October 10, 2024: Snapshot of today's main news

Kathmandu, October 10 — In this section, we present the key headlines of the day. If you've been busy and missed the news, we’ve got you covered. Here are the highlights.

Obituary: Ratan Tata, the 'modest' Indian tycoon

Ratan Tata, who has died aged 86, was one of India's most internationally recognised business leaders.

The tycoon led the Tata Group - known as a "salt-to-software" conglomerate of more than 100 companies, employing some 660,000 people - for more than two decades. Its annual revenues are in excess of $100bn (£76.5bn).

Founded by Jamsetji Tata, a pioneer of Indian business, the 155-year-old Tata Group straddles a business empire ranging from Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Steel to aviation and salt pans.

The ethos of the company "yokes capitalism to philanthropy, by doing business in ways that make the lives of others better", according to Peter Casey, author of The Story of Tata, an authorised book on the group.

Tata Sons, the holding company of the group, has a "number of companies that includes privately held and publicly traded companies, yet they are in essence all owned by a philanthropic trust", he explains.

Fulpati celebrations observed in Tundikhel

On the seventh day of Navaratri, the festival of Dashain is being celebrated with joy as flower offerings (Fulpati) are brought into homes on Thursday. In connection with this, there is an old tradition where the Nepal Army offers Fulpati in the presence of the Head of State and the Prime Minister at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel.

Prominent figures, including the President and Prime Minister, attended the Fulpati ceremony in Tundikhel.

The Nepal Army has been participating in this ceremony since the Malla era. On the day of Fullpati, various units of the Nepali Army march in with music, dance, and cultural programs, celebrating the festival with great enthusiasm.

Nearly 800,000 passengers leave Kathmandu Valley for Dashain celebrations

According to the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, around 800,000 passengers have left the Kathmandu Valley for Dashain celebrations so far. The federation estimates that approximately 1 million passengers will travel out of the valley this year.

The federation's Chairman, Bijay Swar, stated that while an estimate of 1.5 to 1.8 million passengers was projected to leave the valley for Dashain, the number has been lower due to road obstructions caused by landslides and flooding.

"The roads are in poor condition, and the public is facing difficult journeys," he noted. "Many people with homes outside the valley are planning to celebrate Dashain in Kathmandu this year, and some have even traveled by air."

Nepal Police to offer free bus service in Kathmandu Valley for two days

The Nepal Police will operate a free bus service for the Kathmandu Valley for two days.

They have announced that the free bus service will run on Friday and Saturday.

As public transportation is limited during Dashain, the police have been providing this bus service for the convenience of the public every year.

This year, the service will be available on two routes.

Prime Minister Oli confirms BP Highway will open Friday morning

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced that the BP Highway will be operational starting Friday morning. He shared this information quoting a phone conversation with Engineer Keshav Sharma, Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure.

According to the Prime Minister, the remaining blockages at three locations will be cleared as work continues throughout the day and night. He expressed gratitude to the entire team, including the technicians working around the clock to open the road.

CPN-UML to construct party headquarters in Kirtipur

The CPN-UML has decided to construct the party's central office building in Maitrinagar, ward number 2 of Kirtipur municipality.

During the UML Secretariat meeting held on Thursday, it was decided to lay the foundation stone for the central office building in Maitrinagar on Friday, as shared by the head of the publicity department, Rajendra Gautam.

After the earthquake in 2015, which destroyed the UML party office in Balkhu, the party has been operating its office from Dumbarahi, Maitighar, and then from Chyasal.

Dashain worth NPR 200 billion!

Shopping, travel, and entertainment during Dashain stimulate the economy. Demand for consumer goods peaks during this festival, prompting industries to ramp up production beforehand. According to businesses, approximately 40% of annual trade occurs during major festivals like Dashain and Tihar.

The consumption of goods such as food, clothing, alcohol, vehicles, meat, and fruits rises significantly during Dashain. While the trend of buying new clothes for the whole year has changed, the tradition of purchasing at least some attire for Dashain remains. Imports of goods targeting Dashain begin as early as July and August.

The Nepalese economy is heavily reliant on imports, with 90% of the materials consumed coming from abroad, according to customs data. In just July and August, imports of goods and services worth NPR 262.54 billion occurred.

Experts estimate that during festivals like Dashain and Tihar, consumption accounts for about 20% of total national consumption. Nepal's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is approximately NPR 5.8 trillion for the fiscal year 2023/24. Dashain is primarily known as a festival of food and feasting, with about NPR 1 billion in meat trade occurring in just one week of Dashain.

