Author: Malavika Subramanyan

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for extending warm wishes on Ukraine’s Independence Day, while also urging India to step up its role in promoting peace and diplomacy amid the continuing war with Russia. Taking to social media platform X, Zelensky thanked Modi for his message and highlighted the importance of India’s voice in global conflict resolution. “Thank you, Prime Minister @narendramodi, for the warm greetings on Ukraine’s Independence Day. We appreciate India’s dedication to peace and dialogue. Now, as the entire world strives to end this horrible war with dignity and lasting peace,…

Despite high-profile meetings between Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Volodymyr Zelensky, the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to fuel global uncertainty. Tariff disputes have further intensified trade tensions, but a quiet realignment is underway. From Moscow to Beijing to New Delhi, the emergence of an India-China-Russia triad is reshaping the economic map. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India by late 2025, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing to attend the SCO Summit in China after seven years. Experts believe these moves signal the strengthening of a powerful bloc that challenges Western dominance in both trade and defense.…

 The Japanese government has announced plans to double its private-sector investment target in India, aiming for 10 trillion yen ($68 billion) over the next decade, according to reports from Tokyo. The new commitment is expected to be confirmed during a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tokyo on August 29. This expanded investment target builds on Japan’s previous goal of 5 trillion yen over five years, announced in March 2022 by then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Japanese businesses have already contributed nearly 1 trillion yen annually to India, and the new target is…

India’s Ambassador to Japan, Sibi George, has described the India-Japan relationship as having taken a “quantum leap” in recent years, stressing that the scope for cooperation is boundless. In an exclusive conversation, George emphasized that New Delhi and Tokyo share civilizational bonds that have matured into a modern-day “Special Strategic and Global Partnership,” first formalized in 2014. He noted that the partnership now covers political exchanges, defense cooperation, business ties, technology, people-to-people connections, and even space exploration. “Sky is not even the limit,” he remarked, underscoring that collaboration between Indian states and Japanese prefectures has added a fresh dimension. Reflecting…

Indian astronaut and Air Force officer Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian to board the International Space Station (ISS), is set for a special interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. The meeting, scheduled for 5 pm, will mark a proud moment for India’s space program as the country welcomes back its second astronaut to travel beyond Earth. Shukla returned to India on Sunday after completing rigorous training in the United States and successfully serving as the pilot on the Axiom-4 mission. The mission launched…

The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025 lit up with glitz and celebration as it recognized outstanding achievements in Indian cinema. The evening’s biggest highlight was Abhishek Bachchan winning Best Actor (Male) for his impactful role in I Want to Talk, a performance that drew admiration from audiences and critics alike. Abhishek’s win was celebrated most warmly at home, with his father, Amitabh Bachchan, expressing immense pride. Taking to social media, the veteran actor wrote: “The happiest father on earth… Best Actor Abhishek… so, so, so proud. Love!!” In another heartfelt post, he revealed that the honour carried deeper…

On August 15, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a historic Independence Day address from the Red Fort, speaking for an unprecedented 103 minutes — the longest speech ever by an Indian prime minister on this occasion. This milestone surpassed his own record of 98 minutes set during the 78th Independence Day celebrations in 2024. Before this, Mr. Modi’s longest speech was in 2016 at 96 minutes, while his briefest came in 2017, when he addressed the nation for just 56 minutes. This year’s speech also marked another record: his 12th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort, a…

Direct air connectivity between India and China is set to make a comeback as early as next month, ending a five-year gap. The breakthrough followed discussions between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, during which both sides agreed to speed up the resumption of direct flights and deepen bilateral engagement. Analysts view the development as a significant stride toward mending relations that have been tense in recent years. The revival of flights is expected to provide a strong boost to tourism, trade, and people-to-people exchanges. Air India and IndiGo have been advised to prepare…

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has officially endorsed India’s proposal to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games (CWG), approving the bid during a Special General Meeting in the capital on Wednesday. Ahmedabad has been chosen as the proposed host city, marking the country’s first CWG hosting attempt since New Delhi 2010, where India secured second place with 101 medals, behind Australia’s 177. This move is part of a broader strategy to position India for the 2036 Olympic Games, also envisioned for Ahmedabad. The IOA has already filed an Expression of Interest for the 2030 CWG, and the final bid submission must…

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has rolled out the ‘MSE TEAM’ (Trade Enablement and Marketing) initiative, part of the World Bank-backed Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) program. This nationwide effort is aimed at equipping Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) with the digital skills and tools needed to strengthen their presence in e-commerce. Central to the plan is integrating MSEs with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), enabling them to reach more customers and boost revenue. The initiative offers comprehensive support, from onboarding and digital catalog creation to account management, logistics, and packaging. Training and…