Rediff

The devastating floods in Nepal have brought back memories of two major disasters in Uttarakhand in recent years, the Rishiganga tragedy of February 2021 and the Dharali disaster of August 2025, which caused extensive loss of life and property and left thousands struggling to rebuild their lives.

The Karnataka government is collaborating with ElevenLabs to explore pilot projects using voice AI across various sectors including skilling, investment promotion, healthcare, culture, and citizen services. This initiative aims to leverage advanced AI to enhance accessibility and efficiency of government services, with a strong focus on responsible AI use and safeguards against misinformation.

Mohammad Abbas struck three times and Mohammad Ali removed Harry Brook as Pakistan reduced England to 80-4 at lunch after opting to bowl first at Lord's.

Shubman Gill hailed Sri Lanka's gritty resistance after Sonal Dinusha's second century forced India to settle for a draw in the second Test.

Nepal's former Forest and Environment Minister Madhav Prasad Chaulagain has expressed concern over the lack of timely information exchange with China ahead of the devastating floods, stating that the disaster's scale could lead to an 'unbelievable' rise in the death toll.

Sonal Dinusha's magnificent unbeaten 133, including a crucial century-run stand with Keshara Nuwantha, helped Sri Lanka secure a remarkable draw against India in the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

The death toll in the massive flash floods in Nepal on Thursday rose to 270, as authorities in Nepal race against time to find thousands of missing people, including 288 Indian tourists, in one of the country's worst disasters in recent years.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor faced significant backlash on social media for describing the Nepal flash floods as drama. Despite expressing concern and detailing the devastation, his choice of words was widely criticised as insensitive, leading to questions about his vocabulary usage.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on August 31 a plea which has challenged the validity of a provision of the Income Tax Act that allows political parties to receive cash donations below Rs 2,000.

Avishka Gunawardene acknowledged India's dominance but hailed Sonal Dinusha's breakthrough, with the young batter scoring 420 runs, including three centuries, as a major positive for Sri Lanka.

Nepal is grappling with severe flash floods that have claimed 270 lives and devastated three districts. Authorities are intensifying rescue and relief operations, with over 40 private helicopter flights delivering supplies and the Nepal Army coordinating efforts. Prime Minister Balendra Shah has visited affected areas to oversee the response.

The investigation into the murder of Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Balyan in Shamli has taken a turn after a person allegedly from Sonipat and belonging to the Gogi gang claimed responsibility for the killing in a social media post, officials said on Thursday.

A 21-year-old Delhi University student was brutally stabbed to death at her home in Tilak Nagar. Police suspect a known acquaintance, Imran, committed the crime out of rage over her talking to another person. Imran is currently absconding, and multiple police teams have been formed to apprehend him as investigations continue.

The Indian Coast Guard ship Varad successfully brought two Chinese survivors of a sunken Panama-flagged bulk carrier to Paradip, Odisha. The MV Ocean Winner, carrying 24 crew members, sank in the Bay of Bengal on August 22. Coordinated sea and air search operations are ongoing to locate the remaining missing crew members.

A US Congress-constituted advisory body on religious freedom, the USCIRF, has urged the Trump administration to revoke the visa issued to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, citing concerns over alleged violent attacks against religious minorities by RSS subgroups.

Massive flash floods in Nepal, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche, have devastated the border town of Timure and other central districts, leaving a rising death toll and hundreds missing. The disaster, described by witnesses as feeling like an earthquake, has claimed entire families and caused widespread destruction to infrastructure. Rescue efforts are underway, with a significant number of missing individuals identified as tourists, including nearly 300 Indian nationals.

Kerala's state-run Bevco has reported record liquor sales during the first eight days of the Onam festive season, reaching Rs 771.29 crore, surpassing last year's figures. Officials anticipate this year's total sales will exceed the Rs 826.38 crore recorded in 2025, despite a slight dip in Uthradam day sales compared to the previous year.

A training aircraft operated by Garg Aviation crashed in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, killing a trainee pilot and an instructor. The Tecnam aircraft went down near Nathapurwa village shortly after take-off. Authorities, including the DGCA, are investigating the cause of the fatal accident.

Several pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, including Ilavarasi and Chitra, have gone missing in Nepal following devastating flash floods, leaving their families distraught and appealing for urgent government rescue efforts.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated that while artificial intelligence (AI) can augment judicial reasoning, it cannot substitute judicial conscience, and a permanent apex body is proposed to supervise AI adoption and accountability within the judiciary.

An Assam native, Madhur Jya Sonowal, who escaped from Aluva Sub Jail, surprisingly went to the Perumbavoor police station to retrieve his Aadhaar card. Police have intensified their search for Sonowal, who fled the station after being recognised by officials. A detailed investigation into the security lapse has been launched.

IIT Delhi has reconstituted the external probe panel investigating the death of an MSc Physics student, appointing retired Delhi High Court judge Mukta Gupta as its head. This decision follows the recusal of the previous chair, Ashok Kumar, and ongoing student protests on campus. The panel includes medical experts and student representatives to examine the circumstances of the alleged suicide.

A US-based Hindu advocacy group, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), has issued a community alert for attendees of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's event in New York. The alert advises attendees to avoid confrontation with opposing activists and to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement, amidst planned protests by groups like Hindus for Human Rights.

Anvay Dravid and Aaryavir Sehwag, sons of India greats Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag, have been named in the India U-19 squad for Australia series.

The Goa cabinet has approved the Goa Prohibition of Unlawful Conversions of Religion Bill, 2026, which proposes stringent penalties, including life imprisonment, for religious conversions carried out through force, fraud, or marriage. The bill will be tabled in the state assembly's monsoon session.

