The High Commission of India in London hosted a group of Indian designers on Thursday who will be presenting sustainable and plant-based fashion at the upcoming London Fashion Week on September 16. The designers' collection is inspired by the LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) initiative spearheaded by the Prime Minister of India. High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami and Deputy High Commissioner Sujit Ghosh felicitated the designers and interacted with them. The clothing created from lotus, rose and banana based fabrics by the designers reflects the Indian tradition of sustainability. The fashion line promotes environmentally conscious materials like banana fiber, bamboo, recycled polyester to showcase India's rich natural fabrics and support responsible fashion.

The Michigan legislature has passed bills introduced by Indian American state representative Ranjeev Puri to designate Diwali and Vaisakhi as official state holidays. Diwali is a major Hindu festival and Vaisakhi is a Sikh harvest celebration. The bills are part of a package recognizing the cultural diversity of Michigan by establishing holidays honoring various religious and cultural observances. Other new state holidays include Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Lunar New Year, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur. By designating these diverse celebrations as holidays, Michigan aims to create a more inclusive environment welcoming people of all backgrounds.

An Indian national, Gurpreet Singh (25), pleaded not guilty to all charges against him for the stabbing of two men during Indian Independence Day celebrations in Southall, London last month. Appearing via video link at Isleworth Crown Court, Singh was charged with two counts of wounding with intent, one count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to a female police officer, one count of affray, and three counts of possessing bladed articles. The charges relate to the attack on August 15 in which two men, Ashish Sharma and Nanak Singh, were stabbed. Singh spoke through a Punjabi interpreter to confirm his name and enter not guilty pleas. His trial is scheduled to begin on January 29, 2024. Until then, Singh has been remanded in custody at Wormwood Scrubs prison.

Speaking at an event in Washington DC, Secretary of State Antony Blinken lauded the growing India-US partnership, terming it more dynamic than ever. He highlighted deepening defense cooperation and recent US investments in India's semiconductor industry. Blinken also praised the strengthened Quad alliance between India, US, Japan and Australia to counter China's assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. He reiterated joint projects announced by President Biden and PM Modi to boost clean energy, digital connectivity and critical supply chains across Asia, Middle East and Europe. Blinken emphasized that by any metric, the US and its allies including India are more aligned and acting in coordinated fashion than before to uphold a rules-based international order.

Four Indian nationals repatriated from Libya recounted their harrowing ordeal after being engaged in laborer work and later sold to the mafia. Manpreet Singh expressed gratitude towards the Indian Embassy and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for the dramatic rescue. The victims revealed they had arrived in Libya for construction work in January but were forcibly sold to a ruthless mafia after 2 months. Despite enduring extreme suffering and punishments under the mafia, the survivors praised the Indian government's heroic efforts in safely bringing them back home. Fellow victim Pravesh Kumar also lauded the daring rescue mission undertaken by the Embassy and MEA to liberate them from mafia exploitation in Libya.

Sanjib Sahoo, chief digital officer of Ingram Micro, was honored with the prestigious Bharat Samman Award at the 34th annual NRI Pravasi Divas in London. The award recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions of People of Indian Origin. Sahoo was presented the award by Lord Colgrain at the House of Lords, in the presence of other leaders. Sahoo has been instrumental in conceptualizing and driving Ingram Micro's digital transformation. His leadership in digital platforms and innovation has earned him numerous honors previously. Reflecting on the achievement, a humbled Sahoo thanked the organizers for the recognition. The Bharat Samman Award celebrates exemplary service and success stories of global Indian diaspora.

Four Indians from Punjab and Haryana stranded in Libya due to devastating floods were evacuated by the Indian Embassy in Tripoli. The massive flooding has killed over 6000 people and displaced thousands more in Libya. The four Indians were seen off at the Benina Airport by the embassy's local representative. Mortuaries are overflowing and around 10,000 people are still missing, either swept to sea or buried under debris. The city of Derna has been severely impacted with extensive damage to infrastructure. Rescue efforts are being hampered by blocked roads and disrupted communications. Officials are racing to find survivors and retrieve bodies for burial before the Islamic 3-day deadline.

Northeastern University issued a statement remembering Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula, who was killed by a speeding police car in January. The recent release of bodycam footage showing an officer laughing about her death has reopened wounds. The university said "all on our Seattle campus, loved her bubbly laugh, sense of humor and infectious personality." Northeastern said the Indian student community has been especially impacted by the tragedy. Northeastern plans to award Kandula her degree posthumously.

Northeastern University in Seattle will posthumously award a master's degree to Jaahnavi Kandula, the 23-year-old Indian student killed by a speeding police car in January. University chancellor Kenneth Henderson announced the decision, saying Kandula's loss will be deeply felt. She was set to graduate in December. The incident regained attention after bodycam video surfaced of an officer making insensitive remarks about her death. Kandula was struck while crossing the road legally by an officer driving 74 mph in a 25 zone. The remarks sparked outrage and allegations of police brutality. Many are demanding accountability and justice for Kandula.

Over 200 people protested in Seattle at the intersection where Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula was killed by a police car in January, demanding accountability. This follows release of bodycam footage showing officer Daniel Auderer, who hit Kandula, joking afterward with a police union leader. Auderer made abhorrent comments including that Kandula "had limited value" and suggesting a small payout. His remarks have drawn widespread condemnations in Seattle. Protesters described them as disgusting and called for action against Auderer and the union leader over the insensitive crash discussion. Kandula's death has sparked outrage especially among the Indian community over road safety and insensitive police attitudes. The rally demanded justice for the 23-year-old student fatally struck by Auderer's vehicle.