Thousands of residents and tourists were evacuated from the Greek island of Crete as strong winds spread dangerous wildfires. 2 firefighters died while battling a blaze near Rethymno, while another firefighter died on the Greek mainland. Officials said around 8,000 people were moved to safety, though many later returned home. The fires damaged homes and farmland and remained out of control. Greece is among several European countries facing severe wildfires during a hot summer. Spain, Portugal and France are also battling major fires. Experts say heatwaves, dry weather and strong winds are making wildfires more intense and harder to control. (PC: EPA/Shutterstock, Reuters)

Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh qualified for the men's javelin final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. Chopra finished fifth with a best throw of 79.61 metres after improving from 76.28 metres. Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh also secured places in the 12-man final. Strong crosswinds made conditions difficult, and no athlete reached the automatic qualification mark of 84 metres. Chopra said the changing wind made it hard to control the javelin's flight. Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage topped the qualification round with a throw of 82.84 metres. (PC: PTI)

For the first time in its history, the Pirelli Calendar is dedicated to India. The 2027 edition pays tribute to late photographer Raghu Rai and celebrates the country's beauty, culture and diversity. After Rai's passing, his daughter Avani Rai completed his vision for the project. Norwegian photographer Sølve Sundsbø also worked on the calendar, bringing an international perspective. The project features more than 200 people, including artists, performers and everyday citizens. It also includes celebrities such as Aditi Rao Hydari, Freida Pinto and Padma Lakshmi. The calendar was photographed across Rajasthan and the streets of Old Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security meeting on Thursday to review the impact of the West Asia conflict. He asked ministries to work together to protect India's supply chains and ensure the safety of Indian citizens and seafarers in conflict zones. The meeting also reviewed fuel, fertiliser and energy supplies. Officials said India has enough stocks of major petroleum products, and refineries are operating at full capacity. Modi also stressed the need to expand renewable energy and reduce dependence on imported fuel. Senior ministers and top officials attended the two-hour meeting in New Delhi.

India's 18-year-old weightlifter Martina Devi Maibam kept her medal hopes alive at the Commonwealth Games 2026 with a stunning 105kg snatch lift. Competing in the women's +86kg category, she failed both her first two attempts at 103kg. Facing elimination, Martina surprised everyone by increasing the weight to 105kg for her final attempt. She completed the lift successfully and broke down in tears after the effort. The emotional moment quickly went viral on social media. Martina will next compete in the clean and jerk event, where she is set to open with a lift of 140kg to stay in medal contention.

CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said people offended by abusive slogans during recent protests should file defamation cases against those responsible instead of seeking criminal action. He said using the criminal justice system over offensive remarks could harm free speech. Das also urged young protesters to use respectful language during demonstrations. Reacting to the Delhi government's decision to close FIRs linked to the protests, he said the cases should be withdrawn instead. He also asked the government to fulfil promises made under the July 25 Jantar Mantar agreement. Das warned that students could return to the streets if those promises are not kept. (PC: ANI)

At least 5 members of the same family were killed after a Russian missile hit their home near Kryvyi Rih in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. The victims included parents Artem and Olena Voronov and three of their children. Several other family members are still missing. Ukraine said Russia launched more than 70 missiles and over 280 drones overnight. Officials said at least eight people were killed in the attacks across the country. Homes and other buildings were damaged. Poland also reported a missile-like object crashed inside its territory. An investigation is now underway into the incident. (PC: X/ Volodymyr Zelensky)

A rat allegedly carried away diamond and gold jewellery worth around Rs 10 lakh from a jewellery store in Karnataka's Tumakuru. The incident happened at Vishwas Jewellery near Caltex Circle. Staff found more than 50 grams of jewellery missing when they opened the shop. There were no signs of a break-in, which left everyone confused. Before informing the police, employees checked the CCTV footage. The video allegedly showed a rat dragging rings and chains one by one into its burrow. Staff followed the rat's path and dug up the burrow. They recovered 10 rings and three chains, bringing relief to the store.

Brazil will play India in an international football friendly at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on October 3. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed the match on Wednesday. It will be the first time Brazil's senior men's team plays in India. Brazil will arrive after playing two friendly matches against Australia in September. The CBF said India has one of the biggest fan bases for the Brazilian team. Kolkata has a long history of supporting Brazil, especially during FIFA World Cups. The match will give the Indian team a rare chance to face one of the world's most successful football nations on home soil. (PC: Reuters)

The Indian government informed Parliament that 16 Indian nationals have been killed and 75 others injured in the ongoing West Asia conflict since February. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said the victims include 10 Indian seafarers caught in regional hostilities, while several others were injured in attacks and related incidents. He also clarified that 12 additional Indian nationals died in a separate explosion and fire at Qatar's Ras Laffan Gas Facility, an incident unrelated to the conflict. The government said it is closely monitoring the situation, providing consular assistance, and working to ensure the safety of Indian citizens in the region. (PC: AP)