- Friday, April 26, 2024
India has dismissed a US State Department report critical of human rights in the country, calling it deeply biased. The report flagged significant abuses in Manipur state and highlighted instances of violence against minorities, journalists, and dissenting voices across the nation. Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jasiwal minced no words,…
Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani are set to make a film Operation Trident under their production banner Excel Entertainment. The announcement of the project was held at Nausena Bhawan in New Delhi, in presence of Admiral R Hari Kumar, Ritesh Sidhwani (Producer, Excel Entertainment), Kassim Jagmagia and Vishal Ramchandani (Co-Producers,…
Filmmaker Karan Johar on Tuesday said producer Aditya Chopra and superstar Shah Rukh Khan are the "two pillars" in his life to whom he owes his 25-year career in cinema. Johar assisted and featured in a brief role in Chopra's hit directorial debut Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, the 1995 musical…
THE first of India's almost one billion voters cast ballots on Friday (19) in the country's multi-day election, as prime minister Narendra Modi seeks a rare third term on the back of issues such as growth, welfare and Hindu nationalism. Friday's vote covered 166 million voters in 102 constituencies across…
TECH billionaire Elon Musk postponed a planned trip to India where he was to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing obligations at his Tesla automaker and saying he aimed to reschedule the visit for later this year. "Unfortunately, very heavy Tesla obligations require that the visit to India be delayed,…
THE India-US deal to jointly produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force is revolutionary, US defence secretary Lloyd Austin told lawmakers on Wednesday. The landmark deal was announced last June during the historic official state visit of prime minister Narendra Modi to the US. The General Electric signed…
India's general elections, set to begin this Friday (April 19), mark a significant democratic exercise as the country hosts the world's largest electoral event. More than 18 million first-time voters, including young individuals like 20-year-old Roushan Kumar from West Bengal, are poised to cast their ballots, with many prioritising employment…
As India heads to a general election, the streets of Manipur, a tiny state hit by ethnic strife since May last year, are largely quiet. Although Manipur and some other regions will be the first to vote in the seven-phase election starting on Friday, campaign meetings are being held behind…
THE government has said that it continues to work towards striking an “ambitious” trade deal with India as a negotiating team from Delhi resumed talks with their British counterparts in London this week. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) reiterated its stance of only signing a free trade agreement…
India and the United Kingdom on Monday engaged in discussions aimed at expediting actions under the mutual legal assistance treaty and prioritising extradition requests. The need to expedite the extradition of several fugitives from India, including former Kingfisher Airlines promoter Vijay Mallya, diamantaire Nirav Modi, arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, Punjab…
DESPITE economic challenges, Pakistan continued upgrading its nuclear capabilities, driven by its ongoing tensions with India, top US intelligence official told Congress. The remarks by Lt Gen Jeffrey Kruse, director of the Defence Intelligence Agency came during a Congressional hearing on China on Monday (15). Kruse told lawmakers that Pakistan…
INDIA said on Monday it is likely to receive above-average monsoon rainfall in 2024, in a potential boost for the country which depends heavily on the summer rains for its farm output. The lifeblood of India's economy delivers nearly 70 per cent of the rain needed to water crops and…
Ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Elon Musk's Tesla has struck a deal with Tata Electronics to acquire semiconductor chips for its global operations. The Economic Times newspaper, citing sources, reported that the strategic deal between Tesla and Tata Electronics was executed discreetly a few months ago.…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) promised on Sunday to create jobs, boost infrastructure and expand welfare programmes if it wins a third term, seeking to address key voter concerns ahead of next week's elections. The general election will be held in seven stages from April 19…
As India heads towards another general election, prime minister Narendra Modi is confident of not just winning, but improving his party Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) tally in the Lok Sabha - the lower house of the parliament. While replying to Newsweek's written questions, followed up with a 90-minute conversation at…
Lindy Cameron has been appointed as the new British high commissioner to India. She will succeed incumbent Alex Ellis. "Lindy Cameron CB OBE has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of India in succession to Alex Ellis CMG who will be transferring to another diplomatic service appointment," a…
Less than a week after reports saying Tesla will send a team from the United States to India to study sites for an electric car plant in India, company CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that he is coming to the country. "Looking forward to meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi…
Indian folk singer Maithili Thakur thought she was successful, with millions following her Hindu devotional tunes on social media - but then Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent her popularity into the stratosphere. With India's marathon general elections set to start on April 19, critics say Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party…
Amid rising tensions over Pakistan's accusations against India, the United States has decided to stay out of it. The US has urged both countries to engage in dialogue instead of escalating the situation. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller responded to questions about Washington's position on a recent UK media…
Uzbekistan Airways has initiated bi-weekly direct flights from Mumbai to Tashkent, marking a significant milestone in air travel connectivity between India and Uzbekistan. The inaugural flight, which took off on Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024, was ceremoniously flagged off by Sardor Rustambaev, the Hon’ble Ambassador in the Embassy of the Republic…
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said dialogue was needed to resolve heightened friction between arch-rivals Pakistan and India during a meeting in Riyadh with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Sharif was making his first overseas visit since winning power in elections in February. He met with bin Salman…
Shaharyar Khan, the former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and esteemed diplomat, passed away at the age of 89 on March 23. A pivotal figure in the restoration of cricket ties with India in the early 2000s, Khan, born in Bhopal, was also a cousin of former India captain Mansur Ali…
PAKISTAN has denounced "provocative remarks" made by Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh in which he said India would enter Pakistan to kill anyone who escapes over its border after trying to carry out militant attacks. Singh's comments on Friday (5) came after the Guardian newspaper published a report stating the…
Makers of action-thriller Kill starring debutant Lakshya in the lead role have finally released its teaser. The makers on Thursday took to its official Instagram account to share the teaser. A regular train trip to New Delhi turns into a battleground as two commandos face a group of attacking bandits.…
INDIA's first Olympic medallist in boxing, Vijender Singh, who took a plunge in politics in April 2019 by joining the Congress, switched to prime minister Narendra Modi's party on Wednesday (3). Addressing a joint press conference with BJP leaders in New Delhi, Singh praised Modi and said that the respect…
THE G7 price cap on Russian oil shipments is cutting the revenue that Moscow has available to support its invasion of Ukraine, and the mechanism's effectiveness is helped by the recent actions of Indian refiners, US officials will say in New Delhi on Thursday (4), according to prepared remarks. The…
SRI LANKA is optimistic about reaching an agreement soon with bondholders to restructure about $12 billion (£9.54bn) in debt, a top official said on Monday (1), a big step that will help the island nation emerge from its worst financial crisis in decades. China, the world’s and Sri Lanka’s…
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has expressed hope that ties with India will improve after the general elections in the neighbouring country. Asif's comments came days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Singapore said that Pakistan is sponsoring terrorism almost at an "industry level" and the mood in India…
THE crew of 20 Indians and a Sri Lankan of the crippled container vessel that collided with a key Baltimore bridge last week is busy with their normal duties and will remain on board until the investigation into the accident is completed, the company that owns the vessel has said.…
INDIA rejected China's renaming of about 30 places in its northeastern Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday (2), calling the move "senseless" and reaffirming that the border province is an "integral" part of India. Beijing says Arunachal Pradesh, which its calls Zangnan, is a part of South Tibet -…
Actor Ayushmann Khurrana has been roped in by the Election Commission of India to urge youngsters to vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The 39-year-old actor features in the ECI's campaign video that encourages the youth to exercise their franchise in the upcoming elections. Khurrana, known for critically acclaimed…
Rishabh Pant led from the front with his first IPL fifty since his comeback from a horror car crash as Delhi Capitals beat Chennai Super Kings by 20 runs on Sunday. Captain Pant hit 51 off 32 balls after fellow left-hander David Warner smashed 52 and helped Delhi to 191-5…
AN Indian court sent Delhi chief minister and key opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal to jail until April 15 in a liquor graft case on Monday (1), local media reported, less than three weeks before the country begins voting in national elections. India's financial crime-fighting agency had arrested Kejriwal in connection…
Indian opposition parties united on Sunday to hold a 'Loktantra Bachao' (save democracy) rally against the arrest of a prominent leader weeks before a national election, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party of rigging the vote and harassing them with large tax demands. "Narendra Modi is trying match-fixing…
A SPOKESPERSON for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said he hopes that in India people's "political and civil rights are protected" and everyone can vote freely during the forthcoming general elections that will kick off from April 19. Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric made these remarks on Thursday (28) while he was…
UKRAINE'S Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba will arrive in New Delhi on his maiden visit to India amid the festering Russia-Ukraine conflict. His visit on Thursday (28) comes at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. During his…
SPIRITUAL leader Sadhguru was discharged from a private hospital in New Delhi on Wednesday (27), days after he underwent an emergency brain surgery after suffering "life-threatening" bleeding in the skull, the Isha Foundation said. The foundation issued a statement that quoted joint managing director of the Apollo Hospitals Group, Sangita…
India on Wednesday summoned a top United States diplomat after Washington said it was "closely watching" events following the jailing of a senior opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal weeks ahead of parliamentary elections. The US State Department had urged India to ensure a "fair, transparent, and timely legal process" for Kejriwal,…
PRIME MINISTER of Sri Lanka on Wednesday (27) announced that China has committed to enhancing the strategic deep-sea port and the capital's airport of the island nation following discussions with his counterpart in Beijing. Prime minister Dinesh Gunawardena said China -- the island's biggest bilateral creditor -- would "assist" Sri…
THE family of a cyclist who died following a road accident said the London School of Economics (LSE) student wanted to "bring all her expertise back to India to change lives". Cheistha Kochhar, who was pursuing her PhD in behavioural research, died following a collision involving a refuse lorry on…
Every woman, irrespective of her background and profession, deserves dignity, actress Kangana Ranaut said on Tuesday as Congress leaders’ comments on Mandi from where she is contesting the Lok Sabha elections snowballed into a massive political row. Ranaut, who makes her political debut as a BJP candidate from Mandi in…
Grammy-nominated producer and DJ Marshmello recently delivered smashing performances across Bengaluru, New Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune over the Holi weekend, dishing out some of his biggest hits including 'Happier', 'Alone', 'Friends', 'Blocks', 'Wolves', 'Find Me' and 'Silence'. He shared his experience performing in India. “Performing in India is always an…
Pakistan will “seriously” consider restoring trade ties with India that remained suspended since August 2019, Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar has said, indicating a potential shift in the country's diplomatic stance. Dar made these remarks during a press conference in London following his participation in the Nuclear Energy Summit in…
AN Indian investigation has found that rogue officials, not authorised by the government, were involved in a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader in the US, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday (20). The report, citing unnamed senior officials, said at least one person directly involved in the alleged…
DOZENS of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members were apprehended in New Delhi, with scattered demonstrations breaking out across India in opposition to the arrest of the party's prominent figure on corruption charges, just ahead of the upcoming general elections. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was taken into custody by India's…
THE top politician in India's capital New Delhi was arrested Thursday (21) in a graft probe his supporters say is aimed at sidelining opponents to prime minister Narendra Modi ahead of national elections. Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi's chief minister and a key leader in an opposition alliance challenging Modi in next…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi held separate phone calls on Wednesday (20) with Russian president Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy and discussed strengthening ties with both, ahead of a visit by the Ukrainian foreign minister to New Delhi. India has traditionally had close economic and defence ties with Moscow…
SPIRITUAL leader Sadhguru, who underwent an emergency brain surgery at a private hospital in New Delhi after suffering “life-threatening” bleeding in the skull, is recovering well and making steady progress, Isha foundation said on Thursday (21). In an Instagram story posted on Wednesday (20), Sadhguru’s daughter Radhe Jaggi wrote, “For…
As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, Muslims around the world eagerly anticipate a time of reflection, spiritual growth, and communal celebration. Alongside the spiritual significance, Ramadan also offers a platform for individuals to express their cultural heritage and personal style through fashion. This year, fashion enthusiasts are embracing a…
THE latest round of trade talks between Britain and India has concluded without a deal, with a British official saying an agreement could not be finalised ahead of the upcoming Indian elections. The two countries have held stop-start talks over a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for two years and both…
PAKISTAN remained one of the world's three smoggiest countries in 2023, as Bangladesh and India replaced Chad and Iran, with particulate matter about 15 times the level recommended by the World Health Organization, data published on Tuesday (19) showed. Average concentrations of PM2.5 - small airborne particles that damage the…
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE grabbed their first Women's Premier League (WPL) title by restricting Delhi Capitals to 113 runs. They sealed an eight-wicket victory with just three balls left in New Delhi on Sunday (17). Aggressive knocks from Ellyse Perry and Sophie Devine buoyed Bangalore at the right moment to seal…
THE fourteenth round of trade talks between Britain and India concluded on Friday (15) without a deal, while India heads to a general election. The Election Commission of India is expected to announce the general election schedule on Saturday. Formal talks will not take place during India’s pre-election period. The…
A New Delhi-based innovator whose low-cost electric invention helps overcome power cuts, a mental health campaigner from Haryana and a student from Dubai who helps to empower girls across the developing world are the Indian winners of the Diana Legacy Awards this year. Uday Bhatia, founder of Uday Electric, Manasi…
Lakshmi Mittal, the UK-based executive chairman of multinational steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal, is among the prominent buyers of the recently scraped electoral bonds for making political donations in India. He bought Rs 350 million worth of bonds in his individual capacity. The Election Commission displayed the data on electoral bonds on…
THOUSANDS of farmers rode buses and trains from across India to gather on Thursday (14) at a rally in the capital, New Delhi, pressing a demand for higher guaranteed prices for their crops, as they faced down police barricades and tough security. The rally, days before general elections are expected…
Behind the doors of a small, nondescript office in the heart of New Delhi lies the headquarters of an electoral trust run by just two men that is the largest-known donor to India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to a Reuters review of public records. The Prudent Electoral Trust…
LEGENDARY actor Shashi Kapoor left behind a remarkable body of work that ranged from commercial Hindi cinema entertainers to Englishlanguage projects that opened the doors for Bollywood stars in international projects. He broke creative ground, tackled taboos and added a new dimension to big screen entertainers. This resulted in a…
INDIA this week implemented the contentious 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), sparking sporadic protests and a war of words between prime minister Narendra Modi's government and opposition groups weeks before national elections are held. Here is a look at the law, its implications and the concerns surrounding it. What is…
JAMMU AND KASHMIR has been transformed and integrated with the rest of India, prime minister Narendra Modi said last Thursday (7), crediting the change to his government’s decision to revoke its special status. Visiting the Kashmir Valley for the first time since 2019 – the year the status was revoked…
INDIA on Tuesday (12) rejected Chinese objections to prime minister Narendra Modi's weekend visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying the northeastern border state has always been "an integral and inalienable part of India". The Indian foreign ministry's comments came a day after Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Beijing was…
