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Nearly one in three people in Gaza are going days without food, the UN’s World Food Programme has warned, with 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment for malnutrition.

Nine more people reportedly died of hunger on Friday, bringing the total to 122 since the war began. While Israel denies restricting aid, access remains limited, worsening the crisis, according to BBC.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain may join planned aid airdrops, though aid groups warn they are not a long-term solution. Jordan and the UAE are also awaiting clearance to deliver supplies.

The UN and several countries have urged Israel to lift restrictions immediately, calling the humanitarian situation in Gaza unacceptable. UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned the global inaction and lack of compassion, BBC reported.

At least 13 Cambodians were killed and 71 injured in ongoing border clashes with Thai forces, Cambodian officials confirmed Saturday. The fighting, now in its third day, reportedly began when Cambodian troops opened fire near Thailand’s Trat province, according to Xinhua.

Five Cambodian soldiers and eight civilians were killed, with most casualties in Oddar Meanchey province. Thailand responded with a military operation, “Trat Strike 1,” pushing back Cambodian forces at multiple points and deploying naval support.

The conflict has since spread to Cambodia’s Pursat province, as tensions along the border continue to rise, Xinhua reported.

US President Donald Trump on Friday denied any connection to Jeffrey Epstein, accusing Democrats of spreading falsehoods. Speaking before departing for Scotland, he said, “I have nothing to do with the guy,” and pointed to others, including Bill Clinton and Larry Summers, as having closer ties to Epstein, CNN reported.

Trump dismissed reports of a birthday letter to Epstein bearing his signature, calling it likely fake. He criticized Democrats for promoting “fake news” and defended his promise to release Epstein-related documents if re-elected.

The Justice Department recently stated no client list exists, sparking backlash from some Trump supporters. The White House rejected new reports linking Trump to Epstein files as politically motivated, according to CNN.

Nepal imported over 44,500 electric vehicles in fiscal year 2024/25, underscoring a rapid shift toward electric mobility, driven by low customs duty, rising environmental awareness, and the increasing availability of affordable EV models packed with modern features.

According to the Department of Customs, 44,534 units of electric three-wheelers, motorcycles and scooters, as well as cars, vans, microbuses and buses were imported into the country in the last fiscal year. The total value of these EV imports stood at Rs 43.99bn. Customs data shows the government collected Rs 22.76bn in revenue from these imports. 

A majority of these electric vehicles came from China, while few also came from India. This surge underscores the growing preference among Nepali consumers for electric alternatives to fossil-fuel-powered vehicles.

Electric three-wheelers led the import charts, with 16,505 units brought into the country in the review period. These include 9,728 fully assembled vehicles and 6,777 knockdown units for local assembling. The total value of these three-wheelers was Rs 1.68bn. These vehicles are popular for public and short-distance transport, particularly in urban areas and the low plains of Tarai.

Similarly, 13,578 units of electric cars, jeeps and vans, totaling Rs 31.76bn in value, were imported into the country during the fiscal year. Passenger cars accounted for the lion’s share with 11,951 units, while van imports reached 1,626 units. The government earned Rs 19.7bn in revenue from this category alone. Particularly, mid-range models with motor capacities between 51-100 kilowatts were the most popular in this category. 

Electric scooters and motorcycles also saw strong growth, with 11,319 units worth Rs 4.39bn imported last year. These vehicles, preferred by commuters for their low operating costs and ease of use, generated Rs 370m in revenue for the government.

Meanwhile, Nepal imported 3,132 units of electric microbuses and buses valued at Rs 9.48bn. These included 1,830 units in the 11–14 seats category, 1,260 in the 15–25 seats category, and 16 full-sized electric buses. The government collected Rs 2.1bn in revenue from these imports.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday inspected drought-hit areas in Tarai-Madhes.

A Cabinet meeting held on July 23 had decided to declare Madhes Province as disaster-hit areas for three months.

Earlier, Prime Minister Oli had held a discussion with concerned ministers, provincial government and other bodies concerned to resolve the problem.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Devraj Ghimire today called on President Ram Chandra Paudel on Friday.

During the meeting took place at the Office of the President, Shital Niwas, Speaker Ghimire briefed President Paudel about the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament scheduled to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 29 to 31, according to the President's Secretariat.

It is said that Speaker Ghimire will depart for Geneva on July 27 to attend the Conference.

An emergency cabinet meeting held on Wednesday declared Madhes province a disaster crisis zone, following an unprecedented drought that has gripped the nation's agricultural heartland. The unusual lack of rainfall during mid-monsoon in the southern plains has pushed the region into crisis.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli informed parliament that the cabinet had taken the decision in response to the worsening situation in the Terai region. “A cabinet meeting today declared Madhesh Province a disaster crisis zone. This means funds designated for disaster response can now be mobilized urgently,” Oli said.

The decision was made based on a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The drought has affected all eight districts along Nepal’s fertile Terai belt. “The groundwater level is receding. Hand-pumps and wells have dried up. There is an acute shortage of drinking water—even water for cleaning is unavailable. In light of this situation, the government has held high-level discussions and deployed teams to address the crisis,” Oli added.

The declaration was made under Section 32, Subsection 1 of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act 2017, which authorizes the government to designate any area as a disaster-threatened zone via a notice in the Nepal Gazette.

A prolonged dry spell during the peak monsoon season has brought much of the Tarai region to the brink of an agricultural disaster. Farmers have been unable to transplant paddy due to severe water shortages. Seedbeds have dried up, and paddy saplings are withering, raising fears of an impending food crisis in Nepal’s primary rice-producing zone.

A few days prior, the Madhes provincial government had also declared the province a drought-hit zone. Though fire trucks and water tankers were mobilized to distribute drinking water, these efforts fell short of addressing the region’s irrigation needs. The lack of water during the crucial monsoon period poses a major threat not only to farmers’ livelihoods but also to the national economy.

Madhes Province, known as the breadbasket of Nepal, still depends heavily on rainwater for farming. According to the Nepal Rastra Bank’s 2024 report on the Economic Status of Madhes Province, any rise in the province’s GDP would be driven by agricultural growth. The report projected Madhes’s GDP at Rs 707bn, accounting for 13.13 percent of the national GDP (Rs 5.381trn). Agriculture alone contributes 35.2 percent of the province’s GDP, with major outputs including food grains, vegetables, fruits, and spices.

But this year’s dry and arid monsoon has heightened worries among farmers, who now fear for their future. Meanwhile, across Nepal, monsoon-related disasters have already claimed nearly two dozen lives due to landslides and floods. Several others remain injured or missing. Infrastructure and properties worth billions of rupees have been destroyed.

In the mountainous regions, erratic rainfall patterns mean even short bursts of rain trigger flash floods. Glacial and supraglacial lakes, swollen due to rising temperatures and melting ice, pose constant threats. In one such incident, a previously unnoticed supraglacial lake in Tibet above Rasuwagadhi burst, triggering floods in Bhotekoshi that killed at least 11 people, with 17 still missing.

Studies show Nepal is experiencing changes in temperature and precipitation at a rate faster than the global average. The country’s maximum temperature is rising by 0.05°C per year, while the minimum temperature increases by 0.03°C annually.

Ironically, the current drought in Madhes comes despite predictions of above-normal rainfall this monsoon. Nepal annually suffers monsoon-related disasters like floods, landslides, and inundation, causing extensive loss of life and property. Last year, continuous rainfall over just three days resulted in around 200 deaths and massive damage across the country.

As Nepal braces for heavier-than-average rains this year, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has projected that nearly 2m people from over 457,000 households could be affected by monsoon-related disasters. According to NDRRMA projections, Lumbini Province is expected to be the worst-hit, with 523,656 people from 119,830 households at risk. 

This is followed by Bagmati, where 327,376 people from 74,914 households are projected to be affected. In Gandaki, 287,107 people from 65,699 households could face monsoon-related disasters. Koshi is expected to see 275,867 people from 63,127 households impacted, while in Madhes, 228,687 people from 52,331 households are at risk. Similarly, Sudurpaschim may see 227,730 people from 52,112 households affected, and Karnali is projected to have 127,308 people from 29,132 households at risk. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly criticized French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state. He warned the move rewards terrorism and endangers Israel’s security, Xinhua reported.

Macron announced the decision on social media, saying it reflects France’s historic commitment to peace and will be formally declared at the upcoming UN General Assembly.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also condemned the move, saying it risks creating a Hamas-controlled state, similar to what happened in Gaza, according to Xinhua.