An earthquake was initially thought to be the cause; but by Thursday the US Geological Survey (USGS) said “a glacial collapse” was responsible for the disaster. “This event was initially reported as a magnitude 4.4 earthquake. Additional analysis of nearby seismic stations, long period seismic waves, and satellite imagery led to the determination that the seismic event was instead a glacial collapse and debris flow, and that no earthquake had occurred.” The USGS first reported the seismic jolt early on Wednesday about 66km (41 miles) north of Kathmandu, near the…
Month: August 2026
Japan fast-tracks anti-drone system amid China’s military build-up
Tokyo is experimenting with a radically faster way of buying new weapons – picking a domestically built interceptor drone less than three months after launching the procurement process. The defence ministry’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) announced on Tuesday that it had signed a contract to buy Terra Drone’s Terra B1 system following competitive trials. The decision marks the first time the ministry has used its rapid-acquisition approach to acquire drones. ATLA described the roughly three-month process as “unprecedented”. Terra Drone said the B1 was the only system to…
Glacial collapse caused huge flood leaving hundreds dead or missing in Nepal and Tibet
A glacial collapse triggered the catastrophic flash flood in Nepal and Tibet that roared down valleys, wiping out entire villages and leaving a preliminary death toll of at least 165 people, the US Geological Survey said. Rescuers on Thursday raced to locate the hundreds missing, including nationals from India, the US, UK, Australia and Canada. Terrifying videos from the event on Wednesday showed a massive wall of water crashing down on the border as people attempted to flee. Trucks were upended and houses, roads and power projects swept away in…
Global US immigrant visa pause: the fallout across China, Asia and Hong Kong
On August 26, the US State Department announced a temporary pause on immigrant visa interview appointments at all embassies and consulates globally. Explore our complete coverage of its ripple effects across mainland China, Hong Kong, and the rest of Asia. Updated: 27 Aug, 2026 South China Morning Post
China-Nepal flash flood: 362 dead and over 1,000 missing, including hundreds of foreigners
As of Thursday afternoon, three people were confirmed dead and 558 missing on the Chinese side, with 359 dead and at least 667 missing in Nepal. “Nearly 100” Chinese nationals were missing on the Nepalese side, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said in Beijing on Thursday. The Chinese embassy in Nepal was working with local authorities to further verify the information, he added. Those missing on the Chinese side include 260 foreign nationals, according to an official update on Thursday morning from Shigatse, the city in China’s Tibet autonomous region…
Deadly flash flood shown sweeping through valley toward village in Nepal – video
Eyewitness footage captured a flood sweeping through a village in Nepal’s Himalayan region after a massive collapse of mud and rock triggered catastrophic flooding near the border with China’s Tibet region. The video, filmed near Betrawati Bazaar in Uttargaya municipality, showed a torrent of flood water, mud and debris rushing down a mountainside and covering part of a settlement. The Guardian
Nepal flash flood live updates: search on for hundreds missing near Tibet border as officials warn death toll could rise higher
From 51m ago Summary: at least 160 killed in Nepal flash flood as search for hundreds missing continues 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 that washed away houses, roads and border crossings. Verified videos showed dozens…
China launches world’s first 100kW bamboo-built floating solar farm off Shandong coast
China has launched the world’s first 100-kilowatt (kW) floating solar farm built with bamboo frames, offering a more environmentally friendly approach to offshore energy. The floating solar platform, named Jilin-2, is made of composite bamboo tubes and pipes. It has been deployed at a demonstration base off the coast of Yantai in the eastern province of Shandong. It will supply power to an integrated hydrogen, ammonia and methanol production project, manufacturer Yantai CIMC Raffles Ocean Technology Group announced in late June. “Compared to conventional steel or [high-density polythene] structures, the…
Bill Gates warns of AI’s impact, urges the US and China to cooperate
The call to action comes as the billionaire philanthropist and tech titan warns that AI is ushering in “one of the most turbulent times in human history”, which could either become “the greatest equaliser ever invented, or the worst source of injustice”. “[The] countries that host the leading AI developers and control critical parts of the supply chain should begin meeting now to set up shared norms, before competitive pressure makes it harder for them to cooperate,” he wrote. “Building the framework I’m talking about will take years, which is…
Is ‘resource curse’ to blame in regions hit harder by Xi’s anti-corruption campaign?
The South China Morning Post has launched a major data project diving into President Xi Jinping’s signature anti-graft campaign. In the third part of a series accompanying the data project, William Zheng looks at the relationship between rich regional resources and corruption. Beneath the desolate Gobi Desert and sparsely populated mountains of China’s less developed regions lie abundant mineral resources, ranging from coal, the most basic fuel for China’s economy, to critical minerals needed for cutting-edge industrial machinery and state-of-the-art military products. These regions are not only rich in natural…