KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — War’s timeless ache — death, captivity, the agonizing wait and the pull of home — has found a new stage in wartime Kyiv, with Homer’s epic reimagined as a contemporary Ukrainian odyssey.

The play “Odysseus, Maeotis” is ready to open in the Ukrainian capital as the ancient tale enjoys a global moment with Christopher Nolan’s IMAX spectacle and box-office hit “The Odyssey” starring Matt Damon.

In Kyiv, the story is performed by professional actors and active-duty soldiers, including Daniil Mireshkin, a serviceman who plays the warrior king Odysseus

“I think this combination of myth and modernity allows us to draw parallels and understand just how critical the question of return is: the return of military personnel to civilian life, the return of our territories and the return of ourselves to our true identity as Ukrainians,” Mireshkin said.

The actor spoke to The Associated after a final rehearsal Tuesday, ahead of a premiere that has been repeatedly delayed due to successive Russian attacks.

“This story helps us talk about these topics, which, as it turns out, haven’t lost any of their relevance,” Mireshkin said.

Drones and killing machines as modern monsters

The staging at the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater is designed to be austere and unsettling.

Against a darkened set laced with neon light bars, projections wash over the actors themselves. The monsters of the original — the Cyclops and the sirens — are replaced by drones that buzz across the stage and models of robotic war machines.

The play unfolds in parallel: Odysseus’ punishing journey and the long wait at home by his wife, Penelope.

Director Ivan Uryvskyi is candid about how the play recasts the ancient poem’s themes of return and those trapped in exile and captivity.

“Of course, very little of Homer’s original text remains here, because the play was written from scratch. We simply took the core narrative arc — Odysseus’ return home,” he said.

At the edge of the known world

An additional Greek reference is carried in the play’s title: “Maeotis” is an ancient name for the Sea of Azov, taken from the people who lived along its shores, a place once considered to be the edge of the known world.

The sea is home to Mariupol, the port city seized by Russia after a 2022 siege, and the play is based on accounts by its defenders from the Azov brigade, now part of the 1st Corps Azov — a part of the National Guard of Ukraine.

Mireshkin, the lead actor, and playwrite Oleksii Dorychevskyi are members of the 1st Corps Azov. Dorychevskyi drew on a year of interviews with former prisoners of war for the production. According to the Corps, an estimated 600 Azov brigade servicemen are among the thousands still in Russian captivity.

For Daryna Leheida, who plays Penelope, the ancient queen’s plight resonates with the stories of women in Ukraine who wait for loved ones to return.

Officers were called by the ambulance service at about 11.10am on Saturday, August 15, following a disturbance on the Foss Islands Cycle Path off Wigginton Road near the junction with Crichton Avenue.

As reported, police said two people were injured in the incident, and four people were subsequently arrested.

The four arrested were three 16-year-old boys and a 64-year-old man. They were taken into custody on suspicion of wounding with intent.

All four were released on police bail.

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In an update, a spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police told The Press: “The investigation is  ongoing and there are no charges at this time.”

One of the injured was treated at hospital for minor knife wounds, police said at the time. The other person sustained ‘more serious injuries believed to have been caused by a wooden implement’.

The spokesperson confirmed that the second casualty has since left hospital.

The Pitbull Universe Party is taking place at Motel Mexicana on Mosley Steet, Newcastle on Sunday, August 30, with organisers promising an afternoon dedicated to the star’s music and collaborations.

Running from 2pm until 7pm, the over-18s event will feature DJs playing Pitbull tracks alongside songs by artists including Sean Paul, Flo Rida, Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, Jason Derulo, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin.

The event has been described as a “full afternoon dedicated to the Pitbull universe featuring the hits, collabs and the ones you forgot about until the chorus comes on”.

People take part in a Guinness World Records attempt for the largest gathering of people wearing bald caps ahead of Pitbull’s headlining show at BST Hyde Park (Image: David Parry/PA)

Organisers are also encouraging partygoers to embrace the theme by wearing bald caps inspired by the singer’s trademark look.

Food and drinks will be available throughout the event, while VIP packages can be booked for groups.

The event forms part of the August Bank Holiday celebrations in Newcastle and is being staged at Motel Mexicana, located at 36-38 Mosley Street in the city centre.

Early bird tickets are available through ticketing platform Fatsoma.

