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)  

Israel has rejected global condemnation after its security cabinet approved a five-point plan to seize Gaza City and expand the war. The plan includes disarming Hamas, returning hostages, demilitarising Gaza, taking security control, and setting up an alternative civil administration. It begins with relocating about one million Gaza City residents south, followed by a second offensive alongside increased aid. The UN, UK, France, Canada, Germany, and others warned it will worsen the humanitarian crisis. Germany halted arms exports, while Hamas called it a “new war crime.” Families of hostages and some Israeli officials voiced strong opposition. (PC: BBC)  

In the early hours of Saturday, August 9, 2025, a dispute escalated into gunfire near West 44th Street and 7th Avenue in New York City’s Times Square, injuring three individuals. A 19-year-old man was shot in the foot, a 65-year-old man in the leg, and an 18-year-old woman sustained a graze wound to her neck. All were rushed to Bellevue Hospital and are in stable condition. A 17-year-old suspect was promptly taken into custody and a firearm was recovered. Social media footage captured panicked crowds fleeing and emergency responders rushing to aid victims. (PC: The New York Times)

Kapil Sharma’s Surrey-based Kap’s Café was attacked for the second time in less than a month, with 9–25 shots fired, leaving bullet holes and shattered windows but no injuries. Canadian police are investigating. Soon after, a social media post from gangster Goldy Dhillon, linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claimed responsibility and warned “Mumbai next” if Sharma didn’t respond to calls. An audio threat from gang member Harry Boxer also surfaced, targeting anyone collaborating with Salman Khan and vowing to “ruin Mumbai’s atmosphere.” Authorities in both Canada and India are on alert amid heightened security concerns. (PC: AP)

India entered Day 5 of the fifth Test at The Oval under pressure—not only to secure a narrow win but also due to a warning from ICC match referee Jeff Crowe: if their over-rate wasn’t improved, they risked losing four World Test Championship (WTC) points for being six overs behind the required pace . Rather than altering strategy to avoid the penalty, coach Gautam Gambhir encouraged the team to go all out for victory . Pacers Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj responded, taking the remaining four England wickets in under an hour—India won by just six runs and avoided any points deduction. (PC: NDTV)  

A fast-moving wildfire—dubbed the Canyon Fire—ignited on August 7 near Lake Piru and has since scorched approximately 5,370 acres across Ventura and Los Angeles counties, reaching up to 8 square miles in size . Fueled by triple-digit heat, low humidity, and dry brush, the blaze remains volatile, with only about 25–30 percent contained. Mandatory evacuation orders now affect around 2,700 residents, while another 14,000–19,000 people are under evacuation warnings—with numerous structures threatened . Fire crews—over 400 strong with air support—are battling the fire, aided by cooler overnight temperatures to slow its spread . No civilian injuries have been reported, though one firefighter sustained a minor injury, and two minor structures were lost. (PC: AFP)

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a high-profile summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled for August 15 in Alaska, aimed at brokering a peace deal to end the Ukraine war. He described the meeting as “highly anticipated,” signaling a renewed diplomatic push amid stalled negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sharply responded, warning that any agreement struck without Ukraine’s direct involvement would amount to a “dead solution.” He firmly rejected the idea of ceding Ukrainian territory, emphasizing the need to preserve sovereignty. (PC: India Today)

Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton criticized President Trump's steep tariffs—totaling over 50%—on Indian goods tied to its purchase of Russian oil, calling the policy an “enormous mistake.” He argued that such heavy-handed measures, especially when contrasted with leniency toward China, risk reversing decades of U.S. efforts to pull India away from Russia and China, potentially driving New Delhi closer to both . Meanwhile, analysts warn the move could destabilize fragile U.S.–India relations and alter regional geopolitics. (PC: NDTV)