More than 1,300 people are missing in Nepal and in Tibet after catastrophic flash floods swept through the region, killing at least 469. Plus: Six months of the war in IranDon’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning.Rescue operations have resumed in Nepal and Tibet after a pause when a lake at the border began to overflow. The lake was formed when a wall of mud and debris hit the hub of Gyirong in Tibet on Wednesday, causing catastrophic flash floods that thundered down valleys and obliterated villages.What could have caused this deadly flash floods? Satellite imagery suggests a glacier collapse high in the Himalayas was the primary cause, raising concerns that the climate crisis is destabilizing the geology of mountain and polar regions.This is a developing story. Follow our live coverage here.What did Kennedy purportedly lie about? A Guardian analysis of newly obtained documents found that the US health secretary had lied when he told lawmakers who held the key to his confirmation that a 2019 visit to Samoa had “nothing to do with vaccines”. Continue reading...
Lake has formed at epicentre of flood, forcing rescue teams to withdraw, Chinese state media reportNepal flash flood – latest updatesNearly 1,400 missing, mostly tourists, and hundreds killedVisual guide: how the deadly flooding unfoldedTell us: have you been affected by the flash floods?China has paused rescue work at the epicentre of the catastrophic flooding in Tibet this week amid fears that a lake formed at the site was at risk of bursting, as the overall death toll in Nepal rose to 469 people, with more than 1,300 missing.A lake formed by immense piles of debris has begun overflowing towards the area where rescue teams were headed, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Friday. Continue reading...
Comté, beaufort and abondance makers can temporarily supplement cows’ diets as there is ‘no grass left to eat’Strict production rules will be loosened for some of France’s most famous cheeses after drought and repeated heatwaves dried out grazing pastures, threatening the livelihoods of traditional dairy workers.Comté, a hard cheese made from raw cows’ milk in the Jura mountains, is France’s top-selling traditional cheese, with more than 62,000 tonnes produced last year. The government announced on Wednesday that its producers would be granted a temporary change to strict rules on grazing after farmers said extreme heat had scorched their pastures, putting production at risk. Continue reading...
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...
• Anthropic released a 186-page alignment report revealing the existence of "Model 2," an unreleased AI more capable than Claude Mythos 5.
• The new model is currently being utilized by internal staff to automate software development and engineering tasks.
• Anthropic upgraded its Threat Model 2 risk rating from "very low" to "low" after three LLMs successfully executed cyberattacks during internal tests in June.
Two airstrikes reportedly hit homes in Ansar and Deir al-Zahrani with rescue services trying to find survivorsNine people have been killed, including three children, and 11 injured in two Israeli airstrikes on south Lebanon, the worst toll since deals in June brought a lull in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.Israeli warplanes bombed a home on the outskirts of the village of Ansar in south Lebanon, killing seven people early on Saturday morning, flattening the home. Rescue services were working at the site to try to find survivors and locate bodies. Continue reading...
• The death toll from a school shooting in Thailand has risen to nine after a 12-year-old girl succumbed to her injuries.
• The incident occurred on Friday, leaving several victims and prompting an immediate police investigation into the attack.
• The tragedy highlights critical concerns regarding firearm accessibility, as Thailand has the highest civilian gun ownership rate in Southeast Asia and ranks 13th globally.
Teenage girl treated in hospital after Friday’s school shooting has died, police sayThe death toll from a school shooting in Thailand rose to nine on Saturday, after police said a 12-year-old girl caught up in Friday’s incident had died.Police at the Plai Bang Police Station in Nonthaburi Province said the girl, who had been treated at hospital with critical wounds, had died, a day after a 14-year-old boy allegedly shot his grandparents and then killed more people at his school before turning the gun on himself. Continue reading...
Handful of tollroads to get one-off price cuts but WestConnex toll to keep rising at least 4% a yearGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe cost of using Sydney’s biggest toll road will continue to rise at least 4% a year after the multinational private operator was accused of blocking the state government’s push for sweeping reforms.Only a handful of Sydney’s motorways will receive one-off toll cuts under a deal announced by the state Labor government on Monday, as the tolling bill footed by taxpayers surpasses $1bn. Continue reading...
• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned EU leaders' "selfish" responses to a migrant crisis in Ceuta as the death toll continues to rise.
• The crisis has sparked internal EU division, leading Italy to temporarily suspend the Schengen border-free arrangement with Spain, a move supported by Denmark and Finland.
• U.S. President Donald Trump further escalated the situation by publicly branding the border breach as a "catastrophe."
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Bhogapuram, Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday.
• The Greenfield airport was developed via a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with a total investment exceeding Rs 5,640 crore.
• Designed to enhance regional connectivity, the facility is capable of handling six million passengers annually during its initial phase.
Soldiers and emergency workers are combing through a badly damaged shopping mall and collapsed houses looking for trapped survivorsThe death toll from the major earthquake that hit Japan on Tuesday has risen to 17, as the search for trapped survivors inside a badly damaged shopping mall and collapsed houses in the country’s south-west continues.The magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck the Kumamoto prefecture on the island of Kyushu has injured at least 62, the prefectural government said. That number has steadily grown, fanning fears it will rise. Continue reading...
Emergency workers are continuing their search for survivors in southern Japan after yesterday’s powerful earthquake ‘Race against time’: Japan earthquake death toll rises as rescue teams search for missingEmergency workers are continuing their search for survivors in southern Japan after yesterday’s powerful earthquake left widespread devastation, with buildings collapsed, roads severely damaged and emergency teams digging through rubble.At least 13 people have been killed and many reported missing after the earthquake struck the Kumamoto area on the southern main island of Kyushu with a magnitude of 7.1, according to the Japan meteorological agency. The US Geological Survey measured it at magnitude 6.8. Continue reading...
Military mobilises thousands of personnel after quake on southern Kyushu island that registered a maximum 7 on the Japanese shindo intensity scale At least five people have been killed, and nine are missing after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan on Tuesday, injuring hundreds and knocking out power and water to tens of thousands.The quake – which registered a maximum 7 on the Japanese shindo intensity scale – hit at 4.27pm on Tuesday, centred on Kumamoto prefecture on the southern Kyushu island. Continue reading...
• IBM shares plummeted on Tuesday after CEO Arvind Krishna admitted that shifting priorities in the AI economy are negatively impacting the company's core business.
• Krishna stated in a shareholder letter that IBM failed to anticipate the scale of capital expenditure reprioritization as clients pivot their spending.
• The company noted that customers are increasingly distracted by urgent cybersecurity needs triggered by new AI-driven threats, further diverting resources.
US president says power plants and bridges could be targeted, which would probably constitute war crimes. Plus, the bear that raided an elderly couple’s fridge, and a stolen cat involved in a bank robberyGood morning. Donald Trump has threatened to expand US strikes on Iran next week to target civilian infrastructure including power plants and bridges if Tehran does not agree to a deal. Trump made similar comments in March. Destroying civilian infrastructure such as power and water facilities would be illegal under international humanitarian law and would probably constitute a war crime.The US president, meanwhile, has U-turned on a threat that ships would have to pay a 20% fee to the US for “security” in the strait of Hormuz. He said he had decided to scrap the toll “based on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership”, and touted “massive” investments. He said the US would continue to blockade Iranian ports.How have Democrats responded to renewed hostilities? Senate Democrats blocked the advancement of a must-pass defense bill. Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s top Democrat, said his party could not support advancing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as long as the fighting continued.Top House Democrats, meanwhile, have vowed to oppose a bid to cut US military aid to Israel as the party grapples with a rebellion among their voters over the party’s support for the Middle Eastern ally. Continue reading...
• Maine Senate candidates have publicly condemned a fatal shooting involving ICE agents, bringing increased political scrutiny to GOP Senator Susan Collins during her current re-election campaign.
• Republicans are pursuing a third partisan reconciliation package to fund priorities such as the war in Iran and the "Save AMERICA Act" election overhaul bill.
