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New Delhi: After an overwhelmingly strong spell of rains in August, India is set for an even wetter month as the weather bureau has forecast over 109% of normal rainfall in September, the last month of the crucial southwest monsoon season. In its latest update on Sunday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said India logged 268 mm of rainfall in August, 5.2% above normal. The country has received cumulative rainfall of over 6% more than normal since June,it said. “The rainfall in September is likely to be above normal, more than 109% of the long period average,” said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general of meteorology at the IMD. For September, the long period average rainfall over the country, based on data from 1971 to 2020, is about 167.9 mm. Likelihood of flooding, landslides The IMD cautioned that while surplus rain supports kharif crops, soil moisture and reservoirs, it also heightens the risks of flooding, landslides, disruptions to daily lives. The country’s northwest region recorded 265 mm of rainfall in August, the highest for the month since 2001, over 34% more than the long period average of 197.1 mm. The abnormally high rains led to floods in Punjab and triggered landslides and flash floods in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir. During the season, Northwest India has received 614.2 mm of rain between 1 June and 31 August, 26.7% higher than the normal of 484.9 mm. On its September forecast, the IMD said that most parts of the country are likely to receive normal to above-normal rainfall. However, some parts of northeast and eastern India, many areas of extreme south peninsular India and some parts of northernmost India, may get below-normal rain. Northwest India–especially Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand–is set for another spell of heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next three to four days, the IMD said. To effectively manage risks related to above normal rains, it is essential to reinforce infrastructure, make use of the IMD’s early warnings, enhance surveillance and conservation efforts, and establish robust response systems in vulnerable sectors, Mohapatra said. Read More

The DFS said it received a call regarding the blaze at 7.01 pm, following which six fire tenders were rushed to the spot. PTI Published31 Aug 2025, 09:29 PM IST Delhi: Fire breaks out in jhuggis in Rohini, no casualty reported (Image: Screegrab/PTI) A fire broke out in a cluster of jhuggis in Rohini’s Sector 18 area on Sunday evening, an official of the Delhi Fire Service said. The DFS said it received a call regarding the blaze at 7.01 pm, following which six fire tenders were rushed to the spot. He added that no casualty or injury has been reported so far, and that the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Residents alerted the police and fire control room after smoke was seen rising from the jhuggi cluster. The fire led to panic in the densely populated area. Read More

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said it has seized around a dozen luxury vehicles and three super bikes following raids conducted at the premises of businessman Shakti Ranjan Dash and related entities in Bhubaneswar. The searches were carried out in connection with the money laundering probe into alleged ₹1,396 crore bank loan fraud case against a Himachal Pradesh-based company Indian Technomac Company Ltd (ITCOL). The investigative agency conducted raids on Saturday on the premises of Anmol Mines Pvt. Ltd. (AMPL) and Anmol Resources Pvt. Ltd. (ARPL), and their Managing Director (MD), Shakti Ranjan Dash, in the Odisha capital. ITCOL obtained loans from a consortium-led by the Bank of India between 2009 and 2013 by submitting “forged” detailed project reports and by showing fake sales to dummy/shell companies, the ED said in a statement on Sunday. The money laundering case stems from an FIR of the Himachal Pradesh Police CID against ITCOL and its promoters, alleging that its directors, in connivance with staff of various companies and CAs, siphoned off loans availed from a consortium of banks. The loans obtained by ITCOL were not utilised for the purposes they were sanctioned for, and the “fraud” was to the tune of ₹1,396 crore, the ED said. Earlier, the probe agency had attached assets worth ₹310 crore in this case, out of which, it has restituted (restored) properties worth ₹289 crore to the victim banks in April. ITCOL and its related shell entities “diverted” ₹59.80 crore into the bank accounts of AMPL, and it is alleged that Dash “knowingly” assisted ITCOL promoter Rakesh Kumar Sharma in utilising these funds for mining activities in Odisha. During searches, 10 luxury vehicles and three super bikes belonging to Dash and companies beneficially owned by him were seized, the ED statement said. The seized vehicles include a Porsche Cayenne, a Mercedes-Benz GLC, a BMW X7, an Audi A3, a Mini Cooper, and a Honda Gold Wing Bike worth more than ₹7 crore. ₹13 lakh in cash and jewellery worth ₹1.12 crore have also recovered. Read More

