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Myint Swe, who became Myanmar’s acting president under controversial circumstances after the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi more than four years ago, died on Thursday, the military said. He was 74, Associated Press reported.

He died at a military hospital in the capital, Naypyitaw, on Thursday morning, according to a statement from Myanmar’s military information office.

Myint Swe’s death came more than a year after he stopped actively carrying out his presidential duties after he was publicly reported to be ailing.

His funeral will be held at the state level but the date has not been disclosed, a separate statement from the military information office said, according to Associated Press.

The gold is being traded at Rs 198, 400 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the silver is being traded at Rs 2, 315 per tola today.

Japan's Topix index touched a record high on Thursday, tracking strong overnight gains on Wall Street, while solid corporate earnings from domestic firms reinforced expectations of wage growth, Reuters reported.

The broader Topix was up nearly 1 per cent at 2,993.14, as of 0206 GMT. Earlier in the session, the benchmark index hit an all-time peak of 2,993.21.

The Nikkei climbed 0.9 per cent to 41,151.07.

Both indexes were on track for a third consecutive session of gains, provided the current momentum holds, according to Reuters.

South Korea and the United States will conduct major joint military drills starting on August 18, officials said, although they will delay parts of the annual exercises that have been a source of tension with North Korea to later in the year, Reuters reported.

The 11-day annual exercises, called Ulchi Freedom Shield, will be on a similar scale to 2024 but adjusted by rescheduling 20 out of 40 field training events to September, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung-jun said.

The allies agreed to reschedule some parts of the drill to next month over factors "including ensuring training conditions during extreme heat and maintaining a balanced combined defence posture year-round," Lee said at a briefing, according to Reuters.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh said on Wednesday they have discovered differences in the DNA of people with chronic fatigue syndrome that should help dispel the notion that the debilitating condition is psychological or driven by laziness, Reuters reported.

Their study found eight areas of genetic code that are different in people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) than in healthy volunteers.

The finding provides “the first robust evidence that genes contribute to a person's chance of developing the disease,” the researchers said in a statement.

The key features of the condition include worsening of fatigue, pain and brain fog after even minor physical or mental activity, according to Reuters.

United Airlines has halted flights at major airports across the US over a "technology issue", according to the company, BBC reported.

A ground stop was issued for the company's mainline flights from departure airports, causing issues at airports including Chicago, Denver, Houston, San Francisco and New Jersey, the US Federal Aviation Administration's website shows. 

"We expect additional flight delays this evening as we work through this issue," United told the BBC's US partner CBS News. 

"Safety is our top priority, and we'll work with our customers to get them to their destinations," the company said, according to BBC.

New evidence suggests people returned to live among the ruins of Pompeii after the ancient Roman city was devastated by a volcanic eruption, BBC reported.

Archaeologists believe some survivors who could not afford to start a new life elsewhere returned to the site and may have been joined by others looking for a place to settle. 

Pompeii was home to more than 20,000 people before Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD79, burying - and preserving - much of the city, before its rediscovery in the 16th century.

There had been previous speculation that survivors had returned to the ruins, and archaeologists at the site said in a statement on Wednesday that the theory appears to have been confirmed by new research, according to BBC.

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development of Sudurpaschim Province has constructed 355 kilometers of roads over the past year. According to data released by the office of Minister Surendra Bahadur Pal, the total includes blacktopped, gravel, and earthen roads completed during the fiscal year 2024/25.

Despite limited resources and manpower, the ministry also completed six road bridges, 85 multi-year plans, and 26.83 kilometers of embankments, which have helped conserve 37.5 hectares of land. The ministry has also finalized the Regional Road Network Master Plan, which outlines the development of 70 provincial highways, 119 auxiliary roads, and 190 roads serving special purposes.

In the drinking water sector, the ministry emphasized major improvements. A total of 841 intakes, 516 water ponds, 2,133 kilometers of pipelines, and four deep tube wells were installed, providing water to 11,939 households. So far, 173 water supply projects have been completed, benefitting 83,585 people with basic water services and 19,287 with medium-level services.

In partnership with the federal and local governments, the ministry is advancing the “Drinking Water Governance and Infrastructure Support Project,” with an estimated investment of Rs 13.38bn. A cost-sharing agreement has been signed with Dipayal Silgadhi Municipality, and Bardagoria, Joshipur, and Janaki rural municipalities.

In the energy and irrigation sector, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the Upper Surnayagad and Naugad Hydroelectric Projects have been prepared. The new irrigation initiatives will irrigate 1,682 hectares of land, while repairs to older systems have ensured irrigation for an additional 13,947 hectares. Additionally, 32 new deep tube wells have been installed.

To support underprivileged communities, the ministry constructed 110 public housing units, 10 playgrounds, three parks, two covered halls, and six government buildings. Furthermore, the second amendment draft of the Sudurpaschim Province Vehicle and Transportation Management Regulations 2025 has been approved. Revenue from the transportation office alone has reached Rs 1.71bn.