Global Pulse

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  • What to know about Mount Kailash, a sacred site for pilgrims missing after floods in Nepal and Tibet

    What to know about Mount Kailash, a sacred site for pilgrims missing after floods in Nepal and Tibet

    A catastrophic glacial collapse-triggered flash flood sweeping across the border region between Nepal and China’s Tibet Autonomous Region has left a devastating trail of death and disappearance, with more than 100 of the 1,300+ missing people being pilgrims bound for one of the Himalayas’ most revered sacred sites, Mount Kailash. As of the latest official updates, the disaster has claimed at least 168 lives, forced hundreds of local residents from their homes, and sparked global concern over the safety of travelers in the increasingly climate-vulnerable Himalayan region.

    Standing at more than 6,400 meters above sea level in southwestern Tibet, adjacent to the glacial Lake Manasarovar and near the tri-border junction of China, Nepal and India, Mount Kailash has occupied a central sacred role across multiple major religious and spiritual traditions for more than a thousand years. Its importance stretches across Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and the indigenous Tibetan Bon religion, each weaving the mountain into their unique spiritual cosmologies and sacred histories.

    For Hindu believers, the jagged snow-capped peak is widely recognized as the earthly home of Shiva, the god of destruction and transformation, and his consort Parvati, the goddess of marriage, fertility and maternal care. Both the mountain and nearby Lake Manasarovar have been referenced in ancient Sanskrit religious texts and literary works dating back centuries. In Buddhist and Hindu cosmology, Mount Kailash is also identified with the mythical Mount Meru, the mythic axis mundi that forms the center of the entire world. Followers of the Tibetan Bon tradition, meanwhile, venerate the peak as a stronghold of spiritual power, linking it directly to Tonpa Shenrab, the faith’s founding figure. Even Sikhism has connections to the site: one enduring local legend tells of Guru Nanak, Sikhism’s founder, teaching villagers that the true pilgrimage to Kailash is an inward spiritual journey, not just a physical trek to the mountain.

    Every year between June and early September, thousands of pilgrims from across the globe travel to the region to complete the sacred ritual of the Kailash circuit. Unlike many famous mountain peaks that draw adventure climbers, Mount Kailash is never summited by traditional pilgrims, who instead complete a 53-kilometer walking circuit around its base. This multi-day journey is believed to purify the pilgrim of accumulated sins. Different traditions follow different directions for the walk: Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims circle clockwise, while Bon followers travel counterclockwise. Along the route, Tibetan pilgrims stop at ancient monasteries and other sacred landmarks, performing rituals that range from pressing prayer beads to sacred rock formations to tests of spiritual merit. Many Hindu pilgrims also complete a ritual purification bath in the frigid waters of nearby Lake Manasarovar. Today, organized pilgrimages are run officially by the Indian government through routes in Uttarakhand and Sikkim, while private tour operators also arrange trips through Nepalese border crossings.

    The recent flood disaster has painted a tragic backdrop to this centuries-old tradition. Official figures confirm that Nepal has recorded 165 deaths and 826 missing people, while Tibet has reported 3 deaths and 558 people unaccounted for, with hundreds of the missing being foreign nationals. Nepal’s tourism board reports that 179 of the missing are Indian citizens, most of whom were traveling to or returning from Mount Kailash. Other missing international travelers include 65 from the United States, 35 from Australia, 33 from the United Kingdom and 25 from Canada. Among the groups affected were 77 people returning from the mountain with pilgrimage groups organized by the Isha Foundation, led by well-known Indian spiritual leader Jaggi Vasudev (also called Sadhguru), who were caught in the flood while staying at an immigration center in Gyirong, Tibet.

    The disaster was triggered when a destabilized glacier collapsed, sending a massive surge of water, ice and debris roaring downstream through river valleys on both sides of the China-Nepal border. Climate scientists warn that this type of catastrophic glacial outburst flood is becoming increasingly common in the Himalayas as rising global temperatures melt and destabilize the region’s vast glacial ice reserves, putting growing numbers of local communities and travelers at risk.
    This report is the product of Associated Press religion coverage, produced through AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP retains full editorial responsibility for all content.

  • Concerns raised over impact of quad bikes on wildlife

    Concerns raised over impact of quad bikes on wildlife

    In the tranquil Lisnagra Woods near Muff, County Donegal, a growing conflict between recreational off-roading and wildlife conservation has alarmed local residents and elected officials, who are calling for urgent intervention to stop the widespread damage being caused by unregulated quad bike use.

