October 11, 2024: Snapshot of today's main news

Kathmandu, October 11 — 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.

1.3 million people leave Kathmandu Valley in a week

One million 300 thousand people have left Kathmandu Valley in one week for their home districts to celebrate Dashain, the biggest festival of Nepal. According to the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE), this number includes those people who left the Valley till day.     

FNNTE had estimated that around 1.8 million passengers would exit the Valley via road transport for Dashain this year. 

FNNTE president Bijaya Swar said that although it was estimated that around 1.5 million to 1.8 million passengers will be leaving Kathmandu Valley for their home towns for celebrating Dashain this year, 1.3 million, less than the estimated number, left the Valley due to the disruption of roads from flooding and landslides triggered by incessant rains on September 27 and 28.   

Pancha Bali performed at Hanuman Dhoka

The grand festival of Maha Nawami, celebrated on the day of Ashwin Shukla Nawami, is being observed today with special prayers and worship of Goddess Nawadurga.

On Maha Nawami, rituals including Durga Puja are performed, and the jamara (barley sprouts) placed during Ghatasthapana are taken to various power shrines for offerings.

In temples and power shrines across the state, including Dasain homes and Kot, special worship of Durga Bhawani is conducted with offerings of goats, ducks, chickens, and sheep, along with the recitation of Durga Saptashati (Chandi), Srimad Bhagwat, and Devi Stotra.

Those who do not offer animal sacrifices and vegetarians typically offer fruits such as cucumber, gourd, radish, and even coconuts while also preparing a sweet dish called paayas.

Diplomatic missions in Nepal engage in cultural celebrations

"This is the first time participating in the traditional 'Changa Chait' (kite flying) competition in Nepal. Public Affairs Chief Mike made excuses for losing, citing a lack of good 'changa' (kite).

While it was a humorous moment, the overall team had a great day. Joy, unity, and community are at the heart of Dashain, and that is the significance of this day. As we enter the seventh day of the Dashain festival, we wish you laughter, happiness, and enjoyment."

This message was shared by U.S. Ambassador Dean R. Thompson on his X (formerly Twitter) account in celebration of Dashain.

The video message exemplifies how diplomatic missions are actively participating in Nepal's cultural festivals. During this significant celebration, not only Nepalese people but also officials from diplomatic missions and embassies are joining in the festivities.

UML Chair Oli lays foundation for new headquarters building

Chairman of the CPN (UML) and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has laid the foundation stone for the construction of the party's new building. On Friday, the foundation stone for the UML central office, named as Madan Bhandari Memorial Building, was laid at Kirtipur Municipality-2.

The central office building will be constructed on a plot of land measuring 10 to 12 ropanis near Kalanki in Kathmandu. Following the floods at the party office in Chyasal, UML decided to build a new building.

On Thursday, a secretariat meeting held at the party's central office in Chyasal made the decision to construct a permanent building.

Party Deputy General Secretary Pradeep Gyawali stated that the UML party office in Balkhu, located in Kathmandu Metropolitan City-14, was destroyed in the devastating earthquake of 2015, and since then, the party has been renting various buildings for nine years. However, he mentioned that preparations are now underway for a permanent building.

NRNA Day: Two factions to celebrate separately

The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), embroiled in internal disputes, will celebrate its establishment day (NRNA Day) on different dates by two factions.

The NRNA led by Badri KC and the NRNA led by RK Sharma are set to hold separate events to mark NRNA Day on Friday.

On the occasion of NRNA Day, KC's faction has organized a worship program at Swayambhunath and Pashupatinath on Friday morning.

According to KC, on the occasion of the establishment day, the association has urged its national committees to conduct various institutional and philanthropic activities throughout the month of October.

Similarly, Sharma's faction will celebrate NRNA Day through a virtual platform. The afternoon program is expected to have participation from Nepalese government ministers, former NRNA presidents, representatives of various organizations, and NRNA activists.

Established in 2003 with the slogan "For Nepalis, by Nepalis," the Non-Resident Nepali Association has branches in 87 countries worldwide.

No shortage of sugar during festivals: STC

The Salt Trading Corporation (STC) has assured of sufficient supplies of sugar during the festivals. As it said, additional imports of sugar have begun bearing in mind its increased demand for festivals.

 On Wednesday, the STC brought 2,200 sacks of sugar weighing 50 kilos each to its warehouse in Birgunj from India. 

The imports continue and there will be no shortage of sugars in Dashain, Tihar, Nepal Sambat, and Chhath festival, it is said.

Air India Express flight lands safely after facing mid-air snag near Trichy Airport

An Air India Express flight which reported a hydraulic failure shortly after take-off from the Tiruchirappalli airport in Tamil Nadu has landed safely.

The flight, AXB 613, which was headed to Sharjah with 144 passengers on board, had taken off at 5.40 pm. After the snag was reported, the plane was asked to turn back, but because it was not advisable to attempt a precautionary landing with full fuel on board, the pilots burned some of it by flying around on a set path some distance from Tiruchirappalli.

The plane remained airborne for over two and a half hours, finally landing at 8.15 pm to cheers and clapping from passengers.

Reports about a possible problem with the landing gear began trickling in around 7.50 pm and the Tiruchirappalli airport made preparations for an emergency landing, keeping several ambulances on standb

Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo wins Nobel Peace Prize

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded Friday to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization of survivors of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for its activism against nuclear weapons.

Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said the award was made as the “taboo against the use of nuclear weapons is under pressure.”

Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a shift in his country’s nuclear doctrine, in a move aimed at discouraging the West from allowing Ukraine to strike Russia with longer-range weapons. It appeared to significantly lower the threshold for the possible use of Russia’s nuclear arsenal.

Watne Frydnes said the Nobel committee “wishes to honor all survivors who, despite physical suffering and painful memories, have chosen to use their costly experience to cultivate hope and engagement for peace.”

Hidankyo’s Hiroshima branch chairperson, Tomoyuki Mimaki, who was standing by at the city hall for the announcement, cheered and teared up when he received the news.

Gunmen kill at least 20 miners in Pakistan

Gunmen have killed at least 20 people at a coal mine in Balochistan province in southwestern Pakistan, according to local police.

The attackers stormed the workers' accommodation at the Junaid Coal Company mines in the province's Duki district in the early hours of Friday morning, rounded the men up and opened fire.

A hospital in Duki has received 20 bodies and is treating six injured people, reported Reuters.

The workers were attacked with heavy weapons, including rockets and grenades, police were quoted as saying.

The attackers also set fire to machinery at the mine.

Elon Musk unveils Cybercab at Tesla robotaxi event

Tesla boss Elon Musk has unveiled the firm's long-awaited robotaxi, the Cybercab, at the Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, California.

The futuristic-looking vehicle featuring two wing-like doors and no pedals or steering wheel deposited Mr Musk in front of an audience eager to hear details about a project he considers key to Tesla's next chapter.

At the event, billed "We, Robot," the multi-billionaire reiterated his view that fully self-driving vehicles will be safer than those operated by humans and could even earn owners money by being rented out for rides.

But Mr Musk's prediction that production would begin some time "before 2027" raised questions about whether he will once again fail to meet his own deadlines.

Djokovic beats Mensik to move step nearer 100th title

Novak Djokovic's bid to claim a landmark 100th ATP title remained on track as he overcame talented teenager Jakub Mensik in the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters.

The Serbian fourth seed lost the first set on a tie-break to the Czech 19-year-old but battled back for a 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 6-4 victory.

Djokovic, 37, will face American world number seven Taylor Fritz in Saturday's second semi-final.

Fritz, 26, comfortably beat Belgium's David Goffin 6-3 6-4 on Friday to book his place in the last four. It extended a run that has seen Fritz progress past the third round for the first time in Shanghai.

After reaching his 78th Masters 1,000 semi-final, Djokovic was full of praise for his much younger opponent.

"Jakub is someone I've been following in the last three, four years," he said. "We went toe-to-toe until the last moment, until the last game.

"I could see today why he is one of the best servers we have in the game - and he's only 19.

"I think the future is very bright for him. He knows that I am always there for him, whatever he needs."

Mensik held his nerve in the opening set against Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

Nottingham Forest heavily fined after social media comments

Nottingham Forest was fined 750,000 pounds ($980,000) on Friday after the Premier League club was found to have questioned the integrity of match officials in an extremely inflammatory post on social media that has had more than 46 million views.

The post in question was published soon after Forest’s 2-0 loss to Everton in the Premier League in April, criticizing the failure of officials to award Forest a penalty. It claimed that the VAR for the match, Stuart Attwell, was a fan of a rival club that was fighting relegation, like Forest was at the time.

Forest denied its comments implied “bias and/or question the integrity of the match officials and/or the video assistant referee and/or bring the game into disrepute,” the Football Association said.

Leach four-for consigns Pakistan to historic innings defeat

England 823 for 7 dec (Brook 317, Root 262, Duckett 84, Crawley 78) beat Pakistan 556 (Masood 151, Salman 104*, Shafique 102) and 220 (Salman 63, Jamal 55*, Leach 4-30) by an innings and 47 runs

From the unthinkable to the inevitable. Pakistan became the first team in Test history to lose by an innings having scored 500 in their first attempt, as England wrapped up victory inside the morning session on day five at Multan. 

Jack Leach finished with four wickets, a century stand between Salman Agha and Aamer Jamal not enough to save Pakistan from an unwanted record.

Brazil has away win over Chile and Messi’s Argentina draw

An 89th-minute goal by substitute Luiz Henrique gave Brazil a 2-1 away win over Chile on Thursday in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match.

The win meant under-pressure Brazil coach Dorival Júnior’s team will finish the ninth round of the round-robin competition in fourth place in South American qualifying.

Earlier, Lionel Messi’s Argentina drew Venezuela 1-1 in a match that was delayed for 30 minutes due to a wet pitch at Monumental Stadium in the Venezuelan city of Maturin.

Argentina, which leads the 10-team competition, has 19 points after nine matches. Colombia, with 16 points, remains in second place after losing 1-0 at Bolivia. Uruguay is third with 15 points and has a chance to add more in a match against Peru on Friday. Brazil has 13 points.

England loses to Greece, France wins without Mbappé

Lee Carsley ran into the first problems of his tenure as England’s interim coach after a bold team selection backfired in a 2-1 home loss to Greece in the Nations League on Thursday.

Erling Haaland became Norway’s record scorer at the age of 24 with a double in his country’s 3-0 win over Slovakia, while France — playing without Kylian Mbappé and the retired Antoine Griezmann — still had far too much for Israel in a 4-1 victory.

Mbappé wasn’t called up by France because of a minor injury, even though he has since played for Real Madrid, while the surprise retirement of Griezmann — a stalwart for coach Didier Deschamps for the past decade — gave it the feel of a new era for Les Bleus.

Goals by Matteo Guendouzi in the 87th and Bradley Barcola in the 89th wrapped up France’s win against Israel, after Eduardo Camavinga and Christopher Nkunku netted in the first half.