Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned the US against making what he called another “miscalculation” over the Strait of Hormuz as tensions between Tehran and Washington rise. Araghchi accused the US of repeated intelligence failures and said “fake intelligence” could be more dangerous than fake news. His warning came after US President Donald Trump claimed the US had total control of the strategic waterway. Iran’s Basij commander Hossein Taeb, meanwhile, said Hormuz remains under Tehran’s control. The latest exchange highlights growing tensions over the key shipping route, which is crucial for global energy supplies. (PC: x)

India have withdrawn from the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup to focus on their high-profile friendly against 5-time world champions Brazil in Kolkata on October 3. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) said it was not possible to play both competitions. India were initially scheduled to participate in the ASEAN Cup from September 21 to October 6, alongside Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in Division 1 Group A. The AIFF had considered sending a separate squad but dropped the plan. Instead, India will look to arrange other friendlies during the international window. Cabo Verde and Iran are reportedly possible opponents, but neither match has been confirmed. (PC: India Today)

Israel’s military will send more troops to the occupied West Bank village of Qusra after failing to remove Israeli settlers who have trapped 2 Palestinian families in their homes since Sunday. The Abu Ridi and Hassan families said their water and electricity were cut off and food supplies were running low. Israeli forces attempted to remove the settlers on Wednesday but faced confrontations with a larger group and failed. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned the settlers, calling them “Israeli terrorists”. The UN says 76 Palestinians, including 18 children, have been killed in the West Bank this year by Israeli forces or settlers. (PC: BBC)

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya has demanded that West Bengal be renamed “Paschim Banga”, saying the state’s name is closely linked to its history and creation in 1947. Speaking during a debate on the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, Bhattacharya welcomed the proposal to rename Kerala as Keralam. He said West Bengal was created after Partition and argued that changing its name to Bengal would ignore the history behind its formation. “West Bengal is not just a name; it has a history. We want the name to be changed to Paschim Banga,” he said. He also supported other renaming demands. (PC: The Telegraph)

A 17-year-old Indian-origin teenager, Arjun Aravind, has been charged with killing his mother and younger brother at their home in Acton, Massachusetts. Police said 45-year-old Sudha Venkatesan and 14-year-old Siddarth Aravind were found dead inside the house on Tuesday with signs of trauma. Aravind allegedly fled in his mother’s Honda Accord after the incident, triggering an overnight search. Police later found him inside the car in Wayland and arrested him without incident. Prosecutors said investigators found evidence that he had recently searched online, including through ChatGPT, for theoretical ideas and fantasies about killing his family. The investigation is ongoing. (PC: NDTV)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said India is showing growing interest in the Northern Sea Route, as Russia seeks to expand Arctic shipping and strengthen trade links with Asia. Putin said India and China are among the countries discussing greater cooperation with Moscow on the route, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans along Russia’s Arctic coast. He said Russia is open to international cooperation under maritime law. The route could provide India with another trade link to Russia and improve access to energy and goods. However, extreme weather, sea ice, high costs and limited infrastructure remain major challenges for wider commercial use. (PC: X)

Former women Naxals from Bastar, who once carried weapons in the forests, walked the runway in traditional handloom outfits at a tribal fashion show in Raipur. The event was organised to mark National Handloom Day and drew loud applause from the audience. Their appearance highlighted the change in their lives after surrendering and returning to mainstream society. The women are among former insurgents being supported through livelihood and rehabilitation programmes aimed at helping them build independent lives. The event also came as Chhattisgarh focused on development in Bastar after years of violence. Their confident runway appearance offered a powerful picture of their journey towards a new life.  

Air India will screen all its pilots for substance abuse before departures after the captain of a Phuket-Delhi flight tested positive for marijuana. The airline said mandatory testing will begin on August 13 and will cover substances or medications not permitted under regulations. The decision follows an August 4 incident in which flight AI2379 suddenly lost about 300 feet during cruise, leaving 24 people injured. Air India initially attributed the incident to turbulence, but the pilot later tested positive in a confirmatory drug test. Both pilots had undergone post-flight screening. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is investigating the incident, while DGCA will decide regulatory action. (PC: HT)

A fact-finding committee of the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) has alleged that Chinese PLA troops are blocking Indian forces from accessing key patrolling points in the Taksing sector of Arunachal Pradesh. The panel said one patrol point, Shera 5, has remained inaccessible to Indian troops since a reported confrontation in 2023. Government sources rejected claims of “slow encroachment”, saying the Army and ITBP are prepared to monitor and counter Chinese activities. China also said the border situation is “generally stable”. The PPA has urged faster road construction, stronger military infrastructure and improved connectivity in the remote border region. (PC: India Today)

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked with a sword by a Nihang group at a gurdwara in Nanded, Maharashtra. Badal suffered minor injuries during the incident, while his security personnel quickly intervened and stopped the attacker. Police detained those involved and launched an investigation. Badal, a prominent Sikh politician and former Punjab minister, was reportedly out of danger after the attack. His wife, SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, was also present at the gurdwara. The incident has raised concerns over security arrangements during Badal’s visit to the religious site. (PC: The Indian Express)