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Nepal intensifies relief and recovery efforts after deadly floods, UN says
The UN reports that Nepal has intensified relief and recovery efforts following the devastating flash floods on the Nepal-Tibet frontier a week earlier, while rescuers are scrambling to find anyone still alive.
The UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson said that for thousands of people, it is the delivery of aid, the recovery and reunion with loved ones.
According to Nepal’s Disaster Agency, at least 1,114 have been killed in Nepal. Nearly 4,000 others are still missing. Chinese state-run media reported that 21 people have died in Tibet, and more than 540 are still missing.
Rescue efforts continue to save workers believed to number in the hundreds who are trapped in Nepalese tunnels.
Last Wednesday, an enormous flash flood that was believed to be caused by a glacial slide swept a Himalayan Valley, destroying villages.
According to Nepal’s Disaster Management Agency, nearly 12,000 people were rescued since then.
But there are thousands of missing people, including foreigners from India, Australia, UK, USA, Malaysia, and many other countries. After a week, there are increasing fears that the death count will continue to rise.
Rescue teams from China continue to look for over 500 missing people on the Tibetan border. However, they are yet to locate survivors near the Gyirong Port crossing between Nepal and Tibet.
Beijing controls Tibet, which it annexed in 1950. State media is the only source of information and journalists from abroad are not allowed to travel without prior permission.
Chinese media reported that rescuers, using heavy machinery and working round the clock, were able to open the Gyirong crossing route, clear it of debris and speed up the search for missing people.
Experts from China and India help build temporary bridges in remote areas to assist with rescue operations. Drones will be used to search for survivors in hard-to-reach areas.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the biggest challenge for the humanitarian effort is the lack of access. More than 40 bridges have been destroyed.
Fuel and electricity are still a problem in many villages. The remotest communities rely on helicopter flights from the army for their supplies.
It is not clear what the full effect of this flood will be in Tibet. China’s state-run media has shown the destruction around its border but provided few details on the number of victims and the effect it had on the local population.
Nearly 3,500 Nepalese people are homeless or displaced from their homes in 27 locations, mostly schools. This disrupts the education of children across Nuwakot District and Rasuwa.
OCHA stated that the overcrowded shelters and contaminated water, as well as damaged health facilities, put the people at risk for disease during the rainy season.
Balendra Shah said that there is a renewed focus on providing psychological counseling, medical care and protection of the survivors’ lives.
Shah said in the parliament that on Wednesday, “the disaster snatched mothers, fathers and sisters from us, all at once”.
He added that “we don’t have the luxury to rest just because we are tired.” There is no time for us to weep together, when our hearts are broken.
He told me that at 8:45 am local time, he received the news of a flooding on August 26. 15 minutes after that, the district administration offices called on people to leave riverbanks, while at 9:35 warnings for mobiles in affected areas were issued.
He said that the floods were “beyond forecasts” and could not be predicted.
According to a new report, there were signs of increasing instability in the area around the glacier days before it collapsed. According to the experts of the Asian Mountain Academic Alliance (AMAA), the Stimson Centre and China’s Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, better early warning systems could have prevented deaths.
Climate change has been a concern for scientists in the Himalayas since years. This is because of the melting ice, and even permafrost (which is frozen soil that dates back centuries) due to global warming.
Shah stated that the Himalayan region is facing escalating climate-related risks. He added it was time to “present to the international community a compelling case regarding the catastrophes we suffer” in the wake of this.
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US government limits travel to Mexican border city amid security warning
Travel restrictions have been placed on U.S. government employees in the Mexican border city of Nogales, Sonora, according to officials.
The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico on Saturday issued a warning restricting government activity over an unspecified threat in Nogales, Sonora, in Mexico.
“Due to threat information, U.S. government activities in, and travel to, Nogales have been restricted to essential movement during daylight hours only,” the U.S. Consulate General in Nogales said in a statement.
STATE DEPARTMENT URGES AMERICANS TO AVOID MEXICAN CITY JUST ACROSS TEXAS BORDER
“We are alerting U.S. citizens of this threat and change in posture,” the statement continued.
Sonora’s State Security Board said it contacted U.S. consular officials after the alert was issued but did not provide information identifying a specific threat. State authorities said they had no information establishing a concrete risk to the public, though they would continue preventive security operations in Nogales.
The alert also reminded Americans that the U.S. Travel Advisory designates Sonora as a Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” area.
