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The US and Iran will hold "direct talks" over a possible nuclear deal on Saturday, says Donald Trump, BBC reported.

The meeting has also been confirmed by Iran's foreign minister who said the talks would be "indirect" but could be "as much an opportunity as it is a test".

The US president on Monday said discussions between Washington and Tehran would be at "very high level" and warned it would be a "very bad day for Iran" if no agreement was reached.

Last month, Trump raised the prospect of military action against Iran after its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei publicly rejected the offer of direct talks, according to BBC.

The health insurance coverage has reached 49 per cent of the population in Gandaki Province.

The total population of the Province is 2.46  million and 1.20  people have health insurance.

This information was shared at a program organized by the Health Insurance Board Gandaki Province Office in Pokhara on Monday on the occasion of the 9th Health Insurance Day.

On the occasion, Coordinator of Health Insurance Board Gandaki Province, Jiblal Kharel, said that the number of insured people in the province was increasing and efforts were being made to include more and more general public in the insurance scheme.

Stating that the health insurance program is progressing effectively globally, he said it has been improved in Nepal as well in tune with the time. He stated that there is a tendency to spread negative publicity towards health insurance in Nepal and pointed out the need to involve all citizens in health insurance by disseminating positive information.

Health Administrator at the Ministry of Health of Gandaki Province and member-secretary of the Gandaki Province Health Insurance Coordination Committee, Dr Ramesh KC, said that a health insurance program which has a history of 142 years in the world has been in operation in Nepal for the last nine years.

He stressed on the need to implement this program in a nascent stage in Nepal in an effective manner. Stating that there was a need for triangular coordination of beneficiaries, service provider hospitals and the Health Insurance Board, he underscored the need for enhancing quality along with the effectiveness of this insurance programme.

Rabindra Thakur of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Bidya Bastola of Western Regional Hospital, Shiva Pokharel of Drishti Eye Hospital, Om Thapa of Matri Shishu Hospital, Registration Officers Goma Devi Adhikari, Pramila Poudel, Tej Bahadur Darlami, Gautam Singh Dhami among others expressed their views on the current status and challenges of health insurance.

The Jana Aandolan Diwas (People's Movement Day) is being observed today by organizing various programs.. The Jana Aandolan Diwas commemorates the day when democracy was restored in the country. 

Democracy was reinstated on April 8, 1990, ending the 30-year-old party-less Panchayat system of governance. This was the day that marked the end of the Panchayat system which was established by King Mahendra on December 15, 1960.

The Nepali Congress and the United Left Front had jointly launched a movement to end the Panchayat system under the former's leadership. This movement culminated in the overthrow of the party-less system paving the way for a multi-party democracy in the country.

The People's Movement under the commandership of Nepali Congress leader Ganesh Man Singh lasted for 50 days. The movement against the Panchayat system was launched on February 18, 1990, coinciding with the 39th anniversary of the establishment of democracy in the country with the abolition of the 103 years of autocratic rule by the Ranas.

On April 8, 1990, the then King Birendra, in an address to the nation, announced the restoration of multi-party democracy in Nepal. Subsequently, the ban on political parties was lifted, and multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy reinstated.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Nepal has demanded formation of a high-level judicial commission to impartially investigate the March 28 Tinkune incident.

The meeting of the central working committee of the party presided over by party Chairperson Kamal Thapa  today urged for such a commission, according to a press statement released by party's General-Secretary Rajaram Bartaula.

Furthermore, the meeting decided to press for immediate release of Rastriya Prajatantra Party's Vice-Chairperson Rabindra Mishra and General-Secretary Dhawal Shumsher Rana with the government, reads the statement.

The party also called for unity among all nationalists and democrats to safeguard their ideologies.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli discussed the demands and agitation of teachers with concerned ministers and secretaries today.

At a meeting convened at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar, Prime Minister Oli emphasized resolving the problems relating to teachers through talks by carrying out more homework.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak and Minister for Education, Science and Technology Bidhya Bhandari, according to the Prime Minister's Secretariat were present in the meeting. 

Chief Secretary Ekanarayan Aryal and secretaries of the ministries concerned were also in the meeting, said the Secretariat. 

