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Nepal Floods, Landslides Kill at Least 66, Leave 69 Missing

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Persistent heavy rainfall since early Friday has triggered devastating floods and landslides across Nepal, resulting in at least 66 deaths, with 69 people reported missing and 60 injured, according to home ministry official Dil Kumar Tamang.

The death toll could rise further as rescue efforts continue in affected areas, particularly in the densely populated Kathmandu valley, home to 4 million people and the nation’s capital. The deluge has brought normal life to a standstill, disrupting traffic and everyday activities.

Rescue operations are in full swing, with workers using helicopters and rubber boats to reach those stranded on rooftops or elevated ground. Some parts of Kathmandu have reported rainfall of up to 322.2 mm (12.68 inches) over the past 24 hours, exacerbating the crisis.

The flooding is a result of the delayed retreat of South Asia’s annual monsoon rains, which has caused rivers across the Himalayan nation to swell, spilling over roads and bridges. Police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki reported that landslides have blocked highways in 28 locations, and efforts are underway to clear debris and reopen these vital routes.

Weather forecasting official Binu Maharjan in Kathmandu stated that relief from the rains might not come until Sunday. “Heavy rains are likely to continue until Sunday morning and weather is likely to clear after that,” Maharjan told Reuters. She added that most central and eastern areas had received moderate to extremely heavy rainfall, ranging from 50 mm (2 inches) to more than 200 mm (8 inches).

The extreme weather has also impacted air travel. While international flights remain operational, many domestic flights have been disrupted, according to Rinji Sherpa, a spokesperson for Kathmandu airport.

Of particular concern is the Koshi River in the southeast, known for causing deadly floods in the neighboring Indian state of Bihar. The river is currently flowing at 450,000 cusecs, three times its normal level of 150,000 cusecs. Ram Chandra Tiwari, the area’s top bureaucrat, warned that the river level is still rising.

This latest disaster adds to the toll of a particularly deadly monsoon season in Nepal. Since mid-June, when the annual rains began, authorities report at least 254 deaths and 65 people missing due to landslides, floods, and lightning strikes.

The recurring nature of these tragedies highlights the vulnerability of Nepal to monsoon-related disasters. Hundreds of people die each year in landslides and flash floods, which are common in the mountainous terrain of the country.

REUTERS

Six Killed in Pakistan Helicopter Crash, Security Sources Say

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A charter helicopter crash in northern Pakistan on Saturday resulted in at least six fatalities, according to security sources who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to discuss the incident publicly.

The helicopter, chartered by a private company in the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, went down shortly after takeoff in the volatile North Waziristan area near the Afghan border.

The sources reported that approximately 14 passengers were on board, including Russian pilots. Eight people were injured in the crash and have been hospitalized in nearby facilities.

This incident adds to a series of air accidents that have affected both Pakistan’s armed forces and civilian aviation sector over the past decade. In 2022, a military helicopter on a training exercise crashed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, claiming the lives of both pilots.

One of the most devastating incidents occurred in 2020 when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus jet crashed into a crowded residential district of Karachi, resulting in the deaths of most of the 99 people on board.

The cause of Saturday’s crash is yet to be determined. Authorities are expected to launch an investigation into the incident, which highlights ongoing safety concerns in Pakistan’s aviation sector.

The North Waziristan area, where the crash occurred, has a history of instability and has been a focus of military operations against militant groups in recent years.

Lebanon Asks Iranian Plane to Avoid Airspace After Israel Threatens to Blow It Up

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Lebanon’s transport and public works ministry requested an Iranian plane to avoid entering Lebanese airspace on Friday after Israel warned it would use force if the aircraft landed, a source at the Lebanese transport ministry told Reuters.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said the contents of the plane were unknown, adding: “The priority is people.”

This development comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon.

Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari announced late Friday that Israeli air force planes were “patrolling the area of the Beirut airport” and would not allow “hostile flights with weapons to land” there.

“We know about Iranian arms transfers to Hezbollah and are thwarting them,” Hagari stated, highlighting Israel’s concerns about weapons shipments to the militant group.

