UK-based academic Nandini Das and US-based Kris Manjapra are among the authors shortlisted for the 2023 British Academy Global Cultural Understanding Book Prize. Das is nominated for 'Courting India', examining England's first 17th-century diplomatic mission to India. The India-born author studied at Kolkata's Jadavpur University before moving to England. Her work offers insights into historical power dynamics. Meanwhile, Carribean-born Manjapra's book 'Black Ghost of Empire' analyses slavery's demise and failed emancipation. The £25,000 prize celebrates works furthering cross-cultural discourse. 

Senior Indian diplomat Gopal Baglay was appointed the next High Commissioner to Australia. Baglay, currently serving as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, will succeed Manpreet Vohra. A 1992-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Baglay has held various positions in the Ministry of External Affairs including spokesperson and joint secretary handling Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran affairs. He also served as joint secretary in the Prime Minister's Office before taking over the Colombo assignment in May 2020. The 1966-born Baglay holds a Masters in chemistry and speaks several languages including Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit, Ukrainian, and Russian. [Image: ANI]

The NIA has identified 15 people involved in the violence at the Indian High Commission in London during protests in March. After releasing photos of 45 suspects earlier, the agency will now prepare to issue Look Out Circulars against the identified 15. This is part of the NIA's probe into the attack on India's mission. In related news, 4 Khalistan supporters who targeted the San Francisco consulate in July have also been identified. An NIA team will visit Canada next month to investigate the Khalistani attack on the High Commission there. Getting the UK to act against identified suspects will be challenging due to lack of laws like India's UAPA.

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' initiative that promotes domestic manufacturing. At the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin said Russia could learn from partners like India on encouraging local production. He remarked that PM Modi was doing the right thing by urging people to use India-made products. Putin highlighted that India is focused on boosting cars and vessels manufactured domestically. He said Russia should also prioritize domestic industries. The 'Make in India' campaign has been a cornerstone of Modi's agenda since 2014.

A Seattle police officer is under investigation after bodycam footage showed him joking about an Indian student, Jaahnavi Kandula, who was killed by a patrol car driven by a fellow officer. In the video, officer Daniel Auderer is heard laughing and saying the 23-year-old had "limited value" and that a small settlement cheque could be written. The remarks sparked outrage as insensitive and discriminatory. Kandula was hit by officer Kevin Dave's vehicle traveling 74mph in a 25mph zone while responding to another call. The Seattle Police Department released the video for transparency and an investigation is underway by the Office of Police Accountability. (Video courtesy: Daily Mail)

The Hinduja Group has breathed new life into Britain's iconic Old War Office, the World War II site of Winston Churchill's leadership, by renovating it into a luxury Raffles hotel. The Indian conglomerate acquired the landmark London building 8 years ago and has undertaken extensive renovation alongside Accor for this multi-million-pound transformation. With restored interiors and heritage suites occupying former offices of influential leaders, the Grade II listed building will now be publicly accessible as a hotel when it opens on September 29, 2023. The sensitive restoration by the Hinduja Group preserves the grandeur of this heritage building while creating an unparalleled luxury experience in the heart of London.

Broward County in Florida has declared November as 'Hindu Heritage Month' and also recognized Hinduism as one of the world's largest and oldest religions. The County acknowledged the contributions of Hinduism in areas like yoga, ayurveda, meditation, arts, music, and more. It noted that Hindu Americans have made major contributions in sectors like IT, medicine, hospitality, academia, and more. The resolution highlighted how Hindu philosophy of Vedanta has inspired American leaders like President John Adams, Martin Luther King Jr., Henry David Thoreau, and others. It mentioned that over 50,000 people in Broward County observe Diwali every year. The County aims to recognize the Hindu community's cultural impact and contributions through this special heritage month.

Influential Indian-Americans were named to TIME Magazine's 100 most important people in artificial intelligence list, recognizing their impact across healthcare, education, ethics and more. Those featured include 17-year-old Sneha Revanur, who advocates for ethical AI use, healthcare startup founder Neal Khosla, recycling tech expert Tushita Gupta, analysts Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor, and billionaire philanthropists Romesh and Sunil Wadhwani. The honour highlights Indian-Americans as leaders spanning AI applications from activism to innovation. (Image courtesy: TIME.com)

More than 100 newly arrived Indian students in North Bay, Ontario faced homelessness and protested as they struggled to find affordable housing for the fall semester. Despite Canada earning over $30 billion from international education programs annually, students were left with little support, highlighting gaps for newcomers. With shared accommodations exceeding $650 per month, some resorted to commuting from cities 350km away. The crisis prompted criticism as colleges failed to ensure basic needs were met. Only after media coverage did schools take action, but many argued Canada's lucrative international education sector still does not provide adequate housing assistance, leaving students vulnerable.

An Indian-origin London police officer, Constable Mandeep Dharni, has been fired for gross misconduct after using excessive force during an arrest in north London earlier this month. The video showed Dharni employing unreasonable restraint on a man later charged with criminal damage, failing to exercise appropriate authority and courtesy. Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles said Dharni exceeded acceptable force limits considering other officers present could help detain the suspect. The incident sparked an investigation after the video was shared online. A misconduct panel concluded Dharni breached professional behaviour standards and was dismissed without notice.