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USIBC Pushes India US Trade Deal Completion

The President of the US-India Business Council, Atul Keshap, has strongly advocated for India and the United States to conclude a trade agreement that has remained unresolved for years. Speaking after his recent visit to India, Keshap emphasized that finalising the pact would play a critical role in strengthening economic integration and restoring confidence among businesses operating in both markets. Keshap pointed out that trade relations between the two countries are already on an upward trajectory, but unresolved tariff issues continue t ..... Read More

India, New Zealand Sign Financial Services Pact Under FTA

India and New Zealand have concluded negotiations on the Financial Services Annex under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral economic and strategic cooperation, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday. The India–New Zealand Financial Services Annex goes beyond standard commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and comprises 18 comprehensive articles. The agreement strengthens cooperation in financial services through forward-looking pr ..... Read More

India–New Zealand FTA Brings Wide-Ranging Economic Benefits

The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) marks a significant milestone in India’s trade diplomacy, delivering tangible and wide-ranging benefits across the economy, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday. The agreement enhances market access for Indian goods, expands opportunities in services and mobility, and strengthens cooperation in agriculture, investment and emerging sectors. It eliminates duties on 100 per cent of Indian exports and includes a long-term investment commitment of US$20 billion over 15 years. Under t ..... Read More

Trade Deal Key to Deepen US-India Economic Ties: Keshap

The United States and India must conclude a long-pending trade agreement to unlock deeper economic integration and strengthen business confidence, Atul Keshap, President of the US-India Business Council (USIBC), said on Tuesday. Speaking after a recent visit to India, Keshap said Indian leaders and businesses expressed hope that Washington would move forward with an ambitious trade deal. He noted that negotiations had been conducted diligently over multiple rounds. Keshap said the business community strongly supports an early agreement, descr ..... Read More

India Announces $450 Million Aid for Sri Lanka

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday announced a $450 million reconstruction package for Sri Lanka, reaffirming India’s role as a first responder following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Highlighting Sri Lanka’s importance under India’s Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR policies, Jaishankar said it was natural for India to step forward during times of crisis. He recalled India’s earlier support to Sri Lanka during its economic difficulties. The External Affairs Minister called on Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Diss ..... Read More

EAM Jaishankar Meets Sri Lankan PM, Reaffirms Support

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo on Tuesday and reaffirmed India’s steadfast commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. Sharing details of the meeting on X, Jaishankar said he assured Prime Minister Amarasuriya of India’s continued support for reconstruction and recovery, adding that the reconstruction package offered by India reflects the deep and enduring bonds between the two neighbouring nations. Earlier in the day, the Exte ..... Read More

Indian Missions Observe World Meditation Day Worldwide

Indian diplomatic missions across the world observed World Meditation Day, emphasising the timeless relevance of meditation in fostering inner peace, emotional well-being and social harmony. In 2024, the United Nations General Assembly designated December 21 as World Meditation Day, recognising the importance of mindfulness and inner harmony in human life. Marking the occasion in Ghana, the Indian High Commission in Accra organised a unified meditation session at its Chancery, reaffirming the role of meditation in promoting physical and menta ..... Read More

India–New Zealand FTA to Double Trade in 5 Years

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon have announced the successful conclusion of a historic and ambitious India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a major milestone in bilateral relations. During a telephone conversation on Monday, the two leaders expressed confidence that the agreement would help double bilateral trade over the next five years. They also highlighted New Zealand’s plans to invest $20 billion in India over the next 15 years, reflecting growing economic confidence between the ..... Read More

EAM Jaishankar to visit Sri Lanka for leadership talks

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will visit Sri Lanka on Tuesday as the Special Envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold discussions with the island nation’s top leadership, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday. The visit underscores India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and takes place amid New Delhi’s ongoing humanitarian outreach under Operation Sagar Bandhu, launched in response to the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka. India initiated Operation Sagar Bandhu on November 28 as the first responder, ..... Read More

India, Japan discuss cooperation in disaster risk reduction

India and Japan have discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in disaster risk reduction and disaster resilience, reinforcing bilateral collaboration in managing natural hazards. India’s Ambassador-designate to Japan, Nagma Mallick, called on Japan’s State Minister for Disaster Management Akama Jiro in Tokyo, where both sides reviewed ongoing and future cooperation in disaster preparedness and resilience-building. In a statement shared on social media, the Indian Embassy in Japan said the discussions focused on enhancing India-Japan collabora ..... Read More

PM Modi inaugurates India’s first eco-themed airport

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new terminal at Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Assam, on Saturday, marking a significant milestone for the region’s aviation sector. Constructed at an investment of $480 million, this terminal stands out as India’s first nature-themed airport, blending modern infrastructure with elements inspired by the region’s environment. The inauguration ceremony included Modi’s visit to the terminal and the unveiling of an 80-foot statue of Assam’s ..... Read More

Starbucks Appoints Anand Varadarajan as CTO

Starbucks announced on Friday the appointment of Anand Varadarajan as its new Chief Technology Officer, effective January 19, 2026. Varadarajan will step in to lead the company’s technology division, replacing Deb Hall Lefevre, who resigned in September. In the interim, Ningyu Chen had been serving as the acting CTO. CEO Brian Niccol highlighted that Varadarajan will serve as executive vice president and a key member of Starbucks’ Executive Leadership Team, reporting directly to him. This appointment aligns with Niccol’s strategy to revamp s ..... Read More

Dhurandhar Dominates Box Office With Historic Run

 Dhurandhar continues its unstoppable march at the domestic box office, emerging as one of the most dominant theatrical performers in Indian cinema history. The Ranveer Singh-led action thriller has shattered second-week records by a massive margin, setting new standards for future big-budget releases. For 14 consecutive days, the film earned over $2.4 million net daily in India, making it the first Indian film to sustain such numbers for two straight weeks. After completing two weeks in theatres, Dhurandhar has amassed approximately $55 mil ..... Read More

