J.M. Chyno

Lars Boe

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A catastrophic flash flood and mudslide tore through northern Nepal on Wednesday, killing more than 160 people and leaving hundreds of tourists missing. The surge, which reportedly originated on the Tibetan side of the border, raced down the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers, destroying villages, bridges and hydropower projects in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. In Tibet’s Gyirong County, Chinese state media reported at least three people dead and 265 missing.According to local reports, water levels in the Bhote Koshi basin began rising rapidly around 9:00 AM local time on August 26. The flood breached riverbanks and travelled downstream through the Bhote Koshi River into the Trishuli River, with potential impacts extending into Nuwakot and Dhading districts. There are concerns over further potential downstream impacts as sediment and boulders have run through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems. Water levels on the Trishuli River at Galchchi reportedly rose by at least nine meters within 30 minutes.<figure><img src="https://app.inkly.news/media/1787779667320-011fe138-1b24-11ee-80f6-77dd1bd93379_01a03e4e-c055-7571-acbd-6437c146117b-PcZjSZVFAXXF8BdozSwtP99FQcixxQ.jpeg" alt=""/><figcaption>Major flooding in the Rasuwa district on Wednesday Aug. 26, 2026.Screenshot from video by Upendra Mansingh/ Associated Press/ICIMoD</figcaption></figure>Climate experts at the Kathmandu-based <a href="https://www.icimod.org/press-release/major-flash-flood-sweeps-through-nepals-rasuwa-district-raising-fears-of-further-downstream-flooding/">International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development</a>, said a collapsing glacier was likely the main cause, blocking the river then releasing a sudden surge downstream. At first it was thought an earthquake was the cause of the deadly mudslide, however the United States Geological Survey recently stated that after an &quot;Additional analysis of long period seismic waves indicate that the seismic energy was instead generated by a landslide.&quot; <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/26/weather/floods-nepal-cause-vis">Experts warn</a> it will take time to establish the exact cause of the flooding.Countries from around the world have offered assistance as the true scale of emerging disaster unfolds. Indian officials say the country has sent 10 tones of aid to Nepal to assist with the emergency response. &quot;Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and all those affected. In face of this challenge, India stands with Nepal and its people,&quot; says the country's external affairs minister, <a href="https://x.com/DrSJaishankar">Subrahmanyam Jaishankar</a>, in a post on social media platform X.<figure><img src="https://app.inkly.news/media/1787779307879-HQqD0TwaIAAVAoM-OqDrPhr4NqRNRVzUJTMP0W8EpanDoE.jfif" alt=""/><figcaption>India dispatched 10 tonnes of HADR assistance and essential medicines to support Nepal’s response to the devastating floods.X/@DrSJaishankar</figcaption></figure>The number of missing tourists, including 54 from the U.S., is now at least 579, according to the latest figures confirmed by <a href="https://x.com/NepalPoliceHQ">Nepali police</a>. Search and rescue operations in Nepal’s flood-hit areas will continue through the night, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Facebook on Wednesday. Eleven ground teams have been deployed for overnight operations. A large number of people stranded above Timure are scheduled to be airlifted on Thursday morning, and efforts will also continue to reach those trapped in tunnels at hydropower project sites, the office said. The<a href="https://x.com/NepaliArmyHQ"> Nepali Army</a> has already airlifted more than 100 people and deployed additional personnel and helicopters, with further air evacuations planned at first light.This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.

A catastrophic flash flood and mudslide tore through northern Nepal on Wednesday, killing more than 160 people and leaving hundreds of tourists missing. The surge, which reportedly originated on the Tibetan side of the border, raced down the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers, destroying villages, bridges and hydropower projects in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. In Tibet’s Gyirong County, Chinese state media reported at least three people dead and 265 missing.

According to local reports, water levels in the Bhote Koshi basin began rising rapidly around 9:00 AM local time on August 26. The flood breached riverbanks and travelled downstream through the Bhote Koshi River into the Trishuli River, with potential impacts extending into Nuwakot and Dhading districts. 

There are concerns over further potential downstream impacts as sediment and boulders have run through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems. Water levels on the Trishuli River at Galchchi reportedly rose by at least nine meters within 30 minutes.

Climate experts at the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, said a collapsing glacier was likely the main cause, blocking the river then releasing a sudden surge downstream. At first it was thought an earthquake was the cause of the deadly mudslide, however the United States Geological Survey recently stated that after an "Additional analysis of long period seismic waves indicate that the seismic energy was instead generated by a landslide." Experts warn it will take time to establish the exact cause of the flooding.

Countries from around the world have offered assistance as the true scale of emerging disaster unfolds. Indian officials say the country has sent 10 tones of aid to Nepal to assist with the emergency response. "Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and all those affected. In face of this challenge, India stands with Nepal and its people," says the country's external affairs minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, in a post on social media platform X.

The number of missing tourists, including 54 from the U.S., is now at least 579, according to the latest figures confirmed by Nepali police. Search and rescue operations in Nepal’s flood-hit areas will continue through the night, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Facebook on Wednesday. Eleven ground teams have been deployed for overnight operations. 

A large number of people stranded above Timure are scheduled to be airlifted on Thursday morning, and efforts will also continue to reach those trapped in tunnels at hydropower project sites, the office said. The Nepali Army has already airlifted more than 100 people and deployed additional personnel and helicopters, with further air evacuations planned at first light.

This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.

  

A glacial flood from Tibet killed 160+ people and left nearly 580 tourists missing in Nepal's Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. Rescue operations continue overnight

Nepal Flash Flood: 160 Dead, 579 Tourists Missing

A glacial flood from Tibet killed 160+ people and left nearly 580 tourists missing in Nepal's Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. Rescue operations continue overnight.

