Australia is sending additional emergency equipment and humanitarian aid to Nepal as the country continues to deal with the devastating aftermath of severe flooding. An RAAF aircraft carrying hygiene kits, shelter equipment and solar-powered lights is on its way to support search, rescue and recovery operations.

More than 930 people have been confirmed dead, while over 4,400 remain missing, including 43 Australians. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government has been working with both Nepali and Chinese authorities to assist in locating those still unaccounted for. However, difficult conditions on the ground are making recovery operations challenging.

The United Nations has warned that the humanitarian needs are becoming increasingly clear as emergency teams assess the scale of the destruction. Around 65,000 people require urgent water, sanitation and hygiene assistance, while more than 22,000 children are in need of protection. An estimated 2,600 children under the age of five may require treatment for severe wasting, and approximately 10,500 pregnant and breastfeeding women need nutritional support. Nineteen schools have also been damaged, with nine completely destroyed and eight being used as temporary shelters for displaced families.

Meanwhile, Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to regional cooperation in the Pacific. Speaking at the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said climate change and regional security would be key priorities. Australia also stressed that Pacific nations have the right to determine their own diplomatic relationships, following tensions over Taiwan’s participation in the forum.

In other international news, former gang leader Duane Keith Davis was found guilty in Las Vegas of the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur.

In tennis, world number one Aryna Sabalenka began her US Open title defence with a 6–2, 6–4 victory over Colombia’s Camila Osorio.