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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday questioned the US government for reaching a plea deal with Damaso Lopez Serrano, a former Sinaloa Cartel leader, despite labeling the cartel a “Foreign Terrorist Organization.”

“The US says it doesn’t negotiate with terrorists, yet it makes deals with them,” Sheinbaum said, demanding an explanation, according to Xinhua.

Lopez Serrano, known as “El Mini Lic,” pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in the US. He was first arrested in 2017 and again last year on similar charges. The US designated the Sinaloa Cartel a terrorist group in February.

Yemen's Houthi force claimed responsibility for shooting a hypersonic ballistic missile at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport on Thursday night. The group claimed the attack was in retaliation to Israel's ongoing offensive in Gaza and pledged to continue targeting Israeli aviation traffic until the crisis is resolved and the blockade is lifted, Xinhua reported.

The Israeli military acknowledged that it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen before it reached its target. There were no casualties or damage reported.

A day earlier, Israeli airstrikes hit the Sanaa airport in Yemen, destroying the runway, key facilities, and the last remaining passenger aircraft.

The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have carried out several missile and drone attacks against Israel since November 2023 in support of the Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, as stated by Xinhua.

Narbhupal Shah, who had been living at his maternal uncle’s house in Tanahun for a long time, was brought to Gorkha and hidden in Dhanubanese. According to historical records, it was Maniram Gayane who located him there and played a key role in bringing him to the Gorkha court.

When Prithvi Narayan Shah attacked Nuwakot and was defeated, left penniless and demoralized, it was Gayane who went door to door playing the sarangi, collecting money to support the king. After repeated defeats in Kirtipur, it was again Gayane who helped uncover vital intelligence that contributed to the eventual victory.

Today, the descendants of Maniram Gayane are struggling to reclaim their identity. While the clans and lineages of those who supported the unification campaign have risen to prominence, the Gandharva community—once instrumental but now marginalized—remains stuck in poverty and neglect. They say they have been exploited and left behind.

The Gandharva community, whose legacy dates back to the era of “Gandharvas singing, Apsaras dancing,” has been stripped of both wealth and recognition. The songs and music that once defined them are fading away.

“We spent centuries in despair after the Gandharva family, who served from Narbhupal Shah to Prithvi Narayan Shah, fell into disrepair. Now we are awakening and fighting back. We have established the Maniram Gayane Smriti Pratishthan,” says local resident Pampha Gandhari. “Through this foundation, we are seeking official recognition from the government.”

The foundation has started offering training to teach the younger generation how to play the sarangi. It has also initiated a women’s empowerment program. “Last year, we conducted a three-month basic training in sarangi playing, and we are continuing that this year as well,” Pampha explains. “Learning the sarangi is difficult, so we begin by teaching the basics.”

The Gandharva community resides primarily in Ghyampeshal and Palungtar, the headquarters of Gorkha. In Bhangbari and Dharapani of Gorkha Municipality–7, there are 22 Gandharva households. Determined to preserve their fading culture, they have appealed to the Gorkha Museum to display their traditional musical instruments and include a mannequin representing their cultural identity.

“The museum showcases the costumes of other castes, but none representing the Gandharvas,” says Mangal Prasad Gandharva, 84, chairman of the foundation. “We’ve requested them to exhibit our instruments—sarangi, arbaaz, kartal, jhantar, mujura, madal—but our pleas have gone unheard. No initiative has been taken to acknowledge our identity.”

Despite the lack of government support, community members continue working for upliftment. “We’ve traveled to Tanahun, Lamjung, Kaski, Palpa, Gulmi, and Dang to assess the condition of the Gandharva communities,” he adds.

A major challenge is the absence of youth participation. “After 20 years of age, most youths go abroad. Those who remain feel ashamed to carry the sarangi,” says local resident Durgadevi Gandhari. “That’s why we’re training young people and helping them understand the cultural importance of the sarangi.”

She also expressed frustration that while the government acknowledges the descendants of Bise Nagarchi, it has no similar recognition or policies for the Gandharva community, despite their historic contributions to the unification campaign.

Pampha Gandhari, who returned to her hometown after studying in Kathmandu, is now raising her voice for her community’s identity, rights, and recognition. She currently serves as a member of the executive committee of Gorkha Municipality and says the municipality has been running programs for the preservation of Gandharva musical instruments for the past two years.

Phil Salt with his 27-ball 56 led the small chase for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League 2025 in Mullanpur on Thursday. Chasing 101 runs, Bengaluru managed to complete the chase by 10 overs with eight wickets in hand, The Indian Express reported.

Earlier, RCB skipper Rajat Patidar had won the toss and opted to bowl first. Josh Hazlewood and Syuash Sharma responded to the captain’s call with three wickets each, and PBKS, as a result, were bundled out for 101 runs.

RCB qualified for the IPL final for the fourth time in their history. As per Punjab, they still have an opportunity to qualify, but for that, they have to either beat Mumbai Indians or Gujarat Titans, who will clash tomorrow in the Eliminator at the same venue, according to The Indian Express.

Vehicular movement along the Narayangarh-Butwal road section has been obstructed after the floods swept away diversions at Chormara and Dumkibas areas in Nawalparasi (Bardhaghat Susta Purba) last night.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Yadav Dhakal said that the road section was obstructed after the floods washed away the diversions at Chormara and Dumkibas, causing a complete halt to the vehicular movement.

As a result, hundreds of vehicles have been stranded mid-way.

Currently, efforts are going on to construct an alternative route.

Turkey has introduced mandatory fines for airline passengers who stand up or open overhead lockers before the seatbelt sign is turned off after landing. The civil aviation authority implemented the rule following a sharp rise in passenger complaints.

Fines are reportedly around US$70 (£50), though the official notice does not specify an exact amount. Airlines are now required to make in-flight announcements reminding passengers to remain seated with seatbelts fastened until the aircraft is fully parked, BBC reported.

Violators must be reported to the authorities. Turkish Airlines has already updated its landing procedures to comply with the new mandatory regulation.

India has called on Bangladesh to hold early, free, and inclusive elections to honor the people’s mandate, as the country faces political instability.

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh has proposed holding elections between December 2025 and June 2026, assuring he will not extend his tenure beyond that period. However, political parties and the military have demanded elections be held sooner, according to Firstpost.

Bangladesh's Army Chief, Waker-Uz-Zaman, described the current scenario as chaotic, warning that civil administration and law enforcement have collapsed and calling for elections in December to restore order.

India's Ministry of External Affairs highlighted that the interim administration is in charge of preserving law and order till elections are held, Firstpost reported.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has rejected claims of an imminent nuclear deal with the US, calling recent media reports speculative and premature.

Responding to a CNN report, Araghchi said on X, “Not sure if we are there yet,” stressing that Iran remains committed to diplomacy but only within a framework that ensures the full lifting of sanctions and respects its nuclear rights, including enrichment, Xinhua reported.

He also called a Fox News article indicating an ongoing Iranian nuclear weapons program "fake news," accusing critics of making false assertions to sabotage discussions and mislead the public.

Since April, Iran and the United States have held five rounds of indirect, Oman-mediated talks in Muscat and Rome. However, tensions remain high, with Washington seeking a complete halt to uranium enrichment, which Tehran firmly rejects, according to Xinhua.