Blog

New Delhi: A leading Norwegian newspaper came under fire after publishing a cartoon depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a snake charmer. The cartoon triggered backlash, with the newspaper accused of promoting racist stereotypes and outdated Western imagery about India. What did the cartoon show? The illustration, published by Norway's leading daily newspaper Aftenposten, showed PM Modi holding a snake charmer's flute, while a fuel-station pipe was portrayed as the snake. The accompanying article carried the headline: "A clever and slightly annoying man." The cartoon was published by the newspaper amid a row over PM Modi's joint statement in Norway,…

Washington: The United States lost or damaged at least 42 aircraft, including fighter jets and drones, during Operation Epic Fury launched on February 28, targeting Iran, according to an official report. The report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) stated that the number of aircraft damaged or destroyed could still be revised due to several factors, including classification restrictions, ongoing combat operations, and challenges related to attribution. List of aircraft US lost The reported aircraft losses and damages include: Four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets One F-35A Lightning II One A-10 Thunderbolt II Seven KC-135 Stratotanker tanker aircraft One E-3…

Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held wide-ranging talks in Beijing on Wednesday (May 20), discussing bilateral ties and major global issues including Iran, the Ukraine war, and trade relations. The meeting assumed significance as it came just days after US President Donald Trump visited Beijing from May 14-15 and held extensive discussions with Chinese President  Xi on issues ranging from Iran and the Ukraine conflict to bilateral trade tensions and regional developments. Putin accorded ceremonial welcome Ahead of the talks at the Great Hall of the People, Putin was accorded a ceremonial welcome by President…

Rome: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently in Rome during the last leg of his five-nation tour, posted glimpses of his meeting with Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni. After reaching Rome, he shared a series of images on X showing their meeting over dinner and a late-evening stroll at the historic Colosseum. "Upon landing in Rome, had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Meloni over dinner followed by a visit to the iconic Colosseum. We exchanged perspectives on a wide range of subjects. Looking forward to our talks today, where we will continue the conversation on how to boost the India-Italy friendship,"…