HURRICANE FLORENCE is gone, but she left behind floods that have cut off a North Carolina coastal city from the mainland and a death toll of at least 30.
For Pratik Bhakta, owner of four hotels in the Asheville, North Carolina area, the good news is his properties were mostly undamaged.
His business, on the other hand, did suffer.
“We saw a ton of cancellations, people who ordinarily would have booked,” Bhakta said. “They just wanted to avoid the area.”
He estimated that he lost about 50 per cent of the business he would ordinarily have done on the days of the storm. Bhakta said the coastal areas saw the worst damage.
Bhakta worries for his fellow hotelier, Rashmikant Patel, volunteer director of AAHOA’s North Carolina region. He is one of the thousands cut off from their homes in affected areas. “He lives on the coast, on Emerald Isle, North Carolina,” Bhakta said, adding that Patel weathered the storm at his parents’ home in Raleigh, North Carolina, but he has not yet had a chance to contact him.
While Mooresville, North Carolina, hotelier Amit Govindji’s Carolina Inn & Suites saw some evacuees, it was not as many as might be expected. “I think they pushed farther north into Tennessee,” he said.
Florence was the biggest storm since Hurricane Hugo in 1994, but Govindji thinks Florence will top its predecessor due to the increase in population. “Charlotte has doubled in size,” he said.
Jimmy Patel, an owner of hotels in Statesville and Greensboro, North Carolina, said last week his properties were fully booked in advance of the storm by electrical workers and other first responders.
The former AAHOA chairman said many hoteliers were waiting for the storm to pass before learning about the extent of the damage to their properties.
North Carolina attorney general’s office is investigating 500 complaints of price gouging by sellers of gasoline and water, as well as hotels. However, in most cases, hotels either kept rates the same or lowered them for evacuees. At some properties, owners and operators provided free meals and other amenities, such as waiving pet fees.
Hema Patel, co-owner of Courtesy Management in Columbia, South Carolina, met with hotel staff in advance of the storm to go make sure her hotels were stocked with food, water and other supplies and that employees understood rates were not to be raised despite high demand.
Hema’s hotels also lifted their no-pet policies and opened their lobbies to folks seeking respite while travelling.
Ryan Dumas of GRP Capital in Seminole, Florida, created a Facebook page where hoteliers could post if they had rooms available and where people fleeing the storm could make an appeal for information about vacancies. Many Asian-American owners of hotels in the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida posted and continue to post their information.
Last year, Dumas was instrumental in connecting evacuees, emergency management teams and electrical workers with hotels and food and water resources during Hurricane Irma, which devastated parts of Florida.
The situation is the same this time around, Dumas said, as utility providers are seeking blocks of rooms for their line crews. “Linemen are sleeping in their trucks, just like they did last year after Irma,” he said. “They need hotels that can give them 25 to 30 rooms at time. They can restore electricity to those hotels and then move inland from there.”
Most recently, Dumas launched a campaign to raise money for residents displaced by Florence. He said two Asian-American hoteliers donated $500 and $200 and he has used his own money to cover the cost of rooms. Dumas is accepting donations via Venmo with the code Ryan-Dumas-4.
As of September 18, North Carolina officials said 25 residents died in the storm. Six died in South Carolina and one in Virginia, according to the Charlotte Observer. The deaths included drownings, electrocutions and people crushed by trees.
Just south of Emerald Isle, most roads to Wilmington, North Carolina, were blocked by flooding and downed trees, according to the News Observer. One road to the city was open but was needed by emergency crews, said North Carolina transportation secretary Jim Trogdon.
Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo called on residents to stay calm. “We’re dealing with some very, very tough situations in respect to the impassible roads coming into the city of Wilmington, coming into the county of New Hanover,” Saffo said in a September 17 video announcement. “As the waters recede, things will get better, but I ask you to stay calm.”
North Carolina governor Roy Cooper on September 17 urged residents to stay where they were if they are in a safe area.
“For many parts of North Carolina, the danger is still immediate. Flood waters are rising as rivers crest and will for days,” Cooper said. “I urge if you don’t have to drive, stay off the roads, particularly south of US 64. And don’t drive around barricades on roads.”
South Carolina governor Henry McMaster lifted all evacuation orders for all zones along the South Carolina coast on Monday (17), but the state’s Emergency Management Division urged continued caution.
“Residents should remember the effects of Tropical Depression Florence will continue for days, if not weeks,” the division said. “Local public safety officials manage the entry to previously evacuated communities. Residents should follow the directions provided by the county and local governments to safely return to their homes.”
The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund has been activated for donations by going to governor.nc.gov or texting FLORENCE to 20222.
