Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories.

India is at the center of some big moves this week—diplomatic, economic, and corporate.

In Beijing, Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif tried to woo Vladimir Putin, praising Russia’s “balancing act” in South Asia and calling him a “dynamic leader.” But here’s the truth—India’s ties with Moscow run deeper, built over decades of defense and energy cooperation, far outweighing Islamabad’s fresh overtures.

Meanwhile, Singapore’s new PM Lawrence Wong has chosen New Delhi for his maiden visit, underlining confidence in India’s growth story. Deals on aviation, space, finance, and digital innovation are on the table, along with a $1.3 billion PSA port project. Singapore remains India’s top investor and is doubling down with plans to put in $15 billion this year.

On the energy front, Russia has offered India even bigger discounts on crude, just as the Trump administration slapped 50% tariffs on Indian exports. New Delhi isn’t backing down—its refiners find Russian oil too cost-effective to resist. PM Modi reinforced at the SCO summit that Russia remains a “special partner.”

Back home, Tata Consultancy Services finally landed a mega deal after a long dry spell—a $640 million contract with Danish insurer Tryg. The win comes at a time when rivals have been snapping up billion-dollar clients and TCS faces investor concerns after weak growth and job cuts.

And setting the stage for long-term reform, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a new task force to cut red tape and ease compliance for small businesses, paired with GST reforms. With GDP at 7.8%, inflation at an eight-year low, and a recent S&P upgrade, India’s economic resilience is shining through.

As India Post decided to merge its 50 year registered post operations with Speed Post, It was an end of an era for millions of Indians. Tales of Love, hugs, chai, and emotions. For 5 decade India Post and its postmen were synonymous with India's growth.

MINT decided to go to the India Post office and talk to the most important stakeholder : The Postmen & Postwomen. Their feelings, emotions and most importantly stories from the ground. The relations they have formed. #india #indiapost #dakiya #postman #postwoman #jyotiradityascindia #mint #businessnews #email #emoji #abhinavtrivedi #narendramodi #piyushgoyal #registeredpost #speedpost

Economist Jeffrey Sachs delivers a fiery takedown of Trump’s tariffs and U.S. diplomacy in an exclusive with HTDS! Sachs dissects the Trump-Putin Alaska summit, the Russia-Ukraine war’s NATO roots, and Washington’s 50% tariffs on India, calling them “unconstitutional.” He urges India to avoid US-led alliances like the Quad and strengthen ties with China for a multipolar world.

Watch the unfiltered geopolitical truth bombs!#Trump #trumptariffs #IndiaChina #USIndiaTrade #RussiaUkraineWar

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories.

Quake Flattens Afghan Villages

A 6.0 earthquake has left eastern Afghanistan shattered — more than 800 killed, nearly 3,000 injured. Entire villages in Kunar province are gone, with survivors describing terrifying jolts and endless aftershocks. Helicopters are the only way in as floods and landslides block roads. Hospitals in Jalalabad are overwhelmed, and the Taliban has appealed for urgent international aid.

SCO Backs India on Terror

At its Tianjin summit, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and backed India’s demand that “double standards” on terrorism must end. Leaders from India, China, Russia, and Pakistan signed a declaration pledging zero tolerance for terror and more cooperation against cross-border threats. The statement also condemned violence in Gaza and strikes on Iran, while urging reforms at the UN, IMF, and World Bank. India, however, refused to endorse China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Trump Targets India Again

US President Donald Trump has reignited trade tensions, calling the India-US equation a “one-sided disaster.” He claimed India has offered to cut tariffs on American goods to “nothing,” but also linked Washington’s steep 50% tariffs to India’s oil trade with Russia. New Delhi has pushed back, defending farm protections and accusing the US of moving the goalposts.

Rupee Sinks to 88.33

The Indian rupee has slipped to a fresh record low of 88.33 against the dollar, pressured by US tariffs, heavy importer hedging, and foreign outflows. Analysts warn it could slide toward 89–90 if the dispute drags on, though RBI may intervene. This comes even as India’s economy logged a robust 7.8% growth last quarter.

SpiceJet Fined Over Delay

A Mumbai consumer court has ordered SpiceJet to pay ₹55,000 to a passenger after a 14-hour Dubai–Mumbai delay where the airline served only a burger and fries. The ruling reminded carriers that technical glitches don’t excuse neglecting passengers.

Parag Agrawal is up to something interesting. The former CEO of Twitter, now “X” is back in Silicon Valley with a bold new startup. He’s launched a new company, Parallel Web Systems, which is trying to do exactly what it sounds like - create a parallel web… and this will be dominated by AI, not by humans. Agrawal is basically trying to create a web for machines - infrastructure and tools that are optimised for AI agents to access, verify and organise data, not for people clicking links and scrolling feeds. It’ll work in real time, it scales easily… and most importantly, he’s trying to ensure that it can be trusted. But just how viable is this whole idea? Let’s take a deeper look!Watch Full Video on Youhttps://youtu.be/kQW4jG4sSdc

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories.

Dragon & Elephant Talk Peace

In Beijing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping struck a rare note of harmony at the SCO summit. After years of border tensions, both leaders stressed that India and China are “partners, not rivals,” agreeing to resume direct flights and even restart the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Xi said it was “vital for the dragon and elephant to walk together” in shaping a multipolar world.

Macron Rekindles Two-State Push

In Paris, Emmanuel Macron reignited the two-state debate by recognizing Palestine, despite protests from Israel and the US. Macron argued Gaza’s humanitarian crisis demands urgent action, while critics warned recognition could embolden militants. Several Western nations may follow France’s lead at the UN next month.

India’s Next Biofuel Leap

New Delhi is moving its biofuel experiment off the roads and onto construction sites. Bulldozers, cranes and heavy carriers that consume nearly 4% of India’s diesel could soon run on blended fuels. The move cuts oil imports, lowers emissions, and boosts farmer incomes by using crop-based fuels.

Navarro Labels India ‘Maharaja of Tariffs’

White House trade advisor Peter Navarro sharpened his attack on India, calling it “a laundromat for the Kremlin” and the “Maharaja of tariffs,” even alleging “Brahmins are profiteering.” India hit back, saying its Russian oil buys are driven by national security, not politics.

India & Japan Seal $68B Pact

In Tokyo, Modi and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced a 10-year roadmap, with Japan pledging $68 billion in private investment into India. Both leaders called it a “golden chapter,” combining Japanese technology and Indian talent to drive growth, while reinforcing security ties in the Indo-Pacific.

AMFI Chief Venkat Chalasani in this exclusive interview with Mint explains exactly why India's growth story remains on track despite Donald Trump's tariff chaos. "Tailwinds like the recent upgradation by S&P are very positive for thecountry, inflation is very much under control. We have the youngest population, demographic dividend. If you need to take the fruits of this growth story, you need to invest into the equity markets", says Chalasani, who heads India's mutual fund body. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fGnz4NJ5alc

Last year, Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy made headlines when he spoke about reviving HMT. India's first watch brand, once called the timekeeper to the nation, had been liquidated back in 2016. For a moment, it appeared that the government was considering stepping in. But the talk soon faded, and the brand slipped back into obscurity. Now, the conversation has been picked up by a group outside government. NYU City Design Labs, a venture design collective in Mumbai, has begun exploring what a revival could look like.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bORiObVChxY