Morning Mail: Nepal faces fresh flood threat; Ratko Mladić dies in prison; and AFL finals kick off

27 Aug, 20:28. AU edition

Governments scramble to send aid to stricken region as lake threatens to burst

Morning everyone. The Australian government has joined counterparts from around the world in scrambling to send aid into the disaster-hit region of Nepal and Tibet while the death toll nears 400. About 1,300 people are still missing, among them 39 Australians, amid fears that the area could be hit by another inundation. We have full reports.

The government’s promise of free energy could come at a price for some, and will One Nation’s policy confusion actually help Pauline Hanson? Ratko Mladić, the “Butcher of Bosnia”, has died in prison, and we preview the AFL finals starting tonight.

Australia

‘Lots of friends are missing’ | The Australian government is urgently seeking information on the welfare of at least 39 Australians missing in Nepal after the catastrophic flash flood swept through the Nepal-Tibet border region on Wednesday. Children as young as 11 are among those missing, and a New South Wales couple on a spiritual pilgrimage have been identified as missing after the disaster. Suman Shrestha, who moved to Australia from Nepal in 2017, says he is frantically trying to contact people in the stricken region. “Lots of my friends are missing,” he says. Australia was joining international efforts to get aid into the region as authorities in Tibet warned that a lake ⁠formed at the ⁠site ⁠where the deadly torrents occurred ⁠was rising and ⁠at risk of ‌bursting. Experts said the climate crisis may have caused ice to melt and thaw bonds that hold glaciers in place.
‘Cruel outcomes’ | The Queensland government’s latest law and order crackdown – subjecting some children as young as 10 to a mandatory sentence of a year behind bars – could lead to “cruel outcomes”, according to human rights lawyers.
Migration reprieve | Anthony Albanese has guaranteed Australia’s annual refugee intake will not be cut next financial year, shutting down plans for the arrivals quota to drop by one-third to Coalition-era levels.
Energy snag | A government energy deal that promised three free hours of power to houses without solar panels carries higher charges that make it an expensive option for many households, observers say.

World

Mladić dies | Ratko Mladić, the infamous Serbian general who was serving a life sentence for genocide committed during the Bosnian war, has died in prison in The Hague. Known as the “Butcher of Bosnia”, Mladić was convicted of genocide for orchestrating the 1995 killing of 8,000 Muslims at Srebrenica, an atrocity that still haunts the region. Read our obituary here.
Pentagon | Donald Trump’s war on Iran has driven the US military into a severe financial crisis, with the US navy forced to transfer money from its payroll and other sources to cover the costs of combat, a Guardian investigation reveals. But Trump still found time to sign an order changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America.
Malaria outbreak | German health officials are seeking to reassure the public after two workers at the country’s biggest airport died of malaria.
Russian ‘retaliation’ | Russia has said it could retaliate against the UK for its support of Kyiv by striking military targets inside and outside Ukraine, amid reports that the director of the CIA warned the Kremlin against attacking Nato during a secretive visit this week.
Gold heist | Thieves in Spain have raided the Treasure of Villena – a stunning collection of bronze age gold artefacts that has been described as the most important prehistoric trove in Europe.

Full Story

Alan Jones on Trial: What happened at lunch? | Week 4

Nour Haydar speaks to Amanda Meade to unpack a week of courtroom exchanges, revealing text messages and an unusual turn by the prosecution.

In-depth

One Nation has experienced a swell in popular support in the past year on the back of tough talk on immigration. But a series of blunders by leading party figures have led to confusion about what the party wants – but could that ambiguity help Pauline Hanson?

Not the news

In Time Travel For Beginners, Jaclyn Moriarty’s third novel for adults, the eponymous time travel agency is a gateway to possibility and wonder – for characters and readers alike, writes Bec Kavanagh.

Sport

AFL | The AFL finals kick off tonight when Collingwood take on the Bulldogs. We analyse the reasons why each of the 10 teams could win the premiership – and why they might not.
Football | Uefa is preparing to make a criminal complaint against Gianni Infantino for alleged “criminal mismanagement” in connection with his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. Chelsea have agreed a £7.6m deal to sign the Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. In the Champions League draw, Arsenal face assignments against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, while Manchester City will see Rodri again when they play Barcelona.
Cricket | England struggled to 248-9 on the first day of the second Test at Lord’s after being put into bat under heavy skies by Pakistan with Mohammad Abbas taking four wickets.

Media roundup

The failure of the upscale Sydney renovations company Bathla could escalate into one of the country’s biggest property collapses, according to the Fin Review. One Nation will unveil a former NSW trade commissioner as its state leader, the Australian reports. A triathlon club is mourning the death of a 32-year-old female member killed while cycling in a group, the Canberra Times reports. A $30,000 bronze sculpture has been stolen from a park in Geelong West, with the council telling the Advertiser that the theft is “concerning”.

What’s happening today

Healthcare | Australian Medical Association national conference in Canberra.
Politics | Pauline Hanson visits Singleton to announce the party’s leading candidates for the upcoming NSW state election.

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Brain teaser

And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.

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