Three months before devastating flash floods hit the Nepal-Tibet border, Nepali and Chinese officials met in Kathmandu on May 27 to discuss cross-border disaster risks. Nepal later said it had not received as much information as sought from China on glacier movements, water levels and extreme events needed for disaster preparedness. China, however, said it had shared important information with Nepal “in a timely manner” and that substantial progress had been made on cross-border disaster information-sharing. The meeting involved 10 Nepali and around 12 Chinese officials, including Tibetan representatives. They discussed cooperation on floods, weather and glacier hazards, with proposed measures including glacial-lake inventories and hazard mapping. Nepal is now seeking more frequent warnings to improve future disaster preparedness. (PC: Reuters)

More than 20 people are reportedly missing after a flash flood struck Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch at Grand Canyon National Park on Saturday. The flooding began in Bright Angel Creek around 2:30 pm, sweeping away footbridges and carrying boulders, metal structures and debris into the Colorado River, while significantly altering the landscape. About half an inch to one inch of rain fell within 30 minutes, with most of it running off instantly due to the steep terrain. By Sunday morning, 62 people had been evacuated from Phantom Ranch, with no injuries reported. Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch and parts of the North Kaibab Trail remained closed. Rafting trips were also halted as further thunderstorms threatened additional flooding.

Bangladesh has said it sees “no risk” in joining the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan on August 7. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman told Parliament that Dhaka would positively consider joining the pact if invited, describing it as an internal matter of “our Muslim family” and saying there was no reason for others to be concerned. Bangladesh also maintained that joining the agreement would not restrict its engagement with other international partners. The development comes ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s expected visit to Riyadh, weeks after the three countries signed the defence pact. Bangladesh’s position could draw attention in India amid concerns over the agreement’s strategic implications. (PC: X)

Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has released his first photographs from a US prison, declaring that he remains “standing firm” as his successor, interim President Delcy Rodriguez, moves ahead with a major oil deal with the Donald Trump administration. The images show the 63-year-old Maduro in a grey tracksuit, raising peace signs from a Brooklyn jail, where he is being held with his wife, Cilia Flores. Both face drug trafficking and firearms charges, which they deny. Maduro’s message came as Trump said Venezuelan crude from the proposed oil deal could help replenish the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve. (PC: India Today)

US President Donald Trump has said oil from a new deal with Venezuela will be used to replenish America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which has fallen to its lowest level in more than four decades. The reserve held about 290 million barrels in August, less than half its total capacity. Trump called the Venezuelan oil a “gift” to the American people and said refilling would begin soon. The proposed 25-year agreement covers 17 Venezuelan oilfields, but it remains unclear how quickly supplies can reach the US as Venezuela’s ageing oil infrastructure requires major investment. (PC: India Today)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to become the country’s longest continuously serving prime minister since Benito Mussolini, underlining the political stability of her government. Meloni, who took office in October 2022, is expected to reach the milestone on September 4. Her tenure has stood out in Italy, a country known for frequent changes of government. The leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy party has maintained a stable coalition while balancing her conservative roots with a more pragmatic approach in government. However, she still faces challenges including slow economic growth, migration pressures and growing political competition. (PC: X)

Nepal is preparing for mass burials as mortuaries struggle to accommodate bodies recovered after devastating flash floods and landslides. Officials said many victims remain unidentified, with families still searching for missing relatives. DNA samples and other identification records are being preserved before unclaimed bodies are buried, allowing families to exhume them later if their identities are confirmed. The decision highlights the scale of the disaster, which has overwhelmed rescue and recovery teams. Authorities are continuing search operations in difficult conditions as hopes of finding survivors fade and the focus increasingly shifts to recovering and identifying the dead. (PC: The Indian Express)

China has removed General Zhao Zongqi, the former commander of the People’s Liberation Army’s Western Theatre Command who oversaw Chinese forces during the 2017 Doklam standoff and the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes with India, from its top political advisory body. Zhao was stripped of his membership of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and removed from two other positions, PTI reported. A veteran of the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese war, Zhao became the first commander of the Western Theatre Command in 2016 after being appointed by President Xi Jinping. His removal comes amid China’s wider action against senior military officers over suspected serious disciplinary and legal violations. (PC: HT)

A ferry carrying nearly 270 passengers and crew capsized off northern Cyprus on Sunday while travelling from Kyrenia (Girne) to Taşucu in Turkey. At least seven people have died, while 237 have been rescued and 24 remain missing, according to Northern Cyprus authorities. The vessel reportedly began taking on water about 15 minutes after departure amid adverse weather conditions, roughly 7.5 kilometres offshore. Coast guard vessels, helicopters and civilian boats are conducting an extensive search-and-rescue operation. Survivors were brought to Kyrenia, with several receiving medical treatment. Authorities continue searching the waters around the overturned ferry for missing passengers.

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has called on Muslim countries, particularly Gulf nations, to recognise what he described as their “real enemy” and confront the United States and Israel. In a written message marking Islamic Unity Week, Khamenei stressed that division among Muslim nations serves the interests of their adversaries and urged greater cooperation, unity and mutual defence. His remarks come amid continuing regional tensions and conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel. He also called on Iranians to maintain social cohesion and avoid internal divisions. Khamenei has largely remained out of public view since becoming Iran’s Supreme Leader. (PC: Reuters)