As Pakistan's hapless millions prepare for another flood surge, the government is debating whether to send flood relief to Pakistan and what form it should take. Considering India is invariably one of the first to rush emergency aid and relief to countries in the neighbourhood, its hesitation in this instance is baffling to say the least.

India’s summer of dance diplomacy across China ended on Sunday with the last in a series of Bollywood dance shows. Bollywood can be the biggest cultural icebreaker for India in China, but the industry’s top stars and dance groups...were not part of the ongoing India festival to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties with China.

India's Home Ministry threatened Thursday to block BlackBerry corporate e-mail and messaging services unless the device's manufacturer, Research In Motion Ltd., makes them accessible to its security agencies by Aug. 31.

That’s why India is the world’s first “soft superpower”. It can barely do wrong for doing right, and if it does we don’t really want to know. As David Cameron made perfectly clear during his recent visit, we’re interested in India as the world’s second fastest-growing economy and by its contribution to the war on terrorism, but not how it treats its own people.

Film lovers in the capital can next week look forward to four days of serious and quality cinema from across Asia thanks to “Imaging Asia”, a festival that will also showcase folk performances and art.

New Delhi continues to voice support for Iran’s right to civil nuclear energy, and officials publicly say they do not think sanctions are the best way to persuade Iran to give up its clandestine nuclear-weapons program. Instead, New Delhi has urged negotiations between the West and Tehran.

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard is in Bangalore and Delhi from next Tuesday training the senior men’s national team and carrying out basketball clinics as part of the Mahindra NBA Challenge, a basketball league started up this summer to get young people interested in the game.

In countries as far flung as Germany, South Africa, Malaysia and Russia, Indian classical dances - Kuchipudi, Bharatnatyam and Mohiniattam - are not only making an impression but also getting a new, bold twist, thanks to foreigners passionate about these dances.