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Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je has been found guilty in a Taiwan court for corruption and misuse of political donations.

Wen-je has been sent to jail for 17 years and was arrested previously in 2024 who was out on bail since September.

BBC reported, he has promised not to give up on his political career and was expected to seek the presidency again in 2028. Wen-je is the founder of the Taiwan People's Party.

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Vice President Dr Swarnim Wagle has said that the government's priority now will be good governance and economic restructuring.

Dr Wagle, while attending the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected member of the House of Representatives, expressed the view that the priority of the upcoming government is to ensure good governance along with quality reconstruction.

The RSP has secured 182 seats in the House of Representatives (HoR), the lower house of the Federal Parliament, in the HoR Member election held on March 5.

RSP Senior Leader, Balendra Shah, is being appointed as Nepal's 43rd Prime Minister on Friday.

Iran seeks charges for ships to transit safely through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, said the secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi is the first top official to accuse Iran of charging for safe passage through the strait, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20 percent of all natural gas and oil once passed, AP reported.

He spoke during a news conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

From about 20 nations, the chief of France’s armed forces are gathering on Thursday to discuss how to regulate and safeguard the shipping in the Strait of Hormuz as of ongoing Iran war, AP reported. 

Chief of the French Defence staff said that it will be discussed in a video meeting hosted by Gen. Fabien Mandon. The meeting aims to show what resources such a mission could expect from countries interested in taking part, including warships, intelligence and other military assistance.

According to AP, French President Emmanuel Macron said that “when circumstances permit” and fighting has subsided, he envisions warships escorting oil tankers and other commercial shipping through the narrow strait.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) surged by 14. 21 points to close at 2, 950. 16 points on Thursday. 

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 98 points to close at 502. 44 points.

A total of 30,438,315-unit shares of 343 companies were traded for Rs 1. 69 billion.

Meanwhile, Reliance Spinning Mills Limited (RSML), Super Khudi Hydropower Limited (SKHL) and Hotel Forest Inn Limited (HFIN)were the top gainers today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Similarly, Panchakanya Mai Hydropower Ltd (PMHPL) was the top loser as its price fell by 7. 48 points. 

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 5. 00 trillion.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is racing to pass a state budget and stave off early elections he would likely lose, with the war in ​Iran so far doing little to improve his standing in the polls, Reuters reported. 

In the war's first days, Netanyahu's camp saw a chance for his right-wing coalition to capitalise on the opening salvo that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by holding elections ahead of an expected October date, a source familiar with Netanyahu's political strategy said.

One way to force snap elections would be to let parliament fail to pass the budget by March 31, which under Israeli law would trigger a vote within 90 days. As US-Israeli strikes killed a host of top Iranian figures, some of Netanyahu's confidants publicly floated the idea of a June vote, according to Reuters. 

Shram Sanskriti Party (SSP) President Harka Raj Rai has said that his party will play a constructive role as an opposition party in Parliament.

Rai, who reached the Parliament building at Singha Durbar today to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected MPs, told journalists that he would provide the government with constructive support and healthy criticism.

"As the opposition, we will question the government to hold it accountable, offer support, and provide it with constructive criticism on matters the government must address. We will always play a positive role in supporting the government and the country. As the opposition, we will fulfill our dynamic role," said Rai.

MP Rai, elected from Sunsari Constituency- 1, asserted that as a lawmaker he will strive to ensure access to clean drinking water across the country.

Newly elected members of the House of Representatives took the oath of office and secrecy at the newly constructed multi-purpose hall in Singha Durbar on Thursday.

Senior member of Parliament Arjun Narsingh KC administered the oath to the newly elected lawmakers.

Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane also attended the swearing-in ceremony.

President Ram Chandra Paudel had administered the oath of office and secrecy to KC on Wednesday. 

Arrangements related to taking oath of office and secrecy are specified in the Article 99 and 91 (5) of the Nepal Constitution, and the Clause 75 of the House of Representatives Member Election Act, 2074. 

In the election of members of the House of Representatives held on March 5, the Rastriya Swatantra Party came first with 182 seats while the Nepali Congress stood second with 38, the CPN-UML won 25 seats, the Nepali Communist Party 17, the Shram Sanskriti Party seven, and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party won five seats.