Political parties in Jammu & Kashmir marked the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 with street protests across the Union Territory, amid heightened security. Workers of the ruling National Conference (NC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held demonstrations, demanding restoration of the region's special constitutional status. Police intervened to stop protest marches in parts of Srinagar. Separately, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha described the August 5, 2019 decision as a "historic turning point" and distributed government appointment letters to family members of terror victims. The contrasting events reflected the continuing political divide over the abrogation and its impact on Jammu & Kashmir's governance and future. (PC: Imran Nissar)

India strongly rejected Pakistan's remarks on the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, calling them "malicious propaganda" and reiterating that Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh "are, have always been, and shall forever remain" integral parts of India. Responding to Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's appeal for international intervention on Kashmir, the Ministry of External Affairs said the constitutional changes of August 5, 2019, were entirely India's internal matter. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also criticised Pakistan over continuing violence in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), pointing to reports of civilian killings and urging Islamabad to address governance and human rights concerns in territories under its control. (PC: AP)

Air India has appointed former Ethiopian Airlines Group chief Tewolde Gebremariam as its next Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Campbell Wilson, who announced his resignation in April. The airline said it conducted a global search, evaluating both internal and external candidates before selecting Gebremariam. Widely credited with transforming Ethiopian Airlines into one of the world's leading carriers, he takes charge at a pivotal time as Air India pursues an ambitious expansion and fleet modernisation programme. The Tata-owned airline continues to navigate financial challenges and external headwinds while seeking to strengthen its global competitiveness and accelerate its long-term turnaround under new leadership. (PC: How Africa)

India and Myanmar are discussing a possible territorial exchange to resolve a long-pending undemarcated section of their border along Manipur, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed. Responding to reports of a proposed land swap, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said discussions were underway to settle unresolved border sectors but stopped short of confirming any agreement. The reported proposal, first highlighted by The Diplomat, suggests exchanging about 1.4 square miles of territory between border pillars 65 and 68 to complete demarcation. The possibility has sparked opposition from civil society groups in Manipur, which have raised concerns over the state's territorial integrity and national sovereignty. (PC: Wikimedia Common)

India is well placed to benefit from artificial intelligence (AI), with fewer jobs at risk of automation than in richer countries, according to the World Bank's World Development Report 2026. The report says only 4.5% of jobs in low- and middle-income countries face automation risks, compared with 14.2% in high-income economies. Instead, AI is expected to improve productivity across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education and public services. The World Bank urged developing nations to strengthen electricity, internet access, digital skills and institutions while adopting affordable AI tools tailored to local languages and community needs.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing mounting internal pressure after withdrawing his controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which sought private investment in the governing body's commercial and event operations. The plan was scrapped following widespread criticism, triggering fresh questions over Infantino's leadership. He has now called an emergency meeting of senior FIFA officials in Morocco to address the growing backlash. Reports suggest the proposal also sparked rare dissent within FIFA, with Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom and Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour expressing concerns. The episode has exposed divisions at the top of world football's governing body and intensified scrutiny of Infantino's presidency. (PC: X)

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made her first public media appearance in nearly two years, addressing journalists virtually from India at an event organised by the Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC) South Asia in New Delhi. Held on the second anniversary of her departure from Bangladesh, the interactive session focused on her plans to return, the future of the Awami League and questions from international media. The FCC defended hosting the event as an exercise in press freedom rather than political endorsement. The appearance came amid renewed concerns from Bangladesh, which has sought Hasina's extradition and urged India not to allow its territory to be used for her political activities. (PC: NDTV)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday defended student protesters, saying they “do not need to apologise to anyone” because they were standing up for the Constitution and the idea of India. Speaking outside 10 Janpath in New Delhi, Gandhi said the country's education system is failing and requires urgent reforms. He alleged that the protesters were peaceful but were assaulted, threatened and forced to issue public apologies. Gandhi also criticised the alleged harassment of students and their families, calling it unacceptable. Student activist Ria Ahir claimed she prevented the unlawful detention of several students and urged the media to change its narrative. (PC: HT)

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologised for the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), deepfakes and shortcomings in content moderation during high-level meetings with the Indian government, according to official sources. The discussions focused on platform accountability, compliance with Indian laws and online child safety. Sources said the Centre warned Meta that platforms cannot profit from harmful content while seeking safe harbour protection under the IT Act. Officials also argued Meta's algorithms actively decide content distribution, questioning its intermediary status. Government sources said the meetings did not include any discussion on the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook video. (PC: India Today)

The US Department of Justice has started legal proceedings to revoke the citizenship of 25 naturalised citizens, including Indian-origin Narinder Singh, over alleged fraud and criminal offences. Officials said Singh used false identities to enter the United States and later became a citizen in 2008. The cases also involve people from 17 countries and include allegations such as identity fraud, passport fraud, child sexual abuse, attempted murder and marriage fraud. The Justice Department said the complaints were filed between July 20 and August 3. It described the action as the largest coordinated denaturalisation effort in its history. (PC: NDTV)