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Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has rejected US demands that Iran cease uranium enrichment, warning that such a condition would make any nuclear agreement impossible.

Speaking on state-run IRIB TV ahead of the fifth round of indirect talks in Rome, Araghchi stated, "If the United States insists on ending uranium enrichment in Iran, there will be no agreement." He reiterated that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons, but considers enrichment a sovereign right that is "non-negotiable", Xinhua reported.

He also stated that, while the 2015 nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is now inactive, it is not dead and may be revived. In 2018, the United States unilaterally withdrew from the pact and reimposed sanctions.

The UN has delivered the first aid convoy to Gaza in 11 weeks, with 90 trucks entering via the Kerem Shalom crossing. The shipment includes food, medicine, and 500 pallets of nutrition supplies, but officials warn it falls far short of meeting the needs of 2.1m people, according to UN News.

Some bakeries, supported by the World Food Programme, have resumed limited bread production. However, fuel, fresh food, hygiene items, and water purification supplies remain blocked.

UN staff face long delays due to military operations, and humanitarian routes remain insecure. Al Awda Hospital in North Gaza was damaged in a reported attack, and water wells are failing due to fuel shortages. Nearly 500,000 people are on the brink of starvation, UN News reported.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Tanaka Akihiko held a meeting on Friday.

During the meeting held at Tokyo-based JICA Headquarters, they discussed issues related to Nepal-Japan bilateral relations and mutual welfare as well as climate change, natural disasters and good governance, according to Minister Rana's Secretariat.

On the occasion, Foreign Minister Rana on the behalf of Nepal thanked JICA for its support provided for the socio-economic development of Nepal for long.

She appreciated the support the Japanese government has been providing through JICA in various areas of Nepal including construction of Nagdhunga tunnel route and reconstruction and maintenance of Sindhuli Bardibas road.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 1, 100 per tola in the domestic market on Friday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 190, 400 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 191, 500 per tola on Thursday.

The price of silver has increased by Rs 20 and is being traded at Rs 2, 005 per tola today.

Germany’s new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, is signaling a tougher stance on Russia, backing stronger EU sanctions including bans on gas and uranium imports and the use of frozen Russian state assets.

Thorsten Frei, Merz’s chief of staff, said Europe must move beyond its “comfort zone” to increase pressure on Moscow. The EU is preparing a new round of sanctions following recent measures targeting Russia’s oil “shadow fleet” and financial networks, accoding to Reuters.

Merz has also supported the potential confiscation of frozen Russian assets, if legally feasible.

A North Korean warship capsized during a launch on Wednesday in Chongjin, with leader Kim Jong Un calling the accident a “criminal act” caused by carelessness, BBC reported.

The 5,000-ton destroyer was damaged during a side launch, which analysts say was risky. Kim ordered the ship restored before a June party meeting, calling it a political issue. South Korea said the vessel is now on its side and noted North Korea fired cruise missiles nearby at the time.

Turkish police detained 272 suspected street-level drug dealers in a major operation, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced Thursday.

The raids followed four months of surveillance and intelligence gathering in several Istanbul districts. Targets were individuals selling drugs in local neighborhoods, according to Xinhua.

Yerlikaya shared the update on X, stressing continued efforts against drug crimes.

Turkey, a key transit point between Asia and Europe, regularly conducts anti-drug operations to combat trafficking and abuse, Xinhua reported.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday suggested that Saudi Arabia could serve as a neutral venue for dialogue between Pakistan and India on key bilateral issues, according to the Firstpost.

Speaking to reporters, the Prime Minister expressed optimism about future conversations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While admitting China as a potential host, he stated that India will not accept it as a neutral party.

His statements came after US President Donald Trump offered to intervene between the two countries, saying that the US had helped engineer a cease-fire to decrease tensions, Firstpost reported.

In contrast, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told a parliamentary panel that India and Pakistan decided to cease warfare bilaterally in response to opposition concerns over Trump's statements.