Prime Minister Narendra Modi met India’s medal winners from the 2026 Commonwealth Games and shared a special video with them. India won 39 medals at the Games in Glasgow, including 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze medals. India finished fourth on the medal table, behind Australia, England and Scotland. Boxing was India’s strongest sport, with 10 medals, including seven golds. Athletics brought 16 medals, while weightlifting won eight. In the video, boxer Sakshi Choudhary praised PM Modi after their meeting. Modi told the athletes, “Jo khelega vo khilega,” and urged them to keep cheering for India.  

Indian badminton player Ashmita Chaliha created history by becoming the first Indian to win the Korea Masters women’s singles title. The 26-year-old defeated China’s fourth-seeded Han Qian Xi 14-21, 21-14, 21-14 in the final. Ashmita lost the first game but made a strong comeback in the next two games. She had struggled with the court conditions early in the match. Ashmita returned to competition in May after a three-month injury break. She had also reached the quarterfinals at the China Masters and Malaysia Masters. The win is expected to take her into the world’s top 40.  

Two pilots of an Air India flight have been removed from duty after the aircraft suffered a sudden loss of altitude. The Civil Aviation Ministry called the incident serious. Flight AI2379 was flying from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 when it dropped around 300 feet during the flight. The aircraft later stabilised and landed safely in Delhi. It was carrying 137 passengers, including three infants, and eight crew members. Both pilots underwent routine substance screening after the incident. The test of the pilot-in-command required a confirmatory test. His sample has been sent to a laboratory. The final report is awaited.  

More than 450 graduating students of NALSAR University, Hyderabad, have opposed the reported invitation to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as the chief guest for their 2026 convocation. In a letter to university authorities, the students raised concerns over his recent handling of a hearing linked to alleged police action against protesters. They also questioned remarks reportedly made about Indian youth. The students said the concerns were about the values they believe a law university should represent, including constitutional rights and justice. They urged the university to reconsider the invitation and consult students before making a final decision. NALSAR has not responded.  

A Malaysia Airlines flight carrying 159 passengers faced trouble while approaching Kolkata airport after a laser beam was pointed at the cockpit. Flight MH-184 was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Kolkata on Saturday night. The pilot reportedly saw a bright laser beam when the aircraft was about eight nautical miles from the runway. The flash briefly affected the pilot’s vision and delayed the landing. The aircraft had to circle before landing safely at around 11:25 pm. All passengers and crew were safe. Kolkata airport authorities filed a complaint with the airport police. Police are investigating the incident. Laser lights are banned around airports.  

Madhya Pradesh is set to strengthen its regional air connectivity with four new direct flight services operated by Alliance Air. The new routes are Bhopal–Rewa, Bhopal–Patna, Rewa–Kolkata and Jabalpur–Kolkata, connecting key cities in Madhya Pradesh with Bihar and West Bengal. The services are being launched on August 9, 2026, with the aim of improving passenger convenience, supporting tourism and facilitating business travel. The Bhopal–Patna route is expected to benefit travellers and Bihar’s large migrant population in Madhya Pradesh. The new connections are also expected to support economic activity across the Vindhya region. (PC: X)

Sarfaraz Khan has been added to India’s Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka, replacing the injured Sai Sudharsan. Sudharsan has been ruled out after failing to recover from a stress reaction in his right toe, sustained during India A’s tour of Sri Lanka. Sarfaraz’s selection marks his return to the Indian Test side after more than a year. The Mumbai batter now has an opportunity to strengthen India’s middle order ahead of the series opener in Galle on August 15. His inclusion also adds experience as India prepares for a challenging overseas Test assignment. (PC: X)

British Columbia has declared a provincial state of emergency after a fast-moving wildfire rapidly expanded near Okanagan Lake, forcing more than 20,000 people to evacuate. The Bald Range wildfire nearly doubled in size overnight to around 9,500 hectares, destroying homes and threatening communities including Summerland and Peachland. Officials described the fire’s behaviour as extremely intense, with changing conditions complicating firefighting and rescue operations. Some residents were trapped and had to be rescued by aircraft. More than 100 wildfires are burning across the province, while firefighters are receiving international assistance. Authorities continue to issue evacuation orders and alerts as dangerous conditions persist. 

Protesting students in Jharkhand will continue their agitation despite the government addressing most of their demands over alleged exam irregularities. Student leaders said they will march to the Jharkhand Assembly on August 10. They are demanding a CBI probe and said they will not compromise without it. Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu said the government will investigate the allegations through the CID and seek an ED probe into financial issues. He also said fast-track courts will be formed and chargesheets filed within 90 days. The government has also proposed an expert committee to suggest recruitment reforms. Chief Minister Hemant Soren urged dialogue.  

India pacer Mohammed Siraj surprised everyone with a powerful batting display against Sri Lanka in a warm-up match. India needed 16 runs from the final over to reach the target of 207. Siraj hit three straight sixes in the last over to finish the game. He had already hit one six in the previous over. India had reached 191/4 before the final over. Although the match was technically over after Siraj’s three sixes, both teams continued playing as warm-up rules allowed it. Siraj remained unbeaten on 32 runs from 15 balls. His performance showed his growing confidence with the bat.