Nepali rescuers have rescued a British man nearly a week after devastating flash floods tore through the country and killed more than 1,000 people. 

A search and rescue spokesperson said: ‘We have rescued 118 Nepalese people… 44 are female and 74 are male.

‘We have also rescued one British male during this search and rescue operation.’

Floodwaters surged across the Nepal-Tibet border, sweeping away homes, buildings, roads and bridges, all while carrying mud and rocks downstream and causing widespread devastation on Wednesday, August 26. 

This afternoon, disaster officials said at least 1,050 people in Nepal were killed by the floods, with more than 4,000 people still missing. 

Chinese officials confirmed that 16 people had been killed in Tibet, on the other side of the border. 

It comes as experts warned millions of tons of ice contained in glaciers surrounding the flash-flood-hit valley are at risk of collapse, which could cause yet another natural disaster.   

Rescue teams with search dogs continued to search through mud, rocks and debris on Tuesday on the border with Nepal and China for the thousands still missing.  

The scale of the disaster is hampering rescue efforts in both countries, with landslides, destroyed roads and widespread damage cutting off remote areas. 

Crews faced challenging conditions as they searched unstable terrain and piles of debris, raising fears the death toll could rise as rescuers reach isolated communities. 

Rescuers are racing to reach hundreds of workers believed to be trapped inside tunnels at hydropower projects in Nepal damaged by the floods. 

About 900 workers are missing from 12 projects, with roughly 500 believed to be trapped in tunnels, according to local authorities.

An army spokesperson said teams assisted by foreign experts were working at several hydropower projects. 

Images released by the army showed rescue teams entering debris-filled tunnels and wading through mud and water in the search for signs of life.

On the Chinese side, rescue crews scoured areas hit by mudslides, particularly around the Gyirong Port border crossing, which was destroyed.

Some rescuers, aided by search dogs, searched gaps among rocks and debris for signs of life. 

Other teams used heavy machinery to clear a major highway leading to Gyirong Port, hoping to clear the way for equipment, personnel and supplies to reach the disaster zone. 

In Kathmandu, police worked in heavy rain on Tuesday to bury dozens of bodies in multiple trenches next to a forested area.

Damaged houses stand precariously near the swollen, debris-choked banks of the Trishuli River after flash floods in Nepal’s Nuwakot district on Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Advertisement

Satellite image shows the glacier on Mount Langtang Lirung in Nepal, days after its collapse on August 26

Barbed wire was erected around the site, while blue numbered markers identified the graves of people whose names were not yet known.

Authorities in Nepal have been burying bodies in temporary graves until they can be identified. They are preserving DNA samples, photographing distinguishing facial features and recording other identifying details.

Each body is assigned a reference number to help families identify and claim the remains later. 

At least 11,814 people have been rescued so far. Emergency crews used helicopters and other aircraft to reach stranded communities in areas where roads and bridges have been destroyed by the flooding and landslides.

Efforts are being stepped up to provide assistance to survivors in areas where roads and other transportation routes had been damaged or cut off.

China said a second batch of relief supplies was being sent to Nepal, including drones, DNA testing and water purification equipment. Chinese DNA testing experts will also help Nepal identify bodies. 

Bimal Sharma, a helicopter pilot who has been flying rescue and relief missions, said he was shocked to see the devastation in Timure, a border town close to Tibet that he has known for years.

‘It felt like I was flying over an entirely different landscape,’ said Mr Sharma, adding that he has had little opportunity to speak with the people he rescued. ‘I can see the pain in their eyes. It’s heartbreaking,’ he said. 

The disaster began in the Himalayas when a glacial collapse sent large amounts of rock, ice and meltwater into valleys below, triggering powerful floods downstream.

Nepal army soldiers work during a search and rescue operation outside a tunnel near the Hydropower Project sites, following deadly flash floods and mudslides, in Rasuwa district, Nepal, in this handout obtained by Reuters on September 1, 2026

Scientists studying satellite imagery said the collapse appears to have involved the failure of bedrock beneath a glacier in the Himalayan region. The rockfall was powerful enough to register as a magnitude-5.2 seismic event.

Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah said that the disaster highlighted the need for action to combat climate change.

‘This incident has indicated that the risks we face in the Himalayan region are increasing with climate change,’ Mr Shah said in a social media post Monday night. 