    Throughout the entire 2026 summer season, quad bike enthusiasts have repeatedly accessed the protected woodland, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake, according to local resident Margaret Peoples, who lives in nearby Carnamoyle. In an interview with BBC Radio Foyle’s *North West Today* on Thursday, Peoples detailed how the heavy off-road vehicles have torn apart the soft forest floor, turning large stretches of the popular public walking area into a muddy, rutted quagmire that is nearly impassable for casual visitors. “It’s been happening all summer, and it’s making the place nearly unusable for people coming with their kids, or for a walk with the dog or whatever, because it’s very badly cut up and mucky at the minute,” Peoples told the program.

    Beyond disrupting public access, the damage poses a severe threat to the woodland’s delicate ecosystem and the native wildlife that depends on it. The current pre-winter season is a critical period for small native mammals, including a protected colony of red squirrels, pine martens, and wild rabbits, which are actively gathering and stashing food to survive the coming cold months. Peoples explained that the destruction of undergrowth and forest floor vegetation has ruined the natural food stores and habitats these animals rely on. Additionally, the constant roar of quad bike engines has driven away many native bird species, with locals already noting a sharp drop in birdsong compared to previous years. “These quads have been cutting the place up every weekend. Plus, it’s also doing a lot of damage to the forest floor, which is bad for the survival of the woods, for the food chain in the woods, for the seeds and the birds,” Peoples said. “It’s not the place for quads. It really isn’t.”

    Sinn Féin councillor Terry Crossan has echoed these concerns, confirming that the damage is far more extensive than just a few small tracks, with large swathes of the woodland now reduced to muddy bogs. Crossan has also flagged another serious risk: high-speed quad bike operation in an area shared by family walkers and dog owners creates a major public safety hazard for all visitors. In response to repeated complaints from local residents, Crossan has formally escalated the issue to both Coillte Ireland, the state-owned forestry management company that oversees more than 440,000 hectares of forest across the Republic of Ireland, and An Garda Síochána, Ireland’s national police service. “This activity in the Lisnagra area is causing severe loss of habitat and is having a detrimental impact on wildlife, especially the red squirrels and pine martens,” Crossan noted. “Any noise pollution or damage to habitat or vegetation all has a very serious impact, with a lot of areas in the wood being turned into an absolute quagmire.”

    Local conservation advocates emphasize that Lisnagra Woods is a critical refuge for native Irish wildlife, and human visitors are only temporary guests in the ecosystem that the animals depend on. Peoples has made a direct appeal to quad bike riders to relocate their recreational activity to designated off-road areas that are not ecologically sensitive, rather than continuing to damage one of the region’s important native woodlands. Crossan says he is hopeful that both Coillte and Gardaí will take swift enforcement action to stop the illegal off-roading and protect the woodland’s vulnerable wildlife population before the damage becomes irreversible.

  • People from more than 30 countries are missing after the flash floods in Nepal and China

    People from more than 30 countries are missing after the flash floods in Nepal and China

    On Wednesday, a massive glacial collapse in the Tibet region unleashed catastrophic flash flooding across the mountainous border area shared by China and Nepal, triggering one of the deadliest Himalayan disasters in recent memory. As of Thursday, official tallies from both national governments confirm more than 160 people have been killed, with more than 1,300 others unaccounted for — a large share of whom are foreign visitors traveling for trekking expeditions or religious pilgrimage to a revered Hindu sacred site.

    Disaster response teams have cautioned that the number of missing people remains inconsistent across different agencies, due to gaps in data collection timelines, differing verification protocols, and coordination lags between teams compiling casualty records and crews conducting on-the-ground search and rescue operations in the hard-to-reach affected zone.

    In Nepal, local police have recorded at least 165 fatalities connected to the disaster, with 826 people registered as missing. According to local media citing the country’s National Emergency Operation Center, the missing on Nepal’s side include 113 Nepali tourists, 85 army and police security personnel, 161 residents from Rasuwa district, and one resident from Nuwakot district. By late Thursday, Nepal’s National Tourism Board confirmed that 517 of the total missing people in the country are foreign nationals.

    Across the border in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, state media reports confirm three fatalities in Gyirong County, with 558 people listed as missing. China’s Central Television (CCTV) adds that 260 of the 558 missing in Gyirong County are foreign nationals. Separately, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that an additional nearly 100 Chinese citizens are currently unaccounted for on the Nepal side of the border.

