Rediff

Following devastating floods in Nepal, Kathmandu has initiated mass burials for unidentified victims as morgues have exceeded capacity. Security forces are burying bodies with markers and collecting DNA samples for future identification. The government has amended the Unidentified and Unclaimed Bodies Management Guidelines, 2021, to facilitate the management of disaster victims, including provisions for autopsies, DNA collection, and temporary burial with identification markers.

A devastating flood in Baireni, Nepal, transformed a school playground into a sea of sand and buried classrooms under sludge. Timely warnings from teachers, prompted by an upstream guardian, allowed 400 students to evacuate safely just before the flood hit. The school remains closed, covered in debris, while UNICEF estimates 17,000 children need humanitarian aid following the floods that killed over 900 people.

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has resigned from the men's national selection committee and as a batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy.

Flash floods in Nepal, triggered by an ice and rock collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border, have devastated hydropower projects, leaving hundreds of workers stranded. Survivors recount terrifying escapes from rising floodwaters and tunnels, while international teams assist in ongoing rescue operations to locate those still missing.

Mallojula Venugopal Rao, a former Naxal commander known as Bhupathi, has joined Gondwana University's 'Ekal' programme in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. He will work as a coordinator to help tribal villagers secure their legal rights, including those under the PESA and Forest Rights Acts, marking a significant shift from his past as a feared Maoist strategist.

World Letter Writing Day is a time to recall historic letters. Some letters were written in love. Some in grief. Others at moments when the world stood on the brink of change.

India pacer Gurnoor Brar discusses how bowling alongside senior quicks Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj has improved his consistency in lengths.

SCTIMST and Invasive Technologies have launched Chitra Core, a new drug-eluting coronary stent designed with significantly less metal to reduce complications. This indigenous innovation, developed in collaboration, aims to provide advanced and cost-effective cardiac care, building on decades of Indian medical device development. The institute is also developing a unique TiN-coated stent for global markets.

Argentine footballers Lautaro Martinez, Leandro Paredes, Emiliano Martinez, and Alexis Mac Allister have paid emotional tributes to Lionel Messi following his announcement to retire from international football, reflecting on his profound impact on their careers and the national team.

The Indian Embassy in Nepal has released a detailed procedure for identifying and repatriating the mortal remains of foreign nationals, including Indians, who perished in the recent devastating flash floods. The process involves a nine-step protocol by Nepali authorities, DNA matching for unidentified remains, and assistance from the Indian Embassy for coordination and repatriation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the SCO summit in Bishkek, called for a united front against terrorism and its financing, rejecting double standards. He emphasised resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy, not battlefields. Modi also highlighted that connectivity projects must respect national sovereignty and territorial integrity, a veiled reference to China's Belt and Road Initiative. India's vision for SCO rests on security, connectivity, and opportunity.

With the death toll crossing 900 and nearly 4,000 people still missing, the trauma of loss, displacement and uncertainty is settling in among thousands of survivors, prompting the government to step up its mental health response.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMA issued an alert to people living along the banks of the Bishnumati River after its water level near the Gongabu area crossed the danger mark.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded India's 7.8 per cent GDP growth, achieved despite global conflicts and instability. He emphasised the importance of Swadeshi and self-reliance for a developed India by its 100th year of Independence, urging citizens to avoid unnecessary foreign expenditures.

Security in most of India is a facade, discovers Binu Alex.

Security personnel reportedly justified the action due to child theft concerns and identity verification.

Rapper Badshah and Isha Rikhi have officially announced their mutual decision to divorce, bringing their five-month-old marriage to an end.

Veteran social activist Anna Hazare has been admitted to Bombay Hospital in Mumbai after blood reports indicated a renal infection. The 89-year-old anti-graft crusader was transferred from his native Ralegan Siddhi village for further assessment.

Stefanos Tsitsipas revealed that ending his coaching relationship with his father, Apostolos, brought much-needed calm and rebuilt his confidence, leading to a strong first-round win at the US Open.

Stefanos Tsitsipas revealed he was not surprised by Nick Kyrgios's recent drug suspension, stating he 'pretty much expected' it and knew about the positive cocaine test before the official announcement.

The US District Court for the Eastern District of New York has revoked the naturalisation of Gurmeet Singh, an Indian-origin man, after he was convicted of rape and kidnapping. Singh had concealed these serious criminal acts during his naturalisation process, leading to the federal court's decision to strip him of his US citizenship.

Southern chief ministers fear population stabilisation could reduce their parliamentary representation and tax devolution benefits.

'China wants to control and divert rivers.'

'It appears to be a combination: A glacier breaking away, and a dam-like formation downstream reaching capacity and releasing water suddenly.'

Former champion Stan Wawrinka lost to Italy's Matteo Berrettini in the first round of the US Open, marking the end of the 41-year-old Swiss national's Grand Slam career before his retirement at the end of the season.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz made a strong return to competitive tennis after a five-month wrist injury layoff, defeating Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the US Open, showcasing his powerful forehand with over 20 winners.

