School and the University of California, Davis, where she studied Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning, currently works in New York on projects promoting t ..... Read More

Rajan: Overreliance on Russian oil a ‘wake-up call’ for India

Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan has urged New Delhi to rethink its heavy dependence on Russian oil supplies, warning that the country risks serious economic setbacks after Washington imposed unprecedented tariffs on Indian imports. Speaking in an interview with India Today on Wednesday, Rajan described the latest measures as a “wake-up call” for policymakers. “These tariffs are deeply troubling. We must consider who truly benefits and who bears the cost. Refiners may gain from cheaper Russian crude, but exporters a ..... Read More

ISRO clears vital air drop test for December Gaganyaan flight

Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Mr. Shigeru Ishiba, has announced a plan to invest approximately US$ 68 billion in India over the next decade, aiming to strengthen economic and technological ties between the two nations. The proposal is expected to be highlighted during the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 29–30. This long-term investment will span eight priority sectors, including mobility, environmental technologies, healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI), and semiconductor manufacturing, while als ..... Read More

Japan plans $68B investment in India AI, chips

Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Mr. Shigeru Ishiba, has announced a plan to invest approximately US$ 68 billion in India over the next decade, aiming to strengthen economic and technological ties between the two nations. The proposal is expected to be highlighted during the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 29–30. This long-term investment will span eight priority sectors, including mobility, environmental technologies, healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI), and semiconductor manufacturing, while als ..... Read More

India-Japan Ties Strengthen Through Strategic Partnership

India and Japan enjoy a Special Strategic and Global Partnership, a relationship built on deep-rooted civilizational ties, shared cultural values, and centuries of spiritual affinity. As two of Asia’s leading democracies and members of the world’s top five economies, both nations play a significant role in shaping the regional and global order. Over the years, bilateral ties have steadily evolved. The partnership was first elevated to a Global Partnership in 2000, then to a Strategic and Global Partnership in 2006, and finally to a Special S ..... Read More

Ramesh Jeganathan named Clemson FNPS chair

Clemson University has named Ramesh Jeganathan as the new chair of its Department of Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences (FNPS), ushering in a fresh phase of leadership for one of the university’s most interdisciplinary and high-impact departments. Jeganathan joins Clemson from Auburn University, bringing over 25 years of academic and administrative experience. His prior roles include serving as the Bruno Endowed Professor of Nutrition, graduate program director, interim co-associate dean for research and graduate studies, and Southeaster ..... Read More

PM Modi’s Japan visit: Bullet trains, AI, and security

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Japan from August 29–30, 2025, marking his eighth trip to the country. During this visit, he will meet Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to hold the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. “The summit will provide a platform to conduct a comprehensive review of bilateral relations, assess progress across multiple domains, and exchange perspectives on regional and global issues,” said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. He added that the leaders will also launch initiatives to enhance resilience in the pa ..... Read More

Penny Wong calls India-Australia ties vital amid change

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on August 27 underscored the significance of India-Australia relations at a time when the global and regional order is undergoing a major transformation. Speaking in Canberra with a group of Indian journalists, Wong emphasized that both nations share clear objectives for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific, making their partnership more crucial than ever. Responding to questions about the United States’ recent tariffs on India, Wong avoided direct comments on bilateral relations but stressed Australia’s ..... Read More

India Set To Emerge Second-Largest Economy

India’s economy is projected to reach USD 20.7 trillion (PPP) by 2030, with the potential to become the world’s second-largest economy by 2038, hitting USD 34.2 trillion, according to a recent EY report. The study highlights that with effective policy measures, India can mitigate the adverse effects of higher US tariffs on select imports, keeping the drag on GDP growth to roughly 0.1 percentage point. EY’s August 2025 edition of Economy Watch emphasises that India ranks among the most dynamic of the top five global economies, supported by st ..... Read More

India nears $1 billion fighter engine deal

India is on the verge of signing a landmark defense agreement with U.S. aerospace giant General Electric (GE) for fighter jet engines, a move set to strengthen the country’s indigenous combat aircraft initiatives. Sources familiar with the discussions reveal that India is finalizing the purchase of 113 GE-404 engines, valued at approximately $1 billion, to power Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A fleet. This contract, anticipated to be concluded by September, adds to an earlier agreement for 99 GE-404 e ..... Read More

Xi, Putin, Modi set for SCO 2025 meet amid Trump tariffs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is entering a critical phase of foreign policy as he prepares to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit later this week. The visit comes just as Washington doubles tariffs on Indian exports, creating new strains in India-US trade relations. Starting August 27, the United States raised tariffs to 50% on key Indian exports, striking industries that employ millions of workers. Shrimp, apparel, leather, and gems & jewelry are am ..... Read More

10th-century Buddha idol unearthed in Tamil Nadu

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 ..... Read More

Kriti Sanon Reflects on Outsider Journey in Bollywood

Kriti Sanon has carved out a remarkable place for herself in Hindi cinema despite not having any family connections in the industry. Recognized today as one of Bollywood’s most successful outsiders, the National Award-winning actor believes her journey is a testament to the power of persistence and passion. Speaking at a News 18 event, Kriti reflected on the hurdles faced by those without film industry roots. She noted that aspiring actors often confront doubts, criticism, and rejection. “There are no shortcuts in this field,” she explained. ..... Read More