Author: Bhakti Narayanan

An Indian parliamentary delegation on a knowledge exchange tour to Norway visited the country’s Parliament, the Storting, in Oslo as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral engagement and deepen cooperation between the two democracies. During the visit, members of the delegation interacted with Norwegian parliamentarians and gained insights into Norway’s parliamentary system, legislative processes, and democratic traditions. The discussions focused on fostering stronger institutional ties and expanding opportunities for collaboration between lawmakers from both nations. The Storting, established under Norway’s Constitution of 1814, serves as the country’s supreme unicameral legislature and consists of 169 elected representatives. The delegation’s visit provided…

Actor and acting coach Saurabh Sachdeva has opened up about his experience working on The Peasant, the upcoming action thriller directed by Dev Patel. The film has already generated significant interest among movie enthusiasts, particularly because it represents Patel’s next directorial project following the success of Monkey Man. Set in 14th-century India, the film is expected to bring a unique blend of historical storytelling and intense action to international audiences. Speaking about the project, Sachdeva explained that being part of The Peasant felt different from a conventional film production. While it carried the usual demands of a professional movie set,…

India significantly expanded its defence diplomacy at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, engaging with multiple global partners to reinforce cooperation on regional security and strategic stability. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh represented India at the high-profile security forum, where he participated in a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings aimed at strengthening defence relations across the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Among the key interactions, Singh met United States Congressman Pat Harrigan, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, who led a bipartisan Congressional delegation. Their discussions focused on evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, expanding defence cooperation, and advancing…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing in New Delhi on Monday for high-level bilateral discussions aimed at deepening cooperation between the neighboring countries. The meeting, held at Hyderabad House, focused on enhancing collaboration in several areas, including trade, economic engagement, technology, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges. The talks reflect ongoing efforts by both nations to strengthen a relationship rooted in shared history, cultural connections, and geographic proximity. Officials from the two sides explored ways to expand existing partnerships and identify new opportunities for cooperation that could contribute to regional stability and economic growth. Following the discussions with…

India strengthened its international defense outreach during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, where Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh participated in multiple high-level meetings with senior officials from Canada, the United States, Singapore, Seychelles, and NATO. The discussions focused on expanding defense cooperation, addressing emerging security threats, and reinforcing strategic partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region. One of the major meetings took place between Singh and Canada’s Senior Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence, Kelvin Brosseau. Both sides explored opportunities to deepen bilateral defense collaboration across several strategic sectors. Officials said the discussions reflected increasing alignment between India and Canada on shared…

Fourteen-year-old Indian-American student Shrey Parikh has won the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee after delivering a standout performance in the final round of the prestigious competition held in Washington, D.C. Representing California, Parikh secured the championship title by correctly spelling 32 words within 90 seconds during the decisive spell-off round on Friday, May 29. The competition’s finale featured 10 talented contestants, but Parikh’s strongest rival turned out to be 12-year-old Ishan Gupta from Jersey City, New Jersey. Both participants impressed judges by flawlessly spelling all eight of their assigned words during the regular rounds. Since neither contestant made a mistake,…

The US-India Business Council (USIBC) has welcomed a series of strategic initiatives announced during US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent visit to India, describing the developments as a sign of renewed momentum in the growing partnership between Washington and New Delhi. The organization said the agreements also highlight the expanding importance of the Quad alliance in shaping economic and strategic cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region. One of the most significant outcomes of the visit was the launch of the US-India Framework on Critical Minerals and Rare Earths. USIBC called the agreement an important step toward strengthening collaboration in…

India and Mongolia are set to deepen their long-standing spiritual relationship through a major exposition of the sacred relics of Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Mahamoggallana, the two chief disciples of Gautama Buddha. The special exhibition will take place at the Ganden Monastery in Ulaanbaatar from June 1 to June 10, organized jointly by India’s Ministry of Culture, the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), and the National Museum in New Delhi. The event follows earlier successful collaborations between the two nations centered on Buddhist heritage. In 2022, sacred Kapilavastu relics of the Buddha were displayed in Mongolia during Buddha Purnima celebrations, marking…

Indian-American bioengineer Manu Prakash of Stanford University has been honored for his groundbreaking collaborative research on microbial life trapped within sea ice, highlighting the growing impact of Indian-origin scientists in global scientific innovation and international research partnerships. Prakash, working alongside French scientist Marcel Babin of the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), was recognized during a special symposium celebrating 250 years of scientific cooperation between France and the United States. The event also marked the creation of a $25,000 research award by the Richard Lounsbery Foundation to encourage joint scientific work between researchers from both countries. Their joint research…

The Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in New Delhi on Tuesday has delivered what US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor described as “strong and concrete results,” with member nations announcing several new initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation across maritime security, energy resilience, and critical minerals. In a post on social media, Gor highlighted that the discussions among India, the United States, Australia, and Japan resulted in expanded coordination on maritime domain awareness, coast guard collaboration, and enhanced surveillance systems to improve security across the Indo-Pacific region. The Quad countries also agreed to deepen cooperation on port infrastructure development, including working…