Floods kill 30 and submerge 1,400 villages in Indian state
At least 30 people have died and more than 354,000 have been affected by floods in Punjab, India, after days of heavy rain. All 23 districts have been declared flood-hit as rivers and reservoirs approach dangerous levels, according to BBC.
About 20,000 people have been evacuated, with relief camps providing shelter and aid. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann called it the state’s worst flooding since 1988 and appealed for national support.
The disaster has submerged over 148,000 hectares of farmland, threatening the livelihoods of millions in Punjab, India’s “food basket.” Rescue efforts are underway with the help of disaster teams, the army, navy and air force.
Heavy monsoon rains, intensified by westerly disturbances, are driving the floods, which have also hit parts of northern India and Pakistan’s Punjab province, where nearly two million people are affected, BBC reported.
North Korea's Kim and South Korean parliament speaker shake hands, speaker's office says
South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik briefly shook hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday during a military parade in Beijing marking Japan’s World War Two surrender, Reuters reported.
Woo, representing Seoul at the event, has joined President Lee Jae Myung in urging renewed dialogue between the two Koreas, though Pyongyang has rejected recent overtures.
During his trip, Woo also met Russian President Vladimir Putin, who asked if he should convey a message to Kim. Woo replied that fostering peace on the Korean Peninsula remained vital despite strained relations. According to Reuters, several South Korean lawmakers accompanied him on the visit.
Australia moves to speed up third country deportation of non-citizens
Australia is set to pass a law making it easier to deport non-citizens to third countries, drawing sharp criticism from rights groups who liken it to US policies under President Trump, Reuters reported.
The legislation removes procedural fairness in deportations, limiting court appeals. It follows a new resettlement deal with Nauru, where hundreds of people denied refugee visas over criminal records will be sent. Australia has pledged A$400m in an endowment fund and A$70m annually to support the scheme.
Critics warn the law could endanger refugees by denying healthcare and oversight, and potentially affect far more than the 350 non-citizens released after a 2023 High Court ruling. Independent lawmakers condemned the move as using Nauru, a tiny island nation reliant on foreign aid, as a “dumping ground”, according to Reuters.
Trump to welcome Polish President Nawrocki to White House
President Donald Trump welcomed Polish President Karol Nawrocki to the White House on Wednesday, their first meeting since Nawrocki’s election victory earlier this year with Trump’s backing, Reuters reported.
Talks are expected to center on Russia’s war in Ukraine, energy security, and Poland’s defense needs. Trump has voiced frustration with Vladimir Putin over stalled peace efforts and hinted at new steps to reduce casualties in the conflict.
Nawrocki is seeking assurances of a continued US military presence in Poland, despite a pending review that could cut American forces in Europe. His visit highlights Poland’s push to strengthen ties with Washington amid rising regional tensions, according to Reuters.
