Times of India

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurred at 1 p.m. local time on Thursday in Peru's southern Andes, with the epicenter 38 kilometers northwest of Upahuacho in Ayacucho region. USGS data and multiple outlets confirm the event was felt in Ica and Arequipa, produced no tsunami threat, and yielded no immediate reports of damage or casualties. Peru's location in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the 2007 Ica earthquake precedent are noted across sources.

The BJP appointed Vinod Tawde as in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, Satish Poonia for Punjab and Tarun Chugh for Gujarat on August 18, 2026. National president Nitin Nabin made the appointments one day after the party unveiled its new national organisational team. Sources agree on the three main appointments but differ on whether the moves target 2027 assembly elections and on one additional Uttar Pradesh co-incharge.

The Supreme Court announced it will constitute a high-powered committee to review allegations of police excesses against student protesters during the July 20 Parliament march and related events in Delhi. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, will issue a formal order on Wednesday and may consider quashing certain FIRs under Article 142 while directing handover of CCTV footage. The panel will specifically examine complaints from female protesters.

A gas tank explosion occurred at a CNG station in Delhi's Tikri Kalan on August 19, 2026, during refilling of a truck. The Delhi Fire Service responded at 3:37 pm with six tenders, at least six people were injured and taken to hospital, and the cause remains under investigation. Reports differ on fatalities and exact injury counts.

A steam tug built in 1913 in Budapest as Vag and later renamed Slovenac sank in April 1945 after striking a German mine. Record-low water levels have exposed much of the hull, drawing local interest and the nickname 'Sava’s Titanic.' Reports conflict on whether the wreck lies on the Sava or Danube River.

President Trump directed the Pentagon to substantially cut joint military exercises with South Korea. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung stated on Tuesday that Seoul should complete the transfer of wartime operational control during his term and accelerate its nuclear-powered submarine program. Japan emphasized trilateral security cooperation while Trump highlighted his personal relationship with Kim Jong Un.

Devendra Mahto ended a 16-day hunger strike after the Jharkhand government cancelled all outsourced recruitment tests including the JSSC-CGL exam. Three other protesters continue fasting as the agitation reaches its 25th day, and Mahto has announced a second phase of protests. Chief Minister Hemant Soren's decision followed sustained demonstrations over alleged irregularities in exams conducted by private agencies since 2014.

The Pakistan government will file a review petition challenging a Supreme Court directive to transfer former prime minister Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated the order falls outside legal bounds requiring convicted prisoners to receive treatment in jail or public hospitals. Khan, aged 73 and imprisoned since August 2023 after multiple convictions, has described the cases as politically motivated.

Jason Arday, described as Cambridge University's youngest Black professor, resigned nine days before his death in a London home. Police ruled the death unexpected but not suspicious, with no cause released and a coroner file opened. Allegations of plagiarism and fraud emerged prior to his resignation, which Cambridge described as a vile campaign, while a memorial rally occurred on August 17.

UAE defense authorities detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran that landed in water near UAE territory on Tuesday, with one inside and one outside territorial waters. The UAE Ministry of Defence stated it remains on high alert. Separate unverified reports and statements from US President Donald Trump address related diplomatic and blockade matters.

India won the opening Test of the two-match series against Sri Lanka by 165 runs at Galle International Stadium, taking a 1-0 lead. Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar claimed 10 wickets in the match, including 6 for 55 in Sri Lanka's second innings. The second Test is scheduled to begin in Colombo on Sunday.

Authorities cleared structures including queue liners, traffic bollards, and barricades located on a public lane beyond the Pakistan High Commission's approved perimeter. The action followed Pakistan's removal of similar installations in Islamabad and its diplomatic protest to the United States over remarks on Jammu and Kashmir. No official confirmation links the clearances to those events, and officials have not stated a reason.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir of the BNP received 255 votes to Oli Ahmed's 88 in a parliamentary election at Jatiya Sangsad on [date not specified], with 343 of 349 eligible MPs casting ballots under Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. The vote marked the first contested presidential election in 35 years. Alamgir had been nominated by the BNP the prior week and resigned his party posts to assume the largely ceremonial role.

