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)

Rajendra Dawadi, principal of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Nepal’s Nuwakot district, is being hailed for saving 1,643 children during devastating flash floods. After receiving an urgent warning that rapidly rising floodwaters were approaching, the 47-year-old teacher immediately rang the school bell and ordered students and staff to evacuate. The children fled uphill and eventually sheltered beneath a bodhi tree as floodwaters destroyed the school buildings. Dawadi’s quick decision protected nearly all students and most staff. The disaster, triggered by a glacier collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border, has killed hundreds and left thousands missing across Nepal and Tibet. (PC: PTI)

A shooting at a rave party in Aarau, northern Switzerland, early Sunday killed a 22-year-old woman and injured five others, including some seriously. The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. at a techno event held near a horse-racing track, reportedly attended by about 3,500 people. Police launched a large-scale operation, cordoning off the area and searching for the suspected attacker or attackers. The victims, all Swiss residents in their 20s, were taken to hospital or pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said the motive and exact circumstances remain unclear and urged witnesses to provide photographs or videos. (PC: EPA)

Amid Nepal’s devastating floods, rescuers made a remarkable discovery when they found a six-year-old girl alive beneath rubble, after initially mistaking the sound of her cries for a cat. The child had become trapped under debris following the destructive flooding that devastated several areas. Rescue workers continued searching through the rubble despite challenging conditions and eventually located and safely rescued her. Her survival provided a rare moment of hope amid the disaster, which has claimed hundreds of lives and left many people missing. Rescue operations continue across affected areas as authorities assess damage and search for survivors.

The devastating flash floods triggered by a glacier collapse along the Nepal-Tibet border have killed nearly 800 people, with thousands still missing. Nepal has intensified search-and-rescue operations, including efforts to reach workers trapped inside hydropower tunnels buried under mud and debris. Rescue teams have drilled through the blockage and inserted pipes to provide air to those trapped. Meanwhile, authorities have warned residents of renewed flooding as water levels rise in the Bhotekoshi River. Severe damage to roads, bridges, hydropower facilities and homes continues to hamper rescue efforts. (PC: PTI)