Rajnath Singh meets Tulsi Gabbard| India-U.S. strategic ties| Anti-India activities overseas | N18G
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard held talks in New Delhi, focusing on strengthening India-U.S. strategic ties, particularly in defence and information sharing. Gabbard's visit, part of a multi-nation tour, marked the first high-level visit by a senior official from the Trump administration. During her trip, she met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and attended a global intelligence conclave hosted by India. The conclave, which included intelligence chiefs from the U.S., Canada, and the UK, concentrated on enhancing intelligence cooperation to combat terrorism, address emerging technological threats, and secure the Indo-Pacific region. Discussions also covered countering terror funding, money laundering, and issues related to extradition. India raised concerns about anti-India elements operating abroad, such as pro-Khalistan groups. Gabbard will also address the Raisina Dialogue, furthering the India-U.S. collaboration on global security challenges.
Rarefied world of central bank chiefs who became PMs
Mark Carney, Canada’s new PM, is the seventh central bank governor to get his country’s top political job. India’s Manmohan Singh got there earlier and is only one of two people to head the central bank, finance ministry and eventually the government. Usually, it’s a political or economic crisis which makes a former central bank boss the go-to person. The flow is not always in one direction. Many have been finance ministers before landing up with the top job at the central bank
Pakistan’s economy is back. But so is terrorism
Its nascent revival may be short-lived if insecurity in the borderlands comes to urban centers
Trump’s aim may be to force India to lower tariffs, not reciprocate rates
India’s growing bilateral trade surplus appears to be the factor that has catalyses charges of unfair practice. A law proposed by US Congress representatives gives the President the option to use tariffs as tools to force another country to lower its levies. This is likely to be first choice approach of the US, aiming to increase its exports and eventually wiping out its bilateral trade deficit with India
Can Europe rebuild its economic, military muscle?
Europe faces mounting security and economic challenges as it grapples with Donald Trump’s unpredictable policies, rising geopolitical tensions, and internal divisions. The EU’s proposed ReArm Europe Plan aims to rebuild defence capabilities while balancing economic resilience and green commitments
Pakistan stares down the barrel of a gun, yet again
After an audacious train hijack on March 11, the Baloch Liberation Army has continued to target Pakistan’s security personnel through smaller attacks. The country is in the grip of a relentless cycle of violence, with no long-term solution as the polity is subservient to an army which continues to repeat mistakes. Pakistan’s neighbours need to be mindful of a spillover effect
Excise scam: Delhi High Court to hear ED's plea challenging Arvind Kejriwal's bail in money laundering case
On June 20, 2024, Kejriwal was granted bail by a trial court on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh which was subsequently stayed by the high court on the ED’s plea. Kejriwal was arrested by the ED and the CBI on March 21 and June 26 last year respectively in the money laundering and corruption cases.
Federalism, a basic feature of Constitution is affected, alleges MK Stalin
Addressing an event held by the Madras Bar Association, MK Stalin said an independent judiciary, judges and lawyers who act like pillars against any attacks on the Constitution, safeguard and provide sustenance to it.
Had jail food for seven days and was beaten up by Congress govt in Assam: Amit Shah
Amit Shah said that Assam's Lachit Barphukan police academy will become the top one in the country in the next 5 years
No ED summons to my son; probe agency created media hype, says ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel
The searches went on for about eight hours, during which the ED seized about Rs 30 lakh cash and some documents, sources said
Half-a-CM: Trials and tribulations of Omar Abdullah
Omar Abdullah’s tenure as Jammu & Kashmir’s CM has seen limited progress, with key issues like statehood restoration, liquor bans, and reservation policies unresolved. His leadership is increasingly questioned amid growing frustration over the region’s diminished autonomy
India deported more Nigerians than Bangladeshis in 2024
Deportations have remained below 15,000 in the past decade. India deported twice as many, totalling 30,000, between 2010 and 2013.
Why India should keep out TikTok in the age of information warfare
Even as some Chinese apps make their comeback in the country, TikTok should not be allowed in India due to cognitive autonomy concerns. Its algorithm can be potentially used to amplify or de-amplify content to suit ByteDance's, and thereby Chinese Communist Party's, objectives
All’s not well between the US and Japan amid Trump’s return to power
Japan’s ties with the US face uncertainty under Trump, with trade disputes, security tensions, and shifting global alliances. Concerns over US reliability are pushing Japan to strengthen regional partnerships, maintain economic ties with Washington, and cautiously re-engage with China
Trade wars won’t make American farming great again
The US trade war will hurt food exports and increase the agricultural trade deficit
The lowdown on Trump’s executive order on FCPA
It says that authorities will review existing policies for 180 days during which new investigations under Foreign Corrupt Practices Act won’t be enforced. The order doesn’t take away the American AG’s power to start a new investigation nor does it make earlier cases vanish. Its aim is to secure US strategic interests. While there may be temporary relief, it’s essential that companies operating in India continue to prioritize anti-corruption efforts
Tamil emerges as fourth top Indian language among medical exam test takers, while English slides
While 179,857 people opted for Hindi as the primary language for NEET in 2019, this doubled to 357,908 in 2024. Students opting to take the exam in Tamil went up from 17,101 in 2020 to 36,333 in 2024
PM Modi reaches Mauritius | Welcomed with 'Geet Gawai' | Meets Indian Diaspora | 2-Day State Visit
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Maharashtra deputy chief minister and finance minister Ajit Pawar on Monday presented the first full Budget of the Mahayuti 2.0 government. He said that the New Industrial Policy in the state is expected to attract Rs 20 lakh crore in investments and create 50 lakh jobs. Here are the key takeaways from his speech.
Why the ‘Tiger’ need not dance with the ‘Dragon’
Sanghnomics: As US-China trade tensions rise, China seeks India’s support. However, India remains cautious due to past economic and security concerns. Experts argue India should prioritise ties with the US while leveraging trade opportunities arising from the tariff war
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The focus of the government will be on getting Parliament nod for the demands for grants, completion of the budgetary process, seeking approval for the Manipur budget and passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill
We're making plans to fulfil poll promise of raising Ladki Bahin amount Rs 2,100: Eknath Shinde
Eknath Shinde said two instalments have been deposited in beneficiaries’ accounts on the ocasion of International Women’s Day
Mallikarjun Kharge urges Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to unite for Karnataka's development amid power struggle
While some Congress leaders have voiced support for Shivakumar to become CM soon, several Ministers and leaders considered close to Siddaramaiah have consistently dismissed any leadership change, asserting that the current CM will continue and complete his full five-year term
BSP faces a bleak future, thanks to Mayawati’s insecurities
Expulsion of her nephew Akash Anand from the party represents one more example of getting rid of people who have tried to revive it through a different approach. With a second rung leadership purged over the years, all that BSP party functionaries are left with is a distant leader whose problems with enforcement agencies have shrunk the potential of a political party that was once a dominant force in Uttar Pradesh
