Good morning! Here’s your quick catch-up on the biggest stories making headlines today.
Nepal’s flood disaster has triggered a dispute over whether crucial warnings reached the right people in time, with China saying it warned Nepal 12 days before the floods. The death toll and number of missing people across Nepal and Tibet continue to rise.
India’s diplomatic balancing act is under focus too. At the SCO Summit, PM Modi met Vladimir Putin, called for an end to ‘endless wars’ and invited him to the BRICS Summit. Back home, the Supreme Court has cleared the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) march in Delhi while considering the government’s plea to quash protest FIRs. Also in today’s Bhaskar Smart Brief, we look at India’s 7.8% GDP growth and Messi’s farewell from international football in an emotional note. Along with these, we’ve rounded up the other key updates you need to start your day.
Today’s Top Headlines
China says ‘we warned Nepal’ as glacier data row deepens
Nepal’s flood disaster has now turned into a question of warnings, preparedness and whether crucial information reached the right people in time. China says it warned Nepal 12 days before the August 26 floods, after allegations that it withheld vital glacier-related data. The dispute matters as the death toll continues to rise across Nepal and Tibet. Nepal says the information was incomplete, particularly on avalanches, water levels and landslides. With thousands reportedly still missing, the focus is now on what warnings were shared, what was missed and whether earlier action could have reduced the devastation. READ MORE
Modi invites Putin to India, says, ‘endless war’ must end
India’s balancing act between diplomacy and conflict is back in focus as global wars reshape alliances. At the SCO Summit in Bishkek, PM Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin and pressed for a shift from ‘endless wars’ towards peace. He backed efforts to end ongoing conflicts and invited Putin to the BRICS Summit in September.
The message comes as West Asia remains tense and India engages Iran, Russia and other regional players. With the SCO focused on peace and prosperity, Modi’s meetings could offer clues to India’s diplomatic priorities. READ MORE
SC clears way for CJP protest: Is Delhi Police prepared?
A protest that drew police action is now before the Supreme Court, while another march has been cleared to go ahead in Delhi. The government wants FIRs against students who protested at Jantar Mantar quashed, invoking Article 142. At the same time, the court has refused to stay the CJP march scheduled for September 5, saying there is no reasonable basis to expect an untoward incident.
The ruling puts the focus back on policing, protest rights and public order. The administration must now ensure the march remains peaceful and lawful, while the court considers the government’s plea on the FIRs. READ MORE
India’s GDP hits 7.8%; Modi says ‘Doomsayers were doomed’
India’s economy has delivered a stronger-than-expected start to FY27, putting growth back in focus despite global and domestic pressures. GDP grew 7.8% in the April-June quarter, signalling resilient economic activity. Reacting to the numbers, PM Modi called the growth a ‘herculean feat’, saying “doomsayers were doomed and India bloomed… yet again!”
But the picture is not uniformly strong. Consumer spending growth remained at 7.1%, while global disruptions and weather challenges weighed on demand. With earlier estimates revised upwards, the key question now is whether this momentum can translate into stronger jobs, incomes and household spending READ MORE Messi hangs up his boots: The end of an era?
A heartbreaking news for every football lover and fan as Argentine great Lionel Messi announced his international retirement. Messi took to Instagram to announce this decision on a paper note written in Spanish.
Messi penned a long caption where he said that this decision ‘hurts deep in my soul.’ However, the legendary footballer realised that ‘his time has come’. He took this decision after his father Jorge’s demise. Notably, this is going to be the second time he has announced his retirement after 2016. He has played 207 matches for Argentina and scored 125 goals in his entire career. READ MORE
The Day Ahead
1. The SCO core leaders’ summit will be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on September 1, with Modi, Xi and Putin attending the main plenary session; the summit is expected to conclude with the Bishkek Declaration, focusing on terrorism, separatism and extremism, while the India-China boundary and Russia-Iran energy corridor will remain key issues
2. NCLAT will hear institutional creditors’ appeal on Sept 1 at 10:30 am against the NCLT-New Delhi order allowing Zee’s Subhash Chandra to settle ₹22,006.57 crore in claims for ₹6.25 crore, a 99.9% lender haircut. Chandra clarified that the ₹22,000-crore figure relates to his role as personal guarantor for Essel Group loans, not his personal borrowings.
3. A three-judge Supreme Court bench led by the Chief Justice of India will hear the suo motu criminal contempt case over the NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook, which contains a sub-topic titled “Corruption in the Judiciary.”
4. Starting September 1, 2026, international passengers departing from India will no longer need to get their boarding passes physically stamped at airport immigration counters. The initiative aims to eliminate manual errors and make the departure process faster and more streamlined.
5. Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles will raise prices of its ICE cars and SUVs, as well as EVs, by up to ₹25,000 from September 1, citing rising input costs and sustained inflationary pressure.
Visual Of The Day
‘Hope Amid the Mud’: A schoolgirl searches for her bag after floods ravage her school in Nepal’s Galchhi
Today In History
Statement Of The Day
News With A Twist
Man uses robot vacuum to gather evidence of wife’s affair
From unusual ways of catching a cheating spouse to a quirky look-alike contest, heartfelt farewell ceremonies for old factory machines, and inspiring stories of women overcoming challenges, these stories offer a mix of the unusual, emotional and entertaining.
Here are five soft-news stories that caught attention for their unique twists. READ MORE
News In Headlines
16-year-old gang-raped in Delhi READ MORE
CJP founders aren’t saints, says Wangchuk READ MORE
Can AI predict the next disaster? READ MORE
GenZs prefer cold drinks over hot beverages READ MORE
Sooryavanshi scores 92, East Zone all out for 266 READ MORE
Decoding hidden colour language of Indian politics READ MORE