Toxic looks spectacular, but beneath its glossy, brutally violent exterior lies a hollow, confused film that mistakes style and swagger for substance, observes Sreeju Sudhakaran.

India's multi-format cricket tour of New Zealand has seen unprecedented early ticket sales, with 26,000 tickets sold in the first 48 hours of the pre-sale. The 12-match series, starting in October, is proving to be a major draw, particularly for white-ball matches, prompting New Zealand Cricket to urge fans to secure their seats quickly.

Former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath has underscored the critical role of Test cricket in developing depth within the game, despite the growing popularity of the T20 format. Speaking at an awards ceremony, Srinath advised young players to prioritise Test cricket, noting the difficulty for T20 specialists to transition to the longer format. He also stressed the responsibility of cricket associations, parents, and coaches in guiding emerging talent.

Sukanya Verma quizzes you to find out just how much you know about the movies.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has stated that allegations of maladministration and favouritism made by Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta against Acting Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court Sanjeev Prakash Sharma cannot be adjudicated in the public domain, emphasising that Justice Sharma must be given a fair opportunity to respond.

As the U.S. Open approaches, several top players are vying for the men's singles title, with Arthur Fils emerging as a strong contender after his Cincinnati Open victory, while Taylor Fritz, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev, and rising star Rafael Jodar also pose significant threats.

Experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) suggest that an ice-rock avalanche originating in a high-altitude area likely triggered the devastating flash floods that swept across central Nepal districts, killing at least 95 people and leaving nearly 500 missing.

Alexander Zverev arrives at the U.S. Open as the top seed, aiming for his second Grand Slam title. With Jannik Sinner's absence due to injury and Carlos Alcaraz's limited match practice, Zverev has a clear path to capitalise on his recent French Open success. Despite a mixed record at Flushing Meadows, his powerful game and new world number two ranking position him as a strong contender.

Carlos Alcaraz is set to defend his U.S. Open title after a nearly five-month injury layoff, with expectations high despite limited match practice as he aims for a third New York crown.

Tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams have been granted a women's doubles wildcard entry for the upcoming U.S. Open, marking their return to the tournament as a pair after Serena's previous farewell.

On Wednesday, August 26, 2026, devastating flash floods in Nepal's Rasuwa district, bordering Tibet, left 105 Indian tourists among nearly 400 people missing.

A 37-year-old government contractor in Navi Mumbai died by suicide due to severe financial strain from unpaid bills for completed work. Opposition parties in Maharashtra have accused the state government of negligence, demanding a culpable homicide case against the administration and highlighting a pattern of such incidents among Marathi contractors.

India's food regulator, FSSAI, has issued notices to five-star hotels JW Marriott and Juniper Hotels (Andaz brand) in Aerocity, Delhi, for serious hygiene violations including the presence of cockroaches, expired food products, and improper food handling practices.

Suburban train services on Mumbai's Harbour line were briefly disrupted at Kharghar station after a bird got stuck in a train's pantograph, causing overhead equipment to trip. The incident led to minor delays and panic among commuters before services resumed quickly.

Commuting by CNG-run black and yellow cabs and auto-rickshaws in Mumbai will become more expensive from September 1, with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) approving a fare hike of Rs 2 for taxis and Rs 1 for auto-rickshaws.

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has urged people to support and strengthen the party for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, while also criticising the BJP government on issues like the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and the Vande Mataram row.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has issued a public health advisory on the seasonal surge in Influenza A (H1N1), or swine flu, urging people not to self-medicate with antibiotics and antivirals and advising immediate medical attention for severe symptoms.

The MV Ocean Winner sank within about eight minutes with 24 crew aboard; experts say excess moisture in its iron ore fines cargo may have caused liquefaction.

India on Tuesday conveyed to China the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) for overall bilateral ties as national security advisor Ajit Doval held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi focusing on delimitation of the frontier and sustaining work on trans-boundary cooperation.

The Supreme Court has issued a directive for the Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, mandating that all donations must be deposited into official donation boxes or the online temple treasury. This comes amidst serious allegations of sevayats siphoning off funds and obstructing online donation methods, highlighting the need for a transparent mechanism in temple management.

The Delhi High Court has highlighted the paradoxical nature of marriage, noting that unresolved issues can turn a etter half into a itter half. These observations were made while acquitting a man, Nafe Singh, who was previously sentenced for attempting to murder his wife by pouring insecticide into her mouth. The court found insufficient evidence regarding his intent, granting him the benefit of doubt.

Former Barcelona star Xavi Hernandez has been appointed as the new coach of the Netherlands national football team, signing a four-year deal. He has pledged to implement an attractive, dominant style of play while instilling a strong desire to win. Xavi aims to build a cohesive team from talented players and is ready to face the pressure of his new role, starting with a Nations League match against Germany.

The Sambhal district administration has issued notices to owners of 36 structures near the Shahi Jama Masjid for alleged violations of building regulations and construction without approved plans. This action is part of the ongoing enforcement under the Sambhal Mahayojana 2031, with owners given seven days to respond.

A recent report by Praja Foundation indicates a significant decline in the quality and quantity of questions raised by Mumbai MLAs in the Maharashtra assembly. The 'Mumbai's MLA Report Card, 2026' shows a sharp drop in average scores for question quality and a 72 per cent reduction in the number of questions asked compared to previous assemblies, raising concerns about legislative oversight.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mumbai on September 18. Key agenda items include granting associate membership to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands cricket association, electing two posts for the IPL Governing Council, and appointing the BCCI Ombudsman and Ethics Officer.