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)

Indian forensic experts have reached flood-hit Nepal to assist in identifying victims of the devastating disaster, while a 15-member technical team in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar remains on standby for DNA matching. The team includes forensic specialists and wet lab technicians, with specialised facilities prepared to examine biological samples, tooth fragments and skeletal remains recovered from Nepal. DNA profiling and matching procedures will begin as soon as samples arrive. The forensic effort comes as authorities face the difficult task of identifying bodies recovered from the flood-ravaged region, many of whom remain unidentified. (PC: NDTV)

Hundreds of foreign nationals remain missing after devastating floods struck Nepal’s border regions, with at least 320 Indian citizens among those unaccounted for. Nearly 100 Chinese nationals, 90 Americans, 62 Ukrainians, 51 Malaysians, 41 Australians, 33 Britons and 30 Canadians are also reported missing. Smaller numbers of travellers from several other countries remain unaccounted for. The Nepal Tourism Board said 289 foreign nationals have been rescued since the floods began, while 591 people remained out of communication as of 6 pm local time on August 30. Search, rescue and evacuation operations are continuing across the affected areas. (PC: BBC)

US President Donald Trump has said oil from a new deal with Venezuela will be used to replenish America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which has fallen to its lowest level in more than four decades. The reserve held about 290 million barrels in August, less than half its total capacity. Trump called the Venezuelan oil a “gift” to the American people and said refilling would begin soon. The proposed 25-year agreement covers 17 Venezuelan oilfields, but it remains unclear how quickly supplies can reach the US as Venezuela’s ageing oil infrastructure requires major investment. (PC: India Today)

Months before catastrophic flash floods struck Nepal, two reports by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development warned that glaciers across the Hindu Kush Himalaya were melting at an accelerating rate. The reports said ice loss had doubled since 2000, with up to 27 metres of ice thickness lost since 1975. While the exact cause of the August 26 disaster is still under investigation, a massive glacial collapse is being examined as a possible trigger. A 600-metre-wide glacier section reportedly broke free, creating a temporary dam before its collapse unleashed a devastating surge through Himalayan valleys. (PC: HT)