The UK Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into the Al-Khair Foundation following allegations that the prominent Muslim-registered charity and some of its partners may have links to Hamas. The regulator said it received a complaint last month alleging connections to Hamas and possible funding for the group. The commission initially assessed the concerns and gathered additional information before escalating the matter to a formal investigation. The development follows the arrest of a senior figure in a US terror-related case, raising further scrutiny around the charity. The inquiry will examine the allegations and the organisation’s activities and partnerships. The claims remain allegations, and the Charity Commission’s investigation is ongoing. (PC: Times Now)

Baloch separatist leader Mir Yar Baloch called on the international community to recognise what he described as the “Republic of Balochistan” as an independent country, as supporters marked August 11 as Balochistan’s Independence Day. In a message on X, he urged countries and international organisations to stop referring to Balochistan as a province of Pakistan and thanked media, Indian outlets, researchers and think tanks for highlighting the issue. The group claimed Balochistan declared independence on August 11, 1947, and said its campaign seeks international recognition. It outlined plans for foreign policy, defence, currency, passports and diplomatic missions. Pakistan and the international community do not recognise the claim. Security allegations remain unverified. (PC: AFP)

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday said he would not travel to Jharkhand to join students protesting alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations, saying he did not want to “hijack” the movement. Dipke strongly condemned Monday’s police action against protesters, calling it a “brutal lathi-charge”. Thousands of students and job aspirants had marched towards the Jharkhand Assembly in Ranchi, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe. Police used water cannons and tear gas after protesters breached multiple barricading layers. Protesters alleged that police also used lathis, injuring several people, including student leader Devendra Nath Mahato, who had been on a nine-day hunger strike.

The pilot-in-command of Air India flight AI2379 has tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory laboratory test, sources said on Tuesday. The pilot had earlier undergone a mandatory psychoactive substance screening after the August 4 flight suddenly lost around 300 feet in altitude during cruise. The Airbus A320 was carrying 137 passengers and 8 crew members when the incident occurred, leaving at least 17 people injured. Both pilots have been removed from the flying roster pending investigation. The DGCA has classified the incident as serious, while the AAIB is examining flight records, reported technical problems and other factors behind the sudden altitude loss. (PC: India Today)

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake has killed at least 132 people in western Colombia, with rescuers racing to find survivors trapped under collapsed buildings. Cali and Pereira are among the worst-hit areas, while the remote Choco region is also facing heavy damage. Authorities said around 1,600 buildings have been damaged or destroyed, while more than 700 people were injured in Valle del Cauca alone. Over 2,700 people were reported missing on citizen-run websites, although the figure has not been officially confirmed. Soldiers, firefighters, volunteers and search dogs are working through the rubble as authorities warn the death toll could rise. (PC: Al Jazeera)

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday criticised the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over stop-sale orders against Cadila Pharmaceuticals, saying a “shoot first and ask questions later” approach does not apply in law. The court said the regulator had the power to act but questioned how those powers were exercised. The FDA had seized stocks and stopped the sale of several Cadila medicines over concerns about similar branding and possible medication errors. Following the court’s observations, the FDA agreed to revoke the orders and follow due process, including issuing show-cause notices and hearing Cadila before taking fresh action. (PC: India Today)

Former Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has been sentenced to death in absentia by a Syrian court over charges linked to war crimes and crimes against humanity during the country’s long civil war. His brother Maher Al-Assad and cousin Atef Najib were also sentenced to death in the same case. The court accused Najib of involvement in the deadly crackdown in Daraa in 2011, including torture and the killing of children. Bashar Al-Assad fled Syria for Moscow in December 2024 after opposition forces captured Damascus and ended his rule. The verdict marks the first major trial of former government figures under Syria’s transitional authorities. (PC: NDTV)

India has rejected China’s criticism of its decision to give official names to 27 places and geographical features in Arunachal Pradesh. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Arunachal Pradesh is an “inalienable and integral part of India” and called this an “indisputable reality”. India announced the names on Friday, including locations along the Line of Actual Control. Officials said the move strengthens India’s official maps and documentation of its territorial claims. China has called the move “illegal, null and void” and reiterated its claim over the region. India’s latest response comes amid continuing tensions between the 2 countries over their disputed border. (PC: HT)

The Civil Aviation Ministry has summoned outgoing Air India CEO Campbell Wilson as scrutiny of the airline increases following a serious mid-air incident involving flight AI2379. The Airbus A320, flying from Phuket to Delhi on August 4, suddenly lost around 300 feet of altitude during cruise. The flight carried 137 passengers, including 3 infants, and 8 crew members. Thirteen passengers and 4 cabin crew were taken to hospital after landing. The DGCA classified the incident as serious and handed the investigation to the AAIB. Investigators have secured the flight data and cockpit voice recorders to determine what caused the sudden altitude loss. (PC: India Today)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of using North Korean ballistic missiles in a deadly overnight attack on Zaporizhzhia. At least 6 people were killed and 19 injured, according to Ukrainian officials. The strikes also damaged industrial facilities, infrastructure and civilian buildings. Kyiv said Russia launched about 120 drones along with several types of missiles across Ukraine. One person was injured in Kyiv, while strikes caused damage and power outages in Kherson and Kharkiv. The attacks came a day after Ukrainian drones killed at least 13 people in Russia’s Tatarstan region. Zelensky warned that growing North Korean military support for Moscow poses a wider security threat. (PC: BBC)