    The spread of missing foreign nationals spans more than 30 countries across every inhabited continent, highlighting the popularity of the region as a global tourism and religious destination. India accounts for the largest share of missing foreign nationals in Nepal, with 179 people unaccounted for — most of whom were part of pilgrimage groups traveling to the sacred Mount Kailash in Tibet, a site of deep spiritual significance to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bon followers alike. Following India, the United States has 65 missing citizens, Ukraine has 53 (including 46 tourists who lost contact with Nepalese authorities), Malaysia has 51, Australia 35, the United Kingdom 33, Canada 25, and South Korea counts nine citizens missing, all of whom were working on a local hydropower plant construction project.

    Smaller groups of missing foreign nationals include eight people each from Singapore, Germany, and Russia; six from South Africa and Latvia; five from Japan and New Zealand; four from France; three from Belgium and Spain; and two each from Italy, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Ireland, and the Netherlands. One missing citizen each has been confirmed from Belarus, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Lithuania, the Philippines, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Serbia, and Sweden, the Nepal Tourism Board confirmed.

  • Collapsed glacier likely caused devastating Nepal-Tibet floods, scientists say

    Collapsed glacier likely caused devastating Nepal-Tibet floods, scientists say

    A devastating flash flood that swept across the Nepal-Tibet border, claiming at least 177 lives, has been definitively linked to a sudden glacial collapse by leading scientific bodies and glacier experts, bringing renewed attention to the accelerating risks of climate change in the Himalayan region.

    Initial confusion around the disaster’s origin pointed to an earthquake-triggered landslide as the likely cause, after seismic activity measuring magnitude 5.2 was detected in the area. But the U.S. Geological Survey later corrected that the seismic reading itself was not a precursor to the flood—it was a byproduct of the collapse. When a large section of glacier broke free and slammed into the valley floor below, the impact was forceful enough to register on global seismic monitors.

    Dr. Simon Cook, a glaciology researcher at the University of Dundee, confirmed that the collapse occurred on the lower portion of a glacier located near Nepal’s Langtang Lirung peak, roughly 9 miles west of the flood’s main impact zone. His analysis found the broken glacier segment moved northwest before flowing downstream into the affected river system.

    Further research from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), an intergovernmental scientific body focused on Himalayan ecosystems, supports the glacial collapse finding. The centre’s preliminary assessment suggests the event unfolded as an ice-rock avalanche that originated in high-altitude terrain. The massive surge of ice and broken rock crashed into the Lende Khola, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi river, triggering an explosive downstream flood loaded with water, sediment, and massive boulders.

    Aerial footage and on-site imagery captured the scale of the surge: river levels rose between 7 and 9 meters in just 30 minutes, a jump so rapid and powerful that multiple official water monitoring stations were swept away or destroyed entirely. The valley’s steep mountain slopes funneled the debris-choked water at deadly speed, leaving widespread destruction in its path.

    While the specific trigger for this particular glacial collapse remains under investigation, scientists have long warned that rising global temperatures are driving accelerated ice melt and permafrost degradation across the Hindu Kush Himalaya, dramatically increasing the risk of such catastrophic events. A 2026 analysis from ICIMOD found that Himalayan glaciers are currently losing ice twice as fast as they were at the turn of the 21st century, a trend that directly amplifies flood and collapse hazards across the region.

    This disaster is far from an isolated incident. Dr. Cook noted that glacier collapse-driven floods and landslides have become increasingly common in high mountain regions around the world in recent years, with major deadly events recorded in India, Switzerland, and Italy. In 2021, a similar Himalayan glacial collapse in India’s Chamoli valley killed more than 200 people, with an impact scientists later estimated was equivalent to 15 atomic bombs. Even the Nepal-Tibet border region saw a major glacial flood last year, triggered by the outburst of a glacial lake in southern Tibet.

    Mohd Farooq Azam, a cryosphere specialist at ICIMOD, emphasized that the growing frequency of these events is outpacing current mitigation and monitoring capacity. “The increasing frequency of hazards in the cryosphere—the frozen parts of the Earth—is becoming more visible than ever before. The pace of change is so rapid that current efforts are struggling to keep up,” he said.

