At least 18 people died and more than 380 people, including 291 foreigners, are missing after flash floods hit northern Nepal. The floods were caused by an earthquake-triggered landslide that blocked the Bhote Koshi River, damaging villages, roads, and power plants.
Key Facts
The flash floods struck Nepal’s northern border areas, especially the Bhote Koshi River region in Rasuwa district.
At least 18 people have died, but their nationalities are unknown.
About 380 people are missing, including 291 foreigners from countries such as the U.S., Britain, India, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, Australia, and the Netherlands.
The floods destroyed bridges, houses, roads, and damaged six major hydropower and transmission facilities.
Helicopters could not land in some affected areas, making rescue operations difficult.
Nepal’s president expressed sadness and urged everyone to help with rescue and relief.
The earthquake caused a landslide that blocked the river, leading to sudden flooding.
India ordered border states to be alert to assist with the emergency.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Dolly Parton, a famous country music singer, founded the Dollywood Foundation in the 1980s to support different causes such as children's hospitals, disaster relief, women's health, and a reading program called Imagination Library. The news highlights her life of giving and the impact of her philanthropic work.
Key Facts
Dolly Parton is a well-known country music star.
She started the Dollywood Foundation in the 1980s.
The foundation helps children’s hospitals.
It supports disaster relief efforts.
It also works to improve women’s health.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a program that promotes reading among children.
The article focuses on her lifetime of charity work.
Dolly Parton recently passed away at the age of 80.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A fire broke out early Wednesday in a maternity ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad, killing 14 newborn babies. Witnesses reported delays in rescue efforts and said the ward door was locked, while officials said the door was staffed for security reasons. The government has ordered an investigation and suspended a health official after expressing sorrow over the tragedy.
Key Facts
The fire started in an air-conditioning unit on the third floor of the mother and child unit at PIMS hospital.
14 infants died, and only one of the 15 babies present was saved.
Witnesses said rescue teams took up to two hours to arrive and that the ward door was locked, blocking escape.
Hospital officials said the door was staffed to prevent baby theft, a previous problem in government hospitals.
People had to break down the door and windows to help control the fire and rescue patients.
Islamabad’s Chief Commissioner said rescue teams reached the scene immediately after the emergency call.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow and ordered an immediate investigation.
The Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri was suspended following the incident.
Poor safety laws and enforcement in Pakistan have been blamed for past deadly fires, including one in a Karachi mall earlier this year.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave Elon Musk the Order of Freedom, one of Ukraine’s top honors, to recognize Musk’s help in the war against Russia. Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system is very important for Ukraine’s military and civilians to communicate during the conflict.
Key Facts
President Zelenskyy awarded Elon Musk the Order of Freedom for supporting Ukraine’s defense and ties with the U.S.
Musk’s SpaceX company provided Ukraine with Starlink, a satellite internet network key to Ukraine’s war efforts.
Starlink helps Ukrainian forces communicate and control drones during the conflict with Russia.
Musk has limited Starlink use inside Russia but allowed it in Ukrainian territory, including areas occupied by Russia.
Ukraine wants Musk to allow Starlink to work over Russian territory to improve drone attacks on Russia’s military.
Musk views expanding Starlink use as a potentially dangerous escalation in the war.
Ukraine’s military success partly depends on Musk’s decisions about Starlink access and use.
Zelenskyy has asked the U.S. to help convince Musk to widen Starlink support for Ukraine.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A pro-Russian hacker group called Server Killers claimed they caused a big cyberattack on Norway’s government digital services that lasted three days. The attack aimed to block online services but did not fully stop them. Norway increased its support for Ukraine recently, which the hackers said was their reason for the attack.
Key Facts
The cyberattack started on Monday and targeted Norway’s Digitalization Agency (Digdir), which manages public digital services.
The attack used a method called denial-of-service, where hackers flood a service with a lot of traffic to make it hard to use.
Despite the attack, Digdir kept services running almost all the time.
Server Killers said they launched the cyberattack because Norway renewed security cooperation with Ukraine on August 23.
