India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) faced a temporary outage on Thursday evening, causing inconvenience to users across the country. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which manages UPI, clarified that the disruption stemmed from technical issues in a few banks' internal systems. NPCI assured users its own platform was operating normally and that it coordinated with banks to resolve the issue quickly. The outage triggered complaints on social media. UPI processed over 18 billion transactions worth ₹24 lakh crore in June 2025. Meanwhile, the debate continues over funding the platform, which is currently subsidised by the Indian government. (PC: India Today)

India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to strengthen energy and defence ties, as US President Donald Trump threatened harsher tariffs on India for importing Russian oil. Doval confirmed Putin’s upcoming visit to India, calling the strategic partnership “special” and “highly valued.” Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu echoed that Russia and India share “time-tested ties” and urged a full-scale Modi-Putin dialogue. This would be Putin’s first visit to India since the Ukraine war began. Trump, meanwhile, warned Putin of increased sanctions if aggression in Ukraine continues, hinting at a summit in the UAE. (PC: X)

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called Indian PM Narendra Modi to express support against US President Donald Trump’s 50% “unilateral” tariffs on Indian and Brazilian goods. Lula said both nations are “most affected” and must defend multilateralism. The leaders discussed strengthening ties, increasing bilateral trade to over $20 billion by 2030, and integrating digital platforms like India’s UPI and Brazil’s PIX. Lula confirmed a state visit to India in 2026, with Vice-President Alckmin visiting in October. Lula also slammed Trump, stating Brazil won’t “take orders from a gringo,” and vowed to regulate US tech companies operating in Brazil. (PC: HT)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel plans to take full control of Gaza. In an interview, he said Israel does not want to rule Gaza but wants to create a security zone. Netanyahu said Arab forces should run Gaza without threats to Israel. His comments came as Israel’s security cabinet met to approve the plan. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization said nearly 12,000 children in Gaza are now suffering from malnutrition. Aid is still not enough. Photos also showed aid being dropped into Gaza by air. The situation remains tense as leaders discuss the next steps. (PC: Reuters)

AAP MP Ashok Mittal wrote an open letter to US President Donald Trump after the US raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50%. He warned that if 146 crore Indians boycotted US companies, the impact would be huge. Mittal called the tariff move “disappointing” and said India’s economy is strong and growing fast. He reminded Trump that many US firms earn billions from India and that much of America’s tech runs on Indian code. He urged the US to choose peace and talks, not pressure. India has called the tariff hike unfair and said it will protect its own interests. (PC: ANI)

More than 25 gunshots were fired at comedian Kapil Sharma’s cafe in Surrey, Canada—the second such attack less than a month. Two gangs, led by Goldy Dhillon and Lawrence Bishnoi, claimed responsibility in social media posts. A video of the shooting has surfaced, where a voice warns of more action if their "target" doesn't respond. “Next action will be in Mumbai,” the voice says. The attack has raised serious concerns. Mumbai Police and other security agencies are now investigating the threat. Kapil Sharma has not commented yet. The reason behind the attacks is still unclear, but police believe it may involve extortion.  (PC: @thekapscafe_/Instagram)

A large crowd marched from City Hall to the Dáil in Dublin to protest a racially motivated assault on an Indian man in Tallaght, which has been widely condemned as a hate crime. The 40‑year‑old victim was violently attacked by a group of youths—stripped and beaten—despite evidence disproving the perpetrators’ false allegations. The migrant community, supported by activists and residents, held a silent vigil outside the Department of Justice and submitted a petition urging stronger hate crime protections and enforcement. Organisers highlighted under‑reporting of such attacks and growing fears among migrants.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India will protect its farmers, even if it means facing high US tariffs. His comments came after President Trump raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50% due to India buying oil from Russia. Modi said, “India will not compromise on farmers’ interests. I’m ready to pay the price.” India called the US move unfair and said it will take all steps to protect national interests. The tariff hike has strained US-India ties. Talks on a trade deal have also failed. Sectors like textiles and food exports could be hit if the issue continues. (PC: AFP)

The Election Commission has asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to sign a formal declaration after he accused the EC of helping BJP “steal” votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He claimed over 1 lakh fake or invalid voters were added in Bangalore Central. Karnataka and Maharashtra election officers sent letters asking him to provide names and proof. They warned that false claims can lead to legal action. Rahul Gandhi responded, saying, “This is EC’s own data. I’m saying it publicly—take it as an oath.” He added that the EC has not denied the data or proven him wrong. (PC: Hindustan Times/Sanjeev Verma)

A major controversy erupted after the Delhi Police referred to Bengali (Bangla) as the “Bangladeshi national language” in a letter seeking translation help for a document. The remark sparked widespread backlash from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), with leaders like Mamata Banerjee and Mahua Moitra slamming it as an insult to Indian Bengalis and their linguistic identity. TMC demanded an apology from the Home Ministry, calling the language mislabeling “anti-national” and “unconstitutional.” The backlash drew support from political parties like Congress, DMK, CPI-ML, and prominent Bengali artists defending Bangla as India’s rich cultural treasure.