Over 600 retired Israeli security officials, including former heads of Mossad and Shin Bet, have written an open letter to US President Donald Trump, urging him to pressure Israel to end the war in Gaza. “Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel,” the letter states. The officials, part of the Commanders for Israel's Security group, added: “Your credibility with most Israelis can help steer Netanyahu in the right direction.” The appeal follows the release of distressing videos of Israeli hostages and amid worsening famine in Gaza. “Stop the Gaza War,” they wrote. “Time to do it in Gaza.” (PC: BBC)

US President Donald Trump on Monday warned of a tariff hike on India, accusing it of profiting from Russian oil during the Ukraine war. “India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then... selling it on the Open Market for big profits,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He added, “They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine.” Citing this, Trump said he would “substantially” raise the tariff India pays to the US. The remark has sparked concern over potential trade tensions between New Delhi and Washington. (PC: India Today)

Storm Floris has caused power cuts in Ireland, leaving around 10,000 homes, farms, and businesses without electricity. Most of the outages were reported in the northwest region. ESB Networks said the damage was caused by strong winds linked to the storm. The impact is said to be moderate and similar to previous storms. As of 10:30am, repair teams have been sent out and are working to restore power where it is safe. Storm Floris has also caused travel delays and high winds in parts of the UK, with gusts reaching 108mph in the Scottish Highlands. More disruptions are expected. (PC: PA)

Indian-American billionaire Vinod Khosla has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) could take over 80% of jobs in the next 3 to 5 years. Speaking on a podcast with Nikhil Kamath, Khosla said AI will change many fields, from finance to medicine. He advised young people to learn quickly and stay flexible. He believes the future will need generalists, not specialists. Khosla said services like education and healthcare could become nearly free with AI. He also said that people who learn to use AI will replace those who don’t. For him, the real power lies in how humans choose to use AI. (PC: khoslaventures.com)

Storm Floris has slammed parts of the UK, bringing winds as strong as 108mph. Scotland, northern England, and Northern Ireland are worst hit. Flights have been cancelled, trains stopped, and bridges closed. Around 10,000 homes in Ireland are without power. Campervans were blown over on roads, and councils paused services. Edinburgh Zoo closed due to high winds, and football fans were warned to travel safely. The Met Office issued yellow and amber alerts across the region. People are being asked to stay indoors and avoid travel. Emergency crews are working to fix power cuts and respond to damage across the country. (PC: PA)

India’s Test team has stepped into a new era under captain Shubman Gill, ending the England series 2-2 with a thrilling win at The Oval. Gill, now batting at No. 4, scored 754 runs in the series and showed signs of a strong future leader. Jasprit Bumrah took 14 wickets in three games, but fitness remains a concern. Mohammed Siraj played all five Tests and was the highest wicket-taker. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant stood out with consistent batting. Ravindra Jadeja contributed with the bat, while debutant Sai Sudharsan showed promise. India’s new core is forming, but questions around team balance remain. (PC: News18)

Buzz around Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood return grew after PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah met President Murmu just before the Article 370 anniversary. Both meetings were held on the same day but without public details, sparking social media speculation. Shah also met J&K leaders recently, and a key NDA meeting is planned. J&K lost statehood in 2019 and became a Union Territory. The Supreme Court had asked for early restoration. Rumours suggest a new law may be coming. Some fear J&K and Kashmir could be split. Many, including Omar Abdullah, are demanding full statehood and fresh elections soon. (PC: India Today)

India won a nail-biting Test at The Oval, beating England by six runs to draw the five-match series 2-2. Mohammed Siraj took five wickets, including the final one, as England fell short chasing 374. Joe Root and Harry Brook hit centuries, but their efforts went in vain. England needed just 35 runs on the last day but lost quick wickets. Siraj and Prasidh Krishna led India’s fightback. Yashasvi Jaiswal had earlier scored 118 for India. The win stopped England from achieving the highest chase ever at the venue. It was a historic and dramatic finish to a tough series. (PC: Action Images via Reuters)

Meta has offered a staggering $250 million compensation package to 24-year-old AI researcher Matt Deitke, doubling its initial $125 million bid after he declined. CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally intervened to secure Deitke, whose work on multimodal AI systems and autonomous agents has earned global acclaim, including an Outstanding Paper Award at NeurIPS 2022. Deitke co-founded Vercept, a startup backed by Eric Schmidt, focused on AI agents that act independently online. Meta’s aggressive recruitment reflects a fierce talent war among tech giants vying to build superintelligent systems. With offers rivaling elite sports contracts and access to massive computing resources, AI researchers have become Silicon Valley’s most sought-after stars in a race reshaping the future. (PC: Startup Pedia & India Today)

Tensions erupted outside the Thistle City Barbican Hotel in Islington, London, on August 2, as rival protest groups clashed over the housing of asylum seekers. The hotel, currently accommodating migrants, became the focal point for anti-immigration demonstrators, some affiliated with “Patriots of Britain” and counter-protesters from Stand Up To Racism, supported by Jeremy Corbyn and local community groups. Police imposed strict conditions under the Public Order Act and arrested nine individuals, including for racially aggravated offenses and assaulting emergency workers. Asylum seekers watched from hotel windows, some waving and blowing kisses. The protest reflects growing national tensions over immigration policy and the use of hotels for migrant housing amid calls for reform and community safety.