• Senator John Cornyn of Texas expressed uncertainty regarding his support for Todd Blanche's appointment as attorney general ahead of a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing.
• President Trump has reversed his plan to impose tolls on ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S. completes a third night of attacks on Iran.
• In other diplomatic developments, Trump met with Iraq's prime minister, while Supreme Court justices provided testimony to Congress.
• The House is scheduled to vote today on the Sunshine Protection Act, a bill introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) to make daylight saving time permanent nationwide.
Change of US position on free navigation comes as two tankers hit by Iranian cruise missiles. Plus, the international outpouring of love for the late actor Sam NeillGood morning. The US has launched its third consecutive night of strikes on Iran, hours after Donald Trump said Washington would reinstate a maritime blockade on the country and charge ships for safe passage. The UAE said two national tankers were targeted by two Iranian cruise missiles in the southern lane of the strait of Hormuz in Omani territorial waters, killing one Indian crew member and wounding eight others, including four seriously.Iran and the US are in theory nearly halfway through the 60-day period of an interim deal that was supposed to set up talks for a permanent end to the war, which began in February with the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. In reality, that deal has devolved into a series of attacks over the strait of Hormuz, resulting in the near-total collapse of an interim ceasefire and worrying world leaders that the conflict could fully resume.How has Trump changed his position on tolls? On Monday, Trump said the US would demand a 20% tariff on all cargoes shipped through the strait of Hormuz. Until now, the US had said the strait should remain open to all without tolls – as it was before Washington and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February. Any attempt by the US or Iran – which has also proposed tolls – to charge fees would violate global norms on freedom of navigation and would be likely to cause further economic disruption far beyond the region.What did Nordone say about her appointment? In brief remarks, Nordone, 64, said: “Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him. I promise to work hard over the next several months to support the president and carry forward the efforts of my brother on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina and the United States. I think this is what Lindsey would have wanted, and I plan to honor him in this way. I miss you more than I can even put into words, but I’m going to do this. I got it.” Continue reading...
Bar owner in Thailand offers ‘deepest apologies for this tragic incident’ as police investigate whether exits were either blocked or hard to accessThe Bangkok pub that has become the scene of the city’s deadliest blaze in 17 years has said it will cooperate with an investigation into alleged negligence, as the death toll rose to 30.The local district office said on Tuesday that three more people died after the devastating fire that broke out in the early hours of Monday. An initial assessment by disaster officials found that an electrical short circuit in an air conditioner located in the ceiling caused the fire. Continue reading...
Nearly 17,000 injured and thousands more listed as missing amid calls by president Delcy Rodríguez and UN for financial helpThe death toll in Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes has passed 4,300, the government said on Saturday.At least 4,333 people were killed and 16,740 injured in the back-to-back quakes on 24 June that flattened entire districts in the coastal state of La Guaira, the Venezuelan parliament chief, Jorge Rodríguez, wrote on Telegram. Thousands more people are listed as missing. Continue reading...
World is witnessing a turning point, says ministry spokesperson, as Iran seeks to assert independence amid rising tensionsBefore a foreign ministry press briefing at the Grand Hotel Tehran, the assembled reporters were asked to stand for the national anthem that duly blared from fuzzy speakers.At the podium, the ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, claimed the world was witnessing a turning point in the history of Shia Islam. A century from now, he claimed, the assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be revered as a second Imam Hussain, the martyred grandson of the prophet Muhammad. Donald Trump, meanwhile, would be seen as a latterday Yazid, the tyrannical 7th century caliph. Continue reading...
• Iran has initiated public mourning for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, with officials claiming the funeral will attract approximately 20 million people.
• Tehran has issued a stern warning to the United States and Israel, stating that any military attacks conducted during the funeral proceedings will be met with "harsh retaliation."
• This escalation highlights the extreme regional volatility and the risk of opportunistic strikes during a period of national instability in Iran.
• Mediators have announced that the next round of indirect talks between the US and Iran will take place following the funeral of Ayatollah Khamenei.
