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Russian President Putin met with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq on tuesday to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme, as Oman continues mediating between Tehran and Washington, Firstpost reported.

The US suspects Iran seeks nuclear weapons, a claim Iran denies.

Yury Ushakov, a Kremlin aide, said Russia is closely monitoring the negotiations and offering assistance where possible. Putin also expressed an interest in increasing energy cooperation with Oman, as stated by Firstpost.

The meeting is part of Russia's larger effort to deepen ties in the Middle East, which follows recent trips by Qatar's emir and Iran's foreign minister.

At least 26 people have been killed, including foreign tourists, after terrorists struck a prime tourist  location of Pahalgam in South Kashmir on tuesday. As stated by The Hindu, the attackers are suspected to be from The Resistance Front (TRF).

Gunmen emerged from nearby forests and fired indiscriminately, causing panic. The remote location hindered rescue efforts, though locals and security forces assisted in evacuations. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack, while Home Minister Amit Shah visited Srinagar to oversee the response. A helpline has been established for affected families, according to The Hindu.

Political leaders, including Omar Abdullah, Priyanka Gandhi, and Rajnath Singh, denounced the incident, calling it unprecedented and cowardly. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar expressed solidarity with India. 

Authorities have launched a manhunt and promised heightened security in the region.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has significantly lowered its 2025 U.S. growth forecast to 1.8%, down from 2.7% in January, blaming rising trade tariff uncertainties, BBC reported.

Despite the downgrade, US markets rebounded after early-week losses triggered by President Trump’s attack on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, whom he called a "major loser" for resisting rate cuts.  

As stated by BBC,  IMF’s chief economist stressed the need for public trust in central banks, stating, " People must remain confident that central banks will act to control inflation ."

The warning comes amid global economic instability affecting investor sentiment and policymaking.

Israel launched one of its heaviest airstrikes on Gaza in weeks, as the enclave’s health ministry warned of a total healthcare collapse due to an ongoing blockade on supplies.

According to Reuters, UN-backed polio vaccination campaign for nearly 600,000 children has been postponed, raising concerns about the disease's comeback.

A Hamas delegation is expected in Cairo to discuss a planned 5-7 year truce conditional on the release of hostages and the cessation of hostilities. Israel has yet to answer, reiterating its demand that Hamas disarm, which the organization opposes.

Since March 18, Israeli operations have killed over 1,600 Palestinians and displaced hundreds of thousands, Reuters reported.

Early voting for the Australian federal election commenced on tuesday, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left Labor Party maintaining a narrow lead over the conservative opposition.

The Australian Electoral Commission estimates up to half of eligible voters may cast their ballots before the May 3 election due to a rise in early and postal voting, according to Reuters.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton's popularity has dipped, thanks in part to comparisons to former US President Trump. Dutton recently reversed a divisive policy requiring government employees to return to full-time employment while proposing large public-sector cuts, provoking criticism for his perceived alignment with Trump-era policies, Reuters reported.

Labor has gained traction in recent months, overcoming a six-point disadvantage in January to lead by high to nine points earlier in April. A Newspoll survey released Sunday shows Labor ahead by four points after preference distribution.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He will co-chair the second meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council, according to the Firstpost.

Prior to his first visit to Jeddah, Modi declared, "India deeply values its long and historic ties with Saudi Arabia, which have acquired strategic depth and momentum in recent years." He added both the countries  are mutually dedicated in promoting regional peace, prosperity, security, and stability, Firstpost reported.

This is PM Modi’s third visit since taking over the office in 2014.

CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has appealed to the teachers to continue their protest.

He was speaking at a program organized on the occasion of the 77th establishment day of the Nepal Communist Party.

Saying that the government has betrayed the teachers time and again in the past, the former Prime Minister urged them to continue their agitation.

“I would like to appeal to the teachers to continue their protest with patience. You have protested repeatedly and have been cheated over and over again. It is the responsibility of all of us to prevent that from happening this time,” Dahal said.

He accused Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli of insulting the protesting teachers instead of addressing their demands.

“The teachers have been staging protests for the past two weeks. Instead of addressing their demands, the Prime Minister leading the government has been insulting them,” Dahal said, adding, “He accused Prime Minister Oli of turning a blind eye to their plight.”

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 4. 93 points to close at 2,693. 35 points on Tuesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 3. 62 points to close at 452. 19 points.

A total of 22,555,713-unit shares of 319 companies were traded for Rs 8. 32 billion.

Meanwhile, Nepal Micro Insurance Company Limited (NMIC) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Corporate Development Bank Limited (CORBL) was the top loser with its price dropped by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 47 trillion.