The incident occurs against a backdrop of ongoing hostilities. Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets and missiles at targets in Israel, including Tel Aviv. The group reported launching more attacks on Saturday. Israel’s military confirmed that sirens had sounded in northern Israel, though the country’s air defense systems have so far minimized damage from these attacks.

Israel’s military also announced that the country is on high alert for a potential broader conflict.

Haaland Scoreless as Man City Held to 1-1 Draw at Newcastle

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Erling Haaland failed to score in a Premier League game for the first time this season as Manchester City was held to a 1-1 draw by Newcastle United on Saturday, dropping points for the second consecutive weekend.

The match at St. James’ Park marked City’s first league outing since losing influential midfielder Rodri to a season-ending ACL injury. The absence of Rodri seemed to impact the champions’ fluidity, with Haaland, who had scored 10 goals in his first five games, struggling to find clear opportunities.

City took the lead in the 35th minute through an unlikely source. Left-back Josko Gvardiol collected a pass from Jack Grealish, cut inside onto his weaker right foot, and fired a low shot into the corner for his first goal for the club.

Newcastle equalized in the 58th minute when Anthony Gordon converted a penalty. The England winger, playing as the central striker in place of the injured Alexander Isak, was tripped by City goalkeeper Ederson Moraes after breaking through on goal.

The draw follows City’s 2-2 result against Arsenal last Sunday, ending their perfect start to their title defense after winning the first four games of the season.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said, “Newcastle is always a tough place to come. We had our chances, but so did they. It’s a fair result.”

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance: “To go toe-to-toe with the champions shows how far we’ve come. I’m proud of the lads today.”

The result leaves City vulnerable at the top of the table, with rivals Arsenal and Liverpool set to play later on Saturday against Leicester and Wolverhampton, respectively.

Poland’s Flood Death Toll Rises to 9 as Two More Bodies Found

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The death toll from recent floods in Poland has climbed to nine after authorities discovered two more bodies, national police chief Marek Boron announced Saturday.

Speaking at a government meeting on the flood’s impact, Boron also reported that one person remains missing. The floods, which followed torrential rains earlier this month, primarily affected southwestern Poland, inundating houses and damaging bridges and roads in the towns of Stronie Slaskie, Nysa, and numerous surrounding villages.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk had previously confirmed that among the deceased was a German citizen, underlining the international impact of the disaster.

The recent floods in Poland are part of a broader weather crisis that has affected Central Europe. More than 20 people have died across the region due to flood-related incidents.

Russian Strikes on Medical Center Kill 9 in Ukrainian City of Sumy

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Two consecutive Russian attacks on a medical center in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy killed at least nine people on Saturday morning, Ukrainian officials reported.

Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the first strike killed one person. Russia then attacked again while patients and staff were being evacuated, resulting in additional casualties. Sumy’s City Military administration confirmed that twelve other people were wounded in the attacks.

Local officials in Sumy stated that Shahed drones were used in the assault. The city, located approximately 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Russia’s Kursk region, has seen increased military activity since August 6, when Ukrainian troops were deployed there in an effort to divert the Kremlin’s military focus from the main front line in Ukraine.

The attack on Sumy was part of a broader overnight assault by Russian forces. Ukraine’s air force reported shooting down 69 of 73 Russian drones launched overnight, as well as two of four missiles. In Kyiv, city authorities said about 15 drones were intercepted over the capital and its outskirts.

In Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, local officials announced on Saturday that a man’s body was recovered from the rubble of an administrative building hit by a Russian missile on Friday. This discovery raised the death toll from that attack to four.

The conflict has also seen continued attacks on Russian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Saturday that air defenses had intercepted four Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod region and one over the Kursk region, both bordering Ukraine.

In the Russian border city of Shebekino, Belgorod regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said one person was killed and two others were wounded in Ukrainian shelling on Saturday.

Iran Confirms Senior Commander Killed in Israeli Strike with Hezbollah Leader

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Iran announced Saturday that a prominent general in its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was killed in the same Israeli airstrike that claimed the life of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions.

Abbas Nilforushan, 58, identified by the U.S. as the deputy commander for operations in the Revolutionary Guard, died in Friday’s strike on Beirut, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. Nilforushan had been sanctioned by the United States for his role in the Guard.

