Nepal is urgently trying to rescue over 900 workers trapped underground after heavy floods caused by a glacier collapse hit hydropower projects. The disaster has killed more than 900 people in Nepal and dozens in China’s Tibet region, with thousands still missing. Rescue efforts involve Nepalese, Chinese, and Indian teams working to clear mud and debris from tunnels.
Key Facts
The floods were caused by a glacier collapse on the Nepal-Tibet border.
At least 903 people have died in Nepal and 16 in China’s Tibet region.
Around 4,247 people are missing in Nepal, and 546 in Tibet following the disaster.
More than 900 workers are trapped in tunnels at hydropower projects blocked by mud and rocks.
Nepal has involved nearly 21,000 security personnel, workers, and volunteers in rescue operations.
Chinese government sent over 2,100 rescue workers, aid worth $33 million, and tunnel experts to help Nepal.
Roads and highways have been heavily damaged, complicating relief efforts.
The Red Cross estimates over 90,000 people have been affected by the floods.
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A photojournalist gained rare access to a Taliban household in Afghanistan and documented the complicated lives of Afghan women there. Her work shows that Afghan women face many challenges, including poverty, drought, and strict social rules, but they are not just passive victims.
Key Facts
Elise Blanchard is an award-winning photojournalist and author of the book "In the House of a Taliban."
She studied the life of women inside a Taliban-controlled home in Afghanistan.
Afghan women’s situations are shaped by poverty, patriarchy (male-dominated culture), climate change, and political instability.
Child marriage is common in areas affected by drought, especially in Badghis province.
The coverage challenges the idea that Afghan women only suffer without agency, showing their complex reality.
The Taliban has controlled Afghanistan for five years, with ongoing restrictions on women’s rights.
Blanchard’s work includes photos and stories that reveal social contradictions within Taliban families.
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Turkmenistan has begun repairing large methane leaks from its old oil and gas facilities, according to recent United Nations data. Methane is a strong greenhouse gas that heats the planet much faster than carbon dioxide, so fixing these leaks helps reduce global warming quickly.
Key Facts
Methane traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide and causes about 25% of global warming.
Turkmenistan was identified in 2023 as the country with the worst large methane leaks.
The country has fixed eight major leaks by repairing pipes, wells, and flares.
The UN’s Methane Alert and Response System (Mars) sent 192 methane leak alerts to Turkmenistan last year.
Turkmenistan responded with information and repair plans to about 20% of the alerts.
The United States received 138 alerts but did not respond or fix any leaks last year.
A huge leak in Mexico’s offshore oil industry released 37 tonnes of methane per hour, but Mexico has not yet fixed it.
Turkmenistan joined the global methane pledge in December 2023 to reduce emissions.
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Han Hak-ja, leader of the Unification Church in South Korea, was sentenced to two years in prison for giving expensive gifts to the country’s former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, as part of bribery and political funding crimes. The court found that Han’s church provided luxury items worth about $58,000 in exchange for favors, marking the first official proof of the church’s attempt to influence politics.
Key Facts
Han Hak-ja is 83 years old and leads the Unification Church, also known as The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.
Han was sentenced to two years in prison for bribery, related to giving two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace to Kim Keon Hee.
The gifts were valued at 80 million won (around $57,900).
Kim Keon Hee, the wife of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, was sentenced to 20 months in jail for accepting these bribes.
Prosecutors said the gifts were given between April and July 2022 in exchange for business and political favors.
Photos released by prosecutors showed $19 million in cash found in Han’s personal safe.
The Unification Church was founded in South Korea in the 1950s by Sun Myung Moon and is known for mass weddings and its controversial reputation.
The church has political connections in South Korea, Japan, and the U.S., and is banned or restricted in some places.
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The 83rd Venice Film Festival is starting in Venice, Italy, showcasing top international films and many well-known movie stars. The event, which runs until September 12, is important for the film industry and often influences the Oscars.
Key Facts
The Venice Film Festival is the oldest major film festival, starting in 1932.
It is the second most prestigious film festival in the world, after Cannes.
The festival runs from early September until September 12.
The opening film this year is “Ink” by Danny Boyle, about Rupert Murdoch’s early newspaper career.
George Clooney will receive a lifetime achievement award and is involved as a producer of the film “Furies.”
