The Economic Times

Concerns over the living conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have prompted US congressional Democrats to demand answers from the Navy. According to reports, sailors and Marines have faced significant challenges, including food shortages, plumbing failures, and contaminated water. Extended deployments have increased scrutiny from lawmakers, who are now advocating for a thorough oversight visit to assess the mental and physical wellbeing of personnel during these demanding missions.

Actor Ravi Kishan has taken social media by storm, becoming the center of countless viral memes. His wife, Preeti Shukla, humorously suggested keeping him indoors to curb the meme frenzy. After realizing his comments were prime meme material, Kishan decided to observe a maun vrat. He also expressed admiration for Gen Z's ability to find humor in his remarks while gearing up for the anticipated release of Mirzapur: The Movie.

Ancient philosopher Mencius believed true greatness lies in retaining a child's heart. Modern pressures can erode qualities like kindness and curiosity over time. Mencius's teaching suggests maturity does not require sacrificing sincerity and compassion. This wisdom encourages preserving essential human qualities despite life's complexities. Adults can gain wisdom without losing their innate sense of wonder and care.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson highlighted environmental concerns regarding oil pollution. Recent pollution along Qeshm Island shores points to a foreign bulk carrier. Iran demands compensation for extensive environmental damage over decades. The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until US conditions are met. Commercial shipping continues under tight security amid volatile regional tensions.

Independence Day 2026 Wishes: As India gears up to mark its 80th Independence Day on August 15, 2026, the nation will pay tribute to its courageous freedom fighters while reflecting on a remarkable journey of growth. The Har Ghar Tiranga campaign will inspire citizens to proudly display the national flag, fostering a sense of unity and patriotism as messages of hope and progress resonate across communities.

Following a Supreme Court ruling that mandates the return of collected tariffs, major shipping companies are now issuing significant refunds to consumers.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced ten crore rupees assistance for flood-affected Assam. These funds will be disbursed from the Chief Minister's relief fund to aid the state. Seva kendras across all assembly constituencies will be named after Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Assam's government will spend one thousand crore rupees for relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Tamil Nadu will sign agreements worth 150.5 billion rupees for new overseas projects. The state government announced 97 pacts totaling 674.52 billion rupees. These agreements are expected to create over 100,000 new jobs for residents. Investments include Super Micro Computer and Saint-Gobain, among others.

The Indian Air Force and Royal Malaysian Air Force are conducting Exercise Udara Shakti 2026. Air warriors from both nations are engaged in joint field training and expert exchanges. This exercise focuses on operational learning and enhancing interoperability between the forces. Personnel will gain familiarity with each other's air operation procedures. Meanwhile, Exercise Pitch Black will involve twenty nations in northern Australia.

Tata Motors shares jumped after Q1 FY27 net profit surged 83% YoY to Rs 2,560 crore, aided by mark-to-market gains on Tata Capital investments. Revenue rose 19% YoY to Rs 20,667 crore.

Jio Financial Services shares: Bank of America agreed to acquire up to 49.9% in its lending arm Jio Credit through a Rs 18,268 crore joint venture deal. The US bank will initially take 26.5%, with the stake potentially rising to 49.9% via warrants, subject to approvals. Jio Credit had an AUM of Rs 30,667 crore as of June 2026.

Several US states are marking Indias 80th Independence Day by proclaiming August 15, 2026, as India Day or India Independence Day. Delaware, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts have recognised the occasion, celebrating Indias heritage and the Indian-American communitys contributions while highlighting enduring ties between the US and India.

Human remains found during a 2023 demolition were identified as Brenda Marie LeBlanc. She had disappeared in the 1990s and was originally from New Brunswick. Genetic genealogy identified the remains in 2025 after years at the vacant property. Police are investigating LeBlanc's death as a homicide after the discovery. Authorities seek information regarding LeBlanc's whereabouts and activities during the 1990s.

In a remarkable turn of events, seven miners in Panna unearthed a stunning 16.96-carat diamond that is projected to yield over fifty lakh rupees at an upcoming auction. This discovery not only symbolizes immense potential for wealth but also brings hope for improving their lives. Three of the workers are particularly excited, as they plan to use their earnings for marriage and family aspirations.

Tata Group is facing a leadership and strategy reset after N Chandrasekarans decision to step down as Tata Sons chairman, putting the conglomerates planned $120 billion investment programme under scrutiny.

Hindustan Aeronautics shares gained after the defence major reported strong Q1FY27 results, with net profit rising 15% and revenue increasing 14% year-on-year. Brokerages Nomura and Motilal Oswal raised their target prices, citing healthy order visibility, improving supply chains and rising Tejas Mk1A deliveries. Nomura retained HAL as its top defence pick.

Stunning timelapse captures total eclipse unfolding over Spain's Mallorca

Delhi and NCR areas anticipate partly cloudy skies on Thursday. Temperatures will remain in the mid-30s across most locations. Gurgaon and Faridabad may experience isolated rain or thundershowers. The forecast indicates a gradual dip in maximum temperatures after Thursday. This weather pattern is expected to persist for the next seven days.

A covert security operation secretly rerouted Donald Trump during his July trip from Ankara to Mildenhall, with the president leaving his aircraft via a catering truck and boarding another government jet. Journalists initially believed he was aboard their plane, while unusual security measures and Trump's comments fueled speculation about threats from Iran.

