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Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the government was making all the best possible efforts for the safe and speedy release of Bipin Joshi, a Nepali student in Israel who was taken hostage by the extremist Hamas group.

In a Facebook post today, the PM stated that the government was taking all best possible efforts for Joshi's release adding that it was the responsibility of the government.

According to the PM, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Nepal's diplomatic missions in the Gulf countries is holding continuous talks to ensure a safe and speedy release of Joshi.

Likewise, the PM has also mentioned that the government was with the family of Joshi.

"With the coordination of our embassy in Israel, Joshi's mother Padma and sister Pushpa met with President of Israel Isaac Herzog and Chairman of the Israeli Parliament Amir Ohana for the initiatives to release Bipin," the PM has mentioned in his post. 

Likewise, PM Oli has recalled his telephone conversations that happened a couple of months ago with the presidents of Türkiye and Egypt for the release of Joshi.

Similarly, PM Oli has thanked all Nepalis, locals, journalists, security forces and social activists for their efforts for the safe and speedy release of Bipin Joshi.

Nine countries, including Jordan, the UAE, and Germany, airdropped 161 food packages over Gaza on Sunday, delivering about 106 tonnes of aid, the Israeli military said. Israel coordinated the operation under political directives, denying accusations of deliberate starvation, according to Xinhua.

Aid groups say the drops are insufficient, urging more aid and support for Gaza’s damaged health system. Health authorities reported seven recent deaths from hunger, including two children, raising the famine toll to 258, with 110 children among them.

India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated C.P. Radhakrishnan, the current governor of Maharashtra, as its candidate for vice president. The election is scheduled for September 9, Xinhua reported.

If elected, Radhakrishnan would become India’s 15th vice president. The BJP leads the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Rescuers are searching for more than 40 people after a boat capsized in Sokoto State, northwestern Nigeria, authorities said. Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) deployed a response team following reports that the vessel, carrying over 50 passengers to Goronyo Market, overturned. About 10 people have been rescued, while the rest remain missing, according to Xinhua.

Local officials suggested overloading may have caused the accident, a common issue in the state’s riverine communities. Boat mishaps frequently occur in Nigeria, especially during the rainy season. Recent incidents in Sokoto, Niger, and Jigawa states have also led to multiple fatalities and missing passengers.

Qantas airline has been fined A$90m by an Australian court for unlawfully dismissing around 1,700 ground staff during the Covid-19 pandemic. Federal Court Justice Michael Lee said the penalty aims to serve as a “real deterrence” to other employers, BBC reported.

The airline had outsourced its ground operations in 2020, citing financial necessity as the aviation industry stalled. The Transport Workers’ Union welcomed the ruling, describing it as the largest employer penalty in Australia and a victory for loyal workers. Qantas must pay A$50m of the fine directly to the union.

According to BBC, this penalty is in addition to A$120m in compensation the airline agreed to pay affected staff in 2024 after losing multiple appeals.

A court-backed ban on feeding pigeons in Mumbai has sparked protests from bird lovers and religious groups, clashing with public health concerns, BBC reported.

Authorities cite studies linking pigeon droppings to serious respiratory illnesses, with cases reported across Indian cities. Experts say pigeon numbers have surged more than 150 percent since 2000, creating ecological imbalance and displacing other birds.

Communities such as the Jains, who see feeding pigeons as a religious duty, oppose the ban and have staged demonstrations at historic feeding centres.

Animal rights activists argue the restrictions lack clarity, while others suggest regulated feeding to balance hygiene and tradition. The Bombay High Court has set up an expert panel to propose alternatives, according to BBC.

US President Donald Trump will host Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on Monday, joined by top European figures including NATO chief Mark Rutte, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron, BBC reported.

The urgent talks follow Trump’s summit with Putin in Alaska, where the US president pushed for a permanent peace deal instead of a ceasefire. A US envoy later said Putin was open to “NATO-like” security guarantees for Ukraine — a move Trump called “big progress.”

European leaders are expected to back Zelensky amid concerns he could face pressure to concede territory. Zelensky has insisted Ukraine’s constitution forbids giving up land.

Despite signs of momentum, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that a final deal to end the war remains far off, according to BBC.

Air Canada flight attendants were ordered back to work after a strike on Saturday grounded hundreds of flights and stranded passengers nationwide. The Canadian Industrial Relations Board extended the expired contract until a new deal is reached, but the flight attendants’ union, CUPE, told members to defy the order, accusing the government of siding with the airline, according to BBC.

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu imposed binding arbitration, saying stability and supply chains must be protected. Air Canada said flights will gradually resume from Monday but warned it may take up to 10 days to return to normal.

The dispute centers on pay. The airline offered a 38 percent raise over four years, while CUPE argues the deal falls below inflation and still leaves attendants unpaid for time on the ground. The union denounced the government’s move as a violation of workers’ rights, BBC reported.