India’s AK-203 assault rifle, named ‘Sher’, has achieved 100% indigenisation, with full-scale domestic production set to begin at Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited’s Korwa plant in Amethi. Ten fully indigenous prototypes will be handed to the Indian Army within a month for user, quality assurance, infantry and environmental trials. The rifles have already completed 3,000 successful factory test firings. Deliveries are scheduled from April 2027, with 7,000 rifles planned in the first three months. IRRPL aims to produce 1.5 lakh annually and fulfil its over-six-lakh rifle order by 2030-31, ahead of schedule. Localising 50 major components, 180 child parts and 1,600 precision gauges required extensive engineering work. Export plans are also underway. (PC: News18)

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced a youth protest march on September 5 from India Gate to the New Delhi Police Headquarters, accusing the Centre of failing to fulfil commitments that led to the withdrawal of the students’ movement on July 25. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the march would remain peaceful and warned that the party would not accept “vishwasghaat” (betrayal) against Gen Z protesters, young demonstrators and families of those who died. Das also questioned whether the Narendra Modi government intended to honour its promises to student protesters. The announcement comes a month after the CJP’s Jantar Mantar protest spread across India, drawing attention to the party’s demands and its criticism of the Centre’s handling of the movement. (PC: PTI)

A 19-year-old Indian-origin student, Alli Renee Singh, died after the car she was travelling in plunged off a cliff into the ocean near Santa Cruz, California. The accident happened on April 13 near the Steamer Lane surf break. Singh was studying psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. A male passenger escaped with minor injuries. Rescue teams found Singh trapped inside the submerged car. Four professional divers helped bring her out. She was taken to a hospital but later died from her injuries. Her family asked for privacy. The accident also raised concerns over coastal erosion along West Cliff Drive.

IndiGo co-founder Rakesh Gangwal has pledged another ₹300 crore to IIT Kanpur’s Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology. His total contribution to the project has now reached ₹400 crore. Gangwal had earlier donated ₹100 crore in 2022. The latest contribution also includes a matching grant. He will match donations from alumni and other supporters up to ₹300 crore. The medical school plans to build a 500-bed super-speciality hospital and a 200-bed cancer care research centre. The project aims to combine medicine, engineering and technology. IIT Kanpur said the new funding will help speed up the project’s development.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s planned three-day visit to Delhi has been postponed. The visit was expected to begin on August 23. The delay comes as India-Bangladesh ties face fresh strain. Dhaka has asked China to help with the Teesta water project and has shown interest in a defence pact with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey. Bangladesh has also sought the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India. India has raised concerns over security and radical groups in Bangladesh. Rahman may also skip the BRICS summit, missing a chance for talks on trade, energy, transport and security.

Heavy rain and strong winds disrupted normal life across Delhi-NCR on Monday, causing widespread waterlogging, traffic jams and major flight delays. According to FlightRadar24, over 390 flights were delayed, 26 cancelled and 15 diverted due to adverse weather. Several areas of Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurugram reported severe congestion. Gurugram authorities advised offices, schools and other institutions to allow work from home on August 25. The India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for Gurugram and Faridabad and forecast more heavy rainfall across parts of Delhi-NCR and nearby states. (PC: India Today)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to begin an eight-day official visit to Canada and the United States, focusing on strengthening India's economic and bilateral ties. During her visit, Sitharaman is expected to hold meetings with government officials, business leaders and international financial institutions. The discussions will focus on trade, investment and economic cooperation. In Canada, she will attend key meetings aimed at deepening engagement between the two countries. Her US visit will include engagements with global financial institutions and business representatives. The trip comes as India seeks to expand international economic partnerships and strengthen cooperation with key global partners. (PC: BBC)

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has announced a march in Delhi on September 5, as the group continues its campaign over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and other public issues. The proposed march is expected to head towards India Gate, though permission from Delhi Police is yet to be confirmed. CJP leaders have been organising protests and campaigns in recent weeks, drawing attention to issues including education and government accountability. The announcement comes as the organisation expands its activities beyond its earlier protests. Police and organisers are expected to coordinate on security and other arrangements ahead of the planned march. (PC: BBC)

Gurugram authorities have advised offices to allow employees to work from home and asked schools to conduct online classes after heavy rain caused widespread flooding and traffic disruption. The city received around 70 mm of rainfall by 1.30 pm, affecting major areas including Rajiv Chowk, IFFCO Chowk and Old Delhi Road. Several roads and parts of the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway were submerged, leaving vehicles stranded and commuters stuck in long traffic jams. The district administration issued the advisory as residents raised concerns over repeated waterlogging and poor civic infrastructure during the monsoon season. (PC: NDTV)

Ukraine launched a wave of drone strikes targeting warehouses of Ozon, Russia's second-largest online retailer, causing major fires and injuries across several southern regions. Ozon said its logistics facilities in Krasnodar, Dagestan, Stavropol and Adygea were affected, with workers evacuated from some sites. Russian authorities said three children were killed in a drone strike in the Krasnodar region, while several others were hospitalised. The attacks follow recent Ukrainian strikes on Wildberries logistics hubs, which Kyiv says support Russia's military supply network, a claim Moscow denies. Ozon shares fell sharply as the Kremlin considered possible support for affected businesses. (PC: BBC)