India’s Chanambam Rishakanta Singh won the silver medal in the men’s 60kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026, earning the country its first silver of the competition. Rishakanta and Malaysia’s Mohamad Aniq Bin Kasdan both lifted 121kg in the snatch to set a new Commonwealth Games record. However, Kasdan sealed the gold by breaking the clean & jerk Games record with a 152kg lift, finishing with a total of 273kg. Rishakanta managed 143kg in clean & jerk for a combined 264kg, while Kenya’s Joshua Amunga Mboya claimed bronze with a total of 260kg.

Pop star Katy Perry has criticised the White House for using her hit song "Firework" in a TikTok video showing US military strikes on Iran. The video, captioned “Iran has been warned,” featured footage of the attacks backed by the song. Perry said she had not given permission for its use and condemned the post. “I am deeply appalled and angry... I did not approve this, I was not asked, and I absolutely do not condone it,” she wrote on X. Perry said the song was created as “an anthem of hope, healing and self-belief,” not violence. (PC: NDTV)

Nepal has formally requested India to recognise its biometric National Identity (NID) card as a valid travel document for cross-border journeys, alongside passports and citizenship certificates. The proposal has been sent to New Delhi through diplomatic channels and is awaiting India's response. Nepal says the secure biometric card, which includes fingerprints, facial images and iris scans, will simplify travel by land and air as the country gradually phases out citizenship certificates. More than 4.5 million Nepalis have received the card so far. Officials from both countries have also discussed improving cross-border travel records and coordination. (PC: NDTV)

Social activist Anna Hazare on Saturday welcomed the end of the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) 37-day protest following Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, saying public grievances should be resolved through democracy and dialogue. “It is democracy, not rule by diktat, and one should always follow the path of democracy,” Hazare said. Recalling his 22 hunger strikes, the 89-year-old activist stressed that he never used violence and credited peaceful protests with bringing legislative changes. He said governments must listen to citizens, adding that lasting solutions come through dialogue, not confrontation or violence.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday addressed supporters at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Referring to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant’s earlier “cockroaches” remark, Dipke said, “If you had not called us cockroaches, this movement would never have happened. We thank you because your words united students and unemployed youth across the country.” He said the remark became the turning point that transformed public anger into a nationwide campaign. Calling Pradhan’s resignation a significant milestone, Dipke added that the movement would continue until wider education reforms are implemented. (PC: X)

The flood situation in Assam has improved as water levels continue to recede in several areas, but the crisis remains severe. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the death toll has risen to 66, with 4 more fatalities reported in the last 24 hours. More than 6.54 lakh people remain affected across 6 districts. Sivasagar is the worst-hit district, with nearly 2.9 lakh people impacted, followed by Charaideo and Jorhat. Relief and rehabilitation operations are continuing as authorities monitor river levels and provide assistance to displaced families in the flood-affected areas. (PC: The Hindu)

More than 300,000 people have been forced to flee as massive wildfires continue to spread across France and Spain. Around 250,000 residents were evacuated from France's Gironde and Landes regions, while nearly 60,000 people left their homes in Spain near Madrid and Ávila. Strong winds and high temperatures have made the fires difficult to control. Spanish authorities confirmed one death after a man was found inside his car near Valencia. France has deployed military support to assist firefighters, while both countries have received additional aircraft and emergency resources through the European Union's civil protection mechanism. (PC: BBC)

India will target up to 5 medals on Day 4 of the Commonwealth Games 2026, with weightlifting expected to lead the country's medal push. Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu is the favourite for gold in the women's 48kg event, while Rishikanta Singh and M Raja will compete in the men's 60kg and 65kg categories. India will also have medal hopes in artistic gymnastics, where athletes compete in the men's individual all-around final, and in swimming, with Srihari Nataraj aiming for a podium finish in the men's 200m butterfly. Weightlifting remains India's strongest medal prospect on Sunday. (PC: NDTV)

A merchant vessel carrying 4 Indian nationals was struck at Ukraine's Odesa Port, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv confirmed on Sunday. The embassy said 2 crew members are safe, while information about the remaining 2 is still awaited. The vessel, MV AGN Ragnar, was hit on Saturday at the Black Sea port, which has faced repeated attacks since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022. The Indian mission said it is closely monitoring the situation. The incident comes days after 4 Indian seafarers were killed in another strike at Odesa, prompting India to issue a fresh safety advisory for those working on vessels in the Black Sea. (PC: X)

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding accountability over the police crackdown on students during the July 20 protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. In his letter, Gandhi described the action as a "barbaric assault" and questioned who authorised the alleged use of pellet guns against demonstrators. He also raised concerns over the presence of plain-clothed personnel during the operation and called for a transparent investigation into the incident. Gandhi urged the Centre to identify those responsible and ensure action, saying students have a democratic right to protest peacefully without facing excessive force. (PC: India Today)