A Swiss tourist has been sentenced to one year in prison in Indonesia’s Bali after being found guilty of posting content on Instagram that insulted a Hindu holy day. The court ruled that the social media post violated laws protecting religious harmony. The case drew attention in Bali, where Hindu traditions and religious ceremonies play an important role in daily life. Authorities said the post was considered offensive to the Hindu community. The verdict highlights Indonesia’s strict laws against religious insults and the potential legal consequences of social media posts deemed disrespectful to religious beliefs or practices. (PC: HT)

India and Canada will hold their first Finance Ministers’ Economic and Financial Dialogue in Toronto on August 26 and 27, marking a step towards stronger economic ties. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will meet Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne during her first visit to Canada in this role. The ministers will discuss investment, trade, sustainable growth and global economic developments. Talks are also expected to focus on energy, agriculture, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. Canada’s total direct and indirect investment in India exceeded CA$110 billion in 2024. The meetings could also help strengthen the broader India-Canada relationship. (PC: HT)

The NIA will send a court summons to Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, named as an accused in the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack case. The summons will be routed through the Ministry of External Affairs, asking him to appear before a special NIA court in Jammu. The court has also issued a non-bailable warrant against Saeed. The NIA has accused him of helping plan the attack that killed 25 tourists and a local resident. If Saeed fails to appear after legal procedures are completed, the court may proceed with the trial in his absence under Section 356 of the BNSS. (PC: India Today)

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will visit Russia on August 23–24, 2026, at the invitation of Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. During the two-day visit, Jaishankar will co-chair the 27th session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation. He is also scheduled to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss bilateral relations and regional and global developments. The visit aims to strengthen cooperation across trade, investment, energy, science, technology and connectivity. It comes as India and Russia continue efforts to deepen their longstanding strategic partnership amid changing geopolitical conditions. (PC: AP)

Rashtrapati Bhavan withdrew an email indicating preparations linked to a possible visit by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to India. The communication said the regular Change of Guard ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan would not be held on Saturday, reportedly to facilitate preparations for a high-level visit. However, the statement was later withdrawn, creating uncertainty over Rahman’s proposed India trip. Bangladesh has also said that no final decision has been made on the visit, while Dhaka is awaiting New Delhi’s response to its request for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. India’s External Affairs Ministry has not confirmed the visit. (PC: AP)

India’s decision to allow overseas companies with up to 10% Chinese shareholding to invest through the automatic route has begun yielding results, with 29 FDI proposals totalling about Rs 4,895.65 crore reported so far. The Finance Ministry notified the changes under FEMA on May 1, 2026. Investments span information technology, artificial intelligence, information and communication, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, data centres and transport services. Investors are based in Mauritius, the US, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Luxembourg and the Cayman Islands. The revised framework removes prior government approval in eligible cases, reducing transaction time and providing greater certainty. However, the relaxed rules exclude entities registered in China, Hong Kong and other countries sharing land borders with India. (PC: The Economic Times)

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday dismissed Pakistan’s protest over US Ambassador Sergio Gor’s remark that Jammu and Kashmir is an “important part of India.” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and indivisible parts of India, adding, “They were, they are, and they will remain so.” Responding to Pakistan’s diplomatic protest, Jaiswal said he saw no reason to comment on Islamabad’s “frustration.” Gor, who is visiting Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, made the remarks during his visit to Srinagar. After meeting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, he said J&K was an important part of India. Pakistan subsequently summoned the US Charge d’Affaires and protested Gor’s statement.

The Indian High Commission in Nairobi on Friday said it is monitoring the situation involving 22 Indian seafarers reportedly onboard two commercial vessels hijacked in separate incidents, and has taken up the matter with Somali authorities. The vessels are MT Sibu, an Eritrea-flagged vessel, and MV Lutuf, a Cameroon-flagged ship. The High Commission said it had raised the issue of the Indian crew members with the concerned Somali authorities. According to its post on X, 16 Indian seafarers are reportedly onboard MT Sibu and six on MV Lutuf. It said all 22 Indian seafarers are reportedly safe and stressed that India attaches the highest importance to the safety and welfare of its seafaring community.

India on Friday dismissed Pakistan’s protest over US Ambassador Sergio Gor’s remarks describing Jammu and Kashmir as an “important part of India”, calling Islamabad’s reaction an expression of “frustration”. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and indivisible parts of India and would remain so. Pakistan had summoned a senior US diplomat and objected to Gor’s remarks during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir. Gor also said the US could review its travel advisory for the region, praising its beauty and potential for tourism. (PC: NDTV)

Applications from Indian students to US colleges fell 14% in the 2025-26 admissions cycle, reflecting a broader decline in international demand. Data from the Common App showed 13,819 first-year applicants from India through March 1, down from around 16,000 a year earlier. India remained the second-largest international applicant market after China. Overall international applicants fell 9%, while domestic US applicants rose 3%. The decline was seen across different types of colleges, with institutions having higher admission rates recording the sharpest fall. The figures cover applications and do not represent final admissions or enrolment numbers. (PC: X)