Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said intelligence suggests the Indian government could be behind the fatal shooting of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. Trudeau termed it an 'unacceptable violation if proven. He is said to have raised the issue with PM Modi at G20. India earlier denied any involvement in Nijjar's murder. Nijjar, a Khalistan leader, was killed by masked gunmen outside a gurdwara on June 18, 2023. Trudeau said the shooting has outraged Canadians, leaving Sikhs worried. He has also expelled an Indian diplomat over the case and vowed to firmly press India for investigation cooperation.

India's squad for the three-match ODI series against Australia announced. "Squad for the 1st two ODIs: KL Rahul (C & WK), Ravindra Jadeja (Vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna," tweets BCCI.

The iconic Hoysala temple complexes of Belur, Halebid and Somnathapura in Karnataka have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. The intricately sculpted sacred ensembles representing the Hoysala architectural style now join India's 40 other World Heritage Sites. The temples were on UNESCO's Tentative List since 2014 before getting the prestigious designation. The 12th century sites protected by the Archaeological Survey of India feature distinctive temple art and sculpture that showcase the craftsmanship of the Hoysala dynasty. Their World Heritage inscription celebrates Karnataka's glorious heritage and enhances global recognition of India's cultural wealth.

The State Bank of India has introduced a revolutionary digital service to open NRE and NRO savings and current accounts for NRIs. Leveraging technology, SBI's YONO platform now enables a streamlined, hassle-free account opening process for new NRI customers. A key feature is real-time tracking of application status. This addresses a long-standing demand of NRIs for simplified banking services in India. By digitizing account opening and management, SBI aims to provide a seamless one-stop solution catering to all NRI requirements. The move underscores SBI's commitment to harnessing technology to improve customer experience.

Faced with astronomical visa wait times in India spanning over a year in major cities, the US has opened a special visa processing window at its Frankfurt consulate. Appointment wait times in Indian consulates range from 441 days in Hyderabad to over 600 days in Kolkata. However, the US consulate in Frankfurt is offering visa interviews to Indians within just 3 days. The move aims to provide faster visa services by bypassing the severe backlog in India due to overwhelming demand. Indians can now opt for the Germany route to expedite their US visa rather than wait endlessly in India.

A former UK cop Rebecca Kalam has alleged routine racism within the West Midlands Police force against Sikhs, including officers using slurs and failing to distinguish Sikhs from Muslims. Her most startling claim was that protection officers for Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai referred to her as "tikka masala". A Sikh group advisor said the community has long complained of racism by the police. Kalam also cited misogyny and toxic masculinity in the force. While the Police accepted most of her complaints, a spokesperson said the accused represent a small minority tarnishing the wider force's professionalism. The Police aim to engage with Sikhs to address diversity and respect. (Pic 1 Image Courtesy: CHannel 4)

Australia's High Commissioner Philip Green said India has become the first country to return to and surpass pre-pandemic travel levels to Australia. In a tweet, he noted 100,000 Australians visited India last year, double the pre-COVID number. The envoy highlighted direct flights between the countries have nearly tripled. His remarks came after Australian PM Anthony Albanese's India visit. Green emphasized growing exchanges between the strategic partners, with India driving the tourism rebound. He termed people the "living bridge" between the nations. The upbeat assessment by the High Commissioner underscores strengthening India-Australia ties.

The Indian Space Research Organisation announced its Aditya L1 solar observatory has started gathering scientific data while in earth orbit, beginning with its particle spectrometer payload. Aditya is set to break free of earth's gravity tonight in a maneuver to start its 4-month journey to orbit the sun. The data collected so far on energetic particles enables analysis of behavior around earth and its magnetic field. After health checks, Aditya's instruments persistently gathered measurements as the spacecraft exceeded 50,000 km from earth. The ambitious Aditya mission marks India's first space-based solar observatory, soon to provide observations from a unique vantage point.

Veteran Rohan Bopanna clinched a doubles victory in his final Davis Cup tie to help India defeat Morocco 4-1 and reach the 2024 World Group Play-offs. Bopanna and Yuki Bhambri outclassed their opponents before Sumit Nagal sealed the tie. India overcame losing a singles match on Saturday. The triumph provides confidence ahead of the Hangzhou Asian Games where India eyes more tennis medals. At 43, Bopanna finished his distinguished Davis Cup career with an instrumental win. Young Nagal also shone by winning both his singles rubbers. India aims higher after strong Davis Cup performance.

In a special session on Monday, PM Modi delivered an emotional farewell speech to the existing Parliament house. He paid tribute to India's democratic ethos and all former PMs, stating the colonial-era building will always remain an inspiration. Modi recalled contributions of leaders from Nehru to Vajpayee as Parliament prepares to move to a new modern complex. Though built under British rule, Modi said the iconic Parliament house was constructed by the sweat and toil of Indians. The surprise 5-day special session offered Modi a chance to commemorate the old Parliament's legacy before proceedings shift to the new building.