Hurricane Lala has caused severe flooding and mudslides in Hawaii, leaving one person dead in a car accident. The Category 1 storm passed close to the Big Island without making landfall. Heavy rain swept away homes in coastal areas and damaged roads. Some areas received up to 35 inches of rain. More than 200,000 customers lost power, while several hospitals used backup generators. About 180 National Guard members were sent to help with rescue work. Two homes were reportedly swept away, and searches are underway for affected residents. Lala has weakened into a tropical storm but continues to bring heavy rain. (PC: Getty Images)

Firefighters are battling 14 wildfires across South Wales as dry conditions continue to raise fire risks. The military has joined efforts to support emergency crews. In Stourbridge, West Midlands, 19 homes were completely destroyed by a major wildfire. Eight families have so far been allowed to view their damaged homes. Another 15 properties suffered partial damage. Most unaffected residents have returned home. The cause of the Stourbridge fire remains unknown. Firefighters say the land is extremely dry and even a small spark can start a fire. Officials have urged people not to use disposable barbecues and to safely put out cigarettes.

At least seven people were killed in Russia after Ukraine launched its largest attack there this year, Russian officials said. Around 822 drones were used, with 600 reportedly targeting Moscow. Five people died in the Rostov region. Two others were killed in Belgorod and the Moscow region. A Wildberries warehouse near Moscow was also hit, injuring three people. Meanwhile, Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least seven people and injured more than 39. Kyiv was also targeted overnight. Ukraine said Russia launched more than 1,550 drones, 1,560 guided bombs and 62 missiles across 13 regions this week. (PC: Reuters)

Flight Lieutenant Arshdeep Singh Dang, 28, has made history in Britain’s Royal Air Force. The Indian-origin pilot is the first Sikh to graduate as an RAF fighter pilot since World War II, according to the RAF. Dang was born in Chandigarh and moved to the UK when he was six. His family has roots in Ludhiana and Amritsar. He graduated from the University of Bristol and joined RAF training in 2022. He passed his wings test in July 2026 after training in the UK and Texas. Dang said he hopes his achievement inspires others and that he does not want to be the last.

A political row has erupted over Vande Mataram after a Congress event in Delhi. BJP leaders accused Sonia Gandhi of objecting to the full national song being sung. Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanded an apology from her. BJP workers held protests in several states. Complaints were also filed against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi over the alleged incident. Congress denied the allegations. The party said Sonia was only asking for a chair for Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hit back at Shah and accused him of diverting attention from other issues. The dispute has triggered a wider political clash.

A geomagnetic storm from the Sun is expected to reach Earth on Monday, August 17. The event began with a solar eruption on August 14. It sent a huge cloud of charged particles into space. The cloud, called a coronal mass ejection, is expected to make a direct or glancing impact with Earth’s magnetic field. Forecasters expect a G1-class storm, the lowest level on the five-point scale. It could create bright auroras in parts of North America and Europe. The storm may also cause minor disruptions to satellites, radio signals and navigation systems. No major impact is expected.

A gun accidentally fired at Varanasi airport, injuring two security staff members. The passenger, Kamlesh Rai, was travelling to Mumbai on an Air India Express flight. He had declared his licensed pistol at the airport. The Ministry of Civil Aviation said the gun went off during mandatory security checks. The bullet ricocheted and injured Rohit Raj and Suman Kumari. Both were taken to a hospital for treatment. However, the victims gave different accounts about the gun. Raj said the pistol was loaded, while Kumari said it was not. Police detained the passenger. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security is investigating the incident. (PC: iStock)

Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that he could retire from football in 2028. The 41-year-old Portuguese star said this may be his final year in the sport. Ronaldo currently plays for Saudi club Al Nassr. His contract is set to expire next summer. He said he wants to leave behind a “spectacular legacy” after 25 years of football. Ronaldo also wants to spend more time with his family after retirement. He plans to travel, play padel and enjoy life. Ronaldo is also chasing 1,000 career goals. He needs only 24 more senior goals to reach the mark.

Flipkart is facing criticism over a Freedom Sale advertisement that used the style of obituary notices. The ad showed photographs and details of people inside memorial-style boxes. It said Flipkart was not sad, as the people would keep living while its sale was ending. Many social media users called the campaign insensitive and inappropriate. Author Shobhaa De also criticised the ad and urged people to boycott Flipkart. Some users questioned whether the images were made using artificial intelligence. Others defended the campaign as attention-grabbing. Flipkart has not commented on the controversy. The Freedom Sale began on August 8 and ends on August 16.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has ordered fresh UGC-NET June 2026 exams for English, Commerce and Sociology after an expert panel found serious issues in the question papers. The review identified factual and typographical errors, translation mistakes, missing scholar names, unclear wording, grammatical and numerical errors, and problematic answer options. The fresh exams will be held on September 9 for English and Commerce, and September 10 for Sociology. Candidates will not have to pay an additional fee. The NTA said results for the other 84 subjects will continue as scheduled, while details of centres and admit cards will be announced separately. (PC: News18)