Archive — August 2026

Solar eclipse 2026: Will it be visible from India?
Science

Solar eclipse 2026: Will it be visible from India?

A solar eclipse is when the Sun, Moon and Earth are in alignment, and the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on our planet and blocking some of the fiery ball’s light.

BTC News Desk · 11 Aug, 12:09 pm

Rupee slips 8 paise against US dollar as crude prices continue to rise
Economy

Rupee slips 8 paise against US dollar as crude prices continue to rise

On Tuesday, the Indian rupee began its day lower against the US dollar, reflecting a sense of caution in global markets due to concerns over the ongoing West Asia crisis. The rise in crude oil prices, combined with declines in domestic equity markets, has further pressured the rupee. However, support came from foreign institutional investor inflows and intervention from the RBI, with the rupee trading at 95.

BTC News Desk · 11 Aug, 11:15 am

India’s LPG dependence on U.S. | Explained
Economy

India’s LPG dependence on U.S. | Explained

India’s reliance on the U.S. for two-thirds of its LPG assumes significance, signalling prudent diversification of sources amid the crisis in the narrow Strait of Hormuz, which suggests that the country’s LPG security cannot be anchored to a single geography

BTC News Desk · 11 Aug, 10:33 am

$500 bn AI boom: Nvidia, Wall Street giants join hands for chip, data centre push
Economy

$500 bn AI boom: Nvidia, Wall Street giants join hands for chip, data centre push

Nvidia has joined forces with six prominent financial institutions to enhance AI infrastructure funding. The collaboration will see these firms create platforms aimed at financing companies that purchase Nvidia hardware. The goal is to harness over $500 billion in external capital, positioning AI chips as a fresh asset class that encourages the growth of AI technology and data centers.

BTC News Desk · 11 Aug, 9:41 am

UPI and the cost of policy reversal
Economy

UPI and the cost of policy reversal

The government’s proposal to allow an MDR of 0.25–0.5% on UPI transactions above ₹2,000 reverses a decade-long policy; taxing the payment rail could weaken incentives for banks and fintechs to invest in UPI while undermining its role in financial inclusion, formalisation and wider digital adoption

BTC News Desk · 11 Aug, 9:25 am

Trump’s media company, which also owns Truth Social, reports $238m loss
Media

Trump’s media company, which also owns Truth Social, reports $238m loss

Company also announced a paid service for early access to president’s posts on policies to the social media siteDonald Trump’s media company – which owns the Truth Social platform favored by the US president – posted a $238m loss in the second quarter.Trump Media & Technology on Monday reported that losses in the three months through June came as the company branched into new ventures including crypto. The company’s new chief executive, Kevin McGurn, announced at a conference call about the

BTC News Desk · 11 Aug, 6:24 am

Barack Obama launches podcast about books that ‘shaped his worldview’
Media

Barack Obama launches podcast about books that ‘shaped his worldview’

The former US president will host six episodes of A Great Book for Audible, discussing work from Toni Morrison and John le Carré to James BaldwinBarack Obama is set to host a podcast about books that have “profoundly shaped his worldview and our society”, from Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré.The podcast, called A Great Book with Barack Obama, will launch on Audible on 24 September. Continue reading...

BTC News Desk · 10 Aug, 10:29 pm

Reform backer Arron Banks urged to set out extent of surveillance of journalists
Media

Reform backer Arron Banks urged to set out extent of surveillance of journalists

Industry body says use of private investigators against reporters is ‘attack on our democracy’ after Banks apparently admitted doing soThe businessman and Reform UK backer Arron Banks is facing calls to lay out the extent of his surveillance of journalists, described by an industry body as an “attack on our democracy”.The News Media Association (NMA), which represents regional and national media, raised concerns after Banks appeared to admit over the weekend to hiring private investigators to sp

BTC News Desk · 10 Aug, 10:00 pm

Ofcom investigates GB News over guest’s pride and paedophilia remarks
Media

Ofcom investigates GB News over guest’s pride and paedophilia remarks

Regulator acts after 12,000 complaints over comments by Caroline Farrow linking parades with bestiality and paedophiliaGB News is being investigated by the UK’s media regulator after a guest appeared to link pride parades with bestiality and paedophilia.The remarks are thought to have set a new record for individual complaints about a GB News programme, with more than 12,000 people raising concerns about comments made by the guest Caroline Farrow. Continue reading...

BTC News Desk · 10 Aug, 7:35 pm

The Dacre dynasty: how Britain’s rightwing press was radicalised – podcast
Media

The Dacre dynasty: how Britain’s rightwing press was radicalised – podcast

At the Daily Mail, Paul Dacre broke new ground in selling readers an angry rightwing perspective. Today, most of Fleet Street is run by his disciplesBy Andy Beckett. Read by Simon VanceThe summer issue of the Long Read magazine is out now. Click here to orderRead the text version hereSupport the Guardian today: theguardian.com/longreadpod Continue reading...

BTC News Desk · 10 Aug, 9:30 am