October 15, 2024: Snapshot of today's main news

Kathmandu, October 15 — 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.

34 countries, including Nepal, condemn attack on UNIFIL

Nepal, along with 34 other countries, has condemned the attack on a peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon. According to the United Nations, the Israeli army forcibly entered the peacekeeping base and fired artillery on Sunday.

As a country contributing to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Nepal has expressed its support for UNIFIL’s mission and activities. Nepal condemned the attack on UNIFIL peacekeepers and urged the conflicting parties to guarantee their safety.

Additionally, Nepal stated that such incidents must cease immediately and that a thorough investigation into the incident is necessary.

Koteshwor and Kalanki see surge in passengers after Dashain holiday

With the end of the public holiday for Dashain festivities, those who went to their homes are beginning to return to Kathmandu.

A crowd of people traveling to Kathmandu via the BP Highway and Araniko Highway was seen in Koteshwor on Tuesday.

After the BP Highway, which had been damaged by floods and landslides, was reopened to traffic from Tuesday, the number of people coming to Kathmandu has increased. The Araniko Highway is also now accessible.

With the completion of the five-day public holiday granted for Dashain on Tuesday, a surge of passengers was observed at Kalanki and Koteshwor connecting Kathmandu. Traffic congestion has also begun in the Koteshwor and Jadibuti areas.

According to the traffic police office, 48,600 passengers have entered the Kathmandu Valley in the last 24 hours.

All NA personnel in peacekeeping mission in Lebanon safe

The Nepali Army (NA) has confirmed that all its personnel deployed in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon are safe.     

NA spokesperson Gaurav Kumar KC stated that the army is in regular contact with its security forces in Lebanon, and all members are unharmed.

However, sporadic incidents in the region have disrupted the daily operations of the mission, KC told the RSS.     

He said the NA will follow directives from the UN and mission headquarters concerning the ongoing situation in Lebanon. Currently, there are 877 NA personnel serving as peacekeepers in UNIFIL.

Over 1,300 tourists stranded in Manthali amid weather disruptions

Due to adverse weather conditions, flights at Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla, Solukhumbu have been suspended for the past two days.

 The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) in Lukla informed that no flights have been able to take off since Monday due to changes in weather.

According to ATC Officer Bibas Dahal, around 800 tourists arrived in Lukla on 90 flights on Sunday, but no flights have operated since then. Continuous foggy weather has disrupted flights, causing problems for tourists visiting the Everest region.

“Tourists heading to Lukla are also stranded in Manthali, and some have been reported stuck in Kathmandu as well. The adverse weather has led to the disruption of flights, resulting in tourists being stranded,” he stated.

UML adamant on controversial office building plans

Following the donation of land by businessman Min Bahadur Gurung and Sabitri Gurung in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, criticism has emerged both within and outside the CPN-UML party regarding the party's plans to construct its central office building on that land.

Standing Committee member Dr. Binda Pandey argued that accepting land donations from a businessman would humiliate the party’s 550,000 members and disrespect 2.8 million UML voters, calling for the decision to be reconsidered.

Despite such comments from responsible party leaders, the UML has made it clear that it will not reverse its decision.

UML publicity department chief Rajendra Gautam stated that the decision to build the party office at that location was made after discussion in the party's central secretariat meeting, and thus, the decision cannot be changed.

"There is no possibility of reversing the decision," Gautam told Ratopati. "Businessman Min Bahadur Gurung and his wife Sabitri Gurung have donated 10 ropanis and 14 annas of land to build the UML's party office."

Prabhakar and Biplav discuss advancing Communist movement

Before the Central Committee meeting of the CPN (Maoist Centre), there was a private discussion between Deputy General Secretary Janardan Sharma "Prabhakar" and Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) General Secretary Netra Bikram Chand "Biplav."

The two leaders had a one-hour conversation on Tuesday at Biplav's party central office in Shivagadhi, Kapilbastu.

Sharma visited Shivagadhi to meet Biplav while he was in Kapilbastu for work-related matters.

During the discussion, Biplav mentioned to Ratopati that they talked positively about party unity and advancing the overall communist movement in a new direction.

However, he argued that it should not be assumed that unity will happen immediately without institutional decisions from the Maoists.

Nepal Oil Corporation raises petroleum prices

The price of petroleum products has increased.

The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has announced a price hike effective from midnight, raising the price of petrol by one rupee per liter and diesel and kerosene by four rupees.

As a result, the price of petrol in third-tier cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Dhangadi is now 159 rupees, while in second-tier areas like Surkhet and Dang, it is 158 rupees, and in first-tier regions, it is 156.50 rupees.

