Author: Cheeno Muzumdar

“Yoohoo, Archiekins!” If this catchphrase sounds familiar, you’ve probably read the long-established American comic, Archie Comics, which was also hugely popular in India. The comic is back in the news, with Netflix set to launch The Archies, a musical adapted from the comic, later this year. The coming-of-age film is based in 1960s India and explores teenage themes of love, heartbreak and rebellion through the lens of the Anglo-Indian community. The trailer has already been viewed over 800,000 times on YouTube. The news of the film has sparked a lot of conversation among fans of the comic. Some say the…

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has reiterated that there are “credible reasons” to believe that Indian agents may have been behind the murder of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil. He first made the allegation on Monday, which India has strongly rejected, calling them “absurd”. Hardeep Singh Nijjar – who India designated a terrorist in 2020 – was shot dead outside a temple in June. Tensions between the two countries have flared after the allegation. The Indian government has often reacted sharply to demands by Sikh separatists in Western countries for Khalistan, or a separate Sikh homeland. Though India designated Nijjar…

The deadly bombing of an Air India flight in 1985 is back in the news after relations between India and Canada hit a new low. Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country was investigating “credible allegations” that could link the Indian government to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia. India has denied the allegations, calling them “absurd”. Since then, several commentators in India have brought up the 1985 attack – also known as the “Kanishka bombing” because the Boeing 747 was named after the Emperor Kanishka – which also strained Delhi-Ottawa ties. What happened in…

The Maldives, best known for its pristine beaches, coral reefs and diverse marine life, is the last place you would expect a geopolitical rivalry to play out. The island nation which consists of about 1,200 coral islands and atolls in the middle of the Indian Ocean will see a run-off poll between President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and opposition candidate Mohamed Muizzu on 30 September. But also on the ballot are India and China. Both countries are trying to strengthen their presence in the strategically located islands which straddle busy east-west shipping lanes. Maldives’ two presidential contenders, who have been crisscrossing…

Rishi Sunak said he “won’t rush” into a UK trade deal with India, as he arrived in the country for a summit of G20 leaders. The UK prime minister said he would not set a deadline for negotiations, which began early last year, to conclude. Expectations have been growing an agreement could be struck before the end of the year. Mr Sunak told reporters that progress has been made, but “we’re not there yet”. India would be the biggest country yet to strike a trade agreement with the UK since it left the European Union’s trading system in 2021. Mr…

The Indian space agency Isro has shared the first images sent by the country’s solar observation mission as it makes its way towards the Sun. Aditya-L1 lifted off on Saturday and is on a journey that will take it 1.5 million km (932,000 miles) from the Earth – 1% of the Earth-Sun distance. It will take four months to reach its destination, Isro says. India’s maiden solar mission came just days after the country became the first to land near the Moon’s south pole. On Thursday morning, Isro shared two photographs taken on 4 September by a camera mounted on Aditya-L1.…

China has praised a joint declaration by G20 leaders in Delhi saying it has sent a “positive signal” to the world. The world’s biggest economies formally adopted the joint declaration at the G20 summit in India, without a single dissenting note, on Sunday. China said the statement reflected its views and showed that the G20 was working together to tackle global challenges and promote development. This is the first time that Beijing has commented on the declaration. Several other countries, including the UK and the US, have praised the joint statement, which avoids condemning Russia, a key strategic ally of…

“I saw our house falling. You can’t imagine how I felt.” Forty-five-year-old Suman’s voice trembled as she recounted the harrowing sight of her family home collapsing on the day India celebrated its Independence on 15 August. “I screamed loudly. But I couldn’t do anything,” she said, wiping tears. Shimla, a town in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh in northern India is known for its tranquillity and British colonial-era charm. Suman’s family home, built after years of effort, was among several washed away in the torrential rains and landslides that hit the state this monsoon season. “Our parents had put…

India and China have agreed to de-escalate tensions along their disputed border after a conversation between its leaders, a senior Indian official said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping spoke on the sidelines of the Brics summit in South Africa on Wednesday. Beijing said the meeting was held at Mr Modi’s request. Relations between India and China have been worsening for more than three years. The two world powers are facing off against each other along their ill-defined 3,440km (2,100-mile)-long border – known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC) – in the Himalayan region. Mr Xi and…

Berlin (21/08 – 50) A small community of bird enthusiasts in Astana have been setting ecological trends, advocating for ethical observation practices and environmental responsibility, and fostering camaraderie through shared sightings and insights. Ruslan Urazaliev, researcher and photographer, Kulyanda Tulebaeva, birdwatcher and photographer, and Vera Voronova, the executive director of the Association for Biodiversity Conservation of Kazakhstan (ASBK), shared their experiences supporting the city’s avian residents. Astana’s rough climate does not deter avian species, making it an unexpected winter haven for colorful birds like bullfinches, goldfinches, and snow buntings. As winter wanes, migratory birds stop in urban parks to recharge…