The Economic Times

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council has called on Beijing to liberate two pro-democracy activists from Hong Kong, who were found guilty of subversion under national security legislation. The council voiced deep sorrow over their convictions, highlighting the broader implications of political repression. This situation has drawn worldwide attention to the encroachment on human rights, emphasizing the necessity of safeguarding freedoms to maintain Hong Kong's role as a global financial hub.

MacKenzie Scott has reached an extraordinary milestone as the third-largest philanthropist in history, contributing a staggering $26.4 billion in just under seven years. Notably, she made headlines with a groundbreaking $7.2 billion donation in 2025 alone. By offering unrestricted grants to more than 2,500 organizations, she has distributed over 40% of her wealth, demonstrating a significant commitment to philanthropy that surpasses many well-known billionaires.

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are anticipated to launch soon in India. Buyers might face a significant price increase of up to twenty thousand rupees. This potential hike is linked to rising memory component costs and new hardware. Upgrades include a faster chipset, more RAM, and improved camera sensors. Apple will confirm official pricing upon the lineup's official release.

The Supreme Court criticized the Indian Coast Guard for denying a permanent commission. The court found the Coast Guard's policy vague and arbitrary in its decision-making. It gave the Coast Guard two weeks to decide on officer Priyanka Tyagi's induction. The court stated it would not allow women officers to be humiliated in this manner. The bench reserved its decision, urging a sportsmanship approach to the issue.

India's External Affairs Minister Jaishankar laid the foundation stone for a new chancery complex in Singapore. This facility signifies a new era in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan was present during the foundation laying ceremony. Discussions also occurred regarding deepening bilateral cooperation and the current geopolitical situation.

US Ambassador Sergio Gor visited Jammu and Kashmir for the first time. He met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and described the interaction as very good. The ambassador expressed his pleasure and excitement about visiting the beautiful region. He mentioned follow-up actions to be taken back to Washington and Delhi. The meeting aimed to build and move the relationship forward.

Young individuals aged eighteen to thirty are now leading India's formal employment expansion. This demographic represents seventy-nine percent of new Universal Account Numbers generated. The 21 to 25 age group forms the largest cohort entering formal employment. Businesses are increasing investments in apprenticeships and job-ready skills development.

BorderPlus plans to send fifty thousand Indian caregivers to Japan. This initiative addresses Japan's severe worker shortage due to its aging population. Training combines Japanese language, medical skills, and cultural understanding for workers. The program targets geriatric care and general duty assistant roles. This move highlights growing international workforce mobility needs.

India achieved a significant 165-run victory against Sri Lanka in their 600th Test match. Devdutt Padikkal scored a century, and Manav Suthar took ten wickets in the game. India's Test journey has seen significant evolution in bowling and batting prowess over decades. The team has transformed into a major power in modern Test cricket. This win marks a strong start to the current two-match series.

Global capability centres are rapidly increasing hiring for specialized and mid-career professionals. Technology and innovation are now key drivers for these centres' expansion. Experienced talent is increasingly sought after for immediate contributions to transformation programs. Contractual roles now form a significant portion of the global capability centre workforce.

Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto are a developing Indian mixed doubles badminton pair. Their partnership has steadily improved over the last two years. Coach Tan Kim Her has significantly impacted their aggressive playing style. They focus on stability and analyzing matches to improve performance. The duo is building trust and understanding on and off the court.

India's vice-captain KL Rahul revealed their determined approach to secure a Test victory. They pushed for a result knowing heavy rain was imminent after the match. Rahul stated the team did not want to waste valuable time delaying the game. He also mentioned their confidence in breaking partnerships to take more wickets. The Galle pitch offered assistance to spinners and prepared batters throughout the contest.

India face Pakistan in a crucial Hockey World Cup Pool D clash on August 19, with the match scheduled for 6.30 PM IST. Indian viewers can watch the game on Star Sports Select 2, Star Sports Select 2 HD and Star Sports Hindi, while the JioStar app and website will provide live streaming. India need only a draw to secure second place in Pool D.

Charles Schwab plans to significantly expand its India tech center workforce, aiming to reach approximately two thousand employees by the end of 2027. This Hyderabad office will support the firm's United States business operations. Technology development and engineering support will be provided from this location.

A nationwide talent hunt will identify young athletes for the 2036 Olympics. The Indian Olympic Association is actively working with sports federations on this plan. This initiative aims to build a strong pipeline of potential medal winners. Increased government and private sector support fuels optimism for future sporting achievements. Preparations are underway for upcoming events like the Asian Games and LA-28 Olympics.

India plans drone sector reforms, aiming for BVLOS certification by 2026. A new financial incentive scheme will boost domestic drone manufacturing capabilities. The government and industry leaders discussed scaling drone operations and global competitiveness. Key areas included testing infrastructure and strengthening the component ecosystem.

Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahmans proposed India visit to be memorable. He called for stronger leadership, business and people-to-people ties despite strains over Dhakas demand for Sheikh Hasinas extradition.

