Twenty-one Tamil Nadu pilgrims who survived devastating flash floods in Nepal returned to Chennai, describing the experience as a “second birth.” Their convoy of three buses was struck by an avalanche-triggered flash flood, which swept away two vehicles. Survivors said they escaped by climbing onto their bus and then reaching a hilltop Armed Reserve Police camp, where Nepalese police provided shelter. Around 400 people from Tamil Nadu may have travelled to Nepal during the period. Authorities said 140 Tamil Nadu residents have been rescued and remain safe in Nepal, while at least 80 are still believed missing. Rescue and repatriation efforts continue. (PC: NDTV)

Devastating flash floods along the Nepal-China border have killed at least 626 people, while around 2,478 remain missing, according to the latest updates. The disaster, which struck the mountainous Rasuwa region and affected the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems, caused widespread destruction to roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Search-and-rescue operations are continuing, but rising lakes and the threat of further flooding are creating additional risks. Nepal has requested assistance from India and China, including Bailey bridges to restore damaged connectivity. Hundreds of foreign nationals, including Indians, remain unaccounted for, while authorities continue evacuations, relief distribution and body-recovery operations. (PC: X)

Nepal has reversed its earlier decision to reject foreign search-and-rescue assistance following devastating flash floods along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers. The disaster has killed more than 550 people and left many others missing, while severely damaging settlements and infrastructure. Nepal will now allow specialised rescue teams from India and China to assist ongoing operations in affected areas. The decision comes amid growing pressure and concerns over missing foreign nationals. India and China had previously offered specialised personnel and technical support. Nepal’s own security forces continue leading the rescue effort, while international assistance is expected to strengthen searches and emergency response. (PC: Getty Images)

India has sent its third relief consignment to flood-hit Nepal, delivering 10 tonnes of humanitarian aid along with an 11-member medical and tunnel rescue team. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the team and supplies had reached Kathmandu as rescue operations continued after devastating flash floods near the Nepal-Tibet border. The latest shipment takes India’s total humanitarian assistance to Nepal to 57.5 tonnes. It includes portable generators, dignity kits, food packets and water purification tablets. The team comprises doctors, paramedics and a reconnaissance unit assessing a tunnel rescue operation at a hydroelectric project where people are feared trapped. India has also offered Bailey bridges, technical teams, NDRF personnel and equipment.

Ed Nathanson, who calls himself the “World’s Greatest Snack Detective,” says discovering Indian cuisine around five years ago completely changed his taste and how he views other cuisines. In an Instagram video, he joked that Indian food had created a “problem” because food from other countries no longer seemed as special. Describing his first experience, Nathanson said it felt as though the “gates of heaven had opened.” He praised pani puri as “little flavour bombs” and said Gobi Manchurian made cauliflower taste extraordinarily good. Comparing Indian cuisine’s complex flavours with simpler foods elsewhere, he said his eating habits also changed. Despite being a “hardcore carnivore,” Nathanson now orders vegetarian dishes. Social media users offered mixed reactions.

Infosys Public Services chief Lax Gopisetty remains unreachable after flash floods in Nepal, where he was visiting in a personal capacity. Infosys said its immediate priority is to locate Gopisetty, establish contact and ensure his safety. The company is coordinating with relevant agencies to gather information and remains in close communication with his family, providing necessary support. The Ministry of External Affairs said 320 Indians remain missing following the floods, while 400 people are stranded on the Chinese side. The situation has prompted continued efforts by authorities to locate missing Indians and assist those stranded. Gopisetty’s disappearance adds to concerns surrounding the impact of the deadly flash floods in the region. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the upcoming SCO Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Government sources said no formal bilateral with Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected, though a pull-aside meeting may occur. A full Modi-Xi bilateral is more likely during the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. Modi and Pezeshkian are also expected to meet at the BRICS Summit. Meanwhile, Pezeshkian and Putin are scheduled to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues, following a $25-billion agreement on new nuclear facilities. India will focus on terrorism, separatism and extremism, with the SCO’s RATS mechanism remaining key to regional security cooperation. (PC: X)

American brands that once relied on China as a dependable growth engine are losing ground as economic weakness, cautious consumers and sophisticated domestic rivals reshape the market. Nike’s China business has shrunk about 30% since 2021, while Starbucks faces growing competition from lower-priced, digital-first chains such as Luckin and Cotti. General Motors has also struggled as Chinese electric-vehicle makers expand rapidly. Yet foreign brands can still succeed: Lululemon, Ralph Lauren and KFC continue growing by adapting to local preferences. Analysts say localisation, faster innovation, competitive pricing and strong local distribution are increasingly crucial. China remains a major consumer market, but global brand prestige alone can no longer guarantee success. (PC: The Economic Times)

The China-Nepal flooding crisis has intensified after a lake formed by debris from a glacier collapse began overflowing, forcing Chinese authorities to halt rescue operations. The lake was created when the glacier collapse triggered catastrophic flooding along the border. Fearing a possible breach and secondary disasters including mountain collapses and avalanches, Chinese rescue personnel and vehicles withdrew to a safe area. An engineering team found the lake had grown to more than 2.5 million cubic metres, from an estimated 1.5–2 million cubic metres a day earlier. The lake is around 150 metres long and 40–50 metres deep. China expects another 3 million cubic metres of water to enter over three days, with peak flow around September 1. (PC: Reuters)

The Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of Maharashtra Police has arrested three more people, including two foreign nationals, in connection with a Mephedrone (MD) racket busted on a street in Balewadi, Pune, in June. The suspects were identified as Cisse Sadio alias Alex, 30, a Senegalese citizen; Jele Beasmark, 30, a citizen of the Kingdom of Eswatini; and Indian national Vikram Kalekar, 30, from Karjat in Maharashtra’s Raigad district. All three were arrested on Thursday and remanded to ANTF custody for six days by a Pune court. Police recovered 22 grams of MD and eight mobile phones from Alex, and 14 grams of MD and six phones from Jele. The case now has seven arrests. (PC: The Indian Express)