Norway will provide about $9.2 billion to Ukraine next year as part of ongoing support.
European countries have been on alert due to increased cyberattacks linked to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Past cyber incidents in Norway and Denmark were also blamed on Russian or pro-Russian hacker groups targeting critical infrastructure.
The goal of such attacks is to weaken support for Ukraine and cause problems in European countries.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Iran and Oman are negotiating a deal to manage ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil shipments. Iran’s deputy foreign minister said the deal would ban all military ships from passing through the strait if it becomes official. Meanwhile, Israel continues airstrikes in Gaza amid ongoing tensions with Hamas.
Key Facts
Iran and Oman are discussing a plan to control commercial ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
The proposed agreement would not allow any military ships to pass through the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global oil and natural gas supplies.
Traffic entering the Persian Gulf would pass entirely through Iranian waters, while outgoing traffic would use both Iranian and Omani waters.
The U.S. government, led by President Donald Trump, opposes parts of the proposed deal, especially the joint Iran-Oman management of the exit route.
President Trump threatened military action against Oman if it interferes with U.S. interests in the area.
Israel struck a tent for displaced people in southern Gaza, killing one person and injuring at least four others.
The Israeli military said the strike targeted a "military operative," but details were not provided.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Dolly Parton, a famous country singer and entertainer, passed away at age 80 after a short fight with cancer. She had a long and successful career with many albums, awards, and memorable life lessons she shared over the years.
Key Facts
Dolly Parton died at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer.
She released 50 albums during her career.
Parton won 11 Grammy Awards and 3 Emmy Awards.
She was nominated twice for an Oscar.
Parton rose from a poor childhood in Tennessee to become a global star.
She often shared wise sayings and life lessons in interviews.
Parton sometimes found inspiration for her music in cemeteries.
She was married to Carl Dean for nearly 60 years until his death in 2025.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A flash flood hit the Nepal-Tibet border, causing buildings to be swept away and hundreds of travelers to go missing. Reports suggest an earthquake may have caused an avalanche that led to the flood, and search efforts are underway.
Key Facts
A flash flood occurred at the border between Nepal and Tibet.
Hundreds of travelers are missing, including at least 291 foreign tourists.
Buildings were partially submerged by muddy floodwaters.
Preliminary reports link the flood to an earthquake that triggered an avalanche.
China’s President Xi Jinping called for strong search and rescue efforts.
There is a push for better monitoring and early warning systems to prevent future disasters.
The area affected includes valleys filled with dust and smoke after the flood.
Officials continue to gather information and conduct rescue operations.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
After 15 years of civil war, Syria is gradually reunifying under new leadership led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former Al-Qaeda commander who toppled Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. Meanwhile, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, once key U.S. allies against ISIS, are losing control of their autonomous region and have agreed to join the Syrian government despite uncertainty about their future rights.
Key Facts
Syria’s civil war began in 2011 and lasted nearly 15 years.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly part of Syrian Al-Qaeda, now leads Syria's government after overthrowing Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.
The U.S. removed Syria from its terrorism sponsor list, allowing for potential international investments.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fought alongside the U.S. for years to defeat ISIS.
The SDF created a semi-independent region called Rojava with its own government and security forces.
After al-Sharaa’s forces took control, the Kurds lost about 80% of their territory in northeast Syria.
The Kurds face a choice between fighting the Syrian government without U.S. support or joining it and trusting in protection of their political and cultural rights.
Syria now faces a fragile peace after a long and complex civil war and foreign intervention.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Dolly Parton wrote the song "9 To 5" during the filming of her movie of the same name in 1980. The song became a hit, expressing the frustrations of working women, and earned her an Oscar nomination. Parton’s career also involved challenges, including legal battles and negotiations over song rights.
Key Facts
Dolly Parton created the song "9 To 5" in 1980 while filming the movie "9 To 5."
She made the song’s beat by strumming her acrylic nails because guitars were banned on set.
The song became a number one US hit and earned her an Oscar nomination.
