Hundreds of foreign nationals remain missing after devastating floods struck Nepal’s border regions, with at least 320 Indian citizens among those unaccounted for. Nearly 100 Chinese nationals, 90 Americans, 62 Ukrainians, 51 Malaysians, 41 Australians, 33 Britons and 30 Canadians are also reported missing. Smaller numbers of travellers from several other countries remain unaccounted for. The Nepal Tourism Board said 289 foreign nationals have been rescued since the floods began, while 591 people remained out of communication as of 6 pm local time on August 30. Search, rescue and evacuation operations are continuing across the affected areas. (PC: BBC)

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)

Months before catastrophic flash floods struck Nepal, two reports by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development warned that glaciers across the Hindu Kush Himalaya were melting at an accelerating rate. The reports said ice loss had doubled since 2000, with up to 27 metres of ice thickness lost since 1975. While the exact cause of the August 26 disaster is still under investigation, a massive glacial collapse is being examined as a possible trigger. A 600-metre-wide glacier section reportedly broke free, creating a temporary dam before its collapse unleashed a devastating surge through Himalayan valleys. (PC: HT)

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)

Former India captain Sunil Chhetri said he will watch the national team’s upcoming matches against Brazil and Uruguay with “a little jealousy”, as he never got such an opportunity during his nearly 20-year international career. India face five-time world champions Brazil in Kolkata on October 3 before playing Uruguay three days later. Chhetri urged the current generation to make the most of the opportunity. The 42-year-old also called on players, coaches, officials and the media to stop blaming one another for Indian football’s problems. He said everyone must take responsibility and work together to improve the sport. (PC: India Today)

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)

Indian Army Aviation pilots carried out a daring high-altitude helicopter rescue at 18,600 feet near the Nun Kun massif in Ladakh’s Kargil district. The pilots undertook a high-casualty evacuation in the rugged Zanskar range, operating in extremely challenging Himalayan conditions. The operation demanded exceptional flying skills as helicopters face severe performance limitations at such altitudes due to thin air and difficult terrain. The Indian Army said the successful mission showcased the courage and professionalism of its aviation crews and their ability to carry out critical rescue operations in some of the world’s most demanding environments.  

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)

Economist Sanjeev Sanyal has blamed decades of economic decline and hostility to industry for Kolkata losing its once-prominent position in India’s technology sector. Speaking on a podcast, the PM-EAC member recalled that a strike was held in Kolkata when IBM brought large mainframe computers to the city. “One can say that the true founder of Bengaluru’s IT hub is actually Jyoti Basu,” Sanyal said, arguing that talent subsequently moved to Bengaluru. He said Kolkata was India’s biggest economic and industrial hub when he was born in 1970 and called for its revival to help drive growth across eastern India. (PC: Business Today)

For 43-year-old Mumbai-based mother Shivani Mehrotra, age was no barrier as she scaled Mount Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak, and unfurled the Tricolour on August 15. The Sitapur-born mountaineer began her summit push at 2 am, battling freezing temperatures, strong winds, low oxygen and heavy snow gear. “You cannot stop, you have to keep walking,” became her mantra as she reached the summit in four-and-a-half hours. An ultra-runner and yoga practitioner, Mehrotra has funded most of her expeditions through her savings. Now, after climbing Kilimanjaro and Elbrus, she has set her sights on Mount Everest and the Seven Summits. (PC: The Telegraph)