A wall of mud and water from Tibet tore through Rasuwa and Nuwakot on Wednesday, washing away villages, bridges and hydropower projects. Hundreds of tourists remain unaccounted for.

Hundreds Missing After Catastrophic Flash Flood Devastates Nepal-Tibet Border

Jurors began deliberating Thursday in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Duxbury mother accused of strangling her three young children in January 2023. Clancy, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months old, is claiming acute <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24152-postpartum-psychosis">postpartum psychosis </a>left her unable to understand the wrongfulness of her actions.Clancy now uses a wheelchair after suffering a burst fracture and Jefferson fracture that left her paralyzed from the waist down after she jumped from a second-story window in a suicide attempt following the killings. If convicted, she faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors say the acts were planned and deliberate, noting she intentionally sent her husband out on errands before the killings. Prosecution experts testified that Clancy possessed &quot;moral awareness&quot; and is criminally liable.<figure><img src="https://app.inkly.news/media/1787728349055-gettyimages-1246728133-6a7c1009cf751-scaled-zfZOPgsZbMG2CCakb4FuRbvZciCkqv.webp" alt=""/><figcaption>The home of Lindsay Clancy in Duxbury, Massachusetts.Getty</figcaption></figure>Defense attorney Kevin Reddington questioned forensic psychiatrist <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/24/lindsay-clancy-trial-psychologist-testimony">Dr. Kirk Heilbrun</a>, one of the prosecution's expert witnesses, about his lack of experience treating postpartum psychosis, seeking to undermine Heilbrun's conclusion that Clancy was aware of her actions during the killings and her subsequent suicide attempt.<a href="https://abcnews.com/GMA/News/lindsay-clancy-defense-rest-friday-after-final-witness/story?id=135835493">Dr. Avram Mack</a> a psychiatrist for the prosecution, testified that Clancy retained the ability to understand right from wrong and control her actions when she killed her children. He diagnosed her with major depressive disorder but found no evidence of psychosis or mania.The last witness in the defense's case, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Phillip Resnick said Clancy suffered from severe depression and bipolar II disorder, with <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20376617">postpartum onset</a>, and that a command hallucination drove her actions. Resnick stated that in his opinion, Clancy was unable to tell the difference between right and wrong and lacked control at that time.<figure><img src="https://app.inkly.news/media/1787732347031-0820_clancy-rally02-768x512-MpIXENs3MsHx7dOt5K9FNEhd9x92mt.jpg" alt=""/><figcaption>Demonstrators wear pink outside of Plymouth Superior Court on Thursday morning in support of Lindsay ClancyDeborah Becker/WBUR</figcaption></figure>Forensic psychiatrist Dr. <a href="https://www.boston.com/news/crime/2026/08/26/lindsay-clancy-murder-trial-livestream-video-wednesday-august-26/">Gregory Saathoff</a>, the prosecution's final rebuttal witness, testified that Clancy made a series of decisions the night of the killings. &quot;It indicated that she had control, control of the sequence of what she was doing throughout,&quot; said Saathoff, who also works with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. He added that while Clancy was suffering from <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bipolar-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355955">bipolar II disorder</a> when she strangled her children on Jan. 24, 2023, she had the capacity to know right from wrong and is therefore criminally responsible. Judge William Sullivan sent jurors home following Saathoff's testimony Wednesday afternoon.In their <a href="https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/lindsay-clancy-trial-closing-arguments-day-22/4004823/">closing arguments</a>, defense attorney Kevin Reddington said, &quot;This young lady is not guilty of the killing of her young children because she was suffering from a disease and defect.&quot; Prosecutor Jennifer Sprague said in her closing: &quot;You know she killed those kids as soon as she left, and when she got the call from him, she had already strangled them. And she didn't tell him, she didn't ask for help, she didn't say, 'Oh my God, what have I done?'&quot;&quot;She lied, she stayed calm, she presented herself as normal,&quot; Sprague continued, &quot;so she could finish the plan — to kill herself.&quot;The trial has drawn international attention, with hundreds of demonstrators — mostly women — gathering outside the Plymouth courthouse wearing pink in a show of support for Clancy and to raise awareness about postpartum mental health care. The jury must now decide whether Lindsay Clancy was criminally responsible for the killings of her three children, or whether her postpartum psychosis was so severe she was unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of her actions — a defense the prosecution's experts flatly rejected.This is a developing story.

Jurors began deliberating Thursday in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Duxbury mother accused of strangling her three young children in January 2023. Clancy, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months old, is claiming acute postpartum psychosis left her unable to understand the wrongfulness of her actions.

Clancy now uses a wheelchair after suffering a burst fracture and Jefferson fracture that left her paralyzed from the waist down after she jumped from a second-story window in a suicide attempt following the killings. If convicted, she faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors say the acts were planned and deliberate, noting she intentionally sent her husband out on errands before the killings. Prosecution experts testified that Clancy possessed "moral awareness" and is criminally liable.

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington questioned forensic psychiatrist Dr. Kirk Heilbrun, one of the prosecution's expert witnesses, about his lack of experience treating postpartum psychosis, seeking to undermine Heilbrun's conclusion that Clancy was aware of her actions during the killings and her subsequent suicide attempt.

Dr. Avram Mack a psychiatrist for the prosecution, testified that Clancy retained the ability to understand right from wrong and control her actions when she killed her children. He diagnosed her with major depressive disorder but found no evidence of psychosis or mania.

