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India and China have agreed to establish two additional border meeting points for senior military commanders, but the locations of the new centres have not yet been announced. The decision was part of the eight-point consensus reached during the 25th round of Special Representatives’ talks in Beijing on August 25. The new meeting points are intended to improve direct communication between military commanders and help prevent local incidents along the Line of Actual Control from escalating into larger confrontations. The two sides also agreed to establish two additional military hotline channels.
The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) has allotted 7.97 acres of land at Thulluru village in Amaravati to St. Mary’s Educational Society for establishing Sancta Maria International School. The land has been allotted on a freehold basis under the Amaravati Land Allotment Rules and Regulations, 2017, under the social development objective category. The proposed school is expected to add to Amaravati’s education infrastructure and provide students with quality education and international-oriented learning opportunities.
Around 50 students from Kerala travelling by train in Madhya Pradesh fell ill after developing symptoms of illness during the journey. Authorities suspect that food poisoning could be responsible for the incident. Medical teams were arranged to examine the students and provide treatment, while officials are expected to investigate what food and water the group consumed before falling sick. The exact cause of the illness will be established after medical assessments and, if required, testing of food samples.
Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka has said the State government will extend support for preserving Telugu language and culture in Mauritius. The initiative is aimed at strengthening Telangana’s cultural links with the Mauritian Telugu community and supporting language education, cultural activities and institutions working to preserve Telugu heritage. Telugu has a long history in Mauritius, having been brought to the island by indentured labourers in the 19th century. Today, it continues largely as an ancestral and cultural language through schools, extension schools and community organisations.
The Karnataka government will begin fresh verification of all beneficiaries under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme from August 30 using biometric and facial authentication. The month-long exercise is aimed at identifying beneficiaries who may no longer be eligible because of death, migration or changes in income-tax and GST filing status. The verification will involve door-to-door visits, printed forms, photographs, GPS location capture and biometric checks at designated centres. The scheme currently provides Rs 2,000 a month to the woman head of an eligible household, with 1.24 crore beneficiaries having received 32 instalments since its launch in August 2023.
A roast exchange between comedians Samay Raina and Sharon Verma on Season 2 of India’s Got Latent has triggered a debate online. The two comedians exchanged jokes about their Bihar and Kashmiri backgrounds, but the segment drew criticism after the conversation touched on Kashmir unrest, migration and the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits. While some viewers felt the jokes crossed the line into insensitive commentary on serious issues, others defended the exchange as a standard roast between two comedians.
Formula One world champion Lando Norris has extended his contract with McLaren until the end of the 2030 season. The long-term agreement strengthens the partnership between the British driver and the team and puts Norris at the centre of McLaren’s future plans. Norris has been with McLaren since making his Formula One debut in 2019 and has played a major role in the team’s rise to the front of the grid. The new deal also ends speculation over his potential future with rival teams.
Heavy gunfire and explosions were reported across several areas of Niger’s capital, Niamey, early Saturday, with the international airport and the area around the presidential palace among the reported locations. Initial reports were unclear about the cause, but several sources later described the incident as an attempted mutiny by soldiers targeting strategic sites. Niger’s defence minister said loyalist security forces were responding and working to restore order. The episode comes three years after a military coup brought General Abdourahamane Tiani to power.
Dozens of Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian village of Qusra in the northern occupied West Bank on Saturday, according to residents and the Israeli military. The incident followed nearly three weeks of tension in the area. Residents said settlers surrounded a Palestinian home where several people were inside and began throwing stones. Israeli soldiers and border police were deployed to the scene, removed the settlers from the house and separated the two groups. Israeli authorities said an investigation had been opened and that vehicles suspected of being used to reach the area were confiscated.
A major investment of Rs 5,570 crore has been sanctioned for road infrastructure development in Srikakulam district, according to the report. The funding is expected to support road development, expansion and connectivity improvements across the district. Better roads could reduce travel time, improve movement of agricultural produce and goods, and provide a boost to trade, industry and tourism.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has strongly criticised the alleged ‘shuddhikaran’ ritual conducted at a venue in Haldwani after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally there. Gandhi described ‘shuddhikaran’ as another form of untouchability and alleged that Kharge was targeted because he is a Dalit leader. He accused the BJP and RSS of promoting a mindset that allows caste-based discrimination to continue. The BJP has rejected allegations linking the party to the incident, while Congress leaders have demanded legal action against those responsible.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has alleged that the “deeply entrenched, discriminatory mindset” associated with BJP leadership and ideology was behind the alleged ‘shuddhikaran’ or purification ritual held at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally there. Tharoor said the controversy was not merely a political dispute but had wider implications for Dalit citizens. He called for accountability and said that justice for Kharge was justice for all Dalits. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has separately demanded an FIR under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The BJP has rejected allegations linking the party to the ritual, while BJP president JP Nadda has assured that the matter would be investigated.