Sporadic protests have erupted in India against a citizenship law that has been criticised for discriminating against Muslims, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government implemented the legislation just days before a general election is announced. Protests broke out in the eastern state of Assam and the southern state of Tamil…
INDIA has begun withdrawing military personnel operating surveillance aircraft in the Maldives after the new pro-China president ordered them to leave, local media reported Tuesday (12). The Mihaaru newspaper reported that 25 Indian troops deployed in the southernmost atoll of Addu had left the archipelago ahead of March 10, the…
INDIA has begun deporting the first group of Myanmar refugees who sought shelter there after a military coup in 2021 and plans to send back more in the coming days, weeks after saying it would end a visa-free border policy with Myanmar. Thousands of civilians and hundreds of troops from…
Indian authorities said they had detained members of a "trafficking" network sending citizens of the country to fight for the Russian army in Ukraine after raiding several travel agents. Two years since Russia's invasion began, tens of thousands of its soldiers have been killed in Ukraine and Moscow is on…
India's embassy in Moscow has confirmed the death of a citizen recruited by the Russian army, days after a relative told AFP he had been sent to fight in Ukraine. Two years after Russia's invasion began, tens of thousands of its soldiers have been killed in Ukraine and Moscow is…
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday for his return to the premiership, a rare expression of goodwill between leaders of the two nuclear-armed rivals. Sharif was officially sworn in Monday as prime minister for a second time after a poll marred by claims of…
Sri Lanka on Friday awarded the construction of three solar and wind hybrid power generation facilities to an Indian company after scrapping a tender won by a Chinese firm. New Delhi has long been concerned about growing Chinese influence in the island nation, which sits near key global shipping lanes…
Three Indian men have appeared in court after the gang rape of a tourist with Brazilian-Spanish dual nationality, with police hunting four other suspects, reports said Monday. The incident took place on Friday night in eastern India in Jharkhand state's Dumka district, where the victim and her husband were camping.…
India's richest man has kicked off lavish pre-wedding parties for his son by feeding more than 50,000 people in his hometown, with celebrations in the coming days expected to include some of the world's most influential figures. Global tech CEOs, industry titans, Bollywood stars, pop icons, and politicians are among…
Several Indians who worked as support staff to the Russian army were discharged following India's demand, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday. It said India remains committed, as a matter of "top priority", to actively pursuing with the Russian authorities all the relevant cases of Indian nationals…
A global consortium of semiconductor industry groups has asked India to reconsider its plan to push for duties on cross-border digital e-commerce and data transfers at an upcoming global trade meeting, warning that India's stance will stifle its own chip design industry. Ministers from across the globe are convening for…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday his government is committed to the welfare of farmers and is on a mission to make them entrepreneurs and exporters, amid a protest by thousands of farmers seeking higher prices for their produce. Modi's comments on farmers were his first since the…
Britain's minister for South Asia in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Lord Tariq Ahmad arrived in India on Wednesday to participate in the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi and also discuss the progress made in the ongoing negotiations for an India-UK free trade agreement (FTA). Ahmad leads the British…
INDIAN police fired tear gas on Wednesday (21) to scatter thousands of protesting farmers as they sought to resume a march to Delhi after rejecting a government offer on prices for their produce, while authorities offered a fresh round of negotiations. Fleeing the stinging gas and clouds of smoke, the…
LEGAL doyen and veteran advocate Fali S Nariman died in New Delhi on Wednesday (21) at the age of 95. He was suffering from multiple ailments, including cardiac issues. Born on January 10, 1929, Nariman was enrolled as an advocate at the Bombay High Court in November 1950 and was…
In a notable recognition of his contributions to fostering UK-India relations, Amarjit Singh, the founder, and CEO of the India Business Group (IBG), has been honoured with the Hind Rattan 2024 Award by the NRI Welfare Society of India, in New Delhi. This award, translating to "Jewel of India," celebrates…
The Indian government has offered guaranteed support prices for pulses, corn and cotton in a bid to break a deadlock with protesting farmers, trade minister Piyush Goyal said after week-long clashes between security forces and protesters. Tear gas and barricades were used to deter the farmers, who form an influential…
Actress Suhani Bhatnagar, who played young Babita Phogat in Aamir Khan-starrer wrestling drama Dangal, has died at the age of 19. Suhani's father Sumit Bhatnagar said his daughter was suffering from Dermatomyositis, a rare inflammatory disease that causes skin rash and muscle weakness. She was admitted to All India Institute…
Eleven people died in a fire that engulfed a paint factory in India's capital, an official said on Friday (16) as rescue teams continue their search for survivors amidst the aftermath. The fire broke out on New Delhi's northern outskirts late Thursday, fire services director Atul Garg told AFP. "There…
Two key border points between Delhi and Haryana state remain closed for traffic as farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' agitation entered the third day on Thursday. Multiple layers of concrete blocks and metal spikes have been put in place at Delhi’s Singhu and Tikri borders with Haryana as well as at the…
DESCRIBING India as its biggest partner in South Asia, the Biden administration has said it is working with New Delhi to deploy a multi-billion-dollar climate infrastructure and a new fund that will include a $500 million investment contribution from its development finance institution. “With India, which of course is our…
AN elderly Asian woman is inspiring those who have abandoned their fitness aspirations by joining younger individuals in the gym. Roshni Devi found renewed vitality in 2023 with the help of her devoted son, Ajay Sangwan, who trains her in the gym. From challenging planks to lifting heavy weights, she…
WHO really invented butter chicken? The competing claims of two rival restaurants in Delhi – Moti Mahal and Daryaganj – have now gone global. The dispute has ended up in the courts with the owners of Moti Mahal also demanding £200,000 in damages. Foreign correspondents based in the Indian capital…
IN the dynamic landscape of international relations, the influence of non-state actors, including transnational religious organisations, plays a crucial role in shaping a nation’s global standing. India, with its rich tapestry of religious diversity, has witnessed the emergence and growth of various such organisations that contribute significantly to the country’s…
INDIANS are becoming victims of frequent muggings in London, especially for Rolex watches in Mayfair, with police allegedly doing little to respond to their appeals for help. The traumatic experience of senior lawyer Vijay Goel, founder of the Indo-European Business Forum, as relayed to Eastern Eye, appears to be fairly…
India and the UAE have signed 10 agreements for cooperation in crucial areas such as energy, infrastructure, investments, and archives management during prime minister Narendra Modi's visit, aimed at enhancing the bilateral ties, announced foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Wednesday (14). Addressing a press conference on the second day…
Indian riot police deployed tear gas on Wednesday (14) against groups of farmers driving tractors who attempted to break through heavily fortified roadblocks in a bid to march on the capital, demanding guaranteed prices for their crops. Farmers in India this week launched the "Delhi Chalo", or "March to Delhi",…
THE UKRAINE war has forced India to focus its military spending more on fostering domestic industry - as Russia, its largest supplier - prioritised its domestic needs, a new report said on Tuesday (13). As a result of the conflict, New Delhi set aside a record 75 per cent of…
Canadian police reported on Monday (12) that shots seem to have been fired at the Canadian home of a Sikh separatist activist, following recent claims by Ottawa and Washington that Indian dissidents residing abroad in both countries have been subjects of assassination attempts. Constable Tyler Bell-Morena said Peel Regional Police…
Indian security forces deployed tear gas on Tuesday (13) to halt the advance of thousands of farmers who, after unsuccessful negotiations with the government were marching towards New Delhi to demand minimum prices for their crops. Local broadcasters showed thick clouds of tear gas fired to disperse protesters near Ambala,…
The trade deal talks between India and the UK have run into a deadlock with both sides hardening their stands amid elections scheduled in both the countries. The UK has alleged that India was pushing for a watered-down trade deal as time runs out to conclude an agreement before negotiations…
The foreign ministry of India announced on Monday (12) that Qatar had released eight former navy veterans, whom it had previously detained and sentenced to death, reportedly on charges of spying for Israel. The foreign ministry has not given details on the eight Indian nationals or their alleged crimes, and…
The much anticipated 71st edition of Miss World will be held in India from February 18 to March 9, the organisers said on Friday. With its latest edition, the coveted international beauty pageant is making a return to the country after nearly three decades. The pageant will commence with "The…
THREE people were killed in India and dozens more injured after religious clashes sparked by the destruction of a madrassa, officials said Friday (9), the latest in a spate of demolitions targeting Islamic structures. Hindu nationalist groups have been emboldened in their campaign against Muslim religious structures since prime minister…
The anti-India sentiment is once again on the boil in Bangladesh amid allegations of interference by the Indian government in general elections held last month. Opposition party groups and Bangladeshi diaspora have given calls to boycott Indian goods in Bangladesh and are running social media campaigns in this regard. Last…
INDIAN travellers feel they have to “look over their shoulder” in posh London areas as several businesspersons have had their expensive watches and bags mugged, according to a Delhi-based entrepreneur. The issue featured during discussions with UK shadow foreign secretary David Lammy, who is in New Delhi for talks on…
THE US State Department has approved the potential sale of 31 armed MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, related missiles and equipment to India for nearly $4 billion (£3.17bn), the Pentagon said last Thursday (1), years after the two countries started discussing a deal. India has long expressed interest in buying large, armed…
Grammy-nominated producer and DJ Marshmello is set to enthrall Indian fans at the Sunburn Holi Tour. As per a statement, Marshmello will begin his India Tour with his first stop in Bengaluru on March 22, followed by his acts in New Delhi on March 23, Mumbai on March 24, and…
BULLDOZERS have knocked down a centuries-old mosque in India's capital, a member of the building's managing committee said Thursday (1), during a demolition drive to remove "illegal" structures from a forest reserve. The demolition comes at a sensitive time in India with nationalist activists emboldened in their long campaign for…
Korean artists are set to showcase their work at the world's largest art fair, The India Art Fair, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. Korean Cultural Centre India participates in the Institutions section of the India Art Fair 2024. Korean Cultural Centre India will represent world-renowned media artist Lee…
THE UK and Indian governments are striving to establish a modern relationship, Alex Chalk, the lord chancellor and justice secretary, said last Friday (26). He was speaking at the Guildhall in the City of London where the Indian High Commissioner, Vikram Doraiswami, hosted a reception to mark the 75th anniversary…
PAKISTAN’S rice exports are likely to jump to a record high in the year ending in June as India’s decision to curb its own shipments forces buyers to purchase more from Islamabad. The record exports are helping to alleviate tight supplies following the restrictions imposed last year by India, the…
INDIA is cooperating with Canada and bilateral ties are improving after tensions spiked over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia, a top Canadian official told CTV in an interview published on Friday (26). Diplomatic relations soured after prime minister Justin Trudeau last year said Canada was…
INDIA and France have agreed to work together on the joint production of defence equipment including helicopters and submarines for the Indian armed forces and production for friendly countries, New Delhi said. The deal was reached during a visit by French president Emmanuel Macron, who met prime minister Narendra Modi…
THE Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has found that a 17th century mosque in one of Hinduism's holiest cities was built after destroying a Hindu temple that existed there, a lawyer for Hindu petitioners said, a possible new flashpoint in a decades-long dispute. Muslim lawyers in the legal case being…
PRESIDENT Emmanuel Macron arrives as the guest of honour in India on Thursday (25) with a sumptuous palace feast and colourful military parade, as France eyes lucrative deals with the world's fifth-biggest economy. Macron will be offered a red carpet welcome by prime minister Narendra Modi with dinner in a…
THE number of study permits Canada issued to Indian students fell sharply late last year after India ejected Canadian diplomats who would process the permits and fewer Indian students applied due to a diplomatic dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada, a top Canadian official told…
THOUSANDS of men queued in India’s northern state of Haryana during a recruitment drive to send workers to Israel, where the offensive in Gaza, now in its fourth month, has caused a shortage of labour. Masons, painters, electricians, plumbers and some farmers said they were looking for jobs in Israel.…
INDIA's stock market has edged out Hong Kong to become the world's fourth-largest, a milestone that underscores growing global investor optimism about New Delhi's economic prospects, Bloomberg said Tuesday (23). The total value of shares listed on Indian exchanges hit $4.3 trillion on Monday (22), slightly higher than Hong Kong's…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi led a ceremony on Monday (22) to consecrate a grand new temple to the Hindu god-king Ram, delivering on a campaign promise his political party made more than three decades ago. The construction, begun in 2020, had been a contentious issue as the temple stands…
British Sikhs urged French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday (18) to withdraw from India's Republic Day parade due to the alleged targeting of Sikhs in other countries. India announced last month that Macron had accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be guest of honour at the January…
INDIAN and Chinese soldiers clashed at least two times in 2022 along their Himalayan frontier where they have been involved in a bitter standoff since 2020, according to new details that have emerged from the Indian Army's gallantry award citations. The incidents involved hand-to-hand combat and came as New Delhi…
INDIAN purchases of Russian crude in defiance of Western pressure over the Ukraine war have fallen to an 11-month low as the price tag on the discounted oil rises, figures show. Since the invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, India has bought hundreds of millions of barrels of cut-price…
THE Maldivian president told India last Sunday (14) to withdraw its nearly 100 troops by March 15, a day after returning from China where he signed a raft of deals. New Delhi considers the Indian Ocean archipelago to be within its sphere of influence, but the Maldives has shifted into…
The dense fog and extreme cold that enveloped Delhi on Tuesday (16) disrupted air and rail travel, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. Approximately 30 trains, including the Rani Kamalapati-Hazrat Nizamuddin Vande Bharat and Howrah-Delhi Rajdhani Express, were delayed at New Delhi Railway Station. #WATCH | Delhi: Passengers face difficulty at…
Emmy-award-winning director Richie Mehta, who was behind the hit series Delhi Crime, is returning to the streaming universe with new crime drama Poacher, which is set to premiere on Prime Video on February 23. The show, produced by QC Entertainment, the Oscar-winning production and finance company responsible for feature film…
After returning from China, Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu asserted that despite its small size, the Maldives would not tolerate bullying. The statement came following the signing of several deals in China as tensions with New Delhi intensified. New Delhi considers the Indian Ocean archipelago to be within its sphere of…
Veteran lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar says he has to write Hindi dialogues in the Roman script for the new generation of actors today because "they can't read anything else". The 79-year-old poet was speaking at a session titled 'Hindi & Urdu: Siamese Twins', held on Thursday evening at the India International…
INDIA’s defence minister Rajnath Singh arrived in London on Monday (8) for a three-day visit focusing on the India-UK defence partnership as well as security and industrial cooperation. Singh has been accompanied by a Ministry of Defence delegation comprising officials from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Service Headquarters,…
The Agra Summit in 2001 collapsed primarily due to Pervez Musharraf's public airing of hawkish Kashmir views, his insufficient actions against terrorism, and his insistence on linking overall progress to developments in Kashmir, not solely due to LK Advani's firm stance. This is what Ambassador Ajay Bisaria, who served as…
Several renowned personalities, including the Hind movie actors Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, alongside cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, have urged people to discover "Indian islands" and coastal getaways. Their appeal emerged during a controversy sparked by derogatory comments made by Maldivian ministers against Narendra Modi following the prime minister’s recent…
India and Saudi Arabia inked a bilateral agreement on Sunday (7), designating New Delhi a quota of 175,025 pilgrims for the 2024 annual Haj pilgrimage. Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani accompanied by Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan signed the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 with Saudi Minister of…