The last witness in the defense's case, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Phillip Resnick said Clancy suffered from severe depression and bipolar II disorder, with postpartum onset, and that a command hallucination drove her actions. Resnick stated that in his opinion, Clancy was unable to tell the difference between right and wrong and lacked control at that time.

Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Gregory Saathoff, the prosecution's final rebuttal witness, testified that Clancy made a series of decisions the night of the killings. "It indicated that she had control, control of the sequence of what she was doing throughout," said Saathoff, who also works with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. He added that while Clancy was suffering from bipolar II disorder when she strangled her children on Jan. 24, 2023, she had the capacity to know right from wrong and is therefore criminally responsible. Judge William Sullivan sent jurors home following Saathoff's testimony Wednesday afternoon.

In their closing arguments, defense attorney Kevin Reddington said, "This young lady is not guilty of the killing of her young children because she was suffering from a disease and defect." Prosecutor Jennifer Sprague said in her closing: "You know she killed those kids as soon as she left, and when she got the call from him, she had already strangled them. And she didn't tell him, she didn't ask for help, she didn't say, 'Oh my God, what have I done?'"

"She lied, she stayed calm, she presented herself as normal," Sprague continued, "so she could finish the plan — to kill herself."

The trial has drawn international attention, with hundreds of demonstrators — mostly women — gathering outside the Plymouth courthouse wearing pink in a show of support for Clancy and to raise awareness about postpartum mental health care. 

The jury must now decide whether Lindsay Clancy was criminally responsible for the killings of her three children, or whether her postpartum psychosis was so severe she was unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of her actions — a defense the prosecution's experts flatly rejected.

This is a developing story.

Jurors begin deliberating in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial. The Duxbury mom faces 3 counts of first-degree murder in her children's 2023 deaths.

Lindsay Clancy Trial: Jury Deliberates in Murder Case

Competing psychiatric experts divided sharply over whether Lindsay Clancy was in the grip of psychosis or fully aware of her actions when she strangled her three children. Now a jury must decide.

Lindsay Clancy Trial: Jury Begins Deliberations in Triple Murder Case

Nearly 25 years after the Sept. 11 attacks, victims are still being identified. The New York Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the NYPD Detective Bureau announced they have identified one of the nearly 3,000 people killed at the World Trade Center using a combination of DNA testing and family tree research.A woman, whose name is being withheld at the request of her family, was recently identified using the new breakthrough technology. “It's a breakthrough,” Dr. Jason Graham, New York City's chief medical examiner, confirmed to <a href="https://abcnews.com/US/911-victim-identified-kind-genetic-genealogy-technique/story?id=135887895">ABC News</a>. “I'm delighted to be able to say that we've now applied new methods to the World Trade Center identification efforts, and we have a new identification for the first time in 25 years using new methods, forensic investigative genetic genealogy.”<figure><img src="https://app.inkly.news/media/1787607210314-Wtc-2004-memorial-LvjS94WbrxC28M7IfYkrfYrTAesmuX.jpg" alt=""/><figcaption>Two beams of light represent the former Twin Towers of the World Trade Center during the 2004 memorial of the September 11, 2001 attacks.Derek Jensen - Tysto</figcaption></figure>New York <a href="https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/08/mayor-mamdani-and-office-of-chief-medical-examiner-announcenew-i">Mayor Zohran Mamdani</a> released a statement: “As we approach the 25th anniversary of the horrific September 11 attacks, we honor the nearly 3,000 people whose lives were stolen that day, and we remain committed to the families who have spent 25 years waiting for answers.”“The identification of this victim through forensic investigative genetic genealogy is a powerful example of what is possible when we pair cutting-edge technology with an unwavering commitment to those we lost. We will continue to work until every possible answer is found and every family that has been waiting can have the clarity and closure they deserve.”In addition to the new 9/11 identification, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner continues to link remains to previously identified victims so they can be returned to their families. Recent links have been confirmed for three individuals using forensic investigative genetic genealogy, DNA reference samples obtained through renewed family outreach, and ongoing retesting of remains recovered since 2001. A total of 1,654 victims have now been formally identified since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that shook not only the United States but the world.

Nearly 25 years after the Sept. 11 attacks, victims are still being identified. The New York Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the NYPD Detective Bureau announced they have identified one of the nearly 3,000 people killed at the World Trade Center using a combination of DNA testing and family tree research.

A woman, whose name is being withheld at the request of her family, was recently identified using the new breakthrough technology. “It's a breakthrough,” Dr. Jason Graham, New York City's chief medical examiner, confirmed to ABC News. “I'm delighted to be able to say that we've now applied new methods to the World Trade Center identification efforts, and we have a new identification for the first time in 25 years using new methods, forensic investigative genetic genealogy.”

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a statement: “As we approach the 25th anniversary of the horrific September 11 attacks, we honor the nearly 3,000 people whose lives were stolen that day, and we remain committed to the families who have spent 25 years waiting for answers.”

“The identification of this victim through forensic investigative genetic genealogy is a powerful example of what is possible when we pair cutting-edge technology with an unwavering commitment to those we lost. We will continue to work until every possible answer is found and every family that has been waiting can have the clarity and closure they deserve.”

In addition to the new 9/11 identification, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner continues to link remains to previously identified victims so they can be returned to their families. Recent links have been confirmed for three individuals using forensic investigative genetic genealogy, DNA reference samples obtained through renewed family outreach, and ongoing retesting of remains recovered since 2001. A total of 1,654 victims have now been formally identified since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that shook not only the United States but the world.

A cutting-edge DNA and genealogy technique has yielded the first new World Trade Center victim identification in nearly 25 years, NYC officials say.