‘Therefore, this region must be alert, and at the same time, it is time for us to strongly raise the issue of disasters caused by climate change before the international community.’

More to follow.  

Trade unions are reacting with anger to Swinney’s plans to axe health boards.

Unison Scottish Secretary Lilian Macer said: “You cannot just restructure your way out of a public service crisis. The Scottish government must build the capacity of public services, not spend millions reorganising them.

“Previous overhauls have shown this rarely delivers the long-term savings promised. They’re loaded with upfront costs, cause years of disruption and are a distraction from making desperately needed improvements to our services.

“The real issues facing public services are the Scottish government’s cuts to budgets and jobs. It is predicted that 20,000 jobs will be cut across public services and millions slashed from budgets.

“Scotland’s NHS has the longest waiting lists since devolution, thousands of nursing posts remain vacant and social care is in crisis. At the same time, councils are being warned they could become financially unsustainable.

“Changes to NHS boundaries won’t lead to a single extra nurse, care worker or paramedic nor any new care packages or hospital beds.

“Real investment is needed to make those services better. That means more staff, shorter waiting times and increased capacity to meet the population’s changing needs.”

Bolton’s Vernon Kay was seen debuting a new look as he returned to BBC Radio 2 and made an ‘announcement’ about it

Vernon Kay has quickly been mistaken for one of his BBC Radio 2 co-stars as he returned to his show following a summer break, and made an ‘announcement’ live on-air.

It was back in February 2023 that the Bolton presenter was announced as the new host of the station’s mid-morning show, replacing Ken Bruce, who had hosted the programme for 31 years, in May of the same year.

At the time, the TV and radio star said in a statement: “To be hosting the new Radio 2 mid-morning show is a total privilege. It’s going to be an unforgettable start to what promises to be an amazing journey. And to have two music legends coming up in the Radio 2 Piano Room is a dream come true.”

It was recently revealed that Vernon’s show remains as popular as ever, as according to data from research organisation RAJAR the 52-year-old now attracts a weekly audience of 6.8 million to his show.

On Tuesday (September 1), Vernon was back with his listeners following some time away and he quickly got them speculating as he told them he had made a “life-affirming” decision with the help of his family

He said: “It’s a life-changer and it’s something that has been in the pipeline for quite some time. And it’s been a frustration of mine. And I finally came to a decision with family members, to sort it out.”

He then pulled out a pair of glasses, to which presenter and travel reporter Ellie Brennan replied: “Oh, well you look fabulous in those! You’re bespectacled like me.”

Vernon then went on: “I’ve decided to go to the opticians and sort my eyes out.” Ellie then remarked: “Are you joking? Do you know how worried I’ve been. I thought, ‘What’s he going to tell me!?’ Vernon then quipped: “You should see the text messages. Some people think I am leaving, behave yourselves!”

Vernon has since taken to Instagram with a selfie showing off his new look, telling his followers: “Here you go…….. #glasses #adulting I’m finally at this stage of life..” And while many approved of the new glasses, some couldn’t help but think he looked familiar.

@oldolive said: “Thought it was OJ Borg at first.” @stuffmrsclappersdoes commented: “@oj_borg thought this was you.” @thewonderofwoolandwood wrote: “OJ lookalike!!!” @carts78 posted: “Did a double take then, thought you were @oj_borg.” emsyprotoruns added: “Haha @oj_borg I just came here to say you guys are twinning!!”

OJ then caught onto the comments and saw the funny side as he wrote under Vernon’s post: “If we are twins I guess that makes me Danny Devito?”

A spokesperson for Avon Fire and Rescue Service said: “We are currently responding to a fire at an industrial unit on Emery Road, Brislington, Bristol.

“Fire crews were called at 2:27 pm, and firefighters from Hicks Gate, Temple, Kingswood, Avonmouth, Yate, Bath, Patchway, Bedminster and Nailsea are currently on the scene tackling the fire.

“We are asking residents and local businesses to keep their windows and doors closed and avoid the area where possible.”

The vehicle was ‘severely damaged’ and ‘lying on its side’, the inquest heard

Two men died after a car crashed off a major Cambridgeshire road, an inquest has heard. Jordan Moore, 27, and Imran Hafiz, 33, both from Huntingdon, were involved in a single vehicle crash on the A1198 near Hilton on January 11.

