2 people have died in Michigan during a major cyclosporiasis outbreak, marking the first reported deaths linked to the illness this year. Health officials said both had serious underlying health conditions. Michigan has recorded more than 11,200 cases, with 193 hospitalisations. Across the United States, the CDC has identified over 18,000 cases, including thousands still under testing. Cyclosporiasis is caused by a parasite that spreads through contaminated food or water and can cause severe diarrhoea. Officials are investigating several outbreaks. Part of the outbreak has been linked to recalled iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms. (PC: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump accused Iran's leadership of sending mixed signals over possible talks. He claimed Iranian leaders privately wanted negotiations but publicly denied them. Trump also said the United States controlled the Strait of Hormuz and warned that nothing would reach Iran without US approval unless a deal was reached or Iran surrendered. He repeated that Iran would never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran denied holding direct talks with the US. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran was only discussing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz with Oman and not negotiating with Washington. (PC: Reuters/ X)

Al Jazeera English has reportedly been blocked in parts of Pakistan after its coverage of protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). According to reports, several local, regional and international news websites have also become inaccessible. A social media post attributed to Pakistan's Information Ministry accused Al Jazeera of "selective reporting" and "yellow journalism", though its authenticity has not been independently verified. The restrictions come as protests and clashes continue in PoK ahead of Assembly elections. Rights groups have reported dozens of deaths in recent weeks. Al Jazeera earlier reported internet shutdowns and disruption to daily life in Muzaffarabad. (PC: AP)

A group calling itself the Republic of Balochistan has declared August 11 as Balochistan's Independence Day and urged worldwide observance, weeks after claiming independence from Pakistan. In a statement, it appealed for international recognition of what it described as an independent and sovereign Balochistan, asking supporters to hoist its national flag across homes, institutions and public spaces. The group argued that Pakistan's policies had fuelled decades of regional instability and cited historical events, including the 1948 military action in Balochistan and the 1971 East Pakistan conflict. It also claimed August 11, 1947, marked Balochistan's original declaration of independence, a position Pakistan does not recognise.

India's indigenous fighter jet engine programme has entered a decisive phase, with the proposed Safran-GTRE joint venture awaiting Cabinet Committee on Security approval before August 15. The project aims to develop a 120 kN engine, followed by a 140 kN variant for future fifth- and sixth-generation fighters, with India retaining full intellectual property rights. Parallel efforts include reviving the Kaveri engine, producing GE F404 and F414 engines for Tejas and AMCA, and expanding private-sector participation in fighter manufacturing. The initiative seeks to reduce dependence on foreign propulsion technology, strengthen strategic autonomy and modernise India's air combat capabilities amid China's rapid advances in military aviation. (PC: The Eur Asian Times)

Bangladesh has asked India to prevent former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and Awami League associates from using Indian territory for political activities ahead of her planned virtual address on August 5, warning that such actions could undermine bilateral ties. During a meeting in Dhaka, Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir raised the issue with Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi, who said the matter would be examined. Hasina, living in exile in India since August 2024, is expected to outline her future plans and proposed return to Bangladesh during an event in New Delhi. India said Bangladesh's extradition request is under examination through existing legal procedures. (PC: CNN)

Iran said it is negotiating only with Oman to reach an understanding on a temporary route through the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping, rejecting US President Donald Trump's claim that direct talks with Washington would resume on Monday. Trump said he had halted planned large-scale strikes after regional allies urged diplomacy and insisted a deal covering Hormuz and Iran's nuclear programme was within reach. Tehran denied any negotiations with the US, prompting Trump to accuse Iran's leadership of being "unbelievably duplicitous". Brent crude and US oil prices fell after Trump's remarks. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed significantly amid continued tensions and security concerns. (PC: Middle East Monitor)

Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor secured his party's maiden electoral victory by defeating the BJP in Bihar's prestigious Bankipur Assembly bypoll, ending the saffron party's uninterrupted 30-year dominance in the constituency. Kishor defeated BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha by 19,324 votes, polling 64,151 votes against Sinha's 44,827, while RJD's Rekha Gupta finished a distant third with 14,273 votes. After establishing an early lead during counting, Kishor steadily widened the margin to seal a landmark win in one of the BJP's strongest bastions. Calling it a historic mandate, Kishor said his immediate priority was to honour the trust placed in him by the people of Bankipur. (PC: PTI)

Kashmiri mixed martial artist Owais Yaqoob created history for India by defeating unbeaten two-time IMMAF world champion Delyan Georgiev via first-round technical knockout at BRAVE CF 107 in Burgas, Bulgaria. The victory marked Georgiev's first professional defeat and one of the biggest wins of Yaqoob's career. Hailing from Murran village in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, Yaqoob showcased technical superiority throughout the bout. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulated the fighter, calling the achievement a proud moment for Jammu and Kashmir and India. Dedicating the victory to the nation, Yaqoob said he fought carrying the hopes of his family, Jammu and Kashmir, and India, promising to achieve greater success globally. (PC: X)

Meta apologised to the government during a Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting over the brief removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook post last week, days after receiving a government notice. The company said its deepfake detection mechanism mistakenly flagged the video, causing a technical glitch that temporarily removed the content. However, the parliamentary panel rejected the apology, saying accountability required more than an explanation. Members demanded that Meta identify responsible officials and face legal action. The committee also passed a resolution condemning the platform and urged Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan to initiate strict action against Meta's officials, arguing that the incident warranted stronger regulatory and legal scrutiny than an apology alone. (PC: Times Now)