The inaugural Festival of Indian Cinema in Seattle began with a grand opening, honouring India's rich cinematic tradition and cultural diversity. The inaugural event featured a short documentary about the just finished Mahakumbh, as well as parts from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's podcast with Lex Fridman. The podcast focused on India's founding ideals and its central message of unity in diversity. The three-day event, organised by the Consulate General of India in Seattle in partnership with the Museum of Pop Culture, kicked off on Friday with a special proclamation. In honour of Indian
Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, chief of the US Indo-Pacific Command, just returned from a critical visit to India, where he sought to strengthen military ties and renew a fundamental defence framework between the two countries. From March 16 to 19, Paparo conducted four high-level meetings with Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. The discussions focused on strengthening the US-India strategic alliance and expanding future defence collaboration. Paparo's v
Thailand has successfully retained its status as the world's greatest orchid exporter, with shipments totalling 5.43 billion THB (160 million USD) during the last two years. This milestone was confirmed by the Thai Commerce Ministry's Department of Business Development (DBD), which highlighted the sustained global demand for Thai orchids. Thailand's decorative plant exports increased to 9.32 billion THB between 2023 and 2024, with orchids accounting for more than half of the total. This strengthens the country's position as a major player in the worldwide floral trade. Key markets for Thai
After a lengthy nine-month stay in the International Space Station, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams have returned to Earth. Originally slated for only eight days, their mission was extended due to technical concerns with Boeing's Starliner spaceship, which was deemed unsafe for their return. Their return flight took 17 hours inside a SpaceX spacecraft, which underwent a fiery re-entry before safely splashing down off the Florida coast. A recovery team lifted the capsule from the ocean, and the astronauts returned smiling alongside crew members Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gor
The UAE business jets market was valued at $44.96 million in 2023 and is expected to reach $76.36 million by 2031. The market is estimated to increase at a 6.85% CAGR between 2024 and 2031. According to DataM Intelligence, this market expansion is being driven by rising demand for private air travel among business executives, government officials, and high-net-worth individuals. The increased demand for luxury, flexibility, and faster travel options has fuelled the growth of the business aviation industry. Companies are launching strategic initiatives to improve operational efficiency, sus
Jammu & Kashmir's famed Chinar trees, known for their majesty and cultural significance, now have distinct digital identities. In an innovative conservation initiative, the J&K Forest Department, in conjunction with the J&K Forest Research Institute (JKFI), has allocated Tree Aadhaar numbers to hundreds of these ancient trees. Each tree has a digital plate inscribed with a QR code, which, when scanned, provides detailed information. The effort, which will be started in 2021, intends to monitor and protect China's declining population carefully. According to official data, 28,56
The National Competitiveness Enhancement Commission of Thailand has approved China's Sunwoda Electronic's investment of more than $1 billion in the production of electric vehicle (EV) battery cells and energy storage systems. The move is intended to greatly enhance Thailand's electric vehicle supply chain and speed the country's transition to sustainable transportation. Sunwoda Automotive Energy Technology (Thailand) will locate its cutting-edge production facility in the Eastern Economic Corridor. The first phase will involve the development of a lithium-ion battery facility in Chonburi P
Madhav National Park, in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district, has been formally recognised as India's 58th Tiger Reserve. This milestone highlights India's continuous commitment to wildlife conservation and tiger habitat expansion. The park covers 354.6 square kilometres and has a diversified environment of forests, grasslands, and lakes, making it a perfect habitat for tigers and other species. Historically, Madhav National Park was a hunting field for Mughal emperors and Gwalior Maharajas. Akbar captured elephants here, and the Scindia dynasty used the area extensively for hunting expedit
Bhutan is taking a significant step towards increasing its global connections by establishing a direct airline route to Dubai. This initiative, led by Drukair, the national carrier, is intended to offer up new opportunities for tourism, business, and cultural exchange. The decision reflects Bhutan's efforts to portray itself as a more accessible and appealing destination for international visitors. Recognising the importance of affordability in increasing tourism, Bhutan's government has implemented an airfare subsidy for the Dubai route. This effort attempts to make travel more affordable
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Mauritius on March 11 and 12 as the special guest for the country's National Day celebrations. The annual March 12 celebration commemorates Mauritius' independence from British sovereignty in 1968. Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, confirmed the visit, noting that an Indian Defence Forces detachment and an Indian Navy ship would attend the ceremonies. This is PM Modi's first visit to Mauritius in over a decade, having last been there in 2015. During his visit, he will meet with Mauritius' President and Prime Min