Engineer Pemba Dundu Tamang reported that a sudden gust of wind preceded water that entered the tunnel and chased him uphill for about 20 minutes during flash floods that killed more than 1,000 people and left thousands missing in central Nepal. The floods occurred last week in the Nuwakot district, where heavy rain caused the Trishuli River to overflow and inundate low‑lying areas. Nepal relies on hydropower for about 99% of its electricity, and Tamang’s team was building the Upper Trishuli 3B Hydropower Project, which was scheduled to open next year. Tamang said the water surge entered the tunnel while his crew was working on the concrete lining, forcing them to flee toward higher ground. He added that his mother, elder brother, sister‑in‑law and three children died, while his wife, son and nephew survived. Colleague Itha Ghale described a powerful gust that nearly knocked the workers off their feet as they sprinted away from the tunnel entrance. Rescue workers have extracted 119 individuals, including 50 to 60 workers who escaped the tunnel, according to Nepal Army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet. The army continues to deploy excavators and other heavy equipment to reach workers trapped at several hydropower sites. Experts from the Asian Mountain Academic Alliance, the Stimson Centre and China’s Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment said satellite imagery showed accelerating glacier movement, brown meltwater and a developing rock crack in the days preceding the flood, indicating increasing instability. They noted that the avalanche moved too quickly for conventional warnings, but a comprehensive early warning system could have saved lives downstream. Authorities from China, India and Nepal are coordinating rescue operations and evaluating the stability of remaining structures. Tamang said surviving felt miserable and he did not know where to go, expressing concern that disruption of hydropower activities could affect electricity supply and livelihoods, and called for improved safety measures. The death toll has risen above 1,000, with officials estimating about 4,000 people remain missing. Rescue efforts are ongoing, and officials are reviewing warning protocols and infrastructure safety as the region recovers from the disaster.
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Israeli officials say they are expanding their presence in southern Lebanon, a development reported by the BBC after a visit to areas under Israeli control. The drive along the Mediterranean highway near the border reveals abandoned crops, destroyed buildings and a deserted checkpoint painted with Lebanon's flag, while Israeli flags mark the start of occupied territory. The zone, which covers about 5% of Lebanon and can extend up to 10 km from the border, is home to the country's Shia Muslim community and the base of the Iranian‑backed Hezbollah movement.
The visit was conducted by a BBC team embedded with a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) convoy escorted by Finnish troops. Israeli forces have established four new bases in the invaded area, raising the total to nine, and have built service roads and fortified positions along the border wall. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military was preparing for a long‑term presence to create a “security zone” that would protect northern Israeli communities from rockets and drones. UNIFIL spokeswoman Kandice Ardiel said observations indicated Israeli personnel were carrying out demolition and engineering work to support military activities.
Human rights groups say the destruction of civilian infrastructure may constitute war crimes, and hundreds of thousands of Lebanese remain displaced. Israeli officials argue that the structures were used for military purposes and that operations comply with international law. Lebanese intelligence reported more than 5,000 violations of a June ceasefire agreement, including air strikes, drone attacks and near‑daily incursions beyond the occupied line. Diplomatic efforts mediated by the United States to create “pilot zones” for Lebanese army deployment and Hezbollah disarmament have stalled, with both sides rejecting each other’s conditions. Observers warn the situation risks resembling a prolonged Gaza‑style occupation.
British commentator Milo Yiannopoulos was arrested by U.S. federal agents at a New Orleans airport on Thursday and subsequently deported to the United Kingdom. He told host Piers Morgan in an interview released on Tuesday that he had never felt such fear before. Yiannopoulos said he was handcuffed and held in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, describing the experience as humiliating and disorienting. He added that the treatment made him feel “really, really terrified,” and that officials treated detainees as if they were gang members. He claimed that notices about a cancelled green‑card adjustment were sent to an old address, causing him to miss the deadline, and that the cancellation was made without explanation. Yiannopoulos said he will contest the deportation in court, calling the process unlawful. In the interview he also said he feels ashamed of his previous support for former President Donald Trump and his calls for stricter immigration measures, including calls for zero immigration for the next 20 years and for on‑site deportations at various locations. He described a long‑standing dispute with far‑right activist Laura Loomer, who said she reported his illegal status to immigration authorities. Yiannopoulos noted that Loomer has raised questions about his mental health and said he views her as a danger to herself. U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials and ICE have not responded to requests for comment.
