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China’s UN envoy Geng Shuang rejected US accusations over the South China Sea during a Security Council debate, calling the US the “biggest threat” to regional peace.

Responding to US Representative Dorothy Shea, Geng stated that the Council is not the appropriate forum for the issue and accused the US of inciting tensions by sending military vessels under the guise of "freedom of navigation", Xinhua reported.

He reaffirmed China's rejection of the 2016 arbitration ruling and emphasized that collaboration with ASEAN members helps to maintain regional peace. Geng also asked the United States to respect the one-China principle. He emphasized China's commitment to peaceful dialogue and international maritime cooperation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a visit to Russia's western Kursk region on Tuesday, following the recent departure of Ukrainian forces.

He met with volunteers and inspected the Kursk-II nuclear power plant, accompanied by senior officials including as Sergei Kiriyenko and acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein, according to Reuters.

Russia claimed it beat back a significant Ukrainian assault in April, during which Kyiv's forces momentarily seized up to 1,400 square kilometers with drones and Western weapons.

Newly appointed Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Biswo Poudel called on Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel on Wednesday.

On the occasion, DPM Paudel congratulated the newly appointed Governor and extended best wishes for his successful tenure.

Furthermore, DPM Paudel expressed his confidence that Governor Poudel would take important and result-oriented initiatives to address the economic and monetary sector's challenges by ensuring smooth coordination between the fiscal and monetary policy.

In reciprocation, the new NRB Governor reaffirmed the NRB's commitment to facilitate implementation of the Ministry of Finance's fiscal policy through the Central Bank's monetary policy.

Moreover, he pledged to emphasise enhancing supervisory capabilities of the central bank to strengthen efficiency of the financial sector.

Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister Damodar Bhandari, Finance Secretary Ghanashyam Upadhyay and Revenue Secretary Dinesh Kumar Ghimire among others were present on the occasion.

A Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday evening decided to appoint Poudel as the 18^th Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank.

Newly appointed Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Biswo Poudel took the oath of office and secrecy on Wednesday.

He took the oath of office and secrecy before Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut amidst a ceremony held at the Supreme Court.

The government on Tuesday appointed Poudel as the 18th Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). The decision was made during a Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday evening at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.

Three names were recommended for the position by a committee led by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel. The committee shortlisted Poudel, Acting Governor Neelam Dhungana and former Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai for the role earlier on Tuesday. The governor’s post had remained vacant since April 7, after the end of the previous term.

Before the Cabinet decision, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba held discussions regarding the appointment. Initially, Gunakar Bhatta, Executive Director at NRB, was considered for the role, reportedly with backing from Deuba. However, consensus could not be reached, and Deuba subsequently proposed Poudel as a compromise candidate.

As Governor, Paudel will serve as the chief economic advisor to the government and play a key role in formulating monetary policy in line with fiscal policy.

He previously served as the Vice-chair of National Planning Commission (NPC), Senior Economic Advisor at the Ministry of Finance, Chairperson of the board of governors of ICIMOD, president of the Colombo Plan council and chair of Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration (RECI) in Asia and the Pacific. Additionally, he also served as the Chief Economic Advisor of Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), and a member of the Board of Directors of Sanima Bank and Sanima Middle Tamor Hydropower Company.

He also ran as a Nepali Congress candidate from Chitwan-1 in the 2022 parliamentary elections but lost to Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)’s Hari Dhakal.

Earlier, advocates Pratibha Upreti and Bishal Thapa had filed the writ at the Supreme Court, demanding that Poudel be disqualified from the position. However, the Supreme Court administration dismissed the writ. The advocates had submitted an application to reverse the writ rejection decision, but the court did not entertain the request.