India plans to increase imports of Russian oil in September by 10–20% compared to August, traders told Reuters. Russia has cut prices after drone strikes damaged its refineries, making crude cheaper. India imported about 1.5 million barrels per day of Russian oil in the first 20 days of August. Russian crude now makes up 40% of India’s total oil needs. The US has raised tariffs on Indian exports like garments and jewellery to 50%, partly over these energy ties. Indian officials say Russian oil helps keep prices stable and will remain vital unless global trade rules change. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Japan and China from August 29. He will attend the India-Japan Annual Summit in Tokyo with Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba. This will be Modi’s eighth visit to Japan. From August 31 to September 1, Modi will be in Tianjin, China, for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. Over 20 world leaders and 10 global bodies will join. Leaders include Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif. Modi is expected to hold talks with Xi and Putin on the sidelines of the summit. (PC: Reuters)

The Minneapolis school shooter, Robin Westman, 23, who killed 2 children at Annunciation Catholic School, left disturbing messages on weapons. Videos from Westman’s deleted YouTube channel showed guns and magazines with words like “Kill Donald Trump,” “Nuke India,” “Israel must fall,” and “For the children.” Officials confirmed the messages were authentic. Westman, who legally purchased the weapons, fired dozens of rounds before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot. Journals written in Cyrillic were also found. Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem called the writings “deeply sick.” President Trump ordered flags at half-staff nationwide to honor the victims of the 146th US school shooting. (PC: Screengrab from X)

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said Indian families should have 3 children to ensure population stability. Speaking at an event marking 100 years of RSS, he argued that India’s fertility rate of 2.1 is not enough, since “in births, after 2 it becomes 3.” He warned that communities with a fertility rate of 2.1 may slowly disappear. Bhagwat added that having 3 children keeps both parents and children healthy, while also controlling population growth. His remarks come as India’s fertility rate has dropped to 1.9, below the replacement level, according to the UN’s latest population report. (PC: India Today)

Witnesses described the horror of a school shooting at a church in Minneapolis, US, where 2 children died and 17 were injured. The FBI is treating the attack as an anti-Catholic hate crime. The gunman, 23-year-old Robin Westman, a former pupil, killed himself. Ten-year-old Weston Halsne said his friend saved him by covering his body, but was hit in the back. Locals reported confusion as gunfire erupted. Victims are recovering, and hundreds gathered for a vigil. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the attack “all too common.” President Trump ordered flags at half-mast, while Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sorrow. (PC: BBC)

The Indian Army executed a daring rescue on August 27 in flood-ravaged Gurdaspur, Punjab, airlifting 27 stranded individuals using three Cheetah helicopters amid extreme flying conditions. The operation followed relentless rainfall that triggered massive flooding, reminiscent of the 1988 disaster, with rivers Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi inundating vast areas. Earlier, 25 people were evacuated from a collapsing building, and 381 students with 70 teachers were rescued from a flooded school in Daburi. Amphibious vehicles and boats were deployed across severely affected districts including Pathankot, Amritsar, and Fazilka. The Army, NDRF, BSF, and IAF continue coordinated efforts to save lives and provide relief in one of Punjab’s worst flood crises.

India has appointed senior diplomat Dinesh K Patnaik as the new High Commissioner to Canada, nine months after withdrawing its envoy amid tensions. Patnaik, a 1990-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is currently India’s Ambassador to Spain and has served in Beijing, Dhaka, Vienna, Geneva, Morocco, and Cambodia. His appointment comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian PM Mark Carney met at the G7 summit in Alberta, signaling a thaw in relations. Ties had soured following Canada’s allegations over the killing of pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023, which India strongly denied. (PC: News18)

India’s economy could reach USD 20.7 trillion (PPP) by 2030 and potentially become the world’s second-largest by 2038 with USD 34.2 trillion, according to EY’s August 2025 Economy Watch report. Despite global headwinds, including U.S. tariffs, India’s growth remains resilient due to strong savings, favorable demographics, and rising domestic demand. EY estimates the tariff impact on GDP at 0.9%, but growth drag can be limited to 0.1 percentage point with strategic countermeasures. Compared to aging economies like China, the U.S., Germany, and Japan, India’s youthful population and sustainable fiscal outlook position it for long-term expansion. The report affirms India’s trajectory toward its Viksit Bharat 2047 aspirations. (PC: MSN & The Financial Express)

A controversy broke out in Bihar after a video showed Congress workers using abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother during Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra in Darbhanga. Posters of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Tejashwi Yadav were displayed on stage, though the leaders were not present when the remarks were made. BJP leaders, including Ravi Shankar Prasad, condemned the incident as “shameful” and demanded Rahul Gandhi’s apology. Congress distanced itself, saying it did not approve such language. Local leader Naushad, linked to the event, denied involvement but issued an apology as organiser. (PC: India Today)

The NARI 2025 report has found that 40% of women in India’s urban areas feel unsafe. The survey covered 12,770 women in 31 cities. It revealed that 7% of women faced harassment in 2024, with the 18–24 age group most at risk. Staring, catcalling, lewd remarks, and touching were the most common complaints. Poor lighting, weak transport safety, and lack of infrastructure were blamed. Kolkata, Delhi, Ranchi, Srinagar, and Faridabad were rated least safe, while Mumbai, Kohima, and Vishakhapatnam ranked safer. Only 22% reported harassment, and over half were unsure if workplaces had sexual harassment policies. (PC: HT)