On Day 8 of the Paris Olympics 2024, India faced mixed results. Boxer Nishant Dev was eliminated in the men’s 71kg quarterfinal by Marco Verde, and archer Deepika Kumari lost to South Korea’s Nam Su-hyeon in her quarterfinal match. Despite these setbacks, India’s hockey team secured a historic win over Australia, and sailors Vishnu Saravanan and Nethra Kumanan performed well in their races. Lakshya Sen advanced to the semifinals with a strong performance. Manu Bhaker finished fourth in the 25m Air Pistol final, just missing a medal. As of Day 8, China leads with 36 medals (16 gold, 11 silver), the United States follows with 55 medals (12 gold, 23 silver), and France is in third place with 41 medals (12 gold, 14 silver). India ranks 50th with 3 bronze.

Britain is experiencing widespread unrest following the murder of three young girls in Southport. Riots have erupted in cities including Liverpool, Sunderland, and Hull, sparked by false social media claims that the suspect, Axel Rudakubana, 17, was a radical Muslim migrant. The violence has led to injuries among police officers and damage to property. Authorities have increased security at mosques and deployed extra officers. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned the far-right violence and supported strong police action. Protests and counter-protests are expected to continue over the weekend.

A cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh has resulted in 9 deaths and left 45 people missing. Flash floods, triggered by cloudbursts on July 31, struck Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla districts. Rescue teams, including Army, NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, and local authorities, are using drones and sensors to find the missing. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced immediate relief of Rs 50,000 per victim and additional aid for affected families. The state has reported damages amounting to Rs 662 crore, with 79 lives lost in rain-related incidents since June 27.

Facing extreme temperatures in Paris, the Indian sports ministry has dispatched 40 portable air conditioners to the Olympic Games Village for its athletes. The decision, made after discussions with the Indian Olympic Association and the French Embassy, aims to provide relief from the severe heat, which has reached up to 40°C. With many athletes struggling in the sweltering conditions, the AC units are expected to improve comfort and performance. This move follows similar measures by other countries concerned about the heat, as the Games organizers opted against traditional air conditioning to reduce carbon emissions.

Saudi Arabia has unveiled an ambitious plan to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, featuring 11 new stadiums across five cities. Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and NEOM will host the tournament, with eight stadiums in the capital. NEOM’s futuristic 46,000-seat stadium, set 350 meters above ground, will be a key venue. The project aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, aiming to diversify its economy and enhance global infrastructure. The development also includes refurbishing existing stadiums and creating 134 training sites. FIFA is expected to approve the bid by December 2024.

Daljit Singh Chawdhary, a 1990 batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the new Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF). He succeeds Nitin Agarwal, who was repatriated to his parent Kerala cadre. Chawdhary, who currently serves as the Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), brings over 34 years of experience. He has held central deputations with ITBP and CRPF. A renowned marksman and qualified skydiver, Chawdhary has received multiple police medals, including the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service.

Veteran Indian shooting figures, including Raninder Singh and coach Jaspal Rana, have criticized the Khelo India initiative, claiming it fails to produce results and harms the junior program's effectiveness. They urge the return of the program to the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) to ensure future competitiveness, particularly for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Rana also advocates for greater involvement of local experts like Abhinav Bindra over foreign coaches. The call comes despite India's successful performance at the Paris Games, where the shooting team won three bronze medals, breaking a 12-year medal drought.

Algeria's Imane Khelif made history by securing Algeria's first Olympic medal in women’s boxing on August 3, after defeating Hungary's Anna Hamori in a unanimous decision. Khelif's dominant performance in the quarter-final round comes amid intense scrutiny over her gender, with the International Olympic Committee affirming her eligibility to compete. The 25-year-old, tearful after her victory, faced significant online abuse but remained focused on her goal. Her father expressed pride and shared medical documents to affirm her identity. Despite the controversy, Khelif’s win is a landmark achievement for Algeria in the Paris Olympics.              

Bangladeshi student leaders vowed to continue their nationwide civil disobedience campaign until Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigns, following a deadly police crackdown on protests in July that killed over 200 people. The protests began over a controversial quota system for civil service jobs and have escalated into a broader movement against Hasina’s government. Students Against Discrimination, the group leading the protests, rejected talks with Hasina and called for a halt in tax and utility payments starting Sunday. The campaign evokes the 1971 liberation struggle, led by Hasina's father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Vice President Kamala Harris has declined Donald Trump’s proposal to debate on Fox News, sticking to the previously scheduled ABC debate on September 10. Trump's campaign announced the Fox News debate for September 4, but Harris’s campaign accused Trump of trying to back out of the agreed ABC debate. The Harris campaign reiterated her commitment to the September 10 debate, initially set with Joe Biden before he ended his reelection bid. Trump, citing conflicts with ABC, suggested holding town-hall-style events instead. The Democratic National Committee confirmed Harris as the nominee after Biden's endorsement.