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Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Dahal has urged South Korean investors to invest in Nepal's rail service development and expansion with full confidence.

At a meeting with the representatives of South Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) on Tuesday, Minister Dahal asked the South Korean delegation for their investment in Nepal's rail service adding that development of railway was also a key priority of the Nepal government.

Dahal asked the South Korean team to carry out study and research to expand rail service considering the religious, cultural and tourist destinations in Nepal. 

He argued that Nepal was creating an investment climate for rail service expansion and stated that the modalities for investment could be discussed too. 

Ministry's Secretary Keshab Kumar Sharma said that e-rail expansion could be useful in Nepal given immense potential for hydropower production. 

Likewise, CEO of Investment Board Sushil Gyawali said a task force comprising experts from both countries would be formed within some days and different modalities for the development and expansion of railway would be studied.

CEO of Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) Han Moon Hee shared about his company's 126-year-long history and experiences in railway development and expressed readiness to execute assignments for the same in Nepal too. 

The BP Highway has been closed for eight hours after the flooded Roshi stream swept away diversion on Monday night. 

The diversion at Mapti was eroded by the flooded river, resulting in the complete halt in vehicular movement, according to the District Police Office. 

Efforts are underway to resume the highway, the Office said.

Information Officer at the District Police Office Min Bahadur Ghale said that the road section towards Mangaltar from Roshi Rural Municipality-12 was damaged by the flood. 

The police team and locals have been working together to open the road for one-way traffic. A total of 17 passengers were stranded after the vehicular disruption. They were rescued by the local police.

Diversion was constructed at the place where the BP Highway had suffered severe damages in the last September floods.

Meanwhile, search for a woman missing in the flood since Monday afternoon is underway.  

Renuka Giri (33) of Subbagaon of Panauti Municipality-5 had gone missing at 6 pm Monday. She was swept away by the flooded Dhalmale rivulet while returning home from a festival.

The police had halted the search for the woman after midnight, which resumed early this morning. 

Deputy Superintendent of Police Ghale further informed that a joint team of Nepal Police, Nepal Army and the Armed Police Force was mobilized to search for the missing woman. 

The sudden rainfall in the Panauti Bus Park area had inundated the vicinity.

Both Houses of the Federal Parliament are holding meetings today to  discuss the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill.

The meeting of the House of Representatives is scheduled for 11 am while the meeting of the National Assembly will start at 11:15 am.

General Secretary of the Federal Parliament Secretariat Padma Prasad Pandeya informed that both Parliaments are scheduled to dwell on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill (except tax) for the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel had presented the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill on Sunday.

The policies and programs of the government have been endorsed by the Parliament. 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has wished for peace, compassion and brightness in everyone's life.

Giving a message of best wishes on the occasion of the 2569th Buddha Jayanti today, PM Oli viewed, "Gautam Buddha is an invaluable gift of light, humanity and compassion. Buddhas Jayanti reminds us of the birth, achievement of enlightenment and mahaparinirvana of the Lord Buddha."

PM Oli took to social media and said Buddha's philosophy is guiding us for correct vision, virtuous thoughts and inspirational works.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has said that it is a matter of pride for all Nepalis to have the birthplace of Lord Buddha, the apostle of peace.

Giving a message of best wishes on the occasion of the 2569th Buddha Jayanti today, President Paudel said Buddha's teachings are for social harmony, tolerance and peace. National unity is fostered with such tolerance and mutual harmony, he added. 

"On this occasion- the day the national pride, Light of Asia and precursor of world peace, Gautam Buddha, was born- I wish peace, prosperity and happiness to all Nepalis living in the country and abroad," President Paudel said in the message, reminding that special worship and sermons are conducted at monasteries today. Meditation and prayers are also organized on this occasion.

The teachings of the Lord Buddha inspire everyone for peace, coexistence, tolerance and respect to each other in a society and the world. He wished the Day encouraged all to follow the path shown by the Lord Buddha.

The 2569th birth anniversary of Siddhartha Gautam popular around the world as Buddha, the harbinger of peace is being celebrated today.

Buddha Jayanti is celebrated every year on the full moon day of the month of Baisakh in the Lunar calendar. As Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death falls on the full moon day of Baishakh, Buddhists around the world, including in Nepal, celebrate the day with reverence and devotion to Buddha.

Likewise, Buddhist monks and religious leaders sit in chaityas, monasteries, vihars etc., and perform traditional rituals.

Special events are being held in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha and in Kapilvastu, Swayambhu and Boudha.

Siddhartha Gautam was born to King Suddhodhan and Queen Mayadevi in Lumbini of present Rupandehi district in 563 BC i.e. 2569 years ago. Born as a prince, he became worried seeing the sufferings of the people.

At the age of 29, he left the palace and went for meditation and penance.

Also today, the Ubhauli festival is being celebrated especially by the Kirant Rai community across the country.

During the festival, there is a tradition of worshiping nature before planting the crops to ensure that the land gives good output. Chandi dance is also performed on the occasion of this festival.

Sakela dance is also performed among different sects of the Kirant community.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday reported "substantial progress" in U.S. talks with China's top economic officials to de-escalate a damaging trade war, but offered no details of an agreement reached as two days of negotiations wrapped up in Geneva, Reuters reported.

Bessent told reporters that details would be announced on Monday and that U.S. President Donald Trump was fully aware of the results of the "productive talks."

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who participated in the talks with Bessent, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and two Chinese vice ministers, described the conclusion as "a deal we struck with our Chinese partners" that will help reduce the $1.2 trillion U.S. global goods trade deficit.

"And this was, as the Secretary pointed out, a very constructive two days. It's important to understand how quickly we were able to come to agreement, which reflects that perhaps the differences were not so large as maybe thought," Greer said, adding that the Chinese officials were "tough negotiators," according to Reuters.

Volodymyr Zelensky said it was a "positive sign" that Russia was considering ending the war in Ukraine after Russia offered "direct talks" this coming Thursday, BBC reported.

His comments came after Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Ukraine to take part in "serious negotiations" in a late-night address.

But the Ukrainian president said: "We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire - complete, lasting and credible - starting tomorrow, 12 May, and Ukraine is ready to meet."

Western powers called for a 30-day pause in fighting to begin on Monday after European leaders spearheading the so-called "coalition of the willing" met in Kyiv on Saturday, according to BBC.