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Iran denied on Monday that it had engaged in negotiations with the United States, after President Donald Trump postponed a threat to bomb Iran's power grid because of what he described as productive talks with unidentified Iranian officials, Reuters reported. 

A European official said that ​while there had been no direct negotiations between the two nations, Egypt, Pakistan and Gulf states were relaying messages. A Pakistani official and a second source told Reuters that direct talks on ending the war ‌could be held in Islamabad as soon as this week.

Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the U.S. and Iran had held "very good and productive" conversations about a "complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East".

Less than 48 hours before the U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran began, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone to President Donald Trump about the reasons for launching the kind of complex, far-off warthe American leader once had campaigned against, Reuters reported. 

Both Trump and Netanyahu knew from intelligence briefings earlier in the week that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his key lieutenants would soon meet at his compound in Tehran, ​making them vulnerable to a “decapitation strike” – an attack against a country's top leaders often used by Israelis but traditionally less so by the United States.

But new intelligence suggested that the meeting had been moved forward to Saturday morning from Saturday night, according to three people briefed on the call, according to Reuters. 

A dedicated desk has been brought into operation at the Tribhuvan International Airport for foreign citizens of Nepali origin and non-resident Nepalis arriving to the country.

The TIA Immigration Office has started providing services by setting up a special desk at the arrival and departure halls of the airport. 

According to Narahari Ghimire, Chief Immigration Officer of the TIA Immigration Office, separate desks had been arranged for NRNs  before and now a dedicated desk has been arranged for foreign citizens of Nepali origin. This arrangement has been made with the aim of further strengthening their relationship with the Nepali language, culture and homeland, as well as promoting tourism and investment.

As per the decision of the Department of Immigration on March 21, a separate queue and immigration desk have been arranged for foreign citizens of Nepali origin at the arrival and departure gates of the TIA Immigration Office, a press release issued by the Office today states.

Bangladeshi Ambassador to Nepal Md. Shafiqur Rahman paid a courtesy call on Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav at the latter's office, Lainchaur today. 

Issues of bilateral relations were discussed during the meeting.

On the occasion, Vice President Yadav reminded that the bilateral relations subsisting between Nepal and Bangladesh since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1972 is cordial and friendly. 

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) surged by 5. 01 points to close at 2, 936. 56 points on Monday. 

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 0. 28 points to close at 505. 02 points.

A total of 38,073,945-unit shares of 342 companies were traded for Rs 1. 69 billion.

Meanwhile, Salapa Bikas Bank Limited (SABBL), Reliance Spinning Mills Limited (RSML), Solu Hydropower Limited (SOHL) and Bhujung Hydropower Limited (BJHL) were the top gainers today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Similarly, Sunrise First Mutual Fund (SFMF) was the top loser as its price fell by 3. 71 points. 

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 97 trillion.

An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale jolted Bajhang  on Monday with its epicenter at Rayal of the district. 

​​According to the National Seismology and Research Center, the quake was recorded at 1 pm. 

On March 17, an earthquake measuring 4 on the Richter struck Sitaula in Darchula.

The federal parliament secretariat is all set to welcome new House of Representatives members. 

It had called all HoR members to attend the swearing-in ceremony to be held on March 26.   

The oath-taking ceremony would be conducted at 2 pm. 

However, the secretariat has requested all HoR members to arrive at the venue in formal or cultural attire before two hours.

President Ram Chandra Paudel is scheduled to administer oath to the senior most HoR member Arjun Narsing KC (78) at Shitalniwas on March 25, a day before HoR members are administered. 

KC, as the senior most HoR member, will administer the oath to other members the next day, March 26.

Article 88 of the Constitution has the provision that every HoR member needs to take oath before attending the HoR meeting or HoR committee meeting. 

Similarly, before the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker or their posts left vacant, the senior most member among the available HoR members chair the HoR meeting as per Article 91 (5) of the Constitution.

Spokesperson at the federal parliament secretariat, Ekaram Giri, informed that the secretariat was working to ensure necessary arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected HoR members. "Preparation is made to conduct the swearing-in ceremony of lawmakers and initial meetings of the HoR in the multi-purpose hall of the federal parliament building inside Singh Durbar," he informed.

Efforts are on to finalize technical issues following the physical construction of the hall. Security arrangements are also underway.

The President summons the parliament session based on the recommendation of the government. 

Once the session is summoned, the parliament secretariat will ramp up preparation for the meeting.

Spokesperson Giri further informed that the parliamentary party offices have been managed as per the size of the political parties determined through the March 5 HoR election.

In the March 5 HoR election, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) emerged the largest with 182 seats in HoR, while the Nepali Congress the second with 38 seats, the CPN-UML the thirds with 25 seats, the Nepali Communist Party the fourth with 17 seats, the Shram Sanskriti Party the fifth with seven seats, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party the sixth with five seats and an independent one. 

Veteran economist Keshav Acharya died at the age of 72 on Sunday.

He breathed his last while undergoing treatment at the Annapurna Neuro Hospital following a stroke, according to family.

The body will be cremated tomorrow.

He was survived by a wife, a son and a daughter.