Afternoon Update: Children among Australians missing in Nepal floods; Labor to slash refugee intake; and cyborg cockroaches

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Good afternoon.

Dozens of Australian tourists https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/27/australian-tourists-reported-missing-nepal-tibet-floods">are reportedly missing in the deadly flash floods that swept through the Nepal-Tibet border, as the Australian government says it is urgently working to confirm their welfare.


A Nepali tour operator told the Guardian he feared that 15 Australians trekking with his company, including https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/27/children-among-australian-tourists-missing-feared-dead-nepal-tibet-floods">children as young as 11, have died.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/27/queensland-surrogacy-laws-twins-birth-separate-parents-ntwnfb">Queensland woman gave birth to twins with different parents after surrogacy coincides with natural pregnancy

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/27/sydney-16yo-girl-death-suspected-sexual-choking-asphyxiation-ntwnfb">Police investigate death of teenage girl two days after alleged ‘sexual choking’ act in Sydney

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/27/qantas-profits-lowest-in-four-years-jet-fuel-costs-iran-conflict">Qantas may hike fares and expand Jetstar add-on fees as profits dip to four-year low

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/27/geelong-fine-jake-kolodjashnij-afl-concussion-waiver">Geelong fined $140,000 over secret Jake Kolodjashnij concussion waiver