India has dispatched a fresh tranche of 35 tonnes of humanitarian aid to flood-ravaged Nepal, marking the eighth special flight since devastating flash floods struck the Himalayan nation on August 26. The aid includes relief materials, specialised rescue equipment, and expert personnel, with Indian teams actively assisting in tunnel rescue operations and forensic identification of victims. The death toll has climbed to 1,365, and thousands remain missing as India reaffirms its commitment to supporting Nepal's recovery efforts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, discussing recent developments in West Asia and reiterating India's emphasis on the importance of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Modi welcomed the recent peace understanding between the US and Iran, stressing dialogue and diplomacy for regional stability. India will also send representatives to the burial ceremonies of Iran's late Supreme Leader.
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has articulated India's position on BRICS, advocating for it to be a "non-West, but not anti-West" platform, a stance he believes is crucial for India's national interest. He highlighted the prestige of hosting the BRICS summit, India's responsibility to represent the Global South, and the significance of bilateral meetings, particularly with China and Russia. Tharoor also addressed the strained India-China relations, citing border issues and trade leverage, and discussed the challenges within BRICS, including difficulties in achieving consensus on global issues and trade imbalances, while also considering the need for diversified international relations amidst unpredictable US sanctions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced a 'Sapta Dhara' (seven-stream) reform framework, aiming to propel India into a developed nation by 2047. This comprehensive plan focuses on key sectors including manufacturing, agro-food processing, technology, logistics, defence, green and blue economy, and soft power, leveraging the nation's youth potential.
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has urged people to support and strengthen the party for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, while also criticising the BJP government on issues like the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and the Vande Mataram row.
AIIMS Jammu is poised to become the first hospital in India to receive armed security from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) due to its strategic location near the India-Pakistan international border. This move marks a significant shift in security policy for healthcare facilities, which the Ministry of Home Affairs had previously resisted. The CISF is also slated for deployment at Kolkata Metro and Donyi Polo Airport.
India is hosting the BRICS summit, leveraging the platform to address global trade tensions and champion the developmental priorities of the Global South, including food, energy, and supply chain security. The summit, attended by leaders like President Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, will focus on resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability, with India aiming to strengthen intra-BRICS collaboration and discuss global matters. The expanded BRICS grouping represents a significant portion of the world's population and GDP, making its discussions crucial for global economic stability.
Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting in Ahmedabad to review India's preparations for hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games and its bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. The meeting, also attended by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Gujarat's Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi, highlighted the government's commitment to establishing India as a global sporting destination. Discussions also covered the 2029 World Police and Fire Games, set to be held in Ahmedabad.
US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in France, marking their first bilateral meeting since February last year. Both leaders will be attending the summit, with Trump also meeting other world leaders.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu highlighted that the success of UPI, which handles nearly half of the world's real-time digital transactions, stems from a collaborative ecosystem including financial inclusion, digital identity, and affordable internet. He attributed this digital payments revolution to the vision of PM Narendra Modi.
'You have to get private investment to somewhere between 35% to 36% of GDP. It is hovering about 30%-31%.'
An NRI couple from Vadodara, Kinnari and Mihir Patel, who travelled to Nepal from New Zealand, have gone missing after devastating flash floods hit the region, prompting their family to appeal to the government for swift rescue action.
Penguin Random House India has denied any external pressure influenced its decision not to publish Sonia Gandhi's memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', stating an 'impasse over a particular issue' led to the author's team withdrawing the book.
For India, the goal is not simply to host another grand diplomatic gathering. It is to prove that a diverse coalition of emerging powers can still deliver.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 'Mann Ki Baat' broadcast, highlighted India's recent achievements in self-reliance, including the maiden flight of the made-in-India C-295 aircraft and the induction of indigenous naval ships. He also lauded the global participation in International Yoga Day and India's success at the World Yoga Asana Championship, alongside Nalanda University's revival of the 'Shastrarth' tradition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon India's youth to dream big, assuring them of government support and resources, including a Rs 1 lakh crore Innovation Fund, to bolster the country's burgeoning startup ecosystem and drive its journey towards becoming a developed nation.
India on Tuesday conveyed to China the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) for overall bilateral ties as national security advisor Ajit Doval held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi focusing on delimitation of the frontier and sustaining work on trans-boundary cooperation.
Former US President Donald Trump lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a 'great leader' and 'tough guy' who has been in power for over 12 years, placing him alongside China's President Xi Jinping as leaders he admires for their power and ability to execute.
