The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly threatened to withdraw its team from the second Test against England at Lord’s after Sky Sports aired an interview with former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sons, Kasim and Sulaiman. The interview, conducted by former England captain Michael Atherton, included serious allegations about their father’s deteriorating health and prison conditions, with the sons claiming authorities were “trying to kill him.” The PCB objected to the political content being broadcast during the Test and lodged a formal complaint with Sky Sports. Despite the dispute, Pakistan returned to the field and the match continued.

Nepal has declined offers from several countries to deploy foreign search-and-rescue teams despite the devastating flash floods that have killed 469 people and left hundreds missing. The government said Nepal’s own security agencies are capable of managing rescue operations and decided against accepting teams from countries including India, China, the US, UK, Japan and South Korea. Instead, Kathmandu is seeking financial assistance through a one-door mechanism for relief and reconstruction. An Emergency Response Team has also been established to coordinate assistance for affected foreign nationals. Rescue efforts remain underway across severely damaged areas near the Nepal-China border. (PC: X)

A disturbing video from flood-hit Nepal has triggered widespread outrage after two men were allegedly seen removing earrings from the body of a deceased flood victim. The 41-second footage shows the men pulling the woman’s body from the water using wooden planks and her hair before taking earrings from both ears. The body had reportedly been swept downstream by floodwaters. After the video went viral, Chitwan Police arrested the two men and began investigating the incident. Nepal continues to face a devastating flood crisis, with hundreds dead and more than 1,000 people reported missing.

Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win the Grand Chess Tour, defeating defending champion Fabiano Caruana 15–13 in the final at St. Louis. Praggnanandhaa entered the final day trailing Caruana by six points at 3–9 but produced a remarkable turnaround by winning both rapid games and taking the lead. He then held his advantage through the blitz games to secure the title. The victory earned Praggnanandhaa a $200,000 prize and capped a remarkable 2026 campaign. The historic triumph marks the biggest Grand Chess Tour achievement by an Indian player. (PC: PTI)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK leader C. Joseph Vijay has emerged as the third-most preferred choice for India’s next Prime Minister, according to the India Today-CVoter Mood of the Nation survey. For the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, 48.7% of respondents preferred Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while 27.1% chose Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Vijay received 9.2%, placing him ahead of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (2%) and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav (1.7%). The survey highlights Vijay’s rapid political rise after entering politics in 2024. TVK leaders have also increasingly projected him as a potential national leader. 

Nepal’s devastating flash floods have killed 469 people, according to Nepal Police, as rescue teams continue searching for survivors and those still missing. The disaster struck the Nepal-Tibet border after a massive glacier collapse sent torrents of water, mud, rocks and debris through Himalayan valleys, destroying villages, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure. More than 1,000 people remain unaccounted for, including hundreds of foreign nationals. Authorities are also warning of a fresh flood threat as debris-blocked lakes and rivers continue to rise. Rescue operations remain difficult because infrastructure has been severely damaged, while helicopters are being used to reach isolated areas and evacuate survivors. (PC: AP)

King Charles on Thursday expressed deep sorrow over the deaths caused by devastating flash floods and landslides along the Nepal-Tibet border, offering condolences to affected families. In a message shared by the Royal Family, the King said he and his wife were “heartbroken” by the destruction and recognised the strong ties between people in the United Kingdom and the affected region. He also acknowledged the distress of families awaiting information about relatives and friends who remain unaccounted for. King Charles said the UK stands ready to provide assistance as Nepal deals with the disaster. The floods and landslides have caused widespread devastation, with hundreds dead and many people still missing across the affected areas.

Bangladesh is considering joining the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, a trilateral security pact signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan on August 7, 2026. Sources told NDTV that the issue was discussed when Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir met Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan in Jeddah. A Bangladesh Foreign Ministry source told Reuters that Saudi Arabia had invited Dhaka to join, though the timing of the invitation was unclear. The prospect has raised concerns in India, given Türkiye’s support for Pakistan and New Delhi’s broader concerns over Islamabad’s growing ties with Dhaka. Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami welcomed the possibility, while analysts said joining could represent a significant shift towards Pakistan under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s “Bangladesh before everything” foreign policy. (PC: NDTV)

Three UK airports including Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands have been hit by a cyberattack that exposed personal data belonging to about 8.7 million customers. Manchester Airports Group (MAG), which operates all three airports, said hackers accessed information linked to car park, lounge and fast-track bookings, as well as airport Wi-Fi registrations. The compromised data included email addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registration numbers and postcodes. MAG said bank and payment information was not stored on the affected system and that passenger safety, aviation security and normal airport operations remained unaffected. The incident represents a major data breach affecting millions of passengers, although the group has not indicated that financial information was compromised. (PC: X)

Devastating flash floods in Nepal and neighbouring Tibet have killed more than 350 people and left nearly 1,500 missing, with many Indian nationals among those unaccounted for. Deepak and Madhu Ahuja, an Indian-origin couple based in Texas, disappeared after the floods struck near the Nepal-Tibet border while they were returning from a Mount Kailash pilgrimage. Their daughters, Ashna and Shreya, have been desperately seeking information about their parents and pressing officials for answers as rescue teams search the disaster zone. Communication remains disrupted across affected areas, complicating efforts to trace missing people. The sisters continue to hope their parents will be found and brought home safely as rescue operations continue. (PC: Reuters)