HomeIndia News11 NHPC employees trapped as both tunnels of Dhauliganga project blocked, 8 rescued 11 NHPC employees trapped as both tunnels of Dhauliganga project blocked, 8 rescued NHPC workers trapped in Dhauliganga Power Project, Pithoragarh after landslide blocks tunnels. Rescue underway; all workers reported safe. By PTI August 31, 2025, 9:19:41 PM IST (Updated) Eleven employees of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC) were trapped inside a power house on Sunday (August 31) as a landslide blocked normal and emergency tunnels of Dhauliganga Power Project in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh, officials said. Initially, 19 people were trapped but later eight of them were rescued by the administration, they said. The path leading to the normal and emergency tunnels of the Dhauliganga power project in Ealagarh area near Dharchula here in the district was blocked due to a landslide caused by heavy rains. “After the incident, the administration immediately started the process of removing the debris. Right now, eight out of 19 people have been taken out while the process of taking out 11 others is underway,” Pithoragarh District Magistrate Vinod Goswami said. He added that the situation is under control at the moment Earlier, Deputy District Magistrate Jitendra Verma said that despite the continuous falling of debris, JCB machines of the Border Roads Organisation and a haulage company have been deployed to clear the debris. He said that power generation from the power project is continuing normally. Also Read: ‘Common interests outweigh differences’: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Modi-Xi talks First Published:  Aug 31, 2025 8:35 PM IST Read More

HomeWorld NewsAmid tariff tensions, PM Modi-Xi Jinping call for stable ties and balanced trade A key part of the talks between PM Modi and President Xi focused on the border issue. While Modi highlighted the need for peace and tranquillity in border areas, both leaders took note of the recent successful disengagement at friction points and said maintaining calm along the frontier was essential for confidence-building. By CNBCTV18.com August 31, 2025, 7:54:22 PM IST (Updated) Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the official reception for Heads of State and Heads of Government at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China on August 31, where he met with several world leaders and dignitaries. PM Modi was received at the venue by Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan. On arrival, the Prime Minister exchanged greetings with the Chinese President before joining other leaders for the customary family photo session. Russian President Vladimir Putin and several other heads of state were present for the group photograph. During the reception, PM Modi interacted with leaders of several nations. He first met Nepali Prime Minister KP Oli, describing the longstanding cultural and historical ties between India and Nepal. PM Modi wrote on X, “Delighted to meet Nepal PM Mr. KP Oli in Tianjin. India’s relations with Nepal are deep rooted and very special.” Had a fruitful meeting with President Xi Jinping in Tianjin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. We reviewed the positive momentum in India-China relations since our last meeting in Kazan. We agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas and… pic.twitter.com/HBYS5lhe9d — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 31, 2025 In a briefing, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that PM Modi met Xi Jinping in and called for stable ties and balanced trade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing during his visit to China, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to building stable and constructive relations between the two neighbours. Also read | ‘China and India are partners, not rivals’, Xi tells PM Modi at SCO summit Briefing the media, Misri said that discussions reflected a shared recognition that cooperation between India and China was vital for shaping the future of Asia. The two leaders reviewed the progress in bilateral relations since their previous meeting in Kazan last year and expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum. Both agreed that a stable and amicable partnership between the world’s two most populous countries was in the interest of their 2.8 billion citizens. Highlighting that common interests outweigh differences, the leaders stressed the importance of India and China working together if the vision of an “Asian century” is to be realised. Also read | PM Modi-Xi Jinping meet: India and China to resume direct flights after five-year hiatus A key part of the talks focused on the border issue. Prime Minister Modi highlighted the need for peace and tranquillity in border areas to ensure enhanced ties. Both leaders took note of the recent successful disengagement at friction points and said maintaining calm along the frontier was essential for confidence-building. Economic cooperation featured prominently in the dialogue, with discussions on the need to balance bilateral trade and strengthen transparency and predictability in economic relations. Modi and Xi recognised that both economies could play a stabilising role in global trade amid ongoing international uncertainties. Also read | Border, trade and trust: Experts weigh in on what Modi-Xi meeting means for India-China ties During his visit, PM Modi held talks with Cai Qi, a senior leader of the Communist Party of China, as part of efforts to deepen political engagement between the two countries. (Edited by : Jerome Anthony) First Published:  Aug 31, 2025 7:50 PM IST Read More

