October 25, 2024: Snapshot of today's main news

Kathmandu, October 25 — In this section, we present the key headlines of the day. If you have been busy and missed the news, we have got you covered. Here are the highlights.

RSP protests in Kathmandu against President Lamichhane's arrest

The Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has staged a protest in the Maitighar Mandala area.

The demonstration in Kathmandu on Friday was held in response to the arrest of party president Rabi Lamichhane, following a similar protest in Pokhara. 

RSP has decided to continue with the protest programs even if President Rabi Lamichhane is released.

Prachanda denies rumors of meeting with former King Gyanendra

After news of a purported meeting between Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda,' the chairperson of the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Centre), and former king Gyanendra Shah spread on social media, Prachanda's secretariat felt compelled to respond.

Ramesh Malla, Prachanda's personal secretary, dismissed the rumors as fabricated and false. He stated that even after the Maoist movement has ended, a meeting with Gyanendra is not possible.

Journalist Kishor Nepal also discussed the alleged meeting with former king Gyanendra on social media.

Government's first 100 days reviewed by ruling parties

A meeting of ruling political parties reviewed the government's performance over the past hundred days. According to UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, the meeting, held at the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar on Friday, discussed how to make the government more effective in the future.

"We reviewed the government based on the seven-point agreement and common minimum program established by the major political parties in Nepal, UML and Congress," he said after the meeting. "We have decided to issue a joint statement on how to enhance the effectiveness of the government moving forward."

The meeting also concluded that the actions of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leaders and cadres aimed at disrupting the democratic environment under the guise of protests were unacceptable.

Bhattarai challenges former comrade-in-arms Prachanda on Maoist unity

Former Prime Minister and Chairman of the Nepal Samajwadi Party (Naya Shakti), Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, has raised questions regarding the necessity of unity among former Maoists.

Chairman of the Maoist Centre, Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda, has repeatedly emphasized the need for former Maoists to unite. In response, Bhattarai questions what the ideological and political justification for such unity is.

He asks, “Why should all former Maoists gather in one place? To instigate another people's war? To hold celebrations? Or to elevate Prachanda to parliamentary power once more? What is the ideological and political rationale behind this?”

He continues, noting that some close associates of Prachanda are again insisting on the need for all former Maoists to come together. Recently, Prachanda, having been ousted from power, has been threatening to mobilize a movement around the issue of "good governance."

Couple found dead in Kanchanpur, investigation underway

Ramesh Badayak, 45, and his wife Kamala, 43, have been found dead in their home in Binabari, Laljhadi Rural Municipality-1.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Umesh Prasad Joshi from the District Police Office, both individuals were discovered deceased this morning after local residents alerted the police.

"The circumstances surrounding the incident are suspicious," he stated. "There are signs of a sharp weapon being used on the bodies, and blood was found at the scene, prompting an investigation."

Cleaning campaign launched in Singhadurbar to combat dengue

Cleaning has been conducted inside Singhadurbar to control the spread of dengue. On Friday, employees within Singhadurbar carried out the cleaning efforts.

The employees trimmed tree branches, collected trash, and sprayed gas to eliminate mosquitoes. A Cabinet meeting held on Thursday decided to launch a cleaning campaign in government offices across the country to combat dengue.

PM Oli urges to strongly raise issue of Climate Justice in upcoming COP-29

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli instructed the concerned Ministries and agencies to eloquently advocate for Climate Justice in impending COP-29 climate conference.     

PM Oli directed the relevant ministries and agencies to strongly raise the issues relating to climate justice for vulnerable countries like Nepal as articulated by Nepal in the UN's 79th General Assembly (UNGA).     

The UN climate conference is taking place in Baku of Azerbaijan from November 11 to 22 this year. The Nepali delegation to the conference is being led by President Ramchandra Paudel.     

Addressing the third meeting of the Environment Conservation and Climate Change Management National Council at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers today, Oli urged the Nepali delegation to put forward Nepal's clear stance and perspective on climate change and its impact in the upcoming COP-29.     

DPM Poudel held talks with MCC Chief Executive Officer

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel has held a meeting with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Alice P. Albright in Washington DC, USA on Thursday.

The Embassy of Nepal in Washington DC stated that discussions were held regarding the MCC projects in Nepal being implemented under the MCC Compact Agreement since last year and the cross-border transmission line.

Likewise, the Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Bo Li, held a meeting with Minister Poudel on Thursday.

Global IME Bank customers to enjoy 15% discount at Dusit Thani Himalayan Resort

Customers of Global IME Bank will receive a 15% discount on services available at Dusit Thani Himalayan Resort. This agreement was reached between the bank and the resort to provide this discount to the bank's customers.

The agreement was signed by Dilip Pokharel, Chief Marketing Manager of Global IME Bank, and Samjhana Prasai, Sales Manager of Dusit Thani Himalayan Resort.

According to the agreement, bank customers will receive a 15% discount on services at Dusit Thani Himalayan Resort, including food and beverages, Devarana spa, swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam, and sauna, when using the bank's debit and credit cards or the mobile banking app, Global Smart Plus.