The inquests into their deaths were held on September 1 by Area Coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Caroline Jones. The silver Volkswagen Golf left the road and crashed into “a number of trees and hedgerow”, the inquest heard.

Both men were pronounced dead at the scene. The reason the vehicle left the road is “unknown” but the inquest heard it was likely to be from a combination of cocaine drug use and low tyre tread depth in wet conditions.

Both Mr Moore, the driver, and Mr Hafiz, the passenger, were “ejected from the vehicle” by the impact of the crash. Both men were found outside the vehicle and emergency services were called by a passerby.

A passenger of a vehicle who was driving along the road saw a branch lying across the lane. The driver manoeuvred around it but saw a vehicle as they passed by. A road policing officer described the car as “severely damaged” and “lying on its side”.

Another man who stopped searched around the car and found a person who he thought was dead. Emergency services attended and identified a male, confirmed as Mr Moore, who had received “catastrophic head injuries”.

A toxicology report determined Mr Moore, the driver, had quantities of cocaine together with other medications in his system. No alcohol was identified in his blood.

Upon searching the area with a torch, a police officer found the body of a second person. This person was identified as Mr Hafiz via DNA analysis by comparing tissue samples and a toothbrush.

Coroner Jones said a toxicology report found the 33-year-old front passenger was “significantly intoxicated” with alcohol as well as cocaine and THC.

Mr Moore’s death was confirmed at 10.35pm and Mr Hafiz’s was confirmed at 10.45pm. A post-mortem carried out on Mr Moore’s death confirmed he died of a head injury.

Coroner Jones concluded Mr Hafiz’s cause of death was a head injury and that the pair died as a result of a road traffic collision.

The families of Mr Moore and Mr Hafiz paid tribute to them after their deaths. Mr Hafiz’s family said he was “charming, cheeky and mischievous”. They also said he “lived up to his name” and was the “brightest shining star” in their lives.

Mr Hafiz was also a father of two. His family added: “Our lives will never be the same but we will always remember him with biggest smiles on our faces as that is what he would have wanted – until we meet again fly high our angel we love you more than words could ever express, a huge loss to our entire family.”

Mr Moore’s family said he will be “truly missed” and his absence left a “profound void” in his family’s lives. They added: “He was loved so deeply by so many, and his kindness, warmth, and spirit touched everyone who knew him.”

He was also described as a “devoted son, cherished grandson, proud dad, fantastic partner and much-loved nephew and cousin”.

Coroner Jones offered her condolences to the families for the loss of Mr Moore and Mr Hafiz.

​The York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has said that more cases of wrongful access to patient records by staff have taken place than it originally stated in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

​Since 2021, there have been 29 cases of inappropriate access to patient records, of which 10 were reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

​In July, the trust inaccurately said 18 employees wrongfully accessed medical records and eight cases were referred to the ICO, in response to the FOI submitted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

​A spokesperson for the York and Scarborough NHS Trust said: “We identified that due to an error in collating the total number of cases, not all incidents were included in the overall figure provided, as they had been initially reported through a different route rather than directly through information governance.

​“This came to light through our routine data quality and assurance processes, and the correct information was duly provided. We have reviewed our reporting approach to ensure this information is brought together consistently in future.”

​The trust’s information governance team also offered its “apologies for this error” and regretted “any confusion caused”.

​The issue of wrongful access to medical records has received increased attention after staff at other NHS trusts in England were dismissed and investigated for inappropriately accessing the records of victims of the 2023 Nottingham attack and the Southport knife attack in 2024.

Scarborough Hospital. Courtesy Numminen/Ldrs

​Paul Arnold, chief executive officer at the ICO, has warned of a “worrying trend that requires a serious response across the healthcare sector” as a whole.

​“Recent high-profile cases point not to isolated incidents but to a worrying trend that requires a serious response across the healthcare sector,” he said.

​“When a local incident becomes national news – a serious crime, a public tragedy, a story that captures widespread attention – there is an increased risk that healthcare staff could be tempted to look at records they have no reason to view.”

York Hospital. Courtesy Numminen/LDRS

​In August, the NHS also updated its national guidance to health and care professionals on stopping unlawful access to records.

