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When an immense and inexorable flow of rock, mud and water barreled through northern Nepal on August 26, it killed more than 1,200 people and left thousands still missing. The magnitude of the event caught even experts on the region’s geology off guard. “The victims, their pain and all the ruined towns … it is almost impossible to believe,” says geological engineer Ranjan Dahal of Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, Nepal, who has studied geohazards in the Himalaya for nearly 30 years. “I don’t think even Hollywood could make such a movie.” Sign up for our newsletter We summarize the week’s…

In Brazil, community-based land management of collective territories has produced striking results for conservation.The social situation of these communities is less encouraging, though, with nearly half of households living a precarious existence, suggesting income-transfer programs linked to conservation, like the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), could make a difference — if implemented well.“Community-based conservation, with its proven effectiveness, would be a compelling focus [for] this type of investment, especially in Brazil,” a new op-ed argues.This article is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of Mongabay.See All Key Ideas More than half a…

Patrick Butler’s article on the rising number of people leaving employment to provide unpaid care resonated with me, both as an unpaid carer and as a researcher in this field (About 1,500 Britons a day quitting their jobs to become unpaid carers, 16 September). The juggle between paid work and caring responsibilities is a daily reality for millions. The report from Carers UK is a welcome reminder of this often-hidden issue, highlighting not only the growing care needs of older people but also the increasing numbers of younger people who rely on unpaid care. The midwife Jacqui Hylton’s observation in…

Claim: Turning Point USA CEO and co-founder Charlie Kirk said George Floyd was a “scumbag.” Rating: Context Kirk made the statement in reference to Floyd’s alleged criminal history and the circumstances surrounding his death. Kirk’s exact words were: “I am also going to offer some context and some nuance about the death of George Floyd that no one dares to say out loud. Which is that this guy was a scumbag. Now, does that mean he deserves to die? That’s two totally different things — of course not.” In September 2026, roughly a year after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, a rumor…

British monarch highlights AI’s potential darker capacities, urging safety and humanity-focused development.Published On 17 Sep 202617 Sep 2026The United Kingdom’s King Charles has warned Artificial Intelligence (AI) industry leaders of the “existential dangers” posed by the technology if it falls into the wrong hands.The monarch’s comments on Thursday add to a global debate over whether, and how to regulate the industry.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listCharles hosted AI giants, including the cofounders of Nvidia and Google DeepMind, along with leaders from OpenAI and Anthropic at a summit at his Dumfries House estate in Scotland, to address safety concerns…

To better compete with the U.S. and China, Attal proposed implementing a two-speed EU so like-minded partners can more quickly merge their economies, regulatory frameworks and labor and capital via a new dedicated treaty to be approved by citizens via referendum. Attal also advocated for joint European debt, removing intra-bloc trade barriers and encouraging bloc-wide mergers, especially in telecoms and financial services. Attal’s advisers told reporters that the former prime minister is trying to stake out a position as one of the most pro-European options in a crowded field of candidates. The 37-year-old centrist has struggled to break through, and…

It is the picture that has Washington in its latest uproar.Late Wednesday night, photojournalists captured images through the windows of Air Force One that showed President Trump reviewing a large poster board with what looked like a rendering of a construction site beneath three very visible words: “Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED.”The photos raise many questions that the White House has so far refused to answer. Roma Daravi, the Trump-allied spokesperson for the Kennedy Center, isn’t talking either.There is one other person captured clearly in the images of Mr. Trump reviewing the demolition poster board plan: Bill Pulte, a Trump loyalist who…

The Greens are pushing Zack Polanski to take a stance on a potential party policy stating “Zionism is racism”, with some fearing it could alienate Jewish supporters if it was passed.Polanski, who leads the Greens in England and Wales, has not spoken publicly about the motion, which came top of a members’ vote of policy motions to be debated at the party conference in Brighton at the start of October, and is thus almost certain to feature.The Greens make party policy by member votes at conferences. If passed, the motion would equate Zionism – the movement for a Jewish state…

What’s New in iOS 27?Photograph: Julian ChokkattuWhile last year’s iOS 26 debuted the divisive Liquid Glass, iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 focus squarely on quality-of-life improvements, with a redesigned and much improved Siri AI assistant, easier Shortcuts, and lots of little tweaks to enhance speed and stability.Siri AI doesn’t just look different—now resembling a glass orb—it can also understand your personal context, pulling info from your messages, emails, or even photos, and helping you draft messages or find the right wine to pair with your dinner. Siri can also now pop up in the camera app to help you choose…

Two oil tankers bound for Texas were boarded by US Coast Guard and FBI personnel last month after cyberattacks disrupted the vessels during their voyage toward the United States, according to a CBS News report citing US officials. One of the ships, the VL Prosperity, is a Liberian-flagged crude tanker that left Egypt on August 1 en route to Galveston, Texas, per vessel-tracking records cited by CBS News.  Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported on August 20 that the cyberattack had allegedly occurred on August 7 as the tanker passed through the Strait of Gibraltar. Citing a crew member, the Iranian…