News for August 27, 2026
Catastrophic floods kill over 360 in Nepal and Tibet, with more than 1,400 missing
DEVIGHAT, Nepal (AP) — Rescue teams and military helicopters are searching for hundreds of missing people along the Nepal-China border. That’s where a deadly torrent of water and mud several stories high swept through communities Wednesday following a glacier collapse. Videos of the disaster showed people running before the floodwaters swallowed them up and washed out buildings and bridges. More than 360 people were killed and more than 1,400 are missing, including scores of foreigners and pilgrims. Hundreds of others have been displaced across the Himalayan region. The steep slopes and lush valleys below the Himalayan mountain range are especially vulnerable to flooding and landslides.
Nepal floods highlight growing glacier risks in warming Himalayas
BENGALURU, India (AP) — Scientists say a deadly flash flood in Nepal on Wednesday was likely caused by a glacier chunk breaking off and temporarily damming a river. This may have led to a surge of water downstream, killing at least 353 people and leaving over 1,300 missing. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 5.2 glacier collapse, causing catastrophic debris flow. Researchers are still analyzing satellite and ground-level data to understand the event. Experts say it’s too early to directly link the disaster to global warming, but note that rising temperatures increase such risks, especially in the rapidly warming Himalayan region.
US goals have shifted after 6 months of Iran war. The Strait of Hormuz is now a top concern
WASHINGTON (AP) — Back in February, President Donald Trump said he expected the war he’d just launched with Iran to last four weeks to five weeks. Since then, he’s made repeated assertions that the war has been won or a deal to resolve it was nearly complete. But there’s no off-ramp in sight as the war reaches the six-month mark. The shape of the war has changed over that time, as have the goals. The United States has had tactical success in meeting goals to degrade Iran’s military capabilities. But some of the other key objectives Trump laid out at the start of the conflict are unfulfilled.
Republicans face a midterm verdict as Iran war drags on months longer than Trump promised
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) — The Iran war has reshaped the rapidly approaching midterm elections. It’s undermining President Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to steer clear of foreign conflicts and it’s challenging Republicans who’d rather focus on their tax cuts as they cling to narrow majorities in Congress. The Republican president’s supporters are undeterred, but the war’s unpopularity and economic ripple effects could tilt the scales in tightly contested House districts. Interviews by Associated Press reporters with voters around the country show how a war that Trump expected to end with a swift victory could undermine the final years of his presidency.
Exclusive: US Patriot missile stocks in Europe are ‘beyond critical’ due to Iran war, officials say
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military faces a “beyond critical” shortage of advanced missile interceptors in Europe largely driven by President Donald Trump’s war with Iran. That’s according to a U.S. defense official in Europe and a NATO official. They spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press to discuss sensitive military matters. The most concerning shortfall involves the Patriot missile interceptors crucial for defending against Russian ballistic missiles. That’s raised concerns about NATO’s vulnerability to a potential Russian attack after U.S. missile stocks were moved to the Middle East and as other countries also are experiencing shortages.
Regional powers seek off-ramp from Iran war, and other Middle East developments
Qatar and other regional powers are seeking an off-ramp from the U.S. war. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was in Tehran on Thursday as part of Qatar’s ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict. Pakistan said Thursday that it was also continuing diplomatic efforts with Iran. Meanwhile an oil tanker was hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. Israel continued its attacks on Gaza despite drawing a sharp rebuke from the top diplomat overseeing the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the territory. The country also removed two Dutch diplomats from the Gaza ceasefire coordination center.
ICE officer charged in Minneapolis shooting released in Texas after immediate extradition rejected
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer charged with shooting a man and lying about it during the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis has been released from a Texas jail after a judge refused to order his return to Minnesota. Christian Castro was released Thursday from a detention center in Brownsville, on the border with Mexico. Castro is charged in Minnesota with assault and falsely reporting a crime in the Jan. 14 shooting of 24-year-old Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis. Under Texas law, Castro had to be released from jail Thursday. Minnesota officials believe Castro could flee to Mexico.
Vigil held in Pakistan for 14 newborns as investigators probe cause of fatal hospital fire
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Investigators are visiting the hospital nursery in Pakistan’s capital where a fire killed 14 newborn babies. Grieving families and the public are seeking answers about the cause of the blaze and the safety measures at the major government facility in Islamabad. The fire on Wednesday was confined to the nursery and officials said the fire spread so quickly that staff were able to rescue only one baby among the 15 on the maternity ward. The investigators were to take statements from staff and relatives on Thursday. Hospital and district officials initially said an exploding air-conditioning unit caused the fire. The hospital now says a blast involving a nebulizer sparked the blaze.
Ratko Mladic, ex-Bosnian Serb warlord who oversaw atrocities, dies in prison at 84
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Ratko Mladic, the notorious Bosnian Serb general, has died at 84 while serving a life sentence for war crimes. U.N. officials confirmed his death in a prison hospital in The Hague. Mladic was sentenced in 2017 for his role in the Bosnian conflict, which left over 100,000 dead. He commanded forces responsible for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, where more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed. Despite his conviction, Mladic remained defiant, never expressing remorse. His death highlights the ongoing struggle for justice and reconciliation in the Balkans.
Yayoi Kusama, who splashed polka dots across the art world, dies at 97 in Tokyo
TOKYO (AP) — Pioneering Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has died. She was 97. Yayoi Kusama Studio said she died at a hospital in Tokyo on Aug. 14. Kusama splashed her signature polka dots on paintings, sculptures and museum installations around the world. Repetitive motifs were her trademark. They came in various shapes, resembling netting, swirls or worms, but most often dots, dancing proudly on her canvases, or as sparkling balls or dots of light in her installations, in all their vibrant psychedelic glory.