"9 To 5" highlights challenges faced by working women, including unfair treatment and lack of credit.
Parton began her career on The Porter Wagoner Show in 1967 as a "girl singer."
She wrote "I Will Always Love You" as a farewell to her mentor Porter Wagoner, which led to a lawsuit.
Parton refused to give up half of the publishing rights for "I Will Always Love You" when Elvis Presley wanted to record it.
Despite conflicts, Parton maintained respect for those who helped her early in her career.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow and met with Russian intelligence officials, according to the Kremlin. He did not meet with President Vladimir Putin, but Putin was informed about the contact. This visit is rare and comes amid tense relations between the US and Russia.
Key Facts
CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced trip to Moscow and met Russian intelligence services.
President Vladimir Putin did not meet with Ratcliffe but was briefed immediately.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the intelligence contacts a positive step despite current tensions.
High-level US-Russia meetings are rare during President Trump's second term.
The last CIA director visit to Moscow was in November 2021 before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ahead of Ratcliffe’s trip, the US asked Ukraine to pause strikes until the visit concluded.
The US, Kremlin, and Pentagon have not publicly detailed the meeting’s topics or outcomes.
Ratcliffe’s visit may indicate ongoing communication despite difficult bilateral relations.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A fire broke out in a mother-and-baby ward at a hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing at least 14 newborn babies. The fire caused smoke and damage, and local reports said a faulty air conditioning system might have caused the fire.
Key Facts
The fire happened in a hospital ward for mothers and newborn babies in Islamabad.
At least 14 newborn babies died because of the fire.
Parents and relatives gathered outside the hospital during the tragedy.
Witnesses described heavy smoke and broken glass during the fire.
Local media reported that a broken air conditioning system may have started the fire.
The incident occurred on August 26, 2026.
Emergency response and investigation details were not included in the report.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Thousands of people gathered in Buñol, Spain, to take part in La Tomatina, a famous tomato-throwing festival held every year. Trucks unloaded around 165 tonnes of tomatoes, and participants threw them at each other for about an hour in the town's narrow streets.
Key Facts
La Tomatina takes place annually on the last Wednesday of August in Buñol, eastern Spain.
Over 20,000 people attended the 2024 event, many wearing white T-shirts.
About 165 tonnes of ripe tomatoes were used by festival-goers to throw during the battle.
Police were present for crowd control and briefly used pepper spray to disperse a part of the crowd.
Approximately 40% of participants in recent years have been international tourists.
The festival traces back to a local food fight that began in 1945.
La Tomatina was once banned under the rule of Francisco Franco but continued and grew in popularity.
A 2011 Bollywood film helped increase participation from Indian tourists.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A house fire in Grangetown, Middlesbrough, has killed two people and injured four others. Police have started a murder investigation and have not ruled out connections to organized crime.
Key Facts
Two people died in a house fire during the early morning in Grangetown, Middlesbrough.
Four people were taken to the hospital; one woman is in critical condition.
Police are investigating the cause and consider possible links to organized crime.
The property's roof collapsed, exposing support beams.
Families of those involved have been informed and are receiving support.
Police will maintain a high presence in the area to reassure local residents.
This incident occurred near the site of a recent crash on the A66 that killed seven people.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities aim to clarify what happened.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Prince Harry, Meghan, and their two children are arriving back in the UK today after living in California since 2020. They plan to live in the UK as private citizens and will not take on official royal duties.
Key Facts
Prince Harry and Meghan, along with their children Archie and Lilibet, are flying privately from California to the UK.
The family will live in a private home in the Cotswolds, outside London.
Archie and Lilibet have been enrolled in school, with the new term starting soon.
The couple stepped back from royal duties and left the UK in early 2020.
King Charles was informed of their planned move earlier this month.
The family visited King Charles in July, but the move was not discussed at that time.
The couple will live in the UK as private citizens and non-working members of the royal family.
The Duke and Duchess’s spokesman declined to comment on their arrival.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ten Nile crocodile eggs hatched naturally at a wildlife park in southern France due to recent extreme heatwaves. This is the first time the zoo experienced natural incubation without using controlled incubators, which are usually needed to maintain the eggs' temperature.