INDIA's top court ruled Monday (8) that 11 murderers convicted of a gang rape that drew global outrage but who were released early must return to jail. Bilkis Bano and two of her children were the only survivors among a group of Muslims attacked by a Hindu mob in the…
BILLIONS of voters across south Asia, the UK and the US will go to polls in the next 12 months in what will be a test of democracy, analysits have told Eastern Eye. In the UK, prime minister Rishi Sunak has to call a general election by January 28, 2025,…
THE Indian Navy on Friday (5) rescued the crew of a merchant vessel after its attempted hijack in the Arabian Sea and said it had not found any pirates on board. An Indian Navy warship intercepted the Liberian-flagged MV Lila Norfolk bulk carrier less than a day after it received…
India expressed deep concern on Thursday (4) over reports indicating that certain members of the Indian community in the Canadian province of British Columbia received “extortion calls.” The comments by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal came in response to a question at a media briefing. "It is a matter…
Saveera Parkash, the first Hindu candidate vying for the general elections from the Buner constituency in the tumultuous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said she would facilitate diplomatic connections between Pakistan and India if she is elected. A doctor by profession, 25-year-old Saveera last week filed her nomination papers from the Pakistan…
INDIA’S prime minister, Narendra Modi, does not give press interviews, so why did he choose to give one just before Christmas to the Financial Times, of all papers? The FT, a respected newspaper with digital subscribers all over the world, has been sustained in its relentless attacks on the ruling…
India and Pakistan on Monday (1) engaged in their annual practice of exchanging a list of their nuclear installations under a bilateral agreement. This pact, initiated in 1992, prohibits either side from targeting the other's atomic facilities. The exchange of the list took place under the provisions of an agreement…
Pop singer Dua Lipa, who is on vacation with her family in India, on Sunday, penned a heartwarming note about ending 2023 in the country The Grammy winner, known for songs such as "Levitating" and "Houdini", also thanked the Indian people for extending their love and hospitality to her and…
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi has accepted an invitation to inaugurate the Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi in February next year, the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha said in a statement. Swami Ishwarcharandas, Swami Brahmaviharidas and other BAPS representatives visited the prime minister at his New Delhi residence to extend an invitation for…
SCORES of cow protectors in recent years have been accused of using violence to carry out extra-judicial activities in India, often finding themselves at odds with law enforcement, even as many won acclaim for defending the Hindu faith. Now some of these operatives are transferring their clout into grassroots political…
INDIA's foreign ministry said Thursday (28) that Qatar had reduced the sentence of eight ex-navy personnel, arrested reportedly for spying for Israel and put on death row. Indian media have reported that the eight Indian nationals -- among them former high-ranking and decorated officers, including captains who once commanded warships…
PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (27) invited prime minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia next year as external affairs minister S Jaishankar called on the Russian leader at the Kremlin. "We will be glad to see our friend, prime minister Modi in Russia," Putin told Jaishankar. Jaishankar, who is in…
Officials examining the blast near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi that occurred on Tuesday (26) believe it was a well-coordinated plan. They suggest the perpetrators were aware of the absence of CCTV cameras on Prithviraj Road, police sources said on Wednesday (27). A low-intensity blast occurred in the area…
INDIA may be forced to forfeit a Davis Cup play-off hosted by rival Pakistan, with the local tennis association saying Thursday (28) that the team was waiting on government approval to travel. The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought several wars since winning independence from British rule in 1947, and sporting contests…
Singer Dua Lipa is currently enjoying her vacation in India along with her family members. After recently visiting Rajasthan, she headed to New Delhi and sought blessings at the famous Bangla Sahib Gurudwara and visited the Humayun's tomb. Taking to Instagram, Dua Lipa's father Dukagjin Lipa shared a string of…
THE Indian navy said it is deploying three warships and reconnaissance aircraft in the Arabian Sea to "maintain a deterrent presence" after a string of recent shipping attacks. Three guided-missile destroyers as well as P8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft were being deployed following "the recent spate of attacks in the…
South Korean filmmaker Kim Shin Ho-San, whose critically acclaimed short My Unnie (My Elder Sister) was screened in New Delhi recently, says she has always thought that Indians and Koreans share a common love for movies and are good at mathematics. The film, which won the grand prize at the…
FRENCH president Emmanuel Macron will be the guest of honour at India's Republic Day parade in January, New Delhi announced Friday (22), days after US president Joe Biden backed out. Macron "will be visiting India as the chief guest for the 75th Republic Day celebrations" on prime minister Narendra Modi's…
Villagers in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, residents had been worshipping stone balls they discovered as "Kuldevtas," only to later discover that these were fossilised dinosaur eggs. According to local beliefs, the villagers in Padalya, Dhar, regarded these stones, found during farming, as sacred entities named "Kakad Bhairav" or…
THE US Sikh man, who was the intended victim of a purported assassination scheme allegedly orchestrated by an Indian government official, has revealed that he continues to receive hundreds of threats daily, reported The Guardian. Despite India's pledge of investigating the murder-for-hire conspiracy, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun remains under the persistent…
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi said India will investigate any evidence provided regarding an alleged plot to kill a Sikh separatist in the US, the Financial Times reported Wednesday (20). The US Justice Department last month charged an Indian citizen with plotting to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader on US soil,…
The family of the late Sikh activist Avtar Singh Khanda has urged the Home Office to appoint a police force for a comprehensive and impartial investigation into his sudden death last June, which took place at the same time as a murder and an attempted murder of Sikh separatists in…
CANADIAN prime minister Justin Trudeau said he senses a change in India's tone with Ottawa after the United States warned New Delhi about its involvement in a thwarted plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader on US soil, the CBC reported on Wednesday (20). "I think there is a beginning…
A NEW round of discussions in the ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK will begin in the New Year after the 13th round was completed last week, a joint outcome statement issued by the British government said on Monday (18). The Department for Business and Trade…
NEARLY 100 opposition MPs were temporarily barred from India’s parliament for demanding a debate into last week’s protest when a smoke canister was released in the legislature. The 92 suspended MPs include opposition leaders in both houses of parliament. Six people were arrested after the protest last Wednesday (13), when…
OAK casks, once used to store bourbon and wine, are stacking up in a distillery near New Delhi, filled with ageing whisky as workers churn out almost 10,000 bottles a day of Indian single malt Indri, recently named the world's best whisky. Sugarcane and mustard fields, not peat bogs, ring…
Former Japanese world champion and Olympic medallist shuttler Nozomi Okuhara recently recounted a challenging travel experience during her visit to India, where she fell victim to notorious taxi drivers in Delhi and faced a four-hour wait before being allotted a hotel room in Cuttack, Odisha. The 28-year-old Okuhara, took to…
Researchers have pinpointed a potential concealed reservoir of the Covid virus or the SARS-CoV-2 virus within body cells, shedding light on its persistence and potential for reoccurrence. The researchers at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India explored extracellular vesicles (EVs)--microscopic particles released by cells--and uncovered an…
A MAN jumped into the MPs' area of the lower house of India's parliament on Wednesday (13), in a major security breach on the 22nd anniversary of a deadly attack on the complex. TV channels showed a man wearing a black jacket jump from the visitors' area into the MPs'…
DR HENRY KISSINGER, who died last Wednesday (29), aged 100, was an American diplomat of Jewish-German extraction who served as national security adviser and secretary of state to US presidents Richard Nixon and his successor, Gerald Ford. Kissinger’s long life was proof of the old adage, “You can fool all…
A US delegation, headed by White House deputy national security adviser Jon Finer, visited New Delhi on Monday (4). During the visit, Finer acknowledged India's establishment of an investigative panel to examine an unsuccessful plot involving the assassination of a Sikh separatist in the US. "Mr. Finer acknowledged India's establishment…
INDIA and China both on Saturday (2) refrained from signing the pledge at the COP28 climate summit to triple the world's renewable energy capacity by 2030 even though New Delhi already committed to it as part of its G20 presidency. During the UN's climate talks in Dubai, 118 countries committed…
HENRY KISSINGER, known for his disdain for India's leadership in the 1970s, has been advocating stronger US-India ties in the past decade under prime minister Narendra Modi. After Modi came to power in 2014, Kissinger, also the former US National Security Advisor, has been advocating strong ties with India. When…
The 28th edition of the European Union Film Festival, which spotlights the best in European Cinema and offers an immersive experience with a focus on celebrating women's stories told by women filmmakers, is set to open on December 1, 2023, in New Delhi. This year’s line-up includes 28 films in…
Canada urged India on Wednesday (29) to cooperate in an investigation regarding the murder involving a Sikh separatist in British Columbia. The request came after the US revealed it had prevented an assassination attempt against a Sikh separatist on its soil. The U.S. Justice Department said earlier on Wednesday it…
An Indian national has been charged with conspiring to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader on US territory, the Justice Department said on Wednesday (29). The allegations suggest the involvement of an Indian government official in the planning process. The Justice Department unsealed murder-for-hire charges against Nikhil Gupta, 52, "in connection…
INDIA paid tribute Wednesday (29) to the hundreds of US servicemen killed during World War II with the opening of a museum near its strategic border with China honouring the dramatic Himalayan airlift dubbed "The Hump". Telling the story of how Allied pilots flew the perilous route to supply Chinese…
INDIA last Tuesday (21) asked private firms to ramp up investments in new coal-fired power plants to meet a dramatic rise in electricity demand and bridge nearly 30-gigawatts of additional requirement by 2030, despite international pressure to stop building such facilities. India’s power and renewable energy minister, RK Singh, in…
INDIA will formally investigate security concerns aired by the United States in a warning to New Delhi about its links to a foiled plot to murder a Sikh separatist leader, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday (29). The issue comes at a delicate time for both India and the Biden…
Pro-Khalistan activists heckled the Indian ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, during his visit to a gurdwara in New York on Sunday (26), forcing him to leave the premises. Videos circulated widely depicted the activists shouting and accusing Ambassador Sandhu of plotting the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep…
AFGHANISTAN'S embassy in India announced its "permanent closure" on Friday (24), more than two years after the Taliban returned to power in Kabul following the collapse of the Western-backed government. Most foreign nations - including India - do not officially recognise Afghanistan's Taliban government, but acknowledge them as the de…
There's no greater feeling than embracing parenthood and Ranbir Kapoor is no exception, as he got her daughter Raha's name inked on her collarbone. Ranbir, who is busy promoting his upcoming action thriller Animal, recently revealed his tattoo. A video of Ranbir went viral on social media in which he…
A court in Qatar has admitted the Indian government’s appeal against the death penalty handed down to eight former Indian Navy personnel in that country, according to media reports. The Qatari court on Thursday (23) admitted the appeal filed by the Indian government and the next hearing is to be…
In his little over a 15-year career, Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor says many lessons have been learned but patience and sacrifice are the two key elements an aspiring actor should swear by. Ranbir made his debut with 2007's Saawariya and is regarded as one of the most talented actors of…
US authorities thwarted a plot to kill a Sikh separatist in the country and issued a warning to India over concerns the government in New Delhi was involved, a senior Biden administration official said. The US is treating the plot with utmost seriousness and has raised the issue with the…
INDIA played the tournament’s best cricket for nearly six weeks but it was the familiar sight of Australia celebrating with the trophy when the 13th edition of the ICC World Cup came to a close last Sunday (19). Just five months after beating India in the World Test Championship final…
THE Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE), an independent professional association for civil engineers and a charitable body in the UK representing 95,000 members, has elected the first Indian-origin president in its 205-year history in professor Anusha Shah (top). As the institution’s 159th president, Shah took charge of her new role…
THE president of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, formally requested last Saturday (18) that India withdraw its troops from his strategically located archipelago, fulfilling an election pledge on his first day in office. In a conversation with a visiting Indian minister, Muizzu asked New Delhi to recall personnel deployed to operate…
INDIA’S money laundering investigators on Tuesday (21) said they seized properties worth ₹7.52 billion (£72 million) in a probe linked to a nine-year-old complaint against opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia. The complaint, lodged by an MP from prime minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)…
INDIA resumed issuing e-visas for Canadian tourists and business travellers on Wednesday (22), two months after it suspended such services following a row over Ottawa's accusation of possible Indian government involvement in the murder of the Canadian Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Though the move is likely to ease…
An evaluation of data from the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (Notto) in India has revealed that a significant majority of organ donors in India are women. Between 1995 and 2021, among the 36,640 patients who underwent transplants, approximately four out of five living donors were women. Correspondingly, four…
INDIA is worried about Britain's possible tax on imports of high-carbon goods like steel and wants a mechanism in their planned free-trade agreement (FTA) to address issues arising from such a measure, three Indian sources said. Earlier this year, Britain initiated consultations with domestic stakeholders on measures such as a…
INDIAN external affairs minister S Jaishankar has said that India is not ruling out an investigation into Canada’s allegations about the involvement of the government’s agents in the killing of a Khalistani separatist in that country but wants it to provide evidence to back its claims. Jaishankar made the comments…
BRITAIN's Sikh population, whose ancestors first migrated from the Punjab more than a century ago, have long been admired as a model of integration and for maintaining a strong identity. Lauded in their country of origin and beyond for their valour, industriousness and charity, Sikhs took those values to Britain,…
AT LEAST 150,000 metric tons of pigeon peas bound for India are held up at ports in Mozambique awaiting export permission from customs despite multiple requests from sellers over the past few weeks, five industry officials said last Wednesday (8). India, the world’s biggest producer and consumer of pigeon peas,…
The European Union Film Festival (EUFF) will return with its 28th edition in New Delhi on December 1. The 10-day film gala, which aims to celebrate the cultural connect between India and the European Union through the world of cinema, will take place across three locations -- the Indian Habitat…
THE Chinese and Pakistani navies are holding weeklong drills in the Arabian Sea days after the Russian Pacific Fleet and Myanmar practised repelling attacks in their first maritime exercise, while India and the United States pledged security cooperation. At a naval base in Karachi on Saturday (11), the Chinese and…
Prime minister Justin Trudeau has emphasised that Canada does not seek a "fight" with India at the moment, but reiterated his allegations, expressing Ottawa's desire to "work constructively" with New Delhi on this "very serious matter". Addressing the media on Friday (10), Trudeau also alleged that India violated the Vienna…
TWO Indian cities joined New Delhi to be among the world's worst 10 for pollution on Monday (13) morning, with smoke heavy in the air a day after revellers let loose with firecrackers for Diwali - the annual Hindu festival of light. The capital New Delhi took, as it often…
INDIA and the US announced progress on key defence deals and said they would expand their growing partnership in the face of geopolitical challenges as their top diplomats and senior ministers met on Friday (10). US secretary of state Antony Blinken and defense secretary Lloyd Austin met Indian foreign minister…
ALLAN DONALD will leave his post as Bangladesh's fast-bowling coach following the World Cup, officials and media said Friday (10), days after his public criticism in the wake of the "timed-out" row. Bangladesh will wrap up a disappointing Cricket World Cup campaign in India against Australia in Pune on Saturday…
In an effort to combat air pollution in New Delhi, the Delhi government intends to artificially induce rainfall through cloud seeding this month, Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced on Wednesday (8). Rai held a meeting with scientists from IIT-Kanpur who explained that cloud seeding can only be attempted when there…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, lit ceremonial lamps for Diwali at a special reception at 10 Downing Street, welcoming guests from the Indian diaspora, parliamentarians, entrepreneurs, and Hindi movie celebrities. The prime ministerial residence was decorated in a theme of vibrant marigolds and candles on Wednesday…
