Canadian authorities have arrested 19 people, including 13 individuals of Indian origin, after dismantling an alleged cross-border drug trafficking network in one of Ontario's largest-ever drug busts. The operation, named Project Bay, uncovered nearly 1.7 tonnes of illegal drugs worth more than CA$139 million. Police said the network used commercial trucking routes to smuggle narcotics from the US into Canada. Officers seized 973 kg of cocaine, 660 kg of methamphetamine, 49 kg of opium, firearms, cash, jewellery and electronic devices. Investigators said the operation dealt a major blow to organised crime operating across the Canada-US border. (PC: X)

India has summoned Ukraine's Ambassador after Indian sailor Sagar Gupta was killed in an attack on the commercial vessel MV OMORFI in the Black Sea. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the strike and called attacks on merchant ships "unacceptable". Two other Indian crew members on board were reported safe. India asked Ukraine to ensure the safety of commercial shipping and civilian sailors. The incident comes amid rising risks in the Black Sea due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. India has also advised Indian seafarers to carefully assess security risks before taking jobs in the region. (PC: Reuters)

A 75-year-old Indian-origin diamond trader, Dhiru Ramani, has been released in Mali after his family reportedly paid a ransom of €4 million (around ₹44 crore). Ramani was allegedly kidnapped in April after buying a gold mine in the West African country. Reports said the kidnappers had first demanded nearly ₹100 crore, but the family negotiated the amount. Ramani is still in Mali, where police are questioning him about the incident. His US-based family handled the negotiations without help from the Indian government. Ramani is originally from Amreli district in Gujarat and is linked to Surat's diamond trade.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg expressed support for the CJP-led student movement over alleged NEET exam irregularities while addressing a solidarity rally organised by the Students' Federation of India (SFI) UK in London. Calling the protest an example of "people power", Thunberg said the students' fight for justice, democracy and liberation deserved global support. The remarks came after the 36-day agitation ended with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and the Centre's acceptance of key demands, including compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide and the withdrawal of FIRs against protesters. Supporters described the movement as inspiring. 

A 26-year-old Indian-origin woman, Navneet Kaur, was shot dead in Toronto in what police described as a targeted attack. Officers responded to a shooting near Humberwood Boulevard and Rexdale Boulevard around 7.23 am on Friday and found Kaur with a gunshot wound. Despite emergency medical aid, she was pronounced dead at the scene. Police arrested 37-year-old Brampton resident Sharanjit Singh, charging him with first-degree murder and failure to comply with an undertaking. An eyewitness said the suspect briefly spoke to Kaur before shooting her once and fleeing. Investigators believe there are no outstanding suspects, though the motive remains unclear. The homicide unit is continuing its investigation. (PC: NDTV)

Nepal has formally requested India to recognise its biometric National Identity (NID) card as a valid travel document for cross-border journeys, alongside passports and citizenship certificates. The proposal has been sent to New Delhi through diplomatic channels and is awaiting India's response. Nepal says the secure biometric card, which includes fingerprints, facial images and iris scans, will simplify travel by land and air as the country gradually phases out citizenship certificates. More than 4.5 million Nepalis have received the card so far. Officials from both countries have also discussed improving cross-border travel records and coordination. (PC: NDTV)

A merchant vessel carrying 4 Indian nationals was struck at Ukraine's Odesa Port, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv confirmed on Sunday. The embassy said 2 crew members are safe, while information about the remaining 2 is still awaited. The vessel, MV AGN Ragnar, was hit on Saturday at the Black Sea port, which has faced repeated attacks since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022. The Indian mission said it is closely monitoring the situation. The incident comes days after 4 Indian seafarers were killed in another strike at Odesa, prompting India to issue a fresh safety advisory for those working on vessels in the Black Sea. (PC: X)

The Trump administration suffered a legal setback after a US federal appeals court refused to revive its proposed $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications for highly skilled foreign workers. The administration had introduced the steep fee increase as part of its effort to discourage companies from hiring foreign workers instead of Americans. The court's decision blocks the proposal from moving forward, providing relief to employers and prospective H-1B applicants, including thousands of Indian professionals who rely on the programme for employment in the United States. The ruling means the proposed fee will not be implemented unless further legal or policy changes occur, easing uncertainty surrounding new H-1B applications.2. (PC: The Indian Express)

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reshuffled his Cabinet. Three Indian-origin Labour MPs got front-bench posts. Kanishka Narayan is now Minister for Artificial Intelligence. Satvir Kaur and Harpreet Uppal also got key roles. With Uma Kumaran, a junior Foreign Office minister, the front bench now has two Hindu and two Sikh ministers. Seema Malhotra and Preet Kaur Gill, both close to former PM Keir Starmer, moved to the backbenches. Lisa Nandy stays on as Culture Secretary. Narayan was born in Bihar. Kaur's parents ran a saree shop in Southampton. Uppal once worked on Burnham's mayoral campaign.

A 23-year-old woman from Punjab, Damanpreet Kaur, was allegedly strangled to death at her home in Edmonton, Canada. Police have arrested her 22-year-old Indian-origin live-in partner, Ritish Kumar, and charged him with second-degree murder. Kaur was taken to hospital after officers found her with suspicious injuries on July 9. She died on July 12. Police said, “The case is being treated as an intimate partner homicide.” An autopsy confirmed she died from strangulation. Kaur had moved to Canada nearly five years ago on a student visa. A fundraiser is helping bring her body back to India. (PC: GoFundMe)