Other stars attending include Robert Pattinson, Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, and Ellen Burstyn (also receiving a lifetime achievement award).
The festival features films that are often considered for the Oscars.
A dark comedy called “Wild Horse Nine,” about CIA agents, is one of the anticipated movies.
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Iran’s Kharg Island is an important place where most of Iran’s oil is shipped out. Attacking or taking control of the island could hurt Iran’s oil sales and cause bigger conflicts, potentially raising oil prices worldwide.
Key Facts
Kharg Island is the main point for exporting almost all of Iran’s oil.
The U.S. and Israel have been involved in strikes related to the island during a recent conflict.
President Donald Trump suggested that U.S. troops might take over the island but also said a deal with Iran could happen soon.
Attacking the island would reduce oil coming from Iran and might increase global oil prices.
Taking the island would put U.S. forces very close to Iran’s coast, within missile and drone range.
Nearby islands like Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunb are also important and controlled by Iran but claimed by the United Arab Emirates.
The Strait of Hormuz nearby is a key waterway used for a large part of the world’s oil trade.
Kharg Island has oil storage, worker housing, and historic sites like a Portuguese fortress and old monasteries.
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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) intercepted an Iranian drone over its waters following recent clashes between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. struck Iranian rocket launchers, and Iran launched missiles at U.S. bases in Jordan, increasing tensions in the Gulf region.
Key Facts
The UAE’s air force stopped an Iranian drone entering its territorial waters on Monday.
There were no reported damages or claims from Iran about the drone incident.
The drone event happened after the U.S. struck Iranian rocket launchers on an island near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran fired missiles at U.S. bases in Jordan, but Jordan intercepted eight missiles in its airspace.
The U.S. military said its strikes targeted forces preparing to deploy rockets with sea mines in the Gulf shipping route.
Iran claims there were casualties from the U.S. strikes, though U.S. officials call the strikes limited and precise.
President Donald Trump decided to pause further U.S. strikes after Gulf allies asked him to hold off.
The Gulf region remains at risk of more conflict amid ongoing hostilities between the U.S. and Iran.
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After major floods in Nepal and Tibet caused by a glacier collapse, 43 Australians are missing and more than 810 people have died. Some social media users made racist comments about the missing Australians, leading news outlets to limit who can comment and call for better control of hateful messages online.
Key Facts
A glacier collapse in the Himalayas caused flash floods in Nepal and Tibet.
At least 810 people have died, and 43 Australians are reported missing.
Many missing Australians were on religious pilgrimages, including to Mount Kailash.
Some social media users posted racist and hateful comments about the missing Australians.
News outlets like Guardian Australia restricted comments to reduce racist replies.
The Daily Telegraph deleted racist comments and closed comment threads on sensitive posts.
Experts say social media platforms have the technology to better detect and remove hate speech.
Officials call for stronger rules to make social media platforms responsible for controlling online hate.
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U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) carried out strikes on Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz, targeting groups involved in laying sea mines that threatened civilian ships and global trade. These actions come amid ongoing conflict and negotiations between the U.S. and Iran following President Donald Trump's announcement of major military operations earlier.
Key Facts
CENTCOM attacked Iranian "minelaying forces" in the Strait of Hormuz to stop an imminent threat to civilian and commercial shipping.
The strikes were described as limited and precise, aimed at protecting global commerce routes.
The U.S. also targeted two Iranian rocket launch sites on Larak Island, a key location near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that it would respond and punish the U.S. for the attacks.
Jordan intercepted and destroyed eight missiles launched over its airspace following the conflict escalation.
President Donald Trump announced wide-ranging U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier in the year to target military and infrastructure sites.
Despite talks between U.S. and Iranian delegations in June to end the war, strikes and tensions have continued, especially around the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway for international shipping and global commerce.
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A court in Seoul, South Korea, sentenced Hak Ja Han, leader of the Unification Church, to two years in prison for corruption. She was found guilty of bribery, embezzlement, and destroying evidence related to her gambling activities.
Key Facts
Hak Ja Han is the leader of the Unification Church and widow of its founder, Sun Myung Moon.
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced her to two years in prison on August 31, 2026.
Charges include bribing the wife of former conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol and a close politician.
She was also charged with stealing church funds and destroying evidence in the U.S.
Former first lady Kim Keon Hee received a prison sentence for accepting luxury gifts from the church linked to political favors.
