Australia is facing a political storm after comments by opposition senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price targeting the Indian community drew sharp backlash. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday demanded an apology, saying her remarks were “hurtful, untrue, and divisive.”

Price, a Liberal Party lawmaker, suggested in a radio interview last week that an “unsustainable” number of Indians were being allowed into the country and implied that their votes favored Albanese’s Labor government. The comments came in the wake of nationwide anti-immigrant protests that partly blamed Indian migration for rising living costs.

Her statements triggered outrage among one of Australia’s largest minority groups, with members of the Indian diaspora condemning them as racially charged. Calls for an apology have also emerged from within her own party ranks.

“People in the Indian community are hurting,” Albanese told the ABC broadcaster. “The comments are simply not true and have caused pain. Senator Price should apologise, as even her colleagues are urging her to do.”

According to government data, around 845,800 Indian-born people lived in Australia in 2023, more than double the figure a decade ago. In addition, hundreds of thousands of Australian-born citizens trace their ancestry to India, making the community an integral part of the nation’s multicultural fabric.

Responding to the uproar, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns convened a meeting of community leaders to address what he described as growing anti-Indian sentiment. “We stand with the Australian-Indian community. Racist rhetoric and false claims have no place in our state or country,” Minns declared.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed last week that it was in touch with Canberra over the rise in hostile rhetoric following recent protests.

The episode underscores the sensitivity of immigration in Australia’s political discourse and the importance of safeguarding multicultural harmony.

At least 14 people were killed and over 100 injured in violent clashes in Kathmandu as thousands of young protesters marched against corruption and the government’s ban on popular social media apps, local media reported. The army was deployed after demonstrators defied curfew orders and stormed restricted zones near Parliament. 

Police used water cannons, teargas, and rubber bullets after protesters hurled bottles and branches and shouted anti-government slogans. Some even entered the Parliament compound, intensifying the crisis.

The Kathmandu District Administration extended curfew orders to high-security areas, including the President’s residence, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s residence, and Singha Durbar, the government’s administrative hub. The curfew will remain in force from 12:30 PM to 10:00 PM local time, banning public gatherings and movement.

Among those injured was Kantipur TV journalist Shyam Shrestha, hit by a rubber bullet while reporting. He is being treated at Civil Hospital. Protests also spread beyond the capital. In Pokhara, crowds damaged the Chief Minister’s office, forcing authorities to impose curfew. In Damak, Mr. Oli’s hometown, clashes left at least one person injured.

The unrest was triggered after the government blocked 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X, citing non-compliance with registration rules. TikTok remains accessible, fueling anger by circulating videos contrasting ordinary citizens’ hardships with the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children.

Many protesters said the ban symbolized deeper frustrations over systemic corruption. “We were triggered by the social media ban, but this is about institutionalized corruption,” student Yujan Rajbhandari told AFP. Another protester, Ikshama Tumrok, called it resistance against the government’s “authoritarian attitude.”

Prime Minister Oli has convened an emergency cabinet meeting, but with protests spreading nationwide, tensions remain high.

European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Paris on Thursday for a high-stakes summit aimed at framing post-war security guarantees for Kyiv. The talks, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, brought together a “coalition of the willing” of nearly 30 nations, including Canada, Australia, and Japan, alongside most European states.

The guarantees, still under wraps, are expected to cover expanded training for Ukrainian forces and possible deployment of European troops after a ceasefire—though this has stirred Russian fury. Moscow has dismissed the plan outright, with President Vladimir Putin warning that Russia will “resolve all tasks militarily” if necessary and rejecting the idea of foreign troops in Ukraine.

The initiative underscores Macron’s push to demonstrate European strategic autonomy after months of transatlantic uncertainty under US President Donald Trump. Washington, represented at the summit by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, remains cautious; Trump has suggested the US could support Europe’s framework but ruled out sending American troops.

Yet European unity is fragile. Germany has resisted any troop commitment, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisting Berlin’s role will be limited to air defence and weapons supply. “Until a ceasefire is reached, there will certainly be no deployment of troops,” he said.

