Former Pakistan minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has drawn criticism after appearing at a public event alongside two figures identified as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) members and praising the group’s jailed chief Hafiz Saeed. A video shows Rasheed sharing the stage with Khalid Masood Sandhu, described as a senior LeT commander and Pakistan Markazi Muslim League president, and Qari Muhammad Yaqoob Sheikh, a member of LeT’s central advisory committee. During his address, Rasheed reportedly declared, “I am a slave of Hafiz Saeed,” while expressing support for the banned outfit’s leadership and making threatening remarks against India. The appearance has renewed scrutiny over alleged political associations with Pakistan-based extremist networks and anti-India rhetoric.

China on Wednesday said the situation along its border with India is “generally stable,” citing the August 6 Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meeting on border affairs. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said both sides agreed to maintain communication through diplomatic and military channels and jointly preserve peace and tranquillity along the border. His remarks came amid reports of a military face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh’s Taksing sector and claims of increased Chinese activity along the Line of Actual Control. India’s Ministry of External Affairs, however, described border issues as “most serious” and stressed that maintaining peace and tranquillity remains crucial, warning that border conditions will influence broader bilateral ties. (PC: The Tribune)

Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez are officially married, with Ronaldo confirming the union on Tuesday by sharing a photograph of their hands displaying wedding bands. However, several photographs circulating online that allegedly show football stars including Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane attending the wedding have been identified as fake and AI-generated. The images have sparked online speculation about the guest list, but there is no credible evidence that the prominent footballers were present at the ceremony. Ronaldo’s post remains the key confirmation of the marriage, while the viral images demonstrate how AI-generated content can create convincing but fabricated scenes involving high-profile celebrities and sporting personalities. (PC: X/@obua24)

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Leh in Ladakh early Thursday morning, August 13, according to the National Centre for Seismology. The tremor occurred at 6:05:15 am IST at a depth of 10 kilometres, with the epicentre located at 36.881°N latitude and 74.402°E longitude. NCS classified the event as a “Felt Quake” and recorded it as reviewed. The earthquake was also reported as being about 302 km north-northwest of Kargil. Initial reports indicated no casualties or significant structural damage, although authorities continued monitoring the situation. The shallow earthquake was felt in the region, with further assessments awaited. (PC: Times Now)

The Air India commander of flight AI2379, which suddenly lost altitude on the Phuket-Delhi route on August 4, told investigators he had been struggling with sleep due to personal circumstances and had taken medication prescribed by his family doctor. Two people familiar with his questioning said he slept for 30–35 minutes during the flight before returning to the cockpit. The first officer was flying when the altitude event occurred, while the commander was monitoring. The pilot’s confirmatory drug test was positive for cannabis after an initial “non-negative” screening. Investigators also examined nine aircraft warning messages involving hydraulic systems, autopilot and elevator controls recorded within a minute during the altitude drop. The aircraft lost about 360 feet. (PC: X)

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is set to step down later this month, with US President Donald Trump announcing her departure on Tuesday. Leavitt, who became the youngest White House press secretary at 27 when she took office in January 2025, called the decision “bittersweet”. In a lengthy social media post, she described her tenure as “the honour and adventure of a lifetime” and thanked Trump for trusting her to represent his administration. Her decision was influenced by the demanding nature of the job and her responsibilities as a mother. Trump praised Leavitt as a “real leader” and one of his most trusted aides, while wishing her well as she leaves the role. (PC: Radar Online)

Families of sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln say its nine-month deployment, including a record 250 consecutive days without landfall, is taking a severe toll, with reports of multiple suicide attempts. At a San Diego town hall, around 200 relatives confronted Navy officials over repeated deployment extensions and deteriorating conditions. One sailor’s wife said her husband tried to jump overboard after his deployment was extended, while another sailor reportedly stopped a colleague from doing so. The carrier’s roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines have spent only two days ashore since November 21 and are now in their fifth month of combat operations against Iran. Families also reported mouldy showers, broken toilets, laundry failures, water shortages and inadequate food. (PC: AFP)

A 17-year-old Indian-origin teenager, Arjun Aravind, has been charged with allegedly killing his mother, 45-year-old Sudha Venkatesan, and younger brother, 14-year-old Siddharth Aravind, at their family home in Acton, Massachusetts. Arjun, a student at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, faces two murder charges, along with counts of assault and battery involving family members and assault and battery. He also faces charges related to unauthorised use and theft of a motor vehicle. Authorities discovered the victims Tuesday evening after a tutor arrived at the family’s Martha Lane home shortly after 6:30 pm for a scheduled appointment but could not enter or contact anyone. Investigators reportedly found concerning online activity, including ChatGPT searches about hypothetical scenarios or fantasies involving killing his family.

The Delhi High Court questioned Meta’s copyright-protection system after creator Mohit Kumar alleged that unauthorised users were exploiting its Rights Manager tool to falsely claim ownership of original videos. Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani directed Meta to disclose details of its Rights Manager policy, including eligibility requirements and criteria for granting access. Kumar, an artificial intelligence, e-commerce and business coach, claimed that individuals downloaded his original educational videos and subsequently used Rights Manager to assert copyright ownership, while he could not access the same protection system. The court’s remarks highlighted concerns over potential loopholes in Meta’s copyright safeguards. The proceedings seek greater transparency around access, verification and safeguards governing Meta’s copyright enforcement mechanisms. (PC: Unsplash)

A senior adviser to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander has said Tehran could deliberately prolong its war with the United States until President Donald Trump leaves office. Mohammad Reza Naqdi told PBS NewsHour that extending the conflict could impose attrition and deter future attacks by demonstrating that aggression against Iran carries a significant cost. Naqdi said Iran believes it is currently winning the war and suggested that maintaining the conflict could strengthen Tehran’s strategic position. His remarks indicate that Iran may view prolonged confrontation as a means of building deterrence and signalling staying power. The comments come amid continuing tensions between Iran and the US, with Trump maintaining pressure on Tehran. (PC: India Today)