Indian national Varun Batchigari, 20, has been arrested in Germany over the alleged first-degree murder of his 19-year-old girlfriend, Julissa Rubi Salazar, in Arizona. Salazar was found dead in her Tucson apartment on August 6 after her family requested a welfare check. Police allege Batchigari fled the US after the killing, travelling from Tucson to Houston and then to Berlin. He was detained at a German airport following an arrest warrant. Reports say Salazar had planned to end their relationship after an alleged earlier assault. Batchigari, who studied business analytics at the University of Arizona, is expected to be extradited to Arizona. (PC: HT)

Pranav Ilango, a 17-year-old from Erode, Tamil Nadu, has secured admission to Brown University in the US with a full scholarship worth ₹3.55 crore. The scholarship covers his tuition and living expenses for the entire 4-year undergraduate programme. Pranav will study Public Health and Applied Mathematics, combining his interests in mathematics, technology and data. A student of CS Academy, Erode, he was recognised among Outstanding Cambridge Learners and earned a World Topper distinction in IGCSE Mathematics. He hopes to use technology and data to address public health challenges, particularly in underserved communities, and create practical solutions for India. (PC: India Today)

Toronto police have arrested Abdul Ghafoori, 32, seven months after his Indian-origin partner, Himanshi Khurana, 30, was found dead in a Toronto residence. Khurana was reported missing on December 19, 2025, and officers found her deceased the following morning. Police classified her death as a homicide and had identified Ghafoori as a suspect wanted on a first-degree murder charge. Investigators described the case as an act of intimate partner violence. Ghafoori was located and arrested at Toronto airport on August 7, 2026, following coordination between Canadian and international law-enforcement agencies. He is scheduled to face court proceedings in Toronto. (PC: NDTV)

US Vice President JD Vance spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday to discuss strengthening the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. The leaders reviewed progress in bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and global developments. According to the Indian government, they reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in trade, defence, critical and emerging technologies, energy security and critical minerals. Modi also congratulated Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance on the birth of their son, Alec Neel Vance, born on July 19. The conversation reflected continued high-level engagement and efforts to strengthen strategic cooperation between India and the United States. (AP)

Canada deported 3,323 Indian nationals in the first 6 months of 2026, reflecting a major increase in immigration enforcement. The removals come as Ottawa tightens rules on asylum claims, temporary visas, international students and foreign workers. Indian migrants affected by the crackdown include people whose asylum applications were rejected, visas expired or cases involved alleged document fraud, criminality or violations of immigration conditions. The policy shift has caused concern among Indian families who spent large amounts of money to send students to Canada. Experts say removals could rise further as Canadian authorities work through a large backlog of removal orders.

The US is considering ending the 60-day grace period that allows certain foreign workers to remain in the country after losing their jobs, according to a proposed immigration change under review by the White House. The plan has not yet become a rule, and full details have not been made public. If approved, affected workers and dependants could have to leave the US much sooner after employment ends. The current provision covers H-1B and several other visa categories, giving workers time to find new jobs or explore immigration options. The change could significantly affect Indian professionals, who make up the largest share of H-1B beneficiaries. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with US Vice President JD Vance by phone on Saturday, August 8, to discuss ways to strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. The leaders reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding ties in trade, defence, critical and emerging technologies, energy security and critical minerals, according to the government. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest. During the call, Modi congratulated Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, on the birth of their son and conveyed his best wishes to the family. The US has not released details of the conversation. (PC: HT)

Portugal After Being Promised ₹1.5 Lakh Job   A 28-year-old woman from Nagpur was allegedly trafficked to Portugal after a Pune-based consultancy promised her a cashier’s job paying ₹1.5 lakh a month. The woman reportedly paid around ₹11 lakh in installments for visa and other paperwork after contacting ‘We Migrate’ through Instagram. After reaching Portugal, her passport was allegedly seized and she was held captive for 2 days before being sold to a beer shop owner. She was allegedly forced to work and subjected to physical and mental torture. After nearly a month, she escaped through Lisbon and Madrid and returned to India via Doha. Pune police have booked 8 accused. (PC: NDTV)

Russia is exploring a possible railway route to India through Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan as it seeks alternative trade corridors amid risks to key shipping routes. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said a rail connection toward the Indian Ocean could help reduce dependence on routes affected by disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and the Bosphorus. The proposal could provide Russia with another route for reaching markets in South Asia. The plan remains at the exploration stage, with several countries potentially involved. The proposed corridor could also strengthen economic and transport ties between Russia and India. (PC: X)

The US Senate has passed a bill allowing tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian oil, gas and other exports. The bill was approved 86-11 on Friday. India, China, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan are named as possible targets. The actual tariff rate will be decided by the US Trade Representative. The bill also allows President Donald Trump to waive the tariffs under certain conditions. It now moves to the House of Representatives. The move comes as India and the US work on a trade deal. India has defended its Russian oil purchases, citing energy security needs.