- Centerstage Events

Plan for international breeding program for barbary lions, took centerstage on Thursday,07 August 2025 among all major events across the globe, and remains the highlight of this week's list of center stage events.
Picture Courtesy: Profit loss

Centerstage events of week 1

Philippines & India conduct their first joint sail in the South China Sea...

The Philippines and India conduct their first joint sail in the South China Sea, specifically in the West Philippine Sea, as part of growing Indo-Pacific cooperation. The two-day passage, held within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, began Sunday ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos’s state visit to New Delhi. Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner said the idea emerged after meeting his Indian counterpart in March. While no incidents occurred, he noted their ships were shadowed, a likely reference to Chinese activity amid ongoing maritime tensions.

Monday, 4 August, 2025

China and Russia launch Joint Sea 2025 drills...

China and Russia launch Joint Sea 2025 naval drills in the Sea of Japan, aiming to “deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership,” according to China’s Defence Ministry. The three-day exercises, which began Sunday near Vladivostok, feature submarine rescue, joint anti-submarine warfare, air defence, anti-missile operations, and maritime combat. Four Chinese vessels are taking part. The drills come as Beijing maintains close ties with Moscow, refusing to impose sanctions over Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Tuesday, 5 August, 2025

India accuses the U.S. and EU of “double standards”...

India accuses the U.S. and EU of “double standards” over trade with Russia after President Donald Trump ordered a tariff hike on Indian goods to 50%, with an additional 25% to apply 21 days after August 7, citing India’s Russian oil imports. New Delhi noted the EU traded €67.5 billion with Russia in 2024, including record LNG imports, while the U.S. continued importing Russian uranium, palladium, fertilisers, and chemicals. India’s foreign ministry said it was “unjustified to target India alone” while others maintain significant trade with Moscow.

Wednesday, 6 August, 2025

Barbary lion cubs part of a mission...

Four rare Barbary lion cubs—three females and one male—will soon leave Safari Park Dvůr Králové in the Czech Republic for other zoos, including Israel’s Beersheba Zoo, as part of an international breeding programme for the critically endangered subspecies. Once widespread across North Africa, Barbary lions were declared extinct in the wild by the 1960s, with fewer than 200 now in captivity. Talks with Moroccan authorities have opened the door to a possible reintroduction in the Atlas Mountains, with a conference planned later this year or early 2026 to assess feasibility.

Thursday, 7 August, 2025

Israeli military to takeover Gaza City...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has won cabinet approval for a military takeover of Gaza City, framing it as the final phase to defeat Hamas and recover the last 50 hostages after 22 months of war. The plan, requiring six army divisions, aims to seize the Hamas stronghold while providing aid outside combat zones. Gaza City, home to up to 1 million civilians, has so far avoided large-scale ground incursions. The move comes amid deep international criticism over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, with over 61,000 Palestinians reported killed and half a million facing starvation.

Friday, 8 August, 2025

Chad’s former Prime Minister sentenced to 20 years...

Chad’s former Prime Minister and opposition leader Succes Masra has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for disseminating racist and xenophobic messages that prosecutors say incited violence. The conviction follows a May 2024 clash in Mandakao that left dozens dead. Masra, a vocal critic of President Mahamat Idriss Deby, briefly served as prime minister in Deby’s interim government before running against him in the May election. He was also fined 1 billion CFA francs ($1.8 million). His lawyer, Kadjilembaye Francis, says the legal team will appeal the verdict.

Saturday, 9 August, 2025

Armenia and Azerbaijan sign a peace deal...

Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed a U.S.-brokered peace deal in Washington, hailed by many as a historic step toward ending decades of conflict over Karabakh. The agreement, signed by leaders Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev in the presence of President Donald Trump, builds on March’s negotiated text and affirms mutual recognition of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and 1991 borders. While Russia, Georgia’s leadership, and others welcomed the deal, Iran vowed to block a planned Caucasus corridor, citing border security concerns. The pact follows Azerbaijan’s 2023 military reclaiming of Karabakh and is seen as opening a new era of regional stability.However, the agreement, aimed at ending decades of conflict, includes a proposed corridor in the Caucasus that Iran has vowed to block, citing concerns about the potential adverse effects of any foreign intervention near its borders.

Sunday, 10 August, 2025