Indian Election Commission officials clarified voter identification procedures after US President Donald Trump's comments. Nearly 100 crore electors have received special Electoral Photo Identity Cards for voting. Polling in India relies on these photo identity cards for all registered voters. Electoral rolls are prepared and audited by booth-level officers and party agents. Vote counting also undergoes concurrent auditing by candidate-appointed counting agents.

India moved within sight of victory in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle after bowling Sri Lanka down to 84/4 while chasing 372. Sri Lanka now need a record chase to win, with India requiring only a significant rain interruption to be denied a 1-0 series lead.

Around 100 West Bengal MLAs attended an ICAI workshop on public financial management and legislative oversight. The session focused on state budgets, government accounting, fiscal responsibility, sustainable financial management and transparency in public spending.

India aims for top ten Olympic finish in 2036 and top five in 2048. The Khelo India Revamped Scheme has a budget of Rs 36,441 crores. This plan focuses on talent identification and sports infrastructure development. Athletes will receive increased support and training opportunities across the nation. Maharashtra will strengthen its sporting ecosystem to nurture emerging talent.

In a twist during the first Test, Pasindu Sooryabandara took the field in place of Dinesh Chandimal, who suffered injuries to his shoulder and neck while attempting to defend a boundary. Approved as a valid concussion replacement by the match referee, Sooryabandara now joins his teammates as India sets Sri Lanka a daunting target of 372 runs, facing a punishing chase on the deteriorating Galle pitch.

Ceigall India and Sushee Infra Mining received four road construction orders. These contracts are for building multiple road packages on NH-913 in Arunachal Pradesh. The total value of these four projects amounts to Rs 2,149.62 crore. The joint venture will construct intermediate lane roads across key sections of NH-913. These projects will strengthen the company's presence in India's strategic road infrastructure development.

Gujarat CID arrested a man from Assam for orchestrating 1,090 cybercrimes. These frauds amounted to over Rs 1,071 crore and involved China-based criminals. The accused masterminded transferring funds into numerous bank accounts across India. He then converted these illicit funds into cryptocurrencies for transfer to China. This arrest also helped prevent ten other digital arrest cases through counselling.

India's defence ministry has leased two more MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones from General Atomics. These advanced drones will significantly boost the Indian Navy's maritime surveillance capabilities. The lease agreement covers upkeep and operational availability for thirty months. India has now leased a total of four such drones from the United States. Delivery of thirty-one additional drones ordered in October 2024 is expected next year.

One of Belgium's biggest-ever fires continues to burn, authorities have yet to bring it under control.

The Kennedy Center board voted to add Donald Trump's name to the building's facade. The surrounding grounds will also be renamed President Donald J. Trump Plaza. This decision follows a federal judge's ruling against renaming the center for Trump. The board also approved a controversial two-year closure for renovations. The future of the institution now faces further legal challenges and scrutiny.

The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to allow ballroom construction to continue. A lower court had ordered a halt to the project, citing lack of congressional approval. The administration is appealing this decision, which stopped the $400 million ballroom project. The judges ruled the president lacks unilateral authority for such building. This legal battle over the White House ballroom construction is ongoing.

Troy Lock and Dam: Troy's Federal Dam, built in 1913, supported river navigation for over a century. This engineering project connected the Hudson River to the state's canal system. The dam's construction involved Army engineers and laborers from the Panama Canal project. Troy's industrial history included steel production and the Erie Canal's impact.

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit accusing Harvard University of failing to protect Jewish students. The government did not show an ongoing violation of federal civil rights law. This ruling adds to legal disputes between the Trump administration and the university. The lawsuit sought to recover billions in federal research grants awarded to Harvard. This decision represents another court victory for the university in its ongoing confrontation.

In a strategic move ahead of the midterm elections, President Donald Trump will showcase FBI data revealing a substantial drop in violent crime. The report points out significant falls in murder and robbery rates, trends that started before he took office again. Conversely, Democrats maintain that the influence of federal policy on this nationwide shift is negligible.

US President Donald Trump has announced tariffs of up to 100% on imports of certain larger drones and sensitive unmanned aircraft systems, citing national security concerns and US reliance on foreign suppliers. Smaller drones will face a 25% tariff, while levies on drones and components from key allies will vary.

La Liga begins its new season this weekend with some matches postponed. Defending champions Barcelona and Real Madrid will start their campaigns later. Atletico Madrid faces uncertainty regarding a key forward's potential departure. The league will introduce new connected ball technology for enhanced data. Three teams have been promoted to the top flight for this season.

European diesel costs more than jet fuel for the first time in over a year. Jet fuel imports to Europe have risen significantly while diesel imports have dropped. Global diesel supply tightened further after Russia banned its exports. This price shift reflects ongoing supply challenges and demand dynamics. Analysts note persistent scarcity pricing risks for diesel heading into winter.