An Indian woman has alleged that she and her friends faced racist harassment from a group of teenagers during an outing near a lake in the UK. She said five or six teenagers, appearing around 13 or 14, initially threw mud at the group before allegedly making taunts about their race and religion. The group warned them they would call police if the behaviour continued. After the teenagers allegedly identified them as Muslims, the woman clarified that they were not Muslim but said they felt targeted. Her husband called police, who reportedly took nearly an hour to arrive. Later, officers identified the children, spoke to their guardians and offered the group formal charges or written warnings. They chose warnings.

Three months before devastating flash floods hit the Nepal-Tibet border, Nepali and Chinese officials met in Kathmandu on May 27 to discuss cross-border disaster risks. Nepal later said it had not received as much information as sought from China on glacier movements, water levels and extreme events needed for disaster preparedness. China, however, said it had shared important information with Nepal “in a timely manner” and that substantial progress had been made on cross-border disaster information-sharing. The meeting involved 10 Nepali and around 12 Chinese officials, including Tibetan representatives. They discussed cooperation on floods, weather and glacier hazards, with proposed measures including glacial-lake inventories and hazard mapping. Nepal is now seeking more frequent warnings to improve future disaster preparedness. (PC: Reuters)

World leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, have gathered in Bishkek for the two-day 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on August 31 and September 1. Marking 25 years of the grouping, the summit will focus on counter-terrorism, regional security, trade, connectivity, energy and digital development. India is expected to reiterate concerns over cross-border and state-sponsored terrorism, while members discuss local-currency trade and alternative payment mechanisms. Connectivity corridors linking Central Asia with major markets will also feature. Modi and Putin are scheduled to discuss strategic ties, energy and defence logistics. Modi-Xi interaction is also being closely watched amid efforts to ease India-China border tensions. The summit is expected to adopt the Bishkek Declaration.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, addressing the “Hindu Vishwa Bandhu – Embrace the World in Friendship” event in Toronto, said, “If Hindus are awake, the world will awaken,” while emphasising India’s culture of global helpfulness and unity. He said India’s tradition views diversity as a natural form of unity and highlighted the Hindu worldview’s emphasis on oneness among humanity and nature. Bhagwat urged the world to embrace “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, saying true enlightenment lies beyond external differences. He said Bharat became “Vishwaguru”, rather than “Mahashakti”, by serving the world. Bhagwat also said India’s ancestors travelled from Mexico to Siberia and Southeast Asia, spreading knowledge such as astrology and Ayurveda without conquering countries or converting people.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly instructed its players not to comment publicly on jailed former captain Imran Khan during their ongoing England tour. The issue intensified after Imran’s sons gave an interview to former England captain Michael Atherton, which SKY Sports broadcast during the lunch break on the second day of the second Test. The interview was filmed inside Lord’s a day before the match began. Reports said the PCB attempted to prevent the broadcaster from airing it and threatened to boycott the match, but the interview was shown and Pakistan’s players returned for the second session. The development follows former Pakistan stars Javed Miandad and Moin Khan publicly speaking in support of Imran. (PC: AP)

More than 20 people are reportedly missing after a flash flood struck Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch at Grand Canyon National Park on Saturday. The flooding began in Bright Angel Creek around 2:30 pm, sweeping away footbridges and carrying boulders, metal structures and debris into the Colorado River, while significantly altering the landscape. About half an inch to one inch of rain fell within 30 minutes, with most of it running off instantly due to the steep terrain. By Sunday morning, 62 people had been evacuated from Phantom Ranch, with no injuries reported. Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch and parts of the North Kaibab Trail remained closed. Rafting trips were also halted as further thunderstorms threatened additional flooding.

India is moving to secure long-term uranium supplies as it prepares to expand nuclear power capacity from around 8.8 GW today to 100 GW by 2047. New Delhi is pursuing a long-term uranium arrangement with Uzbekistan, its second major uranium deal in less than two months after an agreement with Australia in July. Uzbekistan produced around 4,000 tonnes of uranium in 2024 and has significant recoverable resources. Australia, meanwhile, has around 1.67 million tonnes of identified recoverable uranium resources and produced about 4,600 tonnes in 2024. The SHANTI Act, passed in December 2025, has also opened India’s civil nuclear sector to greater private participation, investment and technology, supporting its ambitious expansion plans.

Bangladesh has said it sees “no risk” in joining the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan on August 7. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman told Parliament that Dhaka would positively consider joining the pact if invited, describing it as an internal matter of “our Muslim family” and saying there was no reason for others to be concerned. Bangladesh also maintained that joining the agreement would not restrict its engagement with other international partners. The development comes ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s expected visit to Riyadh, weeks after the three countries signed the defence pact. Bangladesh’s position could draw attention in India amid concerns over the agreement’s strategic implications. (PC: X)

India has deployed a specialised tunnel search and rescue team to flood-hit Nepal, joining the Nepali Army in operations at hydropower tunnel sites in the Chilime and Langtang regions. The move comes as Nepal’s disaster authority reported 788 deaths and at least 2,502 people missing after devastating flash floods. More than 9,435 people have been rescued so far. Road access to the hard-hit Rasuwa region has also been restored, allowing relief teams to reach areas previously accessible only by helicopter. Meanwhile, India’s External Affairs Ministry said 149 Indian nationals have been rescued from the disaster-hit region. (PC: X)

Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has released his first photographs from a US prison, declaring that he remains “standing firm” as his successor, interim President Delcy Rodriguez, moves ahead with a major oil deal with the Donald Trump administration. The images show the 63-year-old Maduro in a grey tracksuit, raising peace signs from a Brooklyn jail, where he is being held with his wife, Cilia Flores. Both face drug trafficking and firearms charges, which they deny. Maduro’s message came as Trump said Venezuelan crude from the proposed oil deal could help replenish the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve. (PC: India Today)