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Israel launched airstrikes on Syria’s defence ministry in Damascus and military targets in the south on Wednesday, as sectarian violence in Suweida province left over 300 dead. The fighting, now in its fourth day, broke out between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes.

Isareli Prime Minister Netanyahu said the strikes aimed to protect the Druze community, while Syria condemned them as “treacherous aggression.” The clashes reportedly began after the abduction of a Druze merchant, according to BBC.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was "very worried" about the violence in the south but believed it would end within hours. "We have agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end tonight," he wrote on X on Wednesday evening.

Syria's foreign ministry said the country "welcomes the efforts made by the US and Arabian sides" to "resolve the current crisis" peacefully.

Syrian troops have started withdrawing from Suweida under a local agreement. US expressed concern and said a ceasefire was close. Conditions in Suweida have worsened, with severe shortages of water and medical supplies, BBC reported.

Eight babies have been born in the UK using a groundbreaking IVF technique that combines DNA from three people to prevent incurable mitochondrial diseases, BBC reported.

The method uses the egg and sperm from the parents along with healthy mitochondria from a female donor, stopping the mother from passing on faulty genes. Mitochondrial diseases, which affect energy production in the body, can cause severe disability or death in infancy.

Developed in Newcastle and legal in the UK for a decade, the technique is now delivering results. Families, speaking anonymously, described the births as a source of hope and healing after years of loss, according to BBC.

The Newcastle Fertility Centre expects 20 to 30 such births annually, offering new chances to families at risk.

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has begun testifying in a royal defamation trial that could see him jailed for up to 15 years. The case centres on remarks he made to South Korean media over a decade ago, with the closed-door proceedings expected to continue for several days, according to Al Jazeera.

The trial comes just weeks after his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was suspended as prime minister pending an ethics probe over a leaked phone call linked to a deadly border clash with Cambodia. The scandal has weakened the ruling Pheu Thai-led coalition, now clinging to a slim majority.

Thaksin, 75, returned from exile last year after a military coup ousted him in 2006. He was sentenced to eight years for corruption, later reduced to one following a royal pardon.

Supporters gathered at the court as his lawyer said Thaksin remains composed. The trial and Paetongtarn’s suspension mark a sharp decline in the Shinawatra family’s political fortunes, Al Jazeera reported.

ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan was warned he and the court would be “destroyed” if arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant were not withdrawn, Al Jazeera reports.

The warning allegedly came from British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman during a May meeting in The Hague. Kaufman, linked to a Netanyahu adviser, reportedly urged Khan to classify the warrants as confidential, allowing Israel to challenge them privately.

Khan and his wife, also an ICC lawyer, viewed the remarks as a threat. Kaufman denies representing the Israeli government. Netanyahu’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

The ICC issued the warrants in 2024 over alleged war crimes in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attacks, according to Al Jazeera.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has welcomed a new trade agreement with US President Donald Trump, calling it the beginning of a “new era of mutual benefit.”

The deal, announced after a phone call between the leaders, reduces US tariffs on Indonesian goods from 32 percent to 19 percent. In return, Indonesia will purchase US energy, agricultural products, and Boeing aircraft, Al Jazeera reported.

Trump hailed the agreement as fair and beneficial for both countries, saying US exporters will face no tariffs. Prabowo’s office described the outcome as a major step forward in bilateral relations, with further details expected soon.

Russia launched around 400 drones overnight, striking several Ukrainian regions in its largest assault this week. Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian President Zelensky’s hometown, faced its worst attack since the war began, leaving 15 injured and damaging infrastructure. Kharkiv, Vinnytsia, and Odesa were also hit, with widespread power outages and fires reported.

Ukraine says 345 drones were intercepted. Nationwide, three people were killed and 38 wounded in the past 24 hours, CNN reported.

Zelensky called for stronger air defenses, warning Russia’s strategy remains unchanged.

In response, US President Donald Trump pledged to send Patriot missile systems via NATO and threatened tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, according to CNN.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 34. 61 points to close at 2,794. 78 points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 7. 86 points to close at 489. 27 points.

A total of 43,111,416-unit shares of 330 companies were traded for Rs 14. 03 billion.

Meanwhile, 10% KBL Debenture 2090 (KBLD90) and Three Star Hydropower Limited were the top gainers today, with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Mai Khola Hydropower Limited (MKHL) was the top loser as its price fell by 7. 87 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 65 trillion.

Iceland’s Sundhnukur volcano has erupted near the capital, Reykjavik — the country’s 12th eruption since 2021. The fissure, up to a kilometre long, is sending lava southeast, away from key infrastructure, according to officials.

Evacuations were ordered at the Blue Lagoon spa and the nearby town of Grindavik, which remains largely empty due to ongoing volcanic threats. The eruption is considered relatively small, according to Al Jazeera.

Located on the active Reykjanes Peninsula, the area has seen repeated volcanic activity. Experts say such eruptions could continue for decades.