​“Accessing health and care records out of personal curiosity or for personal reasons is illegal. It causes real harm to patients and service users and could end your career,” the guidance states.

​The York and Scarborough NHS Trust previously said that all staff were expected to “uphold the highest standards when accessing patient information”.

​“Access is permitted only when it is directly relevant to a patient’s care, is closely monitored and audited, and any suspected breach of policy is thoroughly investigated.”

​A spokesperson added: “Where inappropriate access is substantiated, appropriate action is taken, which may include disciplinary action or referral to professional regulators.

​“All staff complete mandatory information governance training, with annual refresher training, and are regularly reminded of their responsibility to keep patient information safe.”

(Image: Newsquest)

More than 60 restaurants and bars are closing this week as Premier Inn owner Whitbread confirms more shutdowns.

Back in July, Whitbread announced that 200 Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants would close in September 2026.

This week, the same company is shutting 66 restaurants and pubs across three chains: popular steakhouse chain Bar + Block; Cookhouse + Pub; and family-friendly pub chain Table Table.

All affected locations will shut on September 3, just one week before the 200Brewers Fayre and Beefeater restaurants are planned to shut on September 7 and 10 respectively.

So which restaurants are shutting?

All Bar + Block closures

A total of 20 Bar + Block locations will close on September 3rd, including seven branches located in London.

• The Brickfield
• Butterfley Park
• Birmingham, Exchange Street
• Birmingham, Waterloo Street
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow
• Leamington Spa
• London, Aldgate
• London, Hammersmith
• London, King’s Cross
• London, Paddington
• London, Southwark
• London, Sutton
• London, Wimbledon
• Milton Keynes
• Newcastle
• Nottingham
• Portsmouth
• Whiteley
• Winnersh

The restaurant chain shared a heartfelt post on Instagram last week, thanking customers and staff for their continued support.

The post reads: ‘We are immensely grateful to every guest who came through our doors, and to our passionate team who made every experience unforgettable.

‘Before we mix our final drink and serve our last steak on September 3, we’d love to welcome you back one last time.’

Advertisement

It continued: ‘Come raise a glass, savour your favourite dish, and toast to the memories we’ve made together.’

Full list of all Table Table closures

All 32 Table Table pub and restaurant locations will shut on September 3, including:

• Ashbridge Inn, Cwmbran
• Balkerne Gate, Essex
• Barley Twist, Yorkshire
• Barum Gate, Devon
• The Bishopsgate, Lancashire
• Bowling Green, Essex
• The Callywith, Cornwall
• The Colliers, Staffordshire
• The Derby Lodge, Merseyside
• French Connection, Kent
• The Gateway, Hampshire
• The Harbour, Gwynedd
• Horse & Jockey, Bedfordshire
• John Milne, Lancashire
• Langton Inn, Leicestershire
• The Lee Burn, Lanarkshire
• Marine Court, Kent
• Mill of Mundurno, Aberdeenshire
• Morfa, Denbighshire
• The Nelson, Norfolk
• The Ormonde, Suffolk
• Pantruthn Farm, Mid Glamorgan
• Parc Britannia, Gwynedd
• Pentrebach House, Merthyr Tydfil
• The Red Lion, Hampshire
• The Ridgacre, West Midlands
• The Showground, Norfolk
• Smugglers Retreat, Kent
• The Stanhope Arms, Staffordshire
• Swinging Bridge, Lancashire
• The Trevithick Inn, Cornwall
• Willow Farm, Essex

Every Cookhouse + Pub location shutting this week

Finally, the Cookhouse + Pub chain is shutting all 14 of its locations this week, including:

• The Brickfield, Kent
• Butterfley Park, Derby
• Cotton Mill, Kilmarnock 
• The Freeman, Bridlington 
• The Highwayman, St Neots
• Honourable Pilot, Kent
• Inn on the Park, Enfield
• Lockyers Quay, Plymouth
• Penhale Round, Cornwall
• Potters Arms, Harlow
• The Queen Inn, West Midlands
• The Steamboat, Skegness
• Three Piers, Blackpool
• Woodhorn Grange, Ashington

The closures come as Whitbread moves to shut all of its standalone restaurant chains, pivoting instead to an ‘integrated food and beverage offer’.