Kim Keon Hee’s sentence was increased to four years after additional charges.
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached and removed from office following these controversies in late 2024.
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Lee Man-hee, leader of the secretive Shincheonji Church in South Korea, was arrested for allegedly trying to influence elections by recruiting followers into the conservative People Power Party. Authorities are investigating ties between religious groups and politicians as part of wider probes under the current government.
Key Facts
Lee Man-hee is the 95-year-old founder and leader of the Shincheonji Church.
The church claims about 200,000 followers.
Lee is accused of pushing over 50,000 church members to join the conservative People Power Party from 2021 to 2024.
The goal was to influence party primaries and support former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s bid.
Investigators believe the church sought favors like permits to expand its facilities in return.
Lee was arrested because he was seen as a risk to destroy evidence.
The arrest is part of a broader inquiry into ties between religious groups (including the Unification Church) and politicians.
This investigation follows the removal and prosecution of former President Yoon, who was convicted for rebellion and other charges after imposing martial law in 2024.
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A train traveling from Southport to Manchester hit a delivery van at a crossing in Burscough, West Lancashire, killing the van driver. The crossing has been identified as having a high safety risk, and investigations by Network Rail, British Transport Police, and the Rail Accident Investigation Board are ongoing.
Key Facts
The crash happened on Saturday around 3:00 pm at a crossing on Martin Lane and Whitehouse Lane in Burscough.
A supermarket delivery van collided with a Northern train traveling toward Burscough town center.
The crossing is a "user-worked crossing" where people open and close gates themselves; it has warning lights and sounds.
Locals say the gate is often left open, and the crossing is used increasingly by delivery drivers.
The crossing’s risk rating is B4, meaning it has "high individual risk" and "very high collective risk."
The hedge by Martin Lane may block clear views of approaching trains.
Passengers, including a woman with small children, were safely helped off the train after the crash.
The railway line remains closed while investigations continue with help from Network Rail, British Transport Police, and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch.
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An NHS watchdog in England warns that AI software used to write down what happens during doctor visits can make serious mistakes, like confusing drug names or illnesses. These errors could harm patients if not spotted, and there is currently little regulation to ensure the AI tools are safe and reliable.
Key Facts
AI scribes listen to patient-doctor talks and create written summaries.
The technology sometimes records wrong drug names or diagnoses, causing patient distress.
One case involved a wrong diagnosis of nerve damage called demyelination.
Patients often find these AI errors before doctors do.
The NHS plans to use AI scribes widely to reduce paperwork for doctors.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency does not classify AI scribes as medical devices, so no strict controls apply.
Doctors must carefully check AI notes for mistakes, which reduces the expected time saved.
Some AI tools can misunderstand accents or invent details ("hallucinations"), leading to wrong information.
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The German TV series Babylon Berlin, set in the 1920s Weimar Republic, ends with Adolf Hitler's rise to power just as Germany faces current political challenges from far-right parties. The show’s creators say the timing is a coincidence but note parallels between the past and present political climate in Germany.
Key Facts
Babylon Berlin is a popular TV drama about 1920s Germany’s democracy and culture.
The series is concluding with its fifth season, showing Hitler becoming chancellor.
The final season’s release coincides with important state elections in Germany.
The far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is leading polls and may win majorities in upcoming elections.
The show’s storyline echoes some present-day political tensions in Germany.
Some filming locations overlapped with real political events involving far-right groups.
Babylon Berlin is based on novels by Volker Kutscher and has helped raise the profile of European TV drama.
Experts say creating such a large-scale show was a significant effort in German television history.
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An election in eastern Germany’s Saxony-Anhalt state could result in the country’s first far-right governor since World War II. The anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany (AfD) is leading in polls, challenging Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s ruling Christian Democratic Union in a region with economic difficulties.
Key Facts
The election takes place in Saxony-Anhalt, a state in eastern Germany with about 2.1 million people.
The AfD party, known for opposing migration, is leading in polls for this state’s upcoming vote.
If AfD wins, it would be the first time a far-right party governs a German state in modern history.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his Christian Democratic Union have led Saxony-Anhalt since 2002.
AfD became Germany’s largest opposition party in last year’s national election with 20.8% of the vote.
The AfD’s strength is particularly notable in eastern Germany, which includes former communist regions.
