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France on Wednesday deployed its carrier strike ​group to the Red Sea as part of planning for a potential mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz, urging Washington and Tehran to consider the proposal given the global economic impact of their competing blockades, Reuters reported. 

Fresh exchanges of fire on Monday underscored the stakes as the U.S. and Iran struggle for control of the narrow waterway, a vital artery for global energy and trade, shaking a fragile four-week-old truce and reinforcing rival maritime blockades.

Israel has attacked Beirut for the first time since it agreed to a ceasefire in the war with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, putting further pressure on a deal that has failed to stop the conflict, BBC reported. 

The air strike hit the city's southern suburbs, known as Dahieh, where Hezbollah is based. Images posted online showed large flames and at least one building heavily damaged.

In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had personally approved the strike which targeted a commander of the group's elite Radwan Force.

Iran says a US proposal to end the war is "still being considered", after reports the two sides could be close to an agreement, BBC reported. 

US news outlet Axios reported on Wednesday that the White House believes it could be closing in on a 14-point memorandum of understanding with Iran.

A senior member of Iran's parliament dismissed it as a "wish list", while a foreign ministry spokesman said Tehran would share its views of a US proposal with Pakistani mediators.

The government has annulled the registration of 12 national-level trade unions in the civil service and health service sectors. 

The Department of Labour and Occupational Safety and Health today cancelled the registration of eight trade unions under the Nepal Civil Service Act, 2074 BS and four trade unions under the Nepal Health Service Act, 2053 BS.

The registration of the Nepal Civil Service Employees' Organization, Nepal Civil Service Employees' Union, Nepal National Civil Service Employees' Organization, Nepal Madhesi Civil Service Employees' Forum, Nepal Health Workers' Association, Madhesi Health Workers' Forum Nepal, Unified Government Employees' Organization Nepal and Independent Civil Servants' Organization Nepal under the civil service has been cancelled.

Similarly, the registration of the Nepal Health Workers' Union, Health Workers' Union Nepal, National Health Workers' Association and National Progressive Health Workers' Organization Nepal under the health service has also been cancelled, according to the department's spokesperson Maninath Gop.

The current government had scrapped the provisions related to trade unions in the public service through the Ordinance designed to amend some Nepal Acts , 2083. With the promulgation of that Ordinance by the President, the national-level trade unions in those services became inactive.

Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha has been appointed as the Officiating Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha today assigned the responsibility of Officiating Executive Director to Shrestha, who was the Deputy Executive Director of the Authority.

Shrestha has been assigned with the new responsibility after Executive Director Hitendra Dev Shakya was relieved of his post through an ordinance brought by the government, according to Minister Shrestha's secretariat.

British Ambassador to Nepal Rob Fenn paid a courtesy call on Minister for Health, Population and Water Supply Nisha Mehta today.

During the meeting held at the ministry, Minister Mehta expressed gratitude for the support received from the UK government in strengthening Nepal's health system and noted that mutual cooperation between the two countries has played an important role in strengthening bilateral relations. 

She also expressed gratitude for the support received through multilateral programs such as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the Program to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance, and expressed confidence that the partnership with the UK will become stronger and more people-oriented in the coming days.

During the meeting, Ambassador Fenn expressed his commitment to the continued support of the UK government in strengthening Nepal's health system.

The government has appointed senior doctor and medical professor Prof Dr Jagadish Prasad Agrawal as health advisor to Prime Minister Balendra Shah. 

A Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday took the decision in this regard. 

Also the former Dean of Tribhuvan University, Institute of Medicine, Dr Agrawal would provide necessary advice to the Prime Minister for health policy, public health challenges and improvement of medical education in the country.

Sharing the information about Dr Agrawal's appointment, PM Shah's press and research expert, Dipa Dahal said that the appointment of experienced personality in education sector Prof Dr Agrawal will provide significant technical support and suggestions to the Prime Minister for the improvement of the country's health policy and services.

Dr Agrawal would support Prime Minister Shah voluntarily in health sector related issues as an expert without taking any remuneration from the state.

The air quality of Kathmandu Valley has improved significantly following rainfall for the past few days. According to the latest Air Quality Index (AQI) data, the air quality index of the Valley has dropped to 47 as of 11 am today, which falls in the good or healthy category.

Kathmandu, which was ranked first in the list of the most polluted cities in the world a few weeks ago, has now improved and dropped to 66th position. 

On April 23, the air quality index of the Valley had reached 247, which falls in the 'very unhealthy' category, posing a serious risk to the health of the general public. 

According to Director General of the Department of Environment, Gyan Raj Subedi, dust, smoke and pollution from fires accumulate in the atmosphere when there is no rain for a long time. 

“During the dry season, forest fires increase and the smoke from them gets trapped in the valley, so pollution is high,” he said. “Polluted air coming from neighboring India also affects Kathmandu’s air quality.”

He said that air quality would improve as dust and smoke would be washed away with the rain and the air flow would increase.