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.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the Order of Oliy Darajali Dustlik, described as Uzbekistan’s supreme state award, by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during his state visit to Tashkent. The honour was given in recognition of Modi’s role in strengthening ties between India and Uzbekistan. The award ceremony came as the two countries sought to deepen cooperation and advance their strategic partnership. Modi’s visit to Uzbekistan is part of his wider Central Asia tour, during which he is holding high-level talks to expand bilateral and regional cooperation. (PC: India Today)

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.

Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stepped in as East Zone captain during the Duleep Trophy semifinal against Central Zone after regular skipper Ishan Kishan suffered a freak injury. Sooryavanshi, who had been named vice-captain before the tournament, took charge of the side in a major leadership moment at senior domestic level. Kishan’s injury forced him off the field, handing the teenager the captaincy responsibility. The move marks another milestone in Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise in Indian cricket, making him one of the youngest players to lead a senior domestic side. (PC: HT)

A saree became a lifeline for 21 Tamil Nadu pilgrims who survived deadly floods and mudslides in Nepal during their Mount Kailash pilgrimage. Trapped near Timure, the group escaped through the driver’s side of their vehicle and tried to climb a muddy hillside. With several women unable to climb, a pilgrim, Poonguzhali, gave her saree to her husband, Ratnakumar, who used it as a makeshift rope to pull them to safety. The group spent nearly two days stranded before being rescued and flown out by helicopter. The dramatic escape came as Tamil Nadu authorities continued efforts to trace pilgrims still unreachable. (PC: The Indian Express)

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)

The Bombay High Court on Saturday sharply pulled up the Tukaram Mundhe-led Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration, questioning whether officials felt they were “a lord” who could do anything. The court criticised the FDA for showing “undue haste” and taking a “high-handed” approach in separate actions against Cipla Pharma and five restaurants at the Mumbai Cricket Association premises. The FDA agreed to withdraw both orders after the court said they violated principles of natural justice and warned of contempt action. The court allowed the MCA eateries to reopen, saying they were largely compliant with food safety rules, and asked the regulator to take a more pragmatic approach. (PC: NDTV)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a yoga event in Tashkent on Saturday during his two-day state visit to Uzbekistan, saying the country has developed a strong connection with yoga. Modi thanked President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for helping promote yoga and shared a video from the event. Later in the day, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with Mirziyoyev. The leaders are expected to review the full range of bilateral relations and discuss ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership between New Delhi and Tashkent, including cooperation rooted in longstanding cultural and people-to-people ties.