Updates on 29 August 2026
All of August 2026 →India-China 25th Round of Talks on Boundary Question Yields Eight-Point Consensus
On 25 August 2026, during the 25th round of talks held in Beijing, India and China reached an important eight-point consensus aimed at maintaining peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Special Representatives, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, agreed on enhancing diplomatic and military communications, strengthening consultation mechanisms like the WMCC, and establishing new military hotlines. This development marks a step forward in managing ongoing border frictions and promoting cooperation on trans-border rivers, with scheduled follow-ups for sustained dialogue.
IIT Madras Launches Phiball: A Three-Team Basketball Variant on National Sports Day
On August 28, 2026, IIT Madras introduced Phiball, an innovative three-team basketball-inspired sport played on a circular court. Designed for faster-paced play with reduced space and infrastructure needs, the game features three teams simultaneously competing, each with seven players (four active and three substitutes). Matches have three quarters of eight minutes each, and scoring ranges from one to three points per basket. Teams rotate the defended baskets after each quarter. The sport was developed over two months with basketball coaches and inspired by IIT Madras's earlier three-team football game, OmegaBall. The launch coincided with National Sports Day, commemorating Major Dhyan Chand, and had initial participation from several Chennai-based colleges.