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Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba held telephonic conversation with Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a diplomatic initiative for the release of Nepali youth Bipin Joshi who is believed to be held captive by Hamas.

Minister Rana held telephonic talks with her Iranian counterpart on Thursday night, urging him to take initiative for Joshi's release.

On the occasion, Foreign Minister Araghchi gave the assurance that he would raise the topic of Joshi's release with priority in his upcoming meeting with Hamas officials, Foreign Minister Rana's private secretariat said.

Hamas has started releasing people under its captivity after the ceasefire between it and the Israeli government.

The government has continued with the diplomatic initiatives for the safe release of Joshi from Hamas' confinement.

In this connection, Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Deuba had held telephonic talks with the Egyptian Foreign Minister as well last week, urging for support for Joshi's release.

Minister Dr Deuba has been requesting Qatar and Egypt that had been mediating with Hamas for peace talks ever since efforts were made for a ceasefire between the Israeli government and Hamas for taking special initiative for Joshi's release.

Minister Dr Deuba held telephonic conversation with Israel's Foreign Minister some weeks back on this topic. Similarly, Ambassador of Nepal to Israel, Prof Dr Dhana Prasad Pandit, also in telephonic conversation with the Israeli President some days back, had urged for Joshi's release.

The government has continued the diplomatic initiatives for securing Joshi's release since last year.

Minister Rana has been making diplomatic efforts for Joshi's release through the United Nations, international and regional forums and meetings.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh saw the deep bonds of UK-Nepal friendship through the Gurkhas – from the care provided to veterans and their dependents in Nepal, to the 274 young Nepali men who today formally joined the British Army at the annual Attestation Parade.

At the Attestation Parade, Their Royal Highnesses witnessed the important moment for the young Nepalis who have reached the end of the selection process, marking the beginning of the military career for 274 Nepalis who will join the British Army. After the formal event, The Duke and the Duchess met some of the families of the new recruits. 

This year, 274 trainee riflemen will join the British Army following a highly competitive recruitment process. The Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas led the march-out of the Parade, attended by proud family members of the new recruits who hail from across Nepal.

The Duke of Edinburgh said: “You are now a Gurkha. One amongst only 274 new Gurkhas from over 13,000 potential recruits this year. This has been one of the greatest challenges of your lives. You deserve to feel very proud of your achievement," reads a statement issued by the British Embassy in Kathmandu.

The 274 successful trainee riflemen join the British Army after a rigorous, open and transparent, year-long selection process. They will head to the Infantry Training Centre (ITC) in Catterick in the UK, where they will undergo a nine-month training programme. 

Others in attendance included British Ambassador to Nepal, Rob Fenn; Colonel Commandant of the Brigade of Gurkhas Major General Strickland DSO MBE; Major General The Lord Lancaster TD PC, Deputy Colonel Commandant Brigade of Gurkhas; Colonel Dan Rex MVO, Commander British Gurkhas Nepal (BGN); and Lieutenant Colonel Rajeshkumar Gurung, Deputy Commander BGN witnessed the Attestation of the new recruits. 38 Coronation Medals and 2 Long Service & Good Conduct Medals were also presented to Gurkha and British Staff on parade.    

The Duke and The Duchess also visited the Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT) “Area Welfare Centre” (AWC) Kaski and saw how the UK – through different charities – provides support in Nepal to those who have served in the British Army. They also spent some time seeing the work of the GWT Residential Home, that cares for 20 of the most vulnerable former-Gurkhas or their widows with accommodation and support. In addition, Their Royal Highnesses received a briefing on the work of the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association KAAA in Nepal. 

As part of the visit to the Residential Home, The Duke and Duchess met 104-year-old Ash Kumari Tamang, whose late husband was a Gurkha soldier who served with the 4th Gurkha Rifles during the Second World War, and she has been living in the Residential Home since 2011. 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has committed to completing the development projects in the stipulated timeframe adding that it was government's priority.

Writing on his Facebook wall, the PM mentioned that he was holding discussions with the chief ministers from all seven provinces today to discuss about the progress of the development projects.