THE enemy is nearly invisible and there are no soldiers, but the Indian capital’s new “Green War Room” is battling air pollution that is cutting lives of residents by over a decade. “It’s a pollution emergency”, said Gopal Rai, environment minister for the rapidly expanding megacity of over 20 million…
Actor Vicky Kaushal said on Tuesday he initially thought he was not good-looking enough for the role of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw in filmmaker Meghna Gulzar's Sam Bahadur. At the film's trailer launch event held at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, Kaushal said Gulzar told him about her desire…
A landmark study conducted in India has revealed that breathing polluted air elevates the risk of type 2 diabetes. Researchers in Delhi and Chennai observed that exposure to high levels of PM2.5 particles in the air is linked to elevated blood sugar levels and a higher incidence of type 2…
CANADA’S police probe into the June murder of a Sikh separatist in British Columbia has been damaged by a high-level official’s public statements, India’s high commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, told the Globe and Mail in an interview published last Saturday (4). Canada has alleged Indian involvement in the…
US SECRETARY of state Antony Blinken and defence secretary Lloyd Austin will hold talks with India this week that officials say will focus on security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and concerns over China, rather than the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. The talks in New Delhi on Friday (10) with…
AS A YOUNG girl being brought up in South Africa, Hollywood star Charlize Theron says watching Bollywood films was a Sunday routine as her native country has a sizeable Indian population. Theron, the star of countless and critically acclaimed Hollywood titles such as Mad Max: Fury Road, Blonde, Monster, The…
SRI LANKA's Angelo Mathews branded Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan as "disgraceful" after he became the first player in 146 years of international cricket to be given "timed out" in a bitter World Cup clash. Mathews was adjudged to be out after failing to take strike within the two-minute time…
NEW DELHI will restrict the use of private vehicles for a week in a bid to offer residents some respite from the toxic smog choking the megacity, authorities announced Monday (6). Delhi, home to 30 million people, is blanketed in acrid smog at the onset of winter every year, primarily…
CANADA'S police probe into the June murder of a Sikh separatist in British Columbia has been damaged by a high-level Canadian official's public statements, India's high commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, told the Globe and Mail in an interview published on Saturday (4). Canada has alleged Indian involvement in…
As a young girl being brought up in South Africa, Hollywood star Charlize Theron says watching Bollywood films was a Sunday routine as her native country has a sizeable Indian population. Theron, the star of countless and critically acclaimed Hollywood titles such as Mad Max: Fury Road, Blonde, Monster, The…
PEOPLE in New Delhi woke up to a thick layer of toxic haze on Friday (3), and some schools were ordered to be shut for two days as the air quality index (AQI) entered the "severe" category in several parts of the Indian capital. A filthy smog forms over Delhi…
INDIA'S cyber security agency is investigating complaints of mobile phone hacking by senior opposition politicians who reported receiving warning messages from Apple, information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. Vaishnaw was quoted in the Indian Express newspaper as saying on Thursday (2) that CERT-In, the computer emergency response team based in…
INDIA is unlikely to sign onto a global pledge to reduce cooling-related emissions at the COP 28 climate meeting, citing the need for the world’s most populous country to have affordable cooling, two government officials told Reuters. The pledge to cut coolingrelated carbon dioxide emissions by at least 68 per…
Traveling between India and the United Kingdom is an experience that many people look forward to, whether it's for business, leisure, or visiting family and friends. However, there's a notable absence of direct flights connecting these two nations. If you've ever wondered why we don't have this convenient option, you're…
SCIENTISTS from China and Sri Lanka are conducting joint “marine scientific” activities on board a Chinese research vessel, a senior official said on Tuesday (31), amid concerns voiced by India and the US. Scientists from the National Aquatic Research Agency (NARA), personnel from the Navy and the University of Ruhuna…
AN UNUSUAL exhibition by Manish Pushkale, an Indian artist who has been inspired by a “bird whisperer” in the remote Andaman Islands, opened last week in Paris. The exhibition, in a series called Carte Blanche, will run at the Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts until spring next year. The…
INDIAN opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (31) accused prime minister Narendra Modi's government of trying to hack into senior opposition politicians' mobile phones, after they reported receiving warning messages from Apple. Some of the lawmakers shared screenshots on social media of a notification quoting the iPhone manufacturer as saying:…
In the heart of Tashkent, a city known for its rich history, stands an Indian restaurant celebrating the legacy of legendary Bollywood actor Raj Kapoor and the love of the Uzbeks for him even 35 years after his death. Styled on the Bollywood theme, the 'Raaj Kapur' restaurant which is…
INDIA'S foreign minister on Monday (30) said the country would "make all efforts" to secure the release of eight ex-navy personnel sentenced to death by a court in Qatar, reportedly for spying for Israel. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said he had met the families of the detained Indians and told them the…
A NEW seed fund aimed at awarding grants for joint projects between scientists in India and the UK has been launched by Imperial College London. The India Connect Fund, to be formally announced at events in New Delhi and Bengaluru next week, is designed to back projects that have the…
It will be a couple of hours of letting your hair down, enjoying a night out, and reliving the special memories of teenage years, says Westlife member Nicky Byrne about the Irish band's upcoming three-city tour to India. The global best-selling pop band, comprising Byrne, Kian Egan, Shane Filan, and…
INDIA will reopen visa services for Canadians, its embassy in Ottawa announced, a move that could ease tensions in a high-profile dispute over the killing of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil. Relations between India and Canada plunged after prime minister Justin Trudeau last month publicly linked Indian intelligence to…
INDIA said on Thursday (26) that eight of its citizens had been sentenced to death by Qatar in a case that media reported involved high-ranking ex-naval officers accused of spying. New Delhi said it would "take up the verdict with Qatari authorities" and would continue to "extend all consular and…
Indian cricketing hero and spin great Bishan Singh Bedi has died aged 77, sports minister Anurag Thakur said Monday, calling it a "huge loss" to the sport. "Former captain of the Indian cricket team, a bowler who was always remembered by the nation, Bishan Singh Bedi, is no more," Thakur,…
INDIA on Sunday (22) said its relationship with Canada is passing through a difficult phase and there had been "continued interference" by Canadian personnel in New Delhi's internal affairs. The Indian government is angry that Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau last month suggested Indian agents might have been involved in…
THE US and Britain urged New Delhi not to insist Canada reduce its diplomatic presence in India and expressed concern after Ottawa pulled out 41 diplomats amid a dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist. Canada has alleged Indian involvement in the June murder in a Vancouver suburb of…
Canada's foreign affairs minister, Melanie Joly has announced the withdrawal of 41 diplomats and their family members from India. She said the decision was made following India's threat to revoke their diplomatic immunity. The move comes amidst a diplomatic dispute surrounding the killing of a Sikh separatist, escalating tensions between…
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has successfully concluded clinical trials for the world's first injectable male contraceptive. The trials demonstrated its safety and high efficacy, with no significant side effects reported. The results of the phase-III clinical trial, which involved 303 participants aged 25-40 years were published last…
The fourth edition of the Yellowstone International Film Festival (YIFF) is set to kick off on October 22 and will run through October 27 here, the organisers announced Wednesday. The gala, which aims to showcase independent cinema from around the world, will be held in a hybrid format. According to…
PG WODEHOUSE’S step-great-grandson, Hal Cazalet, is going to India at the end of October for a month with a oneman show, Play on Words. Wodehouse’s brand of humour has special appeal for Indians. The show is meant to be “an evening of music, laughter, romance and glamour” to highlight Wodehouse’s…
INDIA wants to push developed nations to become carbon negative rather than carbon neutral by 2050, arguing it would allow emerging market economies more time to use fossil fuels for development needs, two official Indian sources said. The country, which is resisting calls to commit to a deadline for phasing…
INDIA’S decision to maintain the current floor price for basmati rice exports will further hamper overseas sales of the premium variety and hit farm income, leaving growers saddled with large stocks of the new-season variety, farmers and millers said. India and Pakistan are the only growers of basmati rice. New…
Indian President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday presented screen icon Waheeda Rehman with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award and honoured other winners of the 69th National Film Awards, including popular stars Allu Arjun, Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon. The National Film Awards were announced in August honouring the best in cinema…
Screen icon Waheeda Rehman on Tuesday became the eighth woman artiste to receive the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest recognition in the field of Indian cinema, an honour she dedicated to her "dear film industry" and its various departments. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to Rehman, 85, during…
An Indian court on Monday (16) acquitted two men jailed in relation to the murders of 19 children and young women nearly two decades ago due to a lack of evidence, their lawyers said. Police arrested businessman Moninder Singh Pandher and his servant Surender Koli, the prime suspect, in December…
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi has confirmed India would bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics and become just the fourth Asian nation to stage the Games. The country has held a session of the International Olympic Committee's executive board, which has already resolved to include cricket - India's most popular…
AFGHANISTAN pulled off one of the greatest World Cup shocks on Sunday when they defeated defending champions England by 69 runs in New Delhi. Chasing 285 to win, after opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz had hit a blistering 80, England were bowled out for 215 despite Harry Brook's 66 with spinners Mujeeb…
The sixth edition of the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) India started in New Delhi with the screening of legendary screenwriter Yuji Sakamoto's upcoming venture We Made a Beautiful Bouquet, directed by Nobuhiro Doi. The four-month-long touring festival, organised in association with PVR INOX, will take place in seven cities across…
BUOYED by a record run chase, Babar Azam's Pakistan are on the hunt for their first ever World Cup win over India in Saturday's (14) blockbuster match between cricket's biggest rivals in a 132,000-capacity arena patrolled by 11,000 police officers. India and Pakistan are bitter adversaries and only play against…
The trailer for Mindy Kaling, Dev Patel, and Rupi Kaur’s production To Kill a Tiger is out now. Directed and written by Nisha Pahuja, the documentary charts the emotional journey of Ranjit, a farmer in Jharkhand, who forces a social reckoning after his 13-year-old daughter is the victim of a…
CAPTAIN Rohit Sharma on Wednesday (11) surpassed compatriot Sachin Tendulkar with a record seventh World Cup century to lead India to a crushing eight-wicket win over Afghanistan. Chasing 273 for victory in New Delhi, the hosts rode on Rohit's 131 to achieve their target in 35 overs for a second…
THE police in India have formally accused Chinese smartphone makers Xiaomi Corp and Vivo Mobile of helping transfer funds illegally to a news portal under investigation on charges of spreading Chinese propaganda, documents showed last Friday (6). A Xiaomi India spokesperson strongly denied the accusation. A spokesperson from Vivo did…
If not for his children, superstar Aamir Khan says he would have quit making films as he was "angry and irritated" with himself for not being able to spend enough time with his family and loved ones. The 58-year-old said it was somewhere around 2.5 years ago when he realised…
BOOKER Prize-winning Indian novelist Arundhati Roy could be prosecuted for a 2010 speech about Kashmir after a top official signed off on the move, local media reported. Roy, 61, is one of India's most famous living authors, but her writing and activism, including her trenchant criticism of prime minister Narendra…
INDIA's financial crime agency on Tuesday (10) arrested four industry executives including one Chinese national working for smartphone maker Vivo in India in a case of alleged money laundering, according to legal papers and lawyers working on the case. The arrest adds to the legal troubles of the Chinese phone…
THE president-elect of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, has marked his victory with a pledge to end the foreign military presence in his small but strategically placed atoll nation. Muizzu, 45, addressing his first public rally after winning the runoff election on September 30, stopped short of naming India, the only…
ONE of the largest Hindu temples in the world was inaugurated at the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Jersey, Robbinsville. Spread over 185 acres, it is said to represent India’s heritage and culture in modern America. Revered saint, His Holiness Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj, led the dedication ceremony of Akshardham…
ENGLAND captain Jos Buttler is concerned with the outfield in Dharamsala, which he thinks is not ideal for World Cup matches. Former England batter and Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott questioned the condition of the outfield after spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman narrowly escaped injury after jamming his knee into the…
BRITAIN and India are looking at a possible visit to New Delhi by prime minister Rishi Sunak soon, but it may depend on whether the two sides can resolve the remaining differences to firm up the free trade agreement (FTA), people familiar with the matter said on Monday (9). Both…
In the midst of strained India-Canada relations following allegations by Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau against India, Indian students face another major challenge - a scarcity of job opportunities in the country. In 2022, a total of 226,450 Indian students arrived in Canada to pursue higher education, making India the…
Days after Emmy award-winning TV host and comedian Trevor Noah wrapped up his Off The Record Tour in India, now Jimmy Carr is set to perform in the country as part of his upcoming Terribly Funny show world tour. The British comedian has announced his India tour for January next…
Raw Mango, the label by ace designer Sanjay Garg, will open the Lakme Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI on October 10 in New Delhi. The collection titled 'Children of the Night' is billed as a "celebration of carefree confidence and unapologetic elegance, drawing inspiration from the enigmatic world that…
THE Metropolitan Police has arrested a man on suspicion of “violent disorder” in connection with an attack on the Indian High Commission in London in March this year. The Met said the man, who was arrested during a protest outside India House on Monday (2), was held in connection with…
In response to the Canadian allegations implicating India in the assassination of a pro-Khalistan separatist, The White House has said that the accusations are "serious" and warrant a comprehensive investigation. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was killed in Surrey, British Columbia on June…
CANADA wants private talks with India to resolve a diplomatic dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader, foreign minister Melanie Joly said on Tuesday (3), after a report said India had asked the country to withdraw 41 diplomats. India has told Canada that it must repatriate the diplomats…
INDIAN police raided the New Delhi office of a news portal and the homes of journalists and writers linked to it on Tuesday (3) as part of an investigation into suspected illegal foreign funding of the media company, two government officials said. Laptops and mobile phones were taken away as…
INDIA has told Canada that it must repatriate 41 diplomats by October 10, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday (3). Ties between India and Canada have become seriously strained over Canadian suspicion that Indian government agents had a role in the June murder in Canada of a Sikh separatist leader…
From September 30, the dedication celebrations of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey, have commenced, spanning a nine-day celebration in the presence of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj. Leaders, including heads of state worldwide, have expressed their support. India's prime minister Narendra Modi and prime minister Rishi Sunak have…
The Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) and Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) have unveiled the schedule of the upcoming five-day Delhi edition, which will see ace designers Tarun Tahiliani, Amit Aggarwal, Gauri & Nainika, and Anju Modi among others showcase their creations. The upcoming edition of Lakme Fashion Week X…
Grammy Award-nominated rapper Raja Kumari is set to kickstart her 'The Bridge World' tour from her ancestral hometown Hyderabad. "I am very excited to start the tour in Hyderabad, my ancestral hometown. The Bridge World Tour is a manifestation straight off my vision board. Paying homage to my roots by…
CANADA has denied the rumours that prime minister Justin Trudeau’s aircraft “was full of cocaine” during his trip to India for the recent G20 summit. The comment from his office follows a former Indian diplomat’s claim that “credible rumours” suggested Trudeau flew to New Delhi with the drug, banned in…
INDIAN foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has said there is a "climate of violence" and an "atmosphere of intimidation" against Indian diplomats in Canada, where the presence of Sikh separatist groups has frustrated New Delhi. "Because there is freedom of speech, to make threats and intimidate diplomats, I don't think that's…
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on India to "cooperate fully" with the ongoing Canadian investigation into the killing of a Khalistani separatist, a senior State Department official said on Friday (29). This statement came a day after external affairs minister S Jaishankar met with the top American…
