Dikembe Mutombo, NBA Hall of Famer and humanitarian, dies at 58

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  • Former NBA star’s diagnosis was revealed two years ago
  • Center was known for charity work in US and Africa

Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, whose towering presence dominated basketball on and off the court, has died from brain cancer at the age of 58.

“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement on Monday. “On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.”

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Russia’s air defenses can’t stop Ukraine from striking deep with its long-range drones, intel says – Business Insider

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  1. Russia's air defenses can't stop Ukraine from striking deep with its long-range drones, intel says  Business Insider
  2. Ukraine’s Drones Target Russia: Inside the Biggest Air Attacks in History  Kyiv Post
  3. Ukraine's recent strikes on arms depots caused the largest loss of Russian and North Korean ammo in the war: UK intel  Yahoo! Voices
  4. Satellite image shows missile arsenal in Russia's Volgograd Oblast intact following Ukrainian strike  Ukrainska Pravda
  5. How Russia, Ukraine use drones for war  CBS News
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Could rival Lebanese factions exploit a weakened Hezbollah? – Al Jazeera English

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  1. Could rival Lebanese factions exploit a weakened Hezbollah?  Al Jazeera English
  2. Hezbollah Got Caught in Its Own Trap  The Atlantic
  3. There's Only One Way for Israel to Confront Hezbollah's Threats  Haaretz
  4. Israel's hidden objective in Lebanon: Dismantling Hezbollah’s ballistic arsenal  Middle East Eye
  5. Hezbollah Misjudged Israel’s Weakness and Iran’s Might - WSJ  The Wall Street Journal
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Five things you should know about the Queensland election

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The sunshine state is heading to the polls on 26 October. Can Labor cling to power or will there be an LNP landslide?

Queenslanders will go to the polls on 26 October. Here are five things you should know.

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Australia’s ‘immoral’ coalmine decision akin to drowning Pacific neighbours, Tuvalu climate minister declares

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Labor government has undermined case to co-host 2026 UN climate summit with island nations, Dr Maina Talia declares

Tuvalu’s climate minister says Australia’s decision to approve three coalmine expansions calls into question the country’s claim to be a “member of the Pacific family” and undermines the Australian case to co-host the 2026 UN climate summit with island nations.

Dr Maina Talia said last week’s mine approvals, which analysts say could generate more than 1.3bn tonnes of carbon dioxide across their lifetime once the coal is shipped and burned overseas, was “a direct threat to our collective future”.

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Gambling companies gifted hospitality to 19 Australian politicians for major sports events

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Alliance for Gambling Reform labels gifts an ‘undemocratic opportunity for lobbying’ but MPs defend hospitality as within rules and properly disclosed

Gambling reform campaigners have accused wagering companies of “showering” federal politicians with hospitality as the government considers advertising restrictions, with new data showing betting groups have given numerous free tickets to MPs.

New analysis from the Alliance for Gambling Reform, informed by a new database collecting all federal politicians’ updates to their parliamentary register of interests, shows at least 19 have accepted hospitality from wagering companies to attend major events including the Melbourne Cup, Australian Open, AFL matches and cricket games.

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Australia’s housing crisis may be starting to ease as home prices fall in four capital cities

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New data also shows auction figures softening while rent rises are at their slowest pace in years

Australia’s housing crisis may be starting to ease with dwelling price rises tapering off and rents increasing at their slowest pace in four years, data groups say.

Property values increased 0.4% in September, close to the 0.3% rise recorded for both the previous two months, CoreLogic reported. PropTrack’s housing index was basically flat, rising just 0.04% for the month.

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Mount Everest is having a growth spurt, say researchers

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River erosion has pushed the mountain upwards and added an extra 15 to 50 metres over the past 89,000 years

Climbing Mount Everest has always been a feat, but it seems the task might be getting harder: researchers say Everest is having something of a growth spurt.

The Himalayas formed about 50m years ago, when the Indian subcontinent smashed into the Eurasian tectonic plate – although recent research has suggested the edges of these plates were already very high before the collision.

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Hezbollah commanders flee to Syria, Iran to send thousands to Lebanese border – Ynetnews

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  1. Hezbollah commanders flee to Syria, Iran to send thousands to Lebanese border  Ynetnews
  2. After the decapitation of Hizbullah, Iran could race for a nuclear bomb  The Economist
  3. Is Iran's 'axis of resistance' collapsing under Israeli attacks?  NBC News
  4. Iran’s leadership said deeply shaken, divided over response to Nasrallah’s killing  The Times of Israel
  5. Iran's response to Israel will be a choice between revenge and survival. Markets say it's choosing survival  CNBC
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Flooding deaths in Nepal reach 193 as recovery work is stepped up – The Associated Press

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  1. Flooding deaths in Nepal reach 193 as recovery work is stepped up  The Associated Press
  2. Flooding deaths in Nepal approach 200 as recovery work is stepped up  NPR
  3. At least 148 are dead in floods and landslides in Nepal  The Associated Press
  4. Video shows buildings in Nepal collapse during landslide  CNN
  5. More than 200 dead in Nepal floods, as parts of Kathmandu left under water  The Guardian
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Israel hits Yemen’s infrastructure again: What we know and why it matters – Al Jazeera English

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  1. Israel hits Yemen’s infrastructure again: What we know and why it matters  Al Jazeera English
  2. Israel strikes Beirut suburbs, Hezbollah targets Israeli troops  Reuters
  3. CNN aboard Israeli tanker for strike on Houthi-controlled port in Yemen  CNN
  4. Israel bombed Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Gaza in 24 hours  Al Jazeera English
  5. Will Israeli efforts deter the Houthis? - analysis  The Jerusalem Post
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More than 200 dead in Nepal floods, as parts of Kathmandu left under water

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At least 30 stranded or missing and hundreds injured after heaviest monsoon rains in two decades

More than 200 people were killed in Nepal over the weekend in what experts described as some of the worst flash flooding to have hit the capital, Kathmandu, and the surrounding valleys.

Swathes of Kathmandu were left underwater after the heaviest monsoon rains in two decades fell on Friday and Saturday, washing away entire neighbourhoods, bridges and roads. The heavy rains caused the Bagmati River, which runs through the city, to swell more than 2 metres higher than deemed safe.

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