It also comes as the UK high street continues to face an onslaught of closures.

Earlier this week, mini-supermarket group Foreways announced that it was closing all five of its locations in Carlisle, Cumbria.

Meanwhile, accessories brand Radley shut all of its shops and website last month, Morrisons announced plans to close 100 of its Daily convenience store locations, and Quiz Clothing shut its doors, too.

Advertisement

MORE: 7 English pub walks worth lacing up your boots for this Bank Holiday weekend

MORE: Wetherspoons refuses to serve disabled man because they thought he was drunk

MORE: Customers are ‘phubbing’ in shops, cafés, and pubs — and staff are sick of it

Comments


Add as preferred source

The Diaspora Dish

Join the family and sign up to The Diaspora Dish newsletter – series two is on its way and it’s coming in hot! New recipes, new chef interviews.

Advertisement

If you’ve pre-ordered the new Call Of Duty through the Xbox or Microsoft store, you’re eligible to receive a gift card a month after launch.

After last year’s Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7 flopped hard enough for Activision to publicly apologise for it, there is undoubtedly a lot of pressure to ensure this year’s follow-up, Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, regains player trust in the franchise.

Unfortunately for Activision, there’s very little it can meaningfully address in just a year and Modern Warfare 4’s beta has done little to raise excitement, especially given the poor reception to the story campaign teaser.

So, it’s perhaps not surprising to see Microsoft offer a new incentive on Modern Warfare 4 pre-orders, although the option they’ve gone for is pretty bizarre – especially as its only for Xbox.

If you pre-order any edition of the game on Xbox Series X/S or on PC via the Microsoft store, you will receive a digital Xbox gift card worth £4.

This is also in conjunction with a loyalty discount on Modern Warfare 4’s Vault Edition, which is 10% cheaper if you’ve purchased any Call Of Duty game since 2019.

The offer was quietly made over the weekend, on the Call Of Duty X account, to coincide with Modern Warfare 4’s open beta, which suggests Microsoft only came up with the idea recently – especially since it’s already set to expire tomorrow morning on September 2 at 4:59am.

However, according to Microsoft’s website, the offer applies to any pre-orders made since May 28, so if you’ve already pre-ordered Modern Warfare 4 through either the Xbox or Microsoft store, you’re eligible to receive the gift card.

You’ll receive a pop-up notification either on your Xbox console or via the Xbox app on PC to let you know when you’ve received the gift card, within 35 days after Modern Warfare 4’s launch on October 23. So, late November is the absolute latest it’ll arrive.

While this is Microsoft taking full advantage of its ownership of Activision, it also reads as Microsoft trying to discourage people from pre-ordering the game on PlayStation 5 and bumping up Xbox pre-order numbers.

Considering the company’s returned to embracing console exclusives again, maybe it’s kicking itself a bit for agreeing to keep Call Of Duty multiplatform.

Advertisement

Even after the buyout, Call Of Duty remains most popular on PlayStation 5, simply by virtue of there being more PlayStation consoles in the world than the Xbox Series X. Also, Microsoft’s ploy to raise Xbox player numbers by bringing new Call Of Duty games to Xbox Game Pass at launch backfired so badly that it’s since sworn not to do it again.

It’s not just Call Of Duty that’s taken a hit popularity-wise, though. Microsoft has been running out of good will for years, thanks in part to regular layoffs. Just this summer, a further 3,200 employees have been affected, with Doom developer id Software reportedly gutted in a manner that can only be described as vandalism.

Just recently, id Software producer Andrew Willis told Insider Gaming how he and his team went through a ‘brutal’ crunch period to get Doom: The Dark Ages | Revelations out the door and despite it being a fantastic DLC expansion, most of the team was rewarded by being let go.

‘We had people that worked in Hollywood for 20 years and game development for 10 and said that this was the worst crunch they’d been a part of,’ said Willis.

Advertisement

Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter.

To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.

For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.

MORE: Sony’s mad legal argument for digital PS5 games says there’s only ever one copy

MORE: Star Wars Zero Company dev stopped paying staff weeks before launch

Advertisement

MORE: New GTA 6 pics tease character customisation as Rockstar insists no more delays

Comments


Add as preferred source

GameCentral

Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.

Advertisement