A Panama-flagged bulk carrier, MV Ocean Winner, sank in the Bay of Bengal around 230 nautical miles off Odisha’s Paradip coast, triggering a major search and rescue operation. The vessel had 24 crew members, including 20 Chinese, three Myanmarese and one Bangladeshi national. Two crew members were rescued from separate liferafts, while 22 others remain missing. The Indian Coast Guard has deployed three ships to intensify the search operation. The ship sank on August 22, though the cause of the incident remains unclear. Authorities are continuing rescue efforts as they search for the missing crew members. (PC: X)

India is witnessing a growing microdrama boom, driven largely by Gen Z viewers consuming short, mobile-first fiction. These shows feature episodes lasting one or two minutes, making them easy to watch while travelling or between daily tasks. China’s microdrama industry is already worth around $10 billion, while India’s market is still developing. Industry executives believe India’s huge smartphone base, digital payment ecosystem and long tradition of serialised storytelling could fuel growth. Story TV COO GSN Aditya said viewers spend more than 95 minutes daily on the platform. The Indian microdrama market is projected to reach $4.5 billion by 2030. (PC: NDTV)

Jaish-e-Mohammed has rebuilt its Markaz Subhan Allah headquarters in Pakistan’s Bahawalpur, 15 months after the complex was heavily damaged in India’s Operation Sindoor strikes, according to visuals accessed by India Today TV. The facility has been restored with fresh construction, rebuilt domes and renovated structures. Intelligence inputs cited in the report said Pakistan provided funds for the reconstruction. The May 7, 2025, strikes targeted terror infrastructure following the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people. The Bahawalpur complex has long been linked to JeM’s recruitment, training and operations against India. (PC: India Today)

A 17-year-old girl was killed and two boys, aged 12 and 17, were seriously injured in a sword attack at Brinell School in Fagersta, central Sweden. Another person suffered minor injuries. Police arrested an 18-year-old man and are investigating the case as murder and attempted murder. Officers fired shots after reaching the scene, though it remains unclear whether the suspect was hit. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called it a “serious incident” and said police were working intensively to establish the motive behind the attack. Authorities are continuing their investigation. (PC: BBC)

A 28-year-old Indian man from Punjab, Gurdeep Singh, was shot dead while delivering pizza in Brooklyn, New York City. Singh, from Jabowal village in Punjab’s Kapurthala district, had been living in the US on a work permit and was working as a delivery partner. His family said he had moved to the US in 2017 and had not returned home for nine years. The attack is suspected to have been linked to a robbery attempt, though the motive is still under investigation. A Punjabi community group has demanded a thorough probe. (PC: X)

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has accused the Centre of making “empty promises” and betraying young people, warning that another Jantar Mantar-style protest could follow if commitments made after the NEET agitation are not fulfilled. The group said the government has yet to act on promises related to withdrawing FIRs against protesters, compensation for families of students who died by suicide, and exam reforms. CJP will meet on August 24 to decide its next steps, saying it will not rest until every commitment to India’s youth is honoured. (PC: HT)

A new Cambridge University study has found that India had the highest rocket launch cost per kilogram among major space powers in 2025, at $13,302. The study analysed more than 6,740 launches and said smaller payload capacities and lower launch frequency raise India’s per-kilogram costs. The US averaged $3,225, followed by Japan, China, Russia and Europe. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan rejected the findings, saying the study used “wrong data”, while former chief S Somanath said cost per kilogram does not present the complete picture. (PC: NDTV)

India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was involved in a heated exchange with Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando after his dismissal in the second Test in Colombo. Jaiswal scored 45 off 53 balls, hitting nine fours, before Fernando dismissed him with a delivery that deflected onto the stumps. Fernando gave the Indian batter an animated send-off, leading to an exchange of words. Jaiswal then appeared to make slight head contact with Fernando as the two came face-to-face. Sri Lankan players quickly stepped in to separate them. India lost both openers early after a promising start. (PC: India Today)

US President Donald Trump renewed his “51st state” jibe at Canada as a trade dispute escalated after Washington imposed a 50% tariff on its neighbour. Trump accused Canada of wanting the benefits of being a US state without becoming one and criticised tariffs imposed on American farmers. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the tariffs an attack on Canada and vowed a “dollar-for-dollar” response. The dispute followed the collapse of trade negotiations, with both sides blaming each other for failing to finalise an agreement, further straining economic ties between the two countries. (PC: HT)

India is reviving centuries-old water systems as groundwater depletion and climate change worsen water scarcity. Communities across the country are restoring stepwells, johads, tankas and ponds to capture rainwater and recharge underground aquifers. In Rajasthan’s Alwar, the restored Moosi Rani Sagar stepwell now holds water year-round after decades of neglect. Thousands of johads have also helped revive wells and rivers. India, home to 18% of the world’s population but only 4% of its freshwater resources, is increasingly turning to traditional systems alongside modern infrastructure to improve water security and build resilience against erratic rainfall. (PC: BBC)