NASA has announced that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June, will remain in space at least until late March 2025. Originally, they were meant to spend just eight days aboard the ISS, but due to issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft's propulsion system, their mission was altered. After Starliner faced difficulties, NASA decided to send the astronauts back with the Crew-9 mission, which arrived in S

India and China’s Special Representatives for the border mechanism, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, met in Beijing on Wednesday to discuss a wide range of issues, including peace management along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the restoration of bilateral ties. These ties had been severely impacted by the military standoff in eastern Ladakh, which began in May 2020, following a deadly clash in Galwan Valley. The meeting, marking the 23r

India’s focus has largely been on strengthening its ties in the east, particularly under the Act East policy. While the global attention often centers on the Middle East and Europe, India has quietly turned its focus to the Korean Peninsula, particularly North Korea. This effort has been marked by caution, with diplomatic relations being conducted discreetly and behind the scenes. In July 2021, India temporarily closed its embassy in Pyongyang due to COVID-19, and the entire staff was r

Aarit Kapil, a nine-year-old chess prodigy from Delhi, has made history by becoming the youngest Indian to defeat a chess Grandmaster. In the penultimate round of the KIIT International Open tournament in Bhubaneswar, Aarit triumphed over Raset Ziatdinov, a 66-year-old Grandmaster from the United States. At just 9 years, 2 months, and 18 days old, Aarit is now the third youngest player globally to beat a Grandmaster under classical time control. The game, which lasted 63 moves, saw

India's Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, made a day-long visit to Dhaka on Monday for crucial talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammad Jashim Uddin. The visit comes amid deteriorating relations between India and Bangladesh, following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August due to a massive uprising. Mr. Misri arrived in Dhaka on an Indian Air Force jet, marking the first high-level visit from New Delhi since the political upheaval in Bangladesh. He was receiv

In a significant statement made in the Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted the need for peace and tranquility in the border areas as a prerequisite for improving bilateral ties with China. He emphasized that both nations will engage in discussions on de-escalation and managing activities in these areas in the near future. Jaishankar shared that disengagement has been fully completed in eastern Ladakh, particularly in the regions of Depsang and Demchok. J

On Monday, the Biden administration informed Congress about its decision to approve the sale of MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters and related equipment to India, valued at approximately $1.17 billion. This move is aimed at boosting India’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities, enabling the country to better deter current and future security threats. The sale includes advanced systems such as Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS-JTRS), infrared

Bangladesh summoned India's High Commissioner to Dhaka after the closure of its visa and consular services in Tripura, India, due to a security incident involving a protest in Agartala. The protest, which occurred against the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, led to about 50 people entering the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission's premises. The Bangladeshi government expressed concerns over the lack of local police action to contain the situation, which left mission staff fe

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, providing an update on the current state of India-China relations, which have seen improvement following the tensions that arose from the 2020 military clash in eastern Ladakh. The clash, which resulted in fatalities on both sides, marked a significant deterioration in the two countries' ties, making the situation "abnormal" until recent diplomatic efforts led to progress. Jaishankar explained

The President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge Tomoko Akane, strongly criticized both the U.S. and Russia for interfering with the court's investigations, accusing them of threatening the institution with economic sanctions and issuing arrest warrants for key officials. The remarks were made following the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others in connection to crimes in Gaza, which prompted backlash

China has issued a strong warning against escalating trade tensions with the United States after President-elect Donald Trump vowed to impose significant tariffs on goods from China and other countries. Trump’s proposed tariffs are a response to concerns over illegal drug trade and immigration, with a particular focus on China's role in the fentanyl smuggling issue. Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the United States, reiterated that China views US-China

India has made a formal request to Canada for the extradition of Arshdeep Dalla, a key figure in the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), a banned terror group. Dalla is accused of being involved in over 50 criminal cases including murder, terror financing, and extortion. The Indian government considers him a "proclaimed offender" and linked him to the terrorist acts of Hardeep Nijjar, a prominent Khalistani activist killed in June 2023. His arrest in Canada follows a gunfight in which he w

In a recent interview with Sky News Australia during his visit, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar responded sharply to a question from Australian journalist Sharri Markson, who asked if India recognizes Australia's "angst" over its relationship w

For astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the beauty of sunrise and sunset is not a once-a-day event; instead, they experience this breathtaking spectacle up to 16 times in a single Earth day. NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, currently on the ISS, knows this phenomenon well. During a 2013 event at the University of Gujarat, she reflected on her unique experience of witnessing 16 sunrises and sunsets while orbiting the Earth in a fast-moving shuttle. Due to delays i

The recent decision by Pierre Poilievre, leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, to cancel the Diwali celebrations scheduled for Parliament Hill has ignited significant backlash from the Indian community. This cancellation comes against the backdrop of heightened diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, particularly following allegations that Indian diplomats were involved in targeting pro-Khalistani activists. Community Reaction: Shiv Bhasker, president of Ove

In a positive development for India-China relations, both nations have completed the disengagement process in the Depsang and Demchok regions of Eastern Ladakh, with patrolling expected to commence soon. Army sources confirmed that the verification process is ongoing and that ground commanders will finalize the patrolling modalities. To celebrate Diwali, Indian troops are set to exchange sweets with their Chinese counterparts on Thursday. Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, exp

During the Seventh Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the significance of the strategic partnership between India and Germany, describing it as a vital anchor in a world beset by tensions and uncertainty. PM Modi emphasized that the relationship between the two nations is transformational, rooted in shared democratic values, rather than merely transactional. As the world navigates complex challenges, pa

During a compelling interview at the  World Summit, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar shed light on the deteriorating diplomatic relations between India and Canada, which have faced significant strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations regarding India's involvement in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Jaishankar criticized what he termed "double standards" in diplomatic treatment, noting that while Canadian diplomat

India has strongly rejected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claims that there was a substantive discussion regarding the "safety of Canadians" during his brief encounter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the ASEAN Summit in Laos. According to government sources, the two leaders only exchanged greetings and did not engage in any meaningful dialogue. In light of ongoing concerns regarding Khalistani activities in Canada, Indian foreign ministry sources reiter

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's state visit to India represents a pivotal moment in the relationship between the two nations, particularly following recent diplomatic tensions caused by derogatory remarks made by Maldivian ministers about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During his visit, President Muizzu proposed a Rs 3,000 crore currency swap deal aimed at bolstering the Maldives' foreign exchange reserves amid ongoing economic challenges. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri b