Police in England probing the murder of Indian-origin delivery driver Aurman in Shrewsbury have charged a fifth man of Indian descent, Sukhmandeep Singh. The 23-year-old was arrested in Peterborough and charged with the murder. Earlier, four Indian-origin men– Arshdeep Singh, 24, Jagdeep Singh, 22, Shivdeep Singh, 26, and Manjot Singh, 24 were charged over the fatal attack. Police said the killing was not a robbery gone wrong as the suspects and victim knew each other. The victim Aurman's family issued a statement saying no words could explain the tragedy's impact.

The annual Shobha Yatra procession for Krishna Janmashtami, organised by Shri Ram Mandir took place in Southall on Sunday. The procession was led by a chariot and folk dancers. High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami visited the Ram Mandir during the event and observed the festivities. He interacted with organisers and participants of the procession celebrating Lord Krishna's birth. In a speech, the High Commissioner shared an inspiring message on unity, saying "The notion that we may have journeys that start in different places but the journey is one, is common to all our religions." MP Virendra Sharma also attended the event, highlighting its role in bringing together the community. The Shobha Yatra was organised to spread harmony on Krishna's appearance day.

India made its mark at the recent Embassy Festival held in The Hague, Netherlands. India's stall proved hugely popular, drawing large crowds eager to appreciate and experience Indian handicrafts, fabrics, food, millets and Ayurvedic products on display. The Mayor of The Hague, Jan van Zanen, also visited the India stall. Energetic Garba dancers in colorful costumes lit up the Creative Arena stage, transporting the audience to the land of Gujarat. With vibrant cultural showcases and diverse offerings, India emerged as one of the most sought-after country participants at the global Embassy Festival.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is highly likely to miss the G20 summit being held in Delhi next week. Instead, Premier Li Qiang will represent China at the gathering of leaders from the world's major economies. This follows Russian President Vladimir Putin informing India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he will not attend in person due to needing to concentrate on Russia's military operation in Ukraine. Xi Jinping's expected absence means the leaders of two major G20 nations will not participate in discussions on pressing global issues.

US President Joe Biden will travel to India on September 7th ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit. He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bilateral talks on September 8th before attending the G20 Summit on September 9th-10th. The White House announced that Biden will commend Modi's G20 leadership and reaffirm US commitment to the G20. Key G20 agenda items include tackling climate change, mitigating economic impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war, and increasing multilateral development banks' capacity to alleviate poverty. Biden will also confirm the US will host the G20 summit in 2026. The India visit underscores strengthening US-India ties.

Renowned oncologist Dr Ravi Kannan from Chennai has been awarded the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award 2023 for his contribution to cancer care in India's Northeast. Dr Kannan, director of Assam's Cachar Cancer Hospital, has been named the 'Hero For Holistic Healthcare'. He transformed the hospital into a multifaceted cancer care institution since taking over in 2007. The Magsaysay Award recognised Dr Kannan's devotion to public service, compassion and pro-poor health care in expanding affordable cancer treatment in Assam. Under his leadership, the hospital grew from 23 to 451 staff. Dr Kannan, originally from Chennai, set "a shining example" in cancer care for millions in Assam.

India's High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, rebutted criticism that India's space program is a waste of money better spent on poverty in an article in The Telegraph. Doraiswami said India's recent Chandrayaan-3 moon mission cost far less than a Hollywood blockbuster. He outlined how the space program provides developmental services to farmers, fishermen, water agencies, and in designing infrastructure. Doraiswami stated India's poverty alleviation efforts have lifted over 450 million people out of poverty since 2006, even as the space program earned revenue and savings. He argued India can have both - a successful space program and poverty reduction, citing data on the sharp falls in deprivation rates across all sectors.

The US state of Georgia has officially proclaimed October as 'Hindu Heritage Month' to celebrate the Hindu-American community's contributions. Governor Brian Kemp issued a proclamation stating the month will focus on Hindu culture and traditions rooted in India. Earlier this year, Georgia became the first US state to pass a resolution against anti-Hindu discrimination. The resolution acknowledged Hindu contributions like yoga, ayurveda, meditation, cuisine and arts, which have enriched American society. In August, Governor Kemp signed the proclamation declaring October as Hindu Heritage Month in the state.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has appointed Indian-origin MP Claire Coutinho as Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero, in a major cabinet promotion. The East Surrey MP, first elected in 2019, will replace Grant Shapps in steering the UK's response to climate change. This includes ensuring the country meets its 2050 net zero emissions target. At 39, Coutinho becomes the youngest cabinet member, marking her as a rising star in the Conservative Party. Despite competing views within the Tories on environmental policy, Sunak's confidence in selecting Coutinho for the challenging role underscores her growing political clout. (Image courtesy: @10DowningStreet on X)

A parliamentary delegation from Maharashtra, India led by the Speaker and Deputy Chairperson of the State Legislature, met with British High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami on Thursday. The objective was to discuss potential cooperation between Maharashtra and the United Kingdom across sectors of mutual interest. The delegation of Members of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council aimed to explore collaborative opportunities with the UK in areas like trade, technology, education and culture. Both sides expressed interest in strengthening ties between Maharashtra, one of India's most prosperous states, and Britain through strategic partnerships going forward.