Flash flood in Nepal washes away villages, power projects near Tibet border
SCMP •

Flash flood in Nepal washes away villages, power projects near Tibet border

A ⁠massive flash flood ⁠in the Himalayan nation of Nepal ⁠washed away villages while damaging roads, bridges and power projects in a region bordering Tibet, authorities said on Wednesday, as they warned against the risk of casualties. The areas of Syapru Besi and Timure in the mountainous district ‌of Rasuwa, with a population of about 50,000, were severely affected, officials said, urging those l...

How a family reunion in China ended in a 3-year prison term for artist Gao Zhen
Times of India •

How a family reunion in China ended in a 3-year prison term for artist Gao Zhen

Chinese artist Gao Zhen received a three-year prison sentence for his satirical artwork. Authorities charged him with "infringing upon the reputation of heroes" for his art. Gao's wife expressed deep disappointment and sadness over the unexpected conviction. His supporters argue the artworks predate the law under which he was prosecuted. The sentence highlights China's narrowing space for arti...

Trump scores much-needed double primary victory in South Carolina, Oklahoma
France 24 •

Trump scores much-needed double primary victory in South Carolina, Oklahoma

US President Donald Trump scored two badly needed victories Tuesday as his preferred candidates in South Carolina and Oklahoma won the Republican runoffs. The sweep interrupts a bruising run for Trump, whose endorsed candidates had lost 10 Republican contests this cycle, including six in the previous two weeks, as his own approval ratings fell sharply.

Zelensky urges China to use its diplomatic weight to end Russia’s war with Ukraine

Zelensky urges China to use its diplomatic weight to end Russia’s war with Ukraine

SCMP •

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on China to play a “strong diplomatic role” to help end the war between Russia and Ukraine, while sharing a letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping. “We count on further cooperation and on China playing a strong diplomatic role in bringing Russia’s war against our country to an end,” the Ukrainian leader wrote on the social media platform X on Wed...

Zelensky urges China to use its diplomatic weight to end Ukraine’s war with Russia

Zelensky urges China to use its diplomatic weight to end Ukraine’s war with Russia

SCMP •

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on China to play a “strong diplomatic role” to help end the war between Russia and Ukraine, while sharing a letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping. “We count on further cooperation and on China playing a strong diplomatic role in bringing Russia’s war against our country to an end,” the Ukrainian leader wrote on the social media platform X on Wed...

Nimaya Williams earns $40,000 BigFuture scholarship as one of only two students nationwide

Nimaya Williams earns $40,000 BigFuture scholarship as one of only two students nationwide

Times of India •

Nimaya Williams has achieved a remarkable milestone by securing a $40,000 scholarship from College Board's BigFuture. This accolade was awarded to her for completing various college and career planning tasks available on their platform. The financial support alleviates a significant burden for her family regarding higher education costs, showcasing how strategic planning can create unforeseen path...

At least 14 newborn babies die in fire at Pakistan hospital’s maternity ward

At least 14 newborn babies die in fire at Pakistan hospital’s maternity ward

The Guardian •

Authorities at biggest state hospital in Islamabad say 15 babies were in the ward when fire broke outAt least 14 newborn babies have died in a fire that broke out in the maternity ward at one of Pakistan’s most prominent state hospitals.The blaze began in the early hours of Wednesday and engulfed the ward at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, the biggest state hospital in Islamabad. Continue ...

Heatwaves show UK must do more to promote cycling and walking, campaigners say

Heatwaves show UK must do more to promote cycling and walking, campaigners say

The Guardian •

Civil society groups argue climate crisis means transport sector needs to urgently reduce its carbon emissionsDozens of civil society groups have demanded the UK government do more to promote cycling and walking, after this summer’s extreme heat exposed the desperate need to decarbonise transport.This summer’s heatwaves and wildfires were “immediate, real-world manifestations of the climate emerge...

Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City plans low-emission zone to clear downtown air

Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City plans low-emission zone to clear downtown air

SCMP •

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s commercial ⁠hub, is proposing ⁠to gradually restrict ⁠petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles from its downtown area from mid-2027, as part of a planned low-emission zone (LEZ), according to state-run Thanh Nien newspaper. Under the proposal, the ‌city would pilot the LEZ from July 2027 in its core downtown area and the new Thu Thiem urban area, covering roughly 930 hectare...

Australia news live: PM, premiers and chief ministers sign firearms agreement; Sarah Hanson-Young scathing on Malcolm Roberts’ gay rights comments

Australia news live: PM, premiers and chief ministers sign firearms agreement; Sarah Hanson-Young scathing on Malcolm Roberts’ gay rights comments

The Guardian •

Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAngela Jackson, the commissioner of the Productivity Commission, said the body stands by the interim report into the GST, which found the deal with Western Australia to be a costly mistake that should be reversed.Jackson spoke to RN this morning after WA premier Roger Cook said “east coast clowns” didn’t understand the s...

Monk remanded after alleged theft of Monkey King statue from Hong Kong temple

Monk remanded after alleged theft of Monkey King statue from Hong Kong temple

SCMP •

A mainland Chinese monk has been remanded in custody after allegedly stealing a statue of the Monkey King, a deity famed in classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, from a Hong Kong temple. The 57-year-old, Zha Jianxin, appeared in West Kowloon Court on Wednesday after being charged with one count of theft involving a statue belonging to Lung Mo Temple in Tsuen Wan. The statue, valued at HK$2,00...

Indonesia opens its skies to Malaysian rainmakers as haze crisis deepens

Indonesia opens its skies to Malaysian rainmakers as haze crisis deepens

SCMP •

Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to share the skies amid a haze crisis that has closed nearly 600 Malaysian schools and erased much of the Kuala Lumpur skyline from view. The Petronas Twin Towers, usually visible for miles around, have been swallowed by a grey shroud as wildfires that continue to rage across Indonesia’s Sumatra and Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. Authorities from both countr...

Fire at maternity ward in Islamabad hospital kills 14 infants

Fire at maternity ward in Islamabad hospital kills 14 infants

France 24 •

A dawn fire that erupted in the maternity ward of Islamabad's premier public hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), on Wednesday killed 14 infants, Pakistan authorities said, blaming a faulty air conditioner for the blaze. Witnesses described harrowing scenes and a slow response from emergency services and guards reportedly preventing them from leaving the ward.