Author: Bhakti Narayanan

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on August 27 underscored the significance of India-Australia relations at a time when the global and regional order is undergoing a major transformation. Speaking in Canberra with a group of Indian journalists, Wong emphasized that both nations share clear objectives for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific, making their partnership more crucial than ever. Responding to questions about the United States’ recent tariffs on India, Wong avoided direct comments on bilateral relations but stressed Australia’s firm position against tariffs. “We don’t support tariffs. Australia’s economy has advanced because we embraced openness and global trade. Openness has…

Bollywood’s much-loved courtroom drama series is returning with a bang as Akshay Kumar once again dons the black coat in Jolly LLB 3. Following the success of Jolly LLB 2 and his impactful role in Kesari Chapter 2, the superstar is ready to take audiences back into the world of sharp arguments, emotional depth, and laugh-out-loud moments. Akshay has built a reputation for seamlessly blending gravitas with entertainment. In the courtroom, he can shift from a fiery, emotional plea to a perfectly timed quip that eases the tension, making his portrayals memorable and relatable. This unique ability is set to…

Lawrence Technological University (LTU) has announced the appointment of Dr. Devesh Misra as Dean of its College of Engineering. Widely regarded as a global authority in engineering, Dr. Misra brings over 40 years of academic excellence, research innovation, and visionary leadership to the role. His career has been defined by advancing groundbreaking discoveries while inspiring future generations of engineers to design, build, and lead with purpose. Before joining LTU, Dr. Misra served as the Founding Director of the Center for Structural and Functional Materials Research at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He also held key positions at the University…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a two-day visit to Gujarat, unveiled two milestone projects for India’s automotive and energy sectors on August 26. At Maruti Suzuki’s Hansalpur facility in Ahmedabad, Modi officially flagged off India’s electric vehicle exports to 100 countries and inaugurated localized production of hybrid battery electrodes. The highlight of the event was the launch of exports for the Made-in-India e-VITARA, a battery electric vehicle (BEV) designed to strengthen India’s presence in the global EV market. Alongside this, the Prime Minister inaugurated the manufacturing of hybrid battery electrodes, a critical component in lithium-ion cells. This step is expected…

US President Donald Trump has officially nominated Sergio Gor, one of his most trusted aides and a seasoned political strategist, to serve as the United States Ambassador to India. Gor will also take on the role of Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs, marking his most prominent diplomatic appointment to date. The announcement came through Trump’s Truth Social post, where he praised Gor’s loyalty and organizational ability. Highlighting Gor’s contributions, Trump said, “I am proud to nominate Sergio Gor as our next Ambassador to the Republic of India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asia.” He emphasized…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bihar and West Bengal on August 22 to launch a wide array of development projects valued at over $2.1 billion, aimed at transforming connectivity, healthcare, energy, and urban infrastructure in both states. The day-long tour begins in Gaya, Bihar, where Modi will dedicate initiatives worth nearly $1.6 billion to the public. Among the highlights is the inauguration of the 8.15 km-long Aunta–Simaria bridge on NH-31, which includes a six-lane structure across the Ganga built at a cost of more than $224 million. This project will dramatically shorten travel distances for heavy vehicles, removing the…

 India and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen economic and energy partnerships, signaling that recent U.S. tariff threats over Indian purchases of Russian oil are unlikely to weaken their cooperation. The two nations agreed on a roadmap to expand bilateral trade, including boosting India’s exports of pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and textiles to help balance the trade deficit. Bilateral trade between New Delhi and Moscow reached a record $68.7 billion for the fiscal year ending March 2025, with India’s growing oil imports accounting for a $59 billion trade gap. Indian officials also highlighted plans to send skilled workers in IT, engineering, and…

National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate CP Radhakrishnan officially entered the race for Vice President of India by filing his nomination at Parliament House on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally proposed his candidature, signing the first set of nomination papers, underscoring the strong backing Radhakrishnan enjoys from the ruling alliance. The nomination was filed in four sets, each signed by 20 proposers and 20 seconders. Alongside PM Modi, several key leaders were present, reflecting the NDA’s united front. Those in attendance included Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president and Union Health Minister JP Nadda, and Union…

Karan Johar has once again expressed his admiration for Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara, a romantic drama that has taken Indian cinema by storm. Speaking in a recent conversation with critic Suchin Mehrotra on The Streaming Show podcast, Johar said the film’s triumph proves that Bollywood can still excel in the kind of storytelling that once defined its identity: timeless love stories. The 2010s marked a clear departure from romance-driven dramas to high-octane action spectacles, many of which were remakes of South Indian blockbusters. Bollywood’s biggest names, including Shah Rukh Khan—long celebrated as the “king of romance”—embraced action-heavy films like Pathaan and…

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to begin a two-day official visit to India on Monday, marking an important chapter in ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two Asian giants. During his stay, Wang will engage in bilateral discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and hold boundary talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. His visit comes just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled trip to China later this month, where he will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. The timing of Wang’s visit holds added weight as it coincides with growing turbulence in India’s trade…