Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin have vowed to strengthen India-Russia strategic ties, despite new US tariffs. Modi called Putin on his 73rd birthday and invited him to India for the 23rd Annual Summit in December. The leaders discussed deepening cooperation in defence, energy, and trade. This comes as US President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, criticising India’s continued trade with Russia. Modi thanked Putin for his long-standing support and reaffirmed India’s independent foreign policy, saying both nations remain committed to a strong and trusted partnership. (PC: PTI)

A shocking video shows the final moments of Rakesh Ehagaban-Patel, a 51-year-old Gujarati-origin motel manager, who was shot dead in Pittsburgh, US. Patel had rushed outside after hearing gunshots and asked the shooter, Stanley Eugene West, if he was okay. West, who had just shot a woman, turned and fired at Patel at point-blank range, killing him instantly. The tragic incident has sparked outrage among the Indian-American community. Police have arrested West and are investigating the motive behind the double shooting. Patel was known as a kind and hardworking member of the local Gujarati community.

London witnessed a grand celebration of Indian culture with “London ki Ram Leela 2025” at Fairfield Halls, Croydon. Directed by Praveen Kumar and produced by Sutton Friends, the event featured 35 actors and 150 volunteers. The production used LED backdrops, live narration, and modern stagecraft to bring the Ramayana to life. Dignitaries including MPs Luke Taylor and Bobby Dean, and Rajasthan Speaker Vasudev Devnani attended the event. The non-profit show, created by the community, celebrated Sanatan Dharma and Indian heritage abroad. Spectacular scenes like Sita Swayamvar and Lanka Dahan earned thunderous applause from audiences.

Four Indian nationals were killed and six others injured in a road accident in Matera, southern Italy. Their seven-seater Renault Scenic collided with a truck in Scanzano Jonico on the Agri Valley road on Saturday. The victims were identified as Kumar Manoj (34), Singh Surjit (33), Singh Harwinder (31), and Singh Jaskaran (20). Five injured people were taken to Policoro Hospital, while one was airlifted to Potenza for treatment. The truck driver was unharmed and is cooperating with police. The Indian Embassy in Rome expressed condolences and is assisting the families of the victims. (PC: India Today)

Kaushik Raj, a 27-year-old journalist from Delhi, was denied a US student visa despite receiving a ₹89 lakh ($100,000) scholarship to study Data Journalism at Columbia University. Raj believes the rejection followed scrutiny of his social media posts about hate crimes and minority issues in India. The US cited “insufficient ties” to India. At least three other Indian students reportedly faced similar denials. The US State Department defended social media screening as vital for security. Data shows a 50% drop in Indian student arrivals in August 2025, reaching a four-year low of about 313,000. (PC: X)

India has launched the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system at Lulu Group stores in Qatar to make transactions faster and cheaper. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the move will strengthen trade and help 8.3 lakh Indians living in Qatar send money home easily. The launch follows UPI’s rollout at Hamad International Airport duty-free shops last month. The initiative is a partnership between NPCI International Payments Ltd, Qatar National Bank, and Japan’s NETSTARS. Goyal said UPI now handles 640 million daily transactions and powers 85% of India’s digital payments, calling it a key step in global financial integration. (PC: X)

India strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations after Islamabad raised the Kashmir issue during a debate on women and security. India’s UN representative Parvathaneni Harish called Pakistan’s remarks “delusional tirades” and reminded the world of its own record of violence. He cited Pakistan’s 1971 Operation Searchlight, during which its army carried out a campaign of genocidal mass rape of 400,000 women in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. Harish said Pakistan “bombs its own people” and tries to distract from its crimes. India reaffirmed its clean record on women’s rights and urged the UN to reject Pakistan’s false claims. (PC: India Today)

Indian-origin teenager Grace O’Malley-Kumar has been awarded the George Medal, one of the UK’s highest civilian honours, for bravery. The 19-year-old medical student died in June 2023 while trying to save her friend, Barnaby Webber, during a knife attack in Nottingham. Both were killed by attacker Valdo Calocane, who was later detained in a high-security hospital. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Grace’s courage showed “the very best of who we are.” Her parents, both doctors, will receive the medal. Grace’s family has created a foundation in her name to support youth through sport, education, and mental health programs. (PC: India Today)

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned India of “severe consequences,” saying India would be “buried under the debris of its own warplanes.” His comments came after Indian Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi said Pakistan could be erased from the world map if it continued supporting terrorism. Asif accused Indian leaders of issuing “provocative statements” to restore credibility after Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror bases in Pakistan. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Air Chief Marshal AP Singh had earlier warned Islamabad against any misadventure, saying India would respond strongly to protect its unity and integrity. (PC: India Today)

An Air India Boeing 787-8 flight from Amritsar to Birmingham made a safe landing after its emergency Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed mid-descent on Saturday. The incident happened during flight AI117’s final approach to Birmingham. Air India said all electrical and hydraulic systems were working normally, and passengers and crew were safe. The aircraft has been grounded for detailed checks, and the return flight to Delhi was cancelled. The RAT system is a small fan that provides emergency power if an aircraft loses main engine power. Air India said passenger safety remains its top priority. (PC: Reuters)