India

Gwalior man fined Rs 5,500 after girlfriend covers car in 3,400 lipstick marks

A man from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, was fined Rs 5,500 after his girlfriend covered his car with approximately 3,400 lipstick kiss imprints. The unusual modification turned the vehicle's exterior into a visual spectacle that circulated widely on social media. Traffic police used the viral images to trace and identify the car's owner. Authorities determined that altering the vehicle's appearance in this manner violated road safety and vehicle appearance regulations. The owner subsequently paid the fine and had all the lipstick marks removed from the car.

Instagram Creator Stopped by Police After Girlfriend Covers Car in Lipstick Kisses

An Instagram content creator staged a stunt in which his girlfriend covered his car with lipstick kiss marks, apparently to boost his social media following. Police arrived at the scene and intervened after the incident drew attention. Authorities confirmed the man's identity as a social media influencer and noted the act was a deliberate publicity exercise. The stunt was designed to grow his reach and attract more followers on the platform.

Trump and Canada's Doug Ford Exchange Sharp Insults Over Tariff Dispute

U.S. President Donald Trump and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have traded heated personal insults amid an escalating trade dispute. The conflict centres on Trump's tariffs targeting Canadian goods, particularly in the auto and steel sectors. Ontario, led by Ford, is especially exposed to the economic impact as Canada's manufacturing heartland. The war of words reflects deepening tensions between the two neighbouring countries over trade policy.

Five Arrested After Class 8 Girl Allegedly Gang-Raped at Guwahati Homestay

A teenage girl from Assam, studying in Class 8, was allegedly gang-raped by five men at a homestay in Guwahati. Police launched an operation and successfully rescued the victim. All five accused individuals were subsequently arrested in connection with the crime. The incident has drawn attention to safety concerns around homestay accommodations in the region.

US proposes $103,265 H-1B visa filing fee to fund immigration system

The US Department of Homeland Security has put forward a proposal to introduce a new fee of $103,265 for H-1B visa petitions. The fee is intended to cover immigration system costs across multiple federal agencies. It would apply specifically to cap-subject applications, exempting universities and research institutions from the charge. This proposal is separate from a previously invalidated payment requirement. The public is currently being invited to submit comments on the proposed rule.

NSA Ajit Doval meets China's Han Zheng to discuss border peace and bilateral ties

Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited China for high-level diplomatic talks. He met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng during the visit. The two sides discussed maintaining peace along the India-China border. Bilateral relations between the two countries were also a key agenda of the discussions.

Kangana Ranaut Accuses Ramdev of Crossing Decency Lines in Public Spat

Bollywood actress and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has publicly criticised yoga guru Baba Ramdev, accusing him of crossing every boundary of decency. The dispute appears to have escalated after Ranaut posted on Instagram claiming she has a better personality than Ramdev. The public exchange marks a notable falling-out between two figures who have broadly shared political and cultural affiliations. The nature of Ramdev's remarks that prompted Ranaut's response has not been detailed in the available report.

Putin, Xi Among World Leaders Set to Attend BRICS Summit in Delhi

Several prominent world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, are expected to attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Delhi. The official agenda is centered on trade, development financing, and reform of global institutions. However, informal discussions are anticipated to be shaped by more pressing geopolitical concerns. The ongoing Middle East conflict and tensions between Iran and the UAE are expected to dominate behind-the-scenes conversations among leaders.

Chidambaram Calls One Nation One Election Bill a Threat to Federal Democracy

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has strongly opposed the One Nation, One Election Bill, calling it a violation of constitutional basics and federal democratic principles. He argued that the bill's current text would effectively prevent simultaneous elections from being held in 2029. A parliamentary committee examining the legislation has received suggestions on defining valid grounds for deferring state elections. Opposition parties have announced plans to launch a nationwide campaign against the proposed law. Chidambaram and his allies view the bill as fundamentally incompatible with India's constitutional framework.

