Union Minister Piyush Goyal, speaking at the Business Today India@100 Summit, declared India “will not bow down to anybody” amid global trade tensions, including US tariffs over Russian oil imports. Highlighting 6.5% growth and strong economic fundamentals, he predicted higher exports this year. Goyal announced the EFTA free trade agreement will start on October 1, bringing $100 billion investment and creating up to 50 lakh jobs. Rejecting claims of deglobalisation, he said India is restructuring trade ties while pursuing deals with multiple nations. He criticised Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on the economy, calling them “demeaning” and asserting India will always emerge victorious. (PC: India Today)

Germany has suspended military equipment exports to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Friday. The move follows Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City, which Berlin says makes it “increasingly difficult to understand” how the offensive would achieve disarming Hamas or freeing hostages. Merz stressed Israel now bears “greater responsibility” for aiding civilians and urged full access for UN and NGO relief operations. A UN-backed report warns famine is unfolding in Gaza. Berlin also cautioned Israel against further steps toward annexing the West Bank, signalling a rare policy shift from a close ally. (PC: NDTV)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Friday, reaffirming their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” amid heightened US-India trade tensions. The discussion came after US President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian exports, citing New Delhi’s ongoing energy trade with Moscow. Modi thanked Putin for his “insightful” updates on Ukraine and extended an invitation to visit India later this year. Both leaders pledged to boost cooperation in defence, trade, and energy, with India condemning the US tariffs as “unfair and unjustified” and vowing to protect its farmers’ and exporters’ interests. (PC: HT)

OpenAI’s o3 model has triumphed over Elon Musk’s Grok 4 in the final of a Kaggle-hosted AI chess tournament, crowning it the top large language model in the contest. The event featured eight AI systems from OpenAI, xAI, Google, Anthropic, DeepSeek, and Moonshot AI. While Grok had dominated earlier rounds, it faltered in the final, repeatedly losing its queen. Chess grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura called OpenAI’s play “convincing” and Grok’s performance “blundering.” Google’s Gemini secured third place. The tournament, designed to test reasoning and strategy skills, echoes historic human vs. computer chess battles like Garry Kasparov’s loss to IBM’s Deep Blue in 1997. (PC: BBC)

American comedian Jimmy Fallon roasted US President Donald Trump’s tariff plans affecting over 90 countries, including India, Brazil, and Canada, on The Tonight Show. Fallon joked, “The only places Trump didn’t charge are North Korea and Epstein’s island,” while warning of soaring prices from Brazil tariffs. He also mocked Trump’s support for actor Sydney Sweeney amid backlash over her American Eagle ad, imagining Trump prioritising “building a new ballroom to meet Sydney Sweeney.” Fallon further quipped about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s planned meeting with Trump, saying other leaders would think, “Oo, you’re in trouble.” His monologue mixed political satire with pop culture humor. (PC: India Today)

Ahead of its August 14 release, Rajinikanth’s Coolie is already drawing glowing praise from early viewers, with fans calling it his best performance since Kabali (2016). A private screening saw netizens lauding Nagarjuna as the film’s “backbone” and Aamir Khan’s extended cameo for “turning the theatre into a stadium.” Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the high-octane action entertainer will clash with War 2 at the box office. Advance bookings have crossed $2 million globally, including $1.3 million from North America. Special early screenings are planned in Kerala, Karnataka, the UK, and Dubai, while Tamil Nadu will open shows from 9 am due to regulations. (PC: X)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would “give PM Modi some advice on dealing with Trump, but privately,” calling both leaders his “terrific friends.” He described the US-India relationship as “very solid” and urged both nations to resolve the tariff dispute. Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian exports to 50%, citing India’s continued imports of Russian crude oil. India condemned the move as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,” warning it could hurt sectors like textiles and marine exports. Modi vowed not to compromise on farmers’ and fishermen’s interests, saying he was ready to “pay the price.” (PC: X)

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has withdrawn the previously proposed Income Tax (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, citing the need for revisions and wider consultations. The withdrawn bill aimed at simplifying tax structures and implementing key reforms. A new version of the bill is set to be introduced on August 11, 2025. The move comes amid concerns raised by stakeholders and MPs regarding potential loopholes and lack of clarity in the earlier draft. The fresh bill is expected to address these issues while aligning with India’s evolving economic and fiscal priorities. (PC: ANI)

An Indian man in the UK is facing deportation after being found guilty of relentlessly harassing his female colleague at a UK zoo for over six months. Despite a restraining order, the man continued to send her unwanted messages, gifts, and follow her, causing severe distress. The court heard that his obsession disrupted the victim’s personal and professional life. Authorities have deemed his actions a serious breach of conduct and public safety. Following his conviction, deportation proceedings have begun, with UK immigration officials emphasizing zero tolerance for such behavior regardless of nationality or profession. (PC: The Times of India)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday challenged Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to either sign its declaration form, required for raising objections to the electoral roll, or apologise for his “absurd” voter theft allegations. Gandhi had claimed over 1 lakh fake voters in Bengaluru Central during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Rejecting the demand, he said he had already taken an oath in Parliament. The ECI cited the Kamal Nath case, asserting legal procedures must be followed. It accused Gandhi of sensationalising the issue instead of using lawful channels, warning repeated disregard for court rulings undermines the electoral process. (PC: India Today)