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Thirty-three Colombian soldiers have been freed after being held for three days in Nueva York, a remote Amazon village controlled by rebel factions and drug traffickers. They were detained on Monday following clashes that left at least 10 dead, with villagers blocking their exit in what the government called a kidnapping, according to Al Jazeera.

Their release was secured through talks involving officials, the Ombudsman’s Office, and the UN. The army has reinforced the area, blaming rebels led by Ivan Mordisco — a former FARC commander accused of child recruitment and recent bombings — for manipulating locals.

Guaviare remains a hotspot for coca cultivation, highlighting the challenges facing President Gustavo Petro’s peace plan, which critics say has yet to reduce violence, Al Jazeera reported.

Microsoft has dismissed four employees who took part in workplace protests against the company’s ties to Israel, including two involved in a sit-in at the office of company president Brad Smith earlier this week, Al Jazeera reported.

The protest group No Azure for Apartheid confirmed that Anna Hattle, Riki Fameli, Nisreen Jaradat, and Julius Shan were fired, accusing Microsoft of silencing dissent while supporting Israel’s war in Gaza.

Microsoft said the terminations followed “serious breaches of company policies,” adding that recent demonstrations created safety concerns. Smith stressed that while the firm respects free expression, it must be exercised lawfully.

The official matches of FIFA and AFC will not be held at the Dasharath Stadium, Nepal’s only internationally recognized stadium.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has said that the FIFA and AFC matches cannot be played at the Dasharath Stadium, citing lack of standards during an inspection.

According to ANFA General Secretary Kiran Rai, Nepal will no longer be allowed to host any FIFA and AFC matches at the Dasharath Stadium.

“The official matches of FIFA and AFC will not be held at the stadium until the standards are met,” he said.

Rai, however, said that the SAFF and other international series will be held at the stadium.

A Thai court is set to decide whether suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra should be permanently removed from office following a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, BBC reported.

In the recording, Paetongtarn was heard criticizing Thailand’s army and seeking to ease tensions over a border dispute, remarks that embarrassed her party and sparked a backlash. She later apologized, saying her comments were part of a “negotiating tactic,” but senators demanded her resignation and petitioned the court.

The verdict, due Friday, will be a major test for the Shinawatra family, Thailand’s most influential political dynasty. If removed, Paetongtarn would become the fifth prime minister dismissed by the court since 2008, adding fresh uncertainty to Thai politics, according to BBC.

Israeli airstrikes on Friday killed at least 30 Palestinians across Gaza, including five in al-Mawasi, an area designated a “humanitarian zone.” The UN warned Israel’s expanded push into Gaza City marks a “new and dangerous phase” of the war, Al Jazeera reported.

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has urged annexing Gaza if Hamas refuses to disarm. Israel also acknowledged killing two Lebanese soldiers near Ras an-Naqoura, citing a drone malfunction.

According to Al Jazeera, the war has so far killed nearly 63,000 people in Gaza and left more than 159,000 wounded.

Germany has advised its nationals to leave Iran and avoid travel there, warning of possible retaliatory actions from Tehran. The alert follows Berlin’s decision, along with Britain and France, to trigger a 30-day process to reinstate UN sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear program, according to Reuters.

The German Foreign Ministry said Iranian officials have threatened consequences, raising risks for German citizens and interests in the country. It also noted that the German Embassy in Tehran is operating with limited capacity to provide consular support.

Margin loan investment by banks and financial institutions surged significantly in the fiscal year 2024/25, led by commercial banks. According to the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), total margin loan exposure reached Rs 140.7bn by the end of mid-July 2025, compared to Rs 90.09bn a year earlier. This represents an increase of Rs 50bn (56.17 percent) over the previous fiscal year.

While finance companies and development banks posted moderate growth, commercial banks accounted for a lion’s share of the expansion. Finance companies increased their margin loan portfolio by only 4.27 percent, from Rs 4.15bn to Rs 4.35bn, while development banks saw their margin loan exposure go up by 25.31 percent, from Rs 15.59bn to Rs 19.54bn. In contrast, commercial banks expanded their investment by a whopping 66.05 percent. Margin loan exposure of commercial banks expanded from Rs 70.03bn in mid-July 2024 to Rs 116.8bn in mid-July 2025.

In terms of portfolio, Nabil Bank has the largest margin loan exposure at Rs 16.76bn followed by Global IME Bank (Rs 12.3bn) and Kumari Bank (Rs 10.43bn). Similarly, in terms of growth, Machhapuchchhre Bank recorded the sharpest growth in margin loans with its portfolio expanding by 442.10 percent. The bank’s total margin loans increased from Rs 460m to Rs 2.53bn during the period. Similarly, Nepal SBI Bank’s margin loans grew by 207.15 percent to Rs 610m, up from Rs 200m a year earlier.

Agriculture Development Bank (192.66 percent), NMB Bank (144 percent), Laxmi Sunrise Bank (143 percent) and Kumari Bank (138.41 percent) also saw significant expansion in their margin loan portfolio during the period. Market analysts say improved investor confidence in the stock market  is the main reason behind expansion in margin lending portfolios of banks. Since return from the stock market is higher than interest rates offered by banks, investors are availing themselves of cheaper loans and investing in stocks, one analyst said. 

US Senators Roger Wicker and Deb Fischer arrived in Taipei on Friday to reaffirm Washington’s commitment to Taiwan amid growing Chinese military pressure. Wicker, chair of the Armed Services Committee, said the visit highlights the long-standing security partnership and praised Taiwan’s determination to remain free, according to Reuters.

The senators will meet President Lai Ching-te later in the day, ahead of a US Senate debate on the $1trn defense bill that includes new provisions on Taiwan.

Beijing condemned the visit, reiterating its claim over the island as it prepares a major military parade attended by Russian and North Korean leaders, Reuters reported.