Four workers employed by a subcontractor were struck and killed by the Spacia X2 limited-express train while spraying herbicide on tracks near the platform at Shin-Kanuma Station around 10:45 a.m. on Thursday. Ten personnel were present at the site, including lookouts and a supervisor, with one lookout positioned approximately 80 meters away. Tobu Railway held a news conference and issued an apology while police examine whether safety procedures were followed.

Pakistan summoned the US Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad on Wednesday and issued a formal protest against remarks by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor during his visit to Srinagar. Gor described Jammu and Kashmir as an important part of India and indicated the US would review its travel advisory for the region. Pakistan's foreign ministry statement condemned the comments as inconsistent with UN Security Council resolutions on the territory's final status.

At least eight Israeli strikes targeted runways and facilities at Abu al-Duhur airbase on Tuesday, causing damage but no casualties according to Times of India and Euronews. Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office cited a breached security status quo involving potential Turkish deployment, while Syria condemned the action. US envoy Tom Barrack described the strikes as an unnecessary escalation.

US President Donald Trump directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth via Truth Social to substantially reduce the scope of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercises with South Korea. The drills, involving approximately 18,000 South Korean personnel, began on Monday and are scheduled to conclude on August 27. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung stated that maintaining peace remains the priority and described the exercises as defensive in nature.

A fire broke out around 2 a.m. on Wednesday in a hotel on the second floor of an old five-storey building at 15H Mirza Ghalib Street in Kolkata, killing nine people. The building houses multiple small hotels, and five of the deceased were Bangladeshi nationals. Supported reports confirm the date, location, and casualty count while survivor allegations regarding safety equipment remain unverified.

Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, posted a reaction on X to a video showing a woman arguing with security personnel and staging a dharna at the Minimarg checkpoint in Ladakh’s Kargil region. The video depicts the woman claiming a five-hour wait and stating that restrictions previously applied to Kashmiris are now affecting tourists. Abdullah criticized the use of a “We are Gen Z” reference in the incident.

Kiren Rijiju, Union parliamentary affairs minister, stated to ANI that no protesters died or suffered serious injuries during the July 20 student march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament House in Delhi against the NEET-UG paper leak. He attributed any violence to infiltration by opposition-linked groups and contrasted the outcome with past Congress-era protests. Sources confirm the march occurred but leave several of Rijiju's specific claims unverified.

The August BofA Global Research Asia Fund Manager Survey polled 98 participants managing $272 billion in assets between August 7 and 13. Supported data confirm India as the least-favored market and detail survey parameters, while unverified figures report China-based managers' theme preferences and market performance. Perspectives differ on implications for capital allocation, policy influence, and risk management.

Two claims are supported by multiple outlets: the DEA has joined an investigation and Brian Hickerson was present at the scene. All other details, including confirmation of death, location, and any discussion of overdose or cardiac arrest, remain unverified and originate from a single source. Perspectives differ on the implications of federal involvement in the case.

Delhi's Anti-Corruption Branch arrested Satyendar Jain and five associates on allegations of irregularities in Delhi Jal Board sewage treatment plant tenders. The FIR, registered May 11, 2024, followed a Directorate of Vigilance complaint citing restrictive specifications that allegedly favored one contractor. Arvind Kejriwal described the arrests as politically motivated.

Sajjan Kumar, a three-time Lok Sabha MP from Outer Delhi, died on August 20 at Safdarjung Hospital while serving a life sentence at Tihar Jail for convictions related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He was convicted in 2018 for the killings of five Sikhs and burning of a gurdwara, and received an additional life sentence in February 2025 for two further killings. All reporting on the case originates from left-center sources.

The Bihar government transferred 17 IPS officers on Tuesday, including the superintendents of police for Bhojpur and Siwan districts. A police constable named Abhishek Kumar fired four rounds from an AK-47 into the air during a July 25 protest in Siwan, leading to his suspension and departmental proceedings. The state government notified the Supreme Court of the incident.

Satyendar Jain, former Delhi minister and AAP leader, was arrested along with five others by the Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Branch in connection with alleged irregularities in Delhi Jal Board sewage treatment plant tenders. The FIR, filed on a Directorate of Vigilance complaint, charges violations under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code sections for conspiracy and cheating. Both reporting sources are left-center outlets, limiting perspective diversity.

Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi stated at an August 18, 2026 reception in Dhaka that Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a memorable visit for Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the September 12-13 BRICS summit. The remarks occurred amid ongoing uncertainty in bilateral ties linked to Dhaka's extradition request for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Sources report Modi's direct message emphasizing an appropriate reception for the Bangladeshi leader.