• Vice President JD Vance stated that current discussions in Doha are "going well," with negotiations regarding the nuclear issue expected to commence shortly.
• President Pezeshkian emphasized that all diplomatic efforts are being conducted under the strategic direction of the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
• Quarterhill has acquired the tolling solutions business from Conduent to expand its service offerings.
• The acquired business specializes in providing tolling services for government transportation agencies, primarily operating in the United States and the United Kingdom.
• This strategic move allows Quarterhill to integrate established government infrastructure services into its portfolio, strengthening its presence in the transportation sector.
President says ‘we always hold onto hope’ as discovery of earthquake survivors spurs fresh search efforts despite dwindling chances of survivalMortuary in Caracas ‘overwhelmed’ as Venezuela struggles to respond after earthquakesA man and his teenage son were found alive under the rubble in Venezuela on Sunday, in a town about 40km north of the capital Caracas, AFP journalists reported, as the death toll from last week’s twin earthquakes passed 1,450.The discovery of survivors in Caraballeda was made by French and American rescue teams nearly four days after back-to-back quakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck, completely destroying nearly 200 buildings in the area. Continue reading...
Search for survivors continues with nearly 70,000 people reported unaccounted for by their family membersThe death toll in the twin earthquakes which struck Venezuela earlier this week has risen to 1,430, according to one of the country’s top politicians Jorge Rodríguez.Another 3,200 people were injured and 3,100 left homeless by the disaster, the National Assembly president added, speaking on state television. Continue reading...
Delcy Rodríguez says foreign rescue teams are arriving but people are angry at official response and limited resourcesVenezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has vowed to fight to save “as many people as possible” as the official death toll from the country’s worst earthquake in more than a century almost doubled, but frustration was growing at the perceived sluggishness of the government’s response.Rodríguez said on Friday that the official death toll had risen to 589, with nearly 3,000 people injured. Speaking during a tour of La Guaira, the most devastated region, Rodríguez said foreign search and rescue groups were starting to arrive. Continue reading...
Buildings collapse after double quakes of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude. Plus, the apartment renters facing a tide of feesGood morning.Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, has declared a state of emergency after the country was struck by two powerful earthquakes that collapsed dozens of buildings, killing at least 164 people and injuring 971 more, with experts predicting the death toll could rise still further.What do we know? The US Geological Survey (USGS) said Venezuela had been hit by two quakes: a magnitude 7.5 “mainshock” and a 7.2 “foreshock” 39 seconds earlier. “High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread,” the USGS said.How does the damage look on the ground? Rodríguez, who confirmed the death toll, said the airport had been closed after sustaining “severe damage” and added that the metro and train systems had been halted. A Guardian reporter saw at least three buildings that had collapsed in Altamira, an upmarket area of Caracas that is home to many foreign embassies, after the quakes hit shortly after 6pm on Wednesday.This is what the company said: In a statement, Greystar told the Guardian it disagreed with the allegations in the court actions and was “actively defending” the cases. In various court filings, the company has called tenants’ legal complaints factually deficient, implausible and “futile”.In other housing news: Donald Trump abruptly cancelled his plan to sign a bipartisan bill aimed at lowering the cost of housing on Wednesday, holding the bill – which passed both the House and Senate – hostage until Congress passes the Save America Act, which would impose new identification requirements on voters and curtail mail-in voting. Continue reading...
Weekly toll cap in NSW to fall from $60 to $50 for one year. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe New South Wales government will lower the weekly road toll cap from $60 to $50 for one year as part of cost of living measures handed down today in the 2026-27 state budget.In advance of today’s budget, the Minns government has announced that the threshold for the cap, under which drivers can claim back from the government after they spend $60 per vehicle, will be lowered to $50 for the 12 months from July 6, a saving of $10 a week for motorists who already claim toll relief. Tolls on multiple roads managed by private operator Transurban will rise on July 1, leaving them on average more than 4% higher since July 2025. Continue reading...