Manchester United have been linked with several transfer dealings as the end of the summer window approaches

Manchester United are bracing themselves for an intriguing final few days of the transfer window. Michael Carrick has less than a week to bolster his squad before September 1

United initially concentrated their initial recruitment drive on overhauling their midfield and have added Carlos Baleba to their engine room. However, Carrick may be looking to bring in reinforcements across other areas following the club’s opening loss to Hull City.

The Reds have been linked with an interest in Freiburg striker Igor Matanovic. Benjamin Sesko is one of the few natural centre-forwards within Carrick’s ranks, while Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha are also capable of filling in.

Meanwhile, United forward Joshua Zirkzee could potentially depart Old Trafford. Here, MEN Sport examines the biggest transfer stories surrounding the club.

Striker ‘target’ emerges

While Zirkzee is reportedly edging towards an exit, Matanovic could fill his position in Carrick’s squad. The 23-year-old netted 15 goals across all competitions for the German outfit last season.

Gazzetta dello Sport claims that United are competing to snap up the Croatia international. The Reds are claimed to be joined by Spurs in the battle for his services.

Furthermore, Fiorentina are reportedly weighing up an “ambitious” swoop for Matanovic as they hunt for Moise Kean’s successor. Matanovic moved to Freiburg from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer.

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Joshua Zirkzee ‘closing in’ on exit

Fiorentina are also reportedly in discussions over a move for United striker Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutchman has struggled to nail down a regular starting berth in the club’s attack since his arrival from Bologna in 2024.

Gazzetta reports that Fiorentina are “in negotiations” over a £4.2million loan deal for Zirkzee, with the option to make the deal permanent next summer. The Serie A side are said to have earmarked the United forward as an “ideal replacement” for Kean, who is poised to join Como.

Fiorentina reportedly face a battle with Juventus for Zirkzee’s signature, though La Viola are keen to accelerate their pursuit while Juve focus on selling Jonathan David on. Gazzetta adds that Fiorentina are “closing in” on a deal to bring Zirkzee in as Kean’s successor.

The 25-year-old has netted nine goals in 75 appearances for United, having joined the club for £36.5m following an impressive spell with Bologna.

Robin Hood’s Bay and Staithes earned the top spots on a list compiled by World Atlas, which ranked 17 picturesque seaside destinations across the country.

The list highlighted 17 “gorgeous little UK seaside villages everyone has to visit at least once” and named the two North Yorkshire villages among the best of the best.

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Robin Hood’s Bay, a former fishing village on the Yorkshire coast, was ranked number one and is described as a “atmospheric” destination with a sandy beach, cobbled streets and a variety of pubs and cafés.

It also features a network of narrow lanes and stone cottages set against dramatic cliffs, offering a mix of natural beauty and historical charm.

The steep, cobbled streets lead down to the beach and offer a striking contrast between land and sea, making it “a particularly striking spot for photographs.”

Robin Hood’s Bay is loved by walkers. (Image: Getty)

Staithes, located just 10 miles from Whitby, was in the second spot and is another traditional fishing village steeped in maritime history.

It is known for its connections to explorer Captain James Cook and its winding streets lined with characterful cottages.

The village was likened to the famous Italian coastal town of Positano, thanks to its historic port, picturesque setting and charming architecture.

Staithes has ‘breathtaking’ views of the coast. (Image: Getty)

The World Atlas ranking highlights the growing appeal of the UK’s coastal villages, which offer a mix of natural beauty, heritage and charm.

Rounding out the top five were Aldeburgh in Suffolk, Blakeney in Norfolk, and Lymington in Hampshire.

A ton of extra GTA 6 info has been shared via new US previews, such as how the game builds upon Red Dead Redemption 2 and that you can influence Jason and Lucia’s romance.

Even in just 26 minutes, the GTA 6 gameplay preview on Netflix showed off a lot of new details that somehow weren’t already spoiled by the frequent leaks, while also re-emphasising the game’s very impressive graphics.

British culture magazine Dazed did indicate that it and a few others got to preview the game personally behind closed doors, but it was unclear if anyone was allowed to play GTA 6 themselves or if they simply saw the Netflix preview early.

Turns out the answer is no, no one went hands-on with GTA 6 (well, some influencers might have but they haven’t posted any videos yet). But some were given a completely different gameplay demonstration, which means further details not shown in the Netflix preview have been unearthed.

