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At least 160 people have died, while officials believe 340 foreign nationals from India, the US, UK, Australia, Malaysia and Ukraine among those missing. Follow the latest newsFlash floods on Nepal-Tibet border leave scores dead and hundreds missingTell us: have you been affected by the flash floods?Authorities in Nepal and Tibet have said they fear the death toll from catastrophic flooding could be much higher than 160 people already killed, as search and rescue efforts to locate the hundreds missing continue.A huge wall of mud and rock collapsed into a river on the Himalayan border of Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday, triggering the flash flood which washed away houses, roads and border crossings.Rescue teams are rushing on Thursday to find hundreds of people missing after the flood and landslides killed at least 160 people. Many of the missing were foreign tourists, officials said.Nepali police said they had recovered 157 bodies after “devastating floods”, with officers working to move families in flood-risk areas to safety. Chinese state media reported “major casualties” from a mudslide at a Tibet border hub, reporting three dead and another 265 missing. The overall death toll appears likely to rise.Tibet government officials mobilised nearly 800 emergency workers and 150 vehicles as well as sniffer dogs and speed boats to help the rescue efforts, China’s official Xinhua news agency said.At least 403 tourists – 341 of them foreigners – were unaccounted for several hours after the disaster struck on Wednesday morning, according to Nepal’s tourism ministry. The missing foreigners included 142 Indians, 33 from the UK, 47 from the US, 34 from Australia and 24 from Canada as well as others from South Korea, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Portugal and South Africa, the tourism board said. Nine ⁠South Koreans ⁠were missing, the country’s foreign ministry said.At least 28 Nepal police officials were missing, a police spokesperson said.Entire villages and markets were “wiped out”, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said. It was dispatching emergency supplies including blankets, first aid kits, stretchers and body bags.United Nations chief António Guterres said UN ⁠teams ​and ‌partners ‌were ‌mobilising supplies and personnel in Nepal ‌to support affected communities.Surveillance video from the Chinese side of the border showed a raging wall of mud and debris crashing over a building several storeys high, engulfing it as dozens of people flee for their lives below. The surge sweeps away buses and cars.Experts warned that a lingering blockage upstream on the Nepal-China border river could produce a second flood.The cause of the flooding was not immediately clear. Nepalese foreign minister Shishir Khanal said an earthquake likely triggered a landslide, which in turn blocked a river, sending water gushing downstream. Nepal’s disaster authority said satellite data indicated a “snow-rock landslide” on the Nepal-China border may have caused the flood. Scientists say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the region.Chinese leader Xi Jinping said “the most urgent task is doing everything possible to search for and rescue the missing people”, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.The US Geological Survey first reported a magnitude-4.4 earthquake early on Wednesday, about 66km (41 miles) north of Kathmandu, near the border. It later updated to call the shaking a 5.2-magnitude landslide. Continue reading...

ABS says CPI was 3.5% in July, casting doubt on Reserve Bank meeting its 2.5% inflation target without further hikeFears are growing that the Reserve Bank will hit millions of mortgage holders with a fourth rate hike this year, after inflation eased in July but by far less than expected.Consumer prices climbed by 3.5% through the year, down from 3.8% in the previous month, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Continue reading...

• The BSE Sensex closed over 280 points higher and the NSE Nifty50 ended above 24,300, driven by a mix of global developments and foreign fund flows. • Sectoral performance was mixed, with gains in metals and telecommunications offsetting pressure on banking and financial stocks. • Key economic indicators showed stability for the rupee against the US dollar and a significant increase of nearly $10 billion in India's foreign exchange reserves for the week ending August 14.

Exclusive: Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire sites predicted to emit 4.5m tonnes a year when fully runningThe carbon emissions from just two planned datacentres in England will exceed all of the fossil fuel company ExxonMobil’s UK emissions, analysis has revealed.Experts have said this demonstrates the “serious threat” datacentres pose to the UK’s legally binding climate goals. Continue reading...

• Major U.S. stock indexes closed higher on Friday, August 21, 2026, though the S&P 500 and Nasdaq snapped three-week winning streaks and the Dow posted its second straight weekly loss. • Treasury yields edged upward as market volatility continued, while BJ's Wholesale Club reported growth driven primarily by higher-income members, reflecting a persisting "K-shaped economy." • BJ's shares have risen approximately 6% since the start of the year, highlighting a trend where spending growth is concentrated among wealthier consumer cohorts.

