Catastrophic floods kill at least 353 in Nepal and Tibet, with more than 1,300 missing
DEVIGHAT, Nepal (AP) — Police in Nepal say that the death toll in the flash floods that hit communities along the Nepal-Tibet border a day earlier has risen to 353. Abi Narayan Kafle, the central spokesman for the Nepal Police, told The Associated Press 353 people were dead in the floods. The disaster has left more than 1,300 are missing, including scores of foreigners and pilgrims, and hundreds have been displaced across the Himalayan region.
Nepal floods highlight growing glacier risks in warming Himalayas
BENGALURU, India (AP) — Scientists say a deadly flash flood in Nepal on Wednesday was likely caused by a glacier chunk breaking off and temporarily damming a river. This may have led to a surge of water downstream, killing at least 273 people and leaving over 1,300 missing. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 5.2 glacier collapse, causing catastrophic debris flow. Researchers are still analyzing satellite and ground-level data to understand the event. Experts say it's too early to directly link the disaster to global warming, but note that rising temperatures increase such risks, especially in the rapidly warming Himalayan region.
After six months of Iran war, US goals have shifted. The Strait of Hormuz is now a top concern
WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Donald Trump launched the war with Iran in late February, he initially said he expected the war to last four to five weeks. But despite Trump’s repeated assertions that the war has been won or a deal to resolve it was nearly complete, there’s no off-ramp in sight as the war reaches the six-month mark. As the shape of the war has morphed over the last half year, so have the goals for the conflict. The U.S. has had tactical success on its goals to degrade Iran’s military capabilities. But some of the other key objectives Trump laid out at the start of the conflict remain unfulfilled.
Republicans face a midterm verdict as Iran war drags on months longer than Trump promised
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) — The Iran war has reshaped the rapidly approaching midterm elections. It's undermining President Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to steer clear of foreign conflicts and it's challenging Republicans who'd rather focus on their tax cuts as they cling to narrow majorities in Congress. The Republican president’s supporters are undeterred, but the war’s unpopularity and economic ripple effects could tilt the scales in tightly contested House districts. Interviews by Associated Press reporters with voters around the country show how a war that Trump expected to end with a swift victory could undermine the final years of his presidency.
Regional powers seek off-ramp from Iran war, and other Middle East developments
JERUSALEM (AP) — Regional powers are seeking an off-ramp from the Iran war as another tanker attack is reported in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran dismisses Washington's latest sanctions. A Jerusalem court meanwhile has acquitted a man accused of beating a Catholic nun but ordered years of psychiatric hospitalization for him. Israel's strikes in Gaza drew criticism from the top diplomat overseeing the U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The UK Maritime Trade Organization said Thursday that an oil tanker was hit by an unknown projectile in the strategic waterway. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis between the U.S. and Iran continue with Pakistan and Qatar involved in talks.
Pakistani investigators visit hospital nursery where fire killed 14 newborns
ISLAMABAD (AP) — High-level investigators are visiting the hospital nursery in Pakistan's capital where a fast-moving fire killed 14 newborns. Grieving families and the public sought answers about the cause of the blaze and the safety measures at the major government facility in Islamabad. The fire was confined to the nursery and officials said the fire spread so quickly that staff were able to rescue only one baby among the 15 in the nursery. The investigators were to take statements from staff and relatives on Thursday. Hospital and district officials initially said an exploding air-conditioning unit caused the fire. The hospital now says a blast involving a nebulizer sparked the blaze.
Yayoi Kusama, who splashed polka dots across the art world, dies at 97 in Tokyo
TOKYO (AP) — Pioneering Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, who splashed her signature polka dots on paintings, sculptures and museum installations around the world, has died. She was 97. Yayoi Kusama Studio said she died at a hospital in Tokyo on Aug. 14. Repetitive motifs were her trademark, in various shapes, resembling netting, swirls or worms, but most often dots, dancing proudly on her canvases, or as sparkling balls or dots of light in her installations, in all their vibrant psychedelic glory.
Michigan Democrats want to fight Trump. First they have to stop fighting each other
SAUGATUCK, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Democrats want to focus on President Donald Trump and the economy heading into November. But divisions from a bruising Senate primary continue to follow them. Some Democrats have withheld support for Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, citing concerns about antisemitism and his association with streamer Hasan Piker. Piker’s latest comments about American Jews and Israel have fueled the dispute. Republicans see an opportunity to exploit the divide. El-Sayed and Democrats campaigning with him are pushing back, arguing the party is largely united and should turn its attention to defeating Republican Mike Rogers and winning control of Congress.
What to know about Mount Kailash, a sacred site for pilgrims missing after floods in Nepal and Tibet
BEIJING (AP) — Mount Kailash, a Himalayan peak in Tibet, is sacred to several religious traditions and draws pilgrims from across the region. Pilgrims traditionally walk around the mountain rather than climb it, completing a roughly 33-mile (53-kilometer) circuit as a religious practice, while nearby Lake Manasarovar is also a site of spiritual purification. Hundreds of foreigners were among those reported missing after catastrophic floods struck the Nepal-China border region, including Indian nationals on pilgrimage to Mount Kailash.
Time limits and a midnight cutoff: Meta’s new rules for kids go further, but critics say not enough
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Kids under 18 will soon see a host of changes to their Instagram and Facebook experiences thanks to a historic $18 billion settlement Meta Platforms reached Wednesday with 48 U.S. states. Besides the money, which will be paid out over a decade, Meta has agreed to strengthen its age estimates to keep kids under 13 off its platforms and teens in age-appropriate accounts, enact a hard limit of two hours a day for users under 18, block kids from the apps from midnight to 6 a.m. and hide like counts, among other changes. But critics and children’s advocates cautioned it will not solve its myriad problems overnight.
