Trump says no agreement on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine
President Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin said they reached an understanding on ending the war in Ukraine after meeting for about 2 1/2 hours on Friday in Alaska, but offered no details on what they agreed and left without answering questions. In brief remarks, Mr. Putin said the pair had hammered out an “understanding” on Ukraine and warned Europe not to “torpedo the nascent progress.” Speaking moments later, Mr. Trump said he’d yet to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but that he’d be speaking to him and European leaders soon. He suggested there hasn’t been a deal yet.
Six dead, five injured in dargah wall collapse near Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi
Six people died and five others were injured after a portion of the wall and the roof of the Dargah Masjid Pattawali collapsed on Friday (August 15, 2025) due to the heavy rains, according to police. The dargah is located near the boundary wall of the 16th-century Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi, a UNESCO world heritage site, but is not part of the complex.
Major GST shake-up: 12% and 28% slabs to be axed
The Centre has proposed to reduce the number of slabs under the Goods and Services Tax system, retaining the 5% and 18% slabs, while introducing a lower concessional rate below 1% and a high “sin rate” of 40% on just five to seven items each, according to official sources. This would entail entirely doing away with the 12% and 28% tax brackets. Of these, 99% of items currently in the 12% slab will be moved to the 5% rate and 90% of goods and services in the 28% bracket will move to 18%. There will be no cess of any kind over and above the GST rates.
Supreme Court Collegium cannot dictate names to High Court Collegiums: CJI Gavai
Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai on Friday (August 15, 2025) clarified that the powerful Supreme Court Collegium, which he heads, cannot “dictate” names to High Court Collegiums for judicial appointments. “Even the Supreme Court Collegium cannot dictate the High Court Collegium to recommend the names,” Chief Justice Gavai said in his Independence Day address at a function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on the court’s lawns.
Government proposal in 2024 for a panel on ‘demographic challenges’ never took off
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a High-Power Demography Mission on Friday (August 15, 2025). However, a similar committee announced before the 2024 Lok Sabha Election was never formed .In her Interim Budget speech on February 1, 2024, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the committee will be constituted to consider the challenges arising from “fast population growth and demographic changes”. The terms of reference and the composition of the committee were never notified.
Deadline looms to avert Air Canada strike
Air Canada faced a midnight deadline Friday to avert a flight attendants strike that would shut down service, creating summer travel chaos for the carrier’s 130,000 daily passengers. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents Air Canada’s 10,000 flight attendants, says that in addition to wage increases it wants to address uncompensated ground work, including during the boarding process.
Dozens of opposition members in Turkiye arrested: media reports
Turkish police arrested 44 people Friday (August 15, 2025) in the Opposition stronghold of Istanbul, including the mayor of the central district of Beyoglu and several of his close advisers, the Anadolu news agency reported. The latest wave of arrests, over alleged corruption, is part of a months-long crackdown targeting the main Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, considered the biggest political rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was arrested in March and subsequently imprisoned.
Women are key drivers of India’s growth, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (August 15, 2025) said that women in India were not only beneficiaries of a rising economy but also its key drivers. “From start-ups to the space sector, from the playing fields to the armed forces, our daughters are making their mark. Today, with pride, women stand shoulder to shoulder in the country’s journey of development,” Mr. Modi said in his address to the nation on Independence Day.
Renukaswamy murder case: Darshan, other accused kept in separate cells; two more accused sent to jail
Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and the other accused, who were re-arrested on Thursday in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case after the Supreme Court cancelled their bail, are being held in the admission barracks in separate cells of Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. The Supreme Court had warned of strict action if any special treatment is given to him after the previous episode.
Contacts with the U.S. did not cease even during Biden’s presidency: Senior Russian interlocutor on Russia-U.S. talks
Russia’s back channel links intensified under President Donald Trump, but Russian representatives had maintained contacts even with the previous administration under President Joe Biden, said a senior interlocutor who has been part of the back channel negotiations that helped in maintaining dialogue tracks between Russia and the United States in the last three and half years since the Ukraine crisis began.
Sanjay Raut calls PM Modi ‘Congressvadi’, slams for using Swadeshi in speech
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on Independence Day for using the slogan of swadeshi (self-reliance), saying he has become “Congressvadi”, as the idea of swadeshi was given by Mahatma Gandhi, Lokmanya Tilak, and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in pre-independence times.
Chennai Grandmasters chess | Champion Keymer remains unbeaten; Pranesh clinches Challengers crown
German Vincent Keymer capped a memorable triumph in the Quantbox Chennai Grandmasters chess tournament 2025 with a convincing win in the final round of the Masters section over American GM Ray Robson here on Friday. As unstoppable as Keymer was in the tournament, Indian GM M. Pranesh emerged champion in the Challenger category, though he suffered a defeat at the hands of IM G.B. Harshavardhan in the ninth and final round. Pranesh was helped by the fact that title contenders Leon Luke Mendonca and Abhimanyu Puranik fell to B. Adhiban and Pa. Iniyan, respectively.
‘Coolie’: Rajinikanth-Lokesh Kanagaraj starrer earns over ₹150 crore at box office on first day
Coolie, featuring superstar Rajinikanth, has collected over ₹151 crore at the worldwide box office on its first day, emerging as the highest Tamil film ever to make the record. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the director behind projects such as Karthi’s Kaithi, Vijay’s Master and Leo, and Kamal Haasan’s Vikram, the film released in the theatres worldwide on Thursday. The makers shared the box office numbers on the X handle on Friday.
Published – August 16, 2025 06:25 am IST
