Modi to attend SCO summit in China amid strained ties
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, according to CNN.
This marks his first trip to China since ties between the two countries soured following the 2020 border standoff in Ladakh, which included the deadly Galwan Valley clash. Further updates are expected as the situation develops.
Hiroshima marks 80 Years since atomic bombing with renewed calls for peace
Thousands gathered in Hiroshima to mark 80 years since the US dropped the first wartime atomic bomb, killing over 78,000 people instantly. The ceremony, attended by survivors, officials, and representatives from 120 countries, focused on remembering the victims and calling for nuclear disarmament, Al Jazeera reported.
A moment of silence was held at Peace Memorial Park, the exact time the bomb struck. Hiroshima’s mayor warned of rising global militarism and urged leaders to visit the city and see the devastation firsthand.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a message urging peace, while survivors—now fewer than 100,000—voiced concern over today’s growing tensions, fearing history may repeat.
US envoy meets Putin ahead of ceasefire deadline
US special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday, just days before a White House deadline for Russia to agree to a Ukraine ceasefire or face new sanctions, BBC reported.
The Kremlin gave no details of the meeting. Earlier, Witkoff also met Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, involved in past peace talks.
President Trump has warned of penalties, including possible tariffs on Russia’s trade partners, if no deal is reached. “Get a deal where people stop getting killed,” Trump told reporters.
Putin says he wants peace but insists Ukraine must cede territory and drop NATO plans. Kyiv demands an immediate ceasefire, according to BBC.
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef hit by record bleaching as oceans warm
The Great Barrier Reef has suffered its most widespread coral bleaching since monitoring began in 1986, driven by record ocean heat in 2024, a new Australian government report has confirmed.
Scientists from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) found severe bleaching across the reef, with coral cover in the southern region falling by nearly a third. The damage, largely caused by climate change, marks the biggest annual decline in nearly 40 years, according to Al Jazeera.
AIMS CEO Professor Selina Stead said bleaching events are becoming more frequent and severe, stressing the need for urgent emissions cuts and stronger reef management.
Despite global concerns, Australia continues to resist listing the reef as “in danger” while remaining a major fossil fuel exporter, Al Jazeera reported.
