India expects consumption tax cuts announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will give a boost to the economy without hurting the government’s fiscal deficit, helping to offset the fallout from higher US tariffs.

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"The frequent visits by Prime Minister Modi and Union Ministers to the North-East are having a very positive impact on this region. PM Modi will visit Assam and bring the gift of many schemes to the people. Home Minister Amit Shah will participate in the Panchayat Conference... Assam is progressing very rapidly," he told ANI.

Modi will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says on second day of visit to New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led an International Day of Yoga event at U.N. headquarters "to unite," but many see him dividing India.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cast himself as an ascetic, a pious man of the people who spends his down time meditating. Outside the U.N. on Thursday, he showed off his yoga skills.

During his Friday speech, Modi also hinted India would continue its unilateral suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. The treaty, which India suspended after the April massacre, allows sharing of the Indus River that runs about 2,897 kilometers (1,800 miles) through South Asia and is a lifeline for both countries.

"The bear hugs have gone. The smiles have curled into sneers." The former friendship between Donald Trump and Indian PM Narendra Modi has descended into acrimony, said Amrit Dhillon and George Grylls in The Times.