BRITAIN’S proposed trade deal with India will not include legally enforceable commitments on labour rights or climate standards, a key omission which UK businesses feel will hurt them, a media report said.The two countries are negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the discussions have entered the 13th round. The…
ARCELORMITTAL executive chairman Lakshmi N Mittal has said his company’s Indian joint venture with Nippon Steel will commission its facility in Gujarat in three years. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel (AMNS) India, formed in 2019 following the acquisition of Essar Steel, is scaling up the capacity of its integrated flat steel plant…
Popular comedian Trevor Noah, who is in India for a comedy tour, called off two stand-up shows in Bengaluru due to "technical issues" and apologised to the audience members for the inconvenience. After three gigs in New Delhi last week, the 39-year-old comedian was scheduled to perform at the Manpho…
Popular Bollywood couple Twinkle Khanna and Akshay Kumar met UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during their London visit. Twinkle took to Instagram on Wednesday to post a video of their visit to London. She captioned the post, “As much as I dislike wearing heels and dressing up, this evening was…
THE annual BFI London Film Festival celebrates cinema from around the world and like every year there is strong south Asian representation, from diverse backgrounds. Eastern Eye decided to get you ready for the marvellous movie feast, which runs from next Wednesday (4) until October15, with a preview of south…
CANADIAN lentil sales to India have slowed since prime minister Justin Trudeau said last week he suspected India of involvement in an assassination on Canadian soil, fearing reprisal from New Delhi that could limit trade, industry sources in both countries say. Trudeau said that Canada was "actively pursuing credible allegations"…
CANADA’S Sikh community is hoping Ottawa’s accusations against India – that New Delhi may have been involved in the assassination of one of their leaders on Canadian soil – will be just the first dramatic step taken against alleged “Indian interference.” Prime minister Justin Trudeau’s assertion last Monday (18) that…
HUNDREDS of Sikh protesters rallied outside Indian diplomatic missions in Canada on Monday (25), trampling pictures of prime minister Narendra Modi and burning flags a week after Ottawa said New Delhi had played a role in the killing of a prominent Sikh activist. About 100 protesters in Toronto burned an…
INDIAN activist Partha Chaudhury is on a war footing as he strides out of the ruling BJP’s regional headquarters in Kolkata armed with passion and pages of voter lists. “We need to meet each and every BJP supporter, and all of this has to be done in less than 300…
India expressed on Tuesday (26), its willingness to review the evidence provided by Canada regarding New Delhi's alleged role in the killing of a Sikh separatist near Vancouver. However, India reiterated its criticism of Ottawa in the matter. Relations between the two countries plunged last week as prime minister Justin…
ARMY chiefs and senior officers from 30 countries, including the US, met in India on Tuesday (26) to discuss threats facing the Asia-Pacific region, in the face of concern at an increasingly assertive China. US Army chief Randy George said the region was "critically important", speaking to reporters alongside his…
America has expressed concern to Sri Lanka about the likely visit of a Chinese research ship in October that could also cause worries in India, which previously raised security concerns over docking by China's spy vessels, according to a media report. US under-secretary Victoria Nuland, who met Sri Lankan foreign…
In a historic achievement, India's dressage team clinched its first-ever Asian Games gold medal, marking only the second victory in this discipline's history. The quartet of Sudipti Hajela, Divyakriti Singh, Vipul Hriday Chheda, and Anush Agarwalla successfully lived up to the high expectations on Tuesday (26) in Hangzhou. The Indian…
Hundreds of Sikh protesters gathered outside Indian diplomatic missions in Canada on Monday (25), demonstrating against the alleged involvement of India in the killing of a prominent Sikh activist. The protesters trampled pictures of prime minister Narendra Modi and burned flags. "We are not safe back home in Punjab, we…
INDIA target a third World Cup triumph when the country hosts cricket's seven-week global showpiece, buoyed by an economic boom and growing, international self-confidence. India shared hosting with Pakistan in 1987, then Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 1996 before another three-way split with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2011. This…
Canada's defence minister Bill Blair on Sunday (24) underscored the importance of the nation's relationship with India. He said that Canada intends to maintain its pursuit of partnerships like the Indo-Pacific strategy, while the investigation into the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader continues. Tensions flared between India and Canada…
PRIME minister Justin Trudeau has said Canada shared with India "many weeks ago" evidence that it may have been behind the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. Canada wants New Delhi to commit constructively with Ottawa to establishing the facts in the "very serious matter," he…
After the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, intelligence was shared by the US with Canada, The New York Times has reported. However, according to NYT, Ottawa's interception of communications provided more conclusive evidence, leading Canada to accuse India of masterminding the plot. The report came on Saturday (23)…
INDIA'S top investigation agency has confiscated the properties of a prominent Sikh separatist and close ally of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whose killing has sparked a diplomatic row between India and Canada. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a lawyer believed to be based in Canada, was designated as a terrorist by Indian authorities…
He came, he saw, he joked. Smiles and laughter filled the jam-packed auditorium of JLN stadium as celebrated stand-up artist Trevor Noah kickstarted the Indian leg of his 'Off The Record' tour in New Delhi. Performing his debut gig in India, Noah, who grew up in South Africa watching Bollywood…
THE US made clear that it expected the Indian government to work with Canada on efforts to investigate the possible involvement of New Delhi agents in the murder of a Canadian citizen in June. Prime minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday (18) that Ottawa had credible intelligence linking Indian agents…
THE US is in touch with Indians at high levels after Ottawa said Indian government agents had links to the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Thursday (21). Washington is giving India no "special exemption" in the matter,…
THREE Indian martial arts athletes from a region claimed by China have been forced to pull out of the Asian Games in Hangzhou after not receiving clearance from the host country, reports said Friday (22). The three women wushu fighters are from the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, a…
INDIA on Thursday (21) suspended visa services for Canadian citizens, a foreign ministry spokesperson said, citing security threats to its staff in its consulates in Canada. The announcement came hours after Canada's high commission in India said it would temporarily "adjust" staff presence in the country after some diplomats received…
THE White House is "deeply concerned" about allegations that Indian agents were potentially involved in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada and encourages India to cooperate in any investigation, said national security spokesman John Kirby. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday (18) that domestic intelligence…
CANADIAN prime minister Justin Trudeau’s accusation on Tuesday (19) that the Indian government was behind the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada led to an escalating war-of-words and diplomats being ejected from both countries. India described as “absurd” Trudeau’s claims that “credible allegations” linked Indian agents to the June…
The Canadian government has dismissed India's travel advisory regarding security concerns in Canada, asserting that Canada is among the safest countries globally. They have also urged for calm amid the growing diplomatic dispute between the two nations surrounding the assassination of a Khalistani separatist leader within Canada. Prime minister Justin…
CANADA this week divulged it had intelligence possibly linking Indian government agents to the murder of a separatist Sikh leader, the kind of news that usually sparks uproar among democratic allies. Not this time. India is being courted by the United States and others as a counterweight to China, and…
FOREIGN SECRETARY James Cleverly said that his government backs a Canadian investigation to determine whether India was involved in the killing of a Sikh leader, in a case that sent ties between Ottawa and New Delhi nosediving. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said Monday (18) that "credible allegations" linked Indian…
CANADA'S Sikh community is hoping Ottawa's shock accusations against India - that New Delhi may have been involved in the assassination of one of their leaders on Canadian soil - will be just the first dramatic step taken against alleged "Indian interference." Prime minister Justin Trudeau's assertion on Monday (18)…
Veteran actress turned politician Hema Malini on Tuesday extended support to the Women's Reservation Bill after Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Bill in the first sitting of Lok Sabha in the new Parliament building in New Delhi. Talking exclusively to ANI, Hema Malini said, “September 19 has…
CANADA is not trying to provoke India by suggesting it was linked to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader, but wants New Delhi to address the issue properly, prime minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday (19). Trudeau announced on Monday (18) that Canadian intelligence agencies were actively pursuing credible…
The government said on Tuesday (19) that the "serious allegations" over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada will not impact its own ongoing trade negotiations with India. Prime minister Rishi Sunak's spokesperson at 10 Downing Street was asked about the impact the issue may have on India-UK…
Actress Kangana Ranaut, who was among the special women invitees at the Parliament, on Tuesday extended support to the Women's Reservation Bill, which was introduced today in the first sitting of Lok Sabha in the new Parliament building in New Delhi. Talking to the media Kangana said, “This is a…
INDIA on Tuesday (19) rejected the "absurd" allegation that its agents were behind the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada, after prime minister Justin Trudeau's bombshell accusation sent already sour diplomatic relations to a new low. Ottawa also expelled a diplomat it described as the head of India's foreign…
AVANT-GARDE artist Amrita Sher-Gil’s oil on canvas The Story Teller has unseated Sayed Haider Raza’s Gestation as the most expensive work of Indian art sold at auction worldwide. The 1937 artwork went for `618 million (£6m) in New Delhi last Saturday (16) at Saffronart’s Evening Sale: Modern Art. Featured in…
TRADE talks between India and Canada have taken a hit as tension rises after prime minister Justin Trudeau said authorities were investigating "credible allegations" linking New Delhi's agents to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader. On Tuesday (19), New Delhi dismissed the allegations as "absurd", and asked Canada instead…
BRITAIN said on Tuesday (19) it was in close touch with its Canadian partners about "serious allegations" from Ottawa that the Indian government was involved in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada. "We are in close touch with our Canadian partners about these serious allegations," a government…
INDIAN oil companies are exploring the possibility of using close to $600 million (£484.73m) of their dividend income stranded in Russia to buy oil from that country, officials have said. India's top four oil companies - Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), Oil India Ltd and ONGC…
THE production of 40 Airbus C295 medium tactical transport aircraft in India will be a "game changer" as it would facilitate the creation of a world-class aerospace ecosystem in the country, Indian ambassador to Spain Dinesh K Patnaik said. The Indian Air Force (IAF) received the first C295 aircraft on…
Rohan Bopanna concluded his Davis Cup career with a comfortable straight-sets victory alongside Yuki Bhambri. Sumit Nagal too secured a win in the reverse singles match as India progressed to the World Group I playoffs with a 4-1 victory against Morocco in, Lucknow, the capital city of India’s Uttar Pradesh…
CANADIAN trade minister Mary Ng is postponing a trade mission to India planned for October, an official has said, reflecting increasingly tense diplomatic relations just days after India's prime minister snubbed his Canadian counterpart at a G20 summit in New Delhi. "At this time, we are postponing the upcoming trade…
THE G20 Summit in New Delhi has positioned India as a key player in the global arena, edging closer to becoming the 'leader of the Global South,' according to analysts. The two-day summit, which concluded on Sunday (10), showcased India's leadership as it championed initiatives aimed at countering the ascendancy…
The Rig Veda inscriptions and Panini's grammar treatise 'Ashtadhyayi,' which were India's contributions to the G20 'Culture Corridor' exhibition held at the summit venue, have been exhibited under the name of 'Bharat.' The Rig Veda, an ancient Indian text representing the country's contribution to the international project in the 'symbols…
INDIA’S road transport minister on Tuesday (12) said he will propose an additional 10 per cent tax on diesel vehicles and warned automakers of even higher levies to come to force them away from diesel-burners and cut fuel emissions and pollution. Nitin Gadkari made the comments at the Society of…
CANADIAN prime minister Justin Trudeau belatedly left India on Tuesday (12) after an aircraft breakdown forced a two-day extension of his rocky visit to New Delhi for the G20 summit. Trudeau arrived in India for the meeting of the leaders of 20 leading economies last Friday (8) and was due…
AFTER communal clashes in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area last year, police said they used facial recognition technology to identify and arrest dozens of men, the second such instance after a more violent riot in the Indian capital in 2020. In both cases, most of those charged were Muslims, leading human rights…
US CHIP firm Nvidia on Friday (8) announced AI partnerships with Indian conglomerates Reliance Industries and Tata Group to develop cloud infrastructure and language models, as well as generative applications. The deals with two of India’s largest business houses will help the US chip firm deepen inroads to the emerging…
THE prime minister Rishi Sunak on Monday (11) told British lawmakers that he had “warm and productive” discussions with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi towards a free trade agreement (FTA) with India, as he updated parliament on his recent visit to New Delhi for the Indialed G20 summit. Addressing the…
INDIA's road transport minister on Tuesday (12) said he will propose an additional 10 per cent tax on diesel vehicles and warned automakers of even higher levies to come to force them away from diesel-burners and cut fuel emissions and pollution. Nitin Gadkari made the comments at the Society of…
HEADING to New Delhi for the G20 summit might have felt like a great escape for Rishi Sunak, leaving behind crumbling concrete in classrooms and damning opinion polls for his first visit to India as Prime Minister. The Sunaks were greeted enthusiastically by the Indian media. A British Prime Minister…
India’s yearlong presidency of the G20 came to a climax last weekend as world leaders gathered in Delhi for the annual summit of the world’s leading economies. Against the perceived odds, India was able to forge consensus among a group of nations increasingly divided along geopolitical fault-lines. The official communique,…
Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar were among the film personalities who hailed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the successful presidency of G20, calling it a moment of "honour and pride" for every Indian. The G20 Summit came to an end on Sunday. The grouping of emerging…
BRITAIN and India have agreed to launch a partnership to boost cross-market investment by the insurance and pension sectors, the Treasury said on Monday (11). It said the UK-India Pensions and Insurance Partnership would support the growth of the sector in both countries, focusing on knowledge sharing, growing bilateral investment…
The conclusion of the G20 summit marked important political milestones and offered a plethora of fashion moments for inspiration. Rishi Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty’s wardrobe garnered much attention, making her elegant looks the talk of the town. She was seen at various events in India’s capital city showcasing her traditional…
Popular Irish music group Westlife is set to enthrall fans in India as the band travels to the country for its much-anticipated "The Wild Dreams" Tour this November. The global bestselling pop band, consisting of Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Mark Feehily, will perform live in Mumbai, Bengaluru,…
French president Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday (10) that the G20 leaders' declaration "confirms" Russia's isolation regarding the Ukraine crisis. He also noted that India's presidency of the bloc made significant efforts to convey a message of unity and peace to the world. At a media briefing, he also said…
Narendra Modi concluded the G20 summit on Sunday, which notably downplayed significant disagreements regarding the Ukraine conflict and climate change. Despite the contentious issues, the summit afforded him a diplomatic moment in the spotlight. The ongoing Ukraine conflict has deeply divided G20 nations since Moscow's invasion last year, leading Russian…
FRENCH president Emmanuel Macron was in Bangladesh on Monday (11) in a bid to "consolidate" his country’s Indo-Pacific strategy and counterbalance a "new imperialism" in a region where China's influence is increasingly being extended. "Based on democratic principles and the rule of law, in a region facing new imperialism, we…
Narendra Modi passed the G20 presidential gavel to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on Sunday (10) and conveyed his confidence that India's successor would continue to promote global unity and prosperity. During the concluding session of the G20 Leaders' Summit, Modi transferred the ceremonial gavel to Lula, and…
A film festival celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of screen icon Dev Anand will be held later this month, the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) announced Monday. Dev Anand, star of films such as Hum Dono, Tere Ghar Ke Samne, CID, and Guide, will be honoured ahead of his birthday on…
INDIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed strong concerns about protests in Canada against India to Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, according a statement by India. New Delhi has been long sensitive to Sikh protesters in Canada. In June, India criticised…