New DNA Method IDs 9/11 Victim After Nearly 25 Years

A cutting-edge DNA technique combining genetic testing and family tree research has yielded the first new World Trade Center victim identification since the early 2000s.


New DNA Method IDs 9/11 Victim for First Time in Nearly 25 Years

The Justice Department has reached a $400 million settlement with TikTok over violations of federal children's privacy law — one of the largest recoveries ever secured under<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-coppa"> COPPA</a>. TikTok will pay $300 million up front, with an additional $100 million due if a prior consent decree against its predecessor, Musical.ly, is vacated. The agency sued TikTok, alleging that it violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting and retaining data from its users younger than 13 without notifying or obtaining consent from their parents.Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. said in a <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-secures-400m-settlement-tiktok-and-bytedance-resolve-childrens-privacy">statement</a> Friday, “This settlement is a major victory for American children and parents. The Department's priority is ensuring that children are protected online and that companies entrusted with their personal information meet their legal obligations. This resolution secures a substantial recovery while reinforcing the protections that families expect and deserve.”“The most important result is that children and parents are better protected today than they were when this case began,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This settlement reflects substantial progress, secures a significant monetary recovery, and brings this matter to a successful conclusion.&quot; The Justice Department further stated since they filed the 2024 complaint, TikTok has significantly changed its ownership, management, compliance, and privacy practices. It has strengthened safeguards for younger users, improved age controls, and enhanced parental oversight—advancing the litigation’s public interests and protecting millions of American families.This is a developing story.

 The Justice Department has reached a $400 million settlement with TikTok over violations of federal children's privacy law — one of the largest recoveries ever secured under COPPA. TikTok will pay $300 million up front, with an additional $100 million due if a prior consent decree against its predecessor, Musical.ly, is vacated. 

The agency sued TikTok, alleging that it violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting and retaining data from its users younger than 13 without notifying or obtaining consent from their parents.

Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. said in a statement Friday, “This settlement is a major victory for American children and parents. The Department's priority is ensuring that children are protected online and that companies entrusted with their personal information meet their legal obligations. This resolution secures a substantial recovery while reinforcing the protections that families expect and deserve.”

“The most important result is that children and parents are better protected today than they were when this case began,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This settlement reflects substantial progress, secures a significant monetary recovery, and brings this matter to a successful conclusion." 

The Justice Department further stated since they filed the 2024 complaint, TikTok has significantly changed its ownership, management, compliance, and privacy practices. It has strengthened safeguards for younger users, improved age controls, and enhanced parental oversight—advancing the litigation’s public interests and protecting millions of American families.

This is a developing story.

TikTok agrees to $400 million settlement with the Justice Department over COPPA violations involving illegal data collection from underage users.

TikTok Pays $400M in Children's Privacy Settlement

TikTok will pay $400 million to settle Justice Department claims it illegally harvested data from millions of underage users, a case years in the making against one of the world's most popular apps.

Justice Department Secures One of Largest-Ever Children's Privacy Settlements Against TikTok

A federal trial over allegations that Meta deliberately engineered its social media platforms to addict children opened Monday in Oakland, with the tech giant denying wrongdoing.Dozens of<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/meta-29-states-head-court-biggest-test-yet-youth-social-media-litigation-2026-08-12/"> states </a>are seeking financial damages that could total as much as $1.4 trillion in the largest trial of its kind. Meta whistleblower Arturo Béjar, former senior engineering and product leader at Facebook, was the first witness to take the stand, when questioned if he believes Meta used its research to improve wellbeing Béjar said research was not &quot;effectively&quot; used, adding that Meta detected &quot;significant number of harms including harms to young people” but did not make changes.United States District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland will oversee the proceedings, which are expected to last six to eight weeks with testimony from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expected. <figure><img src="https://app.inkly.news/media/1787085863337-skynews-meta-mark-zuckerberg_7203004-ETXCuSsjM1s5qRNOuGkeY0vqPtbr0A.jpg" alt=""/><figcaption>Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg after testifying at a Los Angeles court in a separate case in February.Wally Skalij/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The states alleged Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children and teens, with features on the apps made to keep them on the platforms for as long as possible. New York Attorney General Letitia James released a <a href="https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2026/attorney-general-james-releases-statement-start-trial-against-meta">statement </a>marking the first day of the trial: “Meta has built their business around addictive feeds and features that put children’s mental health at serious risk. Protecting young New Yorkers from harmful technology has been part of my mission since taking office, and I am grateful to this bipartisan coalition for coming together to hold Meta accountable for exploiting and harming our youth.”Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, denies wrongdoing, and said in a statement: &quot;We are proud of our record in protecting teens on our platforms and the amount of effort that we've put into developing protections over the years, even before these cases were ever filed.&quot;It follows a landmark trial in New Mexico earlier this year, which ruled that Meta knowingly harmed children's mental health and hid what it knew about child sexual exploitation on its social media platforms.This is a developing story, Insider Wire journalists will update as the trial continues.

A federal trial over allegations that Meta deliberately engineered its social media platforms to addict children opened Monday in Oakland, with the tech giant denying wrongdoing.

Dozens of states are seeking financial damages that could total as much as $1.4 trillion in the largest trial of its kind. Meta whistleblower Arturo Béjar, former senior engineering and product leader at Facebook, was the first witness to take the stand, when questioned if he believes Meta used its research to improve wellbeing Béjar said research was not "effectively" used, adding that Meta detected "significant number of harms including harms to young people” but did not make changes.

United States District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland will oversee the proceedings, which are expected to last six to eight weeks with testimony from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expected. 

