Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tianjin, China, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, his first visit in seven years. Leaders from 10 member states will participate on August 31 and September 1. Modi is set for bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The visit comes amid U.S.-India trade tensions and signals a potential restoration of India-China relations, crucial for trade, regional balance, and India’s multidimensional foreign policy strategy.

Amid tensions over U.S. tariff hikes, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has declared that “national interest comes above all else—India has no permanent friends or enemies.”

Speaking on defense growth, Singh said India does not view any country as an enemy but will not compromise its people’s interests.

He highlighted India’s defense export boom—from less than ₹700 crore in 2014 to ₹24,000 crore today—signaling the country’s rise from a buyer to a major supplier.

“Under self-reliance, India now builds all its warships domestically, and the Navy has pledged not to buy from abroad,” he added.

The statement comes as former U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian products.

Following the release of the inquiry report on the Sambhal riots in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath claimed the findings proved the violence was a “planned conspiracy” targeting Hindus.

Yogi said, “At independence, Hindus made up 45% of Sambhal’s population. Today that figure has fallen to 15%, while Muslims now make up 85%. Under SP and Congress rule, Hindus were repeatedly attacked. But under the double-engine government, appeasement is over.”

The commission reported that outside instigators were brought in to fuel unrest, with extremist groups exploiting arms and drug smuggling.

However, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi dismissed the findings, calling them politically motivated. “In a region like Sambhal, known for its multi-religious heritage, it is unfair to pin the blame solely on Muslims. If outsiders carried out the violence, where was the administration? Why does the report not highlight security failures? This report is nothing but election politics,” Owaisi said.

Human Rights Watch has accused India of abusing and forcibly displacing Rohingya refugees since May 2025. Hundreds have been arbitrarily detained, and many reportedly tortured. Authorities allegedly confiscated their belongings and UNHCR registration cards, while some were forced to swim to Myanmar’s coast. The BJP-led operation targeted Rohingyas and Bengali-speaking Muslims, reflecting the party’s portrayal of them as “illegal immigrants.” Many fled to Bangladesh, where HRW interviewed nine refugees in Cox’s Bazar who recounted harassment, confiscation of property, and forced displacement.

India and Canada have appointed new high commissioners to each other’s countries, signaling a thaw in bilateral relations. Christopher Cutter will serve as Canada’s High Commissioner to India, while Dinesh K. Patnaik will take charge as India’s High Commissioner to Canada. The appointments come after a 2023 diplomatic row over the killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which led to the expulsion of top diplomats. The move reflects both nations’ intent to rebuild trust and strengthen ties.

A recent Mood of the Nation survey shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains India’s top choice despite a slight decline in popularity. Satisfaction with his performance dropped from 62% in February to 58% in August, with 34.2% rating it as “excellent.” Amit Shah leads as the preferred BJP successor at 28%. Public opinion on the NDA government is mixed, with neutral responses rising to 15.3%. Analysts warn the government must address economic and social challenges to maintain its edge.

A BBC investigation reveals that India deported Rohingya refugees to Myanmar by flying them from Delhi to the Andamans, placing them on a naval ship, and abandoning them at sea with life jackets. Survivors swam ashore and now face an uncertain future under a resistance group in Myanmar. Refugees allege abuse, religious humiliation, and forced detention before deportation. The UN says credible evidence supports the claims, while India’s Supreme Court will soon rule on the Rohingya’s refugee status.

Justice Joymalya Bagchi, currently a Supreme Court judge, will assume the role of Chief Justice of India in May 2031, serving until his retirement in October the same year. His elevation marks the return of a Bengali jurist to the top post nearly 18 years after Justice Altamas Kabir in 2013. Known for his balanced and impartial rulings, Bagchi’s appointment is seen as both symbolic and historic, restoring prestige to the Calcutta High Court and inspiring future generations.

A sudden cloudburst late Thursday night unleashed massive landslides in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts, sweeping away houses and flooding villages. The Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers are flowing above danger levels, inundating temples and homes. Several people are missing, while rescue efforts by NDRF, SDRF, and the army face challenges due to collapsed mountain roads. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assured ongoing relief measures. Authorities issued an orange alert in multiple districts, warning of more heavy rain and worsening conditions.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has alleged that the Election Commission is being used as a tool by the ruling BJP during elections.
“I respect the Election Commission, but it cannot become BJP’s lollipop,” Mamata said. She also criticized discrimination against Bengali speakers in India, claiming they face obstacles in jobs, education, and even basic hospitality.
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she asked: “Why does he say money is stopped because Bengalis are thieves? If theft is the issue, look at Uttar Pradesh or Maharashtra. Why target Bengal?”
Mamata accused the central government of financially depriving West Bengal through discriminatory policies.

Heavy monsoon rains in Himachal Pradesh have left at least 310 people dead, with 158 killed in rain-triggered disasters such as landslides, flash floods, and lightning, while 152 died in road accidents. Mandi, Kangra, and Chamba districts were worst affected. Infrastructure losses exceed ₹2,450 crore, including major damage to roads, power, and water supply. Over 324 houses collapsed, 1,800 cattle and 26,000 poultry perished, and hundreds of villages remain cut off as roads, transformers, and supply schemes remain disrupted.

Starting today, the United States has imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian exports, bringing the total tariff rate to 50%. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued the order through Customs and Border Protection.
The Trump administration said the move was a penalty for India’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil, which helps fund Moscow’s war in Ukraine. The new tariff adds to the 25% already in effect since August 1. India’s exports worth nearly $87 billion—about 2.5% of its GDP—are expected to be directly affected.

At least 31 people were killed and 23 injured in landslides triggered by heavy rains in India’s Jammu and Kashmir. The deadliest incident occurred on the route to the Vaishno Devi temple, where torrential rain caused a hillside to collapse.
Rescue operations by the army and disaster response teams have been hampered by continuous rainfall. Authorities fear more people may still be trapped.
Three days of relentless downpour have washed away bridges, cut off roads, and left thousands without electricity and mobile connectivity. More than 3,500 residents have already been evacuated to safer areas. The weather office has warned of further heavy rainfall in the coming days.

Actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay drew a massive crowd of nearly 400,000 at a rally in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, on Friday, declaring the BJP his party’s “ideological enemy.”

Invoking a jungle metaphor, Vijay said: “In the wild, there may be foxes and leopards, but there is only one lion. Even if the lion stands alone, it remains a lion. Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam fears no one. All of Tamil Nadu is with us.”

Vijay’s party, which grew out of his fan club, won 115 of 169 seats it contested in the 2021 local elections. In 2024, he formally launched the Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam, positioning himself against the BJP and DMK. From protesting fuel price hikes on a bicycle to joining Iftar meals during Ramadan, Vijay has actively courted the masses. Analysts believe he could pose a serious challenge to the DMK in the 2026 state elections.

South Indian superstar Thalapathy Vijay has openly labeled India’s ruling BJP as “fascist,” declaring that the battle against the party is no longer just political, but ideological.

Speaking at his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s conference in Madurai, Vijay said: “The BJP is using religion as a tool for division while weakening democracy. They are my biggest ideological enemy.”

He clarified that while his competition with DMK is political, the conflict with BJP lies on fundamental ideological grounds. His party’s principles—equality, free thought, secularism, and social justice—stand in stark contrast to BJP’s philosophy.

“We cannot remain silent spectators. We must rise against the fascist BJP now,” he proclaimed to thunderous applause.

Founded in 2024, Vijay’s party has rapidly gained millions of supporters, becoming one of the fastest-growing political movements in Tamil Nadu.