    While researchers note that it is impossible to directly attribute any single extreme event to climate change, the long-term trend points clearly to human-caused warming as a core driver of growing risk. “When you look at the pattern of these events, you do think climate change could have an impact,” Dr. Cook explained. “The logic is that with a warming planet, you will see shrinking glaciers, lots of snow melt. The permafrost that is partially holding some mountainsides together is warming and thawing and degrading. So you are going to get more landslides, debris flows, glacial meltwater, lake outbursts, glacier collapses, because climate warming ultimately destabilises these high mountain environments.”

  • Dinusha’s century helps Sri Lanka snatch a draw in second test but India wins series 1-0

    Dinusha’s century helps Sri Lanka snatch a draw in second test but India wins series 1-0

    COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – In a dramatic final-day showdown at the second Test between India and Sri Lanka, a heroic unbeaten century from Sonal Dinusha and a gritty rearguard stand with Sri Lanka’s lower-order tailenders secured an unlikely draw for the hosts on Thursday. Despite the match ending in a stalemate, India walked away with a 1-0 victory in the two-match Test series. Dinusha’s performance made history: his 133 not out in the second innings, following a 103-run knock in the first, marked only the third time any player has hit twin centuries in a Test after being forced to follow on, joining elite company of India’s Vijay Hazare and Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower. The match had been shaping up heavily in India’s favor from the opening day. After winning the toss, India elected to bat first and posted an imposing total of 503 for nine wickets before declaring their innings. Standout batting performances from Devdutt Padikkal, who notched 117 runs for his second century of the series, and wicket-keeper Druv Jurel, who contributed a solid 115, anchored India’s big first-innings total. Indian bowlers capitalized on the momentum, bundling Sri Lanka out for just 290 runs in their first turn at the crease, giving India a commanding 213-run lead that allowed them to enforce the follow-on. By the close of play on Day 4, Sri Lanka had batted back to a narrow 16-run lead with six wickets down, reaching 229-6 before early rain cut the day’s play short. Half-centuries from Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis gave Sri Lanka a foothold heading into the final day, but the hosts still faced an uphill battle to save the match, resuming Thursday with just four wickets in hand and needing to bat through the remaining overs to force a draw. Dinusha stepped up to deliver one of the great rearguard Test innings, spending a full seven hours at the crease facing 264 deliveries, striking two sixes and eight boundaries on his way to an unbeaten 133. He got crucial support from his tailend partners: No. 8 batter Keshara Nuwantha held firm for 46 runs off 150 balls, while No. 10 Lahiru Kumara survived 90 deliveries to score 12 runs, grinding down the Indian bowling attack and eating through valuable overs. By the time stumps were called, Sri Lanka had declared their second innings at 429 for nine wickets, setting a nominal lead of 216 runs with just 17 overs left in the day, securing the draw. For India, left-arm spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar shared the bulk of the bowling wickets, picking up three wickets apiece for totals of 94 and 121 runs respectively. At the end of the match, Dinusha was honored with the player of the match award for his historic batting performance. Padikkal, who scored 167 runs in the first Test at Galle and 117 in this second match in Colombo, was named player of the series for his consistent contributions with the bat throughout the tour.

  • Car rams pedestrians in northern France, killing 2 and injuring 9 before suspected driver’s arrest

    Car rams pedestrians in northern France, killing 2 and injuring 9 before suspected driver’s arrest

    PARIS – Law enforcement and local authorities are investigating a violent incident in the northern French city of Caen, where a motorman intentionally drove a vehicle into a crowd of pedestrians late Wednesday, leaving two dead and nine wounded, government officials confirmed Thursday.

    Initial overnight reports from David Clavière, the top regional administrator serving as Prefect of Calvados, had put the death toll at one. But Clavière’s office issued an updated statement Thursday morning that revised the number of fatalities upward, noting that nine additional people had been hurt in the attack.

    Unlike many high-profile vehicle attacks in recent European history, regional and national officials have ruled out terrorism as a motive for the violence. According to Caen Mayor Aristide Olivier, who spoke to local broadcaster ICI Normandie, early evidence suggests the incident grew out of a casual conflict that escalated far beyond control. Olivier described it as “a fight that turned bad” in comments to the radio outlet.

    Clavière confirmed in his public statements that the attack targeted a group of pedestrians gathered on a street directly across from Caen’s main train station. The suspected driver, a man born in Russia, has already been taken into police custody, and a formal criminal investigation is now active to determine the full circumstances of the incident and any additional factors that may have contributed to the attack.

