Irish President Michael D Higgins has strongly condemned the recent surge in violent attacks against the Indian community, calling them “despicable” and contrary to Ireland’s values. His statement followed the assault of a six-year-old Indian girl, one of several racist incidents reported in recent weeks. Higgins praised the Indian diaspora for its “immense contribution” to Irish society in healthcare, culture, business, and more, calling their presence a “source of enrichment.” He urged unity against ignorance and malice. Ireland’s Deputy PM Simon Harris also condemned the violence, as the Indian embassy issued advisories and helplines amid the rising hate crimes. (PC: HT)

The Indian government has instructed Air India and IndiGo to prepare for the resumption of direct flights to China by next month, according to Bloomberg. The move signals a thaw in diplomatic ties, which had soured following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes and pandemic-related suspensions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Tianjin on August 31 for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, marking his first China visit in seven years. An official flight announcement may coincide with the summit. Before the suspension, over a dozen weekly flights connected major cities in both countries. The resumption is expected to boost trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges amid shifting global alliances. (PC: CNBC TV18 & NDTV)

Pakistan has asked India to restart the Indus Water Treaty, which New Delhi suspended in May after a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. The request came days after war threats from Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir and politician Bilawal Bhutto. Pakistan’s Foreign Office welcomed a Court of Arbitration ruling that India must let water flow from the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers. India says it does not recognise the court’s proceedings. The treaty, signed in 1960, gives India rights over three eastern rivers and Pakistan over three western rivers. India suspended it citing Pakistan’s support for terrorism. (PC: NDTV)

A viral video from Peterborough, Ontario, shows Canadian teenagers harassing an Indian couple in a mall parking lot, shouting “Go back to India” and other racial slurs. The teens blocked the couple’s car, hurled abuse, and one threatened to kill the man. The July 29 incident went viral after being widely shared online. Police arrested an 18-year-old from Kawartha Lakes, charging him with uttering death threats. He was released on bail and will appear in court on September 16. Police Chief Stuart Betts said the behaviour was “unacceptable in any community.” The accused’s hockey team has suspended him indefinitely. 

Pakistan’s Army chief General Asim Munir has reportedly threatened to strike Reliance’s Jamnagar refinery in Gujarat if war breaks out with India. Speaking at a private event in Florida, he also hinted at nuclear action in case of an “existential threat.” Munir referred to a Quranic verse, suggesting an aerial strike, and named RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani as a symbol of India’s economic strength. India’s foreign ministry rejected the threats, saying it will not bow to nuclear blackmail. It accused Pakistan’s military of working with terrorist groups. The Pakistani Foreign Office dismissed India’s response as “immature.” (PC: Hindustan Times)

China will build a new railway linking Tibet and Xinjiang, passing through Aksai Chin near the Line of Actual Control with India. Aksai Chin is Indian territory under Chinese control since 1950. The route will allow China to move troops and equipment to the border faster. It will also extend towards Nepal and the sensitive Chumbi Valley, where the 2017 Doklam stand-off took place. The project revives a 2008 plan and is seen as a strategic move. India has not yet reacted. Experts say it could increase tensions and pose a serious security challenge for New Delhi. (PC: AFP)

Pakistan has urged India to immediately resume the Indus Waters Treaty, suspended by New Delhi following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Islamabad welcomed the August 8 ruling by the Court of Arbitration, which directed India to “let flow” the waters of the Western Rivers like Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus for Pakistan’s unrestricted use. India, however, rejected the court’s legitimacy, calling its formation a violation of the treaty. Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir threatened to target future Indian dams and issued a nuclear warning: “If we go down, we’ll take half the world down.” India maintains that “terror and talks cannot go together,” and insists Pakistan must renounce terrorism before treaty operations resume. (PC: The Leaflet & ET Infra)

Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stance against US tariffs on Indian imports of Russian oil, calling it a “historic moment” in US-India relations. Rubin said Modi’s defiance will be remembered as the point when the US learned “you cannot kick India around.” He criticized President Donald Trump’s policy as hypocritical, noting America’s own purchases of Russian strategic minerals. Rubin predicted that once this episode passes, bilateral ties will strengthen. He also warned that Pakistan, under Army Chief Asim Munir, poses a nuclear threat and has lost legitimacy as a state. Rubin urged future US administrations to secure Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal to prevent catastrophic consequences.

A viral video featuring two Black men in Canada has sparked outrage after they made derogatory remarks about the Indian community. Interviewed by Instagram user Hermes, one man claimed Indians “need to go” because they “s*** on beaches,” walk in large groups, and “turn a first-world country into a third-world country.” The video, captioned “Friendly fire,” ignited fierce backlash online. Social media users condemned the irony of immigrants criticizing other immigrants, with many defending Indians as generous, smart, and economically vital. Canada has seen a surge in Indian immigration, with over 320,000 permanent residents and 225,000 students contributing billions annually to the economy through education, housing, and retail.

Ahead of his Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump declared that the 50% tariff imposed on India’s imports of Russian oil has delivered a “big blow” to Moscow’s economy. Trump cited India as Russia’s largest or second-largest oil buyer and claimed the tariffs have “very well disturbed” Russia’s economic stability. India condemned the move as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.” Trump said he would know “within the first two minutes” of the meeting whether a peace deal is possible. He also plans talks with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and European leaders, asserting the war wouldn’t have occurred under his presidency and calling it “Joe Biden’s war”. (PC: LA34 & Council On Foreign Relations)