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Pakistan has announced it plans to nominate US President Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize, citing the role that Islamabad says he played in helping to negotiate a ceasefire last month between India and Pakistan, BBC reported.

On X, the Pakistani government said Trump deserved the award "in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership during the recent India-Pakistan crisis". 

India has denied the US served as a mediator to end the fighting last month, and says it does not want any diplomatic intervention from a third party.

Trump has often suggested he should receive the Nobel Peace Prize, whose winner this year will be named in October, according to BBC.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the newly built Gwarko flyover would resolve the nagging problem of traffic jams at Gwarko and vicinity.

Inaugurating the flyover at Gwarko amidst a programme organized by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructures and Transport, PM Oli made a commitment to forward the holistic and multidimensional development of the country.

The overpass was built by the Ministry. It is the first of its kind in Nepal.

The infrastructure was constructed by Ashish Samanantar Religar JV in the framework of engineering procurement construction (EPC). It cost Rs 170.6 million.

The overpass has a 500-meter approach road. The initiative aimed at wiping out traffic congestion at Gwarko Chowk was launched four years back.

"We've been working tirelessly for development. Just yesterday, it was found that Dailekh had a deposit of methane gas sufficing for Nepal for 50 years. Among three such places identified for exploration and excavation, such potential was found from the one alone," he explained, adding that once iron production begins from Dhaubadi, it will boost the country's economy.

With the exploration of mines, modernization of agriculture will also be forwarded. Establishment of new industries and social and administrative reform were equally prioritized, according to the PM. 

Moreover, the PM argued the Sunkoshi-Marin diversion and postal highway would not only bring a sweeping change in Tarai but also across the country. 

Other infrastructures like Madan Bhandari Highway and Pushpalal Highway were also gaining pace, he said.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba has said the government would adopt all possible measures for the security and rescue of the Nepalis living in Israel and Iran in view of the present developing scenario there.

The government is all prepared to rescue those Nepalis willing to return home from these countries, she added.  

Minister Rana shared this in a joint meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Home Affairs at Foreign Ministry today. 

During the meeting, she shared about the situation developed due to tension between Israel and Iran.

The Foreign Affairs Minister argued that the Nepali Embassy in Israel is actively working at coordination of the Foreign Ministry, and registration has been opened for those Nepalis willing to return home. 

"It is also the responsibility of Israel to facilitate the Nepalis, who are in Israel under G2G process, to return them home safely and to send them to a safer place if they want to. The Israeli government has already been requested to help the Nepalis there to go to other countries from border areas for the same," mentioned Foreign Minister Rana. 

The government is in a ready position to rescue the Nepalis if they want to return home, she opined.

On the occasion, Labour Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari shared that his ministry is also in constant contact with Nepalis there and the government should be involved in preparation to rescue the Nepalis willing to return home. 

He added that work permits have not been issued for those who are about to leave for Israel.  

On June 13, the day the war between Israel and Iran broke out, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement appealing to both parties to exercise maximum restraint and resolve the issue through dialogue, while requesting Nepalis in those countries to stay in contact with the Nepali embassy concerned.

Subsequently, on June 15, a travel advisory with contact details was issued, urging Nepalis to adopt maximum vigilance from a security perspective.

With the current closure of air routes in those countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directed all Nepali embassies in the Gulf  to facilitate processes such as providing 'online visas' for Nepalis wishing to go to safe locations or neighbouring countries.

The Ministry has also started to collect information from Nepalis by opening an online portal, and so far more than 600 people have registered their details on that portal. This process is still going on.

Likewise, the Ministry issued a travel advisory for the second time last Wednesday, requesting Nepali citizens currently in Israel and Iran to exercise maximum caution for security, and advising not to travel to Israel or other Middle Eastern countries from Nepal.

This week, Foreign Minister Rana met with the Israeli Ambassador to Nepal, Shmulik Arie Bass, requesting the Israeli government to make proper arrangements for the safety of Nepali citizens.

Similarly, the Nepali Embassy in Israel and the Nepali Embassy in Qatar overseeing Iran have been directed to establish close contact with relevant government officials, organizations working in the region, and the Nepali community, and to provide 'real-time reporting' to the ministry regarding the matter. 

Currently, there are between 5,500 to 7,000 Nepalis in Israel, and most of them are in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa. Similarly, there are 18 Nepalis in Iran.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu in collaboration with Lumbini Development Trust organized a large-scale Yoga demonstration in Lumbini – the revered birthplace of Lord Buddha and a UNESCO World Heritage Site—today on the eve of International Yoda Day.

Lumbini Province Chief Krishna Bahadur Gharti and Minister of Youth and Sports of Nepal Teju Lal Chaudhary graced the event as Chief Guests.

