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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on Tuesday amid efforts to revive diplomacy over Iran's nuclear programme that Tehran was unlikely to honor any potential agreement, Reuters reported. 

In a meeting with the U.S. envoy, Netanyahu "made clear his position that Iran has repeatedly proven that its promises cannot be trusted," a statement from his office said.

Two Israeli officials said the meeting was also attended by Israel's spy agency head David Barnea, Defense Minister Israel Katz and military commander Eyal Zamir, according to Reuters ​​​​​​. 

Iran is demanding that talks with the U.S. this week be held in Oman not Turkey, and that the scope be narrowed to two-way negotiations on nuclear issues only, a regional source said on Tuesday, adding new complications to an already delicate diplomatic effort, Reuters reported. 

Iran's move to change the venue and agenda for the talks, scheduled for Friday in Istanbul, came amid heightened tensions as the U.S. builds up forces in the Middle East.

Regional players have pushed for resolution of a standoff that has led to mutual threats of air strikes and stirred fears of escalation into a wider war, according to Reuters. 

An Iranian drone was shot down as it "aggressively approached" an American aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday, a US military spokesman has said, BBC reported. 

An F-35C stealth fighter jet which took off from the USS Abraham Lincoln warship shot down the drone "in self-defence" to protect the aircraft carrier and its personnel, US Central Command spokesman Capt Tim Hawkins said.

The ship was approximately 500 miles from the Iranian coast when the drone approached it with "unclear intent".

No US equipment was damaged and no service members were harmed, according to BBC. 

The Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson over allegations of misconduct in public office, BBC reported. 

It comes after the former Labour minister and US ambassador was accused of passing market-sensitive government information to US financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Emails released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) appear to show Lord Mandelson forwarded information to Epstein when he was business secretary under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2009, according to BBC. 

President Ram Chandra Paudel met with Emperor Naruhito of Japan at the Imperial Palace on Tuesday. .

During the meeting, President Paudel, who is on a four-day visit to Japan, highly appreciated the assistance provided and the role played by Japan as an important and reliable development partner in Nepal's socio-economic development. 

“Japan is supporting Nepal in areas such as human resources, health, agriculture, infrastructure development, environmental protection, and cultural preservation, and Nepal and Nepalis have benefited greatly from it,” President Paudel said, according to the President's press advisor Kiran Pokharel.

He also said that both countries are inspired by the teachings and ideals of Gautam Buddha. 

“Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, has served as a strong bridge to strengthen the relationship between the people of Nepal and Japan,” President Paudel said.

He said that the long-standing relationship between the two countries has progressed with closer and deeper friendship since the establishment of diplomatic relations. 

“The 70th anniversary of Nepal-Japan diplomatic relations that we are celebrating this year is a milestone in the bilateral relationship established between us,” Paudel said.

Stating that the exchange of high-level visits has further strengthened the relations between the two countries, President Paudel recalled Emperor Naruhito's visit to Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Pokhara and Lumbini during his friendly visit as a Crown Prince in 1987. 

He also expressed his gratitude to the Emperor and the Government of Japan for conferring the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun on him in 2020.

The President also expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Government and people of Nepal for the goodwill and support of the Government of Japan, and extended an invitation to the Emperor and Empress to visit Nepal at a suitable time.

On the occasion, Emperor Naruhito of Japan said that the anniversary of Nepal-Japan diplomatic relations should be celebrated with joy. 

He mentioned that the memory of his visit to Nepal in 1986 was still afresh, shared President Paudel's Press Advisor Pokharel.

Emperor Naruhito mentioned that he was inspired to study water-related issues after seeing women carrying water pots for drinking water during his trek to Sarangkot in Pokhara. 

He said Japan would provide Nepal with all possible assistance and noted that Japan honored President Paudel for his contribution to strengthening Nepal–Japan relations.

At the invitation of the Japanese government, President Paudel, along with First Lady Sabita Paudel, arrived here on Monday to participate in a special ceremony to be held on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said that the elections to the House of Representatives could be held in the second phase in the mountainous districts in case the weather is not favourable on March 5.

PM Karki said this while talking to journalists after attending the concluding ceremony of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Training held at the Nepali Army's NCC Mid-Region Training School at Hattikhor, Kawasoti Municipality-1 today. 

"The government will provide necessary support for the elections. However, especially if the weather is not favourable in the Himalayan districts, we will conduct the elections in the second phase," she said.

Prime Minister Karki mentioned that in areas with few voters, elections would be conducted even if voters had to be transported using vehicles, stating if it is absolutely not possible to hold the elections due to unfavourable weather, consideration could be given to holding the second phase of elections in these districts.

She urged everyone to participate confidently in the elections scheduled for March 5, as no reason has so far prevented the election from being postponed.

PM Karki expressed the confidence that the newly elected representatives will take charge of the government and lead the country in a new direction after the timely completion of the elections.

She said, "We have put in hundred percent efforts to ensure the elections are conducted peacefully and it will be completed in a fear-free environment."

Prime Minister Karki asserted that although some challenges may arise, the elections will be conducted by resolving them as it is going to be held under special circumstances.

The number of tourists visiting Mustang has gone up even in the winter season. 

The number of tourists has sharply increased in the district this January as compared to corresponding period of the last year.

According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) under the National Trust for Nature Conservation, Mustang, 10,822 foreign tourists entered Mustang in January, 2026. 

ACAP, Mustang, Chief Rajesh Gupta shared that 10,045 tourists from SAARC countries visited Mustang in this January while 777 from other countries.  

According to ACAP, Jomsom Office, the number of foreign tourists visiting Mustang was 4,346 in January, 2025. 

The number of tourists increased by 6,476. 

Out of 6,476 foreign tourists—3830 were from SAARC countries and the remaining 830 from other countries. 

Mustang had welcomed 161,142 foreign tourists from January to December, 2025. 

Chief Gupta added that, specially, the number of Indian tourists to pay homage to Muktinath Temple has remarkably increased. 

The ACAP has estimated that around 200,000 foreign tourists would visit Mustang in 2026.

The Israeli documentary Gimpel the Fool Returns to Poland, directed by renowned actor and filmmaker Howard Rypp, won First Prize at the 7th Nepal Cultural International Film Festival 2026, in recognition of its outstanding cinematic excellence, powerful storytelling, artistic merit, and meaningful contribution to global cinema.

Inspired by the short story Gimpel the Fool by late Nobel Laureate Isaac Bashevis Singer, the film generated  significant interest and discussion, particularly around the author’s life, legacy, and the film’s exploration of Jewish history and the Holocaust. 

Rypp—founder of Nefesh Theatre—visited Nepal to represent Israel through the documentary. 

The Embassy of Israel in Kathmandu facilitated special screenings of the documentary at Dibyabhumi Multiple College and Imperial World School in Kathmandu. 

Students and faculty members attended the screenings in Rypp’s presence, where he shared insights into the film’s background, themes, creative process, and historical context.

Through such programs , the Embassy of Israel continues to promote cross-cultural understanding and strengthen people-to-people ties between Israel and Nepal.