Rumours about the death of Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan spread online after Afghan media claimed he was killed in Adiala Jail. The report said Khan died from mistreatment, but Pakistan’s government strongly denied the claims. His three sisters said they were assaulted while trying to meet him and had not seen him for over three weeks. PTI supporters held a sit-in outside the jail but ended their protest after police agreed to allow family visits. Khan has been in jail since August 2023 on corruption charges. His family says he is being kept in a “death cell”. (PC: NDTV)

US President Donald Trump called for a full review of all Afghan nationals who entered the country under the Biden administration. His statement came after two National Guard members were shot near the White House. The suspect, an Afghan man who arrived in 2021, is in custody. Both soldiers were shot in the head and are in critical condition. The FBI is treating the attack as a possible act of terror. The White House was briefly locked down. US immigration officials have stopped processing Afghan cases. Trump also ordered 500 more Guard members to Washington. Joe Biden said he was “heartbroken”. (PC: Sky News)

Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir took charge as the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces after a major constitutional change. The new post gives him control of the army, navy and air force. It also puts him in charge of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. The 27th Amendment removed the old Joint Chiefs role and extended Munir’s tenure until at least 2030. He now has legal protection similar to the president. Analysts say Munir is now Pakistan’s most powerful man. Critics warn that politicians have given too much power to the military. Supporters say the move will bring stability. (PC: NDTV)

Grief and shock spread across Hong Kong’s Tai Po district after a huge fire tore through the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, killing more than 50 people. Nearly 300 residents are still missing. Many families searched shelters and online lists through the night, hoping for any news. Survivors said smoke filled corridors within minutes, turning escape routes into deadly traps. Police blamed a construction firm for “gross negligence”, saying the fire started from bamboo scaffolding used for repair work. Many long-time residents lost all their belongings. The blaze is now Hong Kong’s deadliest since 1948. (PC: HT)

A new storm is forming in the Bay of Bengal, and it may soon become Cyclone Ditwah. The India Meteorological Department said a depression near Sri Lanka has strengthened into a deep depression and could turn into a cyclone within 12 hours. Heavy rain, strong winds of up to 90 kmph, and rough seas are expected later this week in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh. A pre-cyclone alert is in place. The system is likely to move north-northwest and gain strength. Meanwhile, Cyclone Senyar is weakening but will still bring heavy rain to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the government will soon allow private companies to enter India’s nuclear energy sector. This marks a major change, as the sector has always been controlled by the government. Modi said the move will help develop small modular reactors, advanced reactors, and new nuclear technology. He spoke while virtually opening Skyroot’s new Infinity Campus in Hyderabad. The Prime Minister praised private players for boosting India’s space progress in recent years. He said Skyroot’s growth shows the strength of India’s young talent and added that India can become a global leader in satellite launches. 

India’s vice-captain Rishabh Pant formally apologised to fans following his side’s heavy 0-2 loss to South Africa, including a 408-run defeat in the Guwahati Test, where he led in Shubman Gill’s absence. Pant managed only 49 runs across four innings (average 12.25) and acknowledged the team “didn’t play good enough cricket over the last two weeks.” He said representing India is “the greatest honour” and promised the squad will “work hard, regroup, refocus and reset to come back stronger.” (PC: AP)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday affirmed that the Election Commission of India is constitutionally and legally empowered to carry out the nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, refusing to halt the process. It noted that the court may intervene later—extending deadlines or ordering corrections—if a “fit case” arises. Petitions from West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala challenging the SIR were segregated for separate hearings, with the Court seeking responses from the EC and the respective state governments. The ruling underscores that electoral roll revision remains primarily the EC’s domain while judicial scrutiny remains open. (PC: PTI)

A year after a ceasefire, southern Lebanon remains under attack by Israel. Air strikes continue almost daily, targeting areas Israel says are linked to Hezbollah. Residents in villages like Froun and Yaroun live in fear, with homes destroyed and many displaced. Despite the truce, Israel has killed hundreds, while Hezbollah denies breaking the ceasefire south of the Litani River. Locals say they want peace and stability, tired of the conflict. Lebanese authorities have not fully disarmed Hezbollah, fearing a civil war. The situation leaves thousands uncertain about returning home, with life overshadowed by drones and air strikes. (PC: BBC)

OpenAI has confirmed that some user data on its API platform was exposed after a data breach at Mixpanel, a third-party analytics provider. Hackers accessed information like account names, email addresses, organisation IDs, browser and operating system details, and coarse location. OpenAI’s systems were not hacked, and sensitive data such as passwords, API keys, payment details, and chat content were safe. The company is notifying affected users and has stopped using Mixpanel. OpenAI also advises customers to be cautious of phishing emails and enable multi-factor authentication to secure their accounts. (PC: The Indian Express)