Geologists and glacier experts preliminarily believe a massive glacier collapse was a key factor behind devastating flash floods in Nepal on Wednesday. Satellite analysis indicated that a roughly 2,000-foot-wide section of glacier, located at about 17,000 feet, broke away and plunged about 4,000 feet into a valley. The event occurred about 40 miles north of Kathmandu, with ice and water flowing northwest toward the Bhote Koshi River on the Nepal-China border.

Experts said the falling ice released substantial stored energy, breaking into a fast, dangerous mixture of ice, water and rock. Seismic data showed a sudden downslope movement at about 8:40 a.m. local time, followed by signs of floodwater flow. The USGS initially identified a 4.4-magnitude earthquake but later said no earthquake had occurred; it described vibrations from the landslide as equivalent to a 5.2-magnitude seismic event.

Scientists have not confirmed the precise cause, noting that videos show unusually large water volumes that may indicate additional factors. They have not ruled out climate change, as satellite images showed rapidly shrinking snow cover before the event, but say it is too early to establish a direct link. Hundreds remain missing in Nepal and China’s Tibet region, while rescue work is complicated by remote terrain and debris.

Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Meteorology has issued a red alert for Mecca, forecasting heavy rainfall in several parts of the city. The Saudi Civil Defense said the region could face severely adverse weather conditions and urged residents to take precautions and follow safety instructions issued by relevant authorities.

Civil Defense advised people to stay away from waterlogged areas, valleys and locations near dams for their safety. The National Center for Meteorology’s red alert is its highest-level weather warning and is issued when weather conditions requiring extreme caution are expected.

Mecca province has experienced unstable weather in recent days, with rainfall of varying intensity reported across different areas. Earlier, on August 21, the meteorological agency issued warnings for heavy rain in Al-Ardiyat and Al-Qunfudhah provinces, along with possible strong winds, hail, thunderstorms and flash floods.

China has expressed interest in investing about Tk10,000 crore to build multi-storey housing in the Gulshan, Korail and Mohakhali slum areas of Dhaka, State Minister for Local Government Mir Shah Alam said on Thursday. He disclosed the proposal after meeting Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen at the Local Government Ministry in the Secretariat, where they discussed Chinese cooperation and investment prospects in Bangladesh’s development projects.

Shah Alam said China also wants to expand investment in renewable energy, water and waste management. The two countries are advancing cooperation on producing electricity from waste, alongside the proposed housing projects. The discussion also covered strengthening political and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and China.

An event to sign a memorandum of understanding on waste-to-energy cooperation is scheduled in Beijing on September 2, according to the state minister. Ambassador Yao said China’s relationship with the current government has reached a new height and became stronger after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s China visit. China is also interested in investing in Chinese-language education and developing language-skilled workers in Bangladesh.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called on Muslim countries to expand economic cooperation, saying their economic scale is small compared with their population and geostrategic position. He made the appeal in a speech at the 40th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, Iran’s capital.

Pezeshkian stressed unity among Muslim countries despite differences of opinion. He said the 57 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, spanning Southeast Asia to Africa, are situated around key maritime and land routes and possess energy resources, young populations and a large market.

He said only 19 percent of member states’ exports remain within the group, while the rest go to countries outside the OIC. The Iranian president urged Muslim countries to increase trade among themselves.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said China is actively working with Bangladesh to address the country’s current energy crisis through renewable energy development, particularly solar power. Speaking to reporters after a Thursday morning meeting at the Secretariat with Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moin Khan and State Minister Mir Shahe Alam, he said both countries want to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Yao said China sees an opportunity to use its technological capabilities to help meet Bangladesh’s energy shortfall. He said the prime minister’s recent visit to China created a new historic opportunity for cooperation between the two countries. According to him, they decided to build a “China-Bangladesh community with a shared future in the new era,” adding a new dimension to bilateral relations.

He said notable economic progress had been made in the two months following the visit. The foundation stone for Bangladesh’s first special economic zone project with Chinese assistance has been laid, while a feasibility study for the Teesta River project is under way. Construction of a women’s residential hall at Dhaka University and a hospital is progressing, and discussions are continuing on increasing direct flights between Bangladesh and China.

A sudden flood struck Nepal’s Tibet-bordering areas on Wednesday morning, sending water and mud through Nuwakot, Dhading and surrounding areas. Witnesses said the surge swept across a wide area, burying homes and structures beneath mud. Local resident Deepika said she alerted her family after seeing the floodwater and mud approaching at about 9:30am, and they took refuge on their roof.