Information on volunteering and donations in South Carolina is available at 1-888-585-9643. Volunteers can register at VolunteerSC.org and monetary donations can be made to the One SC fund.
INDIA’s efforts to secure the extradition of high-profile economic offenders from the United Kingdom, including Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya, have moved forward with a recent visit by a team from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to Tihar Jail in Delhi, an official said on Sunday (September 7).
The CPS delegation visited the prison last week to review jail conditions as required by UK courts before deciding on extradition requests, the official said.
India has been seeking the return of several fugitives wanted in cases ranging from bank fraud to arms smuggling.
Authorities have assured UK courts that individuals extradited to India will not be subjected to unsafe or inhumane conditions in custody.
According to the official, the CPS team toured the high-security section of Tihar and interacted with some inmates.
Jail authorities informed the delegation that if necessary, a separate unit could be set up within the prison to house high-profile accused, ensuring their safety and meeting international standards.
UK courts have previously rejected extradition requests from India citing concerns over prison conditions. New Delhi has since given assurances that the rights of the accused will be protected, with no scope for unlawful interrogation or mistreatment.
Mallya, accused of loan defaults of over about £756 million, has been living in the UK and is contesting extradition.
Nirav Modi, the main accused in about £1.15 billion Punjab National Bank fraud case, was declared a fugitive offender in 2019 and arrested in the UK the same year. His extradition has been approved by a London court, though appeals are still pending.
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The minister, promoted from the Ministry of Justice during prime minister Keir Starmer’s Cabinet reshuffle last Friday, said securing the country’s borders would be her main focus.
Mahmood hosted Five Eyes ministers from the US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada in London
Home secretary says border security will be her main focus after Cabinet reshuffle
NEWLY-APPOINTED home secretary Shabana Mahmood on Monday (September 8) outlined a tougher approach on immigration, warning that countries refusing to take back illegal migrants could face visa suspensions.
Mahmood, who took charge of the Home Office last week, made the remarks as she hosted ministerial counterparts from the US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada at a meeting of the intelligence-sharing group “Five Eyes” in London.
Her comments came after more than 1,000 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats over the weekend, one of the highest totals recorded in recent times.
Visa warning to countries
"For countries that do not play ball, we have been talking about taking much more coordinated action between the Five Eyes countries,” Mahmood said.
"And for us that means the possibility of cutting visas in the future, just to say we do expect countries to play ball, play by the rules and if one of your citizens has no right to be in our country, you have to take them back," she added.
The minister, promoted from the Ministry of Justice during prime minister Keir Starmer’s Cabinet reshuffle last Friday, said securing the country’s borders would be her main focus.
"I'm very clear that there has to be a strong approach to maintaining our border, and that does mean saying to countries who do not take their citizens back that we're not simply going to allow our laws to remain unenforced. That they do have to play ball, they have to come to the table and if cutting visas is one of the ways to do that, then I will do whatever it takes," she said.
Talks with Five Eyes ministers
Mahmood was speaking to reporters as she began talks with Kristi Noem, US Homeland Security Secretary, who is visiting the UK. Noem has been overseeing President Donald Trump’s deportation drive in her role with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
Australian home affairs minister Tony Burke, New Zealand minister Judith Collins and Canadian public safety minister Gary Anandasangaree also took part in Monday’s summit. Alongside discussions on illegal migration and people smuggling, the agenda included online child sexual abuse and the spread of opioids.
Mahmood, 44, was born in Birmingham to parents from Mirpur in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. A University of Oxford graduate and qualified barrister, she was first elected as a Labour MP in 2010.
She has held several shadow cabinet positions and was appointed to one of the senior-most roles in the Labour government last year, becoming one of the most prominent British Muslims in the party.
In May, during Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, she issued a statement on South Asia tensions: “I share the concerns of my constituents regarding the rising tensions between Pakistan and India. Nobody wins in an escalation between the two countries, and dialogue and diplomacy should be a priority.”
“I know many in Birmingham with family in both countries will be desperately worried, which is why restoring regional stability is essential,” she said at the time.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Migrants wade into the sea to board a dinghy to cross the English Channel on August 25, 2025 in Gravelines, France.(Photo: Getty Images)
MORE than 1,000 migrants arrived on small boats across the Channel on Shabana Mahmood’s first full day as home secretary, taking total arrivals this year past 30,000.
The Home Office said 1,097 migrants crossed on Saturday after nine days without any arrivals. It was the second-highest daily total this year, after 1,195 on May 31. Crossings have now reached 30,100 — 37 per cent higher than at this point in 2023 and 8 per cent higher than 2022, the record year.
Mahmood called the figures “utterly unacceptable” and said she would consider all options. She pledged the first deportations to France under the new one-in, one-out deal would begin “imminently”, with returns expected later this month.