So far, it seems Rockstar only invited a limited number of US press and influencers, and as of time of writing we could find only two previews, not including Dazed’s.

The first is from IGN, which describes a slice of gameplay demoed by Rockstar’s co-studio head Rob Nelson, so they definitely didn’t get to play it themselves.

What IGN can confirm is that there’s an affinity mechanic between Jason and Lucia, where the two can strengthen their relationship as they work together to rob people and do crimes.

While this doesn’t have any gameplay benefits, it sounds like it will have an impact on the story or at least certain cut scenes, which could point towards multiple endings depending on whether you push Jason and Lucia into a more romantic relationship or keep them strictly as work partners.

‘They will remain partners in crime. You will always have the benefit of working together and having each other’s back – whether they’re romantically close or not doesn’t change that,’ explains Nelson.

‘They will still work together. It’s really about what you want for them, their story, and how it plays out. Whether you’ve nurtured the relationship or not will definitely have a bearing on how their story plays out.’

There’s also a deliberate effort to not let you feel as overpowered as you could in previous GTA games, where you could freely gun down civilians if you wanted to, so long as the cops don’t catch you.

In GTA 6, the regular citizens may fight back if you throw the first punch. As such, the game borrows from Red Dead Redemption 2 and makes it so you can taunt or threaten people with your gun by pressing the aim button while your weapon is holstered.

‘I think in previous GTA games you were a bit all-powerful. You were the only one with an invisible arsenal hidden away. Apart from the police, everyone would run in terror from you if you started acting out. This world in GTA 6 is not like that,’ explains Nelson.

It was previously suggested, by Dazed, that GTA 6 will be far more grounded than previous entries, so returning fans could be in for a shock to learn they can’t get away with rampant violence so easily.

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Another aspect that’s being brought over from Red Dead Redemption 2 is that game’s Honour system or rather a reworked version of it called Criminal Profile.

In Red Dead Redemption 2 you could gradually rebuild your reputation through acts of kindness, even after going on a killing spree. GTA 6’s Criminal Profile system is described as more nuanced, as your reputation changes depending on how you interact with the world.

It’s not entirely clear what sort of impact your Criminal Profile will have on gameplay, but even small criminal acts like littering can affect it. What’s more, if you shoot at someone in self defence, that won’t affect your profile as much as you doing so without cause.

There’s also talk of carjacking requiring a bit more effort than a simple button press. Depending on the model, some cars demand certain tools, such as a key cloner for bypassing certain locks, meaning you’ll come across plenty of vehicles you won’t be able to access until you progress further into the game.

The New York Times has posted their own preview, but they received the same experience of watching Nelson play the game. They confirm that GTA 6’s map will be three times larger than that of Red Dead Redemption 2.

As suspected, there’s also a very clear effort to appeal to those who enjoy role-playing sessions in GTA Online; something which required unofficial modding but has since been officially supported by Rockstar. You can see this in the Netflix preview as you can check a fridge for a drink or sit down and watch some TV.

‘I hope that there will be people that want to get up, have a cup of coffee, shower, get dressed, go out for a little exercise,’ says Nelson, adding that his own playthrough of the game exceeded 80 hours, which covered the main story and some optional side activities.

He also goes into how the non-playable inhabitants of GTA 6’s world were built, boasting about how each and every one of them was made without procedural generation and that there are over 600,000 unique animations in the game. That’s double the amount in Red Dead Redemption 2, so it’s no wonder the game’s taken so long to come out.

YouTuber TGG has a preview of his own too, but he has plans to make multiple deep dive videos to share what he has learned. As such, he’s only briefly summed up what he intends to cover on X, such as how the aforementioned Criminal Profile system works, the new Wanted level mechanics, and how the driving fares compared to GTA 5.

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Welcome to How I Do It, the series in which we give you a seven-day sneak peek into the sex life of a stranger.

This week, we hear from Phoebe*, a 29-year-old lawyer living in London, who up until recently has been in a nine-month ‘just sex’ situationship with her colleague, Jared*.

‘I’d just come out of a three-year relationship when things began heating up between Jared and I, but I never thought anything would actually happen between us,’ she says.

‘But now it’s been months of super hot but rough sex, which I love.

‘I’ve asked him to do things to me that I’ve never done with anyone before. He’s even slapped me in bed, which I found such a turn on.’