Rahul Gandhi's aggressive street politics is giving him a fresh political edge, but overplaying his role could hurt his credibility with the wider opposition, predicts M R Narayan Swamy.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded UPI on its 10th anniversary, highlighting its role in India's digital transformation. Launched by NPCI in 2016, UPI has become the world's largest real-time payment system, witnessing a massive surge in transaction volume and value, demonstrating its success in empowering people with swift, seamless, and secure digital transactions.
India and the US are reportedly exploring a potential meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France next week, aiming to rebuild bilateral ties after recent tensions.
IICT and Netflix are offering scholarships to 100 students and working professionals, with up to 80 per cent financial support for courses in animation, VFX, gaming and creative technologies.
There is a strong opinion within the BJP in Punjab that the party must now stand on its own two feet and dump the badly compromised SAD baggage.
Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, despite strong objections from the Punjab government. The Mann government claimed the appointment bypassed constitutional norms and procedures, leading to a political tussle with the Centre, which defended the process.
History may remember Takaichi Sanae not as the leader who simply accelerated Japanese rearmament, but as one who governed during Japan's transition from an industrial-age security model to a post-industrial strategic member of the global order, points out Varun Arya.
The Sports Ministry has initiated a fresh application process for a national Yogasana federation, setting a September 17 deadline. This follows a Delhi High Court ruling that quashed the recognition of Yogasana Bharat and mandated a new affiliation procedure. Eligible bodies must submit detailed applications, adhering to the National Sports Governance Act, which includes specific requirements for executive committee composition.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari symbolically destroyed nearly 2 lakh bottles of banned cough syrup in Balurghat using a road roller. This act, aimed at combating drug addiction among youth and curbing smuggling to Bangladesh, highlights improved coordination between BSF and state police. Adhikari also announced a new medical college for Balurghat during his visit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the 12th International Day of Yoga celebrations in Kolkata, highlighted yoga's dual benefits: boosting personal health and fostering world peace. He emphasised its role in promoting a balanced lifestyle, mental well-being, and healthy ageing across all generations, citing the Bhagwat Gita.
Eiffel Tower employees launched a strike, leading to the iconic landmark's closure, after allegations surfaced that female staff were asked to vacate their posts during a visit by the Hindu religious organisation BAPS.
US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, highlighted the evolving US-India space partnership, moving from cooperation to "co-creation" at the Bengaluru Space Expo. He emphasised joint design, funding, and co-authoring the future of human discovery, citing the NISAR satellite and India's participation in the Artemis Accords as key examples of this growing synergy.
India and China are in what experts call 'a cooperation-versus-competition situation'.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a range of exquisite Indian handicrafts and textiles, including Kanchivaram silk, Maheshwari silk, and Toda embroidered shawls, to the top leadership of Seychelles and their spouses during his recent three-day visit to the island nation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address, highlighted technology and innovation as central to India's goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. He called for India to lead in emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and space, announcing a massive AI skilling initiative for one crore youth. Modi stressed the importance of becoming a global innovation hub, bolstering energy security with nuclear power, and strengthening cybersecurity.
Prof Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi, Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University, highlighted Artificial Intelligence's transformative potential in healthcare, emphasising its role in augmenting doctors' capabilities and enhancing efficiency. Speaking at PGIMER's Foundation Day, he stressed the need for India to develop AI solutions tailored to its unique healthcare realities, moving beyond being a mere consumer of Western-trained systems. PGIMER Director Vivek Lal also detailed the institute's expansion and commitment to affordable healthcare.
Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj was detained in Uttar Pradesh following a protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanding his arrest for allegedly assaulting a student's father and bragging about it, while the victim's daughter reported receiving rape threats and online abuse.
US President Donald Trump lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "very tough negotiator" and hinted at a future visit to India during their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, where they discussed trade, defence, and the West Asia crisis.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has dismissed speculation about a potential move to national politics, asserting his commitment to serving the state. He clarified that his visit to Delhi was to discuss Maharashtra's development projects with the central government, not for a change in his political role.
NPCI International and Uzbekistan's NIPC have partnered to enable UPI payments across Uzbekistan, allowing Indian tourists, business travellers, and students to make instant merchant payments using the UZQR code. This agreement, approved by RBI and CBU, integrates UPI with Uzbekistan's national payment system, HUMO, facilitating direct P2M payments from Indian bank accounts and reducing reliance on foreign exchange or international cards.
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for thanking US President Donald Trump, arguing that India's sovereignty and national interest should be paramount. Kejriwal questioned the basis of Modi's gratitude, citing incidents involving attacks on ships carrying Indians and the deaths of Indian nationals, and called for strong leadership to protect India's interests.
"I hope it was correct," Macron said after delivering the lines in Hindi.