During the meeting, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology briefed the attendees of the meeting about the demands raised in the ongoing agitation in Kathmandu at the call of the Nepal Teachers' Federation, added the Secretariat. 

The meeting also discussed current economic conditions, the process of formulating the School Education Act as well as the demands that the government could immediately address among others.

Other issues that figured in the meeting was ensuring quality education, as per the Secretariat.

Two persons are reportedly missing in an avalanche that occurred between the camp II and III of the Annapurna Peak. 

They have been identified as Rima Sherpa and Nima Tashi Sherpa from Solukhumbu, according to Seven Summit Trekking Agency's proprietor Ningma Sherpa.  They have been missing since this morning. 

It is said other Sherpas on the base camp are searching for them and a rescue helicopter from Kathmandu has been sent here.  According to the Department of Tourism, 30 males and 12 females of four expedition teams have been granted a permit to climb the Annapurna in this spring season.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that it would be an utter dishonesty to breach constitutional norms even after taking oath as per the same Constitution.

Addressing the inaugural session of the first series of 'Himalayan Dialogue' organized by Foreign Affairs Media today, PM Oli said Nepal was lagging behind in development due to the past feudalistic rule and they were making all-out efforts to carry forward the journey of development and good governance amidst the widespread expectations of the people after the political change.

Referring to the monarchists, Prime Minister Oli said that defeated feudal practices could not be restored again.  He argued that if such practices were continued it would further prolong the transition period.  Prime Minister Oli further opined to entertain only legitimate demands. "No one should suffer on the streets." 

On another note, PM Oli said that teachers don't have to sit on the streets for protest.

"We will properly address their demands through dialogue," he added. Prime Minister Oli said that Nepal is going to fulfill some of its responsibilities including international relations while protecting its independence, self-respect and national interest. 

He said that the mountains of Nepal do the work of blocking the hot air of the Bay of Bengal and the mountains are working to prevent the sea from becoming too hot and to protect this region and the rest of the world from desertification.

"Our country is geographically, naturally and culturally diverse. Unity in diversity is essential. Without unity, the achievements we want cannot be achieved," he said, adding, "Diversity should not be a curse but an asset." 

When national and international problems arise, Nepal should work together to solve them properly.

He stressed that we should be able to contribute to the security and humanitarian welfare of the world keeping in mind the national interest in a world where the ideals are weak and self-interest is dominating.

Stating that one should not cover up one's weaknesses in the name of geopolitics, he stressed the need to advance national interest with geopolitical awareness. "It is not necessary to abandon just national interests and ideas with international accountability. 

There should be no politics in the name of friendship with any neighbour. We don't belong to anyone's strategic alliance. We are in favour of peace," PM Oli said. 

In the first series of The Himalayan Dialogue, leaders of various political parties and experts from the diplomatic field will discuss Nepal's foreign policy in two sessions, according to Gopal Khanal, chairman of Foreign Affairs Media.

Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Dahal has said that operation of vehicles not meeting the standards will be stopped, coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

In a discussion with transport entrepreneurs and workers at the Ministry today, he said coordination would also be established with the Home Ministry as it was not possible for the Department of Roads and Transport alone to stop the operation of vehicles flouting the rules and standards.

Likewise, alternative routes and diversion management will also be given priority to prevent obstruction of vehicles at construction sites, he added.

Stating that the repair of BP Highway connecting Kathmandu and eastern Nepal has been expedited, Minister Dahal said that the repair of Kanti Lokpath (highway), which is used as an alternative road, has also been taken up with priority.

Similarly, Secretary at the Ministry Keshav Kumar Sharma said that more coordination would be made with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Traffic Police and the federal government to streamline the operation of transport.

Stating that the Ministry was serious about the problems being faced by the vehicles and passengers due to the ongoing construction of Daunne road, he said arrangements have been made for the passage of goods carrying vehicles and passenger vehicles at separate times.

He expressed commitment that the transport service on the section would be made easier soon as its construction has been given first priority.

Federation of Transport Entrepreneurs President Bijay Swar, Senior Vice President Saroj Sitaula, General Secretary Degnath Gautam, representatives of various trade unions and others were present on the occasion.

Director General of the Department of Roads Ram Hari Pokharel and Deputy Director General were also in the meeting.