The Aam Aadmi Party highlighted a significant price difference in government-purchased bicycles. They showed a retail bicycle costing 4,200 alongside a government one at 6,957. The party alleged the government bicycles used cheaper local components and fake brand stickers. They plan to present both bicycles to ministers for an explanation.

American Airlines is reorganizing its senior management team. New roles are being added to broaden oversight and boost performance. A former Spirit Airlines executive will now lead technical operations. The airline aims to close its profit gap with competitors like Delta and United. These changes are the first step in strengthening the team and accelerating execution.

Astral Ltd., Balkrishna Industries Ltd. and SBI Cards and Payment Services Ltd. will be removed from the MSCI India Index. Astral and Balkrishna Industries will, however, be moved to the MSCI India Smallcap Index.

Powerball draw: The Powerball jackpot has soared to approximately one billion dollars, marking it as the eighth-largest prize ever in the games history. The last winning jackpot was awarded to two fortunate players on May 2. Drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evening, with tickets available in forty-five states and additional territories.

President Trump visits California and Nevada to contrast his economic policies with Democrats. He aims to bolster Republican support in upcoming November elections. Trump will discuss the economy and criticise Democratic policies during his trip. California's governor criticizes the president's visit as a fundraising and attack mission.

Taksali points out that FPIs invested around

A lawyer seeks sealed evidence concerning Carlos Palazuelos' detention. Palazuelos was held for hours without charges in the Nancy Guthrie case. Authorities claim evidence justified the search and detention of Palazuelos. Palazuelos and his family filed a claim for damages against county authorities. The investigation into Guthrie's disappearance continues with no suspect named.

Apple is reportedly discussing new multiyear deals with news publishers. These agreements would grant the iPhone maker access to their content for Siri. The proposed deals involve variable compensation based on content usage. Apple is preparing a major AI upgrade for its Siri voice assistant.

Oil prices dipped as demand forecasts for 2026 were lowered due to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Despite supply concerns from the conflict, a surprise build in U.S. crude inventories and stalled talks with Iran are impacting the market, with shipping risks in key straits adding to volatility.

In a heartfelt moment after winning the World Cup, Lionel Messi remembered his father, Jorge, who died at the age of sixty-eight. Messi articulated the emotional challenge of guiding Argentina to the championship, expressing second thoughts about his soccer career. The outpouring of support from fans and peers for the Messi family highlights the profound impact of this loss.

Two U.S. Army soldiers were killed when an Apache attack helicopter crashed into a field in Texas on Wednesday during Fort Hood operations, officials said. The AH-64 went down in Bell County, about 60 miles north of Austin, sparking a large grass fire. Authorities withheld the soldiers identities pending family notification.

Yotta Data Services is preparing to file its draft prospectus for an initial public offering. The company aims to raise approximately six thousand to eight thousand crore rupees. These funds will support expanding data centre footprint and AI infrastructure deployment. Yotta recently secured one hundred fifty million dollars in a pre-IPO funding round. This move positions Yotta to meet growing demands for computing capacity in India.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said India is among countries showing growing interest in cooperating with Moscow on the Northern Sea Route, while warning of rising tensions in the Arctic. He also cautioned European nations against confiscating Russian merchant ships, saying Moscow would respond in kind to any such action.

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake jolted Leh in Ladakh at 6:05 am IST on Thursday, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), with the tremor recorded at a shallow depth of 10 km.

Asian equities rallied as easing inflation in the United States reduced fears surrounding interest rate hikes. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index reflected this positive sentiment, following the upward trajectory of US markets. Meanwhile, Brent crude oil prices declined, breaking a recent climbing streak. Market participants are particularly focused on the Japanese yen, which is approaching a crucial level against the dollar, raising expectations for potential government intervention in currency tradin

Donald Trump is facing a lawsuit from The Intercept and Freedom of the Press Foundation seeking to halt Truth API, a paid service offering early access to his Truth Social posts. The plaintiffs allege the service violates the First Amendment and creates financial conflicts because Trump, Truth Media's largest shareholder, benefits.

In a recent statement, Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey confirmed that the closing auction sessions showed no manipulation. He linked earlier discrepancies to cautious trading in the newly implemented system. Notably, mutual funds have significantly increased activity in these sessions. Additionally, Sebi is looking into strategies to bolster both participation and liquidity in commodity derivatives, while also striving to ease access for institutional investors within Indian markets.

Recent data reveals that Federal Bank and IDFC First Bank have collectively issued over twenty-two lakh new credit cards, almost paralleling HDFC Bank's own expansions. Together, they represent twenty-one percent of the newly released cards, suggesting a noticeable change in the competitive dynamics of the credit card sector as the dominance of the top four issuers appears to be waning.

The unexpected announcement of N Chandrasekaran's exit from Tata Sons has left many in the business sector taken aback. Prior to making this known internally, he notified his family. Reassuring employees, Chandrasekaran emphasized the resilience and future ambitions of the organization. His upcoming focus will be on spearheading initiatives at Tata Digital and Air India. This departure signals a pivotal transformation for the conglomerate.

After their demerger, Vedanta and Vedanta Aluminium Metal have reported robust financial outcomes for the first quarter, primarily due to rising commodity prices. Both companies are eyeing substantial capital investments to propel their growth strategies. With aluminium and base metal prices expected to stay strong in the near future, they are currently valued lower than their industry rivals, indicating potential for upward movement.