Middle East latest: Dozens killed as Israeli troops pound Gaza

Israel’s bombardment of central and northern Gaza has killed dozens of people and trapped thousands in their homes, Palestinian officials said Wednesday, as the death toll in the yearlong war passed 42,000.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said it recovered 40 bodies from Jabaliya from Sunday until Tuesday, and another 14 from communities farther north. The toll is likely higher as there are bodies buried under the rubble and in areas that can’t be accessed, it said.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the military spokesperson, said that Israeli forces were operating in Jabaliya to prevent Hamas from regrouping and had killed about 100 militants, without providing evidence. Israel says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because it fights in residential areas.

A year ago, Hamas-led militants blew holes in Israel’s security fence and stormed into army bases and farming communities, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. They are still holding about 100 captives inside Gaza, a third of whom are believed to be dead.

More than 1.5 million without power as Hurricane Milton slams Florida

 Hurricane Milton crashed into Florida as a Category 3 storm Wednesday, pounding the coast with ferocious winds of over 100 mph (160 kph), heavy rain and producing a series of tornadoes around the state. Tampa avoided a direct hit.

The cyclone had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (205 kph) as it made landfall at 8:30 p.m. near Siesta Key, the National Hurricane Center said. Siesta Key is a prosperous strip of white-sand beaches home to 5,500 people about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Tampa.

More than 1.5 million homes and businesses were without power Wednesday night in Florida, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports. The highest number of outages were in Hardee County, as well as neighboring Sarasota and Manatee counties

Stats - England's mammoth total, Brook and Root pile on records

1 England became the first team to post 800-plus runs in an innings against Pakistan in Tests. The previous highest against Pakistan was 790 for 3 by West Indies in 1958 in Kingston.

It is also the highest total by any team in Pakistan, with the previous highest bieng 765 for 6 by Pakistan against Sri Lanka in Karachi in 2009.

454 The partnership between Joe Root and Harry Brook is now the highest for England in Test cricket, bettering the 411-run stand between Peter May and Colin Cowdrey against West Indies in 1957, also for the fourth wicket.

It is also the highest partnership in Tests against Pakistan, going past the 446-run stand by Conrad Hunte and Gary Sobers for the second wicket in 1958 in Kingston.

3 Number of partnerships in Test cricket, higher than Root and Brook's 454 in Multan. It is now the highest stand by a visiting pair, surpassing the partnership of 451 runs by Don Bradman and Bill Ponsford against England for the second wicket at The Oval in 1934.

1 Root and Brook also put on the highest stand for the fourth or a lower wicket in Tests as the previous highest was 449 between Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh against West Indies in 2015 in Hobart.

Tennis legend Nadal confirms retirement

Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, will retire from tennis at the end of this season.

The 38-year-old will represent Spain in his final appearance at next month's Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.

Nadal had previously indicated 2024 would be his final season after missing most of 2023 with a hip injury.

In a video message released on Thursday, Nadal said: "I am here to let you know I am retiring from professional tennis.

"The reality is that it has been some difficult years, the last two especially.

"I don't think I have been able to play without limitations."

Nadal retires as the second-most successful men's singles player of all time, behind only long-time rival Novak Djokovic.

Airee second in T20 all-rounder rankings; Lamichhane climbs to 39th as ODI all-rounder

In the latest ICC T20 rankings, Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee has made significant progress in the bowling category, rising 11 spots to secure the 59th position. This marks a notable improvement from his previous ranking of 70th, solidifying his status as the top-ranked bowler from Nepal.

However, not all Nepali bowlers have fared as well. Sompal Kami has dropped four places, now sitting at 95th in the bowling rankings.

In the T20 batting category, Dipendra Singh Airee has experienced a slight dip, falling one position to 44th. Nepali captain Rohit Paudel maintains his position at 61st, while Asif Sheikh holds the 69th spot, with no significant changes in their rankings.

In the all-rounder category, Dipendra continues to excel, retaining his impressive second position, showcasing his versatility on the field.

Similarly, In the latest ICC One Day International rankings, Nepal's Sandip Lamichhane has made notable progress in the all-rounder category, climbing two positions to secure the 39th spot.

South Korea's Han Kang wins Nobel Literature Prize

South Korean author Han Kang has won the Nobel Prize in Literature.

The 53-year-old fiction writer is a former winner of the Man Booker International Prize for her 2007 novel The Vegetarian.

At the ceremony she was praised “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life”.

The Nobel Prize committee has awarded the literary award since 1901 and this marks the 18th time a woman has won the prize.

She has won 11m krona (£810,000) which is the amount awarded to each Nobel Prize winner this year.

Han is the first South Korean winner of the prize, who was described by the Nobel Prize board as someone who has "devoted herself to music and art".