PM Oli has also shared that Rs 30 billion has been paid to the construction entrepreneurs adding that the government has advanced from the past situation where the contractors were not paid even after the completion of the development projects.

"We have a priority -- to complete the initiated projects. Many of the stalled infrastructure-related projects have now progressed at a faster pace," the PM asserted.

Minister for Physical Infrastructures and Transport, Devendra Dahal, has tabled the 'Ship (Operation and Management) Bill-2081' in today's meeting of the National Assembly.

He said although the United Nations General Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 guaranteed equal rights of landlocked countries to the seas, dozens of international conventions have been implemented even after the execution of the Ship Registration Act, 2027.

Minister Dahal mentioned that national flag-carrier ship could not be registered as the Act did not incorporate the provisions of the convention.

The bill was tabled as it was necessary to promote internal water transport by making arrangement of registration and regulation of cruise ships since different capacity of cruise ships are in operation at different rivers in Nepal, added Minister Dahal. 

The Ministry of Health and Population has passed the 'Guidelines for printing warning message and pictures on box, packet and wrapper of tobacco products-2081'.

Endorsing the Guidelines, the Ministry said sale and purchase of tobacco products without warning message and pictures would not be allowed.

On the occasion, Health Minister Pradeep Paudel said the rule of mandatorily printing the pictures depicting the harm on human health on box, packet and wrapper of tobacco products has come into force, stressing the need that all should coordinate to follow and make others follow the rule.

The Guideline would come into force from the180th day after its endorsement. Spokesperson at the Ministry, Dr Prakash Budhathoki, said an arrangement has been made to print warning messages in Nepali language and pictures on the entire box, packet and wrappers of tobacco products in Nepal as some of the studies have shown that number of people quitting cigarette and tobacco has increased in some countries due to such messages and pictures.

Earlier, it was necessary to print warning message and picture at 90 percent space of the box, packet and wrapper of tobacco products.

It is expected that such warning message would help reduce the number of smokers as well as number of people suffering from cancer and other fatal diseases.

He further said as per the statistics, around 37,000 people die from the consumption of tobacco products every year in Nepal. 

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 11. 64 points to close at 2, 699. 81 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 55 points to close at 454. 49 points.

A total of 18,680,392-unit shares of 315 companies were traded for Rs 9. 24 billion.

Meanwhile, Upper Lohore Khola Hydropower Company Limited (ULHC)was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Upakar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (ULBSL) and Corporate Development Bank Limited (CORBL)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​were the top losers as their price fell by 10. 00 percent.

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

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has directed the Ministry of Urban Development to expedite up-gradation of Kirtipur stadium.

While obtaining information about the activities of the ministry at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Minsters today, PM Oli directed the ministry to speed up the task of upgrading the Kirtipur Cricket Stadium to the international level.

It may be noted that the PM had pledged to upgrade the stadium within 300 days of his tenure while taking charge of the premiership of the country.

On the occasion, PM Oli was briefed that the contract signing for up-gradation of the stadium would be undertaken soon as the evaluation phase was almost coming to an end as per the tender solicited by the ministry for the construction of parfait and flood lights.

The discussion was held on the presence of Deputy Prime Minster and Minster for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh and concerned officials. 

The District Court Chitwan has sent former Home Minister and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane to custody for today on charge of embezzling the funds of Sahara Chitwan Multi-purpose Cooperative Limited.

Lamichhane was sent to custody after his hearing remained incomplete today.

Registrar at Chitwan District Court Bishnu Acharya shared that Lamichhane was handed over to the police after the hearing whether or not to keep him in detention for investigation did not end today.

The detention hearing had started immediately after the face-to-face explanation of Lamichhane concluded this morning.

Police was handed over the responsibility to look after Lamichhane in a way to present him at 10 am on Thursday.

It may be noted that the Government Attorney Office Chitwan on Tuesday had filed a case against 15 persons, including Lamichhane for their alleged involvement in cooperative funds scam.