A strong 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on Monday evening as the country reeled from last week's devastating temblor that killed over 150 people. This marks the third earthquake to hit Nepal in four days, underscoring the vulnerable Himalayan nation's ongoing seismic turbulence. Tremors were felt in parts of northern India too, triggering panic and vigorous furniture shaking in Delhi and surrounding regions. The epicenter was located about 233 kilometers north of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh per India's National Center for Seismology. Monday's quake comes after last Wednesday's massive 6.4 magnitude earthquake, Nepal's worst since 2015, which resulted in over 150 deaths and 160 injuries primarily in remote western villages. Situated atop colliding tectonic plates, Nepal lies in one of the world's most seismically active zones, making powerful earthquakes a persistent threat. 

Actor Rashmika Mandanna spoke out against the viral deepfake video depicting her, saying she feels extremely scared and hurt by its spread online. In a social media post, Mandanna called for urgent action as 'technology is being misused', noting her vulnerability to identity theft and the impact if it happened when she was younger. As an actor, she worries about everyone's susceptibility to harm from improperly used technology. Mandanna called for this to be addressed as a community before more are affected by the deepfake editing her face onto another woman. She drew attention to the video's dangers by tagging police cybercrime agencies.

Amid growing pressure for a ceasefire, Israel said it conducted major strikes after cutting Gaza in two, with troops encircling the main city. A military spokesperson said forces reached Gaza City's southern coast, surrounding it. The bombardment came as PM Netanyahu again vowed no truce until all hostages are freed, stating "we will simply continue until we win." Israel said its air force hit around 450 Hamas targets in the past 24 hours, including missile launch sites. The navy also struck headquarters and observation posts. Troops took control of a Hamas facility with tunnels and training areas. Since Israel's retaliatory offensive after Hamas's surprise multi-front attack on October 7 that killed 1,400 Israelis, over 9,700 Palestinians have reportedly died, mostly women and children. US Secretary of State Blinken visited Turkey today for the first time since the war started. He met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara as international pressure mounts despite Israel's refusal to halt operations before hostage rescues. [Image Courtesy: Reuters]

Amitabh Bachchan demanded legal action over a viral deepfake video depicting Rashmika Mandanna, showing a woman entering a lift with the actress's face superimposed onto her own. The original video is of British-Indian woman Zara Patel. Bachchan reposted the deceptive celebrity video stating it's a strong legal case, responding to its uncontrolled spread online. Close observation reveals the woman's face changes to Mandanna's upon entering the lift. Deepfake technology enables such falsified media faster than protections arise. Mandanna hasn't reacted yet. Bachchan's call spotlights efforts to curb deepfakes as awareness increases of consent and ethical concerns. But risks remain of societal harm from advancing technology empowering the credible falsification of media.

Elon Musk unveiled Grok, an AI chatbot with a rebellious streak inspired by sci-fi comedy The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, as a competitor to ChatGPT. Though Musk recently warned AI poses a threat to humanity, he said sarcastic Grok with access to X posts would be tested then offered to platform subscribers. Musk posted an apparent Grok exchange jokingly outlining dangerous illegal steps for making cocaine. Powered by large language model Grok-1, Musk's xAI team said it surpasses ChatGPT's freely available model on some benchmarks but lags its most advanced version. They said Grok is designed with wit and a rebellious streak, so avoid it if you dislike humor.

In an unusual event, Karnataka's Bidar district experienced two low-intensity earthquakes, measuring 1.9 and 2.1 in magnitude, according to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC). The tremors, felt within a 25-kilometre radius from the epicentre at Waddankera village, caused mild vibrations. KSNDMC assured the public that the seismic activity posed no threat, emphasizing the low intensity and lack of structural disruptions in the region. Such events are rare in the area, contrasting with the frequent minor tremors experienced in India's capital and neighboring regions.

Israeli forces have encircled Gaza City, intensifying their military operations against Hamas despite international calls for a ceasefire. The Israeli military launched significant strikes on Hamas targets, focusing on dismantling the militant group's underground infrastructure. Israeli officials estimate that infantry forces will enter Gaza City within the next 48 hours. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on a Middle East tour, met with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas but faced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's firm stance on continuing the offensive until all hostages held by Hamas are released. The conflict has entered its thirtieth day, with over 9,730 Palestinians reported killed by the Hamas-controlled health ministry.

Hollywood actor Jon Voight expressed disappointment with his daughter, Angelina Jolie, for her anti-Israel comments amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Jolie had posted on social media condemning Israel's actions in Gaza, calling it an "act of terror" and criticizing the lack of humanitarian ceasefire efforts. Voight responded with a video, defending Israel's right to protect its land and people. He urged people to recognize that Hamas was harming its own population. Voight's response highlighted the family's divergent views on the conflict.

Delhi's air quality plummeted to the 'severe plus' category with an AQI of 470, nearly 20 times above WHO's recommended limit. Increased burning of paddy straw in neighboring states, especially Haryana and UP, worsened the situation. Delhi's CM Arvind Kejriwal convened a high-level meeting to address the crisis, implementing stage 4 of GRAP. The city recorded 4,160 farm fires, exacerbating pollution. Health hazards, including heart attacks and strokes, are rising. Cricketers struggle to practice outdoors, highlighting the severe impact on daily life. IMD predicts no relief as no rainfall is expected.

With the Israel-Hamas war reaching a grim milestone, Israel's military announced the encirclement and division of Gaza City into two parts, intensifying attacks. The besieged area faced its third total communications outage since the conflict began, heightening tensions. The Hamas-run health ministry reported over 9,770 casualties in more than four weeks of war, underscoring the humanitarian crisis. Israeli forces escalated bombardments, marking a significant stage. Despite international calls for a ceasefire, Israel persisted, emphasizing their containment of Gaza City. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's diplomatic efforts included a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and a surprise visit to Iraq, addressing regional concerns amid escalating violence.