Russia has carried out its first confirmed maritime drone strike, successfully sinking Ukraine's largest naval vessel since 2014—the reconnaissance ship Simferopol—in the Danube River delta . The attack resulted in the death of one crew member and left several injured or missing; rescue operations and damage assessments are currently underway . The sinking marks a new phase in unmanned maritime warfare, signaling a strategic shift in Russia’s combat tactics .  

A report by Jefferies Bank said the 50% US tariffs on India were linked to Donald Trump’s failed attempt to mediate in the India-Pakistan conflict. The report described the move as a result of Trump’s “personal pique” after India rejected foreign involvement in Kashmir talks. India has always opposed third-party mediation. The White House earlier claimed Trump deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for ending conflicts worldwide. The report also noted agriculture was another reason, as India refuses to open its sector to US imports. India called the tariffs “unjustified and unreasonable.” Jefferies warned this could push India closer to China. (PC: NDTV)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, demanding he apologise for derogatory remarks allegedly directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother during the "Voter Adhikar Yatra" in Darbhanga, Bihar . Shah described the incident as the “greatest fall in politics” and said, “if he has even a little bit of shame left, he must apologise to Modi ji, to his late mother, and to the people of this country” . The controversy, ignited by a viral video, led to the filing of FIRs and the arrest of a suspect, sparking further political clashes in Patna. (PC: India Today)

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been removed from office by the Constitutional Court. Judges ruled she violated ethics during a leaked June phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen. In the call, she called him “uncle” and criticised the Thai army, sparking anger amid border tensions. The court said her actions “appeared to align with Cambodia” and damaged public trust. Paetongtarn, daughter of ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, insisted she was trying to save lives. She is the third Shinawatra leader forced out of power. Parliament will now choose her successor from registered candidates. (PC: BBC)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is “ready to advance bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective.” In an interview with Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun, he added, “Stable, predictable, and amicable bilateral relations between India and China… can have a positive impact on regional and global peace and prosperity.” Modi stressed that good ties are “crucial for a multi-polar Asia and a multi-polar world.” He will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on August 31 at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin. This is his first visit to China in 7 years. Modi will also meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. (PC: X)

Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, announced a new AI-focused unit called ‘Reliance Intelligence’ at the company’s 48th AGM. The subsidiary will build India’s next-generation AI infrastructure, including large green-energy powered data centres in Jamnagar. Reliance also confirmed AI partnerships with Google and Meta. Google will set up a dedicated cloud region in Jamnagar to boost AI adoption, while Meta will work with Reliance to bring open-source AI models like Llama to Indian businesses. Ambani said the mission is to create affordable and trusted AI services for education, healthcare, agriculture, and enterprises, helping India lead in AI innovation. (PC: News18)

A Sikh man was shot dead by police in Los Angeles while performing gatka, a traditional martial art from Punjab. The victim, Gurpreet Singh, 35, was seen wielding a sword near Crypto.com Arena on July 13. Police said he refused repeated orders to drop the weapon and tried to attack officers. Footage shows Singh waving the sword, cutting his tongue, and later fleeing in a car before crashing. He then charged at police, who opened fire. Singh was taken to hospital but died from bullet injuries. Police called the sword a machete, though it resembled a traditional Sikh khanda. 

India is dominating the 16th Asian Shooting Championship in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, with 29 gold, 11 silver, and 14 bronze medals, taking its total tally past 50. In women’s trap, Neeru Dhanda won individual gold while also securing team gold with Aashima Ahlawa and Preeti Rajak. Indian junior women swept the 25m pistol podium—Payal Khatri (gold), Naamya Kapoor (silver), and Tejaswini (bronze)—with the team earning silver behind Korea. In men’s trap, Bhowneesh Mendiratta bagged silver. With three competition days still remaining, India has firmly established itself as the championship leader. (PC: News On Air)

At the BWF World Championships 2025 in Paris, PV Sindhu faced Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani in a high-stakes quarterfinal. Trailing early at 3–6, Sindhu showcased her trademark resilience, leveling the score and shifting momentum. A win would make her the first woman to win six medals at the prestigious event. Despite recent struggles and injuries, Sindhu credited her turnaround to focused training with coach Irwansyah. The head-to-head stood at 2–2, with Wardani winning their last encounter. Known for her deceptive net play and long rallies, Wardani posed a tactical challenge. Meanwhile, India’s mixed doubles hopes ended as Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila exited in straight sets.(PC: The Indian Express & India Today)

U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping 50% tariffs on Indian goods—a combination of a 25% base reciprocal duty and an additional 25% penalty tied to India’s sustained Russian oil imports—deemed among the steepest ever against a trading partner . Jefferies strategist Chris Wood characterizes the tariffs as stemming from Trump’s “personal pique” after India rebuffed his offer to mediate the May India-Pakistan conflict, underscoring political rather than economic motivations . The tariffs threaten export-heavy sectors—textiles, gems, jewelry, shrimp, and carpets—potentially slashing Indian exports to the U.S. by nearly $36 billion and denting GDP growth by up to 1 percentage point. (PC: NDTV)