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Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has extended his best wishes to all Nepali citizens on the occasion of the Gaijatra festival.

Taking to the social media today, the Prime Minister expressed hope that families grieving the losses of loved ones will soon find relief from their sorrow. He also wished that those observing the festival through humor and satire would enjoy it in good spirits.

In his message, the Prime Minister wrote that the tradition of participating in the Gaijatra festival helps bereaved families heal psychologically. The festival symbolizes that death is a universal and inevitable part of life, he added.

The eight-day Gaijatra festival typically begins on the first day of the waning moon in the month of Bhadra (Bhadra Krishna Pratipada) and concludes on Ashtami, according to the lunar calendar. It is primarily celebrated in the Kathmandu Valley and some other parts of the country to commemorate those who have passed away within the past year.

US Vice-President JD Vance and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy are hosting a meeting near London with senior security officials from the US, Ukraine, and Europe to discuss the war in Ukraine.

The talks come ahead of a planned August 15 summit between Presidents Trump and Putin. Trump has suggested Ukraine may need to give up some territory for peace, but Ukrainian President Zelensky firmly rejects this, insisting Ukraine won’t cede land and must be involved in any peace deal, according to BBC.

European leaders share this view, warning that Ukraine’s future can’t be decided without its voice. While there’s hope Zelensky might join the talks, many Ukrainians remain wary of peace efforts that don’t fully respect their sovereignty.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is preparing to airlift a critically injured inmate to Kathmandu for further treatment from Kailali.

The Ministry has stated that it has taken the incident seriously and has further tightened the security situation in the Kailali Prison.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak took stock of the incident from the Home Secretary and the heads of the three security bodies regarding the overall situation of the Kailai Prison today.

Following the appraisal, the Ministry decided to airlift the injured one who is receiving treatment at Seti Provincial Hospital to Kathmandu via the Nepali Army helicopter.

“The Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force will strengthen security provisions to ensure full security of the jail and to prevent any further untoward incidents,” Home Ministry Spokesperson Ananda Kafle said.

A sky truck of the Nepali Army has already been sent to Dhangadhi to airlift the one who is critically injured in the clash, Kafle stated.

An inmate died and 44 other prisoners were injured in the clash that erupted between inmates residing in Block 'A' and Block 'B' of the jail on Friday night.

It is said that a large number of police personnel have been deployed to normalize the situation arising from a clash between inmates at Kailali Jail in Dhangadhi.

Currently, there are altogether 680 inmates in Kailali Prison despite its capacity to house just 100. (RSS)

Two wildfires in Turkey’s northwestern Canakkale province forced around 1,000 people to evacuate and destroyed dozens of homes, officials said Saturday.

Environment Minister Murat Kurum reported 43 buildings in Sacakli village were badly damaged, with assessments ongoing.

The fires, now contained, also temporarily disrupted air and maritime traffic through the Dardanelles Strait, according to Xinhua.

Former Bayern Munich and World Cup winner Thomas Muller has signed with MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps for the rest of the season. The 35-year-old brings vast experience after 17 years and 33 trophies with Bayern, according to Associated Press.

Vancouver acquired his MLS rights from FC Cincinnati, and Muller is set to arrive next week. The club’s sporting director called the move “transformative” for the team and city.

Muller, who retired from international soccer last year, promised to give his all as he begins this new chapter in Vancouver. The Whitecaps currently sit second in the Western Conference standings, Associated Press reported.

The International Olympic Committee has praised the creation of a US government task force to support the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, calling it vital for smooth operations and full participation.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the White House task force, which he will chair alongside Vice President JD Vance and key cabinet members. The group will focus on security, transportation, and visa processing for athletes, officials, and media, according to Xinhua.

In a statement, the IOC said the move reflects strong cooperation between the Organizing Committee and federal agencies, essential for delivering an inclusive and seamless Games. Los Angeles previously hosted the Olympics in 1932 and 1984; LA28 will be the first Summer Games in the US since Atlanta 1996.

Mozambique has opened its first forensic DNA laboratory in Maputo to boost crime-solving and paternity case investigations, Xinhua reported.

SERNIC Director General Nelson Rego said the facility will help identify individuals, link suspects to crime scenes, and resolve complex cases through analysis of biological materials such as saliva, blood, and hair.

Built with state funding of about 150m meticais (US$2.35m), the lab can process up to 200 samples daily and will support the judiciary and law enforcement in criminal investigations and paternity disputes, according to Xinhua.

The US government has demanded UCLA pay $1bn to settle antisemitism allegations, offering to restore $584m in frozen federal grants. A draft deal would require payments in installments, a $172m victims’ fund, and new oversight measures, Al Jazeera reported.

UC President James B. Milliken warned the payment would cripple California’s public university system, while Governor Gavin Newsom called the proposal “extortion” and vowed to fight it, accusing President Donald Trump of attacking academic freedom.

The freeze follows a Justice Department finding that UCLA ignored harassment of Jewish and Israeli students during 2024 campus protests. UCLA recently paid $6.45m to settle a related lawsuit, as over 60 US universities face similar federal probes, Al Jazeera reported.