China temporarily halted rescue operations along the Tibet-Nepal border on August 28 after a debris-filled barrier lake began overflowing, raising fears of another flash flood. The lake formed after a massive mudslide triggered by the Himalayan disaster on August 26. Chinese authorities ordered rescue teams to withdraw to safer locations as water levels were expected to rise amid continued rainfall. The renewed threat has complicated efforts to locate hundreds of people still missing after the earlier floods and mudslides. Authorities are closely monitoring the lake and river levels while preparing to resume rescue operations when conditions become safer. 

King Harald V of Norway, Europe’s oldest monarch, died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on August 28, aged 89. He had ruled Norway for 35 years after ascending the throne in 1991. The Royal Palace said Harald had recently been receiving treatment for a bacterial infection in his bloodstream. Widely respected for modernising the monarchy and maintaining a close relationship with the Norwegian people, Harald remained popular throughout his reign. He also became known for promoting tolerance and inclusivity. Following his death, his son, Crown Prince Haakon, automatically succeeded him as King Haakon VIII. (PC: X)

Deepak and Madhu Ahuja, a US-based Indian-origin couple and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders, are missing after devastating flash floods struck the Nepal-Tibet border. The couple had travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to celebrate Deepak’s 60th birthday, fulfilling a long-held wish. Their daughters said the couple was last seen at the Gyirong Port immigration post before the floods hit. Their location had previously been visible through Apple’s “Find My” feature, but the coordinates became untraceable after the disaster. The family is desperately seeking information as rescue operations continue amid widespread destruction and hundreds of missing people. (PC: X)

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa created history by becoming the first Indian to win the Grand Chess Tour title. In the final at St. Louis, he defeated American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana 15–13 after overcoming a six-point deficit. Caruana led 9–3 following the Classical games, but Praggnanandhaa dramatically turned the match around by winning both Rapid games and taking an 11–9 lead. He then held his advantage through the Blitz section to secure the championship. The 2026 title earned Praggnanandhaa a $200,000 prize and a guaranteed place in next year’s Grand Chess Tour. (PC: X)

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck Longchang City in China’s Sichuan province on August 28, prompting a fresh flood alert in Nepal. Nepal Police ordered another evacuation of the Trishuli area after a heavy flow of water from upstream threatened to raise river levels. Authorities said a dam on the Tibet side had reportedly burst again, increasing the danger for downstream communities and rescue teams. Nepal’s devastating floods have already caused hundreds of deaths, with 826 people reported missing in Nepal and 558 in Tibet. Nepal continues to rely on domestic security agencies for search-and-rescue operations. (PC: Reuters)

A viral video has captured the terrifying moment a massive flash flood surged through Trishuli Bazaar in Nepal’s Nuwakot district, forcing residents, pedestrians and motorists to flee for safety. The footage shows torrents of muddy water and debris sweeping through the bustling market, leaving buildings and roads severely damaged. The disaster struck on August 26 amid a devastating flash flood across northern Nepal and the Nepal-Tibet border region. Rescue teams continue searching through the debris for missing people as authorities assess the extensive destruction. The disaster has killed hundreds and left large numbers missing across affected areas. 

Penguin Random House India has decided not to publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love after reportedly seeking changes and deletions in part of the manuscript. Gandhi rejected the proposed alterations and declined to modify or omit the material, leading Penguin India to withdraw from the project. The memoir, announced for global release on November 10, 2026, will be published in the US by Alfred A. Knopf, with an initial print run of 100,000 copies. Following Penguin’s decision, several Indian publishers are reportedly interested, with HarperCollins India said to be close to finalising an agreement to publish and distribute the book. 

Tribal women in a village near Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, marked Raksha Bandhan with a unique environmental tradition by tying rakhis around trees. The ritual symbolised a bond of protection between the women and nature, highlighting the importance of conserving trees and forests. The women celebrated the festival while expressing their commitment to protecting the environment. The practice connects the traditional meaning of Raksha Bandhan—protection and care—with environmental responsibility. The event, featured by OdishaTV on August 28, 2026, showcased how cultural traditions can also promote awareness about nature conservation and community responsibility. 

India’s women’s hockey team defeated world No. 5 Germany 3-1 in the fifth-place classification match at the 2026 FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup in Amstelveen, Netherlands. The victory secured India’s best World Cup finish in 52 years, matching their strong showing since finishing fourth in 1974. Ishika opened the scoring in the 43rd minute before Navneet Kaur struck twice in the 44th and 47th minutes to put India firmly ahead. Germany’s Lynn Krings scored in the 59th minute, but India held on for a historic win. India lost only once in six matches during an impressive campaign. (PC: X)

Former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladić, known as the “Butcher of Bosnia,” has died aged 84 while serving a life sentence in The Hague. Mladić was convicted of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the 1992–95 Bosnian War. He was held responsible for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, in which more than 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys were killed, and for the siege of Sarajevo. After remaining a fugitive for years, Mladić was arrested in Serbia in 2011. He was convicted in 2017, and his life sentence was upheld on appeal in 2021.