Trump faces uproar from MAGA base over possible Iran strike

The prospect of a U.S. strike against Iran has exposed divisions in the coalition of supporters that brought President Donald Trump to power, with some of his base urging him not to get the country involved in a new Middle East war, Reuters reported.

Some of Trump's most prominent Republican allies, including top lieutenant Steve Bannon, have found themselves in the unusual position of being at odds with a president who largely shares their isolationist tendencies.

Bannon, one of many influential voices from Trump's "America First" coalition, on Wednesday urged caution about the U.S. military joining Israel in trying to destroy Iran's nuclear program in the absence of a diplomatic deal, according to Reuters.

"We can't do this again," Bannon told reporters at an event sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor in Washington. "We'll tear the country apart. We can't have another Iraq."

No shortage of funds for disaster management, says FinMin Poudel

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said that the government will ensure a budget for disaster management in the country.

In a discussion held with a joint team of elected people’s representatives from Lalitpur district on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Poudel said that the disaster-induced floods and landslides will be managed as soon as possible.

Expressing his commitment to allocate budget through the concerned ministry in necessary coordination with the NDRRMA, he also responded positively to all the issues raised by the all-party team of people's representatives.

The team led by Nepali Congress leader and House of Representatives member Udaya Shumsher Rana sought funds for immediate reconstruction of settlements and structures damaged due to the floods that occurred last monsoon.

The team also urged that the budget of Rs 250 million allocated for the Lele-Bhardeu-Chandanpur-Thuladurlung road be mobilized as a multi-year project. 

The team has demanded immediate compensation for those impacted by the Satdobato-Chapagaun and Satdobato-Godavari road expansion works.

 

Promotion of mountains necessary for ecotourism: Ambassador Park

South Korean Ambassador to Nepal Park Tae-young has said that promotion of mountains is necessary for the development of ecotourism.

After observing a photo exhibition held on the theme of 'Mountain Tourism: Our Pride, Our Identity' organized on the occasion of the 18th Republic Day today, he said that the photos related to the mountains displayed in the exhibition are beautiful as well as informative.

He mentioned that the photo exhibition also provides information about the status of the mountainous areas. A total of 96 pictures were put on display in the expo that began from May 25.

 

Government to receive Rs 50.51 billion soft loan from WB

The government has decided to accept Rs 50.51 billion in soft loans provided by the World Bank for various projects ranging from roads to bridges. The subsidized loan would be utilized for the projects of strategic road network and upgrading of trade routes and bridges.

Spokesperson of the government and Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, told media persons that the WB Group was providing Nepal around Rs 29.72 billion for strategic road network and trade route upgrading projects and around Rs 20.79 billion grant for the third phase of bridge upgrading project. 

 

The minister  shared it while making public the decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on Monday. As per the Cabinet decision, the government will also accept the grants of some Rs 1.8 billion to be provided by South Korea for the enforcement of projects on inclusive rural development in Bardiya district. 

 

Accordingly, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli would visit Spain, leading a Nepali delegation from June 30 to July 5. 

It was decided to table an agreement to be made with the WTO on fishery in the federal Parliament.

The Cabinet also decided to transfer some high ranking officials including secretaries. DIG of the Armed Police Force, Ganesh Bahadur Thadamagar, would be promoted to the post of AIG and made appointment accordingly. 

 

A Nepali delegation will be formed to attend the 16th meeting of Nepal-India bilateral consultation group to be held in Pune, India on June 23-24.