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)

Former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said that some people attempted to “mislead” Gen Z during protests over the NEET paper leak controversy. Speaking at GM University in Bhubaneswar, Pradhan defended his resignation, saying he had personally offered to step down and that the ministerial position was never important to him. He resigned as Education Minister on July 25 amid student protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Pradhan also criticised Odisha’s BJD leadership over protests against him. BJD leader Rohit Pujari rejected his claims and blamed the government’s handling of the student agitation. (PC: India Today)

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.

At least 3 people, including a child, were killed and 3 others injured in overnight Russian missile strikes near Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said. Ballistic missiles hit areas east of the capital, causing fires and damage. The attack comes days after another Russian strike killed 21 people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has again appealed for more US-made Patriot interceptor missiles, saying Ukraine’s supplies have fallen significantly. He warned that Kyiv lacks the financial resources Russia uses to sustain the war. Meanwhile, Ukraine has continued drone strikes against Russian oil facilities, while concerns grow over the conflict spreading into neighbouring countries. (PC: BBC)

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has called for a wider military alliance among Islamic countries, similar to NATO, after Pakistan signed a defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Speaking to Geo News, Asif said the agreement should not remain an “exclusive club” and urged Muslim nations to set aside bilateral disputes and work together on defence. The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement states that an armed attack on any 1 of the 3 countries would be considered an attack on all. The agreement also covers collective deterrence, defence cooperation, military exercises and personnel training, though full treaty details remain undisclosed. (PC: HT)

Oman said talks with Iran on securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz were making progress, but Tehran warned that any agreement would not immediately reopen the vital waterway. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations were in their final stages but reopening the strait depended on other conditions, including Iran’s demands from the US. The waterway carries about 20% of global oil and gas supplies. US Vice-President JD Vance said progress had been made but stressed that the negotiations were not over. Tensions also rose after the UAE reported an Iranian missile strike on an oil tanker. (PC: BBC)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday addressed students and competitive exam aspirants in Prayagraj, focusing on unemployment, paper leaks and India’s young population. At the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme, Gandhi described 40 crore young Indians as the country’s biggest strength and built his message around “dard, data and daulat”. He said expensive education was failing to guarantee jobs and claimed only 12 out of 1,000 young Indians secured permanent employment. Gandhi also called data a key economic asset in the age of AI and criticised social media addiction. The BJP hit back, asking why he did not visit protesting students in Jharkhand. (PC: India Today)

Former US President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer has spread to his bones and is causing significant pain, his son Hunter Biden said in a BBC interview. Hunter described the illness as “very painful” and “debilitating”, saying it has been difficult for the family to watch. Biden, 83, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer in May 2025. Despite his condition, Hunter said his father remains active and continues to speak publicly about issues important to him. The latest update highlights the seriousness of Biden’s illness as he continues treatment and remains engaged in public life. (PC: The Indian Express)

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)