  • Rapper Yung Filly allowed to fly back to UK by court ahead of retrial over rape allegations

    Rapper Yung Filly allowed to fly back to UK by court ahead of retrial over rape allegations

    A Western Australian court has granted bail to British rapper and prominent YouTube creator Yung Filly, legally clearing him to travel back to his home country ahead of a scheduled retrial on unresolved rape charges. Born Andres Barrientos, the 30-something entertainment personality has been confined to Perth since his late 2024 arrest, which stemmed from allegations that he sexually assaulted, choked and raped a 20-year-old female fan during an Australian tour stop.

    Barrientos has maintained a plea of not guilty to all charges brought against him, and his first two-week trial concluded earlier this year in the Western Australia District Court. The jury delivered a mixed verdict: jurors found Barrientos guilty of one count of assault linked to biting the accuser across the face, neck and breasts, which left an open wound, but acquitted him of one count of choking and three separate rape charges. The panel was unable to reach a majority consensus on three outstanding rape charges, leaving those counts unresolved and requiring a retrial.

    During Thursday’s bail hearing, Judge Linda Black noted that a significant delay was inevitable before a new trial date could be scheduled for the outstanding charges. Black argued that forcing Barrientos to remain in Western Australia through this extended waiting period would be unfair, pointing out that he has already been required to stay in the country since his 2024 arrest, and that this would mark his second trial related to the incident.

    After carefully reviewing the case against the provisions of Western Australia’s Bail Act — including a full assessment of the risk of flight — Black ruled that appropriate bail conditions could be structured to mitigate any concerns, clearing the way for Barrientos to return to the UK. “After careful consideration the accused is allowed to return to UK until he is needed at trial,” Black stated in her ruling.

    As part of the approved bail terms, Barrientos is required to reside at a confirmed, undisclosed address in the UK for the duration of the pre-trial period. He must also return to Western Australia no later than 10 days prior to his scheduled court appearance for the retrial. A further condition prohibits Barrientos from publishing, commenting on, or engaging in any public or private discussion related to the ongoing court proceedings, either directly or indirectly.

    The case has been adjourned until September 25 for a formal scheduling of the retrial date, and court officials confirmed Barrientos will not be required to attend the September listing hearing. The assault conviction from the first trial remains in place, and Barrientos will be sentenced for that offense following the conclusion of his retrial on the outstanding charges, per standard Western Australian legal procedure.

  • Australian shares dragged down by interest rate fears after inflation data

    Australian shares dragged down by interest rate fears after inflation data

    Australia’s benchmark share market faced steep downward pressure on Thursday, dragged lower by a combination of stickier-than-expected inflation, stronger-than-forecast household spending, and a wave of underwhelming corporate earnings results that have flipped market expectations for future interest rate moves. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed the trading session down 89.60 points, a 0.98% drop that brought the index to 9038.20, while the broader All Ordinaries index fell 95.60 points, or 1.02%, to settle at 9243.20. Against this volatile backdrop, the Australian dollar strengthened against the U.S. dollar, hitting 71.83 US cents at market close. Just two of the ASX’s 11 industry sectors managed to finish the day in positive territory, with nine ending the session in negative territory.

    The sell-off was led by the consumer discretionary, technology, and large mining sectors, with top retailers leading the declines after releasing weak full-year results. Retail conglomerate Wesfarmers, one of the biggest listed companies on the exchange, saw its share price slump 4.58% to $79.46 after reporting a 1.8% annual drop in net profit to $2.87 billion, where strong performance from its Bunnings and Kmart divisions was offset by lackluster earnings from Officeworks. Rival electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi fell 4.48% to $66.02, and furniture retailer Harvey Norman dropped 2.17% to $4.50.

    In the technology sector, major listed software firms also posted broad losses. Accounting software leader Xero fell 2.60% to $81.73, logistics tech firm WiseTech Global dropped 3.28% to $39.55, and enterprise software provider Technology One fell 2.74% to $31.64. For large iron ore producers, results were mixed: BHP fell 1.48% to $66.40 and Rio Tinto slipped 0.52% to $178.70, while Fortescue Metals bucked the downtrend to gain 0.85% to $17.70. A small number of stocks outperformed, most notably airline giant Qantas, which saw its share price jump 4.77% to $9.66 despite reporting a 13.1% annual drop in net profit to $2.06 billion, a $330 million decline driven largely by a $420 million hit from surging jet fuel costs. Corporate Travel Management, meanwhile, announced it would refund $191 million to customers and set aside an additional $55 million for remediation for three major clients, as the firm narrowly avoided being delisted by posting a full-year net loss of $346.7 million, dragged down by goodwill impairments.