Floods in Nepal and neighboring China killed more than 1,000 people and left thousands missing after a landslide‑induced surge of water and debris.
The Aug. 26 event followed the collapse of bedrock and glacial ice that sent a wall of water through Himalayan river valleys, a pattern scientists say is becoming more common as mountain glaciers melt faster due to rising global temperatures.
The disaster destroyed homes, roads, water systems and hydropower facilities, and trapped hundreds in tunnels at hydro projects. It was the latest in a series of floods and landslides in the region, including events in 2013, 2021 and 2023 that have caused thousands of deaths and billions of dollars in damage.
Saswata Sanyal, a disaster risk resilience expert at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, said the Hindu Kush Himalaya is warming faster than many other regions, increasing the likelihood of complex disasters that affect downstream communities. He noted that climate change heightens risks of rockslides, avalanches and flash floods.
Manjeet Dhakal, a Nepali climate policy expert and U.N. negotiator, said that in some areas the threshold for rebuilding has been crossed, urging stricter land‑use rules, better hazard assessments and early warning systems. He added that Nepal contributes less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizing responsibility of higher‑emitting nations.
Residents reported limited understanding of warning messages and overwhelmed river‑measurement systems. Some survivors fled to a rebuilt shrine for safety, while authorities distributed text alerts to 670,000 people, though language barriers and damaged infrastructure limited effectiveness.
Bond yields rose sharply as a selloff deepened in the fixed‑income market, intensifying concerns about inflation and prompting a rise in oil prices. The selloff followed recent data that showed consumer prices increasing faster than expected, while crude oil climbed amid tightening supply. Market participants responded with heightened volatility, as equity indexes slipped and currency markets adjusted. Analysts noted that the combination of rising yields, inflation worries, and energy price gains creates a challenging environment for investors. The situation remains fluid, with upcoming economic reports and central bank policy decisions expected to shape market direction.
Apple updated its Maps application to label Lake Ontario as “Lake America” for users in the United States. The change follows Google’s similar adjustment and complies with an executive order issued by President Donald Trump that modifies the US Geographic Names Information System. Apple, which previously renamed the Gulf of Mexico as “Gulf of America” and Denali as “Mount McKinley,” did not respond to a request for comment. Google said its maps reflect official government sources, showing “Lake America” to US users while Canadian users continue to see “Lake Ontario.” The renaming occurs amid heightened trade tensions between the United States and Canada, with both nations imposing tariffs on billions of dollars of goods. Lake Ontario is named for the Wendat Indigenous language and remains officially “Lake Ontario” in Canada.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on September 1 that Russian forces are making progress on the battlefield and that Russia will not negotiate with terrorist groups.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on September 1 that Russian forces are making progress on the battlefield and that Russia will not negotiate with terrorist groups. He made the remarks during a meeting with senior military officials as the war in Ukraine entered its third year. Putin said Russian troops have advanced along several fronts, particularly in the Donbas region. He added that any talks would be limited to discussions with official state actors, not with groups he labeled terrorist organizations. The statement comes as diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire have so far stalled, leaving the future of the conflict uncertain.
A Utah judge on Tuesday ruled that Tyler James Robinson, 23, will go to trial for the killing of Charlie Kirk, 31, who was shot in the neck at a Turning Point USA rally on a college campus on September 10, 2025. Kirk had been a prominent figure in a movement that advocated traditional values and opposed LGBTQ rights. The rally was organized by his group, Turning Point, which had campaigned for Donald Trump in 2024. The judge, Tony Graf, said prosecutors presented video game chat logs and text messages that they said linked Robinson to the shooting. The defense argued that DNA evidence tying Robinson to the weapon was unreliable. Robinson entered a not guilty plea, according to US media. Erika Kirk, the late activist’s widow and current leader of Turning Point, said the decision represents an important step in the family’s pursuit of justice. The case has drawn national attention. The trial is expected to begin later this year, and a death penalty sentence could be imposed if Robinson is convicted.
