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Couples in England and Wales will be able to legally marry at locations such as their homes, pubs and cruise ships under the biggest overhaul of wedding laws in nearly 200 years.

The reforms aim to replace outdated venue rules, giving couples more flexibility and making weddings more accessible.
Under the proposals, couples could legally marry in locations such as castles, beaches and cruise ships, provided the ceremony is conducted by an approved officiant. However, ceremonies considered to trivialise marriage, such as skydiving weddings, would not be allowed under a proposed "dignity framework." The changes would also ease restrictions on religious content and allow non-religious groups to conduct legal weddings.

Utkarsh Thakkar, entrepreneur and property developer, reflects on his journey, the UK's housing challenges, family life with Leicester East MP Shivani Raja, and the importance of creating opportunities for others, in an interview with Asian voice.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor in Dhaka on 31 July, in a meeting seen as diplomatically significant amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the region. Gor, who began his first official visit to Bangladesh on 30 July 2026, welcomed Trivedi's appointment in June, saying he looked forward to working closely with him in his new role.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nationwide ‘Nasha Mukta Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyaan’, a 100-week campaign aimed at creating a drug-free India through public participation.

Addressing the launch via video conference, Modi said the government had intensified action against drug trafficking, with a sharp rise in arrests and seizures of narcotics worth thousands of crores of rupees. He said the campaign, held every Sunday for the next 100 weeks, would encourage young people to stay away from substance abuse and contribute to building a developed India by 2047.

Haryanvi pop duo Banjaare has teamed up with Sony Pictures Entertainment India for the official promotional track inspired by ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’. Titled Barsaat (Brand New Day Edition), the song reimagines the duo's original single through Peter Parker's emotional journey, exploring themes of love, loss, resilience and hope.

Released in partnership with Sony Music India, the track marks a crossover between South Asian music and one of the world's most iconic film franchises, while introducing Banjaare to a wider international audience and showcasing the growing global influence of regional artists.

For much of the post-war period, free trade agreements were judged by simple metrics. How many tariffs were abolished? How much trade increased? How many containers crossed borders? Trade was principally about moving goods more efficiently across the world. As I explained on my BBC News interview, it goes much bigger than that in the modern era.

Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect, ending a 12-year career in which he represented India in 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is.
His final international appearance came in a Test against the West Indies in July 2023.