    The market downturn was triggered largely by fresh economic data released earlier this week that has reinforced expectations that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) may need to implement one more interest rate hike to bring persistent inflation under control. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released Wednesday showed that headline annual inflation fell to 3.5% in July, down from 3.8% in June, but the figure still came in hotter than economists had forecast. The RBA’s preferred trimmed mean inflation measure, which strips out volatile price movements to track underlying inflation, held steady at 3.6% – matching the previous month’s reading and defying expectations for a small decline.

    Compounding the inflationary pressure, ABS data released Thursday showed household spending rose a stronger-than-expected 1.1% in July, signaling that consumer demand remains resilient enough to keep upward pressure on prices. As a result of the new data, money markets are now pricing a 50% chance that the RBA will raise its official cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.6% when its Monetary Policy Board meets on September 29. Three of Australia’s four major banks have now updated their forecasts to predict a rate hike before the end of 2024, with NAB chief economist Sally Auld reversing her earlier call for rates to hold steady to predict a September hike.

    “July CPI data showed inflation running hotter than the RBA expected in early August, and the RBA has repeatedly signalled in recent weeks that the Monetary Policy Board would act if upside risks to inflation were realised,” Auld noted, adding that “the risk is biased towards an additional hike in November, especially if activity data shows resilience in coming months.” Westpac remains the only major bank that has not updated its rate forecast to reflect the new inflation and spending data.

  • Anguish stalks Nepal flood survivors whose loved ones were swept away

    Anguish stalks Nepal flood survivors whose loved ones were swept away

    A catastrophic flash flood disaster that swept through mountain villages along the Nepal-China border last Wednesday has left a staggering trail of death and destruction, with more than 160 people confirmed dead and nearly 800 still unaccounted for. The force of the churning mud and debris was so intense that seismologists initially mistook the geological disturbance for a major earthquake, a testament to the unprecedented power of the natural disaster that erased entire settled communities from the map.

    Survivors of the catastrophe have shared harrowing, heart-wrenching accounts of watching their loved ones and entire livelihoods get swept away in minutes, with no time to escape or intervene. Kalpana Malla, a resident of Nepal’s Nuwakot district, described the moment when her parents, sister, and her sister’s young children were pulled into the roiling mudslides right in front of her eyes. “They could not escape the flood; there was no chance at all,” Malla told the BBC. “This flood took everything, but my son and I climbed the rooftop of a house and survived but couldn’t explain how.” Her 16-year-old son Sugam, who pulled his mother to safety when the floodwaters rose, recalled that he had lent his mobile phone to his sister to stay connected, and the device has since gone silent — leaving him certain she was also swept away.

    Other survivors have lost not only family but everything they owned to the disaster. Local resident Goma Pandit explained that all of her cattle, including her valued buffaloes, were killed in the flood, and every bit of her stored crops and farmland was also washed away. “Nothing is left,” she said.

    In the capital city of Kathmandu, dozens of anxious family members have gathered at TU Teaching Hospital, where injured survivors are being transported via helicopter from remote affected areas, waiting for any word of their missing loved ones. Ram Khumari Shrestha held up a photo of her husband, a driver who had traveled to the flood-hit Rasuwa district for work, saying he was in regular contact with her until 8 p.m. on the night of the flood, but his phone has been switched off ever since. Mani Shrestha Bishwa, who has been camping at the hospital since Wednesday night, is still waiting for news of four missing family members and friends, with his last contact with the group coming more than 24 hours before the flood hit.

    Trekking guide Sonam Dorjee escaped the disaster by barely an hour, having left his home village of Rasiwa Syafru at 8 a.m. local time, shortly before the floodwaters slammed into the community. As he drove toward Kathmandu, he heard the roar of the flood hitting the valley, which he described as sounding identical to a major earthquake. “My house has collapsed… I have seen a photo,” he said. Dorjee’s sister, her husband, and multiple other relatives are currently missing, and he echoed calls for emergency support for hundreds of left homeless by the disaster. “Many survivors are now left without homes and they need emergency rescue and evacuation, as well as food, temporary accommodation and medical support,” he said, adding that he still holds out a sliver of hope that his sister will be found alive: “There is a 10% chance, we hope.”

