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'In India, We Almost Find A Global Market': Swedish Ambassador To NDTV

Indians are now the largest immigrant group coming into Sweden.

India, Norway Seal Green Partnership, Maritime Deals in PM Modi's Oslo Visit

Norway's Ambassador to India called the visit "very successful"

India-China relations have improved from ‘reset and fresh start’ to ‘new level’: Chinese envoy Xu Feihong

Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong in conversation with Suhasini Haidar during the session ‘India-China tango: Asian powers shaping the emerging world order’

'I like your Prime Minister a lot': Trump praises PM Modi as India-US trade talks continue

Momentum towards a deal has strengthened in recent weeks. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said the negotiations were nearing completion, with only a limited number of issues still unresolved. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has similarly indicated that most matters have been settled, with discussions now centred on finalising the remaining details before the first phase of the agreement is unveiled.

Pakistan 'unreliable' mediator: Israeli envoy

Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar has raised doubts over Pakistan's potential role as a regional mediator, warning India that the Middle East conflict serves as a "preview" of radical tactics that could soon impact its own neighbourhood.In an interview with PTI Videos, he rejected the notion that Pakistan possesses the credibility to act as a mediator in regional negotiations.Labelling the country unreliable, Azar characterized Pakistan as a "problematic player" whose involvement requires the US to exercise "special caution" to avoid potential traps."I don't think they are reliable," he said about Pakistan's mediation role.He added that when mediators lean towards a "terrorist entity" or "legitimize radicalism", it becomes "very tricky because the United States has to exercise special caution not to fall into traps set not only by the opposing side but also by the mediator".The envoy further alleged an increasing connection between radical elements and the region, noting a rise in visits by Hamas leaders to both Pakistan and Bangladesh over the last two years.Turning to the India angle, Azar claimed that because Israel is the most attacked country in the world, the threats it faces often serve as a "preview to a movie coming to a theatre in your neighbourhood".He specifically alleged that radical groups are drawing twisted inspiration from the October 7 attacks and warned that the methodologies of hybrid warfare, including using human shields and manipulating media, are likely to be emulated elsewhere.While commenting on Israel's policy of mandatory military service, Azar refrained from suggesting India adopt similar models.He observed that India is "blessed" with a large territory and population, expressing confidence that the Indian government is making the "right decisions" regarding its own recruitment and defence needs.He, however, noted the "positive aspect of conscription" in maturing young citizens and instilling a sense of responsibility."It doesn't mean that one size fits all. Each country has to find its own way." PTI SHJ ZMN

Indian envoy visits mortuary, injured nationals after Kuwait airport attack kills compatriot

The ambassador also met Brigadier Abdulrahim Al-Awadhi, General Manager of the General Department of Criminal Evidence, and conveyed appreciation for the "prompt and sensitive support" extended by the Kuwaiti authorities

Ministers, ambassadors, artists to join The Hindu’s Huddle in June

This edition will discuss topics such as role of regional parties in strengthening India’s democracy, diplomacy in times of conflict, women’s representation in Parliament, and India and China’s role in shaping a new global order

Seasoned diplomat Vipul appointed India's next ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Mr. Vipul, a 1998-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, is currently serving as Indian ambassador to Qatar

India-Oman free trade pact kicks in, opens duty-free access for 99% exports

India's commerce minister Piyush Goyal and Oman's ambassador to India Issa Saleh Al Shibani marked the occasion by flagging off the first consignments availing preferential tariff benefits under the pact, including agriculture and gems and jewellery exports from Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

Watch: Indian Ambassador Speaks Mandarin, Gives Tour Of Embassy In Beijing

The Ministry of External Affairs appointed Doraiswami as India's Ambassador to China in March

Can India And US Finally Seal The Deal? US Trade Representatives In Delhi Ahead Of High-Stakes Talks

Last week, US Ambassador Sergio Gor said that India and the United States had completed about 99 per cent of negotiations for an interim agreement.