Kashi Rudras' ambidextrous spinner Vijay Yadav has set an ambitious target of making it to the IPL within the next one to two years, driven by his dedication to all three departments of the game and profound inspiration from Virat Kohli's aggression and commitment.

India batter Mayank Agarwal has signed with Durham for the final four matches of the County Championship's Division Two, aiming to help the team secure promotion to Division One.

Aryna Sabalenka began her quest for a third successive US Open title with a dominant win against Colombia's Camila Osorio.

Lionel Messi leaves as a World Cup winner and twice Copa America champion, the man who stepped out of Diego Maradona's immense shadow to create an Argentine legacy entirely his own.

Lionel Messi, who captained Argentina to World Cup victory in 2022 and the final in 2026, is retiring from international football, he said on Monday.

Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, has announced his retirement from international football, concluding a career marked by numerous club and international accolades, including multiple Ballon d'Or awards and a World Cup title.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to move from 'endless war to the end of war' in Ukraine, emphasising that a peaceful resolution is humanity's shared priority.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has launched a formal inquiry into opening batter Imam-ul-Haq's left calf muscle injury, which prevented him from batting in the second Test against England, amid suspicions he may have faked the injury.

A court in New Delhi has acquitted 12 persons accused of murder, rioting, and dacoity in a 2020 northeast Delhi riots case, saying that criminal liability cannot be fastened on a person merely because he was a member of an unlawful assembly without proof of his individual acts.

A food tampering racket in Navi Mumbai, involving the alteration of expiry dates on popular brands like Maggi and Lay's, has been busted by the Maharashtra FDA and Navi Mumbai Police Crime Branch, leading to the seizure of products worth over Rs 75 lakh.

A Chinese military trading company executive has been arrested for allegedly leaking sensitive defence information to intelligence agencies from two countries, China's top spy and anti-espionage agency said on Monday.

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Abbas expressed deep concern over the team's persistent issues, including poor fielding and an inexperienced pace attack, following their heavy 194-run defeat to England at Lord's, marking their 10th loss in 11 away Tests.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has stated that the frequent transfer dealings between Aston Villa and Chelsea are purely business transactions, not indicative of a special relationship.

During his recent state visit to Uzbekistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's poems were a central feature, with Uzbek university students reciting his works in both Hindi and Uzbek, fostering cultural exchange and drawing enthusiastic responses.

A 10-year-old girl student in an East Delhi government school died last week, with her family alleging she was punished by being made to stand in the sun for not bringing a book. The incident at Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya on August 27 led to protests and an ongoing police investigation.

The two leaders discussed various aspects of bilateral ties. They reviewed recent developments in the West Asia region. Prime Minister reiterated India's consistent position that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, the Ministry of External Affairs said on X.

The 2026 Hockey World Cup saw Argentina break the Netherlands' dominance in women's hockey, while Germany successfully defended their men's title. The tournament, co-hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium, featured simultaneous men's and women's events, highlighting shifting hierarchies and India's mixed performance with promising women's results and disappointing men's outcomes.

Chelsea, under new manager Xabi Alonso, has shown renewed attacking vigour with two Premier League wins and a League Cup victory, highlighted by a 4-3 win over Brighton, but defensive vulnerabilities persist, with the team failing to keep a clean sheet in 18 league games. The arrival of World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emi Martinez is expected to bolster the backline.

Conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar has been sentenced to eight years of rigorous imprisonment by a Delhi court for impersonating a Supreme Court judge and attempting to influence a bail proceeding. The court emphasised the need for a deterrent message against manipulating the justice system, especially given the rise of sophisticated impersonation techniques.

Indian table tennis player Ankur Bhattacharjee achieved a significant milestone by winning his first WTT men's singles title and a doubles gold with Akash Pal at the WTT Feeder Olomouc tournament. Bhattacharjee defeated Slovenian Deni Kozul in the singles final and, alongside Pal, secured the doubles title against Hungarian and Polish opponents.

The Supreme Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking mandatory and uniform labelling of ethanol percentage in petrol at fuel pumps. The petitioner, Narendra Kumar Goswami, was advised to approach the jurisdictional high court for relief, with the Attorney General arguing it was a proxy litigation.

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam attributed his team's 194-run defeat against England in the second Test at Lord's primarily to their batting failures in both innings, despite winning the toss and opting to bowl first.

Bengaluru's Ujaan Shivarama, a 15-year-old mountaineer, has successfully summited the 6,250-metre Kang Yatse II peak in Ladakh, making him one of the youngest Indians to achieve this feat. He faced extreme weather conditions and was part of a team where only three out of 14 experienced climbers reached the summit.

Novak Djokovic, hampered by illness and injuries, suffered a shocking first-round exit at the U.S. Open, losing to unseeded Argentine Mariano Navone in a gruelling five-set match, marking his earliest Grand Slam departure since 2006.