US Army Secretary Resigns Amid Pentagon Rift, Hegseth Tensions & Iran War

A political controversy has erupted over allegations labelling the CJP as a front created to aid the Congress. The political outfit was described as an initiative driven by individuals acting as proxies. Claims were made regarding the involvement of around one hundred and eighty non-governmental organisations previously linked with the opposition narrative against the ruling party. The criticism also targeted the opposition youth outreach campaign, questioning the accountability and motives of associated entities.

The sluice gates of the Mettur Dam were opened to release Cauvery water for irrigation in the Delta districts of Tamil Nadu after an eighty-day delay from the customary June 12 opening. Inadequate southwest monsoon rainfall and low reservoir storage delayed the release. The government decided to release water for forty-five days, subject to storage and inflows. The release brings relief to farmers by supporting samba and thalari cultivation following losses to the kuruvai crop. However, sustained inflows from Karnataka and the upcoming northeast monsoon remain necessary to meet agricultural needs throughout the season.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek. The leaders addressed key areas including regional security, the Ukraine conflict, trade, energy, space, and fertilizer security. Highlighting a push towards peace, discussions focused on moving towards the end of war and strengthening the special and privileged strategic partnership. Despite international pressure, bilateral trade grew by 2.6 percent, alongside a 16 percent increase in tourism and an enrollment of 40,000 Indian students in Russia. The meeting also addressed connectivity projects including Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor. The talks laid critical groundwork ahead of President Putin's upcoming visit to New Delhi for the BRICS Summit scheduled for September 12 and 13.

Day two of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, brought together world leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. On the summit sidelines, Prime Minister Modi and President Putin held bilateral talks lasting over thirty minutes, focusing on trade, energy security, fertilizer supply, and regional conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine. Both leaders affirmed the resilience of the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia. Discussions also encompassed counterterrorism, Eurasian connectivity, the International North-South Transport Corridor, and preparations for the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi. Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on day one, advocating dialogue and diplomacy. The summit marks twenty-five years of the SCO, highlighting multipolar cooperation and economic development across the Eurasian region.