Seven people were killed in two landslides in western Nepal on Saturday, local officials said.

Five members of one family died after their house was swept away in a landslide in Malika Rural Municipality of Gulmi District.

Devi Ram Aryal, Chairman of the municipality, told Xinhua news agency that heavy rain triggered the fatal landslide, and all the bodies had been recovered.

In Phedikhola Rural Municipality of Syangja District, a mother and daughter were killed in a landslide, according to Indra Bahadur Rana, spokesperson for the district police, reports Xinhua news agency.

The monsoon season set in Nepal on June 10, and with fresh fatalities, the death toll in rain-related incidents has reached 34. AGENCIES

 South Korea’s exports of pharmaceutical and biotechnologies surged from a year earlier in the first half of the year, data showed on Saturday.

In the first six months of the year, the country exported 4.5 trillion won ($3.26 billion) worth of pharmaceutical and biotechnologies, up 55 per cent from 2.9 trillion won (about $2.09 billion) for the same period last year, according to the data from the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association.

The number of export deals dropped to seven from 12 over the cited period, but the amount of each deal grew sharply, the association noted, adding that each of the three deals signed this month was worth over 500 billion won, reports Yonhap News Agency.

At the current rate, the country’s annual total is expected to reach 8 trillion won, according to the association.

“This means the competitiveness of our country’s pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical technologies have significantly improved,” an association official said. AGENCIES

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has condemned recent “meddlesome” remarks by a US official about Iran’s 14th presidential election.Kanaani made the remarks on Friday on social media platform X, reacting to a series of posts by US Deputy Special Envoy for Iran Abram Paley on his X account on Wednesday.

Paley claimed that Iran’s elections were “not fair and free” or conducive to any “fundamental change in the country’s direction,” hurling a number of accusations against the Iranian government, Xinhua news agency reported.

Kanaani said Paley’s remarks were a “flagrant interference and absurd,” adding the US officials would achieve nothing by making such “worthless” statements.

He stressed that “the Iranian people in this election will respond firmly to such meddlesome remarks through their effective participation and spirited presence at the polling stations”.

Kanaani added that people worldwide had witnessed the impacts and results of the “American diplomacy” inside the US and in other parts of the world and have tasted its “bitter flavour”.

He said that the people’s “direct and genuine” role in deciding their political fate in Iran had always been proved in practice, stressing that the validity and health of the elections in Iran had been proved in the country’s previous voting processes.

Iran’s 14th presidential election, initially set for 2025, was rescheduled following the unexpected death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage in a helicopter crash on May 19.

Paley claimed the candidates in Iran’s election had been “hand-picked” by the country’s Constitutional Council and the Iranian people “lack access to even the most basic freedoms; necessary features of any democracy”.

The four candidates competing in the election are Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the parliamentary speaker; Saeed Jalili, the former top negotiator for nuclear talks; Mostafa Pourmohammadi, a former Interior Minister and Justice Minister; and Masoud Pezeshkian, a former Health Minister. AGENCIES

 The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said it has provided critical support for more than 4,800 Sudanese refugees in Libya so far this year.

“Critical support such as access to medical assistance, hygiene kits, kitchen sets, solar lamps, and cash assistance has been provided to over 4,800 Sudanese refugees so far this year,” UNHCR said on Friday in a statement, adding that care arrangements have been offered to 80 unaccompanied children from Sudan, Xinhua news agency reported.

“As more refugees continue to arrive, UNHCR and its partners are stepping up efforts to support those in need,” the statement noted.

It confirmed that more than 40,000 Sudanese refugees are now registered with UNHCR in Libya.

A large number of displaced Sudanese people have been seeking protection and assistance in Libya since the onset of a civil war in their country in mid-April 2023. AGENCIES

The UN is set to facilitate a new round of negotiations between the Yemeni government and the Houthi group representatives concerning prisoner and detainee exchanges, a government official told the media.

The local government official, who asked to remain anonymous, said on Friday that the talks are scheduled to commence on Sunday in Muscat, Oman, to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis surrounding prisoners in the conflict-ridden nation.

