Good afternoon.
Dozens of Australian tourists are reportedly missing in the deadly flash floods that swept through the Nepal-Tibet border, as the Australian government says it is urgently working to confirm their welfare.
A Nepali tour operator told the Guardian he feared that 15 Australians trekking with his company, including children as young as 11, have died.
At least 165 people have died and hundreds more are missing after the devastating flood waters surged through the valley on both sides of the border with Tibet.
There is a visual guide to the floods here, and you can read everything we know so far here.
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In pictures
Yayoi Kusama, the Japanese outsider artist who reached superstar status after decades living in a psychiatric hospital, has died aged 97.
Instantly recognisable by her bright red bobbed wig, Kusama became known for her psychedelic colour schemes and “infinity mirror room” installations, which helped her find a huge audience in the age of the social media selfie: her 2024 show in Australia was the most popular exhibition in the country’s history.
What they said …
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“We’re worried about trying to get numbers right.” – Anthony Albanese
Australia’s annual refugee intake will fall by a third next financial year, as Labor works to drive down migration levels over increasing political pressure from One Nation.
The changes will be part of Labor’s attempt to stem One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s surge in support, driven in large part by the politics of immigration. When asked about the changes, the prime minister said Labor was “responding to national needs”.
Podcast
Everyone hates datacentres. Do we really need them?
AI companies have promised us world-shifting technology. But there’s a cost: loud, unsightly datacentres that drain environmental resources. As the government pushes their rapid growth, can local communities do anything to push back? Madeleine Finlay speaks to the Guardian’s global technology reporter Aisha Down about the backlash to datacentres across the UK and around the world.
Listen to the episode here.
Before bed read
For people trapped under rubble in an earthquake or similar disaster, the arrival of a fleet of cockroaches could one day be the difference between life and death.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: RAFF. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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