You'd think the weekend's biggest Venezuela news might've been ousted dictator Nicolás Maduro dropping some fresh jailhouse pics in his signature grey tracksuit, flashing double peace signs as his Manhattan trial creeps closer.
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IRAN
The US just carried out its first known strike on Iranian territory in more than a month, hitting what it says were preparations to launch sea mines into a Hormuz shipping lane the US had just cleared. In response, Iran’s revolutionary guards claimed strikes on US bases in Jordan and the UAE, though local authorities are denying any hits. (Reuters)
NEPAL
Authorities in Nepal are intensifying efforts to reach hundreds of people thought to be trapped in hydropower tunnels after last week’s disaster. The number of missing has doubled to 4,200 since Sunday, while the death toll has jumped to 900. Meanwhile, China’s authorities in Tibet have released their first official estimates, confirming over 500 missing and 16 dead. (BBC)
NORTH KOREA
Local despot Kim Jong Un has appointed former military political chief Kim Song-gi as his new defence minister, sending the outgoing No Kwang-chol to instead head up Kim’s powerful munitions department. (Reuters)
ICELAND
More than 52% of voters in Iceland just opted not to reopen accession talks with the EU. (Guardian)
A handful of last-minute withdrawals has thrown the annual Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leader summit into turmoil, with Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Kiribati, and Solomon Islands all sending lower-ranked reps — the latter had to fly home amid a no-confidence ambush in parliament. (RNZ)
NIGER
The ruling military junta says it’s now re-imposed order after putschist soldiers attempted to storm the presidential palace and Niamey’s main airport in an attempted coup. (France24)
CAMBODIA
The Cambodian government summoned 50 foreign diplomats to insist there are no longer any scam compounds operating in the country, thanks to a coordinated crackdown and slew of high-profile arrests. (Al Jazeera)
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