Source: (The Hindu ,Indian Express and others)

ECI again asks Rahul Gandhi to submit evidence of irregularity in Karnataka Assembly election under oath

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday (August 9, 2025) again asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to submit under oath the allegations made by him on voter roll manipulation in a Karnataka Assembly Constituency. Either Mr. Gandhi should give a declaration/oath, or apologise to the country, sources in the ECI said. Mr. Gandhi had in a press conference claimed that 1,00,250 “fake votes” were created in the Mahadevapura Assembly seat under the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka, in order to ensure a win for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

No name will be deleted without notice, says ECI on Bihar SIR

The Election Commission of India (ECI) assured the Supreme Court on Saturday (August 9, 2025) that deletion of voters’ names in the Bihar draft electoral roll, published on August 1 as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, would be done only after issuing prior notice indicating the grounds for the action. The poll body said 2.5 lakh volunteers, mostly Bihar government officials, have been deployed to assist eligible voters obtain requisite documents from the various State departments to avoid exclusion from the final electoral roll.

India welcomes Donald Trump-Vladimir Putin summit in Alaska

India on Saturday (August 9, 2025) welcomed the summit between the United States and Russia to be held in Alaska on August 15. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the summit, which comes after more than three years of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as a move that holds the “promise” of ending the conflict. The meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was announced by Mr. Trump earlier on Saturday.

Thailand again accuses Cambodia of planting land mines as 3 soldiers are hurt by blast along border

Three Thai soldiers on patrol were wounded Saturday (August 9, 2025) when one stepped on a land mine in territory along the border with Cambodia, Thailand’s army announced. The incident came just two days after the two countries reaffirmed their adherence to a ceasefire to end a brief armed conflict. The Army’s statement said the incident took place in Thailand’s Sisaket province and “clearly demonstrates to both domestic and international society that the use of concealed weapons in border areas continues to exist, constituting a clear violation of the Ottawa Convention by the Cambodian side.”

Political parties say they have filed many claims and objections after Bihar draft roll, though ECI lists zero complaints

Even as the Election Commission maintains that no claims and objections have been filed by political parties over names wrongfully included or excluded in the draft electoral list in Bihar, political workers — including Booth Level Agents (BLA) on the ground — claim that they have filed many such complaints. In fact, party workers say that when they flag the deletion of names of eligible voters through these complaints, Electoral Registration Officers (ERO) tell them to ask voters to instead file Form 6, which is meant for first-time voter registrations.

Restored Nagasaki bell rings in 80 years since A-bomb

Twin cathedral bells rang in unison on Saturday (August 9, 2025) in Japan’s Nagasaki for the first time since the atomic bombing of the city 80 years ago, commemorating the moment of horror. On August 9, 1945, at 11:02 a.m., three days after a nuclear attack on Hiroshima, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. After heavy downpours Saturday morning, the rain stopped shortly before a moment of silence and ceremony in which Nagasaki mayor Shiro Suzuki urged the world to “stop armed conflicts immediately”.

Five Pakistani fighter jets, one aircraft taken down during Operation Sindoor: IAF Chief

Chief of Air Staff Marshal A.P. Singh on Saturday (August 9, 2025) said that the Indian Air Force (IAF) took down six Pakistan Air Force aircraft, including five fighter jets and one large aircraft, during Operation Sindoor in May. Delivering the keynote address of the 16th Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru, Air Chief Marshal Singh said, “We have at least five fighters (jets) confirmed killed and one large aircraft which could be an Electronics Intelligence (ELINT) aircraft or an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft which was taken out from a distance of about 300 km, which is the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about.”

Resign from Lok Sabha if you have no faith in ECI: BJP tells Rahul Gandhi

The BJP on Saturday (August 9, 2025) said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi must resign on “moral grounds” from the membership of the Lok Sabha if he does not have faith in the Election Commission, and flayed him for not submitting a written declaration on his “vote theft” claim. BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia also asked Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to resign as members of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha if they do not have any faith in the polls.

Election Commission of India delists 334 registered unrecognised political parties for failure to follow norms

The Election Commission of India on Saturday (August 9, 2025) said it has delisted 334 registered unrecognised political parties which have failed to fulfil the essential condition of contesting even a single election for six years since 2019. The offices of these parties could also not be physically located anywhere.

Two soldiers killed in fresh firing, as anti-terror operation in Kulgam enters ninth day

Two Indian Army soldiers were killed in a fresh exchange of firing at Kulgam’s Akhal area on Saturday (August 9, 2025). It’s the ninth day of the anti-terror operation of the security forces in the area. Officials said the two soldiers were killed when a heavy exchange of fire was reported in the night in the forest area where terrorists are holed up in upper reaches.

Teen gunman wounds three in Times Square shooting: Police

A 17-year-old opened fire and wounded three people in a shooting at New York City’s Times Square early Saturday (August 9, 2025), the New York Police Department said. The shooting occurred around 1:20 a.m. ET (0520 GMT) following a dispute, an NYPD spokesperson told AFP. An 18-year-old woman’s neck was grazed, while a 19-year-old man and a 65-year-old man’s lower limbs were both injured. None of the injuries were life-threatening, police said.

Zelenskyy warns on ‘decisions without Ukraine’ before U.S.-Russia summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday (August 9, 2025) warned that “decisions without Ukraine” would not bring peace and ruled out ceding territory to Russia. “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier,” he said on social media, as U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin prepare to hold a summit next week in Alaska to discuss peace in Ukraine.

With new airport terminal, Maldives eyes more visitors

“A pillar of economic independence” — that is what Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu called the new terminal at the Velana International Airport near Male, while inaugurating it on June 26, 2025, the country’s 60th Independence day. The launch ceremony was spectacular, with synchronised fireworks lighting up the sky — a fete that put the Maldives in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Rishabh Yadav’s bronze only bright spot as Indian compound archers flop at World Games

Youngster Rishabh Yadav’s bronze medal was the saving grace on a disappointing day for Indian compound archers at the World Games in Chengdu on Saturday (August 9,. 2025) as the top-seeded mixed team crashed out in the opening round. None of the women contenders could make it to the podium, adding to the gloom. Yadav, seeded 10th, produced a flawless display to beat senior teammate and multiple World Cup gold medallist Abhishek Verma 149-147 in the men’s individual compound bronze medal match.