The U.S. State Department on August 11, 2025, officially designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its armed wing, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), a stronger classification than their 2019 designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group. This move, announced during Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir’s Washington visit, heightens sanctions and legal constraints on the groups and marks deeper US-Pakistan counterterrorism cooperation. Pakistan welcomed the decision as validation of its efforts, while analysts link the timing with U.S. strategic and economic interests in Balochistan’s oil and rare earth potential. (PC: AP)  

Aravind Srinivas, an Indian-origin CEO of Perplexity AI, has submitted an unsolicited all-cash bid of $34.5 billion (over ₹3.02 lakh crore) to acquire Google Chrome from Alphabet’s CEO, Sundar Pichai . The bold move comes as regulators consider compelling Google to divest Chrome amid antitrust scrutiny . Perplexity pledges to keep Chromium open-source, retain Google's default search engine setting, invest $3 billion over two years, and retain existing Chrome staff . Though the offer significantly exceeds Perplexity’s own valuation, analysts view it as a strategic media salvo rather than a likely acquisition. (PC: Instagram)

A heated clash broke out outside the Supreme Court on August 11 after its order to relocate stray dogs from Delhi-NCR to shelters. Viral video footage shows a lawyer slapping a dog lover twice before bystanders intervened. The altercation occurred on the same day the court directed civic bodies to move strays to CCTV-equipped shelters with sterilisation and vaccination facilities. Justice JB Pardiwala emphasised public interest, urging swift action. The order, prompted by rising dog bite and rabies cases, drew strong criticism from animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi, who called it “impractical” and “financially unviable.” Chief Justice BR Gavai has assured a review.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Moscow on August 20–21 to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, days after the US imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods over continued Russian oil purchases. The move follows Prime Minister Modi’s recent call with President Putin, where both discussed the Ukraine conflict and bilateral ties. The new US tariffs, to be implemented in two phases, will raise duties on Indian imports to 50% by August 27 unless resolved. India’s Foreign Ministry condemned the tariffs as “unfair” and vowed to defend its economic sovereignty against what it called Washington’s double standards. (PC: India Today)

US President Donald Trump has raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50% over India’s purchase of Russian oil. This has strained ties between the two countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now moving closer to China. Reports say direct flights between India and China may resume next month. Modi could announce the deal during his visit to China for the SCO meet on August 31. China has also eased curbs on urea exports to India. Experts say Trump’s move may push India towards stronger ties with both China and Russia, changing regional power dynamics. (PC: HT)

Aravind Srinivas, an Indian-origin CEO of Perplexity AI, has submitted an unsolicited all-cash bid of $34.5 billion (over ₹3.02 lakh crore) to acquire Google Chrome from Alphabet’s CEO, Sundar Pichai . The bold move comes as regulators consider compelling Google to divest Chrome amid antitrust scrutiny . Perplexity pledges to keep Chromium open-source, retain Google's default search engine setting, invest $3 billion over two years, and retain existing Chrome staff . Though the offer significantly exceeds Perplexity’s own valuation, analysts view it as a strategic media salvo rather than a likely acquisition.

India’s Supreme Court has directed the removal of all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR—from Delhi, Gurugram, Noida to Ghaziabad—within eight weeks, mandating their permanent relocation to shelters with no return allowed . PETA India promptly denounced the ruling as “inhumane,” “illogical,” “illegal,” and fraught with chaos, citing its conflict with the 2023 Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules that require sterilization and return of street dogs . Meanwhile, protests erupted at India Gate, with activists detained amid fierce debate, and voices including Rahul Gandhi, animal welfare advocates, and editorial boards opposing the directive as cruel and counterproductive. (PC: AP)

Animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi has strongly opposed the Supreme Court’s order to remove stray dogs from Delhi-NCR. Calling the plan “impractical, costly, and ecologically dangerous,” she said, “If you remove dogs, you will have rats. This happened in Paris in the 1880s.” Gandhi estimated the relocation would cost Rs 15,000 crore for shelters and Rs 5 crore weekly for food. She warned it could also increase the monkey population. Questioning the order’s legality, she cited an earlier “balanced judgment” on strays. Delhi’s government called stray dogs a “gigantic problem” and pledged to follow the directive with a phased approach. (PC: X)

On August 15 at 9 PM IST, Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 17 airs an Independence Day special where host Amitabh Bachchan interviews three female officers from the Indian Armed Forces — Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, and Commander Prerna Deosthalee. The officers share compelling, untold stories from Operation Sindoor, the swift military action triggered by the Pahalgam terror attack, highlighting bravery, teamwork, and precision—like how the mission unfolded in just 25 minutes. Their presence aims to inspire, but the promo sparked online controversy: critics accuse the government of leveraging the military for political PR through an entertainment show.   

In a rare show of fanfare, multiple companies in Singapore and India have announced paid holidays for employees to catch the first-day screening of Rajinikanth’s much-anticipated film Coolie, debuting on August 14, 2025. Singapore's Farmer Constructions PTE Ltd is offering Tamil workers a paid day off along with first-day-first-show tickets and SGD 30 for food and beverages, citing it as part of "workers welfare and stress management." Another Singapore company, SB MART, will shut operations from 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. In India, a Madurai-based firm is granting holiday plus free tickets, celebrating the superstar’s 50-year cinematic legacy. (PC: India Today)