This Week in Explainers: Can India, US ‘Mega’ partnership stand the test of time?

It’s been a big week for India on the global stage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in France to co-chair the Paris AI summit. He then held talks with President Emmanuel Macron in Marseille and visited ITER, where the world’s biggest science experiment is being conducted.

From France, Modi headed to Washington DC. There was a lot at stake with tariffs and deportation of illegal immigrants looming large. When the PM met Trump, they hugged, shook hands and heaped praises. They had a four-hour marathon meeting and Potus called Modi a “tough” negotiator. But what came of this crucial visit? We analyse.

The other big story of the week was Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s pledge to end the Russia-Ukraine war. It has put Ukraine and Europe on edge.

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We explain all this and more in our weekly roundup of headlines from around the world.

1. PM Narendra Modi was on a short 36-hour visit to the US. He got a lot done. The talking point, of course, was the four-hour bilateral with Trump. The two leaders spoke about trade, defence and more. Potus has okayed the extradition of 26/11 terrorist Tahawwur Rana and offered to buy F35 fighter jets. In a series of explainers, we discuss the takeaways from the trip.

2. When PM Modi met Trump, there were several headline-grabbing moments. Modi spoke about a Mega partnership as Maga and Miga unite. Trump called the Indian leader a tough negotiator. But before the meeting, he also spoke about reciprocal tariffs, speaking specifically about how India was difficult to do business with. There was a lot to cheer about and some concerns. How successful was the PM’s DC visit then? We analyse.

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3. Trump is shaking the world order. In the Russia-Ukraine war, he seems to have picked a side – the one where Vladimir Putin stands. He has spoken about ending a conflict by bringing both the warring neighbours to the table. However, it seems like Volodymyr Zelenskyy is getting the short end of the stick. Here’s why.

4. Weeks after China’s DeepSeek sent ripples across the AI and tech world, leaders descended upon Paris for the AI Action Summit. PM Modi co-chaired the conference with Macron. However, at the end of the gathering, not everyone was on board. The US and the UK did not sign the declaration calling for an “inclusive” AI sector. What were their reservations?

5. In Trump’s America, there is no place for DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). Now big companies in the US are toeing the line. The latest is Deloitte. The consulting giant has instructed staff working on contracts for the American government to remove pronouns from their emails. Which other firms have joined the anti-diversity brigade?

6. Let’s move our attention from the West to Asia. India is closely watching its neighbours, Pakistan and Bangladesh. After the fall of the Hasina regime, the two seem to be getting closer. In January, Pakistan sent its top army and ISI officials to Bangladesh. Earlier this week, Bangladesh’s naval chief met Pakistan’s army head in Rawalpindi. What’s going on?

7. The conversation around menstrual health is evolving. More and more women are ditching the traditional sanitary napkin and opting for the cup. Doctors have urged women to ensure that they position menstrual cups correctly after a woman developed kidney complications. We tell you more.

That’s all from this week. Have a good Sunday and come back to your page for the latest explainers.

PS: Did you know that Duo the Owl, the Duloling mascot, died this week? Was it death by notifications?