Morning Mail: Australians among hundreds caught in deadly Nepal floods, Meta settles landmark lawsuit, Tim Curry dies

Want to get this in your inbox every weekday? https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/sep/23/morning-mail-newsletter-best-daily-news-email-guardian-australia-free-sign-up-inbox-subscribe?CMP=cvau_sfl&CMP=mm_sfl">Sign up for the Morning Mail here, and finish your day with https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/13/afternoon-update-newsletter-best-daily-news-email-guardian-australia-free-sign-up?CMP=cvau_sfl&CMP=mm_sfl">our Afternoon Update newsletter

Good morning.

More than 150 people are dead and hundreds more are missing – including a reported 34 Australian tourists – after a flash flood swept away houses, roads and bridges on the Nepal-Tibet border.

Residents in Tasmania are angry at the planning process around a datacentre, while our economics columnist wonders if it’s worth building them at all, and could they cost Donald Trump the midterms?

Icac denial | The sister-in-law of former Liberal NSW premier Dominic Perrottet has told the state Icac hearing that she https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/26/dominic-perrottets-sister-in-law-denies-lying-under-oath-to-protect-husband-over-allegedly-donations-icac-hears-ntwnfb">rejected the suggestion that she had been put in an “impossible situation” and lied under oath to cover illegal donations to her husband, an inquiry has heard.

Datacentre debate | As Anthony Albanese https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/26/albanese-backs-down-on-states-powering-ai-datacentres-using-sustainable-energy">endured a tough day wrangling the issue of datacentres at national cabinet, people in northern Tasmania https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/27/tasmania-datacentre-ai-standards-national-cabinet-albanese-government">were still seething after their local council approved a new facility that they say threatens to use excessive water and energy.

Health saving | Removing the higher private health insurance rebate for people aged 65 and overhttps://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/27/private-health-insurance-rebate-65-and-over"> is good policy that is unlikely to place additional pressure on public hospitals, according to health economists.

Comic cut | The Egyptian-American comedian Bassem Youssef https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/aug/26/comedian-bassem-youssef-postpones-australian-tour-after-authorities-ask-him-to-provide-background-checks">has announced his imminent Australian tour has been postponed after he was asked to provide background checks as part of his visa application.

Royal commission | From the initial rumpus over Dennis Richardson to victims sharing their anguish, https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/27/key-moments-from-antisemitism-royal-commission-public-hearings-ntwnfb">Ben Doherty picks key moments from the four months of the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion.