Trump Secures Major Oil Agreement with Venezuela > 월드뉴스

Donald Trump announced on Friday a new oil agreement with Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez, stating that the United States will have majority control over 65 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. The specifics of the agreement are not yet clear, but Trump mentioned that it was facilitated through a partnership with private business by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump claimed that this deal would more than double American oil reserves, calling it a significant win for both American and Venezuelan citizens. The announcement lacked details regarding the structure of the deal, the fields or companies involved, or how the U.S. would exert majority control over the reserves. Venezuela holds an estimated 303 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, the largest in the world. Since the U.S. removed former president Nicolás Maduro from power in January, the Biden administration has sought to stabilize the flow of Venezuelan crude oil to U.S. refineries while encouraging American investment in Venezuela's struggling energy sector. The announcement comes as Trump faces pressure from rising gasoline prices ahead of the November midterm elections, which could be alleviated by cheaper oil supplies. Earlier reports indicated that the Trump administration was in advanced discussions for the U.S. to take a direct stake in multiple oilfields in Venezuela, a move that has drawn criticism from opposition figures in Venezuela, who view it as a land grab.

As of Saturday morning in Nepal, at least 2,478 people are reported missing following a devastating flash flood that struck the China-Nepal border on Wednesday. Nepal’s disaster agency reported that 1,924 individuals are missing on the Nepalese side, while China’s Xinhua news agency indicated that 554 people are unaccounted for in Tibet, with seven confirmed dead. Over 3,700 people have been rescued in Nepal, but the Red Cross estimates that around 93,000 individuals have been affected by the disaster. Among the missing are at least 777 foreigners, including 517 unaccounted-for individuals reported by Nepal’s disaster agency, which may include tourists and foreign workers. The Australian government has confirmed that 41 Australians are missing, while three American citizens have been rescued but 90 remain unaccounted for. Nepal has decided to allow foreign teams and experts to assist in rescue efforts after pressure from other nations. Authorities continue to monitor two lakes upstream from the flood zone due to ongoing flood risks, with one lake beginning to overflow. The official death toll in Nepal stands at 579, while seven deaths have been reported in Tibet. Additionally, Indian authorities have recovered seven bodies from rivers believed to be flood victims. Many of those missing include Hindu pilgrims traveling to Mount Kailash in Tibet. Survivors described being engulfed by sudden torrents of water, with vehicles swept away in the chaos.