Joshua Wong pleaded guilty on September 2 to a charge of foreign collusion under Hong Kong’s national security law, a charge that could result in a life sentence.
Wong, 29, emerged as a leading figure of the 2014 Umbrella Movement and co‑founded the pro‑democracy party Demosisto, which was dissolved in 2020 after Beijing imposed the national security law. He is already serving a nearly five‑year subversion sentence and was expected to be released next year.
Prosecutors said Wong wrote for newspapers and spoke to foreign media to call for sanctions after the law took effect and met with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. After the charge was read, he stood and said “Confirm” to the judge, who replied that the sentence would be decided soon but did not set a date. Several Western diplomats were present at the hearing.
The case follows the recent convictions of activists Lee Cheuk‑yan and Chow Hang‑tung, who were found guilty of inciting subversion for using the phrase “end one‑party dictatorship” in Tiananmen vigil activities.
The court has not announced a sentencing date, leaving the final outcome uncertain and highlighting the expanding use of the national security law against dissent in Hong Kong.
At least 1,118 people have died and more than 3,900 remain missing after flash floods struck Nepal’s Himalayan region on Aug. 26, triggered by a glacial collapse that sent rock, ice and water into downstream valleys.
The floods entered rivers in Tibet and Nepal, sweeping away homes, roads and bridges and inundating the border area near Gyirong Port, where Chinese rescue crews completed a temporary access road to support search operations.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the number of Australians missing fell from 43 to 38 after five were confirmed safe, and said the government was working with authorities to locate the remaining individuals.
Sunil Sharma, a spokesperson for the Nepal Tourism Board, said at least five foreign tourists who had been reported missing had contacted authorities by email or telephone in recent days.
Nepal’s Foreign Ministry reported that 324 foreign nationals had been rescued and that 590 people from 39 countries remained missing a week after the floods.
On the Chinese side, CCTV said rescue crews had completed a makeshift road to Gyirong Port on the Nepal border, allowing heavy machinery to reach the washed‑away border crossing complex.
Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 people missing as of Sunday.
Search operations continued across the affected valleys as officials sought to determine the full extent of the missing.
The United Nations is scheduled to hold a vote on the Iranian nuclear program before the 2026 General Assembly session. The nuclear issue has been central to international talks since the 2015 agreement, with the International Atomic Energy Agency monitoring compliance and multiple nations maintaining sanctions. Member states have expressed varied positions; some favor diplomatic engagement, while others seek stricter measures. The Security Council addressed the matter in 2020, and recent statements from several countries highlight the ongoing debate. The outcome will shape subsequent negotiations and may influence broader non‑proliferation policies.
Palestinian artist Saint Levant has postponed his North American tour until spring 2027 after the United States requested additional background checks on his visa application.
His Instagram post on Tuesday confirmed that the visa had initially been approved, but that the additional review delayed his travel plans.
The 41‑date tour, which also includes stops in Europe and the Middle East, was to feature concerts in Los Angeles, Brooklyn and Detroit.
The postponement follows a series of cancellations by international musicians citing tighter immigration restrictions enacted during President Donald Trump’s second term.
Since taking office, the administration has suspended visa processing for citizens of 75 countries and has moved to revoke visas of applicants who were previously approved.
A federal judge previously ruled that the suspension exceeded the Secretary of State’s authority, but the administration has continued to impose additional scrutiny and paused visa appointments worldwide for “in‑depth training” at consular offices.
Other artists, including the Tuareg band Tinariwen and Mexican singer Diego Millan, have canceled or delayed US performances due to similar visa issues.
Critics have said the policies may discriminate against individuals supporting Palestinian rights, while a recent court decision found that such measures violate the Constitution’s free‑speech protections.
Abdelhamid, born in Jerusalem to a French Algerian mother and a Serbian Palestinian father, said his team is working to resolve the matter and will resume the tour once the visa process is completed.
The tour is intended to promote his second album, AFANDI, released on August 21.
Tiger Woods will change his plea in court on Wednesday morning in Martin County, Florida, five months after his March arrest on a DUI charge related to a rollover crash that caused no injuries.
