Nepal flash floods: At least 288 Indians still missing; MEA says focus is on providing humanitarian aid as per Kathmandu’s requestAt least 288 Indian nationals remain missing following the devastating flash floods in Nepal, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday (August 27, 2026), adding that India’s focus is to provide humanitarian assistance “as requested by the Nepali side”.The death toll on Thursday (August 27, 2026) rose to 270, as authorities in Nepal raced against time to find thousands of missing people. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing an official briefing, said the missing Indians included those working on hydropower projects and tourist groups. Twenty-one Indians from Tamil Nadu were rescued, he said. Mr. Jaiswal said around 200 Indians in Tibet have also sought assistance from India.Military judge sets June 2028 trial date for 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh MohammedA U.S. military judge on Wednesday (August 26, 2026) set a summer 2028 trial date for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and three others accused of plotting the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.The trial is scheduled to begin on June 5, 2028, 18 months later than the January 2027 start that prosecutors had requested. The additional time is needed to resolve pretrial disputes, including disagreements about what evidence can be presented at trial, Air Force Lt. Col. Michael A. Schrama wrote in his ruling.Pilot and instructor killed as training aircraft crashes in KanpurTwo people were killed after a Tecnam P2006T twin-engine aircraft operated by Garg Aviation Ltd., Kanpur, crashed near the Ganga Barrage on Thursday (August 27, 2026), according to preliminary information.The aircraft, bearing registration VT-NBV, was on a training flight within the local flying area of Kanpur Civil Airport when it met with an accident approximately 5 nautical miles from the airport, near the Ganga Barrage. Both the people on board — a trainee pilot and an instructor – sustained fatal injuries in the crash.Security beefed up at disputed Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah amid ‘Kar Seva’ concerns, Mathura officials tell Allahabad HCThe Mathura administration recently informed the Allahabad High Court that security arrangements were made at the disputed Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah premises amid concerns of ‘Kar Seva’.‘Kar seva’ was called by Hindu religious leaders in Mathura for voluntary action to “liberate” the Krishna Janmabhoomi site. The High Court bench of Justice Avnish Saxena, during the hearing of the Original Suit No. 4 of 2023, filed by the Shri Krishna Janmbhoomi Mukti Nirmaan Trust and others against the Shahi Masjid Eidgah Management Committee and others, noted that the court had received a report from the District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mathura, in a sealed cover.We don’t even participate in half of Olympic sports; need to improve: PM ModiPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (August 27, 2026) said India’s Olympic performance can improve only if the country manages to increase its participation in those events where it has not participated in the past.In a virtual address to hundreds of athletes, students and volunteers who gathered at various locations for the Khelo India Dialogue, the PM said his vision for sports is not merely about winning medals but making it an integral part of the nation-building process.Haryanvi singer-Youtuber Ankit Balyan shot dead in Uttar Pradesh; SP chief condemns attack on ‘Jats’Youtuber and Haryanvi singer Ankit Balyan was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside a gym in Shamli district on Wednesday (August 26, 2026) evening, police said.Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav termed Balyan’s killing “highly condemnable”, saying the “law and order” situation had been reduced to “zero” and demanded investigation into possible political rivalry. The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also called it an attack on the Jat community. The incident took place in the Kotwali police station area when Balyan was coming out of the gym, they said.Congress seeks all-party meet over delimitation issue; reiterates women’s reservation demand in 2029 electionIndian National Congress president and Leader of Oppostion in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday (August 27, 2026) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the possibility of the government convening a special session of Parliament to push the delimitation act.Mr. Kharge, making his letter public, urged the government to convene an all party meeting on the issue and reiterated its position that it doesn’t support any decision to change the strength of the Lok Sabha beyond 543 seats.The Congress president reiterated the party’s demands citing Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju has stated that a special session of Parliament could be convened to discuss delimitation act.Won’t be surprised if CJP captures power in one or two States: P. ChidambaramIt would not be surprising if the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) captures power in one or two States, according to former Union Minister for Finance and Home Affairs, P. Chidambaram.“But I do not know and cannot say whether it [the CJP] will be able to emerge as a third force at the all-India level,” Mr. Chidambaram told The Hindu 360, the Tamil YouTube channel of The Hindu, at his residence in Chennai on Wednesday (August 26, 2026).Answering a question about whether the CJP would become a third force at the national level, the former Union Minister referred to the fledgling party’s campaign under the banner ‘School Thik Karo’, focusing on the condition of government schools, and acknowledged the impact of the organisation’s drive on the powers that be.Seven killed as bus collides with auto-rickshaw in Andhra Pradesh’s PalnaduAt least seven people died in a road accident when a private travel bus collided with an auto-rickshaw in Chilakaluripet, Palnadu district of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday (August 27, 2026) morning. The deceased were residents of Veluru village in Chilakaluripet mandal.The victims had reportedly travelled to Kondamanjuluru to attend a celebration and were returning to Veluru in the auto-rickshaw when the accident occurred. The travel bus was proceeding from Vijayawada towards Tirupati.GGH Superintendent Dr. G. Durga Prasad said one injured person died on the way to the hospital and another died while undergoing treatment. Of the remaining four, two were discharged and two continued to receive treatment in stable condition.P.H. Kurian, one of the most respected civil servants of Keralam, is no moreP.H. Kurian, former Additional Chief Secretary of Kerala and one of the State’s most respected civil servants, passed away on Wednesday (August 26) at a private hospital here after battling cancer. He was 67. The funeral will be held on Saturday (August 29) at his native place in Pampady, Kottayam.Over a career spanning nearly 40 years, as officer of the 1986 Kerala cadre, Kurian held some of the State’s most consequential administrative posts, including that of Labour Commissioner and Managing Director of the Kerala State Industries Development Corporation (KSIDC).