HomeIndia News‘Common interests outweigh differences’: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Modi-Xi talks Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said PM Modi and President Xi Jinping discussed long-term growth, trade balance, border peace, and cooperation, highlighting stable India-China relations. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a special briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs on Prime Minister Modi’s visit to China, said PM Modi and President Xi Jinping were “happy to note the progress in relations since their meeting in Kazan in October last year.” He said both leaders “shared their perspective on long term growth in bilateral relations” and agreed that “a stable and amicable relations is in the interest of 2.8 billion people in the two nations.” Misri added that “common interests outweigh differences between the two nations” and noted that India and China “need to cooperate if there has to be an Asian century.” The leaders discussed border issues and “took note of the successful disengagement at the border and peace and tranquility in border areas.” PM Modi “underlined the need for peace and tranquility in border areas for continued and smooth development in bilateral ties.” The two sides also discussed ways to balance bilateral trade. Leaders “recognised that Indian and Chinese economies can play a role in stabilising world trade.” There was a discussion on “increasing policy transparency and predictability in economic relations.” During the visit, Prime Minister Modi met Cai Qi, a top leader of the Chinese Communist Party. Misri said the leaders “shared their perspectives for longer term growth and development of two countries” and agreed that “stable and amicable India-China relationship can benefit 2.8 billion people of two countries.” President Xi made four suggestions to further upgrade bilateral relations. Misri confirmed that a “consensus has been reached on resuming direct flights,” with issues related to bilateral air services and scheduling to be addressed in the coming weeks. PM Modi and President Xi also discussed the international economic situation and the challenges, focusing on “how to leverage the current global challenges to see how India and China can cooperate economically.” Misri added that PM Modi “asked for China’s support in addressing the issue of terrorism” and clarified that “there is no change in India’s position on Taiwan.” Read More

HomeWorld NewsHouthis raid UN food and children’s offices in Sanaa, detain at least one staffer Iran-backed Houthi forces raided UN World Food Program and UNICEF offices in Yemen’s capital Sanaa, detaining staff members and disrupting aid operations, UN and local officials confirmed Sunday. By AP August 31, 2025, 7:32:24 PM IST (Published) The Iran-backed Houthis on Sunday raided offices of the United Nations’ food and children’s agencies in Yemen’s capital, detaining at least one UN employee, officials said. Abeer Etefa, a spokesperson for the World Food Program, told The Associated Press that security forces raided the agencies’ offices in Houthi-controlled Sanaa Sunday morning. Also raided were the offices of the United Nations’ children agency, UNICEF, according to a U.N. official and a Houthi official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorised to brief the media. Ammar Ammar, a spokesperson for UNICEF, said there was “an ongoing situation” related to their offices in Sanaa, without providing further details. The UN official said contacts with several other WFP and UNICEF staffers were lost and that they were likely also detained. (Edited by : Vivek Dubey) Read More

HomeIndia NewsCommission on Kaleshwaram Project leaves decision to take action against KCR to Telangana govt Justice Pinaki Ghose Commission urges Telangana government to act on Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project irregularities involving K Chandrasekhar Rao. By PTI August 31, 2025, 7:13:16 PM IST (Published) Justice (retired) Pinaki Ghose Commission, which submitted its report on irregularities in the construction of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project in Telangana, suggested that it is for the state government to take action against former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao as per law. The Commission’s report, tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Sunday, also recommended appropriate action against S K Joshi, then Principal Secretary, and Smita Sabharwal, then Additional Secretary to the CM, for committing irregularities and violating the Business Rules of the Government. ”While the then Minister for Irrigation gave instructions at random and the Minister for Finance & Planning conducted himself apathetically towards the finance and economic health of the State, it is the then Chief Minister who can be directly and also vicariously made accountable for the irregularities and illegalities in planning, construction, completion, operation and maintenance of the three barrages. However, it is for the Government to examine and take action against them, if any, in accordance with the law,” the report said. The Commission also said that then Finance Minister Eatala Rajender and Finance Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao conveniently remained oblivious to the manner of funding the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. It further suggested action against several engineers and officials for the alleged irregularities. The Commission, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice P C Ghose, submitted its report to the government on July 31. The Assembly took up a short discussion on the Commission’s report on Sunday. The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is a multi-purpose project on the Godavari River in Bhupalpally district. Damage to the barrages, built during the previous BRS regime, became a major issue in the 2023 Assembly election. Also Read: India set to seal ₹1 lakh crore submarine deals with France, Germany by 2026 Read More