Experts say an AfD win would break a long-standing taboo in German politics.
The election result may reflect public dissatisfaction with Merz’s national government.
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Heavy flooding caused by a collapsing glacier in the Himalayan region has killed at least 903 people in Nepal and 16 in Tibet, with thousands more missing. Rescue teams from Nepal and other countries are searching for survivors, including about 90 people trapped inside hydropower tunnels.
Key Facts
A glacier collapse triggered the flooding on August 28, 2026, causing a big landslide and river swelling.
The flooding destroyed buildings, bridges, and roads in Nepal and Tibet near the Himalayas.
Nepal’s death toll is 903, with 4,247 people missing, including 592 foreigners.
Tibet reported 16 deaths and 546 missing, including many foreigners and Nepalese.
About 90 people remain trapped inside tunnels at hydropower plants.
Rescue operations have been ongoing for four days with help from foreign teams.
The glacier collapse caused a seismic event measuring magnitude 5.2.
A major highway in Nepal was washed away, cutting off some districts from neighboring areas.
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Police in New South Wales found the body of a newborn baby boy in a rubbish bin in Auburn, Sydney. They are searching for the baby’s mother, who they say needs urgent medical care.
Key Facts
The baby’s body was found on Monday morning at 11:20 am in a rubbish bin on Harrow Road, Auburn.
Emergency services and police officers responded quickly to the scene.
A crime scene has been set up, and detectives have started investigating.
Police are very worried about the health and safety of the baby’s mother.
The mother is urged to go to the nearest hospital for urgent care.
Authorities are asking the public for any information or video footage that could help.
People can contact Auburn police station or Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.
Police planned to hold a press conference later the same day at 4 pm AEST.
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Nepal is burying hundreds of people killed by a huge flood that hit the Himalayan border with Tibet. The flood has killed over 900 people, and thousands, including many workers at hydropower plants, are still missing in Nepal and China.
Key Facts
Over 900 people have died in flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border.
Authorities are searching for more than 4,000 missing people in the area.
Among the missing are 933 workers from hydropower plants in Nepal.
Chinese officials reported 16 deaths and 546 people missing due to the floods.
The disaster started after a glacier collapsed high in the Himalayas, causing a massive flood.
The flood carried ice, rocks, and debris, destroying villages and sweeping people away.
Rescue efforts are ongoing but are slowed by bad weather and flooding.
Some of the missing people are foreigners, including many Nepalis working abroad.
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Over the weekend, severe flash floods caused by a collapsing glacier in the Himalayas struck villages in Nepal and Tibet, killing at least 903 people and leaving more than 4,000 missing. Rescue teams are working to save survivors trapped by mud and debris, while experts warn such disasters may become more frequent due to climate change and melting glaciers.
Key Facts
A large piece of glacier ice broke off in the Himalayas on Wednesday morning, triggering an avalanche of ice and rock.
The avalanche caused flash floods that destroyed villages and infrastructure near the Nepal-Tibet border.
At least 903 people have died, and over 4,000 are reported missing from the disaster.
Many survivors remain stranded on rooftops or trapped underground where rescuers cannot easily reach them.
Early satellite images were unclear due to dust, initially leading scientists to suspect an earthquake instead of glacier collapse.
The Nepali army is leading rescue operations, clearing roads and searching for survivors.
This disaster highlights risks linked to climate change, including faster glacier melting and increased flooding.
A headteacher saved 900 children by evacuating them just before the flood hit their town.
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The long-running Scottish TV show River City is ending after 24 years, with its final episode airing soon. The show’s writer and cast shared thoughts about the finale, which features intense scenes including a fire and focuses on a key villain, Lenny Murdoch.
Key Facts
River City has been on air for 24 years and is now ending.
Johnny McKnight, a writer for the show for nearly 10 years, wrote the final episode.
The last episode will include dramatic moments like a fire and show the villain Lenny Murdoch, played by Frank Gallagher.
The show is known for mixing drama with humor, representing Scottish life.
Grant Stott, who played Sam Spiller, joined River City despite limited TV drama experience.
Jenny Hulse, who has played Amber for 10 years, highlighted the show’s fast filming pace and strong production schedule.
River City has served as a training ground for many TV industry professionals, including actors, writers, and crew.
Some cast members have moved on to directing and writing within the show, showing its role in developing talent.
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