The dual loss of high-ranking figures in Iran’s sphere of influence sent shockwaves through the region, prompting calls for retaliation and raising fears of a wider conflict.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded to the deaths with a stern warning. “The resistance movement, headed by Hezbollah, will decide the fate of the region,” Khamenei said in a statement broadcast on state television.

Iran’s influential parliamentary committee on national security demanded a “strong” response to Israel following an emergency meeting. Across major Iranian cities, state TV reported anti-Israeli rallies in support of Hezbollah.

The Israeli military, while confirming the strike that killed Hezbollah’s Nasrallah, did not immediately comment on Nilforushan’s death. Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli army spokesperson, said the airstrike was based on years of intelligence gathering and “real-time information,” but declined to provide specifics on the operation or civilian casualties.

Israel’s Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, indicated that the strike was part of a broader campaign, stating that the elimination of Nasrallah was “not the end of our toolbox.” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant went further, calling it “the most important targeted strike since the founding of the State of Israel.”

The deaths of Nasrallah and Nilforushan come amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which intensified following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, had been engaging in cross-border strikes with Israel for nearly a year.

Iraq, another country within Iran’s sphere of influence, reacted strongly to the news. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani declared a three-day period of mourning. Sudani, who came to power with support from Iran-backed political factions, leads a coalition with armed wings allied to Hezbollah.

The loss of Nilforushan represents a significant blow to Iran’s military leadership in the region. As deputy commander for operations in the Revolutionary Guard, he played a crucial role in Iran’s military strategy and its support for allied groups like Hezbollah.

Orna Mizrahi, a senior researcher at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies and former Israeli intelligence analyst, suggested that the deaths could lead to unpredictable consequences. “The biggest question mark right now is how Iran will respond,” Mizrahi said.

The Israeli strike has already triggered a series of retaliatory actions. Hezbollah launched dozens of projectiles across northern and central Israel and into the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Saturday. Meanwhile, Israel carried out over 140 airstrikes in southern Beirut and eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, including targeting a storage facility for anti-ship missiles.

The escalating conflict has taken a heavy toll on civilians. Lebanon’s health minister reported Saturday that 1,030 people — including 156 women and 87 children — have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon in less than two weeks. On the Israeli side, tens of thousands have been displaced from communities near the Lebanese border.

AP

9 Dead, 48 Missing as Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Spain’s Canary Islands

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Spanish authorities reported Saturday that nine people have died and 48 others are missing after a boat carrying migrants capsized during a rescue operation near the Canary Islands.

Spain’s maritime rescue service said the tragedy occurred approximately 6 1/2 kilometers (4 miles) from the island of El Hierro. The small boat, loaded with migrants, overturned when too many people moved to one side during the rescue attempt, according to a statement from the rescue service.

Rescuers have saved 27 people and confirmed nine deaths. The search for the 48 missing individuals continues.

The rescue operation was complicated by nighttime conditions and strong winds reaching 20 knots. Multiple agencies participated in the effort, including rescue craft and helicopters from the maritime rescue service, Civil Guard, Red Cross, and local government.

This incident highlights the dangers of the Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands, considered one of the deadliest migration routes in the world. While accurate death tolls are difficult to establish due to lack of information on departures from West Africa, Spanish migrant rights group Walking Borders estimates the victims to be in the thousands.

The Canary Islands have seen a significant increase in migrant arrivals this year, with over 26,000 people reaching the archipelago by sea so far, compared to about 14,000 during the same period last year.

Located closer to Africa than mainland Spain, the Canary Islands are often viewed as a stepping stone to continental Europe. Many migrants come from Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, and other West African countries, seeking better job opportunities or fleeing violence and political instability.

Hezbollah Confirms Death of Leader Hassan Nasrallah in Israeli Airstrike

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Lebanon’s Hezbollah group confirmed Saturday that its leader and co-founder, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut the previous day, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group.

A statement from Hezbollah said Nasrallah “has joined his fellow martyrs” and vowed to “continue the holy war against the enemy and in support of Palestine.” Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah for more than three decades, is the most powerful target eliminated by Israel in weeks of intensified fighting.