Although Deepika’s family survived, the ground floor of their home was completely filled with mud and they could not recover furniture or essential belongings. Even a water vessel kept for drinking was buried several feet under mud, leaving them without a glass of drinkable water. Witnesses described the landscape as a grey sea of mud, with temple spires, parts of two-storey houses and large rocks from the hills visible in places.

Twenty-four-year-old worker Bibek Kumal was swept away while fleeing a construction site but survived after becoming lodged in a mango tree; his right leg was seriously injured by the current and rocks. Eleven-year-old student Rihana Lamichhane was injured while attempting to cross a river during the flood and was rescued and admitted to hospital.

State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Bagerhat-3 MP Sheikh Faridul Islam said the Bangladesh Coast Guard has played a firm role in seizing banned polythene. Speaking on Wednesday in Mongla, Bagerhat, he said Coast Guard operations had recovered banned polythene worth several crore taka. He made the remarks after inaugurating the Coast Guard Tree Plantation Programme 2026.

The programme, held under the theme “Let us decorate the country through tree planting, Bangladesh first,” was organised by Enroute Foundation under the overall supervision of the Bangladesh Coast Guard. About 9,400 saplings are planned for planting in different areas of the Coast Guard’s West Zone, with environmental protection and biodiversity conservation in Mongla and nearby coastal areas prioritised.

Sheikh Faridul Islam said tree planting is important for maintaining coastal environmental balance, conserving biodiversity and addressing adverse effects of climate change. He stressed both expanded planting and proper care and protection of planted trees. He also called for continued operations to stop the use of environmentally harmful banned polythene. Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon said similar environmental activities will continue in the future.

At least 12 people have died and 54 others were injured in wildfires across northeastern Algeria, authorities said on Wednesday. Families were evacuated from the worst-hit areas as fires spread during an intense heatwave affecting Algeria and neighbouring Tunisia.

Interior Minister Said Sayoud said five deaths were recorded in Jijel prefecture, four in Bejaia and three in Tizi Ouzou. He said 54 burn patients were admitted to hospital, including six in critical condition.

Civil protection teams recorded 154 fire incidents nationwide on Wednesday, with 36 reported in Bejaia province. Eighteen of the Bejaia fires had been brought under control. Firefighters contained blazes in Skikda, El Tarf, Bouira, Tizi Ouzou and Tebessa provinces, while operations were continuing in Bejaia.

BNP-elected lawmaker and Jatiya Sangsad Whip Advocate M Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu has recommended Bangladesh Bank director Swapan Kumar Goswami for appointment or nomination as a deputy governor. In a letter sent to the finance minister on June 22, Dulu requested favourable consideration of the proposed appointment.

The letter said Goswami is serving as a director at Bangladesh Bank’s head office and has established himself as a capable and responsible official through honesty, competence and professional excellence. It cited his experience in central banking, financial-sector supervision, policy formulation and implementation, banking regulation, risk management, financial stability and administrative leadership.

Dulu’s letter said Bangladesh Bank is carrying out reforms aimed at strengthening governance and regulatory structures, managing defaulted loans, restoring financial discipline, improving accountability and building a modern central bank system aligned with international standards. It said Goswami’s experience, leadership and skills could contribute significantly to these efforts. Asked about the letter, Dulu said he wrote it because Goswami is a voter from his constituency.

Five merged Islamic banks have filed 10,000 cases to recover defaulted loans, seeking to protect depositors’ interests and retrieve funds held up in the banking system. The information was presented on Thursday at a meeting between the Bangladesh Bank governor and the Bank Resolution Department, where progress on loan recovery and restructuring was reviewed. Bangladesh Bank assistant spokesperson Shahriar Siddiqui confirmed the details.

The banks are pursuing conventional legal action alongside negotiated alternatives, including an exit policy and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, to speed up loan collection and settle disputes. A forensic audit into irregularities, corruption, loan fraud and misuse of assets during the banks’ previous ownership and management is in its final stage, with the aim of identifying those involved.

Bangladesh Bank said the combined Islamic bank has reconstituted its board with emphasis on independent directors and appointed a chief executive officer on July 16. Integration work covers about 16,000 employees, technology systems and a common interface allowing depositors to withdraw funds from any branch of the five banks. Consolidation and restructuring of 780 branches and 1,500 business units are continuing.

