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Matatirtha Aunsi or Mother's Day is being celebrated in honour of mothers with devotion across the country today.

This festival is considered a day of devotion, respect and recognition of the mothers, who are considered greater than the priests and fathers in the religious scriptures, and a day to seek blessings from her. It is customary for children to get up early this morning, take a bath, dress their mother in beautiful clothes, and feed her with sweet and savory foods to seek her blessings and recognize her contribution and very important role in the family and society. 

Those who have already lost their mother remember them and the great and difficult deeds she accomplished by making offerings to her soul and offering food to the needy in her remembrance.

Ancient Vedic scriptures highlight the importance of mother and the motherland in the noble saying, ‘Janani Janmabhoomischa Swargadapi Gariyasi’, meaning that the mother who gives birth and the motherland are greater and more loving than heaven, says Theologist and member of the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, Prof. Dr Devmani Bhattarai.

He says that it is mentioned in the scriptures that the importance of a mother is a thousand times greater than that of a father. Because of such importance, the living mother is honoured and served with sweet delicacies and gifts while offerings are made in the name of the deceased mother with devotion. 

On this occasion, a fair is held today at Mata Tirtha in Chandragiri Municipality of Kathmandu while many visit temples and gather at river confluences and banks to pray for eternal peace for their late mothers. Those with a living mother, visit her with various gifts while seeking her blessings.

Five dead and more than 700 injured in blast at key Iran port.

A powerful explosion struck the Shahid Rajaee port near Bandar Abbas on Saturday, killing at least five people and injuring more than 700 others, Firstpost reported.

The port's customs office said the explosion was most likely caused by a fire that broke out at a hazardous product and chemical storage depot. However, the specific cause is still being investigated.

Mehrdad Hasanzadeh, a provincial emergency management officer, revealed the most recent casualty estimates, noting that previous reports had recorded four deaths and over 500 injuries, as stated by Firstpost.

Shahid Rajaee, located 23 kms west of Bandar Abbas and more than 1,000 kms south of Tehran, is Iran's most advanced container terminal. It is located north of the Strait of Hormuz, an important marine route for global oil supplies.

At least 21 persons including 14 teachers were injured in a commuter bus accident at Shivasatakshi in Jhapa on Saturday.

According to the District Police Office, Jhapa, the incident occurred when the bus (Province 1-01-001 B4235) en route to Kathmandu from Jhapa turned turtle at Milan Chowk in Shivasatakshi Municipality this morning.

Among the injured, nine are being treated at B & C Hospital and 12 at Birtacity Hospital, Birtamod. All the injured are out of danger, police said.

They were on the way to Kathmandu from Jhapa to participate in the teachers' protest, the District Police Office said.

The Area Police Office, Jhiljhile has impounded the bus and arrested its driver Mahendra Kandangwa (38) for investigation.

Amid heightened immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump, US universities have been quietly guiding foreign students on how to navigate legal threats, including potential deportation over minor offenses and participation in pro-Palestinian protests, Reuters reported.

Following the arrests and visa terminations that affected thousands of overseas students, university advisors urged them to stay enrolled and seek legal advice.

According to Reuters, this effort has paid off, with the Trump administration recently restoring visa registrations for individuals affected since late March, following a string of successful legal challenges by students.