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At least 93 Palestinians, including 30 people waiting for food aid, were killed in the past 24 hours as Israeli attacks intensified across Gaza, medical sources say. The death toll has now surpassed 58,500, with over 139,000 wounded, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

In Syria, Israeli airstrikes hit several sites, including the Defense Ministry and areas near the presidential palace in Damascus, killing at least three and injuring dozens. Syria’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes, calling them an attempt to stir further chaos, according to Al Jazeera.

The violence follows Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, which left over 1,100 dead and more than 200 taken captive.

The Health Insurance Board has designated Koshi Hospital as a “referral center,” prompting strong objections from the hospital administration. In response, the hospital has formally requested the Board and the Ministry of Health and Population to reconsider the decision.

In a letter, Medical Superintendent Dr Runa Jha warned, “If Koshi Hospital is removed as a ‘first service point’ and designated only as a ‘referral center,’ the patient load will decrease by nearly two-thirds. This will directly impact the hospital’s operations, income, and services.”

According to the Board’s decision, Koshi Hospital will no longer serve as a first point of contact for patients under the national health insurance scheme. Previously, it functioned as both a first service point and a referral center. The hospital argues that this change will restrict public access to government health services and weaken public hospitals to the benefit of private institutions.

Dr Jha added, “If referral centers had been designated exclusively for government hospitals, there would be no objection. Koshi Hospital is not like Bir Hospital or the Teaching Hospital—sometimes we ourselves must refer patients elsewhere. We are not equipped to compete with private hospitals in terms of referrals, and doing so could damage our reputation, services, and financial sustainability.”

Currently, the Rani Primary Health Center is the only designated first service point within Biratnagar Metropolitan City. However, the hospital claims this center lacks the infrastructure to accommodate the hundreds of patients that Koshi Hospital treats daily. Around 70 percent of its patients are under the health insurance scheme, and 40 percent of those specifically choose Koshi Hospital as their first point of care.

The hospital argues that the new arrangement will force patients to seek referrals from other municipal-level hospitals, disproportionately affecting the poor. “Many uninsured patients, who are mostly from low-income backgrounds, relied on Koshi Hospital for free services. Their access will now be limited,” the letter notes. A decline in internal revenue could lead to challenges in paying salaries, declining service quality, and disruptions in human resource operations.

Morang Constituency-4 MP Aman Lal Modi also strongly criticized the Health Insurance Board’s decision. “This move seems aimed at boosting private hospital profits by weakening public hospitals. They are ruining services by restricting referrals to Koshi Hospital and the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan,” he said.

MP Modi added that many municipalities will struggle to provide timely referrals, pushing patients toward private institutions and limiting access to affordable care. He called on the government to reverse the decision and reinstate Koshi Hospital as a first service point. He also alleged growing influence of brokers and middlemen in the health insurance system, suggesting that the current decision was influenced by their pressure. Such actions, he warned, could erode public trust in the insurance system itself.

Koshi Hospital, the largest government health institution in Koshi Province, serves over 1,000 patients daily. The administration has stated that maintaining both roles—first service point and referral center—is essential for the effective implementation of the health insurance scheme. They cautioned that undermining the hospital through policy changes would have a long-term, province-wide impact on public healthcare. The hospital has urged the Health Insurance Board to reconsider its decision.

In a bid to promote religious tourism, Rampur Municipality has constructed a footpath along the Kaligandaki river side. 

Mayor of Rampur Municipality, Raman Bahadur Thapa informed that 2,567 meters of footpath has been built in the fiscal year 2024/25.

The 34-km long walkway is being constructed in the municipality under the Ramnadidham-Devghat footpath aimed at exploring the religious, cultural and ecological importance, mayor Thapa informed. 

'Placement of slate and interlock related works are being carried out. Efforts are on to promote tourism and contribute to the economy through beautification of the river side and easing access to religious sites', Mayor Thapa informed. 

In this area, the task of laying slates with interlocks having a breadth of two meters has been completed at various locations in the year 024/25.. 

Stone paving has been undertaken in 557 meters in ward 3, Keladi, 191 meters in ward 6, Jagdipark, 432 meters in Tilakpur, 195 meters in Sundar Funpark, 678 meters. 

Likewise, the task of interlocking in 210 meters of Bhujat area of ward 8, 114 meters of stone laying in Shalikram Park of ward 10, and interlocking and stone paving in 190 meters of Naramedeswor Temple has been completed. 

Similarly, waiting stands have been constructed in ward Bhanghat and Tatopani Ghat. 

This project has been carried out in coordination with the federal government and Rampur Municipality. 

With the religious significance of the Kaligandaki River being connected to Ramnadi Dham, Keladi Dham, Ramghat Dham, Ridi Dham, and Devghat, locals believe construction of pedestrian paths will promote religious tourism in the locality. 

Canadian retailer Alimentation Couche-Tard on Thursday pulled its $47 billion bid to buy Seven & i Holdings, citing a lack of constructive engagement by the Japanese retailer, Reuters reported.

The surprise move ends what could have been the largest foreign takeover of a Japanese company as Circle K operator Couche-Tard sought to create a global convenience store giant by acquiring the company behind 7-Eleven.

"There has been no sincere or constructive engagement from 7&i that would facilitate the advancement of any proposal, contrary to comments made publicly by 7&i representatives," Couche-Tard said in a letter to its board of directors.

"Rather, you have engaged in a calculated campaign of obfuscation and delay, to the great detriment of 7&i and its shareholders," the letter said, according to Reuters.