China has lashed out at media reports alleging a man who was arrested on suspicion of espionage was gathering intelligence for Beijing, labelling the claim a "political farce". UK police said over the weekend that they had arrested a man in his twenties at his home in Edinburgh for spying,…
GLOBAL leaders have gathered in New Delhi for a two-day mega summit, with the G20 summit venue Bharat Mandapam taking center stage. The venue was officially inaugurated by prime minister Narendra Modi in July. This impressive convention centre, conceived in line with the prime minister's vision for state-of-the-art infrastructure to…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak expressed confidence in the possibility of securing a free trade deal with India but cautioned that there is still significant work ahead. Sunak and Narendra Modi met on Saturday (9) for what Sunak described as a "very warm and productive discussion." Their conversation included a wide…
Former British soldier suspected of terrorism offenses, who had escaped from prison earlier in the week, was arrested in London on Saturday (9), police said. The absconder, 21-year-old Daniel Abed Khalife, had fled from Wandsworth prison in London on Wednesday (6) morning. He managed to slip out of the prison…
INDIA has reportedly spent £400 million on the just concluded G20 summit mainly on infrastructure and security, reports said. The landmark summit was held in Bharat Mandapam at New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan on September 9 and 10. India assumed the presidency of the grouping in December last year. The city…
INDIA's strong leadership made it possible for G20 leaders to reach consensus in intense discussions on a summit message urging nations to shun use of force in territorial disputes, a senior European Union official said on Sunday (10). For weeks before the New Delhi meeting, the bloc struggled to agree…
G20 leaders, including US president Joe Biden, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak and UN secretary general António Guterres, paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial Rajghat on Sunday (10). Prime minister Narendra Modi received the leaders at the rain-drenched Rajghat. Modi welcomed his guests to the site where the…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak, accompanied by his wife Akshata Murthy, visited BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi, on Sunday (10) as part of their official trip to the city for the G20 summit. They were warmly welcomed in a traditional Hindu manner symbolising goodwill and friendship. Sunak was then greeted…
GLOBAL leaders announced a multinational rail and ports deal linking the Middle East and South Asia on Saturday (9) on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi. The pact comes at a critical time as US president Joe Biden seeks to counter China's Belt and Road push on…
THE Group of 20 nations adopted a consensus declaration at a summit on Saturday (9) that avoided condemnation of Russia for the war in Ukraine but called on all states to refrain from the use of force to seize territory. Prime minister Narendra Modi of host India announced that the…
THE G20 has adopted a consensus declaration on issues facing the bloc, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday (9) during a summit, signalling that negotiators had resolved deep differences over the wording on the war in Ukraine. He gave no details on the compromise wording. "On the back…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak was greeted with the salutation of "Jai Siyaram" by Indian minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey who received the visiting dignitary upon his arrival in New Delhi on Friday (8) to attend the G20 summit. Choubey informed Sunak that he is an MP from Buxar which, he noted,…
PRIME minister Narendra Modi's placard at the opening of the G20 summit on Saturday (9) referred to India as "Bharat", raising speculation of a change of name for the south Asian nation. India is also called Bharat, Bharata, Hindustan - its pre-colonial names - in Indian languages and these are…
THE African Union was made a permanent member of the G20, comprising the world's richest and most powerful countries, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said at the bloc's summit in New Delhi on Saturday (9). The African Union, a continental body of 55 member states, now has the same status…
Over the past year, India has been buzzing with anticipation as the country prepares to host the G20 summit, an event that is being touted as one of the most high-profile in recent memory. With a budget exceeding $100 million, India has spared no expense in organising this prestigious gathering.…
LEADERS of the world's wealthiest and most influential nations are set to convene at the two-day G20 Summit in India's capital, New Delhi, commencing on Saturday (9). This marks India's inaugural hosting of this prestigious assembly of global leaders. The capital city has been adorned with ornate flowers and fountains…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak has said the country is working towards a trade deal with India but cautioned that reaching a final agreement was "not a given", the Daily Mirror reported on Friday (8). Sunak arrived in New Delhi on Friday for the annual gathering of the Group of 20…
Rishi Sunak said on Friday (8) that his trip to New Delhi for the G20 Leaders' Summit is "obviously special". He jokingly mentioned the nickname "son-in-law of India," as the first British prime minister of Indian heritage and being married to Akshata Murty, an Indian. Speaking to reporters in a…
US president Joe Biden headed for the G20 in India on Thursday (7) promising that the summit would "deliver" despite the absence of the Chinese and Russian leaders. Biden is hoping to seize on the no-shows by Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin to boost US influence, and show that the…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi said Thursday (7) that leaders of the G20 summit he is chairing this weekend must support developing nations to tackle climate change with more cash and by sharing technology. Against a backdrop of record-breaking temperatures and deadly heatwaves across the globe, climate scientists and activists…
Rescue thriller Mission Raniganj, headlined by Akshay Kumar, will hit the screens on October 6. The upcoming film is "inspired by a real-life incident at Raniganj coalfield and inspired from the heroic act of Late Shri Jaswant Singh Gill who led Bharat's coal mine rescue mission", said the makers. On…
LIFE-SIZE cutouts of langurs have sprung up in several parts of New Delhi over the past few days, as officials look to prevent the smaller rhesus monkeys from playing spoilsport during the G20 summit that will take place next week. Rhesus monkeys are a menace in many areas in India's…
WHAT does prime minister discuss at the dinner table with his Indian parents-in-law? Is it Indian politics or the challenges of running Britain? Neither. It's cricket. "The most political we tend to get is in our discussion of cricket. I've agreed that my daughters can support India when it comes…
THE free trade agreement (FTA) talks with India are progressing and Britain will only agree to a pact that works for the whole of the UK, prime minister Rishi Sunak said. Ahead of his first visit to India as prime minister to attend the G20 World Leaders' Summit in New…
CHINA'S president Xi Jinping skipping this week's G20 summit in New Delhi was not unusual and will not affect negotiations to produce a consensus communique at the meeting, Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said. The September 9-10 summit of leaders of the world's richest countries is being held in the…
IN TERMS of ability, longevity, versatility, body of work and global impact, Asha Bhosle is regarded by most as India’s greatest singer of all time. Born on September 8, 1933, the most recorded artist in history changed the face of commercial music in India and entertained countless people across different…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak's family will prepare a banquet in New Delhi this week in his honour as the leader will be in India to attend the G20 summit. The family will host a feast with flower bouquets and "non-stop dancing" to Punjabi music in the Indian capital on Thursday…
INDIA launched major military drills on Monday (4), including along contested border areas with China, which will continue during the G20 summit in New Delhi that president Xi Jinping will skip. The 11 days of drills named "Trishul", or trident, were "an annual training exercise" in northern zones bordering Pakistan…
US president Joe Biden will travel to India next week to participate in the G20 Summit and will have a bilateral meeting with prime minister Narendra Modi on September 8, the White House has announced. India, president of the G20, will host global leaders for the summit scheduled to take…
The 67th BFI London Film Festival commences on Wednesday, October 4 with Emerald Fennell’s new thriller Saltburn at the Royal Festival Hall. From there, the prestigious film festival will continue its post-pandemic revival with 11 days and nights of galas, screenings, and events. BFI London Film Festival recently announced its…
VIRAT KOHLI walked up to Haris Rauf and they hugged each other and exchanged a few words and laughter. Perhaps, they were having a bit of a joke about those two sixes on a starry Melbourne night last year. It wasn't a mere put on. There was a touching genuineness…
CHINA has ramped up the construction of military facilities along its de facto border with India, which experts regard as Beijing’s preparations for an “eventuality of hostilities”. Satellite imagery from the American firm Maxar has shown Chinese infrastructure including bunkers and tunnels being built into the hillside in Aksai Chin,…
Astronomy enthusiasts were treated to a delightful experience on Wednesday, August 30, as a rare celestial event, known as a Super Blue Moon graced the skies worldwide. [caption id="attachment_249758" align="alignnone" width="750"] The Super Blue Moon as seen in the sky above the India Gate, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Aug. 30,…
THE successful Chandrayaan-3 moon mission last week elevates the country’s status as a space power and has geopolitical implications in the region, science and security experts said, as the country’s space organisation revealed its next project – to study the sun. Days after becoming the first nation to land a…
THE European Union last Saturday (26) voiced concerns over a “rapid” rise in refined petroleum products made from Russian crude oil in India finding their way to the European market. Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU executive vice-president and commissioner for trade, said oil products processed from Russian crude oil were arriving…
THE prime minister, Rishi Sunak, could face some transparency questions related to wife Akshata Murty’s Infosys shares, which are worth an estimated £500 million, in a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with India, according to a media report. The Observer last Sunday (27) claimed that Labour and trade experts were…
THE Miss World beauty contest will be held in Indian Kashmir as part of a month-long series of events across India, organisers have said. Miss World Organization chair Julia Morley said India will host a month-long series of events for the annual international beauty pageant from November to December, with…
Rising air pollution can cut life expectancy by more than five years per person in south Asia, one of the world's most polluted regions, according to a report published on Tuesday (29) which flagged the growing burden of hazardous air on health. The region, which includes the world's most polluted…
RUSSIA will be represented by its foreign minister at the G20 summit in New Delhi, president Vladimir Putin told Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in a phone call on Monday (28) where the two leaders also discussed bilateral ties. The two leaders also spoke about the planned expansion of the…
INDIAN and UK officials will continue their negotiations till the month-end to iron out differences on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA), New Delhi has said. Following the G20 trade and investment ministers’ meeting at Jaipur, the progress of the negotiations was reviewed by commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal…
Actor Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel starrer action-drama film Gadar 2 has caused a tsunami at the box office as the film has now entered the £40 million club. The makers of the film hosted a special screening of the film in the New Parliament House, New Delhi for the…
The G20 summit negotiator for India Amitabh Kant expressed the nation's intention to diplomatically persuade G20 member countries towards resolving geopolitical challenges. In response to a question concerning the Russia-Ukraine war, Kant said on Friday (25) that India seeks amicable solutions. The ongoing conflict, which began in February last year,…
THE Wrestling Federation of India has been suspended by the sports' world body for not holding elections after its chief was charged with sexual misconduct. India's top wrestlers staged weeks of sit-in protests in the capital New Delhi earlier this year demanding the resignation of WFI president Brij Bhushan Singh.…
The 69th National Film Awards were announced on Thursday evening at the National Media Centre in New Delhi. Shoojit Sircar's directorial Sardar Udham won the best feature film award in Hindi. The film was released in 2021 on Prime Video and starred Vicky Kaushal in the lead role. Sardar Udham…
The 69th National Film Awards were announced at a press conference in New Delhi today. Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon share the Best Actress award for their performances in Gangubai Kathiawadi and Mimi, respectively. Telugu superstar Allu Arjun, on the other hand, was named Best Actor for his successful film…
Business and trade secretary, Kemi Badenoch, introduced the "Alive with Opportunity" campaign on Thursday (24). The aim of the campaign is to facilitate the augmentation of trade with India by 2030, employing a range of focused trade missions tailored for UK enterprises operating within rapidly expanding industries. The cabinet minister,…
The 69th National Film Awards will be announced on Thursday during a press conference by the Jury at the National Media Center, New Delhi. Many names are going around and the official announcement is awaited. This year Alia Bhatt and Kangana Ranaut’s names are doing the rounds on social media…
INDIA’S High Commissioner to the UK has expressed optimism that British and Indian officials will be “able to get something working” and find a “right fit” towards a mutually beneficial free trade agreement. Vikram Doraiswami said he was positive as both countries seem keen to make necessary adjustments, recognising the…
AN Indian spacecraft landed on the moon on Wednesday (23), the space agency said, in a mission seen as crucial to lunar exploration and India's standing as a space power, just days after a similar Russian lander crashed. For India, the successful landing marks its emergence as a space power…
INDIA-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations are now laser-focussed on goods, services and investment, UK officials said on Wednesday (23) ahead of business and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch's visit to India. After the G20 trade and investment ministerial meeting in Jaipur, which is scheduled for Thursday (24) and Friday (25),…
US PRESIDENT Joe Biden will urge reforms to the IMF and World Bank that will better serve developing country needs at the G20 summit in New Delhi next month, the White House said on Tuesday (22). White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said the two institutions need to offer…
THE space race India aims to win this week by landing first on the moon’s south pole is about science, the politics of national prestige and a new frontier: money. If India’s Chandrayaan-3 succeeds in landing on the lunar south pole on Wednesday (23), analysts and executives expect an immediate…
US PRESIDENT Joe Biden will urge reforms to the IMF and World Bank that will better serve developing country needs at the G20 summit in New Delhi next month, the White House said on Tuesday (22). White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said the two institutions need to offer…
The space race India aims to win this week by landing first on the moon's south pole is about science, the politics of national prestige and a new frontier: money. If India's Chandrayaan-3 succeeds in landing on the lunar south pole on Wednesday (23), analysts and executives expect an immediate…
Colombo announced on Tuesday (22), that China has sought approval for a research ship to anchor in Sri Lanka. This request comes after the visit of a spacecraft-tracking vessel last year, which had raised security apprehensions from India. Sri Lankan foreign ministry spokeswoman Priyanga Wickramasinghe said Beijing had sought permission…
Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan on Monday said like any other Indian, she too is waiting "with bated breath" for the Chandrayaan 3 to land on the moon's surface and she plans to watch the event with her children. The actress, who was in New Delhi to promote a brand, spoke…
SWAMI Brahmaviharidas of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha briefed Indian prime minister Narednra Modi about major activities organised by the spiritual organisation across the world. During their 30-minute meeting in New Delhi, he updated Modi on the ongoing 'Festival of Inspirations' at the Sanstha’s Akshardham temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey. He…
INDIA will impose with immediate effect a 40 per cent export duty on onions up to December 31 in an attempt to improve domestic availability of the vegetable, the ministry of finance said in a notification on Saturday (19). The duty imposed by the world's biggest exporter of onions will…
Soaring vegetable prices after a bad harvest have prompted Burger King's Indian outlets to take tomatoes off their menu items, following in the footsteps of other fast food giants. "Even tomatoes need a vacation!" read a notice at an outlet in the capital New Delhi on Thursday. "Due to unpredictable…
Vistara announced on Wednesday (16), that a child who was a passenger on a flight from New Delhi to Frankfurt experienced injuries as a result of a hot beverage spillage last week. The airline has committed to covering all medical expenses related to the incident. The occurrence took place on…
ATHLETES flex muscled biceps before going hand-to-hand in a newly televised arm-wrestling league seeking to take the sporting spotlight in cricket-mad India with a glitzy Bollywood-style makeover. Contestants fight under bright studio lights with a cheering audience as opponents push down the other person’s arm in the Pro Panja League…
WHEN Dil Se was released in cinemas on August 21 1998, it surprisingly didn’t do well at the box office in India and received negative reviews. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the romantic thriller became a big hit internationally and the first Bollywood film to officially crack…
Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami has said, the Group of 20 (G20) stands as the foremost platform globally for fostering inclusive growth. He remarked that India's current presidency of the G20 has played a pivotal role in amplifying the perspectives of the Global South, contributing to the…