The problem is, Jared doesn’t want a girlfriend who is as financially successful as Phoebe. He wants to feel like the provider, so he’s told her they can never be in a relationship.

Since then, she’s given him the cold shoulder, but despite having plenty of male attention, no one is scratching the itch that Phoebe has for wild sex.

‘I’m going on dates with really hot and lovely guys, but I spend all my time thinking about Jared,’ she adds.

Without further ado, here’s how Phoebe got on this week…

The following sex diary is, as you might imagine, not safe for work.

Monday

I’m up and in the office by 9am and when I walk in, Jared and I immediately lock eyes.

We’ve been sleeping together for the past nine months after he broke up with his ex. I was actually part of the reason they ended their five year relationship — we kissed on a work trip to LA after months of flirting, and he later left her.

But we haven’t become boyfriend and girlfriend. In fact, I can’t even look at him without feeling conflicted.

I’ve fallen for him, but we’re absolutely not compatible. His views on women are a problem, but I do like how rough and dominant he is in bed. It doesn’t make any sense.

I’ve endeavoured to ignore him for now, after he dismissed my feelings when I said we were more than just a hookup.

I can feel him staring at me all day, but I keep my eyes fixed on my screen. 

I get home late and head to the gym before going to bed.

Tuesday

Again I head into work, but today I’m wearing a tight skirt for after-work drinks, and maybe to torture Jared. Again, I ignore him. All day. 

He sends me a message about a meeting but I write a blunt, no fuss response and he gets the hint. 

Once I clock off, I head to a bar to meet a friend, Ryan. We’ve always been friends, but it’s always had a flirty undertone to it.

He’ll make comments on how good I look and is sometimes quite handsy, it’s pretty obvious that if I wanted to, I could. And tonight, I want to. 

He’s very tall, well built and has an impossibly charming smile, and we laugh over two drinks at the bar, before I suggest getting a bottle and taking it back to mine.

He only lives two streets away from me, so there’s a good chance that if it’s good tonight, this will become a regular hookup. 

Half a bottle in, I hold his gaze and look at his lips, giving him the signal. He’s practiced at this and immediately takes the hint, leaning in and kissing me on the sofa. He’s good, really good, and our breathing gets heavy as he lays me back. 

I’m immediately wet, this has been a long time coming and I can tell in the way he’s devouring me.

He goes down on me right there and it’s not long before I’m close to orgasm. Then he pulls away and takes his t-shirt and jeans off, settling over me and pushing into me. It feels incredible and we go at it for about 10 minutes before I climax. 

He finishes shortly after, and in that moment I’m deeply satisfied. We curl up in bed and while I’m content, I hate that there’s a niggling thought in my mind that Jared would’ve done it better.

Wednesday

I kick Ryan out of my bed early, take a shower and head to work. I feel a little smug at the events of last night and Ryan texts me to say it was as good as he’d hoped it would be, and to message him whenever. 

I’m in some meetings with Jared today and I can tell it’s bugging him that I’ve been radio silent. After all, we’ve spent nine months acting like boyfriend and girlfriend, he even helped me move house and built my furniture. 

The day drags a little but I get home and order food in, watching an episode of Heated Rivalry. I fall asleep but wake up to a buzz from my phone. It’s Jared.

‘Are you giving me the silent treatment?’ 

I ignore it, and drift off again.

Thursday

I’m working from home today and that’s ideal because I have a second date.

He’s a guy I met on Hinge, and to be honest I don’t think he really has any flaws. He’s handsome, pays for everything, plans the dates and takes the initiative — who knew men like this still existed? 

We laugh a lot and he likes how self-sufficient and career driven I am, which is the total opposite of Jared. 

He comes back to mine and we begin making out. It’s not long before I slip my hand into his boxers and he gets hard. We both go down on each other which is great, but as soon as I get on top, he struggles to stay hard. I tell him it’s fine and we switch positions but again, no luck.

Eventually it’s a little awkward and we give in, instead he just stays the night and we cuddle. Hopefully he was just nervous and, if we have date number three, next time it will be better.

Friday

After a long busy day at work, I get a text from Jared. 

He wants to come over. My heart flutters.

Of course he does, he wants sex. But it’s not like we were exclusive or anything.

