Top news of the day: August 8, 2026

Meta restricts post on Kashmir pellet victim Insha Mushtaq in India

Meta has restricted access to a report in India on Kashmir pellet victim Insha Mushtaq from its platform, Instagram. “We restricted access to this content pursuant to legal requirements under India’s Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules,” reads the message on the link to the post on The Hindu report, as on Saturday afternoon (August 8, 2026). In the wake of protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and youths at Jantar Mantar on July 20, the use of pellet guns came under scanner. The Supreme Court was also hearing petitions against its use.

Rahul, Rijiju spar over linking delimitation to women’s quota law

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday (August 8, 2026) sparred over the implementation of the women’s reservation law after a fresh delimitation exercise, with Mr. Gandhi questioning the government’s decision to link the two. The exchange on the social media platform X began after Mr. Gandhi posted a video speaking of harnessing the “energy” of India’s women and freeing them from patriarchy. Mr. Rijiju responded by describing it as a “positive message” and said there was a “visible change of heart” in Mr. Gandhi. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister challenged the Congress to support the Women’s Reservation Bill “unconditionally”.

 Govt. talks with another faction of protestors end without breakthrough, stir to continue

‘Jharkhand government. assured us of a quick decision to resolve issues raised by students,’ said JPSC JSSC Candidates’ Forum leader after talks with govt. on alleged irregularities over recruitment examinations. ‘Protest to continue until all demands, including cancellation of 14th JPSC exam, are met,’ said the delegation of students. Jharkhand Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu on Saturday (August 8, 2026) announced that the State government has released a dedicated email ID to collect suggestions from students and stakeholders for policy reforms. Speaking to reporters after meeting with the delegation of agitating JPSC and JSSC aspirants in Ranchi, Mr. Sonu stated that the government is committed to engaging with all student groups to reach a collective decision.

IAF officer arrested for alleged leak of sensitive information to Pakistan-based operative

An Indian Air Force Wing Commander was arrested in May for allegedly sharing sensitive defence-related information with a Pakistani intelligence operative after he was allegedly honey-trapped through social media, officials said on Saturday (August 8, 2026). The officer, who was posted at a field unit on the Western Front, came under surveillance by the IAF intelligence wing, which later alerted the security agencies after his interactions with a woman on social media raised suspicion.

‘Don’t behave like Delhi police’: Abhijeet Dipke seeks removal of ‘rude’ cop from security duty at his home

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) convenor Abhijeet Dipke confronted a police sub-inspector (PSI) deployed as part of the security detail at his home in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for allegedly preventing people from meeting him and sought his removal from duty there. He accused the officer of being “rude” to visitors and trying to restrict and monitor people entering his residence in the Waluj MIDC area of the central Maharashtra city. Mr. Dipke, who was provided security following threats and to manage the crowd at his home, also alleged that state CID personnel in plainclothes were roaming near his residence and then reporting in a social media group named ‘Hit Spray’.

Many aspects of Ayodhya Ram temple donation ‘theft’ probe done: U.P. Police

The investigation team in charge of the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya has completed probing various aspects of the case, Senior Superintendent of Police of Ayodhya Gaurav Grover said. The probe has to be completed in 90 days and the chargesheet has to be filed in court by the end of next month, the SSP said.

U.S. Senate passes short-term funding Bill to avert federal shutdown before election

The Republican-led ​U.S. Senate passed a temporary ‌measure to fund federal agencies ​through December 11 on ⁠Saturday (August 8, 2026), in a move intended to avert a crippling federal ‌government shutdown weeks before the November midterm elections. The ‌Republican-controlled House of ‌Representatives ⁠passed its own short-term funding ⁠measure last month.

Iran says re-opening Strait of Hormuz does not depend on talks with Oman

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on Saturday (August 8, 2026) that ‌re-opening the Strait of Hormuz is ⁠not related to Iran-Oman negotiations but is conditional ‌on the U.S. accepting Iran’s conditions. “The reopening ⁠of the Strait of Hormuz ‌is subject to the specific mechanisms and conditions of the Islamic Republic of Iran and ‌is not related to the negotiations between Iran ⁠and Oman,” Iran’s Tasnim news ⁠agency cited Guard’s spokesperson Hossein ‌Mohebbi as saying.

Pentagon revokes former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s access to classified information

The Pentagon revoked former U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s “eligibility” to access classified information and barred him from holding “any sensitive position,” alleging Friday (August 7, 2026) that he disclosed sensitive information about Air Force One’s capabilities to the media. It follows reporting last month, including from The New York Times, on security concerns over the new, Qatari-gifted Air Force One, including that it lacked the advanced antimissile capabilities of its predecessor.

At least seven killed, 11 others injured after private bus overturns on mountain route in Himachal

Seven passengers were killed and 11 others injured when a private bus overturned and plunged onto a lower road in Chamba district at 7.15 a.m. on Saturday (August 8, 2026), police said. The accident occurred when the bus was on its way from Bairagarh to Chamba near Chalunj Mor (curve) on the Bairagarh-Tissa road, a treacherous 27-kilometre mountain route in the remote Churah Valley known for its narrow paths and steep drop-offs. It serves as a key stretch on the way to the high-altitude Sach Pass.

Typhoon Dolphin hits Japan’s Okinawa, China shuts ports ahead of landfall

Typhoon ​Dolphin lashed Japan’s southern Okinawa prefecture on Saturday (August 8, 2026), injuring six people and ⁠cutting power to more than 50,000 buildings, while China shut ports and halted ferries ahead of the storm’s expected arrival on its east coast. Five elderly people, three of whom fell due ‌to strong winds, suffered non-life-threatening injuries in Okinawa while another person was injured in Kagoshima prefecture, authorities said.