The golfer, 50, pleaded not guilty in March to a misdemeanor DUI and refusal to submit to testing and declined additional drug testing.
Police said they suspected his normal faculties were impaired by an unknown substance after finding two hydrocodone pills in his pocket, an opioid prescribed for pain.
Body camera footage captured Woods kneeling on one knee and stating that he looked at his phone before the crash.
He told officers he had not consumed alcohol and had taken a few prescription medications earlier that morning.
Woods said he is seeking treatment and focusing on his health.
The incident marks his second arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.
The United States and Iran exchanged attacks on Tuesday, ending a weeks‑long period of no direct combat. The confrontation had been dormant since July, when both sides halted fire while negotiations stalled. The U.S. Central Command said it carried out a series of strikes against Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps sites, including air defense installations, radar systems, maritime assets, mine‑laying capabilities and communications infrastructure. Iran reported attacks on U.S. positions in Jordan and Iraq and said it also targeted sites in Bahrain. Jordan's air defense forces intercepted 13 ballistic missiles, destroying 10 and allowing three to land in remote areas. Bahrain said it shot down Iranian drones. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that its missile and drone strikes on a U.S. base in Erbil, Iraq, resulted in several U.S. personnel casualties, though neither Iraq nor the United States has confirmed those casualties. Five people were killed and dozens were wounded in a wedding attack near Sirik on the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Iranian Red Crescent and news agencies. The casualties included a 4‑year‑old child, according to local reports. U.S. officials have not yet commented on the wedding incident. The Iranian foreign ministry called the attack a savage crime and said it would respond firmly. It also warned that silence from other governments would have consequences. President Donald Trump said he believed the United States now had near‑total control of the Strait of Hormuz and that Iran's economy was collapsing, urging the Iranian people to rise up. Iran's joint military command warned that continued U.S. aggression would provoke heavier and wider responses. The exchange marks the first serious combat since July and highlights the fragility of the ceasefire, while the status of future negotiations remains uncertain.
US Postal Service whistleblower Richard Blumenthal released a statement alleging that a new federal ballot portal could prevent millions of voters from receiving mail ballots for the November midterm elections. The whistleblower said the system, which requires state officials to upload voter lists and barcode information to a federal website, would have postal workers sample batches of outgoing ballots and reject entire batches if any barcode fails to scan, potentially invalidating up to 10,000 ballots for a single error. The whistleblower described the project as secretive, rushed, chaotic and fundamentally flawed, and warned that insufficient testing could lead to failure. The system was developed under changing requirements and with less testing than normally required for major IT projects, and was originally slated for a September 1 launch. US Postal Service said it is reviewing the allegations, denied defying court orders, and said the portal will be offered voluntarily to election officials and that it has complied with all court orders. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a senior Democrat on the Senate investigations committee, said the allegations raise concerns about the Postal Service’s ability to safeguard voting rights and urged Postmaster General David Steiner to abandon the plan. A federal judge in Massachusetts temporarily blocked portions of the plan, finding the agency likely lacked authority to regulate mail ballot distribution, while the administration appeals the decision. Election officials have limited time to adjust as several states begin sending mail ballots this week.