Key Facts
Ten Nile crocodile eggs hatched naturally at La Ferme aux Crocodiles park in Pierrelatte, France.
Normally, zoos use incubators to control temperature and humidity for hatching crocodile eggs.
This natural hatching happened during a summer with three severe heatwaves in France.
Nile crocodile eggs need to stay between 30°C and 32°C for about three months to hatch.
The heatwaves caused sand to retain enough warmth for the eggs to develop naturally.
All ten baby crocodiles are healthy and are being closely watched in the nursery.
The event is seen as a sign of climate change affecting animal reproduction.
Heatwaves have also caused other issues in France, including damage to gardens and increased deaths.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
In a wildlife park in southeastern France, 10 Nile crocodiles hatched naturally for the first time without human help. This happened because France experienced several heatwaves, creating warm conditions that allowed the eggs to incubate in the sand like they would in the wild.
Key Facts
The event took place at La Ferme aux Crocodiles, Europe’s largest reptile wildlife park in Pierrelatte, France.
Nile crocodile eggs usually hatch in controlled incubators to keep the temperature steady.
For the first time, the eggs hatched naturally in the sand without human care.
The eggs need a constant temperature between 30°C and 32°C (86°F to 90°F) for about three months to develop properly.
France had three heatwaves this summer, including 52 days of extreme heat, raising the sand temperature enough for natural incubation.
The hatchlings are healthy and being watched carefully before they are shown to the public.
This natural hatching is seen as a sign of climate change affecting animal behavior.
Some animals from cooler climates may have been negatively affected by the hotter weather.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Muslim celebration of Mawlid in Ethiopia’s Tigray region was canceled due to fears of drone attacks. This follows a recent similar cancellation of another local festival called Ashenda amid ongoing conflict between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Ethiopian government.
Key Facts
Mawlid is a Muslim holiday marking the birth of the Prophet Mohammed.
The Mawlid festivities were canceled at the last moment in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
The reason for cancellation was fear of drone strikes in the area.
Another major Tigrayan festival, Ashenda, was also canceled recently for the same reason.
Drone strikes have hit northern Ethiopia in recent days.
The conflict involves the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Ethiopian government.
The tensions and violence have disrupted normal life and celebrations in the region.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The gut microbiome is a community of tiny microbes living in our intestines that helps our health by making vitamins, supporting our immune system, and protecting us from harmful germs. Research shows the gut microbiome may affect brain health and could be linked to diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, with some treatments possibly preventing early stages of these diseases.
Key Facts
The gut microbiome consists of trillions of microbial cells living in our digestive system.
These microbes produce vitamins, train the immune system, and help block harmful germs.
Drugs called GLP-1s, used for diabetes and obesity, might protect the brain and help prevent Alzheimer’s disease early on.
Parkinson’s disease may start in the gut, with constipation appearing up to 20 years before other symptoms.
Misfolded proteins that cause Parkinson’s can travel from the gut to the brain along the vagus nerve.
Cutting the vagus nerve has been linked to a lower risk of Parkinson’s in some studies.
The gut inflammation seen in Parkinson’s patients looks similar to inflammation in bowel diseases.
During pregnancy and breastfeeding, a mother’s gut microbiome changes to support her baby’s health, and breast milk composition changes throughout the day to meet the baby’s needs.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Syria’s Kurdish administration has fully joined Syria’s government institutions, ending their pursuit of separate autonomy. This follows months of talks after a January agreement to merge Kurdish civil and military groups into the Syrian state.
Key Facts
Syrian Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi announced full integration with Syria’s state institutions.
The Kurdish-led administration had sought autonomy before this agreement.
The agreement to integrate Kurdish groups was made in January 2026.
Kurdish civil and military institutions joined the Syrian government.
The United States called this integration a "historic" event.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been dissolved as part of this process.
This change marks a major shift in Syria’s internal political landscape.
The negotiations took several months before completion in August 2026.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