INDIA’S High Commissioner to the UK has expressed optimism that officials of the two countries will be “able to get something working” in their Free Trade Agreement negotiations. Vikram Doraiswami said both countries seem keen to make adjustments, recognising the complexities involved with the different structures of the two similar-sized…
THE billionaire owners of B&M are believed to be in the running to buy collapsed retail chain Wilko, which announced last week it was closing its doors, putting 400 stores and 12,500 jobs at risk. B&M, which is owned by brothers Simon, Bobby and Robin Arora, has been told by…
SECURITY was intensified outside the Indian Embassy in Washington on Tuesday (15) in view of the protests by pro-Khalistan groups on the occasion of India’s Independence Day. Pro-Khalistan groups have planned to stage protests outside the Indian Embassy in Washington DC where a function was held on the occasion of…
INDIAN wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who helped lead protests demanding the sport's national chief step down over sexual harassment allegations, has pulled out of next month's Asian Games with a knee injury. Phogat, who won gold in the women's 50kg freestyle in the last edition of the Asian Games, injured herself…
RISHI SUNAK has said his upcoming visit to India for a G20 summit early next month will be “special” as Britain’s first Asian prime minister returns to the homeland of his grandparents. Sunak is scheduled to travel to New Delhi in September – his first as prime minister since taking…
THERE is a "huge" progress in the talks between India and the UK on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) , a top official said in New Delhi. Commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal said the 11th round of talks in London was "very intense" and many issues were closed. Out of…
Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali will be the opening film at the G20 Film Festival, aiming to celebrate and showcase the vibrant and collaborative partnership existing amongst the G20 and invited countries in the field of cinema. Organised by the India International Centre (IIC) and G20 Secretariat of the Ministry of…
INDIAN AMERICAN economist Raj Chetty has been awarded the coveted George Ledlie Prize for wielding big data to break myths about who achieves the American Dream and the obstacles faced by others. Along with Chetty, Biologist Michael Springer, professor of systems biology at Harvard Medical School, who created a better,…
Russia is set to meet its commitment to deliver S-400 anti-aircraft systems to India within the established timeframe, a senior Russian defence export official said on Monday (14). Being the largest arms importer globally, India relies predominantly on Russian technology for traditional weaponry. However, authorities in New Delhi have expressed…
Rescuers conducted searches on Tuesday (15) for individuals who were potentially unaccounted for in the wake of floods and landslides that have resulted in the death of at least 58 in India, including nine who were killed in the tragic collapse of a well-known temple in Shimla. Days of torrential…
India’s prime minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday (15) that his government was working to end ethnic clashes in the country's remote northeast that have killed more than 150 people since May. The federal government has deployed security forces to the hilly state bordering Myanmar governed by Modi's Bharatiya Janata…
Toronto International Film Festival, which is less than a month away, boasts of an incredible line-up of films from India. Let’s take a look at which Indian films have made it to the prestigious film festival, which runs between September 7 and 17 in Toronto. Thank You For Coming Fronted…
A Chinese Navy warship with surveillance capabilities has recently arrived at the Colombo port, marking its presence almost a year after a different spy vessel caused concerns in India by berthing at a strategic port in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Navy reported that the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy…
SECURITY minister Tom Tugendhat has announced a new funding of £95,000 to enhance Britain's capability to tackle "pro-Khalistan extremism". The announcement, coinciding with Tugendhat's visit to India, comes amid growing concerns in India over increasing activities of pro-Khalistani elements in the UK. Tugendhat is in India to bolster bilateral cooperation…
THE marquee World Cup match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan will now be played on October 14, one day before the original slot, the ICC confirmed as the world governing body announced rescheduling nine games of the tournament. As per the latest update, Pakistan and England will have three of…
IN TERMS of ability, influence, magic moments, and stunning screen presence, Vyjayanthimala is regarded as the greatest Bollywood dancer of all time. The magnificent movie icon entertained different generations, influenced lead stars who followed in her fabulous footsteps and changed dance forever in India. Born in 1936, she turns a…
INDIA will remain an “active and willing partner” to find a “lasting” solution to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the country’s national security advisor said, after attending a peace conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last Sunday (6). Ajit Doval told delegates the responsibility to end the war was in the hands…
RICE planting in India could fall by five per cent as New Delhi’s decision to ban non-basmati white rice exports will cut farm income and encourage growers to switch to other crops, a leading farmers’ group with close ties to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has claimed. The world’s biggest…
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers will travel to India to take part in the Red Fort address of prime minister Narendra Modi on the country’s Independence Day on August 15, according to an official statement. The bipartisan Congressional delegation is led by Indian-American congressman Ro Khanna and congressman Michael…
INDIA in recent months has barred domestic manufacturers of military drones from using components made in China over concerns about security vulnerabilities, according to four defence and industry officials and documents reviewed by Reuters. The measure comes amid tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours and as New Delhi pursues a military…
INDIA'S main opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was restored to parliament Monday (7) after the Supreme Court last week suspended his defamation conviction over political comments criticising prime minister Narendra Modi. Gandhi is the scion of India's premier political dynasty and his reinstatement was welcomed by other members of the Congress…
Three soldiers were killed in a clash with suspected rebels amidst the fourth anniversary of New Delhi's direct rule imposition in Indian-administered Kashmir. The confrontation occurred as an army patrol, searching for armed insurgents in the forests of Halan in the southern Kashmir valley, engaged in an exchange of fire…
LOCAL authorities in India's northern state of Haryana have begun demolishing what they term illegal houses that were allegedly used in an attack on a Hindu procession earlier this week that sparked deadly Hindu-Muslim clashes across the state. The violence erupted in the Nuh district on Monday (31) and quickly…
Bollywood actress Kajol feels that when a film like Wonder Woman is made for Indian audiences and turns out to be as successful at the box office as Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan, Indian cinema will witness pay parity. She was speaking on the sidelines of the 2023 Jagran Film Festival…
SOCIAL media platform Twitter is seeking to quash an Indian court ruling that it was not compliant with federal government orders to remove content, arguing it could embolden New Delhi to block more content and broaden the scope for censorship. Twitter in July 2022 sought to overturn government orders to…
THE Supreme Court of India on Friday (4) suspended opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a defamation case, enabling him to return to parliament and contest national elections due next year. Gandhi was convicted in March in a case brought by a lawmaker from the ruling Bharatiya Janata…
Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi on Thursday said he hopes to shoot another film in India after 2017's Beyond The Clouds because he values Indian culture and cinema. The director, known for movies such as the Oscar-nominated Children of Heaven and The Color of Paradise, said he hopes the two…
India will take part in the Ukraine peace talks to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on August 5 and 6, a spokesperson for India's foreign ministry, Arindam Bagchi, announced during a news briefing on Thursday (03). The talks have been initiated by Saudi Arabia, which extended invitations to Western…
RIOT police were patrolling urban neighbourhoods near India's capital on Wednesday (2) following a second night of sectarian riots that have killed six people so far. The unrest began Monday (31) when mobs hurled stones at a Hindu religious procession and set cars alight in the predominantly Muslim district of…
According to reports on Monday (31), Anita Sheoran, the gold-medal-winning wrestler at the Commonwealth Games and a witness in a sexual harassment case against the current head of India's wrestling federation, has submitted her candidature for the upcoming elections. Sheoran, aged 38, is the sole female candidate in the running…
India's gold demand in 2023 could fall 10 per cent from a year ago to their lowest in three years, as record high prices are dampening retail purchases, the World Gold Council (WGC) said on Tuesday (1). The lower purchases in the world's second-biggest gold consumer could limit a rally…
AT LEAST five people, including two police personnel, were killed in clashes between Hindus and Muslims in India's Haryana state, neighbouring capital New Delhi, on Monday (31), police officials said. The violence erupted when a Hindu religious procession passed through the Muslim dominated Nuh region, located around 50 kilometres away…
Organised by the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the 19th edition of India Couture Week (ICW) 2023 commenced in New Delhi on July 25, with Falguni Shane Peacock presenting the opening show and setting the tone for the glamorous event. Renowned designers like Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna, Tarun…
Actor Ranbir Kapoor on Friday won everyone’s hearts with his ramp walk on Day 4 of India Couture Week. After a long time, Ranbir hit the runway, and that too for ace designer Kunal Rawal. The Barfi star donned a deep blue-coloured bandhgala embellished jacket that he paired with black…
INDIA and Britain could sign a free trade agreement (FTA) this year as both countries have reached consensus on the broad contours of the proposed deal aiming to boost economic growth and jobs, a top trade ministry official said. "We want to finalise the deal at the earliest," Sunil Barthwal,…
INDIA has prohibited the export of non-basmati white rice with immediate effect, according to a government notice on July 20, after a late start to seasonal monsoon rains hurt the crop and raised fears of a production shortfall. Here are some facts explaining why India is crucial to the global…
INDIA is open to Chinese investment despite border clashes between the two countries, the deputy minister for information technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar told the Financial Times in a report published on Wednesday (26). "We are open to doing business with any company anywhere as long as they are investing and conducting…
FORTY years ago, mobs in Sri Lanka burned 13 people alive, part of a week-long pogrom that turbocharged simmering ethnic unrest into all-out civil war. Known in Sri Lanka as 'black July', the brutal violence triggered a 26-year conflict that killed about 100,000 people and set development back by decades,…
SRI LANKAN president Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday (26) will hold an all-party meeting to discuss the thorny issue of ethnic reconciliation of minority Tamils in the island nation. The meeting was called by the president to discuss the government’s national reconciliation programme and the way forward. The all-party move comes…
THE star of Britain's crown jewels, the Koh-i-Noor diamond, is back on view after a notable absence from King Charles's coronation that highlighted the nation's awkward ties with its colonial past. The massive stone has appeared at formal occasions for more than 150 years, but Charles's wife Camilla opted not…
A MEMORIAL, in the form of a live sundial, has been unveiled in Italy as a tribute to the Indian troops who fought in the Italian campaign during the Second World War, officials said last Saturday (22). The motto of the memorial is “Omines Sub Eodem Sole” which translates to…
The father of a married Indian woman, Anju (34), who travelled to a remote village in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to meet her Facebook friend, Nasrulla (29), has said that she is "mentally disturbed and eccentric." However, he firmly denied any involvement in an affair. He expressed concern that it…
SRI LANKA tightened security last Sunday (23) as activists lit oil lamps in Colombo commemorating the hundreds killed in 1983 anti-Tamil riots that fuelled a deadly civil war. "Let's not forget the slaughter of Tamils," read a banner carried by members of North-South Solidarity, a group of rights defenders from…
INDIA's parliament was disrupted for a second day on Friday (21) and women's groups planned protests across the country over a sexual assault case during ethnic clashes in the state of Manipur. At least 125 people have been killed and more than 40,000 have fled their homes in Manipur since…
The governments of India and Sri Lanka on Friday (21) revealed their plans to enhance economic relations through increased cooperation in renewable energy and the exploration of a potential oil pipeline and land bridge connecting the two countries. Additionally, India will provide support in developing a port and economic hub…
INDIA on Thursday (20) ordered a halt to its largest rice export category in a move that will roughly halve shipments by the world's largest exporter of the grain. New Delhi’s move triggers fears of further inflation on global food markets. The government said it was imposing a ban on…
A New Delhi court on Thursday (20) extended the bail of Brij Bhushan Singh, the chief of India's wrestling federation, who is facing allegations of sexually harassing female wrestlers, as reported by ANI. Brij Bhushan Singh, who is also a federal lawmaker from prime minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party,…
FIERCE rivals Pakistan and India will meet in Sri Lanka on September 2 for their first one-day international clash in four years, according to the Asia Cup schedule announced Wednesday (19). The six-nation tournament starts on August 30 with four matches in Pakistan and the remaining nine in Sri Lanka…
Sri Lanka's president is scheduled to arrive in India on Thursday (20) for his first visit to the country, with concerns mounting in New Delhi over China's increasing influence in the strategically placed but financially bankrupt island. New Sri Lankan leaders usually travel to India within a few weeks of…
NINE months before a general election, India’s prime minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have dusted off a potentially divisive plan to enact a common set of personal laws for all, irrespective of religion. Currently, India's Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and large tribal populations follow their own personal…
The cross-border love story between Seema Haider and Sachin Meena, aided by the PUBG mobile game, has taken a new twist as the couple has been reported as 'missing' for the past 24 hours, with no communication to their families. The Indian media extensively covered their unusual love story, which…
CHINA'S top diplomat Wang Yi told the Indian foreign minister bilateral ties need to be stabilised, as the neighbours searched for ways to ease simmering military tensions along their vast border. On the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, Wang told India’s external affairs minister, Subrahmanyam…
As the situation in Delhi deteriorates, some of the relief shelters have been inundated, compounding the misery of the evacuees. At a relief camp located in Old Delhi's Yamuna Bazar, all the tents are now submerged, compelling the residents to find alternative, drier grounds. On Thursday (13), the area had…
INDIA and a four-nation bloc of Europe have agreed on an early conclusion of negotiations for a free trade agreement, New Delhi said on Wednesday. India and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland - are negotiating the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). Indian…
INDIA on Thursday (13) said it brought up with the UK its concerns about the security of its diplomats amidst extremist elements threatening officers of Indian missions in Britain. External affairs minister S Jaishankar raised the issue with the British foreign secretary James Cleverly days after India’s national security advisor…
THE RIVER running through India's capital New Delhi has reached a record high due to monsoon floods, authorities said on Friday (14) as army engineers were deployed to try to contain the waters. The Yamuna river was flowing in an "#EXTREME FLOOD SITUATION", India's central water commission tweeted, having reached…
INDIA said it made “considerable” progress on “difficult issues” in its Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the UK this week. An official statement issued in New Delhi on Wednesday (12) said commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal’s visit to London helped in moving forward the discussions during their critical stage.…
INDIA'S defence ministry has given initial approval to purchase 26 Rafale fighter jets for its navy and three Scorpene class submarines, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday (13), ahead of prime minister Narendra Modi's arrival in France. Modi is on his way to deepen ties with New…
INDIA’S multi-billion-dollar purchases of US arms are less about shifting its reliance on Russian defence equipment and moving towards the West - it’s more about developing its own domestic weapons industry, security officials and analysts say. India is the world’s biggest arms importer, but almost all of its major weapons…
SRI LANKA is likely to discuss energy, power and port projects during a presidential visit to New Delhi next week, the foreign minister said on Monday (10), as India tries to push forward stalled initiatives with Colombo. India’s support was critical for Sri Lanka last year after it almost ran…
The guest of honour for the Bastille Day celebrations in France on Friday (14) is Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the ongoing efforts of Western powers to engage with India, the world's largest democracy and a rapidly growing economy. President Emmanuel Macron extended a warm reception to Modi, following…
INDIA'S top court on Tuesday (11) began considering a challenge to the 2019 imposition of direct rule in Kashmir, where prime minister Narendra Modi's government suspended a section of the constitution that guarantees limited autonomy to the region. The Supreme Court in New Delhi will weigh whether the move was…
TAIWAN'S Foxconn has withdrawn from a $19.5 billion (£15bn) semiconductor joint venture with Indian metals-to-oil conglomerate Vedanta, it said on Monday (10), in a setback to prime minister Narendra Modi's chipmaking plans for India. The world's largest contract electronics maker signed a pact with Vedanta last year to set up…
