Nepal and China resume flood rescue after lake threat eases, death toll tops 500

King Charles III has expressed grief over the death of former British soldier and renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja, who was killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak in northern Pakistan. According to international media reports, the British monarch paid tribute to Purja’s life and achievements. He said the former soldier had rendered distinguished service in the British Army before becoming one of the world’s most respected high-altitude climbers. King Charles praised Purja for his dedication, courage and outstanding achievements in mountaineering. He acknowledged that Purja earned global recognition after completing several challenging climbing expeditions and inspiring climbers around the world. The monarch said Purja’s contribution extended beyond mountaineering, noting that he had first built an impressive military career before gaining international fame through his record-breaking achievements in the world’s highest mountain ranges. Meanwhile, rescue teams in Pakistan continue recovery operations following the deadly avalanche on Broad Peak. Authorities have confirmed that the bodies of eight climbers who lost their lives in the incident have been recovered. Search and rescue teams are still looking for two missing mountaineers. The operation remains difficult because of harsh weather conditions, deep snow and the challenging terrain of one of the world’s highest peaks. Emergency personnel have continued the mission despite the risks, using all available resources to locate the remaining missing climbers. Officials said the operation will continue until all those affected by the tragedy are accounted for. The avalanche has shocked the international mountaineering community and prompted tributes from climbers, officials and supporters around the world. Many have remembered Nirmal Purja for his remarkable achievements, leadership and commitment to pushing the limits of high-altitude climbing. Broad Peak, located in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountain range, is among the world’s highest mountains and is considered one of the most demanding peaks for climbers because of its extreme weather and difficult climbing conditions.

A devastating missile strike on a primary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab has claimed the lives of 156 people, including 120 children, making it one of the deadliest civilian incidents of the recent conflict involving Iran. The attack took place on February 28 during the opening hours of the military confrontation. The school was operating normally when explosions struck the area, causing large sections of the building to collapse and trapping students and teachers beneath the rubble. According to survivors, children had gathered inside the school for morning prayers because it was the holy month of Ramadan. Shortly after classes began, school authorities decided to dismiss students as reports of nearby explosions emerged. Before many children could leave the premises, another powerful strike directly hit the school building. Teachers who survived the attack described scenes of panic and destruction. They said the explosion threw students and staff across classrooms while thick smoke quickly filled the building, making it difficult to breathe or see. Parts of the school collapsed within seconds, leaving many children trapped. Emergency rescue teams rushed to the scene soon after the explosions. Rescue workers spent hours searching through damaged classrooms and collapsed concrete in an attempt to find survivors. However, many victims had already lost their lives before rescuers arrived. Officials involved in the rescue operation said the destruction was so severe that several victims could only be identified through clothing, shoes, or personal belongings. Families gathered outside the school in desperate search of their children as rescue efforts continued. The tragedy has left the entire community in mourning. Parents and relatives continue visiting the cemetery where many of the students and teachers have been buried. Families say they are still struggling to cope with the loss of children who had simply gone to school for their education. The school was located next to a compound associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Satellite images and independent analysis indicate that military facilities in the neighbouring compound were also struck during the attack. Reports citing officials familiar with the investigation suggest the strike may have resulted from outdated intelligence that mistakenly identified the school area as part of a military target. However, no official conclusion has been released, and investigations into the incident are still ongoing. Iranian authorities insist the school had been operating as a civilian educational institution for years and reject suggestions that it was part of any military facility. They have repeatedly highlighted the attack as evidence of the heavy civilian toll caused by the conflict. The incident has intensified international concern over civilian protection during military operations. Human rights advocates and legal experts have called for a transparent and independent investigation to determine responsibility and examine whether international humanitarian law was violated. The strike has also renewed global debate over the accuracy of military intelligence, the protection of schools in conflict zones, and the need to safeguard civilians during armed confrontations.

