Israel to allow gradual and controlled entry of goods to Gaza through local merchants

Israel will allow gradual and controlled entry of goods to Gaza through local merchants, COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, said on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

"This aims to increase the volume of aid entering the Gaza Strip, while reducing reliance on aid collection by the U.N. and international organisations," the agency said.

On Sunday, Hamas said it was prepared to coordinate with the Red Cross to deliver aid to hostages it holds in Gaza, if Israel meets certain conditions, after a video it released showing an emaciated captive drew sharp criticism from Western powers, according to Reuters.

US attorney general orders grand jury hearings on Trump-Russia probe

US Attorney General Pam Bondi has ordered prosecutors to open legal proceedings into allegations of a so-called Russiagate conspiracy that Donald Trump has long claimed was concocted by political foes to smear him, BBC reported.

Bondi has ordered a federal prosecutor to seek a potential indictment, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News.

It is unclear, however, what the possible charges might be and who could be charged.

Last month, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused former President Barack Obama and his national security team of a "years-long coup" against Trump as she released a declassified report that Democrats branded false, according to BBC.

Gold price increases by Rs 1, 800 per tola on Tuesday

The price of gold has increased by Rs 1, 800 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 198, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 196, 600 per tola on Monday.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 2, 280 per tola today.

Dang, Banke, Bardiya receive extremely heavy rainfall

Dang, Bardiya and Banke have received extremely heavy rainfall. 

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology,  Dang received 227 millimeters of rainfall in the past 11 hours.

Similarly, Sikta in Banke has also received 200 millimeters of rainfall, while Manpur in Bardiya received 167 millimeters of rainfall. 

Dang has received more than 25 millimeters of rainfall in the past one hour.

According to meteorologist at the Weather Forecasting Division Hari Prasad Dahal, more rainfall is likely in western Nepal this afternoon and tonight. 

In the last six hours, heavy rain has fallen in Tulsipur, Ambapur, Jalakundi in Dang, West Rapti in Banke, Sikta, Manpur Rainfall Center in Bardiya and surrounding areas. 

The Flood Forecasting Division has requested to adopt high alert as there is a risk of flash floods and inundation in low-lying areas in Babai, West Rapti River, Duduwa River and other small rivers flowing through the area.

Currently, the monsoon winds are affecting the country. The monsoon will remain active for a few more days in the country, adds the Division.

The weather in most of the country today is cloudy, with light to moderate rain occurring in most parts of Lumbini, Madhes, Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces, as well as in some places in Koshi and Bagmati Provinces.

 

Landslide obstructs Dang-Salyan road section

The Dang-Salyan road section along the Rapti Highway has been obstructed due to a landslide triggered by a heavy rainfall at Kapurkot, the border point of Dang and Salyan districts. 

Tankeshwor Bhattarai, Chief at the Kapurkot Police Post, said that vehicular movement along the route has been completely obstructed from early morning today due to a landslide.  

Bhattarai said that the landslide occurred at Kapurkot Rural Municipality-3 in Salyan district and added that efforts are underway to clear the debris.. 

People have been told to use alternative routes and apply precautions in the wake of road obstruction and landslides.

Deep tube well repairs, grid upgrades recommended to end water woes in Madhes

A task force formed by the government to address the water scarcity crisis in the Madhes Province has suggested 10 urgent measures to ease the situation and lift the province out of the crisis.

One major suggestion given by the task force is the repair of 169 defunct deep tube well systems across eight districts of the province—Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara and Parsa. “Repairing these systems, which would cost around Rs 260m, could restore irrigation to 5,135 hectares of farmland within 15 days,” it added.

Among these, 30 tube wells need new transformers, 28 require new pumps or panel boards, 33 need distribution system upgrades and 28 need new well construction. Additionally, electrification is required in 14 systems, while nine systems are not receiving power supply due to pending electricity bills. Likewise, 12 systems are suffering several other problems, while in seven areas shallow wells are performing adequately, reducing the need for deep tube well irrigation.

Another recommendation of the task force is to bring into operation 220 tube wells that have been constructed in the past two years but lack water distribution infrastructure. “With an estimated cost of Rs 749m, these systems could irrigate 2,640 hectares within 18 days. Fully equipping these systems would facilitate irrigation in up to 6,600 hectares and would cost an estimated Rs 1.43bn over four months,” it added.

The task force has also proposed integrated use of surface and groundwater systems, especially in areas like Saptari and Sarlahi, where major canal systems have insufficient flow. “Fifty new pumping systems could be installed to bring irrigation to 7,500 hectares at a cost of Rs 100m. Additionally, 150 high-capacity deep tube wells are recommended for areas where water scarcity is severe. These could irrigate 22,500 hectares within two months,” it added.

Likewise, the taskforce has urged the government to take necessary security measures to prevent transformer theft, ensure stable electricity supply, preserve ponds and small reservoirs, recharge groundwater, and conserve the Chure and Bhabar regions. 

According to the task force, more than half of the region’s 169 deep tube wells are non-operational due to different reasons like missing pumps, stolen transformers, lack of maintenance and dried canals. It added that low voltage, defunct tube wells and dried-out canals have pushed the irrigation system in the province to the brink of collapse.

A long spell of drought forced the government to declare eight districts of Madhesh Province as crisis-hit areas on July 23. Only about half of the paddy fields have been planted in the province, which averages 1.3m metric tons annually, due to insufficient water.

 

 

Very heavy rainfall likely in some provinces today

Currently the monsoon wind has its impacts across the country with the low-pressure line of the monsoon slightly north from its average position, the Meteorological Forecasting Division mentioned. 

The Division stated that the weather is likely to remain mostly cloudy throughout the country today. 

Moderate rain is likely to occur at some places of Koshi Province and Madhesh Province, and at many places in the remaining provinces. 

It said there are chances of heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places of Lumbini Province and Sudurpaschim Province, and at one or two places of Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province.

Likewise, there will be cloudy weather patterns throughout the country tonight. 

Moderate rain is likely to occur at many places of Lumbini Province, Karnali Province and Sudurpaschim Province, and at some places in the remaining provinces, the Division shared. 

Chances of heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places of Lumbini Province and Sudurpaschim Province are likely tonight.

 

Water flow measured at 179,000 cusecs in Saptakoshi River

As the eastern hilly and Tarai districts received continuous rainfall for the past couple of days, the water flow in the Saptakoshi River has substantially increased. The water level of the river has been inconsistent since early morning on Monday. 

Superintendent of the Armed Police Force, Nepal, Nirmal Thapa shared that water flow in the river was recorded at 179,740 cusecs per second at 10 pm on Monday and 19 doors out of 56 of the Koshi Barrage have been opened.  

Earlier on Monday morning and late evening, the officials measured the water flow at around 175,000 cusecs per second. 

A red alert has been issued to the public after the Koshi River recorded more than 150,000 cusecs of water flow per second.