Anyone in the area is urged to exercise increased caution and be aware of their surroundings, seek shelter in the event of an incident, notify friends and family of their safety in the event of an incident, follow instructions from Mexican law enforcement, and monitor local media for updates.
U.S. lawmakers also encouraged people in the area to pay attention to the warnings issued by the U.S. government.
“For Americans in or near Nogales – or who may have family members or friends there: please heed the guidance and warnings from the U.S. government,” Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., said on X.
“We are praying for the safety of U.S. citizens and personnel who may be in harm’s way,” he added.
AMERICANS WARNED POPULAR TRAVEL ROUTES THIS SUMMER COULD CARRY CRIME AND KIDNAPPING RISKS
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It remains unclear what threat in Nogales triggered the security warning.
TravelNews
Amazon cargo plane crashes at Miami airport after overrunning runway
By ANTHONY IZAGUIIRRE, DAVID FISCHER, and JOSH FUNK
MIAMI, FL (AP) – An Amazon cargo jet slammed into a car and exploded in flames at Miami International Airport, killing five and wounding five more people, according to authorities.
Around 2 pm, the aircraft, which had arrived from San Juan in Puerto Rico, overran the runway and crashed into a road that was used by workers at the nearby airport and businesses. Miami-Dade County officials announced at a press conference that five people died, two were hospitalized for less serious injuries and three others suffered critical injuries.
The plane’s impact did not immediately reveal if any of the passengers survived, or if all the victims were in cars.
Miami-Dade Rescue Fire chief Ray Jadallah said that the crash trapped both the copilot and pilot in the cockpit, and other passengers in vehicles. Crews had to rescue a trapped person under a car, according to the agency.
Flights were halted at this busy hub of travel for most of the afternoon. The department reported that 200 emergency workers responded to the scene and found the aircraft with smoke and heavy flames from an engine compartment fire. The fire was extinguished by firefighters using foam supplied by specialized airport firefighting teams. Crews are still dealing with the fuel leak in the aircraft hours after the incident.
Images showed that the Prime Air aircraft came to rest next to a road near two semi trucks. Images showed that the aircraft was resting on its back and remained intact, despite being damaged by fire.
It was unclear if the weather played any role in this incident. According to the National Weather Service, the National Weather Service recorded thunderstorms in the region at that time and winds gusts of up to 48 kph (30 mph).
21 Air is a North Carolina-based cargo company that operated the flight. Flightradar24, a flight tracking site, reports that the 32-year old Boeing 767 originally was built for passenger transport and served for over two decades for various airlines. It then became a cargo aircraft in 2015.
FlightAware’s website, which tracks disruptions in flight, reported that more than 160 flights had been canceled, and 325 were delayed, as of late Sunday. Orlando International Airport officials, located more than 200 km (320 miles) north of Miami said that some flights had been diverted to their airport.
The National Transportation Safety Board announced that it would send a team led by Jennifer Homendy, its Chairperson to Miami to conduct an investigation.
Amazon stated in a press release that they would be willing to cooperate with any investigations.
The company expressed its sorrow at the loss of five lives. Our deepest sympathy goes out to all the affected families and loved ones.
A UPS aircraft crashed last year after it lost its engine as it was accelerating along the runway of Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport. All three pilots were killed in the crash, as well as 12 other people. 23 more people were also injured.
Steve Arroyo, an aviation safety expert, said that on domestic flights a 767-cargo aircraft is typically manned by only a copilot and pilot. For an international flight a third pilot is required, while a long distance international flight requires a fourth.
Arroyo is a long-time United Airlines veteran pilot who wants to know if the Amazon aircraft landed within the landing zone and, if not, why the plane didn’t abort the landing attempt and line up again for a second try. The landing zone usually lies within the first 3,014 feet of the runway.
He asked, “Did it land in the designated touchdown zone?” If it did, then what happened?
Mary Schiavo is a former Transportation Department inspector general and pilot. She said the video of the Amazon landing showed the plane lingering above the runway without raising the nose to push the main landing gear down.
It didn’t land immediately, so by continuing to hover over the runway it wasted a great deal of valuable real estate. Schiavo stated that the plane was still literally flying.
The FAA has installed arresting systems at over 120 airports across the country to stop aircraft that go beyond the runway end. The FAA credits the beds of lightweight material that can be crushed at the end a runway with saving at least 497 planes from overrunning runways.