European emergency services are battling fierce wildfires triggered by a record-breaking heatwave, with French authorities arresting nearly 500 individuals on suspicion of starting blazes since July 1. France’s interior ministry reported that 474 people, including 183 minors, have been detained, with approximately 70% suspected of intentional arson. In south-west France, a rapid blaze in the Landes region consumed nearly 1,100 hectares of pine forest in under 24 hours, prompting the emergency evacuation of more than 525 residents from the village of Luglon. The severe weather conditions have caused destruction and displacement across multiple European countries. In Croatia, a gale-driven wildfire swept through the coastal tourist town of Lokva Rogoznica, leaving one person dead, 40 injured, and forcing 1,200 people to evacuate to emergency shelters. In western Germany, over 2,000 residents fled the village of Gey as a forest fire advanced, while emergency crews faced additional hazards from detonating Second World War ammunition buried in the terrain. Elsewhere on the continent, military personnel in north-east Spain evacuated the historical remains of three 11th-century kings from the San Juan de la Peña monastery as flames threatened the site. In northern Greece, a fleet of small boats rescued approximately 500 holidaymakers stranded on beaches along the Halkidiki peninsula after a two-mile fire front threatened local resorts. Firefighters in the UK also faced severe conditions, as wildfires across the West Midlands destroyed several residential properties.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has announced a major pay review for the country’s armed forces, granting salary increases of up to 80 per cent for junior military personnel as part of broader efforts to boost morale amid widespread security threats. The wage adjustment represents the second military pay rise within a month. Under the new structure, monthly earnings for privates, the lowest-ranking soldiers, will increase from $73 to $132 starting in September, up from $36 earlier this year. The pay review is scaled hierarchically across all operational ranks. Privates up through staff sergeants will receive the maximum 80 per cent increase, while warrant officers up to colonels will see a 50 per cent boost. Senior leadership, from brigadier generals to full generals, will receive a 30 per cent pay adjustment. These adjustments will raise the military’s annual wage expenditure from $484 million to $678 million. The announcement follows recent defence initiatives aimed at expanding military capacity, including the planned recruitment of 28,000 additional soldiers and the establishment of four new army divisions, bringing the national total to 12. Government forces continue to face complex security challenges, including persistent insurgencies in the north-east, widespread armed banditry and kidnapping networks in central and north-western regions, and separatist movements in the south-east.

Former Hong Kong opposition leader Wu Chi-wai has been granted permission to stay in the United Kingdom for six months after initially facing the possibility of deportation upon arriving at Heathrow Airport. The decision ends several days of uncertainty and allows the veteran pro-democracy activist to reunite with his family after years of separation. Wu arrived in London last Wednesday but was detained by UK Border Force officers for nearly 10 hours. Speaking to BBC Chinese, he said officials initially refused him entry and later informed him that he would only be allowed to remain in the country for one week before reporting back to the airport for deportation. However, the situation changed on Monday when UK authorities approved his entry under standard visitor rules, allowing him to stay in the country for up to six months. The 63-year-old is one of Hong Kong’s best known pro-democracy figures and formerly led the now dissolved Democratic Party. He was also among the group widely known as the Hong Kong 47, prominent activists and politicians prosecuted under Hong Kong’s national security law. Wu was released from prison in June after serving more than five years on convictions related to subversion and other charges. Wu said the trip was mainly intended to reunite with his wife and son, who moved to the United Kingdom in 2022 and 2023. During his imprisonment, he said their contact was limited to monthly phone calls and letters, making the visit especially meaningful after years apart. Before leaving Hong Kong, Wu said he sought advice from staff at the British Consulate General regarding his travel plans. According to him, officials assured him there should be no problems entering the UK and said they would inform the UK Border Force about his criminal record and travel itinerary in advance. Wu said border officials questioned whether he was a genuine visitor travelling only to see his family. He also rejected media reports claiming that he intended to seek political asylum in Britain, insisting that he had no such plans. The rights group Hong Kong Watch welcomed the UK’s decision to allow Wu to remain in the country. Policy Director Megan Khoo said the outcome was the correct one and argued that Wu should never have faced the threat of being sent back to the city where he had been imprisoned. Wu entered Britain using a British National Overseas passport, a travel document available to many Hong Kong permanent residents born before the territory’s transfer from British to Chinese rule in 1997. Holders of the passport are generally allowed to visit the UK without a visa for up to six months. The UK introduced a special visa route for British National Overseas passport holders in 2021 following the crackdown on Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. The programme allows eligible applicants to live, work and study in Britain and eventually apply for citizenship after meeting residency requirements. Since the scheme began, more than 230,000 Hong Kong residents have received BNO visas, while nearly 170,000 have relocated to the United Kingdom, according to government figures. The UK Home Office declined to comment on Wu’s individual case but reaffirmed its support for the Hong Kong community living in Britain. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government said it had not received any request for assistance from Wu or other Hong Kong residents regarding the matter.