Nwr News

The number of non-immigrant US visas issued to Indians during March and April has increased 28% this year, under the Donald Trump administration, as compared to the monthly average of 2016. Visas issued to Pakistan in the same period has decreased by 40%. Notably, 50 Muslim-majority nations saw a drop of around 20% in the US visas issued to them.

China has overtaken India to become the world's fastest-growing economy after India reported slow economic growth for the fourth consecutive quarter. In the last quarter of the 2016-17 fiscal, India had a 6.1% growth, as against China which recorded a growth rate of 6.9% during the period. The GDP growth for the year also fell from 8% to 7.1%.

Russia has said it is preparing to supply S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missile systems, one of the world's most advanced missile defence systems, to India. The system has the capability to destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles, and drones at ranges of up to 400 km. It can fire three types of missiles, create a layered defence, and simultaneously engage 36 targets.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has surpassed the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, to become the top-ranked Indian institute according to Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings. With rankings of 172 (IIT-Delhi), 179 (IIT-Bombay) and 190 (IISc), three universities have found a place in the top 200 for the first time.

Israel is set to offer manufacturing of Spike hand held 'fire and forget' anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) to India under Make in India. This comes as Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, also the Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee, will be on a four-day visit to Israel from Sunday. Lanba's visit will be to understand regional security, according to reports.

An Indian sociologist has announced plans to name a village in Rajasthan's Mewat region 'Trump Village', after US President Donald Trump. Sulabh International founder Bindeshwar Pathak, who was speaking at an event in Washington DC, said the initiative was part of an attempt to "strengthen India-US relations". The event was also attended by Virginia Governor candidate Ed Gillespie.

Pakistan has claimed that its ally China will fund its long-delayed ₹77-crore mega dam project over the Indus basin in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India has opposed the construction of the dam ever since it was proposed. The dam aims to generate 4,500 MW of electricity and to regulate the water flow to farmlands that are vulnerable to increasingly erratic weather patterns.

The US on Thursday declared Karnataka-born ISIS terrorist Mohammad Shafi Armar and three others as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, marking the first time American authorities have taken such action against an Indian ISIS member. Officials said Armar, earlier an Indian Mujahideen militant, was a "leader" in India who recruited ISIS sympathisers for terrorist activities across the nation.

Pakistan claimed on Friday that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has rejected India's request to delay proceedings of Kulbhushan Jadhav's case until December. "India had adopted the stance that the matter was one of life and death, but Pakistan had stated that the ICJ is not a court of appeals," Pakistan Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali said.

India and Switzerland will start exchanging financial account information starting 2019, with the Swiss government formally ratifying the global convention for information exchange on tax matters with 38 countries on Friday. Notably, one of the key poll promises of the Narendra Modi government was flushing out black money, much of which is believed to be stored in Swiss banks.

The Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has decided to keep Pakistan out of its international iftar party to be held on Monday. MRM National convener Mohammad Afzal said the neighbouring country was not invited considering its "negative attitude" towards India. Pakistan was not invited to the event even last year.

A 33-year-old Sikh man in Maryland, USA, was arrested outside a grocery store for carrying a kirpan, the ceremonial knife which is part of Sikh faith articles. According to an eye-witness who posted a video of the incident on social media, the officers told him to keep his hands away from the knife until they removed it.

As many as 65 countries will be celebrating 'Azadi ke 70 Saal', a festival marking 70 years of Indian independence this year. The celebrations will start with a Rasleela, storytelling about Lord Krishna and Gopis (his female friends), in Hungary this month. The celebrations featuring folk artists, traditional cuisine and literary exhibitions, will be held in USA, Brazil, Vietnam, etc.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has inaugurated the first Afghanistan-India air corridor during a ceremony at the Kabul International Airport. The corridor is a direct route that bypasses Pakistan and is meant to improve trade and commerce. Ghani said the aim of the route was to create more opportunities and make Afghanistan an exporter country.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called up PM Narendra Modi on Monday, with both leaders discussing the Paris Climate Agreement. Modi congratulated Trudeau on the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation this year, besides reaffirming India's commitment to climate change and implementation of the Paris Agreement. The two also exchanged views on other areas of mutual interest.