I leave it and go and see some friends at a cute pub for dinner. My friends ask me why I want a man like Jared, with all of his archaic views. I wish I had the answer.

We laugh a lot and I try to forget my boy troubles, if just for a little while.

Saturday

I’m off to my yoga class this morning, before grabbing brunch with my sister. It’s great to catch up, as she has her own flat now and is all grown up. I’m so proud of her. 

By the time evening rolls around, I’m really missing Jared. I miss the electric connection we have and the intense attraction, coupled with sex that practically makes me forget my own name.

I know I shouldn’t, but I call him. He doesn’t answer but then immediately calls me back. 

He’s out with friends and jokingly reprimands me for ignoring him. He does agree to come over in the next hour though.

He gets in and there’s little to no small talk, my heart beats fast. He grabs my face and we begin making out passionately, as we make our way to the bedroom.

He strips my clothes off and does the same for himself before bending me over and going down on me like I’m all he’s ever needed. I orgasm and barely have time to recover before he flips me over and gets on top of me.

He puts his hands on my throat, gently choking me and I enjoy the heady feeling. Then he spits in my mouth as he thrusts. There’s something about how dominant he is, and how I can give up complete control with him which really turns me on.

It’s rough and hard and then he finishes, and we crumple into a heap, breathing hard.

After a few minutes he leads me into the shower, and we kiss each other as we clean off the incredible sex we’ve just had. Then he makes himself at home in my bed and I fall asleep content.

Sunday

He leaves early to go and meet friends, so I’m left with my own thoughts. I know I shouldn’t have caved last night but I feel on a high now. 

I need to move on and find someone new, it’s not that I even want to find a husband. I just want to find someone who is respectful and where there’s an even power dynamic when it comes to dating.

What I do know is I need to avoid Jared. I spend the day reminding myself that was the last time we will ever have sex, and text Ryan to arrange to see each other next week.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk

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“We are also asking festival-goers to look out for each other and to seek help immediately if someone appears unwell”

The PSNI is urging festival-goers to keep prioritising their safety when attending music events across Northern Ireland.

Key safety messages include planning your journey home in advance, staying with friends and, importantly, being aware of the serious dangers and consequences associated with illegal drugs.

Police say they want everyone to enjoy their day and ensure that “a much-anticipated outing is memorable for the right reasons”.

PSNI Alistair Hagan said: “We want everyone to have an enjoyable and memorable time – and to remember it for all the right reasons

“Working alongside event organisers and health partners, we want festival-goers to stay safe. Simple steps can make a real difference: plan how you will get home before you set off, stay with your friends, and look out for one another.

“I also want to be very clear about the serious, potentially life-changing, risks of taking or supplying illegal drugs. No drugs are safe. The truth is that any illicit drug can have an unknown concoction of ingredients and, put simply, you won’t know what you are actually taking in terms of either components or strength.

“The risks of taking any drugs, or drugs combined with alcohol, are therefore huge. And the sad reality is that the effect can be fatal. Anyone found using or supplying illegal drugs, may face arrest and prosecution. A moment of experimentation, or giving in to peer pressure, can therefore have irreversible consequences for your health, wellbeing and future.”

The Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Organised Crime Branch and Belfast Local Policing Teams with the support of Organised Crime Task Force partners, are carrying out proactive operations across the city.

While collective efforts to tackle illicit drugs are ongoing throughout the year, there is an intensified focus throughout the summer concert season.

Superintendent Hagan continued: “Our proactive policing operation at major festivals includes high-visibility patrols, with stop and search activity at venues and the surrounding areas.

“Amnesty bins will be available at entrance points, allowing people to dispose of substances safely and anonymously.”

He added: “While our primary role is to enforce drug legislation, we are also asking festival-goers to look out for each other and to seek help immediately if someone appears unwell.”

A summer campaign by the independent charity Crimestoppers, using strategically-placed posters and social media messaging, aims to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs and encourage people to report information anonymously.

Information can be provided to Crimestoppers, with complete anonymity, by calling 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. Support services for anyone affected by drugs or alcohol are available at www.DrugsAndAlcoholNI.info

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

It was supposed to be a birthday trip for her mum

A woman says she feels “angry” as she is still yet to be refunded for a cancelled hot air balloon experience. Back in June, Michelle Bailey from Huntingdon booked a special trip to have afternoon tea in a hot air balloon for her mum’s birthday.