Concerns remain that a possible collapse of the French government, with prime minister François Bayrou facing a confidence vote on Monday, could delay returns and a new maritime law allowing French police to intercept boats in the Channel, The Times reported.
The 30,000 mark has been reached earlier this year than any other since records began in 2018. It was reached on September 21 in 2022, October 30 last year, and not at all in 2023.
Mahmood, appointed home secretary after Angela Rayner’s resignation, is expected to outline plans to move asylum seekers from hotels into military sites.
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: “Reshuffling ministerial deckchairs does not change the obvious fact Labour has totally lost control of our borders.”
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Demonstrators gather at the entrance of the parliament during a protest against corruption and government’s decision to block several social media platforms, in Kathmandu, Nepal September 8, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)
Thousands of young Nepalis march in Kathmandu against social media ban and corruption
Government blocks 26 unregistered platforms, citing fake news and fraud concerns
Police use tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse protesters
Critics accuse government of authoritarianism and failure to deliver on promises
THOUSANDS of young Nepalis marched in Kathmandu on Monday demanding that the government lift its ban on social media platforms and address corruption.
Nepal blocked access to 26 unregistered platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and X, on Friday. Popular platforms such as Instagram have millions of users in the country who rely on them for entertainment, news, and business. Authorities said the shutdown followed a Supreme Court order from September last year, which required companies to register in Nepal, appoint grievance officers, and establish local compliance.
The government said social media users with fake IDs had been spreading hate speech, fake news, and committing fraud. In a statement on Sunday, it said it respected freedom of thought and expression and was committed to "creating an environment for their protection and unfettered use".
Many demonstrators carried national flags and placards reading "Shut down corruption and not social media", "Unban social media", and "Youths against corruption". They began their rally with the national anthem before marching through the city.
"We were triggered by the social media ban but that is not the only reason we are gathered here," said student Yujan Rajbhandari, 24. "We are protesting against corruption that has been institutionalised in Nepal."
Another student, Ikshama Tumrok, 20, said she opposed the "authoritarian attitude" of the government. "We want to see change. Others have endured this, but it has to end with our generation," she said.
Protester Bhumika Bharati added: "There have been movements abroad against corruption and they (the government) are afraid that might happen here as well."
Since the ban, TikTok — still operational in Nepal — has carried viral videos comparing the lives of ordinary citizens with those of politicians’ children showing off luxury goods and vacations.
On Monday, thousands of youths, including students in school uniforms, tried to march to parliament but were stopped by police who had set up barbed wire barricades. Authorities said demonstrators attempted to break into parliament by pushing through police lines.
Police used tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons and batons to disperse the crowds, officials said. "We have imposed a curfew which will remain in force until 10 pm local time (1615 GMT) to bring the situation under control after protesters began to turn violent," said Muktiram Rijal, spokesperson for the Kathmandu district office.
Nepal has restricted social media platforms before. The Telegram messaging app was blocked in July over fraud and money laundering concerns, and TikTok was banned for nine months before being restored in August last year when it complied with local rules.
Many Nepalis believe corruption is widespread, and prime minister KP Sharma Oli’s government has been criticised by opponents for failing to deliver on its promises. About 90 per cent of Nepal’s 30 million people use the internet.
The protests come as governments worldwide, including the US, EU, Brazil, India, China and Australia, have been tightening oversight of social media and Big Tech, citing concerns over misinformation, privacy, online harm and security. Critics warn that such measures risk limiting free expression, while regulators argue that stricter controls are needed.
(With inputs from agencies)
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People try to board a migrant dinghy into the English Channel on August 25, 2025 in Gravelines, France. (Photo: Getty Images)
THE UK government said on Sunday it is examining the use of military sites to house migrants, amid growing criticism over the practice of accommodating asylum seekers in hotels.
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military use sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats," defence secretary John Healey told Sky News.
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood said in a statement that migrants using boats to cross the Channel from France was "utterly unacceptable".
According to figures published Sunday by the Home Office, more than 30,000 people have arrived in Britain by boat since the start of the year.
Mahmood also said a new deal with France, which came into effect in early August, would allow Britain to detain those arriving by boat and return them to France.
The arrangement requires Britain to accept an equal number of eligible migrants from France.
Some hotels currently used to house migrants have seen protests, and the government is also facing legal challenges. By law, asylum seekers must be provided with accommodation and access to health care.
Prime minister Keir Starmer has pledged to end the use of hotels within four years. The government has already reduced the number of hotel places by half compared to a year ago.
The previous Conservative government had already prepared two disused military bases to house several hundred asylum seekers, a measure criticised by migrant-aid groups.