Indian national Rajiv Acharya died in Israel, prompting an arrest by Israeli authorities and consular engagement by the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv. Both Times of India and The Hindu report the death, arrest, ongoing investigation, and embassy statements of condolences and assistance. Public details remain limited to these facts, with reporting dated August 2026.

Donald Trump posted on Truth Social citing India's 2024 Lok Sabha election and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to support the SAVE Act. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera replied on X with a sarcastic offer to send Kumar and India's EVMs to the United States. The exchange occurred on Tuesday and referenced the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Police granted permission for Rahul Gandhi’s August 22 ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event at SSPMS College ground in Pune, subject to 30 conditions including prohibitions on objectionable banners and requirements to avoid hurting religious sentiments. The event, scheduled from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm and expected to draw 8,000–10,000 attendees, focuses on female students and topics of education, safety, equality, competitive exams, and career opportunities. Reporting draws exclusively from two left-center sources.

The Bombay High Court cancelled bail for Saurabh Luthra, Gaurav Luthra, and Ajay Gupta, co-owners of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, where a December fire killed 25 people. The court ordered the three to surrender within two weeks while allowing fresh bail applications to be decided by the trial court within two weeks. The ruling followed a state challenge to earlier trial-court bail grants in the fire and related forgery cases.

The Uttar Pradesh government constituted a three-member SIT on June 13 to investigate theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram temple site. The SIT reviewed CCTV footage, identified around 70 suspected incidents, submitted a preliminary report on June 23, and handed its final report to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, leading to an FIR naming eight individuals. Champat Rai and Anil Mishra resigned from the trust but were not named in the FIR.

A fire broke out around 2 a.m. on Wednesday at a G+4 hotel at 15H Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata. Nine people died and six were injured; the deceased were Bangladeshi nationals who had traveled for medical treatment. Approximately 60 others were rescued uninjured, the fire has been extinguished, and the cause remains undetermined according to available reports.

A protest organized by the All India Young Advocates Association and supported by the Cockroach Janta Party took place outside the Bar Council of India office in New Delhi on August 20, 2026, calling for the resignation of Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra. The demonstration followed a BCI order issued August 13 that temporarily blocked enrollment of NALSAR University's 2026 graduating class before the order was withdrawn. Heavy police deployment was reported at the site.

RJD leaders and workers conducted a foot march in Patna addressing paper leaks, unemployment, and student concerns. The event was led by Tejashwi Yadav and included statements alleging excessive force against protesters. Reporting from two outlets conflicts on the march destination and provides limited independent verification of key allegations.

A bookseller inserted an AirTag into one volume of a roughly 1,000-title shipment sold via the Biblio marketplace. The device traveled from a California airport to an Amazon warehouse near Las Vegas, where a separate operation removes bindings, scans pages, and discards the books. Amazon stated the purchases support development of customer products and services.

Eric Schmidt is offering the 95.2-meter Lurssen superyacht Whisper for sale at an asking price of 149 million euros through broker Will Christie. The vessel, originally commissioned by Shahid Khan and delivered in 2014 under the name Kismet, was acquired by Schmidt in 2023 after a brief period on the market and underwent an interior refit completed in 2025.

The New Bedford Police Department suspended its Flock Safety camera system following an internal investigation into an officer's repeated queries on a single vehicle. Officer Emily Pacheco was placed on administrative leave, surrendered firearms, and had her license to carry suspended after a judge extended an abuse prevention order. Unverified reports mention additional details such as the number of searches and actions by other departments.

Supported reports indicate King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales were informed of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's plans to stay at a private residence outside London later this month. No change to their status as non-working royals is expected. Multiple details on family visits, school enrollments, and ages remain unverified across sources.

Unverified reporting from a single source indicates early-stage internal discussions within the Pentagon about potentially reducing the US troop presence of roughly 40,000 across the Gulf region after an unspecified Iran conflict. Claims include damage to over 200 facilities, six service member deaths, and expenditure of more than 1,000 air-defense interceptors, though no formal review has been confirmed. Analyses from progressive, conservative, and libertarian viewpoints interpret the reports as highlighting costs of forward deployment, while noting source limitations.