Times of India

Pakistan deployed spies and activated sleeper cells to locate S-400 air defence systems. These efforts included satellite support and electronic warfare capabilities from other nations. The S-400 system demonstrated its long-range strike capability during Operation Sindoor. It successfully intercepted a large Pakistani aircraft over 300 kilometers away. India's air defence network has expanded with additional S-400 system deliveries.

Meta explored cutting some teams by up to 60% and handing their work to AI agents under a plan code-named Project OT. Hatched at Mark Zuckerberg's Hawaii retreat, it involved two layoff waves, pods of three replacing traditional teams, and keystroke tracking to train AI models. Staff revolted, internal sentiment fell from 74% to 55%, and Meta's own data showed the AI wasn't delivering promised productivity gains.

In 2026, Raksha Bandhan festivities will take place on Friday, August 28. It's essential to observe the Rakhi tying ceremony after the conclusion of Bhadra Kaal. The Shravana Purnima Tithi begins on August 27 and ends the following day. Sisters will prepare a special thali with necessary items and tie the sacred Rakhi, invoking blessings for their brothers' prosperity and happiness.

Maharashtra's chief minister has taken a progressive step by implementing a one-year learning phase for drivers amid recent enforcement and protests. This initiative will offer drivers access to Marathi language classes and support materials, fulfilling their plea for extended educational time to improve their proficiency in Marathi for better communication.

Global Capability Centres or GCCs which are essentially specialised offshore units of multinational companies are fast absorbing talent from the traditional IT sector. The trend suggests that India’s GCCs are emerging as an increasingly important engine of technology hiring.

India let a golden chance slip in Colombo as Sri Lanka's remarkable lower-order resistance forced a draw, hurting the visitors' World Test Championship hopes. Sonal Dinusha's unbeaten 133 capped a sensational series for him, while India's flat tactics and inability to dismiss the tail after dominating the match leaves India with virtually no margin for error for the remaining WTC calendar.

Kyoto’s famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is facing growing damage from tourists carving names and other writing into bamboo stalks. A city inspection found around 350 damaged plants since spring 2025. In response, Kyoto officials plan to cut about 30 sq m of bamboo as a special preservation measure and move the grove further away from the path to prevent visitors from reaching the stalks.

Eden GeoPower is investigating an innovative hydrogen generation technique by employing electrical pulses to crack deep-seated rock formations. This groundbreaking approach paves the way for water to interact with minerals, leading to enhanced hydrogen production as observed in laboratory tests. Ongoing field trials aim to determine the commercial feasibility of this promising method.

A NITI Aayog report identifies significant barriers to youth employment and skilling in India. Existing skilling programs often lack outcome orientation and placement support for participants. The report suggests affordable training and combining learning with earning opportunities. Bridging this gap is very important for realizing India's demographic dividend by 2047.