Tunisian authorities have increased legal actions against civil society, prosecuting activists and NGOs and suspending dozens of associations. Civil society expanded dramatically after the 2011 uprising that ended the rule of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. President Kais Saied took sweeping measures in July 2021, suspending parliament, dismissing the government and governing by decree. Human Rights Watch released a 49‑page report documenting arrests, preventive detention, criminal and financial investigations, mass suspensions and threats of dissolution. The report said at least 47 individuals linked to NGOs have been prosecuted and 10 people have been held in preventive detention for more than 14 months, exceeding the legal limit. Fourteen people have been convicted and sentenced to prison since 2025, including human rights defender Saadia Mosbah, who received an eight‑year term and a fine on March 19. Five employees of organizations that assist asylum seekers have also been convicted, leading the groups to cease their activities. The crackdown has focused on groups working on migration, racism and other politically sensitive issues, with arrests of workers from May to December 2024. In February 2023 President Saied described sub‑Saharan migrants as part of a criminal plan to change Tunisia’s demographic composition. Authorities have used laws criminalising assistance to foreigners with irregular status and the 2015 counter‑terrorism and money‑laundering law to bring charges against defenders. Financial pressure has increased, with investigations by the Tax Evasion Investigation and Prevention Brigade in late 2024 that targeted at least a dozen associations, including Amnesty International’s regional office and I Watch. These investigations have resulted in frozen bank accounts and restrictions by private banks on access to hard currency or foreign funds. Suspensions of associations from July to October 2025 and April to May 2026 have affected at least 20 groups, according to HRW, and have been marked by procedural irregularities. Lawyers say appeals from about 30 associations have been dismissed, leaving the groups at risk of dissolution once all remedies are exhausted. Organizations such as Al Khatt, publisher of Inkyfada, and the antiracism group Mnemty are currently facing dissolution proceedings. The judiciary, which orders suspensions, has been under executive control since 2022, when President Saied took measures that HRW said undermined judicial independence. Associations have reported being denied election observation accreditation, tighter access to prisons and detention facilities, and bans on public events. Activists say the threat of prosecution has made them hesitant to speak, write or organise publicly. Rabie Kacem of the Nafas civic collective said the climate has become one in which civic and human rights work is linked to possible prosecution, defamation or pressure. Photojournalist Noureddine Ahmed noted that journalists have faced increased restrictions, including being stopped on the street, asked for identification, or taken to police stations, with some equipment confiscated. Reporting on migration has become especially sensitive, leading some foreign media outlets to reduce collaboration with Tunisian correspondents. The number of photojournalists has declined by about half, according to Ahmed, as foreign outlets avoid responsibility for local reporters facing arrest. Wissem Sghaier, spokesperson for the Al‑Jomhouri Party, said the prosecutions reflect a broader crisis of the balance of powers, judicial independence and freedom of expression, with political decision‑making concentrated in the president’s hands. Saied has described civil society as a threat to national sovereignty, while defending his measures as necessary to combat corruption and alleged destabilisation attempts. HRW has called for an end to abusive investigations, judicial harassment and the criminalisation of legitimate civil society work, and has urged the release of arbitrarily detained activists and the overturning of unjust convictions. The organization also urged parliament to withdraw legislation that would restrict freedom of association and appealed to the European Union to press Tunisia to end the crackdown. Tunisia is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantee freedoms of association, assembly and expression. HRW deputy director Bassam Khawaja said dismantling civil society aims to prevent accountability and called for urgent international action to preserve remaining civic space.
A U.S. aircraft carrier arrived in Thailand on Tuesday after more than 200 days at sea, marking the first port call in the country in over two years.
The vessel, part of a carrier strike group, completed a routine deployment in the Indo‑Pacific region that began in May.
The carrier docked at the Port of Laem Chabang in the eastern province of Chonburi. The visit follows a series of naval movements in the region, including transits through the South China Sea and joint exercises with regional partners. U.S. officials said the port call underscores the United States' commitment to security cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The carrier is expected to stay in Thailand for several days before resuming its deployment.
Hong Kong pro‑democracy activist Joshua Wong pleaded guilty on Wednesday to foreign collusion charges in a national security trial. The plea could result in a life sentence and follows a nearly five‑year term for subversion. Wong, 29, was a prominent figure of the now‑disbanded Hong Kong democracy movement, which gained prominence during the 2014 Umbrella Movement and the 2019 protests that preceded the Beijing‑imposed national security law. He was accused of urging foreign governments, institutions or individuals to impose sanctions or blockade against Hong Kong and China in 2020, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors said he had written for newspapers, spoken to media outlets and met with former U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to seek international attention. Wong was among dozens of activists convicted in the city’s largest national security trial for their involvement in informal primary elections held in 2020, according to court records. He sat in the dock as the charges were read, confirmed his guilty plea, and nodded after a gallery supporter shouted encouragement. Rights groups have warned that the new charges, which could lead to life imprisonment, appear designed to keep him in custody for an extended period. His sentencing remains pending, and the case highlights the limited space for dissent in Hong Kong.