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Israel's military says it has "recently" made an airdrop of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, following weeks of international pressure and a growing hunger crisis in the Palestinian territory, BBC reported.

In a statement early on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the airdrop "included seven packages of aid containing flour, sugar, and canned food". 

Israel earlier said it was prepared to open humanitarian corridors to allow UN convoys into Gaza. 

This came amid calls for Israel to let more aid into Gaza and amid warnings of mass starvation following months of limited supply to the territory's two million people. Israel denied what it called "the false claim of deliberate starvation" in Gaza, according to BBC.

Former President and CPN-UML leader Bidya Devi Bhandari has said that no one can take away her membership.

She said so during a special press conference organized in the Capital on Friday.

"No one should take the decision in a hurry. Party should be operated as per the rules. I didn't leave the party to become the President," she said, adding ,"No one can take away my membership."

The UML Central Committee meeting held recently decided not to renew Bhandari's party membership.

The UML Central Committee meeting had decided not to renew Bhandari's membership, concluding that it was against the spirit of the Constitution for a person who has already become the President of the country entering politics.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced the immediate installation of 500 deep boring water systems in Madhes Province to resolve the problem of water shortage.

PM Oli made the announcement today while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a bridge over the Bighi River in Matihani Municipality-8 and a maternity hospital at ward no 6 in Mahottari district.

Earlier in the day, PM Oli conducted an aerial inspection of the drought-hit areas in Madhes Province. The Province was declared a disaster-hit zone for a period of three months following a cabinet meeting on July 23.

The prolonged lack of rainfall in the Province has resulted in a severe shortage of drinking water and inadequate irrigation facilities throughout the Province. 

PM Oli, during his address, mentioned that much of the land appeared dry during his aerial inspection and pledged to hold discussions and coordinate efforts with the stakeholders for earliest resolution to the ongoing water shortage in the Province. 

He also reaffirmed his commitment to ensure drinking water and irrigation facilities in all eight districts of the Province.  

The PM noted that Saptari district, located at the eastern side of the Madhes Province and situated near the Saptakoshi River, has experienced relatively fewer problems due to its proximity to the river.

Oli added that the government is actively working to address the water crisis in the remaining seven districts in the Province.

The Head of the Government, in the context of Madhes Province having already been declared a disaster-hit zone, vowed to introduce a special program to support those directly affected by water scarcity including farmers.

Highlighting the importance of education, the Prime Minister argued, "Where there is education, there is development. Where there is no education, there is poverty and deprivation." 

He appealed to them to prioritize education as a foundation for poverty alleviation and the overall development of families, societies and country, urging the local residents to send their children to school without any discrimination.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the incumbent government has brought a wave of development in the country. 

Addressing a program organized at Matihani of Mahottari district today, PM Oli mentioned that the incumbent government formed from an alliance of the two largest parties--CPN-UML and Nepali Congress has been working round the clock for the development and good governance. 

He opined that remarkable achievements have been gained after development construction activities moved ahead in a speedy manner as the incumbent government put various issues directly concerned with the people--education, health and road on special priority. 

Also the Chairperson of the UML, Oli clarified that there was no alternative to incumbent government till next elections.  

He expressed the belief that with the inauguration of a bridge over Bighi river of Matihani would benefit all sectors including local trade, industry, factories, education and health. 

The bridge would connect the people of these areas with Janakpur, he added. 

Similarly, Chairperson of Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Mahantha Thakur, senior leader and Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Sharad Singh Bhandari, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal, among others stressed the need of collective efforts to resolve the drinking water problems in a long-term manner in Madhes Province.  

They expressed commitment to provide possible support from their respective places to resolve overall problems of Madhes Province.

Foreign MinisterArzu Rana Deuba has shared that there are many cultural similarities between Nepal and Thailand.  

Inaugurating the Thai Flavors in the Himalayas and Bhat-Bhateni Thai Fair organised  here today, Foreign Minister Rana mentioned that there is historic relation between Nepal and Thailand as well as that both countries share many similarities including culture. 

She emphasized the similarities between Nepali and Thai cultures including hospitality and tolerance. 

Clarifying that tourism could become the key area of shared prosperity and collaboration between the two countries, the Foreign Minister urged Thai investors to invest in tourism and hospitality sectors as there is immense potential for tourism in Nepal.

Nepal has been moving ahead in the sector of entrepreneurship and many products produced by Nepal including handicraft items have become attractive to the global market, Minister Rana requested Thai industrialists to invest in Nepal. 

Stating that Nepal and Thailand always remain independent and sovereign nations, she recalled that agreements and understandings were reached in government and private sectors during the recent Thailand visit of  Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

The Foreign Minister Rana opined that such high-level visits should be continued in coming days, adding Prime Minister Oli's Thailand visit has further strengthened relations between the two countries. 

The Fair was organized by the Embassy of Thailand in Nepal and Bhat-Bhateni Supermarket.

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD plans to roll out its first car assembled in Pakistan by July or August 2026 to capture growing demand for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the region, a company executive said on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

BYD, the world's top EV maker, has been expanding rapidly outside its home market, where it is in a strong price war. The Pakistan plant addresses rising demand from emerging markets and allows the company to take advantage of incentives offered by the Pakistani government.

The plant has been under construction since April near Karachi in a partnership between BYD and Mega Motor Company, a subsidiary of Pakistani utility Hub Power, Danish Khaliq, vice president of sales and strategy at BYD Pakistan, told Reuters.

It would initially have the capacity to produce 25,000 units a year on a double shift, he said. He did not elaborate on when the plant would achieve full capacity or say when mass production would begin there, according to Reuters.

The ruling coalition partner Nepali Congress (NC) has urged the government to urgently address the pressing problems faced by farmers across the Madhes Province such as shortage of drinking water and irrigation facilities and unavailability of fertilizers and seeds.

The call for urgent action was made in the meeting of NC office bearers and former office-bearers presided over by party President Sher Bahadur Deuba at his residence in Budhanilakantha today.

Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Ramnath Adhikari briefed about the current status of the country's agriculture sector.

NC's Joint General-Secretary Jeevan Pariyar informed that the meeting emphasized collaborative efforts among all three-tiers of governments to resolve the drinking water problem and irrigation issues prevailing in  Madhes Province and to ensure timely supply of fertilizers and seeds.

He clarified that on the contrary to the public speculation, the meeting did not dwell on the issue relating to reshuffle of ministers in the federal government.

During the meeting, ministers currently serving in the government representing the NC also presented updates on the progress made by their respective ministries.

Likewise, General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma informed about the upcoming by-elections in Rupandehi district and the voter-related concerns.

Thailand has rejected mediation efforts from third countries to end the ongoing conflict with Cambodia, insisting that Phnom Penh cease attacks and resolve the situation only through bilateral talks, its foreign ministry said on Friday, Reuters reported.

Simmering border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have flared into open hostilities at multiple locations along the frontline, with exchanges of artillery for a second straight day.

At least 16 people, most of them Thai civilians, have died so far in the heaviest fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours in over a decade.

The United States, China and Malaysia, which is the current chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, have offered to facilitate dialogue but Bangkok is seeking a bilateral solution to the conflict, Thai foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura told Reuters.