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The East-West Highway has been obstructed after a flood swept away 'diversion' at Dumkibas in Nawalparasi (Bardghat Susta East) district.

Vehicular movement along the highway was obstructed after the flood washed away the diversion this morning, Deputy Superintendent of Police at District Police Office, Madhu Nepal said.  

He said that there is nothing to do immediately for resuming transportation as the flood is continuing.

With the diversion being washed away, the alternate route of Hongsi Gate towards Sardi has been brought into operation for light and passenger-ferrying vehicles.

Meanwhile, according to Shiva Khanal, Information Officer of the Butwal-Narayanghat road expansion project, the new bridge has been completed.

The plan is to operate the bridge from the last week of June, he said.

A Chinese-backed militia is protecting new rare earth mines in eastern Myanmar, according to four people familiar with the matter, as Beijing moves to secure control of the minerals it is wielding as a bargaining chip in its trade war with Washington, Reuters reported.

China has a near-monopoly over the processing of heavy rare earths into magnets that power critical goods like wind turbines, medical devices and electric vehicles. But Beijing is heavily reliant on Myanmar for the rare earth metals and oxides needed to produce them: the war-torn country was the source of nearly half those imports in the first four months of this year, Chinese customs data show.

Beijing's access to fresh stockpiles of minerals like dysprosium and terbium has been throttled recently after a major mining belt in Myanmar's north was taken over by an armed group battling the Southeast Asian country's junta, which Beijing supports, according to Reuters.

Talks aimed at cooling tensions between the US and China have ended in a "deal", according to US President Donald Trump.

He said China had agreed to supply US companies with magnets and rare earth metals, while the US would walk back its threats to revoke visas of Chinese students.

"Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval from President Xi and me," Trump wrote on his media platform Truth Social.

It followed two days of intense talks in London to resolve conflicts that had emerged since the two sides agreed a truce in May, after a rapid escalation of tariffs had nearly paralysed trade between the world's two largest economies.

US Marines will join National Guard troops on the streets of Los Angeles within two days, officials said on Wednesday, and would be authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration officers on raids or protesters who confront federal agents, Reuters reported.

US President Donald Trump ordered the deployments over the objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom, sparking a national debate about the use of the military on US soil and animating protests that have spread from Los Angeles to other major cities, including New York, Atlanta and Chicago.

Los Angeles on Wednesday endured a sixth day of protests that have been largely peaceful but occasionally punctuated by violence, mostly contained to a few blocks of the city's downtown area.

The protests broke out last Friday in response to a series of immigration raids. Trump in turn called in the National Guard on Saturday, then summoned the Marines on Monday, according to Reuters.

Non-essential US embassy staff and their dependants in Baghdad are to be evacuated from Iraq due to heightened security risks, US government sources have said, BBC reported.

Officials did not say exactly what prompted the removal, however, on Wednesday, US officials were told Israel was ready to launch an operation into Iran, the BBC's US partner CBS reported, citing officials familiar with the matter.

The officials said this was part of the reason the US advised some Americans to leave the region, and that the US anticipated Iran could retaliate on certain US sites in Iraq.

It comes as US talks over Iran's nuclear programme appear to have stalled in recent days, according to BBC.

The third edition of ‘Bhojanlipi Swad’, a culinary event featuring traditional Nepali cuisine, was held in Kathmandu. The event, curated by internationally recognized chefs Ghanshyam Kandel and Durga Khadka, showcased 25 dishes prepared using primarily Nepali agricultural products. The menu included items made from mohi, millet, maize, buckwheat, nettle, jackfruit, and mushrooms, along with a variety of meat dishes including fish, duck, goat, and chicken. Dishes made from ingredients like bel sherbet, niuro (wild fern), khuwa, and paan laddoo were among the highlights.

President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Chandra Prasad Dhakal, inaugurated the event by sampling the dishes. Speaking at the event, he emphasized the potential of promoting agri-tourism to strengthen the national economy and highlighted the importance of investment in the hospitality sector to generate employment and income. Rudra Sharma, head of Nepal House, expressed satisfaction in collaborating on the campaign to promote Nepali cuisine and music. The event saw participation from individuals representing various sectors, including agriculture and tourism.

Chef Kandel stated that Nepali cuisine is deeply connected to culture and spirituality. He noted that in today’s world, people seek not just taste but also holistic well-being, adding that Nepali food could serve as a valuable gift to the world due to its health benefits. 

Chef Kandel has recently published a cookbook titled 'Timur'. Another cookbook, 'Bhojanlipi', co-authored with fellow chef Khadka, is set to be released soon. 

Yemen’s Houthi group said it fired two ballistic missiles, including a hypersonic one, at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday, claiming one directly hit the target and warning airlines to halt flights. The group said the attack was retaliation for Israeli airstrikes earlier that day on Houthi-controlled ports in Yemen’s Hodeidah province, according to Xinhua.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported intercepting a missile over central Israel but did not confirm any hit on the airport. No casualties were reported. The Houthis have been targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping since November 2023 in support of Palestinians.

Syrian Air has resumed flights between Damascus and Istanbul after a 12-year suspension due to the Syrian civil war. The first flight landed at Istanbul Airport on Tuesday evening and was welcomed with a ceremony, the airport press office confirmed.

The route will operate five times each week, improving regional connectivity. Istanbul Airport's commercial director, Firat Ocak, praised the action as a symbol of renewed connections and increased cooperation. Syrian Air becomes the sixth new airline to arrive at Istanbul Airport this year, Xinhua reported.