The event cost Michelle £260 and was booked with Feast Events for August 23. Unbeknownst to Michelle, an email landed in her spam folder on July 27 saying that the trip had been cancelled.

Michelle said: “They [Feast Events] said it was cancelled as they couldn’t agree on the grounds. I just thought, well I’ll get my money back.”

Michelle expected a refund back within two weeks “at the latest”. However, it passed the date of when the event was due to take place, and she still hasn’t received a refund over a month after being told that the event was no longer happening.

Michelle added: “I did a bit of Googling and managed to track down the owner. She said it was taking longer than they first thought and they were working hard to refund everyone.”

Michelle says she has been left out of pocket and had to spend more money to book something else for her mum’s birthday.

“I’m angry,” said Michelle. “This company has taken all of this money off people. I have had people messaging me and some have forked out over £600. I feel upset that it’s not gone ahead. I’ve had to pay more money out to take my mum out. This shouldn’t be allowed to happen.”

Michelle is now trying to get her money back through her bank. A spokesperson for Feast Events said they last contacted Michelle on August 21 with an update on her refund.

The spokesperson said: “We have been operating pop-ups and immersive dining experiences for over six years. It is an incredibly rare occasion for us to cancel an experience. All guests who have been affected by our cancellation have been offered a full refund, with a number of guests opting to transfer to one of our other dining experiences instead.

“Whilst we are currently experiencing a delay due to the volume of refunds that we are processing, many guests have already been successfully refunded. We are devastated not to be proceeding with Feast on Cloud 9 this year. We understand that our guests have suffered from this cancellation and we are working hard to put things right. We sincerely apologise to all guests who had their booking cancelled.”

Nepal and China have both warned of fresh risks of flooding as authorities scramble to respond to a catastrophe that has killed more than 469 people and left hundreds missing.

The Nepalese disaster authority said a lake created at the site of the flooding was at risk of a potentially disastrous breach.

And China warned that water equivalent to 1,200 Olympic swimming pools is expected to flow into an already dammed lake on ⁠its side of the border over the next three days, creating a high risk of its banks bursting.

Basanta Raj Adhikari, the director of the Centre for Disaster Studies at the Tribhuvan University in Nepal, told the BBC that there was a risk that conditions worsen today or tomorrow, including landslides.

The situation on the ground has complicated rescue efforts, with at least 1,000 people still unaccounted for, including almost 650 foreigners and 33 British tourists swept up in Wednesday’s flooding caused by a glacier collapse.

The president of the Nepal Centre for Disaster Management said the disaster came at them like a “tsunami from the sky”.

“It’s such a huge debris, and everything on the way was completely washed out,” said Bishal Nath Upreti. “Villages along almost 40km to 50km [30 miles] were completely wiped out.”

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Torrent tore through border crossing

Chinese rescuers had yet to reach the worst-hit area on the Chinese side of the border, the Gyirong border crossing, by Thursday evening, state media reports indicated, as crews worked to clear debris from the key access road leading to ‌the area.

The Gyirong border port has a key role in China’s Belt and Road network linking the country to South Asia, with logistics zones and parking lots built there in the past decade. Dramatic footage on Wednesday showed enormous torrents of muddy water and debris tearing through structures in the border crossing area within seconds and engulfing people trying to flee.

The tally of missing in Tibet’s Gyirong County was 558, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on Thursday, including 260 foreign nationals.

So far, just three people have been confirmed dead on the Chinese side. China’s Premier Li Qiang, the country’s No 2 official, arrived at the ⁠disaster-stricken site in Gyirong on Thursday afternoon, state-run Xinhua news agency said.

The visit suggested Beijing was treating the disaster as a matter of the highest national priority.

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Namita Singh28 August 2026 04:54

Rescuers scour Nepal flood debris as risk of fresh flooding grows

Rescue teams using heavy machinery dug through mud and debris in Nepalese towns devastated by a flash flood two days ago, as hopes of finding survivors faded and officials worked to reduce the risk of fresh flooding.

The confirmed death toll in Nepal was at 469 people early on Friday, with hundreds more missing there and in neighbouring Tibet, near where a glacier collapse on Wednesday morning sent a huge torrent of rock, ice, mud and debris cascading through Himalayan ⁠mountain river systems.