Pi Network has inched higher again, rising more than one percent in the past 24 hours and trading at $0.385. Since touching a low of $0.3303 on August 25, the token has rebounded by more than 16 percent, raising hopes that momentum could carry it toward the one-dollar level.  However, a large unlock of about 149 million tokens is set for September. That additional supply could weigh on the market. Liquidity is another concern. Daily trading volume has been steadily declining since mid-May, and currently sits near $43.8 million. Weak liquidity makes it harder for the market to absorb selling pressure and increases the risk of sharper price swings. Technically, Pi remains caught in a descending channel pattern that has been in place since May, keeping the broader trend bearish. Indicators also show the market leaning negative, with the Relative Strength Index at 38, signaling weak momentum, while the MACD remains flat, pointing to trader indecision.  If bearish forces dominate, Pi could revisit its all-time low around $0.322. On the other hand, a sustained recovery may test the $0.400 resistance level. Why Pi Is Rebounding Analyst Kim Wong says Pi’s rebound is not solely a technical bounce but is being supported by new developments around the ecosystem. The token was recently listed on Swapfone on August 25, and perhaps more importantly, saw the launch of a Pi SEK exchange-traded product (ETP) by Valour in Europe. Protocol upgrades and the rollout of Linux nodes have also contributed to improved confidence in the network, while heavily oversold conditions created an opportunity for buyers to step back in. Together, these factors have helped Pi regain some lost ground. The Importance of Valour’s Pi ETP Founded in 2019, Valour is a regulated financial firm focused on bridging traditional finance with the digital asset sector. The company already offers 85 exchange-traded products tied to more than 30 cryptocurrencies.  For a token that has been largely community-driven since its inception, entering the exchange-traded product market represents a step toward institutional recognition and mainstream adoption.  Can Pi Reach $1 Again? Whether Pi can climb back to $1 will depend on the balance between bearish market conditions and bullish adoption catalysts. On one side, upcoming supply unlocks and declining trading activity continue to pressure the price. On the other, exchange listings, ecosystem development, and the Valour ETP create new opportunities for growth. We’d Love to Hear Your Thoughts on This Article! Was this writing helpful? Read More

XRP is back in focus this September as traders weigh signs of a potential shift in momentum. After briefly touching the $3 mark in August, the token has cooled off but continues to trade steadily near $2.80.  The question on everyone’s mind: is XRP preparing for another leg higher, or could September bring a deeper correction? Open Interest Spike Signals Strong Market Activity One of the clearest signals came from the derivatives market. XRP’s open interest (OI), the total value of futures and options contracts, surged to over $3.5 billion during its rally toward $3. This reflected strong speculative demand, with traders piling into leveraged bets on price movement. Since then, OI has dropped, but XRP is still holding above $2.80. Trader Tyler McKnight says this could mean the market is simply resetting after heavy activity, not turning weak. Institutional Demand Still Missing While derivatives trading has been robust, institutional adoption remains muted. Unlike Bitcoin, which has ETFs and strong inflows, XRP is waiting for approval of eight spot ETFs in the U.S. Even after the favorable court ruling, big firms remain cautious, leaving smaller players as the main buyers. For now, only smaller players have shown interest in holding XRP as a reserve asset. Technical Charts Warn of Downside Risk XRP price has already slipped about 6.7% over the past week, trading around $2.83. On the weekly chart, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is on the verge of a bearish crossover, a pattern that previously marked corrections of 50% or more in 2021 and again in early 2025. If history repeats, XRP could slide toward its 50-week EMA near $2.17, representing a potential 25% drop. This aligns with the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement level, often seen as strong support. On the flip side, any positive news could lift XRP back above $3, and if it holds that level, the next target could be around $3.36. We’d Love to Hear Your Thoughts on This Article! Was this writing helpful? Read More