Zelensky, while welcoming Europe’s determination, stressed that guarantees alone may not be enough to deter Moscow. “We need an alliance between Europe and the United States,” he told Le Point.

The Paris summit follows Putin’s high-profile visits to Beijing and Washington, where he showcased ties with Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un. European leaders, however, struck a sharper tone. “Putin is a war criminal,” Merz declared, while Macron warned Europe faced “an ogre at our gates.”

The Trump administration signaled optimism on resolving trade tensions with India, even as it reiterated concerns over New Delhi’s energy ties with Moscow. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington believes “two great countries will get this solved,” but cautioned that India’s continued purchase of Russian oil was indirectly sustaining the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.

In an interview with Fox Business, Bessent criticized India’s resale of discounted Russian crude, arguing it was “financing the Russian war effort.” He also linked the punitive 50 percent US tariffs on Indian goods—currently the steepest against any Asian nation—not only to the oil trade but also to slow progress in bilateral trade negotiations. Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly described US-India trade as a “one-sided disaster,” claiming New Delhi blocks access for American products.

Bessent downplayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China. He called the gathering “largely performative,” insisting that India’s democratic values “are much closer to ours than to Russia’s.”

On Russia, Bessent warned that Washington is weighing further sanctions if the Kremlin continues its military campaign in Ukraine. “All options are on the table,” he said, accusing Putin of escalating strikes despite his Anchorage, Alaska, meeting with Trump and recent talks involving European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington.

“Instead of following through on peace signals, he has increased the bombing campaign in a despicable manner,” Bessent remarked. He confirmed that additional punitive steps would be reviewed this week.

Despite the rising friction, Bessent projected confidence in Indo-US ties, emphasizing that Washington sees New Delhi as a strategic partner rather than an adversary.

Amid global trade tensions and the ongoing tariff dispute with the United States, India has delivered strong economic news with its GDP expanding by 7.8% in the April-June quarter of 2025-26. The growth beat the Reserve Bank of India’s projection of 6.5% and marked the country’s fastest rise in five quarters.

The figure is 1.3 percentage points higher than the same period last year, when the economy grew by 6.5%. The last time India registered stronger growth was in January-March 2024, when GDP surged 8.4%. With China reporting growth of 5.2% in the same quarter, India has retained its status as the world’s fastest-growing major economy.

According to the National Statistical Office (NSO), the surge was powered by robust performances in services and agriculture. The services sector expanded 9.3% compared to 6.8% a year earlier, while agriculture grew 3.7% against 1.5% last year, reflecting gains from a strong monsoon and rural demand revival. Construction, however, moderated to 7.6% from 10.1% a year ago, suggesting a slight cooling after several quarters of rapid expansion.

Earlier this month, the RBI had forecast growth for the full fiscal year at 6.5%, with Q1 also pegged at 6.5%. The stronger-than-expected performance has raised optimism about an upward revision.

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra attributed the momentum to favorable monsoon rains, moderating inflation, rising capacity utilization, and supportive financial conditions. “The supportive monetary, regulatory and fiscal policies, including robust government capital expenditure, should also boost demand,” he said, adding that services are expected to remain buoyant in the coming quarters.

The numbers come as a morale booster for policymakers seeking to balance domestic growth with global economic uncertainties, reinforcing India’s resilience amid external shocks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Japan from 29–30 August 2025 for his eighth official trip to the country, during which he and his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba will hold the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the summit would allow both leaders to conduct a comprehensive review of bilateral ties, assess progress across key areas, and exchange perspectives on pressing regional and global developments. He emphasised that the meeting will also see the launch of fresh initiatives aimed at strengthening resilience in the partnership and addressing emerging opportunities and challenges.

The two sides will review the Special Strategic and Global Partnership, which spans defence and security, trade and economy, technology and innovation, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. In a significant development, the leaders are expected to announce the upgrade of the 2008 Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation and unveil a new economic security initiative focusing on semiconductors, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and clean energy.