They thanked the Embassy of India for organizing this significant event at the sacred birthplace of Lord Buddha and for strengthening cultural ties between India and Nepal. 

On the occasion, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shri Naveen Srivastava highlighted that Yoga, an ancient practice with its origins in India, has grown into a global movement, particularly following the United Nations' declaration of 21 June as the International Day of Yoga in 2014, reads a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

He remarked that Lumbini, widely regarded as a symbol of peace and harmony, provides a truly fitting setting to celebrate the timeless values of Yoga. The ambassador also expressed his gratitude to the Lumbini Development Trust for their support in organizing the event and underscored the role it plays in promoting Lumbini as a spiritual and religious destination, according to the statement.

The event was a part of a series of events being conducted by the Embassy of India to celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga across various cities in Nepal.  

Meanwhile, the Embassy of India, in association with the Pokhara Metropolitan City, will organize a mega Yoga demonstration at the Pokhara Rangsala Stadium tomorrow to celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga.

Senior officials of the Lumbini Development Trust and more than 500 Yoga enthusiasts from the region participated in the event.

In a landmark move to liberalize Nepal’s electricity sector, the Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved a draft of a directive that allows the private sector to participate in electricity trading through open access to the power grid. The 276th board meeting of the EC took the decision on Wednesday. 

The new directive proposes allowing private producers and traders to buy and sell electricity within Nepal or export it abroad without relying solely on the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) for power purchase agreements. Open access refers to the provision that enables producers, power traders, and large consumers to use the national transmission and distribution infrastructure without discrimination. As per the guidelines, a wheeling charge of 39 paisa per unit has been proposed for the short term access to the power grid. Similarly, a monthly wheeling charge of Rs 283,842 per MW has been proposed for the mid-term and long-term access.

Under the proposed guideline, the minimum transaction threshold for domestic consumption is set at 5 MW, while cross-border trade requires a minimum of 10 MW.  The directive aims to reduce risks faced by electricity suppliers, enhance investor confidence and encourage infrastructure development by engaging the private sector in electricity trade. Open access is also expected to pave the way for a wholesale electricity market in Nepal.

The budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26 has introduced ‘take and pay’ provision for power purchase agreement (PPA) instead of ‘take or pay’. Independent power producers have opposed the provision. However, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel said in the parliament that the decision to enforce ‘take and pay’ provision was aimed at involving the private sector in the electricity trade.

The ERC has also laid out eligibility criteria for open access users. As per the draft guidelines hydropower plants with a capacity of at least 5 MW connected to a 33 kV or higher grid, captive plants with a minimum of 1 MW capacity, and industrial or commercial consumers meeting similar standards are eligible to participate in electricity trade. Applicants must also hold a distribution or trading license.

The guidelines have categorized electricity trading contracts through open access into three categories—short-term (from 24 hours up to one year), mid-term (more than one year to up to five-years) and long-term (more than five-years). However, the draft guidelines clearly state that traders can export electricity only when domestic consumption and demand have been met. Projects permitted by the government or those exporting through NEA are exempt from this requirement.

The directive designates NEA’s System Operations Department as the nodal agency for implementing. The Department will have to publish detailed procedures and agreement drafts within 120 days of the approval of the directive. The ERC will also have to prepare additional regulatory frameworks such as metering codes, deviation settlement mechanisms and grid connectivity directives.

Seven cases of malaria were detected in Chitwan district in the current fiscal year. 

Such a number of malaria patients was found in the course of conducting a sample test of 7,989 people who visited the District Public Health Office, Chitwan, for the suspected malaria infection. 

Vector Control Inspector Ram KC said the infection was seen in the people returned from overseas employment. A total of 10 people were infected from malaria last fiscal year. 

Specially, people aged above 15 years suffer from this disease. 

Malaria is mostly transmitted to people from the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. 

Fever, headache, vomiting, and tiredness are symptoms of malaria.  

KC said it was necessary to keep the surroundings clean, sleep under mosquito nets to be protected from mosquito bites.

Besisahar-Chame road, the only roadway connecting Lamjung and Manang, has been blocked due to a landslide at Marsyangdi Rural Municipality- 4 this morning.

Naveen Bista, Information Officer of the Dumre-Besisahar-Chame Road Project Office, said, "The land with large rocks has blocked the road, stranding vehicles on the way."

According to him, it will take time to clear the road because of the immense size of the landslide. 

A landslide had blocked the road near that location on June 18.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 800 per tola in the domestic market on Friday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 194, 700 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 195, 500 per tola on Thursday..

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by 50 and is being traded at Rs 2, 150 per tola today.