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.

The US Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill authorising tariffs of up to 100% on imports from countries continuing significant purchases of Russian energy, placing India among those potentially affected. The legislation aims to increase pressure on Moscow over the Ukraine war by expanding sanctions and targeting buyers of Russian crude. India, the world's second-largest importer of Russian oil after China, increased purchases following disruptions in Gulf supplies. The bill provides the legal framework for tariffs but does not mandate immediate implementation. Some US senators opposed the proposal, warning it could harm US interests and strategic ties with India. The legislation must complete further legislative steps before becoming law.

India on Friday clarified that it does not endorse remarks made by former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her August 5 press conference that criticised Bangladesh's BNP-led government. Responding to questions, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the event was organised by a private media entity and that the Government of India had no role in hosting or conducting it. He stressed that New Delhi does not support or endorse any comments made at the forum, particularly those concerning Bangladesh's duly constituted government.

India has officially mapped 27 locations and geographical features in Arunachal Pradesh on the Survey of India’s maps, responding to China’s repeated attempts to rename places in the border state. Conducted in consultation with the Arunachal Pradesh government, the exercise aims to ensure accurate identification of these locations and improve public awareness. The move comes after Beijing repeatedly issued so-called standardised names for areas it claims as "Zangnan", a position India has consistently rejected, maintaining that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country. By formally recording these places on official maps, India has reinforced its territorial position while strengthening geographic documentation and administrative recognition of key border-region landmarks. (PC: ITG)

India on Friday said it is "closely following the development" after Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a trilateral defence agreement aimed at strengthening collective security. According to Pakistan's foreign ministry, the pact treats an armed attack on any one member as an attack on all three and expands defence cooperation through joint military exercises, training, technology transfers and intelligence sharing. The agreement was signed during a meeting of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The MEA noted it was monitoring the development, while Saudi Arabia continues diversifying defence partnerships amid regional security challenges and tensions with Iran.  

India has dismissed criticism by US Congressman Riley Moore over the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, with the Ministry of External Affairs describing the legislation as an internal matter. Responding to Moore's claim that the Bill targets Christians and could affect India-US ties, the MEA said many countries, including the United States, regulate foreign funding through domestic laws. The government maintained that the proposed amendments are intended to strengthen oversight of foreign contributions while preserving the religious character of places of worship. The Bill also proposes empowering a government-designated authority to manage the assets and foreign contributions of NGOs whose FCRA registration has been cancelled.

Lucky Rawat, a Class 10 student from Chakrata in Uttarakhand, has been selected as India's sole representative for the prestigious Icebreaker of Knowledge international expedition to the North Pole. Chosen through a rigorous three-stage selection process, he will join students aged 14–16 from 22 countries on a 10-day scientific and educational voyage aboard the nuclear-powered icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy, departing from Murmansk, Russia. The programme promotes Arctic research, environmental awareness, cultural exchange, and global collaboration. Lucky's achievement is a proud moment for India, highlighting how talent and determination can earn international recognition. (PC: ANI)

Indian-origin PhD student Vikram Mubayi, studying Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), was found dead after going missing during a solo hiking trip in California's Big Pine Lakes area. Mubayi last contacted his family on August 1, sharing his GPS coordinates before communication stopped. A multi-agency search led by Inyo County Search and Rescue and the California Highway Patrol recovered his body in Inyo National Forest on August 3. Authorities have not disclosed the cause of death, but said there is currently no indication of foul play. Investigations into the circumstances continue. (PC: NDTV)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the evolving security situation in West Asia amid ongoing regional tensions. The leaders exchanged views on recent developments, including escalating conflicts and their implications for regional stability. PM Modi reiterated India's support for peace, dialogue, and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions while emphasizing the need to protect civilians and ensure stability. The discussion also covered bilateral cooperation and shared concerns over regional security. The call reflects continued high-level engagement between India and Israel as both nations closely monitor the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. (PC: PTI)

Indian students recorded the sharpest decline in US student visa approvals during the 2025 admissions cycle, with F-1 visas dropping 62% year-on-year, nearly double the decline among Chinese applicants. According to the Centre for Immigration Studies (CIS), US consulates issued 22,149 F-1 visas to Indians between May and August 2025, compared with 58,694 during the same period in 2024. Chinese student visas fell 34%, from 61,075 to 40,034. The report links the decline to tighter Trump-era immigration rules that have created uncertainty around admissions and post-study work opportunities. The May-August period is the busiest season for F-1 visa processing ahead of the US academic year. (PC: India Today)