Nepal PM Balendra Shah says border issue with India will be resolved through ‘dialogue and diplomacy’

Nepal's Prime Minister emphasised resolving border issues through dialogue, while former ambassadors questioned the validity of claims regarding territorial encroachment by either country.

'Earlier Gandhi, Now PM Modi': Union Minister's Take On India's Biggest Brand Ambassador

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said India's image abroad was linked only to Mahatma Gandhi for a long time, but now PM Modi was the country's biggest brand ambassador.

India's image was ‘stuck with Gandhi-ji’: Tourism minister says PM Modi is now ‘biggest brand ambassador’

“Till 10-15 years ago, Gandhiji was the brand ambassador of India for decades. And now Modiji is the brand ambassador of India," says Gajendra Shekhawat.

US Ambassador Sergio Gor says India-US trade deal is '99% done' and will be signed within weeks ‘Could not be luckier’

US Ambassador Sergio Gor says only 1% of the India-US interim trade deal remains, with signing expected in weeks. Both nations are deepening ties in AI, critical minerals, and pharmaceuticals.

Switzerland to collaborate with J&K on sustainable tourism, vocational training

Switzerland’s Ambassador to India announced that the country “will continue to work together in the region, from a Himalayan glaciology collaborative program at the University of Kashmir to cloud research with ETH Zurich”

Gold demand drops 70% after sharp duty hike in India

Kolkata: Gold demand in India slipped about 70% since the government more than doubled import duty from earlier this month, adding to already tepid consumer sentiment amid higher fuel and food prices due to the Iran war.Demand fell to about 7.5 tonnes in the fortnight ended May 27 from around 25 tonnes a year earlier, according to industry estimates. The government increased the import duty on gold to 15% from 6% with effect from May 13."Reports trickling in from jewellers across India shows that there has been a 70% drop in demand after the import duty was hiked," said Surendra Mehta, national secretary of India Bullion & Jewellers Association (IBJA). "The unorganised trade, which comprises 65% of the gold trade, has been worst hit due to the duty hike."Also Read: India's gold import problem may already have a solution at homeJoy Alukkas, chairman of gold jewellery retail chain Joyalukkas, attributed the demand weakness to several factors. "It is not only the high import duty that has dented the demand," he said. "The Prime Minister's appeal to stay away from gold for a year has also impacted consumer sentiment in a big way. At Joyalukkas, we are seeing demand dropping by more than 35%. We are not sure whether it will slip further." 131398034Mehta at IBJA said apart from the gold import duty hike, higher petrol and diesel prices and food items are also weighing on consumer sentiment "as they are not willing to spend on gold now".The effective tax burden on gold, including goods and services tax (GST), has risen to 18.45% from 9.18% after the duty increase. The government raised duties against the backdrop of a weak rupee, elevated crude prices, and geopolitical tensions, while also tightening import rules and capping duty-free imports under the Advance Authorisation Scheme."At present, gold is not in the priority list of consumers," said Mehta. "Moreover, it is now the period of Adhik Maas, when Hindus generally avoid buying anything precious. What is more surprising is that the investment demand for gold has slowed down."Also Read: Kriti Sanon joins GIVA as investor and brand ambassadorThe slump may weigh on investment demand in the second quarter of 2026 after a strong start to the year, said jewellers.Gold Exchange Schemes Take OffIndia's bar and coin demand rose 34% from a year ago to 62.3 tonnes in the March quarter.India consumes about 800-850 tonnes of gold annually. On Friday, gold of 999 purity traded at about ₹1.57 lakh per 10 grams, excluding GST, in Mumbai's spot market.Volumes are weak in south India, traditionally one of the country's biggest gold-consuming markets. Some consumers are also shifting towards lighter and lower-carat jewellery while sales of old gold have risen sharply, according to jewellers. "Consumers are not stretching their budgets," said B Govindan, chairman of Bhima Jewellery. "They are buying whatever fits their budget and therefore choosing lightweight and lower-carat jewellery. On the contrary, there is a huge rush among consumers to sell old gold and take cash back home."Industry executives noted the varied impact of the import duty increase across segments, with many retailers indicating a pause in procurement. "Large chain stores saw a brief period of panic buying after the announcement, driven by expectations of further measures, and while they expect a slowdown in sales, they remain relatively resilient given inventory buffers and continued support from bridal demand," said Kavita Chacko, research head at the World Gold Council (WGC).Mid-sized and regional jewellers are continuing to see demand from affluent customers but are expected to rely more on gold exchange programmes and tighter inventory cycles going forward, she said. "Smaller retailers appear the most vulnerable: already stretched by persistently high prices, they now face added pressure from sales volumes and profit margins," said Chacko.