A symbolic highlight of the visit will be a bullet train journey to Sendai, a hub of semiconductor innovation. Discussions will also explore Japan’s participation in future high-speed rail projects in India, beyond the Mumbai–Ahmedabad route. Notably, Japan has offered to introduce the E10 series bullet trains—featuring earthquake-resistant technology and potential for driverless operations—simultaneously in both nations.

Japan’s development agency JICA is funding ?88,000 crore of the ?1,08,000 crore Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project, with the remainder shared by the Indian Railways and the governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Highlighting the significance, Misri said India and Japan, as Asia’s leading democracies and among the world’s top five economies, share values, trust, and strategic outlook, making the annual summit the highest-level dialogue mechanism in their partnership.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly declined four phone calls from US President Donald Trump in recent weeks, amid escalating tensions over tariffs, according to a report by German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ). Citing diplomatic sources, the newspaper said Modi’s refusal reflected both “the depth of his anger and his caution.” Japanese outlet Nikkei Asia echoed the claim, noting that Trump’s frustration has grown as Modi avoided engaging directly.

The friction follows Washington’s decision to double tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, the steepest for any country after Brazil. This includes an additional 25 per cent levy linked to India’s purchase of Russian crude oil. Modi has publicly asserted that India will not compromise on its farmers’ interests or bow to foreign pressure, a stance underscored by New Delhi’s firm response to US actions.

According to NDTV, the dispute illustrates India’s readiness to resist Washington’s demands, even at the cost of straining a strategic partnership nurtured for over two decades. FAZ added that Modi felt personally “insulted” by Trump’s approach.

The tension is compounded by Trump’s repeated claims that his intervention prevented hostilities between India and Pakistan — a statement New Delhi has consistently rejected. His outreach to Islamabad, coupled with what Japanese commentators described as a “showy, deal-driven diplomacy,” has dented his standing in Indian public perception.

Analyst Mark Frazier told FAZ that Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy, with India as a central pillar against China, is faltering. He argued New Delhi never intended to align fully with the US against Beijing, highlighting shared India-China interests in global institutions and industrial growth.

PM Modi will travel to China later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, a visit seen as a balancing act amid shifting global equations

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat today inaugurated the centenary celebrations of the organisation with a message of unity and inclusivity. Addressing a three-day event in Delhi themed “100 Years of RSS Journey: New Horizons”, Bhagwat emphasised that the Sangh was never a “reactionary organisation” and continues to work for the welfare of society at large.

Quoting former RSS leader Guruji Golwalkar, he said, “Even if there are no Muslims or Christians, the RSS will exist because it works for society.” Stressing reconciliation, he noted, “Those who opposed us earlier have become our friends now. We never regarded them as opponents.”

Reviewing the Sangh’s century-long journey, Bhagwat reflected on its founding vision and resilience. “Why was the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh started? Despite numerous challenges, Swayamsevaks persevered. If I were to summarise in one sentence, it is in the words at the end of our prayer — ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’,” he said. He underlined that words like Bharatiya, Hindu, and Sanatani were rooted in the same spirit of divinity and devotion to the motherland.

The three-day deliberations will run until August 28, featuring evening discussions aimed at dispelling misconceptions about the RSS and presenting its self-image. The broader centenary celebrations will unfold nationwide, with the traditional Vijaya Dashami address by Bhagwat marking a key highlight.

According to sources, diplomats from several countries have been invited, alongside nearly 2,000 participants from diverse sectors — including art, sports, judiciary, bureaucracy, startups, media, and politics. Significantly, the RSS has reached out to minority communities such as Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Buddhists, as well as Opposition parties including the Congress, in an effort to showcase its inclusive approach as it enters its hundredth year.

US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened sweeping new tariffs aimed at countries that impose digital services taxes and related regulations targeting American technology companies. The warning signals Washington’s readiness to escalate trade disputes over levies that predominantly affect giants such as Alphabet, Meta, and Amazon.

Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he would “stand up to countries that attack incredible American Tech Companies,” accusing governments of designing digital tax regimes to “harm or discriminate” against U.S. firms while leaving Chinese tech competitors untouched.

