Morning Digest: Nepal flash floods death toll reaches 389, 290 Indians ‘uncontactable’; India, China open door to clarifying LAC perceptions; and more

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An elderly survivor is transported to a safer place in heavy machinery following flash flood and mudslide at Trishuli in Nuwakot district, Nepal, on August 26, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters

The death toll in the flash flood in Nepal’s Rasuwa district bordering Tibet touched 389 on Thursday (August 27, 2026), with 910 people still missing. In a “preliminary assessment” of the situation following the flash flood in Nepal, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday (August 27, 2026) said at least 290 Indian nationals remain “uncontactable” .

India and China discussed ways to improve their understanding of each other’s perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the 25th Round of Special Representatives talks on the boundary question held in Beijing on Tuesday (August 25, 2026). Indian and Chinese officials see differing perceptions of the LAC in some areas as a key factor behind tensions in both Western and Eastern Sectors.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday (August 27, 2026) that he is renaming Lake Ontario to be known as “Lake America” in the United States as he exacerbates his trade war with Canada. The Republican President signed an executive order that updated the lake’s name for the U.S. geographic naming service.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin a four-day trip on Saturday (August 27, 2026) to strengthen ties with Uzbekistan and attend the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan. In the first leg of the trip, Mr. Modi will visit Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, from August 29 to 30 to explore ways to further bolster the bilateral ties in diverse sectors.

The organisation hosting RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s event in New York claimed its X account was blocked by “misguided opponents” for several hours on Thursday (August 27, 2026).

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday (August 27, 2026) insisted Russian leader Vladimir Putin would not attack NATO territory , downplaying reports that Washington had warned Moscow against a possible move on Europe. The Kremlin also dismissed the reports as “scare stories” following a rare visit to the Russian capital by CIA Director John Ratcliffe that sparked fevered speculation.

In a highly controversial Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC) outcome, Zee Media Group founder and erstwhile media baron Subhash Chandra has secured an order to settle his personal guarantee worth ₹22,006.57 crore due to creditors by offering to pay only ₹6.5 crore thus making the creditors, which include top banks, to forcibly take more than 99% haircut.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday announced that the government has decided to give autorickshaw and taxi drivers one year to learn “functional Marathi”. The Chief Minister made the announcement after a delegation of representatives of autorickshaw and taxi drivers, led by Haji Arfat Shaikh, met him.

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Thursday (August 27, 2026) contended before the Madras High Court that his rival candidate S.