The Hindu Morning Digest, August 8, 2025

A day after Trump’s ‘Russian oil’ tariffs, Doval meets Putin in Kremlin

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kremlin on Thursday (August 7, 2025), officials here confirmed. Sources hinted at the significance of the meeting as it was held a day after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed additional tariffs on India, citing continued purchase of Russian oil by Indian entities.

INDIA bloc decides to contest the Vice-Presidential polls 

Leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) have agreed in principle to field a candidate for the Vice-Presidential election even though the Opposition does not have the requisite numbers to win the election, in order to force a contest. The decision was taken at a dinner meeting of the bloc hosted by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

13 Allahabad High Court judges urge Chief Justice to not follow Supreme Court’s directive

Three days after the Supreme Court issued a scathing order barring an Allahabad High Court judge from hearing criminal cases until his retirement, several judges of the High Court have come out in support of their fellow judge opposing the implementation of the apex court’s directive. Thirteen judges of the Allahabad High Court have written to Chief Justice Arun Bhansali, requesting the convening of a Full Court meeting and urging that the apex court’s order removing Justice Prashant Kumar from the criminal roster not be implemented.

Exporters to U.S. fear loss of business with 25% additional tariff

The additional 25% tariff announced by the U.S. on exports from India will result in a substantial loss of business if the tariff remains, exporters of engineering and textile products said. The U.S. is the top market for several Indian products. Exporters hope the U.S. will withdraw the additional tariff and have called for efforts to continue negotiations between the two countries.

Two U.S. State troopers in Pennsylvania shot, suspect killed during encounter

A man who ambushed and shot two U.S. State troopers in Pennsylvania on Thursday (August 7, 2025) died and the troopers were hospitalised, officials said. The attack took place in the rural area near Thompson shortly after 11 a.m., State police Col Christoper Paris told reporters after he and Governor Josh Shapiro met with one of the wounded officers in a hospital. Troopers Joseph Perechinsky and William Jenkins were said to be in stable condition with serious injuries.

Supreme Court questions ‘poor’ conviction rate in ED cases

Two separate Benches of the Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the “poor conviction rates” achieved by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in money laundering cases, when compared to the number of complaints and arrests made by the Central agency. Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, heading a three-judge Bench hearing a review in the Bhushan Steel-JSW case, said the ED had been “successful” in incarcerating people for years without convictions.

Uncertainty prevails over the cause of Uttarkashi flash floods

Days after heavy rains triggered a flash flood and an avalanche of debris that deluged Dharali in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, uncertainty prevails over what caused the disaster. As of Thursday, rescue and relief operations in Uttarkashi to extract those stranded, and accounting for those missing, has meant that scientific investigations into the cause of the disaster have not yet begun.

On Election Commission fraud claims, BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of ‘selective outrage’

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday accused Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of showing “selective outrage”, stating that his allegation about “large-scale” electoral roll fraud was a sign of “frustration and election rage”. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Mr. Gandhi had completely lost his “composure in the agony of losing power”.

Watch: Why has Bihar’s SIR caused a stir in Tamil Nadu?

The Election Commission of India has dropped 65 lakh voters in Bihar following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. And hundreds of kilometres away, in Tamil Nadu, this has sparked a political stir. How are the two even connected? Is it just political anxiety, a legitimate concern — or a calculated strategy to reshape the state’s electoral map? Watch the latest episode of Focus Tamil Nadu here.

Netanyahu says Israel wants to take control of all of Gaza

Israel intends to take full control of Gaza but does not want to keep or govern it, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday. “We intend to,” Mr. Netanyahu replied, when asked in a televised Fox News interview if Israel will take control of “all of Gaza.” Mr. Netanyahu is expected to seek approval at the meeting for an expansion of military operations, including in densely populated areas where hostages are believed to be held, according to Israeli media.

Rajya Sabha passes Coastal Shipping Bill amid disruptions

The Rajya Sabha passed the Coastal Shipping Bill on Thursday amid protests by Opposition members who were demanding a discussion on the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill during the Budget Session.