Barefoot College, located in the rural state of Rajasthan, India, offers technical skills training to illiterate and low-status villagers, particularly women and Dalits, so that they can earn a living and bring reliable electricity to their communities. Founded by activist Bunker Roy in 1972, the college also runs literacy classes, health campaigns, and water resource programs, among others. Barefoot College’s success in empowering marginalized people has led to international and local funding, with the Indian government bringing in women from Africa and other regions to study solar engineering at the college.

Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha has responded to the controversy surrounding his upcoming film “Bheed,” which chronicles the plight of migrants during the Covid-induced lockdown of 2020. The film’s teaser drew parallels with the horrors of Partition, juxtaposing grim visuals of 1947 with heartbreaking images of the 2020 lockdown. However, the teaser drew criticism from some Twitter users, who dubbed the film “anti-India.” Producer and presenter Bhushan Kumar reportedly distanced himself from the project, and even the film’s trailer was edited to remove a voiceover by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In response, Sinha said he is focused on the story of “Bheed” and that every film goes through challenges. He added that he is used to being labeled “anti-national” after having directed other socio-political dramas. “Bheed” is set to release on March 24 and stars Rajkummar Rao, Bhumi Pednekar, Dia Mirza, Pankaj Kapur, Ashutosh Rana, Kritika Kamra, and Kumud Mishra.

On March 22, 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir V. Putin announced an enduring economic partnership that aims to bring more Russian energy to China and more Chinese companies to Russia. The partnership comes at a time of war in Ukraine, and the economic pledges are intended to protect both countries from Western sanctions and other consequences of the conflict. China and Russia have grown closer economically in recent years, with China using its significant reserves to purchase Russian assets and the two countries collaborating on large infrastructure projects and scientific and technological development. The partnership has geopolitical implications, with the two countries circling their wagons against potential punitive measures from the United States and Europe. This growing alliance also has ramifications for Japan, which has taken a clear stance on the war in Ukraine and aligned itself with NATO members.