A major forest fire broke out in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district on Tuesday as extreme heat and dry weather conditions intensified across the region. The blaze in Kandaghat’s Kyarighat area destroyed several wooden shops and filled nearby hills with thick smoke, though no casualties were reported. Firefighters managed to contain the flames before they spread to nearby homes. Officials suspect an electrical short circuit triggered the fire. Authorities said rising temperatures, dry chir pine needles and prolonged dry spells linked to climate change are increasing forest fire risks across Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand this summer. 

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the legality of the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and clarified that removal of a person’s name from electoral rolls does not mean loss of Indian citizenship. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant said the Election Commission can examine citizenship only for deciding inclusion or exclusion from voter lists, not for determining citizenship status itself. The verdict came on petitions challenging the SIR process, which required some voters to prove ancestral linkage with names in the 2002 or 2003 electoral rolls. Petitioners had alleged the exercise was a “backdoor citizenship verification” process. (PC: India Today)

Pakistan’s Punjab government has deferred its plan to restore several pre-Partition Hindu and British-era names of roads and localities in Lahore after facing strong backlash from extremist groups and social media campaigners. The Lahore Heritage Areas Revival project, backed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, had approved restoring historical names such as Krishan Nagar, Lakshmi Chowk and Jain Mandir Road. The proposal aimed to preserve Lahore’s cultural and architectural heritage. However, critics accused the government of reviving “Hindu and Sikh identity”, forcing authorities to put the decision on hold to avoid further controversy and political pressure. (PC: X)

Ferrari shares tumbled after the luxury carmaker unveiled the Luce, its first fully electric vehicle, signaling a major shift in the company’s history. The Rome-launched model, whose name means “light,” represents a departure from traditional Ferrari styling and arrives as rivals Porsche and Lamborghini slow EV plans amid weak demand. Ferrari’s Milan-listed shares fell about 8%, while U.S.-listed shares dropped 5.3%. CEO Benedetto Vigna called the launch a “new chapter,” saying the Luce would attract both existing and new customers. Analysts cited investor concerns over brand dilution, high EV development costs, and controversial design choices. Critics including Luca di Montezemolo and Matteo Salvini publicly questioned the model.

A social media exchange between Dhruv Rathee and Gul Panag has sparked widespread debate online. The controversy began after Rathee criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said foreign journalists should continue asking difficult questions about his lack of formal press conferences. Panag responded by saying criticism, disagreement and protest are fundamental to democracy, but argued that seeking the humiliation of India’s Prime Minister abroad undermines the dignity of the office and the country’s institutions. The exchange triggered polarized reactions, with some defending accountability and others emphasizing respect for elected offices.

NASA has outlined a multi-phase, approximately $20 billion roadmap under the Artemis program to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon. The plan includes up to 25 robotic missions and 21 lunar landings by 2029, focusing on the Moon’s south pole. Key technologies include autonomous Lunar Terrain Vehicles, MoonFall hopping drones and robotic cargo systems. Contracts have been awarded to Blue Origin, Astrolab, Lunar Oupost and Firefly Aerospace to support lunar transport and exploration infrastructure. NASA aims to develop habitats, power systems and communication networks, eventually enabling continuous lunar operations and supporting future missions to Mars.

Russia has announced the development of a new Ebola vaccine that could potentially protect against multiple virus strains, including the rare Bundibugyo variant linked to outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The claim was made by Mikhail Murashko and highlighted by the Russian Embassy in South Africa. The development comes as health authorities seek broader protection against Ebola variants beyond the Zaire strain, which current vaccines primarily target. The Bundibugyo strain is considered particularly dangerous because of its high fatality rate and limited outbreak history. Scientists and public health experts are expected to closely evaluate the vaccine's effectiveness and supporting clinical data. (PC: X)

India has strongly rejected references to Jammu and Kashmir in a recent China-Pakistan joint statement issued after meetings between Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India, stating that no external party has the locus standi to comment on the issue. New Delhi also reaffirmed its opposition to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, arguing that some projects pass through territory it claims as sovereign. India additionally rejected references to China-Pakistan trans-boundary water cooperation and reiterated its non-recognition of the 1963 boundary agreement. (PC: X)

France is facing a major child abuse scandal as authorities investigate allegations of violence, sexual assault and rape involving staff supervising children in schools and daycare centres across Paris. Prosecutors say inquiries are underway in 84 preschools, around 20 primary schools and nearly 10 daycare facilities. Several cases involve alleged abuse of preschool-aged children by school monitors responsible for supervision outside classroom instruction. Public outrage has intensified following the trial of a school aide accused of sexually assaulting five children and harassing colleagues. City authorities have suspended dozens of staff members, while officials promise stricter oversight. The scandal has renewed concerns about child protection and institutional accountability across France. (PC: Reuters)

Iran on Monday accused the United States of committing a “gross violation” of the fragile ceasefire after American forces carried out air strikes in southern Iran near the Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command said the strikes targeted Iranian missile sites and boats allegedly attempting to place mines, calling them “self-defence strikes”. Iran warned it would respond to the attacks and held Washington responsible for the consequences. The strikes come amid ongoing negotiations to extend the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route. Talks involving Iran, the US and regional mediators are continuing despite rising tensions. (PC: BBC)