Good morning! Here’s your quick catch-up on the biggest stories making headlines today.
Nepal’s flood crisis has entered a race against time. The death toll has crossed 800 across Nepal and Tibet, more than 2,500 people remain missing, and hundreds of hydropower workers are still trapped underground.
Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party is set to return to the streets, with three of its four demands still pending and another Delhi march planned for September 5.
Also in today’s Bhaskar Smart Brief, we look at how the Supreme Court is tackling the growing ‘digital arrest’ scam.
And don’t miss our coverage of how terrorists are turning dating platforms, encrypted apps and anonymous networks into hidden communication channels.
Along with these, we’ve rounded up the other top stories you need to start your day.
Today’s Top Headlines
Hundreds of workers trapped underground, can Nepal rescue them in time?
Nepal’s flood disaster is entering a race against time, with the death toll nearing 800 while thousands remain unaccounted for. Five days after the floods struck, rescuers are still recovering bodies and searching damaged towns, villages and hydropower sites.
The disaster has left a trail of destruction across northern and central Nepal, with the latest toll reaching 810 across Nepal and Tibet.
The search is becoming harder as rescuers reach isolated areas and tunnel sites. More than 2,500 people remain missing, while hundreds of hydropower workers are still trapped. The focus now is on finding survivors and reaching those cut off by the floods. READ MORE
Promises unfulfilled? Why is CJP returning to protest?
The Cockroach Janta Party’s Jantar Mantar protest may have ended, but the dispute is not over. The party said three of the four demands raised by the group remain pending, including action on the FIR, an apology from the RAF and Delhi Police, and protection for students. The unresolved issues have now put the protest back in focus.
The group has announced another march in Delhi on September 5 and appealed for public support. This comes as a five-member Supreme Court panel examines the police action, adding another layer to a dispute that is far from settled. READ MORE
‘Judiciary won’t wait for Parliament’: CJI flags digital arrest scam
What happens when criminals invent a new way to cheat people before the law catches up? India’s judiciary says it cannot simply wait for Parliament to frame new rules. The ‘digital arrest’ scam, where fraudsters pose as officials on video calls, has pushed the courts to act proactively, with the Supreme Court taking suo motu cognisance of the growing threat.
CJI Surya Kant said the court has asked the Centre and states to examine the scale of the problem. The next challenge is turning these directions into stronger action against such fraud. READ MORE
Dating apps for terror? Agencies flag secret chats
What if a dating chat is not really about dating? Security agencies say Pakistan-based terror handlers are exploiting porn and dating platforms, encrypted apps and anonymous networks to communicate with recruits in Jammu and Kashmir.
The shift matters because these services can offer real-time chats and hidden identities, making traditional social-media surveillance harder.
Indian agencies are now widening their watchlist to TOR-based tools and apps linked to France, China and Vietnam. Some platforms have already been blocked in India. The bigger challenge now is finding what moves to the next hidden corner of the internet. READ MORE
Tilak Varma emerges as Shreyas Iyer’s backup for 2027 WC
India’s 2027 World Cup planning is already shaping the team’s options, with every ODI series offering clues about who could make the final squad. One such question is emerging around the middle order, where Tilak Varma is reportedly being considered as a backup for Shreyas Iyer.
The 2027 World Cup will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Tilak has played only five ODIs so far, scoring 68 runs at a strike rate of 57.17. His next outings could determine whether he moves closer to the World Cup plans. READ MORE
The Day Ahead
1. Putin will hold talks with PM Modi on the sidelines of the SCO Summit on August 31. The two leaders are expected to review the full range of the India-Russia strategic partnership, with energy security, regional security, fertiliser supplies and connectivity infrastructure likely to be key priorities.
2. Taxpayers with business or professional income not requiring an audit must file their ITRs by August 31; Income Tax Department aims to ensure timely filing, more than 7 crore returns have already been submitted for AY 2026-27.
3. Indian Navy will commission INS Nipun tomorrow, August 31, 2026, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. The vessel is designed to serve as a mothership for Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs). It has nearly 75%–80% indigenous content, highlighting India’s focus on the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence shipbuilding.
4. 219 rescued pilgrims from Tamil Nadu are expected to return home. Tamil Nadu govt said 219 out of the 319 individuals who travelled to Nepal are safe, 100 people still remain untraced and are currently considered missing
5. The first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, set up under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, is likely to be held in Istanbul on August 31. The foreign and defence ministers, along with military chiefs, of Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are expected to attend the talks.
Visual Of The Day
‘Nepal’s flood aftermath’: Shopkeeper dries flood-soaked household and shop belongings by the roadside
Today In History
Statement Of The Day
News With A Twist
Village with only one woman resident
In the US, there is a village where only one woman lives. In Canada, a woman got a keyboard tattooed on her hand to communicate with her non-speaking son. Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, people are using bomb shells as dustbins.
A student arrived to receive his degree with a cat sitting on his shoulder. In China, marriage registrations are now being conducted at hospitals and nightclubs too.
Today, in News with a Twist, we’ll bring you five such interesting stories. READ MORE
News In Headlines
1. FIR filed against Rahul Gandhi over Haldwani purification row READ MORE
2. 1,600 children’s lives saved by principal’s quick thinking READ MORE
3. ‘My life has become hell’: Minor who abused PM says READ MORE
4. Sri Lanka loses hosting rights for first Women’s Champions Trophy READ MORE
5. Money to be refunded to 33,000 fans who attended Messi event READ MORE
6. Tim Cook’s 15-year Apple CEO stint comes to an end READ MORE
