Latest available National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority tally put 910 people missing or “out of contact” in Nepal, which includes MEA’s assessment of 288 Indian citizens remaining “uncontactable” as of late Thursday evening. Nepal has not released a nationality-wise breakup of those dead, leaving the number of Indian fatalities, if any, unconfirmed. Across the border in Tibet, Chinese authorities reported 558 people missing as of Thursday morning. More

“We are looking into various related aspects but nothing has been finalised yet,” said the chief of the oil marketing company that is the leading coordinator for the ethanol blending programme. However, a few hours later, amid growing scrutiny, he claimed that he had been misquoted. “His response is being misquoted to suggest as if E10 is being considered as an option, which is not correct, it said. More

The two ministers discussed ways to strengthen trade and investment ties and agreed on several areas of economic cooperation. "India expressed its readiness to initiate negotiations on a Bilateral Investment Treaty at the earliest," the joint statement issued after the meeting said. A Bilateral Investment Treaty is an agreement between two countries designed to provide greater protection and certainty to investors from both sides. More

In a remarkable display of skill and tenacity, R Praggnanandhaa clinched victory at the Grand Chess Tour Finals in St. Louis, overturning a daunting six-point deficit against renowned competitor Fabiano Caruana. This landmark win not only made him the first Indian champion of the Grand Chess Tour but also earned him a hefty prize of $200,000, solidifying his status in the chess world. More

Though Rijiju made no categorical comment about an immediate session to take up the constitutional amendment bill to implement the law from 2029 with a 50% increase in Lok Sabha seats, he said Parliament has been reconvened in the past after a session was not prorogued. The monsoon session, which ended on Aug 13, has not been prorogued yet. More

Meta explored cutting some teams by up to 60% and handing their work to AI agents under a plan code-named Project OT. Hatched at Mark Zuckerberg's Hawaii retreat, it involved two layoff waves, pods of three replacing traditional teams, and keystroke tracking to train AI models. Staff revolted, internal sentiment fell from 74% to 55%, and Meta's own data showed the AI wasn't delivering promised productivity gains. More

Following a thrilling second Test match, India captain Shubman Gill hailed the outcome as a victory after Sri Lanka's determined resistance led to a draw. The Sri Lankan team batted fiercely for 154 overs, earning a hard-fought tie. Gill commended their fighting spirit and particularly noted the potential of spinner Manav Suthar for upcoming Indian squads. This match secured India's series win at 1-0. More

PM Modi’s bilateral with Putin, the first since the Russian President visited India in Dec 2025 for the annual summit, will follow external affairs minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow this week for a meeting of the 27th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation during which he also called on Putin. More

Thousands of honeybees travelled into space aboard NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery in 1984. These bees survived microgravity and adapted to their new environment within days. The mission aimed to observe bee behavior and compare space-built honeycomb. The bees successfully built approximately 200 cm of honeycomb during the seven-day mission. Researchers noted differences in cell diameter and wall thickness compared to Earth-made structures. More

Raksha Bandhan 2026 is set for Friday, August 28, an occasion that celebrates the cherished bond among siblings. Families engage in preparations, including exchanging rakhis, delectable sweets, and thoughtful gifts. The article features more than seventy-five heartfelt wishes and messages for both brothers and sisters, encapsulating love, gratitude, and the enduring ties that bind siblings together, emphasizing their strong support and lifelong relationships. More

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have criticised Meta after the company agreed to pay up to £13 billion to settle a US child harm lawsuit. Calling out its “data-extraction business model”, the couple welcomed new protections for teenagers but said the settlement is only a step forward. Meta is led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg. More

The Nature Conservancy has successfully revitalized the O'Conner Reservoir dam from the late 1800s, allowing Sterry Creek to revert to its natural course. By lowering the reservoir's water levels and excavating the embankment, they eliminated the need for a costly artificial channel, thus improving local water health. This project also established a natural floodplain and reconnected important stream habitats to the expansive Lackawanna River watershed. More

Anthropic asked its employees to work remotely this week due to a potential security guard walkout. The security contractor, Allied Universal, had warned the AI company about this possibility. However, the guards' union stated that no strike authorization vote has occurred. This action by Anthropic appears to be a precautionary measure against an unconfirmed threat. The company is preparing for a potential initial public offering soon. More

On Thursday, within a five-minute window after the start of CAS on BSE—between 3.18pm and 3.23pm—sensex crashed over 2,200 points and then within the next seven minutes—between 3.23pm and 3.30pm—it recovered nearly 2,000 points. It finally closed at 76,934 points, down 539 points from its Wednesday close. On NSE, things were relatively quiet. Between 3.18pm and 3.22pm, Nifty slid over 100 points. More

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