Skyroot Aerospace successfully conducted the first static test of its KALAM-1200 solid rocket motor at Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The test, held at 09:05 hrs on August 9, marks a major milestone for the Hyderabad-based private space startup. The KALAM-1200, an 11-meter-long, 1.7-meter-diameter monolithic composite motor with 30 tonnes of propellant, is the first stage of the Vikram-1 launch vehicle. It is the longest monolithic motor ever built at Sriharikota’s Solid Propellant Plant. ISRO provided design inputs and confirmed the motor’s performance met all predictions. This achievement aligns with India’s Space Policy 2023, which supports private sector participation and infrastructure development to boost the country’s commercial space economy. (PC: India Today & Reddit)

China has warmly welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, scheduled from August 31 to September 1. This marks PM Modi’s first visit to China since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. The summit, expected to be the largest in SCO history, will host leaders from over 20 countries and 10 international organizations. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun called it a “gathering of friendship,” signaling a thaw in bilateral ties. The visit follows Modi’s 2024 meeting with Xi Jinping in Kazan and comes amid rising U.S.-India trade tensions. The summit will focus on regional security, economic cooperation, and geopolitical coordination among member states.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Alaska on August 15 to discuss the Ukraine war. Trump announced the meeting via social media, and the Kremlin confirmed it, citing Alaska’s proximity to Russia. The announcement followed Trump’s controversial remarks suggesting Ukraine might need to cede territory to end the conflict. He stated that “some swapping of territories” could benefit both sides, though no details were provided. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded firmly, saying any resolution must include Ukraine and rejecting preconditions involving territorial concessions. The meeting marks Putin’s first U.S. visit in a decade and comes amid rising global pressure for a negotiated peace settlement. (PC: ABC & Hindustan Times)

Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton warned that President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on Indian goods could backfire geopolitically. Intended to penalize India for buying Russian oil and military equipment, the tariffs may instead push India closer to Russia and China. Bolton criticized Trump’s leniency toward China and argued that favoring Beijing over New Delhi undermines decades of U.S. diplomatic efforts. He called the move “entirely counterproductive,” noting that India faces harsher trade penalties despite being a strategic partner. Bolton emphasized that the White House’s approach risks eroding trust and long-term alliances. The Indian government is currently studying the implications of the tariffs and potential retaliatory measures. (PC: BBC & The Times Of India)

Laxman Das, a 51-year-old Indian-origin hotel chef and Irish citizen, was brutally assaulted and robbed by three men in Dublin’s Charlemont Place while cycling to work. The attackers stole his phone, cash, and electric bike, leaving him with injuries to his legs, shoulder, arm, and eye socket. He was hospitalized and discharged the same evening. The incident, though not confirmed as racially motivated, comes amid a surge in attacks on Indians in Ireland, including assaults on children and cab drivers. The Indian Embassy has issued a safety advisory urging citizens to avoid deserted areas and remain vigilant. Das, who has lived in Ireland for 22 years, expressed shock and concern over rising violence. (PC: India Today & Get Your Guide)

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh confirmed that India shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one AEW&C aircraft during Operation Sindoor, marking the largest-ever recorded surface-to-air kill at 300 km. Speaking at a memorial lecture in Bengaluru, Singh praised the S-400 air defence system as a “game-changer” that prevented Pakistani aircraft from deploying long-range glide bombs. He emphasized the operation’s success was driven by strong political will and coordination among military branches. Singh also dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims of brokering peace through trade leverage. Satellite images revealed extensive damage to Jaish-e-Mohammed’s Bahawalpur headquarters, with minimal civilian casualties. The operation aimed solely at terror targets, not military escalation. (PC: X)

Eight people, including two children, died after a wall collapsed in Delhi’s Jaitpur area amid heavy overnight rain. The victims, mostly scrap sellers living in jhuggis near an old temple in Harinagar, were trapped when the wall suddenly gave way. All were rushed to Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS but succumbed to their injuries. The deceased include Shabibul, Rabibul, Muttu Ali, Rubina, Dolly, Hashibul, Rukhsana (6), and Hasina (7). Authorities have since evacuated the jhuggis to prevent further tragedies. The collapse occurred during intense rainfall on Raksha Bandhan, which caused widespread waterlogging and traffic chaos across Delhi. IMD issued a red alert, and the Yamuna neared warning levels.

Chaos erupted during a protest march by the parents of the RG Kar rape and murder victim in Kolkata, marking one year since the incident. The march, part of the 'Nabanna Abhiyan', aimed to reach the state secretariat to demand justice. Tensions escalated when demonstrators attempted to breach barricades, prompting police to lathi-charge the crowd. The victim’s mother alleged that police roughed her up and broke her bangles without provocation. “Why are they stopping us? All we want is justice,” she said. The protest highlights ongoing public outrage and calls for accountability in the case that shocked the nation. The incident has reignited scrutiny of police conduct and political response.

As of August 9, 2025, Operation Akhal—launched on August 1 in Kulgam’s dense Akhal Devsar forests—enters its ninth day amid sustained gunfights with entrenched terrorists. The Indian Army confirmed that Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh were killed during intense overnight firing, with two additional soldiers injured. The Chinar Corps paid tribute to the fallen heroes, pledging continued resolve. Security forces have also neutralised one militant and recovered weapons from a hideout in nearby Baramulla. The operation remains underway, with forces employing drones, helicopters, para commandos, and tight cordons to flush out militants. (PC: India Today)

India’s decision to withdraw from the RCEP in 2019—driven by farmers’ and dairy cooperatives’ backlash—now mirrors its current stance in stalled India–US trade negotiations . The United States is pressing India to open its market to American corn, soyabean, ethanol, and dairy products, but New Delhi remains firm, labelling these as “red lines” . With no compromise foreseen in these politically sensitive and livelihood-linked sectors, trade talks have reached a standstill, underscoring India’s commitment to protecting its agricultural and rural stakeholders from external pressures. (PC: AP)