international

The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games began with the 'Parade of the Nations' in Paris with athletes from 205 countries sailing down the iconic Seine river on boats, marking a dreamy break from tradition despite rain threatening to play spoilsport.

With Obama's endorsement, Harris, who is of Indian and African origin, has secured support from all major Democrats and party leaders in Congress, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

For the first time, the elections for the chancellor will be held online compared to the traditional process in which the graduates are required to attend the process in full academic dress. The prestigious chancellorship goes to graduates of the university, usually politicians, a UK-based newspaper said.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Vientiane, Laos, on Friday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. A photo shared by the Russian Embassy in India captured the moment as both ministers greeted each other with smiles and handshakes.

In a dramatic turn of events, France's high-speed TGV rail network was struck by a series of "malicious acts," including arson attacks, just hours before the grand opening of the Paris Olympics 2024. These coordinated acts of sabotage aimed to disrupt travel across some of the country’s busiest rail lines, casting a shadow over the highly anticipated Games.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasised on Friday that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remains central to India’s ‘Act East’ policy and Indo-Pacific vision. Speaking at the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Jaishankar underscored the deepening partnership between India and ASEAN, noting its expanding dimensions each year.

On Friday, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that India has officially taken over as the Chair of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC). This leadership role follows the end of China's tenure. The transition highlights India's growing influence in the field of disaster management and its commitment to enhancing regional and global disaster risk reduction efforts.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval recently attended the 4th Annual Meeting of BIMSTEC Security Chiefs in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, leading the Indian delegation. His participation highlighted India's commitment to enhancing regional security cooperation. Doval's national statement underscored the importance of strengthening efforts against terrorism, drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and organised crime.

The White House condemned the escalating sexist and racist assaults on Vice President Kamala Harris and termed it as "appalling," particularly following her selection as the Democratic party's presumptive presidential nominee.

Despite no fixed date yet, Biden's engagement with the QUAD countries—Australia, Japan, India, and the US—remains a priority.

Trump, 78, launched a scathing attack on Harris while addressing election rally on Wednesday, the first time after Harris became the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party.

Williams' Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was launched on June 5 as part of NASA's crew test flight, has encountered several obstacles, delaying its safe return.