The Hindu American Foundation has issued a security advisory ahead of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s August 29 event at Madison Square Garden in New York. The group urged New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to ensure the safety and civil rights of all attendees, asking the community to remain vigilant amid attempts by activists to disrupt the event. Mamdani has said he opposes the gathering but does not know whether the city has the authority to cancel a private event. Bhagwat’s visit is part of an overseas outreach tour marking the RSS’s centenary year. (PC: HT)

The deadly floods in Nepal and Tibet have renewed concerns over China’s massive Medog Dam, being built on the Yarlung Tsangpo near Arunachal Pradesh. Experts warn that the 60,000-MW project lies in a highly seismic Himalayan region, raising fears of a major disaster downstream. A recent geological study also identified an active fault near the dam site. The Yarlung Tsangpo enters India as the Siang and later becomes the Brahmaputra. Experts say any major dam failure or sudden water release could pose serious risks to India’s Northeast and Bangladesh. (PC: India Today)

The death toll from the devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to at least 165, with authorities continuing search and rescue operations for people still missing. The floods caused widespread destruction in areas near the Tibet border, sweeping away homes, roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Rescue teams are facing difficult conditions as damaged roads and communication networks complicate access to affected areas. The rising toll highlights the scale of the disaster, while authorities continue efforts to locate missing people and recover victims. Officials are expected to provide further updates as rescue and relief operations progress.

Meta has agreed to pay up to $16.68 billion to settle a major lawsuit brought by 29 U.S. states accusing Facebook and Instagram of contributing to social media addiction among children. The settlement also requires Meta to introduce stronger protections for teenage users, including daily usage limits, nighttime restrictions and enhanced safeguards against inappropriate content. The company denied wrongdoing while agreeing to the settlement to end the high-profile trial. The case is part of wider legal scrutiny of social media companies over alleged harm to young users. Meta’s settlement could influence how platforms such as TikTok and YouTube address youth safety. 

Nepal’s devastating flash floods have left 823 people out of contact, including more than 300 Indians, according to Nepal’s Foreign Minister. The disaster struck areas near the Nepal-Tibet border, causing massive destruction along the Bhote Koshi and surrounding river systems. Entire settlements, roads, bridges and other infrastructure were swept away, while hundreds of travellers remain unaccounted for. Many Indians were reportedly travelling toward the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route. Rescue teams are continuing search operations despite severe damage to roads and communication networks. Indian authorities and Nepalese agencies are coordinating efforts to trace missing nationals and assist affected travellers. (PC: Reuters)

An Iranian warship reportedly confronted the Indian-flagged oil tanker HAANA while it attempted to transit the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz, known as the Oman corridor. According to Iran’s Fars news agency, the tanker was warned by a large Iranian warship and subsequently deterred from continuing its journey. The incident occurred amid escalating Iran-US tensions and severe disruption to commercial shipping through the strategic waterway. Fars reported that no traffic had been observed on the southern route during the previous 24 hours. The incident has not been independently confirmed by Iranian or Indian authorities. (PC: Reuters)

A construction worker in Nepal captured the terrifying moment a powerful mudslide and floodwaters swept through Mailung in Rasuwa district. Footage shows workers scrambling for safety as rapidly moving water and debris overwhelmed the area. The worker survived the disaster and was later rescued by helicopter along with more than 100 other people. The floods severely damaged roads and bridges, making ground rescue operations difficult. The incident occurred amid devastating flash floods affecting northern Nepal and nearby areas, highlighting the extreme danger faced by communities and workers in the Himalayan region during the disaster. 

Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, renowned for her polka-dot artworks and immersive Infinity Mirror Rooms, has died aged 97. Her studio said she died in a Tokyo hospital on August 14, 2026, and continued creating art until her final days. Kusama became one of the world’s most recognisable contemporary artists, blending painting, sculpture, performance, literature and installation. Her recurring themes of infinity, repetition and self-obliteration gained enormous international popularity, particularly through social media. Despite struggling for recognition early in her career, major exhibitions at institutions including MoMA and Tate Modern established her as a global artistic icon. (PC: Reuters)

Devastating flash floods and mudslides along Nepal’s border with Tibet have caused widespread destruction, with aerial footage showing entire villages and infrastructure wiped out. The powerful surge along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers swept away homes, roads, bridges and power plants. At least 165 people have died in Nepal and Tibet, while hundreds remain missing, including foreign tourists. Rescue teams are conducting search operations amid difficult conditions and damaged transportation links. Flood alerts have also been issued for parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in India. The disaster has left several communities severely damaged and raised concerns over Himalayan disaster risks. 

Following the devastating flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border, the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to halt proposed new hydropower projects in Sikkim. SIBLAC convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia also called for an independent, time-bound inquiry into existing and proposed hydroelectric projects, citing concerns over environmental and disaster risks in the fragile Himalayan region. The demand comes after the Nepal floods destroyed infrastructure, including power projects, and raised renewed concerns about large-scale development in vulnerable mountain areas. (PC: Reuters)