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Funk reported on the story from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press journalists Tim Reynolds, Rio Yamat and Wufei Yo contributed from Miami.
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U.S. envoys ‘very encouraged’ after peace talks in Moscow and Kyiv
Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Donald Trump’s envoys held “very important” discussions with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday in Kyiv. They had similar talks the day before in Moscow with Vladimir Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine.
Witkoff told reporters that the initial talks with Zelenskyy were “substantial” and “important.”
He added, “We feel very optimistic.”
Kushner said in a separate comment that Trump is “very determined” to end this war.
The specifics on any proposed solution to the conflict were not given by either party.
They arrived by train in Kyiv on Sunday morning after a flight to Poland from Moscow.
Ukraine has been, and always will be constructive. Before the meeting, Zelenskyy stated on social media that Ukraine had “ready proposals.”
The visits will take place over the weekend. Both Russia and Ukraine have agreed not to launch aerial attacks against each other’s respective capitals. This has brought a temporary respite to the cities. However, there is no wider ceasefire in place.
Washington has been trying to resolve the conflict for nearly five years, but momentum was slowed down by the Iran War.
The front line has seen little movement in recent months, but the talks are taking place ahead of a winter that will be difficult for Kyiv. It is currently facing a shortage of U.S. made interceptor missiles capable of repelling Russian attacks against its energy infrastructure.
Witkoff, Trump’s daughter-in-law and Kushner are believed to have made their first visit to Kyiv on Sunday as part of an effort to promote peace. Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law, has been to Moscow multiple times. His most recent visit was in January when he met with Putin at Kremlin.
Witkoff appeared to have struck a warm tone with Putin on Saturday. He told Putin in a video released by Russia’s state owned news outlet RIA Novosti that he and the Russian delegation were reflecting about how, “when we retire…we’ll have incredible stories and memories…and yours will right at the very top.”
Putin’s public statements did not indicate any change in his demands for Ukraine. These were very steep and demanded major concessions. In the video he praised Witkoff, Kushner, saying: “Working with you has been a pleasant experience, and I would say we have a great deal of confidence in you during this process.”
Witkoff, who met Zelenskyy on Sunday, also praised the Ukrainian leader for his “unsurpassed” hospitality.
The White House said that “substantive plans” for next steps in ending the war was at the heart of the discussions.
The official told NBC News that the next steps will be revealed in the coming week, and the U.S. delegates are looking forward to having “equally fruitful meetings” with Ukrainian delegates.
The officials added that representatives from the National Security Council and State Department, as well as the Treasury Department, attended the Saturday meeting, which lasted for more than three-hours.
Yury Ushakov, a Putin’s aide, told Russian media that Sunday the “informal dining room setting” was “substantive and constructive,” and “extremely frank, open and trustworthy.” He noted that it was the 8th time that the U.S. delegation had visited Russia, and that Putin extended “best wishes to Trump”.
Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv aimed to achieve the “most substantive, constructive visit, and negotiation with the American party possible.”
He said: “We will see what Steve and Jared propose, and how they hear about it in Moscow.”
In remarks made following the weekly Angelus Sunday prayer, Pope Leo XIV expressed his hope that these talks “would bear concrete fruit and create space for diplomacy.”
He said that his heart went out to those who have suffered for many years in fear and anguish. “I renew my appeal to end the violence and stop the destruction, and open our hearts to dialogue and peace,” he added.
Before the talks began, Russia intensified its bombardments of Kyiv, and other Ukrainian cities, taking advantage of Ukraine’s lack of air defence systems.
The Russian drone that struck the Ukraine Security Service (SBU), one of Russia’s agencies responsible for deep strike operations, on Friday, was one of Kyiv’s most important government building.
Zelenskyy posted on social media Saturday that Russia launched strikes overnight at the international airports of Kyiv, Boryspil, and linked the attack with the U.S. trip.
He said: “Clearly, the Russian attacks on airports were a response to discussions and preparations regarding the possible use of an American aircraft by the U.S. to fly to Ukraine.”
Kyiv has “taken notice of this Russian action” and will “adjust the operation in accordance with Russian airspace which is dangerous due to our drones, and missiles flying above.”
In a Friday morning press conference in the Oval Office where he spoke with journalists, Trump stated that Kushner had done a great job in his efforts to advance the peace process in preparation for their trips to Moscow and Kyiv.
He said, “We sent the team over to check if we could get anything done.” There’s a chance we will do it.
