Author: Malavika Subramanyan

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…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reaffirming India’s consistent position that it will make “every possible contribution” toward the early and peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The exchange came ahead of a scheduled summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at addressing the war. Posting about the discussion on X, PM Modi said he was “glad to speak” with President Zelenskyy, hearing his perspective on recent developments. He reiterated India’s commitment to peace and expressed interest in further strengthening bilateral ties with Ukraine. President Zelenskyy,…

India and Oman have successfully concluded negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a major step forward in enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada confirmed the conclusion of talks in a written response to the Rajya Sabha, following a question from Congress member Hebi Mather Hisham regarding India’s trade agreements. However, the minister did not specify a date for the signing ceremony. India and Oman share centuries-old ties rooted in mutual trust, respect, and cultural connections. Diplomatic relations, formally established in 1955, were elevated to a strategic partnership in 2008.…

In a move sending shockwaves through trade corridors, former US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order slapping an additional 25% tariff on Indian exports, bringing the total import duty to a stiff 50%. The rationale? India’s ongoing purchase of crude oil from Russia, which Trump claims undermines US efforts to isolate Moscow. This executive order, titled “Addressing Threats to the US by the Government of the Russian Federation,” targets Indian goods specifically, although it notably spares China — the world’s largest importer of Russian crude. According to experts, this move could cripple sectors like textiles, leather, shrimp,…

In a significant gesture highlighting growing cultural ties between India and Australia, Sushil Kumar, the Consul General of India in Melbourne, recently recognized Peter Friedlander, a respected former professor at the Australian National University, for his notable contribution to the Hindi language in Australia. Friedlander was awarded a cash prize for an article he contributed to Gagananchal Visheshank, a quarterly magazine published by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). During the meeting, Kumar applauded Friedlander’s commitment to expanding the reach of Hindi beyond traditional borders. As a token of appreciation, Friedlander presented Kumar with a copy of The Songs…