“Digital Taxes, Digital Services Legislation, and Digital Markets Regulations are all designed to target America,” Trump wrote. “This must end, and end NOW.”

He added that his administration would move to restrict exports of advanced U.S. semiconductors and other “highly protected” technologies if foreign governments fail to roll back such policies. “I put all countries with digital taxes or discriminatory digital rules on notice,” Trump warned. “Unless these actions are removed, I will impose substantial additional tariffs on their exports to the United States.”

Framing the fight in populist terms, the former president declared that American companies were “neither the piggy bank nor the doormat of the world any longer” and demanded “respect” for U.S. innovators.

The remarks come just days after the United States and the European Union issued a joint pledge to work together on tackling “unjustified trade barriers” and confirmed that neither side would impose duties on electronic transmissions. Brussels also ruled out new network usage fees, easing some industry concerns.

Still, Trump’s hardline message underscores how digital taxation has emerged as a flashpoint in U.S. trade policy. In June, Washington froze talks with Canada after Ottawa pressed ahead with its own digital services tax, highlighting the global stakes in this confrontation.

Indian-American Republican leader Nikki Haley has urged New Delhi to take U.S. President Donald Trump’s concerns over Russian oil imports seriously and to seek a swift resolution with Washington. In a post on X, the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations said that “decades of friendship and goodwill” between India and the United States provided a strong foundation to overcome the turbulence created by recent tariff and trade frictions.

“India must take Trump’s point over Russian oil seriously and work with the White House to find a solution. The sooner the better,” Haley wrote, cautioning that failure to address the issue could undermine strategic cooperation.

Haley also stressed that the two nations must not lose sight of the bigger picture—containing China’s rise. “What matters most are our shared goals. To face China, the United States must have a friend in India,” she added.

In a recent Newsweek op-ed, Haley warned that ties between Washington and New Delhi were nearing a breaking point. She argued that America could not afford to treat India like an adversary, urging the Trump administration to prevent disputes over tariffs or U.S. involvement in India-Pakistan affairs from driving a wedge between the two democracies.

Relations have soured in recent weeks after Washington imposed secondary tariffs on India for continuing to buy discounted Russian oil. U.S. duties on Indian exports have now crossed 50 percent, the steepest imposed under Trump’s latest tariff measures, affecting sectors like textiles and marine products.

India has condemned the move as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded firmly, saying New Delhi would not compromise on the interests of its farmers and fishermen. “I know I will have to pay the price, but I am ready to do it for our farmers,” he declared.

Actor Vijay’s second major political conference has injected fresh energy into Tamil Nadu’s pre-2026 election landscape, drawing massive crowds and fuelling speculation over the prospects of his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). With a strong presence of youth and first-time voters, Vijay’s supporters argue that he is uniquely positioned to reshape the state’s electoral dynamics.

Analysts, however, are split on the impact. One camp believes TVK will primarily cut into AIADMK’s traditional base by siphoning off anti-DMK votes, indirectly benefiting the ruling party. Another suggests that Vijay could dent the youth-driven support of Seeman’s Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), with TVK presenting itself as a fresher and more charismatic option.

The role of minority votes remains uncertain. While Vijay’s Christian background may attract some sections, the DMK’s entrenched support among minorities makes a large-scale shift unlikely. Still, even a marginal swing could tilt close contests.

Vijay has declared that the 2026 elections will be a “direct fight” between DMK and TVK, but his inability to secure allies raises questions. Despite offering partners a share in power, no significant party has yet come forward. Political circles are abuzz with the possibility of an AIADMK realignment if it parts ways with the BJP before polls, opening a potential window for Vijay to stitch together a formidable coalition.

In his speech, Vijay evoked the transformative elections of 1967 and 1977, hinting that his entry could herald a similar political shift. Yet sceptics caution against such parallels, noting that stars like Sivaji Ganesan, Vijayakanth, Sarathkumar and Kamal Haasan could not replicate MGR’s political magic.

For now, estimates place Vijay’s potential vote share in the 7–9 per cent range — enough to emerge as a disruptive force, but still short of ensuring a direct route to Fort St. George.