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Former Army chief General Manoj Naravane says China will be India's main long-term competitor, while Pakistan remains an immediate security challenge due to terrorism.

Astronomers have discovered the fastest known star in the Milky Way, racing around the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* at an astonishing 25,000 kilometers per second. The star, named S301, is also the closest known star to our galaxy’s central black hole, completing an orbit in just 8.7 years. Scientists say S301’s extreme proximity to Sagittarius A* could help them directly measure the spin of a supermassive black hole for the first time. The discovery offers a rare opportunity to test Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity in one of the most extreme environments in the universe.

One of China's most influential comedians has come under investigation and had his shows cancelled after joking about a Communist Party song. Guo Degang, China's most famous stand-up comic, is accused of violating public morals after he improvised his own lyrics to a well-known revolutionary song during a performance in Wuhan in late July.

U.S. President Donald Trump's special assistant Natalie Harp has been at the centre of a political row. The mystery around her influence deepened as it emerged that she worked at the White House without security clearance for over a year.

Jailed former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was transferred from Adiala Jail to Islamabad's Shifa International Hospital under heavy security. The transfer comes following a directive from the Supreme Court of Pakistan after mounting concerns raised by his legal team and family regarding his deteriorating health and isolation in prison.

Israel's plan to advance tenders for around 1,200 settlement homes in the strategically sensitive E1 area of the occupied West Bank has drawn strong condemnation from major Western allies. The UK, France, Germany, Italy and Canada called the move “unacceptable” and urged Israel to withdraw the plans, warning that development in E1 could undermine prospects for a two-state solution.

In a tragic road accident outside Inorbit Mall in Madhapur, 26-year-old Bharati Mukhi was fatally struck by a speeding luxury car while crossing the road. The incident has brought 21-year-old Lingamaneni Sanjush—the son of Andhra Pradesh Rajya Sabha MP and Jana Sena Party leader Lingamaneni Ramesh—into sharp focus after police registered a case against him.

A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 had a terrifying takeoff from Munich after its speed dropped twice during the takeoff roll. The aircraft became airborne with only about 91 metres of runway remaining, while its tail struck the ground and four tyres later burst. The flight, carrying 287 people, returned safely to Munich after nearly two hours in the air. Investigators are now examining what caused the dangerous loss of acceleration.

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The Spaniard has not played since withdrawing from the Barcelona Open in mid-April with a right wrist injury, missing both the French Open and Wimbledon.

The FBI has placed an Indian national identified as Kamal on its Most Wanted list, alleging links to the Lawrence Bishnoi Organised Crime Group. The move comes as US authorities expand a crackdown on transnational crime networks allegedly operating across India, Canada and the US.

The USS George Washington aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East, where it is expected to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln from its record deployment amid concerns about poor living conditions and morale.

In breaking royal news for August 2026, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are reportedly relocating back to the United Kingdom from their home in Montecito, California. According to a report by the Washington Post, the couple is establishing a private, non-royal residence outside of London. This major lifestyle shift comes six years after they stepped back as senior working royals and moved to North America.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced what he called the “most crushing economic operation ever” against Iran, warning of severe consequences for any country helping Tehran economically. The move comes amid continuing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, where Trump insists shipping is moving and “lots of boats” are crossing despite ongoing disputes over access and security in the vital waterway. The latest escalation signals a shift from military pressure to economic warfare.

Russia has intensified ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv and surrounding areas, killing 16 people and injuring 30, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukraine's depleted air defences reportedly failed to intercept any incoming missiles, exposing a critical shortage of Patriot interceptors. Zelenskyy is urging the U.S. and other allies to provide more ammunition as Russian strikes continue.

A landmark trial began in August 2026 in a federal court in Oakland, California, where Meta Platforms is accused of deliberately designing Facebook and Instagram to hook young users. A bipartisan coalition of 29 U.S. states brought the suit, alleging the tech giant engineered addictive features that exploit adolescent psychology, causing severe youth mental health harms while prioritising corporate profit. Meta strongly rejects the allegations, claiming the lawsuit's mathematical financial demands are completely unsubstantiated.

Trump has set an extraordinary new target for America's space industry: 1,000 launches and re-entries every year by 2030. With the US recording just 178 launches last year, the White House is betting heavily on private companies to transform the country's space ambitions.

A 35-year-old woman has been charged in the US after allegedly telling an FBI informant that she wanted to attack New York's State Capitol and kill lawmakers. Investigators say she also sought guidance on making explosives and discussed using a food-delivery disguise.

The states' case is the first bellwether from 3,137 consolidated cases in the social media addiction multidistrict litigation, and the first to reach a jury. School districts and families are queued behind it, and a bellwether verdict prices them all.