    By Thursday, rescue teams had begun the dangerous work of traversing thick, clinging mud and scattered debris to reach cut-off remote communities, while Nepalese government authorities worked to accelerate the delivery of emergency aid and relief supplies to the disaster zone.

  • Key moments in trial of Lindsay Clancy, the mother accused of murdering her three children

    Key moments in trial of Lindsay Clancy, the mother accused of murdering her three children

    As the five-week high-profile murder trial of Lindsay Clancy draws to its conclusion, closing arguments are scheduled to begin Thursday in a Massachusetts court, bringing a case that has gripped the American public and reignited urgent conversations about maternal mental illness one step closer to a jury verdict. Clancy, a 36-year-old mother from Duxbury, a suburban community outside Boston, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the January 2023 deaths of her three young children: 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan. While Clancy and her legal team have never disputed that she killed her children, her defense rests entirely on an insanity claim that has thrust postpartum psychosis, a little-understood and controversial severe maternal mental health condition, into the center of national discourse. If convicted on all charges, Clancy faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

    Prosecutors lay out a narrative of premeditated violence, alleging that Clancy deliberately planned the killings. According to their account, Clancy sent her husband Patrick out on errands to run an errand and pick up medication on January 24, 2023, before strangling all three children with fitness bands in the family home. After the killings, she jumped from a second-floor window of the house; the fall left her permanently paralyzed, and she has participated in the entire trial from a wheelchair. The defense, by contrast, argues that Clancy was completely incapacitated by untreated severe postpartum psychosis after giving birth to her youngest child, rendering her unable to understand the gravity or morality of her actions. Her legal team has documented a clear pattern of declining mental health in the weeks leading up to the tragedy: Clancy had already voluntarily admitted herself to a psychiatric facility just days before the deaths, had been prescribed more than a dozen different psychiatric medications, had reached out to suicide hotlines and emergency departments for care, and reported persistent suicidal and intrusive thoughts to her family and medical providers.

    Witness testimony over the five-week trial has laid bare deep divides among medical experts over the status and diagnosis of postpartum psychosis. Family members, including Patrick Clancy, have delivered emotional testimony describing Clancy’s rapid mental deterioration starting roughly a month before the killings. Patrick Clancy told jurors that his ex-wife began losing dramatic amounts of weight, withdrew into severe depression, experienced persistent insomnia, and openly shared that she was having suicidal thoughts. He recounted leaving the house to pick up food and medication, returning to find his three children dead, and his 911 call — played for the court — found him screaming “She killed the kids,” a moment that left Clancy sobbing in the courtroom. Even as false conspiracy theories about Patrick Clancy’s involvement have circulated widely on social media, investigators have never named him as a suspect, a fact confirmed by Clancy’s own admission of responsibility for the killings.

    Expert witnesses for both the prosecution and defense have clashed repeatedly over whether Clancy met clinical criteria for postpartum psychosis, a condition that the American Psychiatric Association does not yet formally recognize as a stand-alone diagnosis. Jennifer Tufts, a psychiatrist called by the prosecution who treated Clancy for five months over 12 sessions, testified that Clancy showed no clear signs of psychosis that would have put herself or others at risk. But defense attorneys pushed back on Tufts’ testimony, pointing to her own medical notes that referenced Clancy not having “hyper, pressured speech” — a key symptom of mania associated with postpartum psychosis — arguing the wording indicated Tufts had observed pressured speech. A second prosecution expert, psychiatrist Avram Mack, refused to classify postpartum psychosis as an officially recognized diagnosis, leading to tense exchanges with lead defense attorney Kevin Reddington.

    In the final days before closing arguments, Clancy’s defense team made a last-ditch motion for a mistrial after prosecutors questioned witnesses about Clancy’s Catholic faith, asking about the classification of murder and suicide as mortal sins. Judge William Sullivan denied the mistrial motion but called the line of questioning “absolutely inappropriate” and instructed jurors to completely disregard the testimony.

    The trial has sparked widespread public engagement and grassroots support for Clancy. Court proceedings have drawn huge attention on social media, with thousands following live updates, and hundreds of women have gathered outside the courthouse throughout the trial to demonstrate in support of Clancy, wearing pink shirts printed with slogans including “She Needed Help” and “Peace For Lindsay”.

    For anyone experiencing mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts, support is available through global organizations including Befrienders Worldwide at www.befrienders.org, with additional resources listed for UK audiences at bbc.co.uk/actionline.