• Indian equity markets ended largely flat on Friday, August 21, 2026, with the Nifty 50 edging up 0.08% to 24,252 and the BSE Sensex closing unchanged at 77,540.83. • Despite the flat daily finish, both benchmarks suffered weekly losses, with the Nifty 50 dropping 0.5% and the Sensex falling 0.6%. • The downward trend was driven by macroeconomic pressures, specifically elevated crude oil prices and rising global bond yields.

Decade-long study finds stark gender difference in outcomes of people with heart diseaseMillions of men with heart disease have a higher risk of developing and dying from cancer, according to a decades-long study.The biggest drivers behind male cases were smoking, obesity and drinking too much alcohol, researchers said, with the link most pronounced in lung and oesophageal cancers. Continue reading...

• Asian AI and semiconductor stocks experienced a sharp decline as rising yields sparked renewed concerns over company valuations. • Major South Korean indices were hit hard, with the KOSPI plunging 5.2%, while Samsung Electronics fell 7.5% and SK Hynix Inc dropped 10%. • Hong Kong-listed firms also suffered significant losses, including a 6% decline for SMIC and a nearly 13% tumble for Hua Hong Semiconductor.

• The S&P 500 reached a historic milestone on August 14, 2026, closing at a record high and surpassing the 7,800 mark for the first time. • Following this record-breaking close, stock futures showed mixed performance as investors reacted to the new peak. • This surge signifies strong market momentum and a significant psychological breakthrough for the index, reflecting positive investor sentiment.

• European stock indices closed lower due to falling oil prices and bond yields, contrasting with a rally on Wall Street led by the Nasdaq 100. • AI-driven demand fueled significant gains for CoreWeave (+19%) and Nebius (+34%), while Databricks secured $5 billion in funding at a $190 billion valuation. • In New Zealand, the July manufacturing PMI slowed to 54.3 from 60.1, with BusinessNZ citing concerns over Middle East costs and election uncertainty.

• Major Asia-Pacific stock indexes traded mostly higher on Thursday following the release of U.S. inflation data showing a lower annual rate in July compared to June. • Japan's Nikkei 225 led the gains, rising by 1.21% (approximately 81 points) as investors reacted positively to the cooling U.S. prices. • The trend matters because lower U.S. inflation increases the likelihood of the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates, which typically boosts global equity markets.

Greater use of private rental properties would form part of PM’s plan to spread accommodation more evenly across UKMinisters are considering paying higher prices for housing asylum seekers in private rental properties as part of Andy Burnham’s plan to spread accommodation more evenly across the country.The shift towards more private rental accommodation, known as “dispersal”, and the use of former military barracks, are cheaper than expensive hotels for asylum seekers. Continue reading...

• The S&P 500 and Nasdaq finished higher on August 12th after the New York Stock Exchange reacted to new inflation data. • Market gains were driven by the July Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which confirmed a slowdown in inflation. • This cooling of price increases is critical as investors look for signals that the Federal Reserve may shift its monetary policy.

• Major indices closed mixed on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq 100 rising +0.74% and the S&P 500 increasing +0.26%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped -0.04%. • Market gains were driven by a favorable Consumer Price Index (CPI) report and positive developments within the artificial intelligence sector. • Super Micro Computer (SMCI) surged over +18% following the release of better-than-expected revenue guidance for Q3, signaling strong demand for AI data center servers.

Firms in England and Wales seek to fund measures including supporting new homes and datacentresBusiness live – latest updatesMillions of households in England and Wales face higher bills after water companies were given the green light to spend £3.4bn more than planned, including to support new homes and datacentres.The new spending will come on top of the £104bn programme of investment approved by the regulator that had already meant water bills will rise by 36% over the second half of the decade. Continue reading...

• On August 12, Japanese and South Korean stock markets closed higher, highlighted by a 3.68% surge in South Korea's KOSPI Index to 6,579.04 points. • The rally was driven by the semiconductor sector, with Samsung Electronics jumping 6%, SK Hynix gaining over 5%, and Kioxia rising nearly 4%. • Investor confidence was bolstered by reports that Singapore's Temasek plans to invest directly in South Korean semiconductor leaders, citing low valuations and high AI memory chip demand.

