The UK has released its first one-pound coins featuring King Charles III, started Tuesday. The Royal Mint has issued 2.975 million of these coins through Post Offices and banks. The new design includes British bees and is part of a series of eight new coins that will feature conservation-focused designs, such as the Hazel Dormouse, Puffin, and Atlantic Salmon, reflecting King Charles III’s environmental concerns. The Royal Mint has produced coinage for British monarchs since Alfred the Great, and this new coin represents the latest addition to that tradition. The release is a nod to the monarch’s commitment to preserving wildlife and supporting conservation efforts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has departed for Poland, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 45 years. Modi’s trip will include meetings with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to discuss and strengthen bilateral relations. The visit aligns with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Poland. Modi described Poland as a key economic partner in Central Europe and expressed his intention to engage with the Indian community there. The visit is expected to focus on enhancing economic cooperation and exploring new avenues for partnership between the two countries.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are divorcing after two years of marriage. Lopez filed for divorce on August 20, 2024, in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The couple, dubbed Bennifer, married in Las Vegas in July 2022 and had a larger ceremony in Georgia the following month. They first met in 2003 while working on Gigli and planned to marry in 2004 but broke up. They rekindled their relationship almost 20 years later. The court filing requires Lopez or her attorney to notify Affleck with a copy of the petition to dissolve their marriage.

Dalit and Adivasi organizations have announced a nationwide 'Bharat Bandh' on August 21, demanding stronger representation and protection for marginalized communities. The call for the strike follows a recent Supreme Court verdict on Scheduled Caste (SC) reservations, which these groups believe undermines the framework established by the landmark Indira Sawhney case. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal have expressed support for the bandh. The National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) opposes the Supreme Court's recent judgment, arguing it conflicts with previous rulings regarding reservation policies.

Following the rape and murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata, the Karnataka government has established a task force to improve the safety of doctors. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced this decision after a meeting with medical organizations and health department officials at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. The task force is charged with reviewing and recommending safety measures for doctors within a month, including legal protections. Rao underscored the government's commitment to safeguarding medical professionals, particularly women, in the state. The move aims to address growing concerns about the security of healthcare workers.

Internet services were restored in Badlapur, Maharashtra, after being suspended due to tensions over the sexual assault of two young girls by a school sweeper. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) will investigate the case. The assault occurred on August 13 in a school toilet, involving two girls aged three and four. The incident was reported to authorities on August 16 when one of the girls told her parents. Akshay Shinde, the accused, was arrested on August 17. Local train services on the Ambernath-Karjat route resumed after being halted for 10 hours due to a protest at Badlapur railway station.

On Wednesday, Ukraine carried out a widespread drone attack on Russia, with Russian air defense units destroying three drones near Moscow and 15 others over the Bryansk region. The three drones heading toward Moscow were shot down in Podolsk, about 38 kilometers south of the Kremlin, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. He reported no casualties or damage where the drone debris fell. In the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, Governor Alexander Bogomaz also confirmed that there were no casualties or damage from the drone attack. The incident highlights ongoing hostilities between Ukraine and Russia.

Germany is reportedly planning to reduce its military aid to Ukraine by 94% over the next three years, decreasing support from £6.8 billion to £425 million by 2027, according to a report in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The report has led to accusations of betrayal in Berlin, although there has been no official response from Chancellor Olaf Scholz or the ruling coalition. In Kyiv, the report is being dismissed as manipulation by pro-Russian factions. However, Germany was already expected to halve its aid to Ukraine next year, raising concerns about the future of its support amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

A 47-year-old government school teacher, Pramod Sardar, was arrested in Akola district for allegedly showing pornographic content to six girl students and sexually abusing them for months. The victims, Class 8 students, reported the incident to their parents and a toll-free helpline, leading to an investigation and the teacher's arrest. An FIR has been registered against Sardar, who is accused of showing porn videos and inappropriately touching the girls for four months. The case highlights the need for vigilance and prompt action to protect students from sexual abuse.

The ‘Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti’ has called for a Bharat Bandh on Wednesday to protest a recent Supreme Court ruling allowing further sub-classification within Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Dalit and Adivasi groups argue the decision threatens constitutional rights and demand a reversal. Support for the bandh includes political parties BSP, JMM, and RJD. The shutdown will impact public transport in Rajasthan, Kerala, and Uttar Pradesh, but emergency services, hospitals, and educational institutes will remain operational. No official announcements on the status of banks or government offices have been made.