A state of emergency has been declared in British Columbia, Canada, after the fast-moving Bald Range wildfire nearly doubled in size, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. The fire has spread across more than 103 sq km in the Summerland and Peachland areas. British Columbia Premier David Eby said flames were so intense that they created their own weather systems and lightning. Homes and properties have been destroyed, while some residents were rescued after being trapped by rapidly changing conditions. More than 20,000 people across the province have evacuated this summer as hundreds of wildfires continue to burn. (PC: BBC)

Former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has spoken about his resignation following protests over alleged NEET irregularities, saying some people tried to “mislead” Gen Z. Addressing students and teachers in Odisha, Pradhan said he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and offered to resign, while seeking permission to acknowledge the aspirations of young people. He said the Prime Minister agreed and later addressed the issue himself. Pradhan maintained that the ministerial post was not important to him and said young Indians have major aspirations. His remarks came amid continuing political debate over the handling of student protests and the NEET controversy. (PC: Mint)

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has cancelled the booking of its SSS-1 auditorium for an August 10 discussion on Umar Khalid’s book Fractured Communities. The event, organised by the JNU Students’ Union, was scheduled from 3 pm to 6 pm as part of a programme marking Tribal Day, or Adivasi Diwas. The university said the cancellation was due to incomplete details in the venue request form. Several speakers, including professors Prabhu Mohapatra and Uma Chakravarti, were scheduled to participate. The administration said the decision followed established procedures and was aimed at ensuring transparency in the use of campus spaces. (PC: India Today)

FIFA has defended president Gianni Infantino against what it called a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine him and the organisation. The statement came after reports raised allegations about Infantino’s personal life, which FIFA and Infantino strongly denied. Infantino is also facing growing opposition in Europe following the collapse of his FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which would have created a new company to manage commercial and ticketing rights. UEFA says it has lost confidence in him, while Norway’s football chief has called for his resignation. However, Infantino retains support from several football confederations and member associations. (PC: BBC)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made his first visit to Serbia, where President Aleksandar Vucic pledged to deepen economic and humanitarian cooperation with Ukraine. The 2 countries agreed to work toward EU membership and aim to finalize a free-trade agreement by the end of 2026. Serbia also offered help with rebuilding damaged Ukrainian cities and promised additional humanitarian, infrastructure and energy support. Vucic has maintained close historical ties with Russia but has increasingly strengthened relations with the West. Serbia has not joined sanctions against Moscow, though its economic and military dependence on Russia has gradually declined. (PC: The Print)

A Jharkhand CID investigation into the 2024 JSSC-CGL examination reportedly found that 120 of 150 questions were leaked before the exam, with answers circulated through WhatsApp and other channels. According to documents accessed by NDTV, candidates allegedly received answers at locations including Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Patna, West Bengal and Nepal. An image reportedly timestamped 7:23 am on September 22, 2024, was cited as evidence. The CID submitted its report in March 2025, but the government later formed a second SIT that dismissed the leak allegations. Student protests over recruitment exams have continued in Ranchi. (PC: NDTV)

Lionel Messi missed Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup clash against Monterrey after the death of his father, Jorge Messi, aged 68. Before the match, both teams observed a minute’s silence and Inter Miami players wore black armbands. Messi’s close friend and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul paid an emotional tribute after scoring Miami’s opening goal in the 32nd minute. De Paul removed his jersey to reveal Messi’s iconic No. 10 shirt underneath, earning a yellow card. Monterrey later came back to win 2-1. Messi remained in Argentina with his family and his return date to Inter Miami remains unclear. (PC: HT)

Iran’s semi-official Mehr News agency has released an undated video showing Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei interacting with followers, apparently seeking to counter reports about his health. The footage came days after Israeli media claimed the 56-year-old cleric was in an “extremely critical condition” and had been taken to a hospital. Reports also cited concerns within Iran’s leadership. However, the video’s date and circumstances could not be independently verified. Khamenei has rarely appeared publicly since becoming Supreme Leader after his father’s death in February. His prolonged absence has fueled repeated speculation about his health and whereabouts.

One of the two pilots operating an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight reportedly failed a post-flight dope test following a severe turbulence incident and sudden 300-foot altitude loss. Sources said both pilots have been removed from flying duties pending an inquiry. The incident, which occurred on August 5, injured at least 17 people, including four cabin crew members. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is investigating the incident and will decide whether further investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is required. Air India said the drug-test results have not been shared with the airline and declined to comment on the reported findings. (PC: 

India’s Basant Kumar Meghwal won the silver medal in the men’s high jump at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The 19-year-old athlete from Anupgarh, Rajasthan, cleared a personal-best height of 2.21 metres, securing his first medal at an international competition. His performance also made him the first Indian high jumper to win a medal at the World U20 Championships. Algeria’s Younes Ayachi took gold, while Great Britain’s Otis Poole claimed bronze, with positions decided by countback. Meghwal’s achievement adds to India’s growing success in athletics at the global junior level. (PC: X)