The Israeli military reported carrying out a precise airstrike on Friday targeting a meeting of Hezbollah leadership at their headquarters in Dahiyeh, south of Beirut. The Lebanese Health Ministry said six people were killed and 91 injured in the strikes, which leveled six apartment buildings. Ali Karki, commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front, and other commanders were also killed, according to the Israeli military.

Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli army spokesperson, said the airstrike was based on years of tracking Nasrallah along with “real time information.” He declined to provide details on the munitions used or civilian casualties, stating only that Israel takes measures to avoid civilian deaths whenever possible.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas issued condolences to its ally, Hezbollah, stating that “assassinations will only increase the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine in determination and resolve.”

In Beirut and other areas of Lebanon, people fired into the air to mourn Nasrallah’s death, with some protesting that he was killed because of his support for the war in Gaza.

Israel’s Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, indicated that more strikes were planned, saying the elimination of Nasrallah was “not the end of our toolbox.” The Israeli military announced the mobilization of additional reserve soldiers as tensions escalate with Lebanon.

Iran, Hezbollah’s main supporter, called for a “strong” response to Israel. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani declared a three-day period of mourning in his country.

The killing of Nasrallah comes after nearly a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which intensified following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The conflict has displaced tens of thousands of civilians on both sides of the border.

Orna Mizrahi, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, noted that Nasrallah’s death could prompt less senior Hezbollah members to use stronger weapons against Israel. She added that his death might provide an opportunity for Lebanon to reduce Hezbollah’s influence in the country.

As the situation develops, both Israel and Hezbollah continue to exchange strikes. The Israeli military reported carrying out over 140 airstrikes in southern Beirut and eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley on Saturday morning, while Hezbollah launched projectiles into northern and central Israel.

The Lebanese Health Ministry reports that at least 720 people have been killed in Lebanon over the past week by Israeli airstrikes.

Israeli Strike on Hezbollah Headquarters, Targeting Militant Leader

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The Israeli military launched a massive strike on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut on Friday, causing widespread destruction and pushing the region closer to full-scale war. The attack, which targeted the militant group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, leveled multiple high-rise apartment buildings and resulted in at least six deaths and 91 injuries, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

The series of explosions, occurring around nightfall, reduced six apartment towers to rubble in Haret Hreik, a densely populated, predominantly Shiite district of Beirut’s Dahiyeh suburbs. Witnesses reported billowing black and orange smoke rising into the sky, with the blasts felt up to 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Beirut.

Israeli army spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated that the strikes targeted Hezbollah’s main headquarters, which was reportedly located underground beneath residential buildings. The Israeli military declined to comment on who specifically was targeted, but two sources, including a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Nasrallah was the intended target.

In the aftermath, rescue workers were seen clambering over large slabs of concrete, surrounded by piles of twisted metal and wreckage. Several craters were visible in the area, with one containing an overturned car. Residents carrying belongings were observed fleeing along a main road out of the district.

The Israeli air force conducted additional strikes early Saturday in the southern suburbs of Beirut, warning residents of three buildings to evacuate. The military claimed these structures were being used by Hezbollah to conceal weapons, including anti-ship missiles.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abruptly cut short a visit to the United States to return home following the strikes. Hours earlier, he had addressed the United Nations, vowing to continue Israel’s intensified campaign against Hezbollah.

The attack marks a significant escalation in the conflict, which has been ongoing for more than 11 months. Israel has dramatically increased its airstrikes in Lebanon this week, stating its determination to end Hezbollah’s fire into its territory. The escalated campaign has resulted in over 720 deaths in Lebanon, including dozens of women and children, according to Health Ministry statistics.

Hezbollah, for its part, announced the launch of a salvo of rockets at the Israeli city of Safed in response to what it called “the barbaric Israeli violation of cities, villages and civilians.” The Israeli military reported that a house and a car in Safed were hit, with a 68-year-old woman sustaining minor shrapnel wounds.

The United Nations reported that the fighting has displaced 211,000 people, with 85,000 now staying in public schools and other shelters. The conflict has also forced the closure of 20 primary health care centers and disrupted access to clean water for nearly 300,000 people.

AP

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