TravelNews
Trump-aligned super PAC to spend $10 million in Texas Senate race
According to a Saturday report submitted to the Federal Election Commission, the Donald Trump-aligned MAGA Inc. Super PAC intends to spend millions in the Texas Senate Race.
MAGA Inc. is reportedly spending $10,000,000 on television and digital advertising in this race. The filing suggests that the group will target state Rep. James Talarico as the Democratic candidate for Senate in Texas.
This new spending is coming as Republicans are calling on Trump’s political machine to be more active in midterm elections, especially in Texas, where Attorney General Ken Paxton beat Republican Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP primaries earlier this year, after Trump had endorsed Paxton.
Some of Cornyn’s Senate GOP co-workers have expressed concern that Paxton may have an easier time in the general election because of his past controversy.
Paxton, a Republican state representative in the 2023 legislative session of the House of Representatives was impeached on charges of corruption and misappropriation of trust. He was acquitted after trial by the State Senate. Paxton’s state senator wife Angela Paxton announced last year that she filed for divorce with the attorney general on “biblical grounds” in light of new discoveries. She declined to elaborate.
The events of the past two weeks have caused some Texas Republicans to doubt Paxton’s ability to win an statewide election. This is especially true this year as Republicans are hoping to keep their majority in both the House and Senate.
John Thune (R-S.D. ), Senate Majority leader, urged Trump’s campaign to invest in Texas where he estimated that advertising there costs around $8 million per week.
Thune, a Fox News commentator this week, said that “their resources must be focused on Texas as it is a state we cannot lose” if we want to hold on to the Republican majority.
Four people who were involved with GOP strategy said that the majority leader made his comments as Republicans focused on winning the House and Senate in the midterm elections became frustrated by the lack of involvement from the President in the campaign.
One person said, “President Trump is aware that he must care about midterm elections and the success or the party.” It’s still too early to say whether Trump did enough.
Republicans in particular have asked the president to use a portion of his MAGA Inc. campaign fund as soon as possible on Senate elections, especially Texas.
“The President said he was going to run for office and he would spend money,” a GOP operative who is involved in the midterm campaign told NBC News. Time will show if it was a mistake to wait so long.
Trump announced on Wednesday that he would travel to support GOP candidates across the nation, including Paxton. This is ahead of the November midterm elections.
The president said to reporters, “We are going to Texas to work with Ken Paxton. He’s an amazing guy.”
Adding: “You may not like how he looks.” He addressed the recent criticism aimed at Paxton’s clothing. His look might not be to your taste. “You might not like his TV interviews but the fact that he is the best Attorney General in the nation speaks louder than that suit that doesn’t seem so good.”
MAGA Inc. reported that it had over $400 million on hand as of the 31st July, according to its most recent report.
This week, the group started airing national TV advertisements highlighting Trump’s agenda.
The president told reporters on Friday that he would use the war chest of MAGA Inc. to boost Republican candidates during the midterms.
“I’m sure I have close to a bazillion dollars in my super PAC and I will be allocating $400-500 million.” “I’ll spend, and we’ll spend,” he stated.
Trump later added, “I will contribute to the campaigns of Republicans I believe are great.” Trump said, “I’m going spend as much money as necessary to help us. I will give to people that I believe are good and who I know can or want to win.”
TravelNews
Putin meets with US envoy at Kremlin for renewed talks on ending the war in Ukraine
The Russian president Vladimir Putin and the U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff & Jared Kushner met at the Kremlin Saturday to discuss a way to restart the stalled effort to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Both sides intensified their aerial attacks at the time of the envoys visit. Both Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to stop strikes against each other’s capitols during the talks.
Washington has lost its momentum in the fight to stop the war as the United States has focused on the Iran conflict for the last six months. Witkoff, Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law and Kushner last visited Moscow in January when they met with Putin.
First trip for American emissaries to Kyiv
Ukrainian officials announced that both U.S. peace envoys would visit Kyiv on Sunday for the very first time during the process of the Peace Process.
Putin told Kushner, Witkoff, and Kushner to convey his gratitude and warm wishes to Trump. He also described the Ukraine situation as “not easy.” Russian forces invaded Ukraine in full force on February 24, 2022.
Dmitry Peskov, the presidential spokesperson who spoke to Russia’s Tass News Agency, said that Vladimir Putin (Russian president) has ordered no attacks against Kyiv in three days starting today at midnight.
