New Zealand ultrarunner Sophie Woods has set a new record for completing the 2,000km Via Alpina trail across eight European countries. The 42-year-old finished the demanding route from Italy to Monaco in 28 days, 17 hours and 59 minutes, beating the previous record of 35 days and 21 hours. Woods endured thunderstorms, heatwaves, injuries and exhausting days of running for up to 20 hours. Supported by her husband and photographer, she completed the journey on August 1. The achievement also transformed her outlook after personal struggles, giving her renewed confidence and inspiring thousands of women and girls to pursue endurance running. (PC: X)

A second-year Mechanical Engineering student at IIT Kharagpur, identified as Ankit Sharma from Rajasthan, died after reportedly falling from the fourth floor of the Nalanda building on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred around 3 p.m., when security guards found him seriously injured and rushed him for medical treatment. Doctors declared him brought dead. Police have launched an investigation to determine how the student fell, including whether it was an accident or a deliberate act. The circumstances remain unclear. IIT Kharagpur authorities have not yet issued an official comment on the incident. (PC: NDTV)

A commuter train carrying around 150 passengers derailed near Lewes in southeast England on Thursday afternoon, leaving two people seriously injured and several others hurt. The Southern Rail service had departed from London Victoria when it veered off the tracks shortly before 4 p.m. At least three carriages overturned, prompting a major emergency response involving police, firefighters and paramedics. All passengers were safely evacuated, while injured people were assessed and some taken to hospital. The cause of the derailment remains unknown. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is investigating the incident, while major disruption to rail services in the region is expected. (PC: AP)

The United States has accused India and more than 40 countries of helping Chinese exporters bypass high US tariffs by rerouting goods through third countries. A White House report, titled “The Great Transshipment Scam,” alleges that Chinese products are being repackaged, relabelled or minimally processed elsewhere before entering the US market as goods from another country. India, Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea and the European Union are among those identified as higher-risk locations. US trade adviser Peter Navarro said Washington will deploy AI-based technology, including “Detective Border,” to detect suspicious shipments and strengthen tariff enforcement. (PC: Reuters)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has strongly rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that Washington has “total control” over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Araghchi accused the United States of repeatedly making serious miscalculations because of intelligence failures, warning that Washington could make an even bigger mistake over the waterway. Calling “fake intelligence” more dangerous than fake news, he urged the US to be cautious. Iran’s Basij commander also maintained that the strait remains under Iranian control and management. The confrontation comes amid continuing US-Iran tensions and severely reduced shipping through the crucial global energy route. (PC: X)

Tesla CEO Elon Musk received $158.3 billion in compensation in 2025, more than 2.5 million times the pay of the company’s average worker, according to a new AFL-CIO report. The extraordinary figure dramatically increased the average CEO-to-worker pay ratio among S&P 500 companies to 5,387:1, compared with 312:1 when Musk is excluded. Average CEO compensation reached $22.8 million in 2025, rising sharply when Musk’s package is included. The report highlighted widening economic inequality and declining workers’ share of national income. Tesla did not immediately comment. The findings have renewed debate over executive compensation and worker pay disparities. (PC: Getty Images)

A food-safety inspection at a private hospital in Bengaluru has uncovered expired ingredients and unhygienic food-storage practices, raising concerns about patient safety. Officials found expired rava, icing sugar, maida, bakery products, mixture and packets of paani puri in the kitchen. Stale bread, plastic chopping boards and large quantities of other food items were also recovered, including methi leaves, fried gram, green peas and moong dal. The inspection was conducted by Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drug Administration under a city-wide enforcement drive. Authorities warned food businesses to comply with food-safety laws and said strict action would follow violations. (PC: NDTV)

The Supreme Court on August 13 strongly criticised the Centre and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for delaying a decision on front-of-pack warning labels for packaged foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fats. A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran stressed that public health, particularly children’s health, should take priority over commercial interests. The Court questioned the government’s reluctance to introduce clearer warnings and indicated it could issue binding directions if authorities failed to act. FSSAI has instead proposed nutritional tables showing recommended daily intake levels for key nutrients. (PC: The Hindu)

Scientist and activist Sonam Wangchuk has called for what he describes as India’s “second Independence movement”, seeking peaceful reforms in the country’s political system. In a post on X, Wangchuk urged citizens to identify and support “selfless” and “fearless” leaders with integrity and substance. He raised concerns over the criminal cases faced by many elected representatives, arguing that this contributes to a growing public trust deficit. Wangchuk said India needs a peaceful revolution in the way political leaders are selected if it wants to remain a respected nation by 2047. He also encouraged wider public participation in developing reform ideas. (PC: PTI)

Bangladesh is facing a worsening power crisis, with several areas experiencing electricity outages lasting 8–10 hours. The shortage has disrupted homes, businesses, agriculture and industries, particularly outside Dhaka. To conserve electricity, the government has ordered shopping malls, markets and shops to close by 8 pm, while illuminated billboards must be switched off earlier. The crisis is linked to severe fuel and natural-gas shortages affecting power generation, with wider pressure from disruptions in global energy supplies. Bangladesh has also approached India for additional diesel supplies to ease the situation. Authorities are implementing energy-saving measures as public frustration grows. (PC: AP)