India on Tuesday rejected the second phase of local elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), calling the exercise a "complete farce". Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the polls could not hide the ongoing unrest and crackdown in the region. He claimed at least 90 civilians have been killed by Pakistani forces since June, while many others were injured. Jaiswal said Pakistan was trying to use the elections to cover public protests and repression. He urged the international community to hold Pakistan accountable. On reports of Sheikh Hasina's event in India, Jaiswal said it is being organised by a private media body. (PC: HT)

Bangladesh has asked India to clarify its position over reported political activities by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from Indian soil. The request comes ahead of Hasina’s planned virtual address and participation in an event in New Delhi on 5 August. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said such activities could affect ties between the two countries. She said Bangladesh has repeatedly told India that fugitives should not be allowed to carry out political activities aimed at creating instability. Dhaka, however, said it remains committed to improving relations with India and hopes New Delhi shares the same approach. (PC: X)

India has brought back 274 fugitive criminals from 36 countries since 2021, the Centre said on Tuesday. The government said the returns were made through extradition, deportation and other legal processes. It said better coordination between Indian agencies and foreign governments helped speed up the efforts. The Centre also said the use of technology has improved the process of tracing and bringing back wanted criminals. According to the government, the number of fugitives returned has increased sharply in recent years. Officials said stronger international cooperation and faster action by different agencies have helped India bring more wanted people back to face legal proceedings. (PC: The Indian Express)

Ukraine launched fresh overnight drone strikes on sites linked to Russian online retailer Wildberries, while an attack near Moscow killed at least 5 people and injured 10 others. Russian officials confirmed Wildberries facilities were hit in the St Petersburg and Tver regions. Officials said a warehouse at an industrial site near Moscow caught fire, but did not confirm it belonged to the company. Ukraine says the depots are used to supply the Russian military, a claim Moscow denies. Russia said it destroyed 320 Ukrainian drones overnight. Russian strikes on Ukraine also killed at least 4 people, according to Ukrainian emergency officials. (PC: BBC)

The 2026 Environmental Performance Index ranked India 176th out of 177 countries, despite a small improvement over the past decade. The report said India continues to face major challenges in air quality, biodiversity and environmental health. It ranked 174th in environmental health and 171st in ecosystem vitality. The report noted that renewable energy has expanded, but coal use has also increased as power demand grows. India ranked 130th in climate change mitigation, its strongest category. The report also said India trails several South Asian neighbours, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, in overall environmental performance. (PC: First Post)

Udhayanidhi Stalin was released on Tuesday after the Madras High Court directed the Tamil Nadu Police to free him once questioning was completed. The case is linked to his alleged "double-meaning" remark during a protest meeting in Thanjavur. During the hearing, Advocate General Vijay Narayan said the state did not plan to seek judicial custody. "The police only intend to question him and release him on station bail," he told the court. The High Court also directed Udhayanidhi to cooperate with the investigation whenever required. Police have booked him under several sections, including charges related to obscene remarks and insulting the modesty of a woman. (PC: NDTV)

An Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi hit severe turbulence on Tuesday, leaving at least 14 people injured. Passengers described frightening moments as the aircraft suddenly lost altitude. "We thought we would die. It was really scary," an Italian passenger said after seeing her sister thrown into the air and her mother suffer a head injury. Another passenger said people hit their heads on the overhead bins after the sudden drop. Air India said the aircraft landed safely in Delhi and injured passengers received medical care. The DGCA has been informed, and officials said a probe is underway into the incident.  

The Centre has summoned Meta's Head of Public Policy, Joel Kaplan, and an Instagram technical official for meetings on August 5 and 6. The government wants an explanation for the brief removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook video. Officials will also ask Meta to submit a written note on the "technical glitch" and may seek a written apology. The meetings will also cover how Meta's algorithms affect the reach of political content. IT Secretary S Krishnan said discussions will include compliance with Indian law, AI-generated content, child safety, and safeguards to prevent the wrongful removal of posts from verified accounts. (PC: India Today)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for stronger border security and greater cooperation after tens of thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta. Spain said about 69,500 migrants have returned to Morocco, while the death toll stands at 72 on the Spanish side and 11 in Morocco. EU interior ministers are set to hold emergency talks on the crisis. Von der Leyen urged a united European response, including stronger external borders, action against migrant smuggling networks, improved early warning systems and closer cooperation with partner countries to curb irregular migration. (PC: BBC)

Jan Suraaj Party leader Prashant Kishor said his priority is Bihar’s development, not opposition unity, a day after winning the Bankipur Assembly bypoll. Kishor defeated the BJP candidate by over 19,000 votes and promised visible improvements in the constituency within 3 months. He said his mission is to improve education, create jobs and reduce migration from the state. Kishor also pledged to tackle local corruption and strengthen government schools in Bankipur. Calling the result a mandate for change, he thanked voters and said Bihar needs leadership focused on development rather than politics. (PC: NDTV)