The states alleged Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children and teens, with features on the apps made to keep them on the platforms for as long as possible. New York Attorney General Letitia James released a statement marking the first day of the trial: 

“Meta has built their business around addictive feeds and features that put children’s mental health at serious risk. Protecting young New Yorkers from harmful technology has been part of my mission since taking office, and I am grateful to this bipartisan coalition for coming together to hold Meta accountable for exploiting and harming our youth.”

Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, denies wrongdoing, and said in a statement: "We are proud of our record in protecting teens on our platforms and the amount of effort that we've put into developing protections over the years, even before these cases were ever filed."

It follows a landmark trial in New Mexico earlier this year, which ruled that Meta knowingly harmed children's mental health and hid what it knew about child sexual exploitation on its social media platforms.

This is a developing story, Insider Wire journalists will update as the trial continues.

Dozens of states face Meta in a landmark federal trial over child safety. A whistleblower testified Meta detected harms to youth but failed to act.

Meta Children's Safety Trial: States Seek $1.4 Trillion

A Meta whistleblower testified the company detected "significant" harms to young people but failed to act, as a landmark federal trial over children's safety gets underway.


Dozens of States Face Off Against Meta in Landmark Children's Safety Trial

At least 48 people are dead and hundreds of structures destroyed after a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia's Flores Island early Saturday, triggering tsunami waves and sending residents fleeing in panic.The quake hit at 5:58 am local time with its epicenter in the sea north of Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara province, according to the <a href="https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000tkt2/executive">United States Geological Survey</a> (USGS). Tsunami waves of less than 1 meter (3 feet) were recorded in several areas of the country. The warning was lifted around three hours after the initial tremor. Search and rescue operations continue with dozens of people still missing or feared trapped in the rubble. Residents describe the fear and panic as the quake struck. “Although I have experienced several earthquakes on Flores island before, this was by far the strongest and longest earthquake I have ever experienced. The shaking was extremely powerful and violent,” a local resident told <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/14/asia/indonesia-earthquake-intl-latam">CNN</a>.The USGS estimates that more than half a million people on Flores Island, in eastern Indonesia, are likely to have experienced very strong shaking, with moderate to strong shaking felt by several million more people across the country.<figure><img src="https://app.inkly.news/media/1786825286074-lcimg-790d97b5-d425-4929-b10b-cdfc4ba8dce3-y7c74POa3ByplSclcrTvL5AhtFDH4x.png" alt=""/><figcaption>Magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the Flores region in East Nusa Tenggara.BBC/USGS</figcaption></figure>More than 300 houses were destroyed or damaged, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency —100 public facilities, including 87 educational facilities, 18 health facilities, 6 offices and 5 places of worship.Rescue teams have yet to reach the Nagekeo regency, where the quake caused landslides that have blocked roads and disrupted communications. Aftershocks continue to rock the region, hampering rescue and recovery efforts, with a magnitude 6.9 recorded thousands of miles away on Sumatra Island. <figure><img src="https://app.inkly.news/media/1786829542645-images__1_-RhNhQpZCTws4oMXHIJCwVMdVzoR4qv.jfif" alt=""/><figcaption>Rescuers search for victims at a damaged building in Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia, following the earthquake,BASARNAS</figcaption></figure>On average, about 15 to 18 earthquakes of a magnitude of 7-7.9 strike globally. This year 11 have been recorded, but <a href="https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/browse/m7-world.php">scientists</a> say the pace is on track and the number is not unusually high. 2026 Earthquakes Above Magnitude 7<ul><li>February 22: Magnitude 7.1 – Sabah, Malaysia</li><li>March 24: Magnitude 7.5 – Vava'u, Tonga</li><li>March 30: Magnitude 7.3 – Sanma, Vanuatu</li><li>April 1: Magnitude 7.4 – North Maluku, Indonesia</li><li>April 20: Magnitude 7.4 – Iwate, Japan</li><li>June 7: Magnitude 7.8 – Mindanao, Philippines</li><li>June 24: Magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 – Yaracuy/La Guaira, Venezuela</li><li>July 17: Magnitude 7.3 – Chiapas, Mexico</li><li>August 10: Magnitude 7.4 – Chocó, Colombia</li><li>August 14: Magnitude 7.7 – East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia</li></ul>Communities across Flores have begun the long and determined process of recovery, rebuilding stronger homes and supporting one another. Calls for enforcing stricter building codes are increasing as the full scale of destruction from the recent earthquake reveals how many structures failed under the intense shaking.

At least 48 people are dead and hundreds of structures destroyed after a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia's Flores Island early Saturday, triggering tsunami waves and sending residents fleeing in panic.

The quake hit at 5:58 am local time with its epicenter in the sea north of Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara province, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Tsunami waves of less than 1 meter (3 feet) were recorded in several areas of the country. The warning was lifted around three hours after the initial tremor. 

Search and rescue operations continue with dozens of people still missing or feared trapped in the rubble. Residents describe the fear and panic as the quake struck. “Although I have experienced several earthquakes on Flores island before, this was by far the strongest and longest earthquake I have ever experienced. The shaking was extremely powerful and violent,” a local resident told CNN.

The USGS estimates that more than half a million people on Flores Island, in eastern Indonesia, are likely to have experienced very strong shaking, with moderate to strong shaking felt by several million more people across the country.

More than 300 houses were destroyed or damaged, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency —100 public facilities, including 87 educational facilities, 18 health facilities, 6 offices and 5 places of worship.

Rescue teams have yet to reach the Nagekeo regency, where the quake caused landslides that have blocked roads and disrupted communications. Aftershocks continue to rock the region, hampering rescue and recovery efforts, with a magnitude 6.9 recorded thousands of miles away on Sumatra Island. 

