Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday addressed students and competitive exam aspirants in Prayagraj, focusing on unemployment, paper leaks and India’s young population. At the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme, Gandhi described 40 crore young Indians as the country’s biggest strength and built his message around “dard, data and daulat”. He said expensive education was failing to guarantee jobs and claimed only 12 out of 1,000 young Indians secured permanent employment. Gandhi also called data a key economic asset in the age of AI and criticised social media addiction. The BJP hit back, asking why he did not visit protesting students in Jharkhand. (PC: India Today)

Former US President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer has spread to his bones and is causing significant pain, his son Hunter Biden said in a BBC interview. Hunter described the illness as “very painful” and “debilitating”, saying it has been difficult for the family to watch. Biden, 83, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer in May 2025. Despite his condition, Hunter said his father remains active and continues to speak publicly about issues important to him. The latest update highlights the seriousness of Biden’s illness as he continues treatment and remains engaged in public life. (PC: The Indian Express)

The US is considering ending the 60-day grace period that allows certain foreign workers to remain in the country after losing their jobs, according to a proposed immigration change under review by the White House. The plan has not yet become a rule, and full details have not been made public. If approved, affected workers and dependants could have to leave the US much sooner after employment ends. The current provision covers H-1B and several other visa categories, giving workers time to find new jobs or explore immigration options. The change could significantly affect Indian professionals, who make up the largest share of H-1B beneficiaries. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with US Vice President JD Vance by phone on Saturday, August 8, to discuss ways to strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. The leaders reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding ties in trade, defence, critical and emerging technologies, energy security and critical minerals, according to the government. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest. During the call, Modi congratulated Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, on the birth of their son and conveyed his best wishes to the family. The US has not released details of the conversation. (PC: HT)

The government has clarified that UPI payments will remain free for users, even as a new law allows charges to be introduced on some transactions. Person-to-person payments will continue to have no fees, while most merchant transactions will also remain free. The government said a nominal, threshold-based Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) could be introduced for a limited group of merchant payments in the future. It said the move is aimed at supporting UPI’s long-term sustainability, cybersecurity, fraud prevention and infrastructure upgrades. The government also rejected claims of external influence, calling them “unfounded, completely false and misleading.” (PC: India Today)

Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Todd Blanche has been narrowly confirmed as the US attorney general after a 50-49 Senate vote. Blanche, who had served as acting attorney general since April, secured confirmation after Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joined Democrats in opposing him. Senator Bill Cassidy cast the deciding vote, saying Blanche was the best option Trump would put forward. Blanche faced scrutiny over his handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents and a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponisation” fund. Murkowski cited concerns about the politicisation of the Justice Department. Blanche said he was “deeply honoured” by Trump’s trust and confidence. (PC: BBC)

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), led by Sukhbir Singh Badal, has backed the Women’s Reservation Bill and the Delimitation Bill, a day after Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At a meeting in Chandigarh, SAD leaders demanded the immediate implementation of women’s reservation and supported a “fair and equitable” delimitation process. The party also backed the Centre’s proposal for a uniform 50% increase in parliamentary seats across all states. SAD leader Naresh Gujral said the decision was logical, noting that the party has long supported women’s reservation and considers delimitation necessary. The move comes amid renewed political discussions over the SAD-BJP relationship. (PC: HT)

Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, has died at the age of 68 after a long battle with illness, reports said. He passed away on Friday night at a clinic in Rosario, Argentina, Messi’s hometown. Newell’s Old Boys, Messi’s boyhood club, confirmed his death and paid tribute to Jorge for his role in supporting his son’s football career. Jorge was closely involved in major decisions throughout Messi’s career, including his move from Argentina to Barcelona and later transfers to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami. The family had earlier denied reports of his death during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (PC: India Today)

Ranjit Bajaj has changed his stance on joining India’s U-15 football team for the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan. He had earlier rejected the team manager role, citing differences with head coach Bibiano Fernandes over footballing philosophies. Bajaj has now said he is ready to take up the role if Fernandes is not involved and he is given full control. In an Instagram video, Bajaj said two coaches with different visions cannot work together. He also said his decisions are guided by India’s long-term goals for the 2034 World Cup and 2036 Olympics. (PC: NDTV)

Portugal After Being Promised ₹1.5 Lakh Job   A 28-year-old woman from Nagpur was allegedly trafficked to Portugal after a Pune-based consultancy promised her a cashier’s job paying ₹1.5 lakh a month. The woman reportedly paid around ₹11 lakh in installments for visa and other paperwork after contacting ‘We Migrate’ through Instagram. After reaching Portugal, her passport was allegedly seized and she was held captive for 2 days before being sold to a beer shop owner. She was allegedly forced to work and subjected to physical and mental torture. After nearly a month, she escaped through Lisbon and Madrid and returned to India via Doha. Pune police have booked 8 accused. (PC: NDTV)