Trump Signs NDAA 2026, Boosts US-India Defence Ties

US President Donald Trump has signed the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) for the Financial Year 2026 into law, reinforcing deeper US engagement with India and other Quad nations to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific while addressing challenges posed by China. Trump stated that the legislation will allow the Department of War to advance his “Peace through Strength” agenda, safeguard the homeland from domestic and international threats, and fortify the defence industrial base. The NDAA 2026 emphasises strengthening US defence allia ..... Read More

India’s Exports Surge to China and US in November

 India’s merchandise exports saw a robust increase in November 2025, with outbound shipments to China adding over $1 billion year-on-year and reaching $2.20 billion, a growth of more than 90 percent. Exports to the United States also rose over 22 percent to $6.98 billion during the same period, despite high reciprocal tariffs. Overall, India’s total merchandise exports surged nearly 20 percent year-on-year to $38.13 billion in November, recovering sharply from a 12 percent decline in October. Strong export performance helped reduce the trade ..... Read More

Kalyani Ramadurgam: Indian-origin techie builds her startup

Before launching her own venture, Kalyani Ramadurgam worked at Apple, focusing on high-stakes compliance to ensure that individuals on terrorism watchlists could not use Apple Pay. While the work was critical, what struck her was the outdated approach. Even at a top tech firm, compliance processes relied heavily on manual labor, requiring teams to pore over thousands of pages of regulatory documents, often overwhelming staff and slowing operations. That experience inspired her entrepreneurial journey. Recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30 USA 202 ..... Read More

India’s Pharma Exports Surpass US$ 30 Billion

 India’s pharmaceutical industry has achieved a record export value of US$ 30 billion, demonstrating the sustained global demand for Indian vaccines, generic medicines, and other therapeutic products. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal highlighted that this milestone reflects the sector’s robust fundamentals and its position as a key supplier to both regulated and semi-regulated international markets. The growth in exports has been driven by expanded production capacities, competitive pricing, adherence to strict quality standards, and strong ..... Read More

Indian-Origin Student Joins Elon Musk’s xAI Team

 Vineeth Sendilraj, a 19-year-old Indian-origin computer science student at Georgia Tech, has joined Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, as an engineer, describing the opportunity as a “full circle moment.” His announcement comes shortly after a viral moment at xAI’s December 2025 hackathon. Sendilraj first gained attention when images and videos from the hackathon circulated online, showing him intensely drinking water in a room full of engineers. While initially shared lightheartedly, the clip became part of a larger controve ..... Read More

Obama’s 2025 Picks Feature Indian American Creators

As 2025 draws to a close, former US President Barack Obama has shared his annual list of favourite books, films, and music, a tradition that started during his White House years. Posting on X, he invited followers to explore new discoveries and share recommendations for him to check out. The list reflects Obama’s diverse taste across genres and cultures, prominently featuring Indian American and Indian-origin creators alongside global talents. In music, the Indian-origin singer Ganavya made the list with the track “Pasayadan,” alongside arti ..... Read More

PM Modi first to get top honours from 5 of 6 Gulf nations

During his two-day visit to Oman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the Sultanate’s highest civilian honour, the First Class of the Order of Oman. This prestigious recognition places him among the world’s most decorated leaders and adds to his growing list of international accolades. The Order of Oman is the Sultanate’s top national award, reserved for foreign heads of state and global leaders who have significantly contributed to bilateral ties. PM Modi’s latest honour follows other distinguished awards, including Ethiopia’s Great Ho ..... Read More

US: India remains key partner despite skipping Pax Silica

 The United States has reiterated India’s importance as a strategic potential partner in safeguarding supply chains and advancing technology, despite New Delhi’s absence from the first Pax Silica Summit, a US-led effort aimed at securing the global semiconductor and silicon network. Addressing speculation linking India’s non-participation to political tensions, Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg clarified that such assumptions were misplaced. He emphasized that discussions on trade agreements and supply chain securit ..... Read More

0.87 million Indians trained in AI, emerging technologies

Artificial Intelligence is expected to generate new employment opportunities across areas such as data science, data curation and advanced analytics, with over 0.87 million Indians already trained or enrolled in emerging technologies, Parliament was informed on Thursday. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has launched the FutureSkills PRIME programme to reskill and upskill IT professionals across ten emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence. Under the initiative, more than 0.32 million candidates have rece ..... Read More

India Aims 100 GW Nuclear Power by 2047

India has formally launched an ambitious Nuclear Energy Mission, aiming to achieve approximately 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, combining domestic innovation with international collaboration under the Make in India initiative. Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined the roadmap, emphasizing the use of both existing and advanced technologies to meet the country’s growing energy demands while supporting a clean energy transition. According to the plan, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is expected to contribute 54 ..... Read More

US delivers final Apache helicopters to India

The US Embassy in India on Wednesday announced the arrival of the final batch of Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for the Indian Army, describing it as a fulfillment of commitments under the US-India defense partnership. The deliveries, which had been repeatedly delayed, mark a significant milestone in the ongoing military collaboration between the two countries. In a statement on X, the US Embassy emphasized that the deliveries advance the joint statement issued by the US President and India’s Prime Minister, reinforcing the Major De ..... Read More

India’s ‘Homebound’ Shortlisted for 98th Oscars

Neeraj Ghaywan’s directorial venture, ‘Homebound’, has officially been shortlisted for the International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards, moving to the next round of voting for the coveted Oscars 2026. The film, starring Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, is among the 15 titles that have become eligible for final nominations in the category. According to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), a total of 86 countries and regions submitted films for consideration in the International Feature Film category. In ..... Read More