Days of intense monsoon rains across northern India have left at least 29 people dead, rendering many areas inaccessible with bridges smashed and roads blocked, officials said Monday. Television footage showed flash floods and landslides triggered by torrential rain, washing away vehicles, demolishing buildings and ripping down bridges in the…
A few hundred members of Canada's Sikh community demonstrated outside the Indian consulate in Toronto on Saturday (8) to protest the unsolved murder of one of their leaders last month in the Vancouver area. They accused the Indian government of being responsible for the gunning down of Hardeep Singh Nijjar,…
INDIA on Friday (7) called for strong public action against extremist elements threatening officers of the Indian High Commission in the UK, official sources said. India’s national security advisor Ajit Doval raised the issue during his talks with his British counterpart Sir Tim Barrow, who is on a visit to…
A SENIOR US diplomat will travel to India in the coming days and engage with its civil society over free speech and marginalisation of minorities. It comes after Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's recent US visit when he denied that abuse of religious minorities existed in his country. Uzra Zeya,…
INDIA's national security advisor, Ajit Doval, on Friday (7) called upon his British counterpart Sir Tim Barrow to take strong public action such as deportation against extremist elements threatening officers of Indian high commission in the UK, official sources said. Doval raised the issue during his wide-ranging talks with Barrow,…
Indian women wrestlers and their families, aghast at accusations of sexual harassment by a top sports administrator, are pressing for reforms, ranging from guardians accompanying contestants to demands for more women officials in senior ranks of the sport. A trial court admitted this month a case of sexual harassment and…
Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday (01) handed over a comprehensive list of 308 Indian prisoners, comprising 42 civilians and 266 fishermen, currently held in Pakistani jails. The list was given in accordance with the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access and this action was taken as part of the ongoing…
RUSSIAN president Vladimir Putin discussed the situation around Ukraine and how Moscow had resolved an armed mercenary mutiny in a telephone call with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday (30), the Kremlin said. It said that Modi had expressed support for what the Kremlin called the Russian leadership's decisive…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi met Goldman Sachs' key leadership on Wednesday (28) in New Delhi and highlighted India's potential and opportunities to the leading global banking and investment firm. "Had a fruitful discussion with the members of the Board and key leadership of Goldman Sachs. Highlighted India's vast potential…
CANADA'S response to the Khalistan issue appears to be constrained by its electoral considerations, India said and warned it will have to respond if the activities impinge on its national security. Khalistan refers to the demand for independent statehood for the Sikh majority areas in north-western India. External affairs minister…
THE state of border will determine the state of relationship between India and China, Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar said, amid an over three-year military standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. “The state of the border today is still abnormal,” Jaishankar said in an interactive session…
BRITAIN and India want to strike a truly “ambitious trade deal” that benefits both the nations, bringing “tremendous opportunities” for businesses and consumers, prime minister Rishi Sunak has said. At a reception on Wednesday (28) to celebrate India Global Forum's UK-India week 2023 in Downing Street, Sunak said the eyes…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi met Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo last Sunday (25) on a rare visit during which both sides pledged to deepen their strategic ties. They agreed to boost investment by India, the world’s most populous nation, in Egypt, which has the Arab world’s largest…
A WEEKEND article in the Financial Times set out to explain “How India is slowly moving into the American orbit.” The reality is that India is not moving into the American orbit nor America into India’s, but for some decades now the two countries have been drawing closer together. One…
LABOUR MP for Brent North, Barry Gardiner, collected a prestigious honour bestowed on him by the Indian government at a ceremony in London last Friday (23). Gardiner, who founded the Labour Friends of India more than two decades ago, was presented the Padma Shri, a civilian award, at India House…
A man was held in New Delhi for allegedly defecating and urinating on the floor of a Mumbai-Delhi Air India flight mid-air, police said. According to police, the incident took place onboard flight AIC 866 on June 24. Ram Singh, a passenger on seat number 17F, defecated, urinated, and spat…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak should leverage his Indian heritage for forging stronger ties between the UK and India in trade and defence, former foreign secretary Dominic Raab has said. “Britain remains uniquely placed to reap the dividends of a deeper friendship with India” with Sunak as the prime minister but…
PAKISTAN'S foreign ministry on Monday (26) summoned the US embassy's deputy chief of mission to express concern over a statement last week by US president Joe Biden and India’s prime minister Narendra Modi that called on Pakistan to ensure its territory was not used as a base for militant attacks.…
The police in India are currently investigating a suspected fraudster who managed to occupy a room at a five-star hotel in New Delhi for nearly two years without making any payments. According to local media reports on Thursday (22), Ankush Dutta allegedly bribed hotel staff members to manipulate records, allowing…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi met with US and Indian technology executives in Washington on Friday (23), the final day of a state visit where he agreed new defence and technology cooperation and addressed challenges posed by China. US president Joe Biden rolled out the red carpet for Modi on…
US president Joe Biden and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi called on Pakistan to act to ensure that its territory is not used to launch extremist attacks, the White House said in a joint statement. "They strongly condemned cross-border terrorism, the use of terrorist proxies and called on Pakistan to…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States has been marked by several key moments that will further strengthen bilateral relations and showcase India’s global influence. Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden. Modi’s…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (21) opened a state visit to Washington as the United States steps up its wooing of India. President Joe Biden is putting on the full pomp for only the third state visitor of his administration, with the billion-plus country seen as a pivotal…
OLYMPIC medallist Sakshi Malik last Saturday (18) said the wrestler, a minor who had accused outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Singh of sexual harassment had changed her statement because “her family was threatened”. Delhi police charged the country’s wrestling federation…
A Dalit student from the southern state of Tamil Nadu, India, has launched a crowdfunding initiative to support his MPhil programme in Law at Oxford University. In November 2022, Bhimraj M, a former doctoral student at the South Asian University (SAU) in New Delhi, faced disciplinary action for participating in…
NEW DELHI-born DJ JPeezy has been lighting up the London club scene with his marvellous music and masterful mixing. Real name Jagpreet Singh, the dynamic DJ has held high-profile residencies across the capital and will be playing at various events throughout the summer, including the Big Bollywood Boat Party next…
RECORD plane orders by India's top two carriers show the country's untapped potential for air travel and its rise as an aviation superpower, but recent airline failures and rows over regulations suggest progress may not be smooth. Indian budget airline IndiGo announced at the Paris Airshow on Monday (19) the…
THE UN human rights chief called on Monday (19) for greater support for his office as he seeks to expand its work by establishing a first-time presence in the world’s two most populous countries, India and China. Established after the second world war, the UN human rights office is present…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to embark on a state visit to the United States of America on Tuesday (20) upon the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The visit will last until June 24. During his visit, Modi plans to meet with…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to the United States is expected to be marked by several key moments that will further strengthen bilateral relations and showcase India's global influence. Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US president Joe Biden and first lady…
The National Investigating Agency (NIA), India's counter-terrorism agency, has taken over control of the investigation into the assaults carried out by Khalistan supporters on Indian Missions in the US and Canada in March, police sources in New Delhi said on Saturday (17). Moreover, the agency has also been assigned the…
A top official from NASA has emphasised the importance of India, a global power and one of the select nations with autonomous space capabilities, being involved in the Artemis team. The Artemis Accords, grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 (OST), serve as a set of non-binding principles that…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has collaborated with Grammy Award-winning Indian-American singer Falu for a special song to promote the benefits of millets and their potential to alleviate world hunger. The ‘Abundance in Millets' song, performed by Mumbai-born singer-songwriter Falguni Shah known more by her stage name Falu and her…
INDIA's defence ministry has approved the procurement of US-made armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones, sources said. India will buy 31 drones made by General Atomics worth slightly over $3 billion, one of the sources said. India’s defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The defence ministry's initial clearance…
A mural in India’s new parliament building has been a talking point since the inauguration of the structure last month.At the centre of the controversy is a map in the mural depicting ancient India as one geographical entity which also includes today’s Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.While the mural has caught…
UK minister Andrew Mitchell attended the G20 development ministerial meeting in Varanasi on Monday (12), when the climate and tech partnerships were announced. The new UK support includes funding for a tech start-up focusing on sustainable agriculture, including through growing vegetables in an environmentallyfriendly way. Mitchell told the gathering about…
Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Washington, the Biden administration is pushing New Delhi to cut through its own red tape and advance a deal for dozens of US-made armed drones, two people familiar with the matter said. India has long expressed interest in buying large…
AS UK minister, Andrew Mitchell, attended the G20 development ministerial meeting in Varanasi on Monday (12), new climate and tech partnerships were announced to benefit all by tackling global challenges, a statement said. Mitchell joined India and G20 partners in calling for reinvigorated efforts to meet the UN's sustainable development…
INDIA has released five videos and sought help from the general public in identifying suspects who attempted to vandalise the Indian mission in London in March this year. The nearly two-hour-long footage from CCTVs was posted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on its website and the link shared on…
THE chief executive officer of OpenAI, Sam Altman, met Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and discussed various aspects of AI including the need for global regulation. Besides India, Altman is on a six-nation tour this week, including Israel, Jordan, Qatar, the UAE, and South Korea. In a…
INDIA's foreign minister on Thursday (8) hit out at Canada for allowing a float in a parade depicting the 1984 assassination of Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards, perceived to be glorification of violence by Sikh separatists. "I think there is a larger underlying issue about the space…
INDIAN police have questioned more than 155 people in a widening investigation of sexual harassment accusations against the chief of the national wrestling body, a police source with knowledge of the matter said on Thursday (8). The government has set a June 15 deadline to wrap up the investigation after…
STARBUCKS is revamping its strategy to lure Indians, including children, with smaller, cheaper beverages as it looks to expand in small towns amid a fierce challenge from domestic startups in one of its fastest-growing markets. Among the first foreign coffee brands to enter tea-loving India, the US giant has taken…
PRESIDENT Joe Biden's top official for the Indo-Pacific region said on Tuesday (6) he hoped a visit this month by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "consecrates" the relationship with India as the most important for the US in the world. The official, Kurt Campbell, told the Hudson Institute think tank…
GERMANY's Thyssenkrupp AG is likely to bid for a project to supply six submarines for the Indian Navy, German defence minister Boris Pistorius said on Tuesday (6), during a visit to New Delhi. Earlier, Pistorius met his counterpart Rajnath Singh, at a time when the south Asian nation is looking…
THE BBC has “informally” admitted to having under-reported its income in India and paid less tax than its actual obligation, media reports said on Tuesday (6). Tax authorities had surveyed the corporation’s offices in New Delhi and Mumbai in February, weeks after the broadcaster aired a documentary on Prime Minister…
India and the United States have concluded a roadmap for defence industry cooperation for the next few years, the two countries said on Monday (5), a landmark move expected to bolster New Delhi's defence manufacturing ambitions. Washington is working to deepen ties with India and sees stronger military-to-military and technology…
Veteran theatre director-actor Aamir Raza Husain, known for his larger-than-life outdoor stage productions, died in New Delhi at the age of 66. Husain was suffering from a heart-related ailment and passed away on Saturday, his son said. "He was hospitalised for two days and had undergone heart surgery, but wasn't…
India’s sports minister has urged wrestling champions who have staged protests accusing their federation chief of sexual harassment to await the outcome of investigations into the allegations before deciding their next course of action. Minister Anurag Thakur said the national capital's police is investigating the case, following directions from the…
THE Biden administration is poised to sign off on a deal that would allow General Electric (GE) to produce jet engines powering Indian military aircraft in that country, according to three people briefed on the decision. A deal finalising the joint production of the engines is expected to be inked…
The European Union has assured New Delhi that it will hold two-way talks to tackle its concerns over tariffs proposed on imports of high carbon goods such as steel and iron ore from India, the bloc’s climate policy chief said last Friday (26). Last month, the 27-nation EU approved the…
I was born in South London, but like millions of British people, my family’s story embodies the “living bridge” that connects the UK and India. My father moved to Glasgow with only £5 to his name. He worked hard, initially on the railways, studied hard to become an accountant and…
India's top anti-terrorism investigation agency last Friday (26) again sought the death sentence for a leading Kashmiri independence figure and former rebel leader after he was given life in prison, official sources said. Muhammad Yasin Malik, 57, chief of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), pleaded guilty last year to funding…
THE ongoing wrestlers' protest in New Delhi has taken a new turn as India's star grapplers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat have declared to throw their medals in River Ganga in Haridwar on Tuesday (30) evening. The wrestlers took to Twitter and shared a post about the chain…
INDIAN police dragged away and detained on Sunday (28) two Olympic wrestlers and dozens of others as they tried to march to parliament demanding the arrest of the sport's federation chief over allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation. In an escalation of the month-old standoff, police also cleared the site…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's new parliament building on Sunday (28), a modern complex which is part of his Hindu nationalist government's grand plan to give a makeover to the British colonial-era architecture in the nation's capital. The inauguration, and the ongoing revamp of the heart of New Delhi…
Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma on Friday made her red carpet debut at the 76th Cannes Film Festival and truly made heads turn with her stunning look. She wore an off-shoulder ivory Richard Quinn Couture gown which has hand-crafted embroidery from the in-house atelier and ivory silk taffeta roses. The actor…
The European Union has assured New Delhi it will hold two-way talks to tackle its concerns over tariffs proposed on imports of high-carbon goods such as steel and iron ore from India, the bloc's climate policy chief said on Friday (26). Last month, the 27-nation EU approved the world's first…
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese revealed on Wednesday (24) that Australia will establish a new Consul-General in Bengaluru this month. This announcement follows Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's statement that India will open a consulate in Brisbane, demonstrating the efforts of both countries to strengthen their bilateral relations. After discussions…
The Group of Twenty (G20) is now “the premier forum for international economic cooperation.” The G20 comprises 19 countries and the European Union. Founded in 1999 and upgraded after the 2007-08 financial crisis, “it plays an important role in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on all major international…
India is "abusing" its presidency of the G20 by holding a tourism conference in the portion of Kashmir it controls, Pakistan's foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said. "I wish I could say I was surprised, but I think that this is a continuation in what is becoming a norm now,…
Hundreds of people rallied in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Monday (22) to protest arch rival India's decision to host a G20 tourism meeting in its part of the disputed Himalayan region, said a government official. New Delhi is hosting the key conference in Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar from Monday to Wednesday,…
Commencing on Monday (22), a G20 tourism meeting began in Indian-administered Kashmir amidst increased security measures, triggering criticism from China and Pakistan due to the disputed status of the territory. In anticipation of the G20 meeting, which marks the first diplomatic event in the region since New Delhi's revocation of…