Mojtaba Khamenei seen, heard in rare video amid health concerns

Worm Found in Dessert at PAUL Bakery Pune Months Before Sandwich Incident

A worm was reportedly discovered in a dessert purchased from PAUL Bakery at Phoenix Marketcity in Pune's Viman Nagar area, according to a post on X. The incident surfaced online and predates a more recent controversy involving the same bakery chain over a sandwich. The social media post brought renewed attention to food safety standards at the popular bakery. This earlier incident adds to growing concerns about quality control at PAUL Bakery's Pune outlet.

Amazon and Flipkart hike seller cancellation fees ahead of festive season

Amazon and Flipkart have revised their seller cancellation fee structures just before the festive shopping season. Flipkart has rolled out a three-tier penalty system targeting order fulfilment failures, while Amazon is raising closing fees across its fulfilment channels. The changes are intended to encourage better inventory planning and enhance the overall customer experience on both platforms. However, sellers have raised concerns that the increased charges will strain their already thin operating margins and add to their financial burden.

Dr Robert Parry, Ohio pediatric surgeon, draws cartoons on kids’ bandages after surgery

Teen researcher identifies two existing drugs that may help limit Alzheimer's damage

Leon Wang, a teenage student, conducted research examining already-approved medications for their potential to protect against Alzheimer's disease. He found that nintedanib and pirfenidone demonstrated protective effects in cell-based models. Wang's study focused on the APOE4 gene variant and changes in brain blood vessel cells as key targets. His approach of repurposing existing drugs could offer a quicker and more cost-effective pathway for Alzheimer's research. The findings indicate that further investigation into drugs targeting the TGFβ pathway may be worthwhile.

RBI Steps In to Stabilise Rupee Amid Rising Oil Prices and Dollar Demand

The Reserve Bank of India is believed to have intervened in foreign exchange markets to support the rupee. Elevated global oil prices and strong corporate demand for dollars put significant pressure on the Indian currency. State-owned banks were seen selling dollars in the market, widely interpreted as a sign of central bank action. As a result of sustained intervention, the rupee has remained relatively stable within a narrow range for about two weeks. Broader headwinds including geopolitical tensions and weakness in equity markets have further weighed on the currency.

Heart Aerospace's X1 Electric Plane Completes First Flight on Battery Power

Swedish aerospace startup Heart Aerospace has successfully conducted the maiden flight of its X1 electric jet in New York. The aircraft, claimed to be the world's largest battery-powered plane, stayed airborne for 27 minutes using only battery power at a reported energy cost of around $5. The milestone marks a significant step forward in the development of zero-emission commercial aviation. Heart Aerospace is also developing a hybrid-electric regional aircraft, the ES-30, which is targeted for commercial service entry by 2031. The company believes these electric aircraft could meaningfully cut airline operating costs while reducing the environmental impact of air travel.

IIT Alumni Pour Hundreds of Crores Back Into India's Premier Tech Institutes

Successful IIT graduates are increasingly making large financial contributions to their alma maters across India. Notable donations include Rakesh Gangwal's Rs 400 crore pledge to IIT Kanpur, Nandan Nilekani's cumulative Rs 400 crore to IIT Bombay, and Dr Krishna Chivukula's Rs 228 crore gift to IIT Madras. These funds are being directed toward medical schools, hostels, research, infrastructure, and new academic institutions. The trend signals a growing movement among wealthy alumni to reinvest in the institutions that shaped their careers.

Andhra Engineer, Wife, Daughter and Grandson Die by Suicide in River Jump

An Andhra Pradesh family of four died after jumping into a river on the night of August 16-17. The deceased were identified as Thillapudi Nookaraju, a Panchayat Raj assistant engineer, his wife Meena, their daughter Sowjanya, and a 10-year-old grandson. The family left behind a note reportedly blaming a rifle shooting coach for their deaths. Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to the tragedy.

Louisiana girl, 8, dies from rare brain-eating amoeba after lake swim

An eight-year-old girl in Louisiana has died after contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba infection following a swim in a local lake. The infection, caused by a microscopic organism, is known to be almost always fatal once contracted. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that such cases are extremely uncommon, with very few reported nationally. Health authorities are urging swimmers to take precautions, particularly by preventing water from entering the nose, to reduce the risk of infection.

Gold Rate Today, August 25: Check 18, 22 and 24 carat gold prices in Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and other cities