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is prepared to stop strikes against Moscow until Monday. Zelenskyy said that he had spoken to the U.S. delegation on Saturday after they arrived in Moscow.
He said that “from now until the end of the weekend, Sunday, and Monday we are ready to abstain from any strikes against Moscow and expect the Russians do the same towards Kyiv.”
Tass reports that Russian ambassador Kirill Dmitriev met the U.S. delegation at Moscow’s airport. Dmitriev posted photos with the caption “Welcome Peacemakers to Moscow” of his meeting the U.S. envoys as they debarked.
The peace process is at a standstill
Russia, having failed to achieve peace, has increased its bombardments on Kyiv, and other major cities, which have continued into the daylight, exploiting Ukraine’s lack of air defence systems.
A Russian drone struck one of Kyiv’s most important government building on Friday — the SBU headquarters, the Ukraine Security Service. The SBU is one of several agencies that are involved in deep strike operations in Russia.
Ukraine’s long-range attacks have targeted Russian oil refineries, military bases, and electronic commerce hubs in an effort to weaken the Kremlin’s war efforts and economy as well as making ordinary citizens suffer the effects of war.
Zelenskyy links Russian attacks to the visit of envoys
As troops struggle to advance along the frontline of 1,250 kilometers (775 miles), there has been an intensification in the air war. Russia is now using jet-powered drones that fly fast. The constant shrieking of the air raid sirens in Kyiv has also become a part of everyday life.
Zelenskyy posted on social media on Saturday that Russia carried out strikes overnight on the international airports of Kyiv, Boryspil, and connected the attack with the planned U.S. trip.
He said: “Clearly, the Russian attacks on airports were a response to discussions and preparations regarding the possible use of an American aircraft by the U.S. to fly to Ukraine.”
We have noted this Russian action and will be adjusting our operations accordingly next week regarding Russian airspace that has now become unsafe because of our missiles and drones flying in the skies. There are no diplomatic threats from us.
Russian attacks kill many civilians across Ukraine
Oleksandr Hansha, the local head of military administration in Dnipropetrovsk Region, Ukraine’s south Dnipropetrovsk area said that five people were killed and five injured by Russians at a industrial facility. Oleksandr Hanzha said that the victims were employees of the industrial site.
Locksmith, electrician, plumber, and machinist. They were people with peaceful occupations. The workers were just doing their job. When enemy missiles took their lives, they were just doing their jobs.
Hanzha reported that a 62-year old man suffered injuries, as well as damage to several houses and an apartment block, during a separate incident in the Nikopol District of the region.
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday that they had struck two metal-processing plants in the area, calling them “major providers of metal products to Ukraine’s defense production.”
Oleh Simiehubov, the regional administrator, said that a Russian drone struck Chuhuiv, a Ukrainian town in eastern Kharkiv, injuring and killing three people.
A 19-year old woman, a boy of 11 years and a man aged 45 were the victims. Syniehubov stated that the strike had destroyed a residence, a shed and garage. As local authorities searched for additional victims, firefighters were fighting a fire.
Local officials reported that two people died and one was injured in Saturday’s Russian drone strike on Bucha, a Ukrainian district located within the Kyiv Region. Tymur Tkachenko, the head of regional military administration in Ukraine’s Kyiv region said earlier on Saturday that two people had been wounded during an attack overnight on the Bucha district.
Tkachenko reported that as of Saturday night, 28 buildings in five districts had been damaged. He said that the damage included apartment and private buildings, as well as warehouses, railroad tracks, an agricultural company’s land, and vehicles.
Ukraine’s emergency services reported that Russian forces repeatedly attacked a shopping centre in southern Mykolaiv with drones over the course of the night, damaging retail establishments and causing fires. Two people, a 72-year old man and a girl aged 17 were injured.
The emergency services stated that the crews who responded to the attacks were forced to retreat repeatedly to safety due to the danger of more strikes and returned whenever the conditions permitted.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia had launched missiles and sent 167 drones to attack Ukraine overnight from Rostov-Voronezh. These drones were a mix of Shahed aircraft (around half jet powered) as well as Geran drones and decoys. According to Ukrainian air forces, Ukrainian air defences have shot down or suppressed at least 128 drones.
Local authorities reported that two Ukrainians were killed in an attack on Russia’s Belrogod Region, near the Ukraine border, and three other people injured on Saturday.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced that it had destroyed 53 Ukrainian drones in the past night.
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