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The flood ripped through villages and valleys, destroying power stations, roads and bridges along a route that links Kathmandu with Lhasa in Tibet and is popular with trekkers and pilgrims.

Of those missing, at least 650 are foreigners. Authorities in Nepal used helicopters to search for survivors and drop emergency supplies to thousands cut off in towns and valleys, while emergency services – some using sniffer dogs – recovered dozens of bodies swept down into the plains.

Namita Singh28 August 2026 04:34

Nepal death toll jumps to 469

The death toll from the flash floods in Nepal has jumped to 469, said the police.

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A glacier collapse on Wednesday morning sent a huge torrent of rock, ice, mud and debris cascading through Himalayan ⁠mountain river systems.

The flood ripped through villages and valleys, destroying power stations, roads and bridges along a route that links Kathmandu with Lhasa in Tibet and is popular with trekkers and pilgrims.

Namita Singh28 August 2026 04:11

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Nepal and China warn of second flood from newly formed lakes

Nepal and China both warned on Thursday of fresh risks of flooding in the Himalayas as two lakes that have developed on either side of their border threaten to burst in a region still grappling with this week’s catastrophic flood.

Search -and-rescue operations are still under way in the debris-strewn valleys and hillsides for the more than 1,000 people still missing.

Both countries have blamed the flood on a glacier collapse that pushed rock, ice, mud ⁠and debris into river systems in the mountains.

Nepal’s disaster ​authority ⁠issued a notice on Thursday warning that a lake formed by debris blocking a river at the flood site is rising and at risk of ⁠bursting.

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Jane Dalton28 August 2026 04:00

‘I’m broken – I have no one else,’ says sister of missing pilgrim

Many victims ⁠were pilgrims heading to Kailash Mansarovar, a high-altitude site in Tibet revered by Hindus and Buddhists.

Around the world, relatives ‌of those missing were desperate for information about their loved ones.

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Vasanthi Muniandy, whose sister ​Vennila was part of a Hindu pilgrimage group from Malaysia, said she had last heard from her after Vennila had crossed into ‌Tibet from Nepal.

“I am totally broken. My sister is very important to me,” said Vasanthi. “I really want her ​to come back. I don’t have anyone but her. I just want her to come back home. I want her to be safe.”

Sagar Pandey, the chief executive of a Himalayan tourism operator, told Reuters after flying over the zone in a helicopter: “There are no human-made things, no human settlement left. Everything is just flat.

“So anyone in the hotel, the restaurant, or the car, I believe that everybody is gone.”

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Jane Dalton28 August 2026 03:00

Bodies found 62 miles from disaster area

The Red ‌Cross said entire villages in Nepal had been destroyed and impassable roads and bridges had left communities cut off.

Rescue teams located 100 missing Indian visitors, mostly pilgrims, and 25 Chinese workers in the worst-hit region around Trishuli.

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The flood “came in suddenly and exploded like a bomb,” said survivor Janak Bahadur.

Ganesh Aryal, administrator of Chitwan district, said authorities had recovered 103 bodies from the river system in his ⁠district, which is about 62 miles away in the plains from the worst-hit region of Trishuli.

With local hospitals unable to accommodate all the bodies, district authorities were setting up tents and making arrangements for families to claim their dead relatives, he said.

Jane Dalton28 August 2026 02:00

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Rescuers ‘yet to reach worst-hit area in China’

Chinese rescuers had yet to reach the worst-hit area on the Chinese side of the ​border, the Gyirong ⁠border crossing, by Thursday evening, state-media reports indicated.

Crews were working to clear debris from the key access road leading to the area.

All the buildings in the border-crossing complex, including the border gate, a stately building bearing China’s national emblem and housing customs and immigration agencies, were destroyed by the mudslide, footage showed.

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The entire compound was reduced to an unrecognisable mass, caked in thick, muddy ‌debris and almost devoid of any sign of civilisation, the footage showed.

The tally of missing in Tibet’s Gyirong County was 558, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on Thursday, including 260 foreign nationals.

Jane Dalton28 August 2026 01:00

Watch: Terrifying CCTV shows people fleeing seconds before water engulfs Nepal-Tibet border

Jane Dalton27 August 2026 23:59

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Timeline of deadly Himalayan disasters

Jane Dalton27 August 2026 23:00

Jane Dalton27 August 2026 22:30

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