A passenger ferry carrying around 270 people capsized off the coast of North Cyprus shortly after leaving the port of Kyrenia on Sunday. The catamaran was heading to Tasucu in Turkey when it started taking on water and overturned around two kilometres from the coast. Turkish Cypriot coastguard boats, a rescue helicopter and ambulances were deployed, while around 100 people have reportedly been rescued and brought ashore. It was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties. Authorities said they were still searching for passengers and investigating what caused the vessel to take on water. Rescue operations remained underway.

The death toll from Nepal's catastrophic flash floods has risen to 768, while 3,048 people remain missing across Nepal and Tibet. Nepal alone has reported 752 deaths and 2,502 people out of contact, including 592 foreigners. Rescue teams are also racing to reach more than 100 workers believed trapped inside hydropower tunnels after the disaster triggered by a glacial collapse. Overnight rain and rising river levels have hampered the operation. A new barrier lake has also formed near the Tibet border, adding to the danger. Nepal says reconstruction could cost billions of dollars and has appealed for international assistance. (PC: NDTV)

Five-year-old Manisha has been reunited with her parents after surviving for two days beneath rubble caused by devastating flash floods in Nepal. Rescue teams near Syabrubesi in Rasuwa district initially believed they heard a trapped cat while searching the debris. They began clearing the rubble and discovered the barely responsive child, rescuing her after a two-hour operation. Bad weather prevented her immediate evacuation by helicopter. She later regained consciousness at a rescue camp, where she was given water and rice water. Manisha was flown to Kathmandu on Saturday and is now recovering in a stable condition, hospital officials said.  

India has delivered more than 68 tonnes of emergency relief supplies to flood-hit Nepal through four military flights since August 26, as New Delhi steps up humanitarian assistance after the devastating flash floods. The latest flight carried 11 tonnes of relief material, including essential supplies for affected communities. Earlier consignments included temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, medicines, food, generators and water purification equipment. India has also sent medical, paramedical and tunnel rescue personnel to assist relief operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured Nepal of all possible support soon after the disaster. (PC: HT)

Nepal will begin burying unidentified and unclaimed victims of the devastating flash floods after collecting DNA samples to allow families to identify and recover them later. Officials said the decision was taken as decomposing bodies and limited storage facilities raised health concerns, particularly in Chitwan, where 233 bodies have been recovered. Each body will receive a unique identification number, while burial sites will be geo-tagged and documented. Authorities said DNA from relatives will later be matched with samples taken from victims. Once identified, the bodies can be exhumed and handed over to families.

During World War II, British India feared enemy paratroopers could launch surprise attacks and created special anti-parachute columns to stop them. In 1941, four mobile units were set up at Nowshera, Kohat, Rawalpindi and Lahore to protect vital targets, including rail links, oil facilities, communication centres and military headquarters. Villagers were asked to report suspected enemy landings to police, while armed patrols were tasked with tracking parachutists until military forces arrived. The 11th Royal Garhwal Rifles formed the core of the force, supported by British infantry units. (PC: India Today)

Russia has showcased a futuristic, man-portable laser weapon designed to help military sappers destroy landmines and unexploded ordnance from a safe distance. The rifle-style directed-energy system uses a 1-kilowatt laser powered by a backpack-mounted battery. It can reportedly heat explosives to around 1,000°C and neutralise them from 50 to 100 metres away without causing a massive detonation. A larger robot-mounted version is said to have a range of up to 500 metres. The system is designed to clear hazardous areas, including battlefields, forests and ruins, while reducing risks for bomb-disposal teams.

The death toll from catastrophic floods on the Nepal-Tibet border has exceeded 750, as rescue teams struggle to reach survivors through rough terrain and worsening weather. Nepal has reported 734 deaths and 2,498 people missing, while Chinese state media said 16 people have died and 546 remain missing in Tibet. Nearly 20,000 security personnel have been deployed for rescue efforts. Aid delivery remains “extremely difficult”, the UN said. Fresh fears emerged after a landslide created a second barrier lake in Tibet, prompting authorities to move rescuers to safety amid concerns that it could trigger further flooding. (PC: BBC)

Nepal school principal Rajendra Dawadi is being hailed as a hero after his quick decision helped save 1,643 children from devastating flash floods in the Trishuli Valley. After receiving warnings that floodwaters were rapidly approaching, Dawadi rang the school bell and ordered an immediate evacuation. Teachers and students fled uphill, taking shelter beneath a bodhi tree as raging waters swept away the school buildings. Two staff members, including a teacher and a janitor, were killed after returning to riverside areas. The glacier-triggered disaster has killed hundreds and left thousands missing across Nepal. (PC: India Today)

Nepal will begin burying unidentified and unclaimed bodies recovered after this week’s devastating flash floods, as overcrowded facilities and decomposition create health concerns. At least 675 bodies have been recovered, with Chitwan accounting for 233. Before burial, authorities are collecting DNA samples, assigning unique identification numbers and recording physical details and locations. Burial pits will be about 1.5 metres deep, with bodies kept separately to enable future exhumation. Families searching for missing relatives can provide DNA samples for matching. Authorities are also photographing, video-recording and geo-tagging burial sites to ensure victims can later be identified and returned to their families.