A flash flood struck Dharali village following a massive collapse of glacial sediment—an estimated 360 million cubic meters of debris tumbled down from a height of around 6,700 m, likely due to a retrogressive slope failure, not just rainfall . The avalanche, equivalent to over 140,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools of mud and rock, reached the village in seconds, demolishing over 20 structures and claiming at least four lives . Experts warn the unstable hanging morainic deposits, exacerbated by glacier melt and steep terrain, demand urgent geological monitoring and tighter construction controls in hazard zones. (PC: The Times of India)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi strongly criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 50% tariff on Indian goods, calling it an act of “economic blackmail” intended to punish India for buying Russian oil. Gandhi accused the U.S. of attempting to “bully India into submission” and urged Prime Minister Modi to stand firm in national interest. He also hinted that Modi’s silence may be linked to U.S. probes into the Adani Group. Other Congress leaders warned that the tariff hike would damage India’s export economy and demanded a foreign policy reset. (PC: PTI)

On August 6, 2025, United Airlines experienced a major system outage caused by a failure in its decades-old Unimatic operations system. The glitch disrupted key functions including weight-and-balance calculations and flight tracking, triggering a temporary ground stop across major U.S. hubs such as Newark, Chicago, Houston, and San Francisco. The outage led to over 1,000 flight delays—roughly 34% of United’s daily schedule—and at least 76 cancellations. Though service resumed after several hours, delays continued through the day. The FAA supported recovery efforts. United confirmed it was not a cyberattack and classified the incident as a controllable disruption. (PC: AFP)

A six-year-old Indian-origin girl was racially attacked outside her home in Waterford City, Ireland. According to her mother, Anupa Achuthan, the girl was punched in the face by five boys and had a bicycle wheel pushed onto her private parts. The attackers, aged 12 to 14, allegedly called her a "dirty Indian" and told her to "go back to India." Anupa, an Irish citizen and nurse, said, "I could not protect her. I believed she was safe here." She is demanding counselling for the attackers. The Indian embassy has urged caution as racial attacks on Indians rise in Ireland.

India has strongly condemned US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, calling it "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable." The tariffs, effective from August 1, are reportedly in retaliation for India’s continued purchase of Russian oil and participation in the BRICS alliance. The Ministry of External Affairs asserted that India's imports are based on market needs to ensure energy security for its 1.4 billion citizens. India also pointed out that many Western nations continue trading with Russia. New Delhi warned it will take necessary measures to protect national interest and called out the double standards. (PC: HT)

“I am back,” declared Asian Games champion Annu Rani after throwing a season-best 62.59m to win the women's javelin title at the International Wiesław Maniak Memorial 2025 in Poland. The Indian star logged three 60m+ throws, with the winning effort her best since her 62.92m gold at Asian Games 2023. The 32-year-old now boosts her chances for World Championships qualification, where the entry mark stands at 64.00m. Türkiye’s Eda Tugsuz (58.36m) and Australia’s Lianna Davidson (58.24m) followed. Other Indians like Pooja (800m bronze), Jisna Mathew, Amoj Jacob, and Rajesh Ramesh also competed in Szczecin’s Continental Tour Bronze event.

A six-year-old Indian-origin girl was brutally assaulted outside her home in Waterford, Ireland, by a group of older boys who punched her, hit her private parts with a bicycle, and hurled racist abuse including “Go back to India.” The girl’s mother, an Irish citizen and nurse, said her daughter is now traumatized and afraid to go outside. She filed a complaint with the Garda but is calling for counselling, not punishment. The attack follows a rise in racially motivated assaults against Indians in Ireland, prompting widespread concern and fear among the Indian diaspora living in the country. (PC: India Today)

A flash flood in Uttarakhand’s Dharali has buried the historic Kalp Kedar temple, believed to be built by the Pandavas. The temple, dedicated to Shiva, was partially submerged for decades, with only its dome—featuring Kalabhairava's face—visible. Now, even that has vanished under debris, leaving locals devastated. Once a stop on Indo-Tibetan trade routes, Dharali was also a spiritual centre, its temple revered as part of the Panch Kedar lore. “It wasn’t just a flood. It took the heart of the village,” said a local. Apple orchards, footbridges, and homes were also swept away in the destruction. (PC: X)

Following Donald Trump's announcement of an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports—raising the total to 50%—the Congress party launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh posted on X, stating: “Indira Gandhi looked Nixon in the eye. Not huglomacy!” He criticised Modi’s “personalised and headline-grabbing” diplomacy with Trump, calling it an “abysmal failure.” India called the tariffs “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,” asserting its right to energy security. Russia defended India, rejecting US pressure as illegal. The new tariffs, targeting India’s Russian oil trade, will take effect on August 27. (PC: India Today)

The Kremlin described Wednesday’s talks between US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Vladimir Putin as “constructive,” just days before Donald Trump’s ceasefire deadline in the Ukraine war. Foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said both sides exchanged “signals” and discussed strategic cooperation, though withheld details pending Witkoff’s briefing to Trump. No joint statement was issued, and Ukraine remained silent. Despite US pressure, Russia continued its airstrikes, killing 2 in Zaporizhzhia. Trump recently warned of harsh sanctions, including a 25% tariff on India for buying Russian oil. Kyiv welcomed the pressure, as hopes remain low for peace by Friday. (PC: BBC)