He clarified that the negotiations will proceed under the auspices of the UN and with oversight from the International Committee of the Red Cross, Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) convened an extraordinary meeting to discuss the preparations for the forthcoming prisoner exchange negotiations.

In an official statement released through the state-run Saba News Agency, the PLC reaffirmed its dedication to resolving the humanitarian crisis surrounding detainees, abductees, and forcibly disappeared individuals.

The PLC advocated for a comprehensive “all-for-all” exchange principle, with particular emphasis on securing the release of prominent politician Mohamed Qahtan, whose case is specifically addressed in a UN Security Council resolution.

During the meeting, the PLC also addressed the recent surge in abductions of UN agency employees and NGO workers by Houthis in Sanaa, condemning these actions as violations of national and international laws and calling for intensified pressure on the Houthis to unconditionally release all captives.

This upcoming negotiation round follows a series of UN-sponsored talks between the Yemeni government and Houthis over the years. The most recent discussions, held in Amman in June 2023, ended without an agreement.

However, a previous round in Switzerland in March 2023 led to a successful exchange in April 2023, resulting in the release of more than 800 prisoners and detainees from both warring Yemeni sides.

As Yemen continues to grapple with a protracted conflict that began in late 2014, these negotiations represent a crucial step towards alleviating the humanitarian crisis and potentially paving the way for broader peace talks. AGENCIES

Voting for Iran’s 14th presidential election ended at Friday midnight after 16 straight hours, said Spokesman of Iran’s Election Headquarters Mohsen Eslami.He made the remarks in a live interview with Iran’s state-run IRIB TV, noting that though the polling stations’ doors were closed, those people who had come before the end of the voting process and were waiting for their turns, could still cast their ballots.

The voting began at 8 a.m. Friday local time at about 58,640 polling stations across the country, with four candidates vying for the top position at the country’s executive branch, Xinhua news agency reported.

The candidates were Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Parliamentary Speaker; Saeed Jalili, the former top negotiator for nuclear talks; Mostafa Pourmohammadi, a former Interior Minister and Justice Minister; and Masoud Pezeshkian, a former Health Minister.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei cast the first ballot at a polling station and made a brief speech calling for the unity of the Iranian people during the election.

The voting was initially scheduled to end at 6 p.m. local time, but was extended three times, with each extension lasting for two hours.

More than 61 million people were eligible to vote in the election, according to Iranian authorities.

A total of 344 polling stations were also set up in more than 95 foreign countries for Iranians to cast their votes, the official news agency IRNA reported.

Eslami said the counting process at the stations would begin upon making sure that the very last voter had cast his vote, adding the winner should collect an absolute majority of the votes, or at least 50 per cent plus one vote, otherwise the run-off would be held next Friday between the two top candidates.

In remarks at a televised interview on Thursday, Mohammad-Taqi Shahcheraghi, head of Iran’s Election Headquarters, said efforts would be made to announce the election’s results before Saturday noon.

Iran’s 14th presidential election, initially set for 2025, was rescheduled following the unexpected death of President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage in a helicopter crash on May 19. AGENCIES

A man has been arrested after a woman’s body was located in Australia’s eastern state of New South Wales (NSW), local police said on Saturday.

At about 2:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, police attended a home on Johnston Street, Casino, in the state’s north following reports of a concern for welfare, NSW Police said in a statement.

Officers attached to Richmond Police District arrived and assisted the woman, who is believed to be aged in her 40s. However, she died at the scene, reports Xinhua news agency citing the police statement.

A 31-year-old man, believed to be known to the woman, was arrested at the scene and taken to Lismore Police Station, where he is assisting police with inquiries, according to the police statement.

A crime scene has been established, and a critical incident team from Tweed/Byron Police District will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident, including all aspects of the response from NSW Police. AGENCIES

 The World Bank said that it has approved a $750 million loan to strengthen the Philippine economy’s recovery.