On average, about 15 to 18 earthquakes of a magnitude of 7-7.9 strike globally. This year 11 have been recorded, but scientists say the pace is on track and the number is not unusually high. 

2026 Earthquakes Above Magnitude 7

February 22: Magnitude 7.1 – Sabah, Malaysia
March 24: Magnitude 7.5 – Vava'u, Tonga
March 30: Magnitude 7.3 – Sanma, Vanuatu
April 1: Magnitude 7.4 – North Maluku, Indonesia
April 20: Magnitude 7.4 – Iwate, Japan
June 7: Magnitude 7.8 – Mindanao, Philippines
June 24: Magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 – Yaracuy/La Guaira, Venezuela
July 17: Magnitude 7.3 – Chiapas, Mexico
August 10: Magnitude 7.4 – Chocó, Colombia
August 14: Magnitude 7.7 – East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Communities across Flores have begun the long and determined process of recovery, rebuilding stronger homes and supporting one another. Calls for enforcing stricter building codes are increasing as the full scale of destruction from the recent earthquake reveals how many structures failed under the intense shaking.

 

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Flores Island, killing at least 48, triggering tsunamis, and destroying hundreds of homes.

7.7 Earthquake Kills Dozens on Indonesia's Flores Island

A massive earthquake off Indonesia's Flores Island has killed dozens, flattened hundreds of homes and left residents shaken — describing it as the strongest tremor they've ever felt.

Death Toll Rises After 7.7 Earthquake Devastates Indonesia's Flores Island

A rare total solar eclipse will darken skies across parts of Europe and the Arctic on August 12, cutting a path of totality over Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain and a sliver of Portugal.A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, completely blocking the face of the Sun and turning day into a brief twilight for observers standing inside the narrow path of its shadow.The Northern Hemisphere will experience a partial solar eclipse, including parts of the northern U.S. (from Alaska to North Carolina), most of Canada, much of Europe, and northwestern Africa. Regions near the path will experience a partial eclipse with significant coverage, including over 90% in London and Paris.Authorities and experts have urged viewers not to look at the sun with the naked eye, or to rely on sunglasses, noting it can cause permanent eye damage. Instead, they have recommended buying special eclipse glasses.<h2>Path of Totality</h2>Spain: The eclipse crosses diagonally from the Atlantic coast down to the Mediterranean Sea right before sunset. Totality will be visible in cities like Valencia, Zaragoza, and León, while Madrid and Barcelona fall just outside the line.Iceland: Prime viewing spots are across western regions and Reykjavík. Iceland will host the longest land-adjacent duration of totality.Greenland &amp; Russia: The path will sweep across the remote Arctic north, the vast ice fields of Greenland, and northern Siberia.Portugal: A sliver in the far northwestern Bragança district will catch a brief glimpse of totality right at sunset.<figure><img src="https://app.inkly.news/media/1786517316226-4d3a7ccc-2493-4a0e-b31a-4325f81b9047-EIkYvMLikmUnvBF43f2rgzux6w55X3.jfif" alt=""/><figcaption>People are seen as they watch a total solar eclipse through protective glasses in Kerrville, TX on Monday, April 8, 2024.NASA/Aubrey Gemignani</figcaption></figure>Those who have witnessed totality describe it as a profound spiritual experience that unites millions of people from every corner of the globe. Strangers from different nations, cultures, languages, and backgrounds gather side by side beneath the Moon’s shadow. In those fleeting minutes, as day turns to twilight and the solar corona blazes into view, the eclipse becomes a powerful reminder of our shared humanity.For more details on the path of totality, visit <a href="https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html">NASA's eclipse site</a>.<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/live/">NASA will stream the eclipse live starting at 1:15 p.m. EDT on August 12.</a>

A rare total solar eclipse will darken skies across parts of Europe and the Arctic on August 12, cutting a path of totality over Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain and a sliver of Portugal.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, completely blocking the face of the Sun and turning day into a brief twilight for observers standing inside the narrow path of its shadow.

The Northern Hemisphere will experience a partial solar eclipse, including parts of the northern U.S. (from Alaska to North Carolina), most of Canada, much of Europe, and northwestern Africa. Regions near the path will experience a partial eclipse with significant coverage, including over 90% in London and Paris.

Authorities and experts have urged viewers not to look at the sun with the naked eye, or to rely on sunglasses, noting it can cause permanent eye damage. Instead, they have recommended buying special eclipse glasses.

Path of Totality

Spain: The eclipse crosses diagonally from the Atlantic coast down to the Mediterranean Sea right before sunset. Totality will be visible in cities like Valencia, Zaragoza, and León, while Madrid and Barcelona fall just outside the line.

Iceland: Prime viewing spots are across western regions and Reykjavík. Iceland will host the longest land-adjacent duration of totality.

Greenland & Russia: The path will sweep across the remote Arctic north, the vast ice fields of Greenland, and northern Siberia.

Portugal: A sliver in the far northwestern Bragança district will catch a brief glimpse of totality right at sunset.

Those who have witnessed totality describe it as a profound spiritual experience that unites millions of people from every corner of the globe. Strangers from different nations, cultures, languages, and backgrounds gather side by side beneath the Moon’s shadow. In those fleeting minutes, as day turns to twilight and the solar corona blazes into view, the eclipse becomes a powerful reminder of our shared humanity.

For more details on the path of totality, visit NASA's eclipse site.

NASA will stream the eclipse live starting at 1:15 p.m. EDT on August 12. 

A total solar eclipse crosses Europe and the Arctic on Aug. 12, 2026. See the path of totality, best viewing spots, and how to watch safely.

