A fire broke out in Jammu and Kashmir after two tankers were involved in a head-on collision. The incident took place near Malhar Palace in the region. Fire and Emergency Services teams were swiftly deployed to the scene following the crash. Responders worked to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney firmly opposed US President Donald Trump's proposal to rename Lake Ontario as 'Lake America'. Carney declared on Thursday that the lake's name would remain 'Lake Ontario, now and always'. The dispute adds to the growing diplomatic tensions between Canada and the United States under the Trump administration. Lake Ontario, one of the five Great Lakes bordering both countries, holds significant cultural and historical importance for Canadians.
Satellite imagery analysed by ISRO's National Remote Sensing Centre has revealed the scale of a devastating glacier collapse in Nepal. Nearly two-thirds of the glacier body detached and plunged approximately 1.2 kilometres, triggering a destructive flood described as resembling liquid concrete. A Sentinel-2 image captured on August 24 showed the glacier still intact, while a Landsat-9 image taken on August 26, after the disaster, exposed a large scar marking the zone of breakage and collapse. The imagery also mapped the path of a massive ice-rock avalanche that descended toward a nearby river.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is moving ahead with plans to purchase thousands of electric shock gloves for its officers. The decision has drawn strong opposition from civil rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers. Critics argue that ICE officers cannot be trusted to use such devices responsibly. Despite these concerns, the agency has not halted or reversed its procurement plans.
Indian chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa has made history by winning the Grand Chess Tour Finals held in St. Louis. He overcame a six-point deficit against top competitor Fabiano Caruana to clinch the title. The victory marks the first time an Indian player has won the prestigious Grand Chess Tour championship. Praggnanandhaa took home a prize of $200,000 for his historic win.
Former India cricketer and ex-women's team coach WV Raman has set high expectations for the Indian women's cricket team ahead of the 2026 Women's Asia Cup. Raman stated that finishing without the title would be a 'major disappointment' for the side. He cited India's historic dominance in the tournament as the basis for this expectation. The team is captained by Harmanpreet Kaur heading into the upcoming edition.
The Yash, Kiara Advani, and Nayanthara starrer 'Toxic' opened to a blockbuster debut, collecting over ₹100 crore on its first day. However, the film saw a sharp 64% decline on Thursday, earning only ₹36.40 crore net. The significant drop is not unusual for big releases following a high-energy opening day. Nonetheless, trade analysts remain cautiously optimistic as the approaching weekend and the Raksha Bandhan holiday are expected to drive higher footfall to cinemas.
A radio malfunction was behind a close call between President Trump's Marine One helicopter and a commercial jet. Technicians discovered the issue only after the incident had already occurred. The problem stemmed from the helicopter's communication system shifting to a new frequency or location during ongoing White House construction work. This disruption intermittently cut off Marine One's contact with air traffic control towers. The findings raise concerns about communication protocols during presidential aircraft operations near active construction zones.
India captain Shubman Gill celebrated the drawn second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo as a win for Test cricket. Sri Lanka put up a resolute batting display across 154 overs to secure the draw and deny India a series whitewash. Despite the result, India claimed the two-match series 1-0. Gill lauded the opposition's fighting spirit and resilience throughout the match. He also highlighted spinner Manav Suthar as a promising talent worth watching in future Indian squads.
Raksha Bandhan 2026 will be celebrated on Friday, August 28, honoring the special bond between siblings. The festival is marked by the exchange of rakhis, sweets, and gifts among family members. To help people express their feelings, a collection of over 75 heartfelt messages and wishes has been compiled for both brothers and sisters. The messages reflect themes of love, gratitude, and lifelong sibling support.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced plans to economically isolate Iran ahead of G20 finance discussions. The strategy involves expanding secondary sanctions, which would target countries and entities that continue doing business with Iran. Nations that refuse to align with the US-led campaign have been warned of serious economic consequences. The move signals Washington's intent to use multilateral financial forums to build a broader coalition against Tehran.
India has expressed readiness to initiate negotiations on a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with Canada at the earliest opportunity. The announcement came through a joint statement issued following a meeting between ministers from both countries. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen trade and investment ties and identified several areas for economic cooperation. A Bilateral Investment Treaty is a formal agreement between two nations aimed at providing greater protection and certainty to investors on both sides.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has appointed Kurdish military leader Mazloum Abdi as an adviser to the presidency. The appointment was formalized through an official decree signed by Sharaa and published by state news agency SANA. Abdi, formally referred to as Mustafa Khalil Abdi in the decree, is a prominent Kurdish figure and commander. The move is seen as a significant step toward political inclusion of Kurdish leadership in post-conflict Syria.
Italy has released approximately 130,000 juvenile common octopuses into the Adriatic Sea as part of efforts to combat an invasive blue crab population. The blue crabs have caused significant damage to the country's coastal fisheries, destroying nets and depleting shellfish stocks. The financial toll on Italy's fishing industry has run into tens of millions of euros. Scientists are banking on the octopus, a native predator, to help naturally suppress crab numbers. This biological intervention is being pursued alongside stepped-up fishing efforts targeting the invasive species.
Indian stock markets witnessed extreme volatility on Thursday during the Closing Auction Session on BSE. The Sensex plunged more than 2,200 points in just five minutes between 3:18 PM and 3:23 PM before staging a near-full recovery of around 2,000 points in the following seven minutes. Despite the dramatic swings, the index ultimately closed at 76,934 points, a decline of 539 points from the previous day's close. The NSE saw comparatively milder turbulence, with the Nifty slipping over 100 points during a similar four-minute window.
HDFC is planning to appeal against a resolution plan that effectively wipes out 99.97% of creditor claims against Zee Entertainment founder Subhash Chandra. A majority of assenting creditors (80.8%) supported the Rs 6.5 crore settlement plan, arguing it was a better outcome than pushing Chandra into personal bankruptcy. The resolution professional assessed Chandra's net worth at just Rs 31.8 crore, with Rs 25 crore of that tied up in his mortgaged home. Chandra has contested the Rs 22,000 crore liability, saying it was based on historical claims filed in 2022.
The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has dismantled an interstate racket involved in the distribution of counterfeit blood pressure medication. Three key operatives have been arrested in connection with the case. The network was found to have distribution links spanning Ahmedabad and Lucknow. Authorities conducted a targeted crackdown to neutralize the operation.
