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Pakistan announced a series of retaliatory operations in response to India's punitive measures following the April 22 terrorist assault in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that killed 26 people.

In a statement issued after a meeting of the National Security Committee, Islamabad rejected India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, warning that any diversion of water would be treated as an act of war. Pakistan also suspended the Simla Agreement and all bilateral agreements with India, according to the Firstpost.

Diplomatic and cross-border ties have been further shattered. The Wagah border crossing has been closed, SAARC visas for Indian nationals—except for Sikh pilgrims—have been suspended, and Indian defense and military advisors in Islamabad have been branded persona non grata and forced to go by April 30. The Indian High Commission's workforce has also been reduced to 30 members.

Pakistan has also closed its airspace to Indian-operated planes and banned all trade, even through third-country routes, Firstpost reported.

The government warned of a "full-spectrum national power response" to any danger to its sovereignty, indicating a significant escalation in tensions between the two countries.

South Africa’s finance ministry announced on Thursday that it will not proceed with the planned increase in value-added tax (VAT) from May 1, following political opposition and investor concerns over potential instability in the coalition government, as claimed by Reuters.

As part of the national budget for 2025, the National Treasury recommended a gradual 1 percent point rise in VAT over two years. However, the two major coalition partners, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), were unable to agree on the initial 0.5 percent point raise.

As a result, the VAT rate would remain at 15 percent, the ministry confirmed. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is scheduled to propose amended versions of the Appropriation and Division of Revenue Bills in the coming weeks, Reuters reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday issued a stern warning to the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack, saying India will "pursue them to the end of the Earth," Business Standard reported.

Addressing a public meeting in Bihar's Madhubani, PM Modi said, "Today, on the soil of Bihar, I say to the whole world - India will identify, trace, and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth. India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism."

"Terrorism will not go unpunished. Every effort will be made to make sure that justice is done. The entire nation is one in this resolve. Everyone who believes in humanity is with us. I thank the people of various countries and their leaders who have stood with us," he added, according to Business Standard.

PM Modi's remarks came after terrorists killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. The Prime Minister emphasised that the attack had not just been on unarmed tourists, but on the "faith of the country".

Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) President Sunil KC held a meeting with visiting Indian Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday.

During the meeting, KC appraised him of energy cooperation possibilities between the private sectors of two neighboring countries.

He also appraised the Indian Minister of immense possibilities of energy cooperation between the private sectors of both the countries as the Power Trade Agreement has already been signed by two governments.

“NICCI will help facilitate the investment in energy from Indian private sector to take maximum benefit from recently signed Power Trade Agreement,” KC said in a statement issued by the NICCI, adding that the Business-to-Business (B2B) collaboration is key to expand the horizon of the trade and investment between the two South Asian neighbors.

“The recent Nepal-India power deal followed by Tuesday’s signing of memorandum of understanding on cross border transmission line has opened new avenues for both the countries to join hands in economic development.

Nepal and India signed a crucial memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cross border transmission line on Tuesday in the presence of Minister for Energy, Water Resource and Irrigation Deepak Khadka and visiting Indian Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Khattar.

The MoU, signed as per the agreement made by the 12th meeting of the Nepal-India Secretary Level Joint Directive Committee held in New Delhi two months ago, will help establish a joint company for the construction of 400 KV Inaruwa-New Poorniya and Dodhara-Bareli Transmission Line, according to the statement.

The Indian Minister arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday at the invitation of Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Khadka.

Immediately after arriving at Kathmandu, the visiting India Minister Khattar along with Minister Khadka jointly inspected the Arun III Hydropower Project in Sankhuwasabha also.

The visiting Minister Khattar said that Nepal is a country with immense hydropower potential and that prosperity can be achieved through the energy sector. Stressing that the Arun III Hydropower Project should be completed on time as it would benefit both the countries, he said that the Indian government is ready to invest more in Nepal's hydropower sector.

Earlier, the Governments of India and Nepal had signed a long-term Power Trade Agreement on January 4, 2024. The 25-year long deal aims to export 10,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to India in the next ten years.

NICCI has been facilitating trade and economic ties between Nepal and India. “NICCI will be happy to welcome more private sector power players in Nepal,” KC added.

On the occasion, KC presented visiting Minister Khattar, the token of love on behalf of NIICI, and the ‘Business Climate Survey for Indian Companies in Nepal’ done by NICCI to promote Indian investment in Nepal.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 3.00 points to close at 2,658.94 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 0.86 points to close at 446. 90 points.

A total of 19,754,245-unit shares of 308 companies were traded for Rs 7. 87 billion.

Meanwhile, Nepal Micro Insurance Company Limited (NMIC) and Crest Micro Life Insurance Limited (CREST) were the top gainers today, with their price surging by 9. 99 percent. Likewise, Nepal Hydro Developers Ltd. (NHDL) was the top loser as its price fell by 6.88 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 41 trillion.

Humla is going to be declared as a literate district on May 23.

The district is going to be declared a 'literate zone' after 96.04 percent people aged between 15-60 years became fully literate.

According to the Education Development and Coordination Unit, the decision was taken to declare the district as literate zone on May 23 as all seven local levels of the district have already been declared as achieving the literacy standard.

A meeting held under chairmanship of the Committee Chief, Shiva Raj Sharma, this morning decided to declare the district as literate zone as it has fulfilled all criteria required for the same.

Out of a 35,345 population aged between 15-60 years, 33,954 (96.04 percent) have become literate, said Officiating Chief of the Unit, Yogesh Ale Magar.

Ninety-six percent population of Namkha, 95.6 percent of Simkot, 95.5 percent of Kharpunath, 95.74 percent of Sarkegad, 95.24 percent of Chankheli, 95.28 percent of Adanchuli and 98.28 percent of Taajkot Rural Municipalities are literate.

A moving bus was completely destroyed after it suddenly caught fire in Chandragiri Municipality-15 on Thursday.

The bus belonging to Panchpokhari Yatayat was heading towards Thankot from Kalanki when the incident occurred.

According to District Police Range, Kathmandu spokesperson Apilraj Bohara, the bus was completely destroyed after it abruptly caught fire.

He said that the passengers are safe.

The fire was doused with the help of a fire engine, water tanker, police personnel and locals.

Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's capital Kyiv kill at least nine people and injure another 63.

Russia also attacks additional regions of the country, with Ukraine claiming the attacks included 11 ballistic missiles, 55 cruise missiles, and 145 drones, according to the BBC.

While Ukrainian president Volodimir Zelensky still intends to meet with South Africa's president Ramaphosa to widen the country's foreign partnerships, he says other activities in the country will be canceled because he is returning to Ukraine early following a Russian strike on the capital that killed nine people, BBC reported.

Earlier, US President Trump criticised Zelensky's approach to peace talks.