Solar Eclipse 2026: Path of Totality, Dates & How to Watch

Millions across Europe and the Arctic will witness a rare total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026. Here's where totality hits — and how to watch.

Solar Eclipse 2026: Millions in Europe and the Arctic Brace for Totality

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a landmark trilateral defense pact in Mecca on Friday, expanding a bilateral Saudi-Pakistani agreement from September 2025 into a collective security alliance with a mutual-defense clause.The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three would be regarded as an attack on all, the three countries said in a <a href="https://x.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/2085675356862960111?s=20">joint statement</a>. “The pact includes a collective defense clause. It is purely defensive in nature, pledging mutual support only for defense,” a Turkish official said.Iran has responded to the agreement, with Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of Iran's Parliament, saying on the social media platform X: “Saudis must know that a paper agreement with Turkey and Pakistan will not bring them security, just as years of one-sided nursing to the Americans did not bring them security.”“Reform your policies so that you do not need to beg for security from others,” said Rezaei, who is also a member of Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission.<figure><img src="https://app.inkly.news/media/1786313862447-Turkey-Saudi-Arabia-Pakistan-MBS-Erdogan-Sharif-NDBziFCk0bmNCJymF0XMtfSFwMNGH1.webp" alt=""/><figcaption>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left), Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (center) and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meet in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026Saudi Press Agency</figcaption></figure>The new agreement is already being put to the test with the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen claiming responsibility for strikes on a gas facility in Jubail, eastern Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The agreement does not specify what military, logistical, or other responses are required. It is a framework for cooperation rather than a strict <a href="https://www.nato.int/en/what-we-do/introduction-to-nato/collective-defence-and-article-5">NATO</a>-style automatic mutual-defense commitment and may not trigger immediate action.Tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate as Iran persists in targeting commercial shipping in the region, with repeated attacks on vessels—including a recent missile strike on a United Arab Emirates-affiliated tanker—further disrupting traffic through one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Although Iran and Oman have edged closer to a provisional agreement on temporary shipping routes, Washington and Tehran remain unable to agree on a broader deal that would fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have made clear that any permanent restoration of free passage depends on a series of U.S. concessions, including war reparations, the lifting of the naval blockade and sanctions, the release of frozen assets, and the withdrawal of American forces from the region, leaving the waterway’s status unresolved and prolonging uncertainty for global oil and gas markets.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a landmark trilateral defense pact in Mecca on Friday, expanding a bilateral Saudi-Pakistani agreement from September 2025 into a collective security alliance with a mutual-defense clause.

The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three would be regarded as an attack on all, the three countries said in a joint statement. “The pact includes a collective defense clause. It is purely defensive in nature, pledging mutual support only for defense,” a Turkish official said.

Iran has responded to the agreement, with Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of Iran's Parliament, saying on the social media platform X: “Saudis must know that a paper agreement with Turkey and Pakistan will not bring them security, just as years of one-sided nursing to the Americans did not bring them security.”

“Reform your policies so that you do not need to beg for security from others,” said Rezaei, who is also a member of Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission.

The new agreement is already being put to the test with the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen claiming responsibility for strikes on a gas facility in Jubail, eastern Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The agreement does not specify what military, logistical, or other responses are required. It is a framework for cooperation rather than a strict NATO-style automatic mutual-defense commitment and may not trigger immediate action.

Tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate as Iran persists in targeting commercial shipping in the region, with repeated attacks on vessels—including a recent missile strike on a United Arab Emirates-affiliated tanker—further disrupting traffic through one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Although Iran and Oman have edged closer to a provisional agreement on temporary shipping routes, Washington and Tehran remain unable to agree on a broader deal that would fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have made clear that any permanent restoration of free passage depends on a series of U.S. concessions, including war reparations, the lifting of the naval blockade and sanctions, the release of frozen assets, and the withdrawal of American forces from the region, leaving the waterway’s status unresolved and prolonging uncertainty for global oil and gas markets.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan sign a trilateral defense pact in Mecca, drawing Iranian criticism as Houthi strikes on a Saudi gas facility.

Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan Pact Faces Iran Rebuke, Houthi Test

A new trilateral defense pact among Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan draws a sharp rebuke from Tehran, even as Houthi strikes on a Saudi gas facility put the untested agreement under immediate pressure.

Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan Alliance Draws Iranian Rebuke as Houthi Strikes Test Pact's Limits

Wildfires tore through the greater Spokane area Saturday, destroying at least 640 structures, burning more than 5,000 acres and displacing thousands of residents.<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">The National Weather Service</a> issued a particularly dangerous situation warning Saturday for red-flag conditions in the region. Firefighters responded to three fires over the weekend: Old Trails Fire north of Airway Heights, Autumn Lane Fire near Five Mile Falls and the Fairview Fire near Mead. Thousands were evacuated as the flames jumped the Spokane river and tore through residential streets, destroying hundreds of homes. There are reports from the ground of entire neighborhoods being <a href="https://www.kxly.com/news/sunday-evening-update-zero-containment-on-spokane-complex-of-fires/article_a42d20e5-3c19-4e29-9f06-31bf9ce70aab.html">wiped out</a> by the fast-moving fires. <figure><img src="https://app.inkly.news/media/1785731138398-spokane-HNtDJLd9MxC95zhIeNVCpQ6ZKVN7Jr.webp" alt=""/></figure>Crews have been working through the night as all three fires remain at zero <a href="https://app.watchduty.org/?search=spokane">percent</a> containment as of Sunday evening. Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown said at a news conference Sunday that the fires are “really the worst natural disaster our region has faced.”Washington Governor Bob Ferguson visited the county and spoke with President Trump to request federal emergency assistance. Ferguson also declared a statewide emergency Saturday that prohibits most outdoor and agricultural burning. The National Guard has been deployed to assist with evacuations and traffic control.<a href="https://www.myavista.com/">Avista</a>, the regional utility supplier, worked to restore power to thousands still in the dark, and officials began the long process of damage assessment amid hopes that calmer weather would finally allow crews to gain ground on the still-uncontained blazes.For the latest evacuation information visit <a href="https://srec911.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=337af083184c474d9d9181bb44f957b0">Spokane County Evacuation Address Lookup</a>.