A converted artisanal trawling boat caught about 80 maunds of hilsa in two days in the Bay of Bengal near Kuakata, Patuakhali. The FB Abdullah arrived at Alipur Fish Landing Centre on Wednesday afternoon with the catch, which was auctioned by Sifat Fish for about Tk20 lakh. Its skipper Badsha said 18 fishers went to deep sea four days earlier and netted the large haul near the last buoy of Payra Port on Tuesday. He said the fish were comparatively small.

Fishers from Kuakata, Mohipur, Alipur and Ashakhali said they often return at a loss after failing to cover fuel, ice, food and labour costs. They allege that illegal trawling boats use fish finders, GPS, radar and fine-mesh nets to locate shoals and catch large quantities at once, reducing opportunities for ordinary fishers.

Experts warn that catching small hilsa, fry and other marine animals could reduce breeding stock and harm biodiversity. Fisheries official Apu Saha said legal action is being taken under the marine fisheries law, with boat owners warned and several boats previously seized and prosecuted.

Nepal faces a renewed risk of severe flash flooding near its border with Tibet after a devastating flood, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has warned. The alert follows a destructive surge on Wednesday morning, when a massive upstream flow reported to be about 100 metres high swept through the Timure market area. More than 300 cargo trucks waiting at a customs point, along with other vehicles, were submerged.

The disaster was initially linked to a possible earthquake, but the United States Geological Survey said it began with intense debris flow caused by glacier collapse and landslides. ICIMOD issued a detailed assessment after widespread damage in Nepal and Tibet, warning that large volumes of sediment and debris carried by mountain runoff and landslides could trigger another disaster.

Experts are examining whether sediment and debris have fully blocked narrow sections of the Trishuli River, potentially creating temporary landslide dams. If such a natural barrier suddenly fails, accumulated water and sediment could rapidly surge downstream and cause another destructive flash flood. Authorities and scientists are assessing possible barriers, their size and stability, while closely monitoring riverside and low-lying areas before issuing further warnings.

Flash floods in Nepal’s Rasuwa region have killed 270 people and left more than 1,500 missing, according to Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal. Speaking at the NDTV World Anvixa Summit in Kathmandu on Thursday, he said powerful mud and water flows destroyed towns and villages within hours, leaving thousands of families homeless. Authorities are still working to assess the full scale of the damage.

Khanal said at least 300 Indian citizens are among those missing. Many had been using the Tibet-bound route for the Manasarovar pilgrimage. He added that Nepal has been unable to establish contact with at least 500 foreign nationals in total and is maintaining round-the-clock communication with embassies to address their safety and welfare.

The minister described the flooding as one of Nepal’s worst recent disasters. He said the immediate priorities are rescuing stranded people and delivering emergency relief, while thanking India for sending assistance. Khanal also sought global support for reconstruction and said much of Nepal remains safe for visitors, with Pokhara and the Mount Everest region open to tourists.

Sudden floods and landslides have caused heavy loss of life in Rasuwa and several neighbouring districts of Nepal’s central Bagmati Province. AFP has released photographs showing scenes from flood-affected parts of the country.

The source describes the disaster as affecting central Nepal, with Rasuwa identified as one of the areas hit. It says the flooding and landslides caused widespread fatalities, but provides no figures, dates, or further details about the victims.

The published AFP images document the flood-ravaged conditions in Nepal. The source does not provide information on rescue operations, official assessments, damage estimates, or planned next steps.

Severe floods and landslides in Himalayan areas along the Nepal-China border have left about 1,500 people missing, including at least 800 foreign nationals from 28 countries. Nepal police said the death toll could exceed 165 after flash flooding inundated border settlements and valleys on Wednesday. In Nepal, 826 people are missing, while Tibet’s Gyirong County has reported another 558 missing people.

Nearly 600 of those missing in Nepal are foreign citizens. They include 177 Indians, 63 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 Britons and 25 Canadians. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said 260 of the missing people in Gyirong County are foreigners. The affected region is an important route for pilgrims and tourists travelling to Kailash-Manasarovar.

More than 5,000 army and police personnel have been deployed for rescue operations in Nepal. Food, tents and emergency supplies are being delivered by helicopter to remote areas, while neighbouring India has sent relief assistance. US geological survey officials said the event was primarily caused by tremors from collapsing glacier rock and ice, followed by landslides. The United States pledged $500,000, and the United Nations and other countries are supporting rescue and relief work.