An Australian hiker has been confirmed dead in Nepal, as rescue efforts continue; police seek mother of newborn baby found dead in Sydney; football great Lionel Messi retires from international football.
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TRANSCRIPT
- An Australian hiker has been confirmed dead in Nepal, as rescue efforts continue
- Police seek mother of newborn baby found dead in Sydney
- Football great Lionel Messi retires from international football
More than 900 people have died and nearly 4,000 remain missing following a mudslide along the border of Nepal and Tibet.
Rescue teams have been racing to reach survivors amid difficult weather conditions, rising river levels and fears of further flooding hampering operations.
And the first death of an Australian in the disaster has been confirmed by his partner.
Michael Keats from the New South Wales South Coast was hiking in the region when the disaster struck.
In the capital city of Nuwakot District, Bidur, more than 30 aged care residents have been rescued from their destroyed home and taken to a hilltop hospital.
Caregiver, Saraswati Gigi, tells SBS four are still missing.
"They took me out, the helpers. And I said no, there is four people also. They said maybe they have died. I said go check. But it was dangerous there, the mud like that."
Police are looking for the mother of a child, after the body of a newborn was found in a garbage bin of a unit block in Sydney's west.
Police were called to the unit complex where a crime scene has been established, and an investigation has been launched.
Acting Commander of Auburn Police Area Command, Superintendent Darren Sly, says the mother likely needs medical attention.
"At this stage our number one priority and concern is for the welfare of the mother of this child, and we're asking if she could attend the closest hospital to receive urgent medical care that I'm sure she needs. I'm also asking if anyone anybody in the last 36 hours who's been along or in Harrow Road who may have seen something to contact Auburn Police."
Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, says Iran "does not seek war," but warned it can deliver a "decisive response" in the face of aggression.
It comes after the United States struck rocket launchers on Iranian island of Larak, about 660 km east of Kharg Island.
Iran responded with an assault on US bases in Jordan, which it says were used to launch and support the attack on Larak.
President Pezeshkian says its strikes were a legitimate defence.
“We do not seek war; that has been our message to the world until now. However, in the face of aggression, we will not stand by—we are capable of delivering a decisive response. Instability in this region would affect everyone and create serious problems; instability is in no country's interest.”
It's day two of the annual Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, with leaders set to discuss regional security and the environment.
The Pacific is one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in the world, with countries facing drought conditions, heavy rainfall and difficulty accessing clean drinking water, driven by El Niño weather patterns.
Pacific Islands Program Director at the Lowy Institute, Oliver Nobetau, says he will be watching Australia's climate commitments ahead of the COP31 summit, which will be held in Türkiye in November.
"So, Australia has a significant role to play in this one, as a bigger partner in the Pacific and as a member of the Pacific Islands Forum. They can really steer the direction in terms of how climate commitments work. With the introduction of the development partners coming back into this meeting, whether or not we'll see some of those commitments made. I think what has to be seen is that there has to be a demonstration that Pacific Island countries can utilise these funds and there is a big return on that investment."
Meanwhile, China has promised "consequences" for Taiwan's presence at the Pacific Islands Forum opening ceremony.
Qian Bo, Beijing's special envoy for Pacific Island Countries Affairs, denied his comments were a threat, but said China has "serious concerns" with Taiwan's status as development partners at the forum.
Legendary Argentinian football player Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football.
The 39-year-old, record eight-times Ballon d'Or winner led Argentina to a second successive World Cup final in July.
In a post on social media, Messi writes the decision hurts, but he says the time has come.
Jose Aramburu is among fans celebrating the great footballer's long career, and his resilience as a person.
"The most important thing Messi left behind was the fact of insisting, persisting, pursuing a dream, a goal, an objective, and well, it doesn't matter what others say; it’s a matter of striving until you achieve it and don't give up."