Wildfires tore through the greater Spokane area Saturday, destroying at least 640 structures, burning more than 5,000 acres and displacing thousands of residents.

The National Weather Service issued a particularly dangerous situation warning Saturday for red-flag conditions in the region. Firefighters responded to three fires over the weekend: Old Trails Fire north of Airway Heights, Autumn Lane Fire near Five Mile Falls and the Fairview Fire near Mead. Thousands were evacuated as the flames jumped the Spokane river and tore through residential streets, destroying hundreds of homes. There are reports from the ground of entire neighborhoods being wiped out by the fast-moving fires. 

Crews have been working through the night as all three fires remain at zero percent containment as of Sunday evening. Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown said at a news conference Sunday that the fires are “really the worst natural disaster our region has faced.”

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson visited the county and spoke with President Trump to request federal emergency assistance. Ferguson also declared a statewide emergency Saturday that prohibits most outdoor and agricultural burning. The National Guard has been deployed to assist with evacuations and traffic control.

Avista, the regional utility supplier, worked to restore power to thousands still in the dark, and officials began the long process of damage assessment amid hopes that calmer weather would finally allow crews to gain ground on the still-uncontained blazes.

For the latest evacuation information visit Spokane County Evacuation Address Lookup.

Wildfires burn 5,000+ acres across Spokane, destroying 640 structures and forcing thousands to evacuate. All three fires remain at 0% containment.

Spokane Wildfires Destroy 640 Homes, Force Mass Evacuations

Entire neighborhoods vanished overnight as wildfires burned through residential streets across the Spokane area, forcing mass evacuations and knocking out power to thousands of homes.

Devastation in Spokane: Wildfires Claim Hundreds of Homes Amid Mass Evacuations 

The nation's top cybersecurity agency is warning of escalating attacks on water systems after coordinated hackers targeted more than 30 Minnesota utilities on July 26-27. The hackers accessed programmable logic controllers (PLCs), changed passwords, and locked out operators – forcing some systems into manual mode and triggering boil-water advisories.<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/">The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) </a>says threats against water and wastewater infrastructure are rising, with earlier warnings focused on Iranian-affiliated actors. None of Minnesota's water supply has been reported compromised as a result of the recent attack. Acting CISA Director Nick Anderson confirmed significant increase in cyber threats targeting PLCs at water utilities. Anderson urged critical infrastructure owners and operators to remove publicly exposed PLCs and other operational technology from the internet as soon as possible.<figure><img src="https://app.inkly.news/media/1785468880662-images-4DReH5oGeTSCjkOwEruy68Tm7bO3fL.jfif" alt=""/></figure>Markus Mueller, field chief information security officer at <a href="https://www.nozominetworks.com/">Nozomi Networks</a>, told <a href="https://www.csoonline.com/article/4203638/a-coordinated-attack-hit-30-minnesota-water-systems-who-did-it-and-what-does-a-rockwell-notice-add-to-the-picture.html">CSO Online</a> that &quot;this is a first-of-its-kind distributed attack on water utilities, and based on the publicly available information, it was clearly aimed at disruption rather than financial gain.”U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., released a statement on the attacks saying, “I’ve requested a briefing from the CISA on the ongoing investigation and the potential involvement of foreign actors; protecting our critical infrastructure and the safety of Minnesotans remains a top priority.”The incident is under federal investigation, as the rise in foreign cyberattacks highlights vulnerabilities and the need for stronger protections on critical infrastructure.

The nation's top cybersecurity agency is warning of escalating attacks on water systems after coordinated hackers targeted more than 30 Minnesota utilities on July 26-27. The hackers accessed programmable logic controllers (PLCs), changed passwords, and locked out operators – forcing some systems into manual mode and triggering boil-water advisories.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) says threats against water and wastewater infrastructure are rising, with earlier warnings focused on Iranian-affiliated actors. None of Minnesota's water supply has been reported compromised as a result of the recent attack. 

Acting CISA Director Nick Anderson confirmed significant increase in cyber threats targeting PLCs at water utilities. Anderson urged critical infrastructure owners and operators to remove publicly exposed PLCs and other operational technology from the internet as soon as possible.

Markus Mueller, field chief information security officer at Nozomi Networks, told CSO Online that "this is a first-of-its-kind distributed attack on water utilities, and based on the publicly available information, it was clearly aimed at disruption rather than financial gain.”

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., released a statement on the attacks saying, “I’ve requested a briefing from the CISA on the ongoing investigation and the potential involvement of foreign actors; protecting our critical infrastructure and the safety of Minnesotans remains a top priority.”

The incident is under federal investigation, as the rise in foreign cyberattacks highlights vulnerabilities and the need for stronger protections on critical infrastructure.

Foreign hackers targeted 30+ Minnesota water utilities in a coordinated cyberattack, locking out operators and triggering boil-water advisories. 

Cyberattack Hits 30+ Minnesota Water Systems

Foreign Actors Suspected in Sweeping Cyberattack on Minnesota Water Infrastructure