The Philippines Second Sustainable Recovery Development Policy Loan supports reforms that increase investment in public service sectors, attract private investment in public infrastructure, particularly in domestic shipping, promote renewable energy, protect the environment and improve climate resilience, reports Xinhua news agency.

World Bank Senior Economist Ralph van Doorn on Saturday said the Philippine economy remains resilient despite ongoing global and domestic challenges. “The reforms supported by this lending program, if implemented, will encourage private investment, innovation, and sustained growth,” he said.

Through these reforms, Van Doorn said the Philippines can transition faster to a greener economy and achieve its environmental and climate objectives.

Given the Philippines’ archipelagic nature, he added that marine transport is critical for trade and connecting its numerous islands and destinations, enabling efficient movement of goods and products.

Van Doorn said attracting more local and foreign investments in domestic shipping can significantly boost the country’s competitiveness.

The loan also supports reforms that aim to enhance plastic waste reduction, recovery, and recycling, promote green transportation, and encourage the production and consumption of environment-friendly goods and services through public procurement. AGENCIES

^{Yemen’s Houthi Group Has Said In A Statement That They Have Launched Multiple Attacks Against An Oil Tanker And Other Cargo Ships, Including A Joint Attack With The Iraqi Islamic Resistance.}

^{“Our Armed Forces Carried Out Several Qualitative Military Operations, Including A Joint Military Operation With The Islamic Resistance In Iraq Targeted The Oil Tanker Waler In The Mediterranean Sea With Several Drones While It Was On Its Way To Haifa Port,” Yahya Sarea, The Houthi Military Spokesman, Said On Friday In The Televised Statement Aired By Houthi-Run Al-Masirah Tv.}

^{“Our Naval Forces Carried Out A Military Operation Targeting The American Ship Delonix In The Red Sea With Several Ballistic Missiles. The Operation Led To A Direct Hit On The Ship,” Sarea Added.}

^{“We Also Targeted The Ship Johannes Maersk In The Mediterranean Sea With A Winged Missile, And The Operation Achieved Its Goal Successfully,” He Said As Reported By Xinhua News Agency.}

^{“The Operation Was Carried Out Simultaneously With The Naval Forces Carrying Out Another Military Operation In The Red Sea Against The Ship Loannis. The Ship Was Targeted By Several Unmanned Boats,” He Added.}

^{Since November Last Year, The Houthi Group Has Been Conducting Drone And Missile Attacks In Shipping Lanes, Claiming These Actions Are In Solidarity With Palestinians Amid The Ongoing Conflict In Gaza.}

^{In Response, The Us-British Naval Coalition Stationed In The Waters Has Since January Conducted Air Raids And Missile Strikes Against Houthi Targets To Deter The Group, But This Only Led To An Expansion Of Houthi Attacks To Include Us And British Commercial Vessels And Naval Ships.} AGENCIES

 India has now become the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market after the U.S. and China, as airlines such as IndiGo and Air India have expanded their fleet size to cater to the surge in air passengers, according to data compiled by aviation analytics firm OAG.

The data show India’s domestic airline capacity doubled in the last 10 years from 7.9 million seats in April 2014 to 15.5 million in April 2024 to surpass Brazil and Indonesia and move up from the 5th position.

India has replaced Brazil, which now stands at the fourth place with 9.7 million airline seats followed by Indonesia in fifth rank with 9.2 million.

India has also posted the highest annual average capacity growth rate of 6.9 per cent over the last decade among the top five countries, followed by China at 6.3 per cent and the US at 2.4 per cent.

IndiGo and Air India, which together have more than 1,000 planes on order, account for 9 of 10 domestic seats in the country.

According to OAG, India’s transition to low-cost carriers (LCCs) has been the sharpest among the top five.

In April 2024, LCCs accounted for 78.4 per cent of Indian domestic capacity, followed by Indonesia at 68.4 per cent, Brazil at 62.4 per cent, the US at 36.7 per cent, and China at 13.2 per cent. AGENCIES