Cristiano Ronaldo sent a heartfelt message to Lionel Messi following the death of Messi’s father, Jorge, on August 8 after an illness. Messi, 39, shared his first public reaction on Wednesday, posting an emotional tribute to his father on Instagram and recalling their bond. Ronaldo, Messi’s longtime football rival, responded directly to the post with condolences for the Argentine star and his family. “Huge hug to you and your loved ones in this difficult moment, Leo. Stay strong,” Ronaldo wrote. Jorge, who had been battling illness for several months, did not travel to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ronaldo’s gesture offered a rare moment of solidarity between two iconic football rivals. (PC: NDTV Sports)

Haridwar is grappling with a waste crisis after nearly five crore pilgrims visited during the Kanwar Yatra. Authorities said at least 7,000 tonnes of garbage was transported to dumping grounds, with discarded clothes, plastics and Kanwar structures littering ghats and roads. At Har ki Pauri, videos showed cleaners without gloves or masks removing water bottles filled with urine from changing rooms using shovels, triggering outrage among locals. Municipal Commissioner Nandan Kumar said teams worked overnight after Shivratri to clean ghats, parking areas and roads. In Gangotri, which received an estimated 57,000 pilgrims, 57 sacks of waste were collected despite the area being designated plastic-free, raising concerns over the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.

Lionel Messi paid an emotional tribute to his late father and longtime agent, Jorge Messi, who died last week after a prolonged illness. Sharing their photograph on Instagram, Messi wrote “Te amo, pa” and admitted he still struggles to accept the loss. He recalled Jorge urging him to play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and hoping to see Argentina reach the final. Messi said he wanted to win the trophy for his father but could not overcome his physical limitations. Argentina lost 0-1 to Spain in the July 19 final at New York New Jersey Stadium. Messi played all eight matches, scoring eight goals and providing four assists, while describing his father’s absence as deeply painful.

US President Donald Trump claimed Washington has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions with Iran amid a prolonged standoff over the strategic waterway. Trump said the US naval blockade was being called a “Wall of Steel” and claimed Iran’s military capabilities had been severely weakened. The Strait carries roughly a fifth of global oil trade, making disruptions a major threat to energy markets, shipping insurance and economic stability. The latest escalation follows weeks of military confrontation involving Iran, Israel and US forces, alongside Tehran’s warnings over maritime traffic. Meanwhile, Washington and Tehran continue indirect talks on easing the crisis. Major disagreements remain over sanctions, security guarantees, compensation for wartime damage and the sequencing of de-escalation measures.

Two Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra have been surrounded by Israeli settlers since Sunday, with residents saying their water and electricity were cut off and food supplies were running low. The families said settlers blocked access to their homes and prevented others from reaching them. Israeli forces later confronted the settlers, using tear gas and stun grenades, while authorities said the new settler outpost was illegal. A Palestinian ambulance was eventually allowed to deliver food and take a child for medical treatment. UN officials have warned that settler violence in the West Bank has reached unprecedented levels. (PC: BBC)

The Air India pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight that lost 300 feet of altitude on August 4 had reportedly been taking medication for sleep difficulty, sources told Hindustan Times. The pilot disclosed the issue during questioning by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), saying personal circumstances had affected his sleep. The development came a day after a confirmatory drug test found marijuana in his system following the flight. It remains unclear when the marijuana was consumed. Both pilots have been taken off duty pending the investigation. The AAIB is probing the incident, while the DGCA will decide regulatory action based on the findings. (PC: HT)

A US federal judge has permanently dismissed the criminal fraud and bribery case against Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani. The decision ends the criminal proceedings that had been pending in the US for nearly 2 years. Judge Nicholas Garaufis granted the US Justice Department’s request to dismiss the charges but raised concerns about how the decision was made. The case had accused the Adanis and others of involvement in an alleged bribery and fraud scheme. Adani welcomed the ruling, saying his faith in truth and the rule of law remained strong. (PC: The Indian Express)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said India is home to more than 60% of the world’s wild Asian elephants as the country observed World Elephant Day. In a social media post, Modi highlighted the elephant’s important place in India’s ecological heritage and conservation efforts. He said India has 33 Elephant Reserves that provide vital habitats and support the long-term protection of the species. The Prime Minister also praised forest officials, scientists, veterinarians, mahouts and local communities for their role in elephant conservation. He stressed that protecting elephants requires continued cooperation between communities and conservation authorities. (PC: X)

The government has approved the introduction of 1 billion polymer banknotes each in ₹10 and ₹20 denominations for field trials, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Rajya Sabha on August 11. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had proposed the notes after a recommendation from its central board. If the trials are successful, polymer notes could be issued regularly alongside existing paper-based currency. The RBI said the procurement process is still at an initial stage, so the exact launch timeline and cost cannot yet be determined. The polymer notes are expected to improve durability and reduce frequent replacement of low-value currency. (PC: The Hindu)

Lebanon’s parliament has abolished the death penalty, making it the first country in the Middle East to formally end capital punishment. The law replaces death sentences with life imprisonment and aggravated hard labour. Lebanon has not carried out an execution since 2004, although courts continued to issue death sentences. Amnesty International said at least 85 people were on death row as of January. Justice Minister Adel Nassar called the move “historic”, while UN rights chief Volker Turk urged other Middle Eastern countries to follow Lebanon’s example. Rights groups welcomed the decision but called for all existing death sentences to be commuted and further legal reforms. (PC: X)