• South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index extended its rebound on August 11, closing up 0.73% at 6,345.53 points. • The market gain was driven by significant growth in major tech stocks, with Samsung Electronics rising over 4% and SK Hynix edging higher. • This upward movement reflects a positive shift in investor sentiment toward South Korean equities following a period of volatility.

• European stock markets trended slightly higher as energy shares rose in response to elevated oil prices driven by instability in the Middle East. • Investors are maintaining a cautious stance while awaiting critical economic data from the U.S. and the euro zone to gauge inflation and growth. • These upcoming reports are expected to be pivotal in shaping future interest-rate expectations and broader monetary policy.

• Singapore has significantly raised its annual GDP growth forecast for 2026 to a range of 4.5% to 5.5%. • This new projection is more than double the low end of the previous estimate, which was set between 2% and 4%. • The sharp upward revision is attributed to an economic boost driven by advancements and integration of AI-related technologies.

Largest for-profit hospital system and operator in the US reported $6.8bn in profits, while employees find it difficult to make ends meetUnion workers with HCA Healthcare, the largest for-profit hospital system and operator in the US, are holding picket protests across the country as they push for pay and staffing increases in a new contract.The hospital system has over 300,000 employees in the US and the UK, with 22,000 US workers represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) who are in contract negotiations with HCA. Workers are asking for a pathway to a $25 an hour minimum wage, improved wage scales and raises that match the increased cost of living, along with benefits including paid vacation, sick time and bolstered work protections. Continue reading...

• The Euro (EUR) declined against the British Pound (GBP) on Monday, with the EUR/GBP pair testing Friday's lows of 0.8560. • The dip is primarily driven by rising crude oil prices and escalating tensions in the Middle East, which place economic pressure on oil-importing Eurozone nations. • Market focus remains on the Trade Balance and economic data from Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, which collectively represent 75% of the Eurozone's economy.

• Indian benchmark indices, including the Sensex and Nifty 50, are expected to open higher on Monday following gains in Asian markets. • The positive sentiment is driven by weaker-than-expected US jobs data, which has increased hopes for potential interest rate cuts. • Potential gains may be limited by rising crude oil prices and geopolitical uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.

• Asian stock markets traded mostly higher on Monday, following a positive trend established by Wall Street on Friday. • The market rally is driven by easing concerns that the U.S. Federal Reserve will implement an imminent interest-rate hike. • This shift in sentiment follows new data showing an unexpectedly modest decrease in U.S. employment for the month of July.

• The Sensex and Nifty indices finished marginally higher, driven by earnings-led stock movements despite a subdued overall market sentiment. • Gains were limited by geopolitical uncertainty surrounding the US-Iran conflict and concerns over crude oil prices, as Tehran maintained conditions for reopening waterways. • Global markets showed mixed signals, with the S&P 500 hitting a record high following unexpected July US job losses, which lowered expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike in September.

• The Nifty 50 and Sensex ended marginally higher, closing at 24,583.80 (+0.05%) and 78,542.44 (+0.06%) respectively. • Market gains in Titan and Bajaj Finance were largely offset by losses in heavyweights State Bank of India (SBI) and Reliance Industries (RIL). • Global markets showed mixed results, with Germany's DAX rising 0.26% and Switzerland's SMI gaining 0.09%, while the UK's FTSE fell 0.32% and France's CAC slipped 0.20%.

• The ASX is projected to reach a new record high, with an expected opening rise of approximately 0.4%. • This positive momentum follows a record close for Wall Street's S&P 500, driven by strong corporate earnings and reduced fears regarding interest rate hikes. • The market outlook remains critical as investors await a key interest rate decision from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).

• Major European stock exchanges closed higher on Friday as investors reacted to a combination of corporate earnings and new economic data. • Market gains were driven by financial results from key companies, including Allianz and Daimler Truck, which influenced investor sentiment. • The positive movement reflects a broader effort by traders to digest current economic reports and assess the health of the Eurozone economy.

• Asian equities edged higher on Friday, August 7, with South Korea's Kospi and Japan's Topix leading the gains. • Oil prices jumped over 1% due to ongoing uncertainty and a stalemate regarding a lasting settlement in the Strait of Hormuz. • The surge in oil prices has increased Treasury yields and heightened investor concerns regarding potential Federal Reserve interest rate decisions.