Germany's Federal Minister for Digitalisation Volker Wissing used India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) during a recent visit and was fascinated by the experience. The German Embassy in India praised India's digital infrastructure, calling UPI one of the country's success stories. Wissing was seen in photos and video using UPI to pay a vegetable seller. The Embassy tweeted that UPI enables instant transactions for millions of Indians, and Wissing was able to experience its simplicity first-hand. His positive experience highlights how India's world-class digital payment system is gaining global recognition.

Several students from Andhra Pradesh were recently deported by US officials despite possessing valid visas. In response, CM Jagan Mohan Reddy has decided to address the matter with Ministry of External Affairs to resolve the students' plight and save their careers. Though the students had proper paperwork, they were denied entry by US officials. The Andhra government advised future travelers to be prepared for questioning and carry all relevant documents. The state has also shared helplines for deported students to reach out for assistance. Reddy aims to intervene on behalf of the students with the MEA.

Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft, the country's first moon mission in 47 years, crashed into the lunar surface on August 20 after losing contact during pre-landing maneuvers. The 800-kg probe was attempting Russia's first moon landing since 1976 with a planned soft landing on the south pole. Luna-25 launched on August 19 but encountered problems before entering a pre-landing orbit. Roscosmos will investigate the failure's causes. The mission represented an attempt by Russia to revive its legacy of lunar exploration amid isolation. Meanwhile, India's Chandrayaan-3 remains on track to land on the moon on August 23.

India's Supreme Court released a glossary this week of "gender-unjust" terms to avoid in legal language, offering alternatives. The "Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes" helps identify and combat biases about women. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud led the effort, stating judges must decide cases independently without relying on prejudices. The handbook advises using "woman" instead of terms like "fallen woman." It also challenges gender-biased notions like women being overly emotional or their contributions confined to domestic roles. The handbook stresses judges must treat all people equally with dignity, regardless of gender identity.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US-India relationship is deeper and more expansive than ever, joining Indian-Americans in celebrating India's 77th Independence Day. As the oldest and largest democracies, the US and India have forged an increasingly close bond working together for an open, prosperous, secure world, Blinken stated. Sending warm wishes to India, he reaffirmed shared commitment to address pressing global challenges. Blinken celebrated the proud history of Indians and reflected on the strategic partnership on this momentous occasion emphasizing on strong bilateral ties between the two nations.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz proclaimed August 15, 2023, as "India Day" in the state to honour India's 77th Independence Day. In his proclamation, Walz applauded India as the world's largest democracy with immense cultural heritage. He stated Indian-Americans have helped create a better Minnesota since the state welcomed immigrants after the 1965 Act. Minnesota now hosts an Indian community of 55,000 working statewide as educators, entrepreneurs, healthcare providers, and more. The India Association of Minnesota celebrated Indian culture, heritage, and traditions through activities at IndiaFest held on the State Capitol grounds.

To tackle workforce shortages, Singapore has expanded hiring options to include Indian cooks for hospitality sector jobs. Previously, work permits predominantly went to those from countries like China, Malaysia and Taiwan. Now, Indian cooks can be recruited along with roles like housekeepers to broaden the talent pool for Singapore's services and manufacturing industries facing staffing shortfalls. Businesses can apply starting 1 September to hire Indian cooks, a non-traditional source, specifically for Indian restaurants. This provides new hiring avenues whilst addressing the hospitality sector's staffing needs amid tight labour conditions.

India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission achieved a key milestone on Thursday, August 17, as the Vikram lander module successfully separated from the spacecraft's propulsion module. The lander is designed to soft-land on the moon's surface and deploy the Pragyan rover to analyse the lunar soil. A successful landing would make India the fourth country after the US, Russia, and China to achieve the feat. However, India would be the first to land on the unexplored lunar South Pole. The separation of the Vikram lander propels Chandrayaan-3 forward in its journey of lunar exploration.

At the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit, Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus applauded India's rich history of traditional medicine through Ayurveda and yoga. He cited research on yoga's effectiveness for pain relief and emphasized understanding traditional medicine's links between human and environmental health. Ghebreyesus praised the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine launched by PM Modi in Jamnagar last year. He noted it provided services to thousands while saving time and money. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated the summit presents a unique opportunity for dialogue and partnerships to advance traditional medicine globally.

Indian-American economist Raj Chetty was awarded Harvard's prestigious George Ledlie Prize for using big data to uncover truths about economic mobility in America. Along with biologist Michael Springer, Chetty was recognised for research benefiting humanity. His work on inequality and lack of access to opportunities, stemming from his own background, looks at how geography and community impact outcomes. Chetty's findings have influenced policies on affordable housing, job training, and education to increase equity. The Ledlie Prize highlights Chetty's groundbreaking economics research revealing barriers and solutions to achieving the American Dream.