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Former FBI Director James Comey surrendered to authorities to face charges alleging that an image he briefly shared on social media posed a threat to the life of US President Donald Trump, BBC reported. 

The case stems from a 2025 Instagram post shared by Comey, which contained a photo of seashells on a beach arranged to read "86 47". "Eighty-six" is a slang term for "get rid of", and prosecutors allege it encourages violence against Trump, the 47th president.

Comey denied any wrongdoing, saying he did not know what the numbers meant, and accused the prosecution of political motivation.

The Art of Living, in collaboration with India’s Ministry of External Affairs, launched a six-day BIMSTEC Youth Leadership Exchange Program in Bengaluru on 25 April 2026 to nurture future leaders from the BIMSTEC region.

The initiative brought together young leaders and policy practitioners from member countries representing a region of 1.7bn people and a $5trn economy. It aims to address shared regional challenges such as political instability, brain drain, and limited intra-regional cooperation.

The program was part of a three-to-four-month mentorship framework designed to transform ideas into community impact projects. It focused on holistic leadership development through emotional resilience, self-awareness, and inner wellbeing.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar emphasized that leadership should be rooted in service, compassion, and unity, encouraging youth to realize their inner potential and lead change.

Key focus areas included conflict resolution, entrepreneurship, innovation in the age of AI, and cultural exchange to strengthen regional ties.

With over 60 percent of BIMSTEC’s population under the age of 35, the initiative aimed to empower youth as future policymakers and bridge gaps in connectivity, trade, and cooperation through value-based leadership.

Opposition parties have urged the government to immediately convene a session of the federal Parliament.

A meeting held today under the leadership of main opposition party Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Bhishma Raj Angdembe took a decision to urge the government to withdraw the ordinance on amending the Constitutional Council Act, 2066 BS and the Cooperatives Act, 2074 BS and request it to instead submit to the House. 

CPN-UML Parliamentary Party leader Ram Bahadur Thapa, Nepali Communist Party Chief Whip Yubaraj Dulal, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party lawmaker Saraswati Lama were present in the meeting.

Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Nepal Lila Peters Yahia today paid a courtesy call on Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal. 

A comprehensive discussion was held at the meeting on contemporary issues such as Nepal-United Nations collaboration, youth engagement, education, gender equality, diplomacy, and climate change, the Speaker's secretariat said. 

On the occasion, Speaker Aryal welcomed the UN Resident Coordinator and expressed the firm commitments on behalf of the Government of Nepal and the Federal Parliament to work in tandem with the United Nations. 

Highlighting remarkable participation of youth in the House of Representatives formed after the recent general election, Aryal described it as an epochal achievement in Nepal's democratic practice. 

"After the election, we are focused on advancing performance-oriented works," Speaker Aryal said, adding that, "Empowering youth and engaging the experience of previous generations is the need of the hour." 

He mentioned that increasing women's participation is essential for strengthening inclusive democracy. 

He clarified that the Parliament would lay its focus on effective lawmaking to bring improvements to fundamental sectors such as education and health through the coordination of experience, energy and capabilities across generations. 

Shedding light on Nepal's contribution to the peacekeeping mission, Speaker Aryal stated that Nepal is among the leading contributors to the United Nations peacekeeping missions. 

He also expressed commitment to making appropriate decisions through necessary studies in line with Nepal’s national interest regarding international treaties and conventions. 

Regarding the climate change issue, Speaker Aryal noted that although Nepal has insignificant carbon emissions, it is severely experiencing direct and disproportionate impacts. "The glaciers are melting rapidly, livelihoods are being affected and the frequency of disasters is increasing," he said, "Nepal has been continuously raising its voice at international platforms for climate justice." 

On this occasion, Residential Coordinator Yahia congratulated Speaker Aryal on behalf of the UN Secretary-General and the UN team in Nepal, lauding Nepal's democratic achievement. 

She noted that successful conduct of elections and forming a youth-oriented parliament after a transitional period is exemplary not only for Nepal but also for the world.

Flights have been affected since this afternoon due to adverse weather conditions. 

General Manager at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) Teknath Sitaula said that domestic air services have been affected due to persisting adverse weather in various parts of the country, including Kathmandu.

Flights to and from Simara, Pokhara, Biratnagar and Bhairahawa are being delayed because of unfavourable weather, he shared. 

According to the TIA office, some aircraft arriving at the international terminal have been placed on hold due to adverse weather conditions. 

The office has stated that all domestic flights will resume once the weather improves.

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane has said that the government will take responsibility for the proper management of homeless citizens.

In the informal meeting of the RSP Parliamentary Party held today at Singha Durbar, he stated that the government will ensure that no one becomes homeless during the management of settlements in disaster high-risk areas.

"Repeated notices have been issued to squatters in risky areas to relocate them to safe locations in a smooth manner. There is concern about the safe dwelling of citizens forced to live near drains and flood-prone areas, and it is the government's duty to be concerned about everyone's future," said RSP spokesperson Manish Jha, quoting President Lamichhane.

Lamichhane said that the problems related to squatter settlements across the country would be promptly addressed by forming a special commission.

"The government will not let any squatters be homeless; suggestions for necessary coordination are welcome, but unnecessary politicisation should be avoided. Forcing anyone to live at risk of floods and near sewers for 'vote bank' politics is wrong," he added.

'Ordinances are for necessary governance reforms, not to harass anyone'

President Lamichhane said that the government had recommended ordinances to meet public expectations and make necessary reforms.

"Until the past unnecessary partisanship and wrong appointments are corrected, the people’s expectations from this government cannot be fulfilled. Previously, the ordinances were used to split parties or suppress the opposition. The current practice is not to hurt anyone or provide favors to anyone; it is for necessary reforms," he said.

Stating that this step is a practice carried out within the legal framework, he said, "It also demonstrates how serious the RSP is towards law, political conduct, and the democratic system, even without the parliamentary committee chief of the opposition calling for the same.

The RSP President said that he is ready for any necessary facilitation in case anyone has difficulties while fulfilling duties as a people's representative. 

He also requested not to always wait for the meeting and to put forward one's views in writing in the RSP Parliamentary Party. .

The Chinese government is to provide Rs 11 billion in grants for the implementation of the Ring Road Expansion (Second Phase). 

According to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, Transport and Urban Development, Minister of Physical Infrastructure, Transport and Urban Development Sunil Lamsal and Ambassador of China to Nepal Zhang Maoming signed the agreement today. 

In line with the agreement, the Ring Road will now be extended from Kalanki to Basundhara. 

In the first phase, it has been extended from Koteshwor to Kalanki.

On that occasion, Minister Lamsal said that no problems would be allowed in project implementation and, if any arose, immediate facilitation would be provided to resolve them.

He mentioned that the construction of roads connecting the north and south is a government priority and expressed confidence that China will further increase its investment in the country's infrastructure development.

Ambassador Zhang stated that many Chinese investors are willing to come here if an environment conducive for investment is created.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 25. 81 points to close at 2, 744. 45 points on Wednesday. 

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 3. 06 points to close at 464. 51 points.

A total of 12,134,360-unit shares of 351 companies were traded for Rs 1. 55 billion.

Meanwhile, Corporate Development Bank Limited (CORBL) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 13. 81 percent.

Likewise,  10% KBL Debenture 2090 (KBLD90) was the top loser as their price fell by 11. 46 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 68 trillion.