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US federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration acted unlawfully when it ordered the mass dismissal of about 25,000 probationary federal employees in February, Reuters reported.

Judge William Alsup said the Office of Personnel Management had overstepped its authority, but he stopped short of reinstating the workers, pointing to limits set by the Supreme Court on judicial power over executive hiring and firing.

Instead, he ordered 19 agencies — including Defense, Veterans Affairs, Treasury and Agriculture — to correct affected employees’ records by November 14 and barred them from carrying out similar directives in the future.

According to Reuters, the case was brought by unions, nonprofits and the state of Washington, who argued the terminations caused lasting harm. The White House and plaintiffs’ representatives declined to comment on the ruling.

New French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has dropped his predecessor’s proposal to abolish two public holidays aimed at reducing the national deficit.

Lecornu, who took office on September 10, said he wants to focus on stability and dialogue with opposition parties rather than divisive measures, Reuters reported.

He now faces the challenge of forming a government, preparing the 2026 budget, and steering through a fractured parliament after France’s credit rating was downgraded to A+. Lecornu pledged a pragmatic approach, stressing that his priority is “neither instability nor stagnation.”

More than 100,000 people marched through central London on Saturday in one of the UK’s largest right-wing demonstrations in recent years, led by anti-immigration activist Tommy Robinson under the banner Unite the Kingdom, Reuters reported.

Police estimated about 110,000 joined the march, while a nearby counter-rally by Stand Up to Racism drew around 5,000 participants. Officers reported clashes as Robinson’s supporters attempted to breach cordons and reach opposing groups, with several police assaulted. Reinforcements, including mounted units, were deployed.

The march capped a tense summer marked by protests outside migrant housing. Demonstrators waved Union Jacks, St George’s Crosses, and some US and Israeli flags, with a number wearing MAGA hats. Many carried placards targeting Prime Minister Keir Starmer and demanding deportations, according to Reuters.

At least 18 people, mostly teenagers, were killed when Myanmar’s military bombed two private schools in Kyauktaw township of Rakhine state, western Myanmar, according to local media and the Arakan Army (AA).

The AA said a fighter jet dropped two bombs on the schools while students were inside. More than 20 others were injured, several critically, and nearby homes were also damaged, Al Jazeera reported.

UNICEF condemned the “brutal attack”, warning of rising violence against children and families in Rakhine.

Myanmar has been in conflict since the 2021 military coup, with air strikes intensifying as resistance groups, including the AA, gain ground. Rakhine, bordering Bangladesh along the Bay of Bengal, was also the scene of the 2017 military crackdown that forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee, according to Al Jazeera.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday praised the youth of Nepal for their role in rebuilding the country after days of violent protests. Speaking in Manipur, he said young Nepalis have been cleaning and repainting damaged streets, a gesture he described as a sign of the nation’s resilience. Modi noted that he had personally seen images of their efforts on social media, ANI reported.

From the historic Kangla Fort in Manipur, Modi also congratulated Sushila Karki on becoming Nepal’s interim Prime Minister, hailing her as the country’s first woman to hold the post. He called her appointment a milestone in women’s empowerment and expressed confidence that she would steer Nepal towards peace, stability, and prosperity.

“Nepal, in the lap of the Himalayas, is our close friend. On behalf of 1.4bn Indians, I extend my best wishes to Prime Minister Sushila Karki,” Modi said, underlining the cultural and historical ties that bind the two nations, according to ANI.

Earlier in the day, Modi also sent a message on social media reaffirming India’s commitment to Nepal’s peace and progress. The Indian government welcomed the formation of the interim government, pledging to work closely with Kathmandu for the well-being of both peoples.

Karki took charge on Friday after the fall of KP Sharma Oli’s government, which collapsed under the weight of Gen-Z–led protests against corruption and restrictions on social media. Backed by the youth movement, she now faces the task of restoring order and leading Nepal toward general elections scheduled for March 2026.

The Ministry of Finance has reported significant disruptions to its service delivery system following incidents of vandalism and arson during the recent Gen Z demonstrations.     

Multiple government offices including the Ministry itself, Customs and Tax Offices, the District Treasury Controller Office and other affiliated agencies were vandalized and set on fire. As a result, these entities are currently limited to providing only basic services.     

Efforts are now underway to assess the extent of the damage and gradually restore services. According to Ministry Spokesperson Tanka Prasad Pandey, some sections under the Budget Division sustained serious damage, while other units are in a position to resume services immediately. He confirmed that three major software systems and their associated data remain safe.     

The Ministry also reported severe damage to its vehicles: 25 cars were completely destroyed, about 20 were partially damaged, and 40 motorcycles were reduced to ashes.     

Customs services have partially resumed. At the Inland Revenue Department, only online services are currently operational. According to Madan Dahal, Department's Director General, offices within the Kathmandu Valley are ready to resume full services upon government instruction. However, this is not the case for many offices outside the Valley, which suffered extensive damage.     

Taxpayer service offices in Damak, Itahari, Biratnagar, Lahan, Janakpur, Hetauda, Birgunj, Simara, Damauli, Pokhara, Bhairahawa, Butwal, Nepalgunj, Dadeldhura, and Dhangadhi were reportedly destroyed by fire.     

Despite structural damages, the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) remains operational, ensuring continuity in customs clearance services. The Corola customs point towards China is expected to resume operations tomorrow.     

Widespread damage has also forced the shutdown of most government accounting systems. According to Om Prasad Rijal, Information Officer at the Financial Comptroller General Office, only the Revenue Management Information System (RMIS) is currently functional.     

The District Treasury Office in Kailali was completely destroyed, while offices in Makwanpur, Biratnagar, Tripureshwar, and several other areas also sustained damage. Assessment of losses is ongoing.     

Key financial systems including the Sub-national Treasury Regulatory Application (SUTRA), Treasury Single Account System (TSA), and Computerized Government Accounting System (CGAS) are yet to be restored. “We are waiting for instructions from the new government to proceed ahead,” Rijal said. (RSS)

At least 97 people have been killed and more than 4.4m others affected by recent floods in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has said.

According to the PDMA on Friday, floods triggered by high water levels in the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers have damaged over 4,500 villages across the province, Xinhua reported.

The authority said that so far, about 2.45m people have been relocated to safer areas as part of ongoing rescue and relief operations.

A total of 396 relief camps have been established in affected districts, while around 1.9m heads of livestock have also been evacuated.

Nationwide, seasonal rains and floods since June 26 have killed at least 956 people and injured more than 1,060 others, according to official statistics. Over 8,400 houses have been destroyed or damaged, and more than 6,500 livestock have perished across the country.

Relief efforts are continuing as authorities work to provide shelter, food, and medical support to displaced communities and prevent further losses, according to Xinhua.

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States on Saturday urged a three-month humanitarian truce in Sudan, followed by a permanent ceasefire, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said.

The ministers said the pause should allow the swift delivery of aid and set the stage for a nine-month transition to civilian-led governance. They warned that the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused the world’s worst humanitarian crisis and threatens regional stability, Xinhua reported.

They called on all parties to protect civilians, halt indiscriminate attacks, and ensure safe humanitarian access, pledging to press both SAF and RSF toward a negotiated settlement. Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023, with tens of thousands of deaths reported.