Israeli strikes kill 38 in south Gaza

At least 38 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in southern Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry says, as Israeli troops reportedly raided one of the last functioning hospitals in the north of the territory.

Rescue workers said nine children from one family were among those killed near the southern city of Khan Younis.

The ministry and medics also said Israeli troops had ordered patients and staff to leave Kamal Adwan hospital in the northern town of Beit Lahia, close to the besieged Jabalia area.

The Israeli military said it was checking the reports from Khan Younis and that forces were operating "in the area” of Kamal Adwan based on intelligence “regarding the presence of terrorists”.

King refers to 'painful aspects of past' in Commonwealth speech

The King has said "the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate", in a speech to Commonwealth leaders after the issue of reparations for slavery was raised.

“None of us can change the past," he told the summit in Samoa, but said leaders can commit to learning from it and "finding creative ways to right inequalities that endure".

Diplomatic sources have told the BBC a number of Commonwealth heads of government want to start a "meaningful conversation" about whether the UK should pay reparations for its role in the slave trade.

The King, who did not directly address slavery, was speaking at the opening of the biennial summit for the first time as the head of the 56-member group.

Venezuela vents its anger at Brazil's Brics snub

Venezuela has criticised Brazil's decision to veto its admission to the Brics group of emerging economies.

Venezuela's foreign ministry described the move, which came at the group's summit in Russia attended by more than 20 heads of state, as an "immoral aggression".

Relations between the two left-wing governments have worsened since July's contested presidential election in Venezuela. President Nicolás Maduro said he had secured re-election, despite evidence that the opposition's Edmundo González won by a landslide.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva initially supported Maduro, but eventually said he would not accept the official results until a breakdown of the vote was released.

Multiple foreign governments have said they believe the opposition won the election in Venezuela, but stopped short of recognising González as the president.

India evacuates thousands of people, shuts schools as tropical storm nears

Indian authorities have shut schools, evacuated hundreds of thousands of people and cancelled trains in parts of the country as rescue teams braced on Thursday for a tropical storm brewing in the Bay of Bengal.

Tropical Storm Dana is expected to intensify, bringing winds of 100-110 kph (62-68 mph) and gusts up to 120 kph (74 mph), as it pushes toward the country's eastern coastline, where it is set to make landfall late Thursday and early Friday, according to the Indian Meteorological Department.

Climate scientists say severe storms are becoming more frequent in South Asia. Global warming driven by planet-heating gases has caused them to become more extreme and unpredictable.

Warner's leadership ban lifted by Cricket Australia

David Warner's lifetime leadership ban has been lifted by Cricket Australia.

Warner, 37, was banned from cricket for 12 months and prevented from holding leadership positions as part of his punishment for the ball-tampering scandal in 2018.

It means Warner, who retired from international cricket this year, is free to captain in Australian domestic cricket, such as for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash.

Cricket Australia said the decision comes after a review by an independent panel.

PSG must pay Mbappé $60 million but club disputes latest ruling

The French league’s appeals commission has upheld the decision ordering French champion Paris Saint-Germain to pay Kylian Mbappé 55 million euros ($60 million) in unpaid wages, the league said Friday.

The LFP’s legal commission had ruled in favor of Mbappé last month but PSG insisted it did not owe him money and appealed. The two parties were heard again on Oct. 15 and the verdict remained unchanged.

“The club (PSG) must pay him the parts of his salary he is claiming,” the LFP told The Associated Press in an email. “This decision is not subject to (further) appeal, but can be raised before the executive committee of the FFF (French soccer Federation).”

Shakeel century drives Pakistan into priceless 77-run lead

Pakistan 344 (Shakeel 134, Sajid 48*, Noman 45, Rehan 4-66) are level with England 267 & 24/3 (Smith 89, Duckett 52, Sajid 6-128) by 53 runs

An undulating third Test in Rawalpindi has shifted back Pakistan's way thanks to a gutsy century from Saud Shakeel that dragged Pakistan to 344 for a vital 77-run first innings lead over England.

Shakeel's 134 from 223 deliveries held together the innings, capped off by vital stands of 88 with Noman Ali (45) and 72 with Sajid Khan, whose brutal 48 not out provided the explosives after the lead had been secured.

Santner, Latham give NZ a shot at maiden series win in India

New Zealand 259 and 198 for 5 (Latham 86, Blundell 30*, Washington 4-56) lead India 156 (Jadeja 38, Santner 7-53, Phillips 2-26) by 301 runs

New Zealand took massive strides towards doing the unthinkable: not just their first Test series win in India, but also India's first series defeat at home in 12 years. Mitchell Santner, never four wickets in an innings before this Test, and with just one first-class five-for to his name, tied India to the crease and took seven wickets to bowl India out for 156. The batters, led by Tom Latham, did some efficient front-running by attacking the Indian spinners to end the day with a lead of 301 runs with five wickets in hand.