RBI warns West Asia war may hit India growth

Mumbai: A prolonged West Asia conflict represents a key downside risk to India's economic outlook according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), even as it projected a lower real gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6.9% for 2026-27 in its annual report compared with 7.6% estimated for the previous financial year.The central bank said the impact of the conflict is likely to remain contained in the near term but warned that an escalation could derail India's otherwise positive growth trajectory."Going forward, India's growth outlook remains positive, though the West Asia conflict and the attendant risks of elevated energy prices, supply chain disruptions, financial market volatility, uncertainty surrounding global trade policies and weather-related disruptions could pose headwinds to growth and inflation in the short run," the Reserve Bank said.Also Read: Iran war - PSBs asked to stay preparedPositive Macro OutlookIt listed healthy corporate and bank balance sheets, government's continued thrust on capital expenditure and the implementation of trade agreements with key partners as positives to help sustain investment and growth momentum."Nevertheless, in a highly uncertain global environment, continuous assessment of the evolving developments is warranted to frame the appropriate policy response on an ongoing basis," the report said.131398139The central bank said that although portfolio flows exhibited a net outflow in 2025-26, strong buffers in the form of ample foreign exchange reserves and modest external debt liabilities continue to impart strength to the external sector, contributing to overall macroeconomic and financial stability.Adequate food grain stocks, sufficient reservoir levels and stable agricultural prospects despite possible El Nino conditions and above-normal summer temperature will keep inflation aligned to the target in 2026-27, according to the RBI. However, upside risks may emanate from a surge in global fuel and commodity prices amid geopolitical tensions, potential spillovers to input and wage costs and volatility in exchange rates.Also Read: India-US trade pact may be weeks away - US Ambassador to India Sergio GorThe central bank projected consumer price inflation for 2026-27 at 4.6%, with risks tilted to the upside, significantly higher than its revised estimate of 3.7% for the previous fiscal.Pressure on BondsDomestic bond yields could face upward pressure if the global monetary easing cycle stalls or reverses in response to persistent oil price shocks amid fragile conditions in West Asia, it said.Geopolitical risk has re-emerged as the dominant drag on global growth in 2026, according to the RBI. "In IMF's baseline scenario, the global economy is projected to grow by 3.1% in 2026 (as against the earlier projection of 3.3% in January), while global merchandise and services trade volume is expected to decelerate to 2.8% in 2026. Further intensification of the conflict, its prolongation or widening geographical spread, if any, remain the key downside risks to the global economic outlook," the report said."However, the government's commitment to fiscal consolidation, along with the liquidity injection measures by the Reserve Bank, is expected to contain the upward pressure on yields. Equity market dynamics would be conditioned by evolving geopolitical developments, global financial market volatility and foreign portfolio investment flows; a deterioration in risk sentiment alongside strengthening of the US dollar could trigger capital outflows," said the RBI's annual report. "At the same time, ongoing efforts to expand local currency settlement framework are expected to further advance rupee based cross-border transactions."

Only 1% work left on India-US trade deal: US ambassador Sergio Gor

India-U.S. trade deal will be signed ‘over the next few weeks and months’: Sergio Gor

“Our current interim trade agreement is on the table for us to finalise, and that will unlock prosperity for both of our countries,” says the U.S. Ambassador to India