Similarly, the price of diesel is set at 151 rupees in third-tier areas, 150 rupees in second-tier areas, and 148.50 rupees in first-tier regions.

Remittances surge: NPR 126.21 billion inflow in just one month

 In just one month, remittances worth NPR 126.21 billion have flowed into Nepal.

 According to the Nepal Rastra Bank, this amount corresponds to the remittance inflow for the month of Bhadra in the current fiscal year.

In the month of Shrawan, remittances amounted to NPR 136.93 billion. Thus, the total remittance inflow over the two months has reached NPR 263.14 billion, as reported by the central bank.

Google goes nuclear to power AI data centres

Google has signed a deal to use small nuclear reactors to generate the vast amounts of energy needed to power its artificial intelligence (AI) data centres.

The company says the agreement with Kairos Power will see it start using the first reactor this decade and bring more online by 2035.

The companies did not give any details about how much the deal is worth or where the plants will be built.

Technology firms are increasingly turning to nuclear sources of energy to supply the electricity used by the huge data centres that drive AI.

"The grid needs new electricity sources to support AI technologies," said Michael Terrell, senior director for energy and climate at Google.

Spacecraft blasts off to hunt alien life on a distant moon

A spacecraft that will hunt for signs of alien life on one of Jupiter’s icy moons has blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Nasa launched the spacecraft at 12:06 local time (16:06 GMT) after hurricane Milton forced the mission to postpone plans last week.

Europa Clipper will now travel 1.8 billion miles to reach Europa, a deeply mysterious moon orbiting Jupiter.

It will not arrive until 2030 but what it finds could change what we know about life in our solar system.

Trapped under the moon’s surface could be a vast ocean with double the amount of water on Earth.

The spacecraft is chasing a European mission that left last year, but using a cosmic piggyback, it will overtake and arrive first.

Israel kills at least 50 in Gaza

Israeli military strikes killed at least 50 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip as Israeli forces tightened their squeeze around Jabalia in the north of the enclave on Tuesday, amid fierce battles with Hamas-led fighters.

Palestinian health officials said at least 17 people were killed by Israeli fire near Al-Falouja in Jabalia, the largest of Gaza's eight historic refugee camps, while 10 others were killed in Bani Suhaila in eastern Khan Younis in the south when an Israeli missile struck a house.

India and Canada expel top diplomats over murder accusations

India and Canada have expelled their top envoys along with other diplomats as the row intensifies over last year's assassination of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil.

Trudeau said his government responded after police began pursuing credible allegations that Indian agents were directly involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Canadian police accused Indian agents of involvement in "homicides, extortion and violent acts" and targeting supporters of the pro-Khalistan movement, which seeks a separate homeland for Sikhs in India.

Delhi rejected the allegations as "preposterous", accusing Trudeau of pandering to Canada’s large Sikh community for political gain.

Ghulam's debut century carries Pakistan as England stay in touch

Pakistan 259 for 5 (Ghulam 118, Ayub 77) vs England

There has been precious little for Pakistan cricket to cheer in recent months, but on the opening day of the second Test in Multan, Kamran Ghulam provided a moment of unbridled joy as he brought up a gutsy century in his maiden Test innings, to carry the fight for his embattled team.

Though he fell late in the day for 118, bowled by Shoaib Bashir as he looked to stay proactive with the close of play looming, Ghulam's debut efforts helped to lift Pakistan to 259 for 5 - scarcely riches by the standards that England were dishing up on this very same surface last week, but the beginnings of a score nonetheless.

Asian World Cup qualifying: Only own-goals as Japan and Australia draw 1-1

Two own-goals saw the points shared Tuesday as Japan and Australia drew 1-1 in Asian World Cup qualifying.

Shogo Taniguchi accidentally put Australia ahead just before the hour at Saitama Stadium, but Australia’s Cameron Burgess returned the favor soon after to leave Japan top of Group C with 10 points from four games, five clear of the Socceroos in second.

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, third and fourth, meet later Tuesday.

“I’m very proud of that performance – the calmness and composure that we showed in defense,” said Australia midfielder Jackson Irvine. “It’s a top foundation for us to move forward.”

Ferguson to leave Man Utd global ambassador role

Sir Alex Ferguson will leave his role as Manchester United ambassador at the end of the season.

Ferguson has been paid a multi-million pound sum by United since his retirement as manager in 2013.

During that period the 82-year-old has acted as a global ambassador and club director. He has been a regular at games and retains a seat in the directors' box.

Club sources say Ferguson, United's most successful manager thanks to his 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, five FA Cups and four League Cups amongst others, will always be welcome at Old Trafford and the decision has been taken amicably following a direct conversation between the Scot and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe last week.