Russian attacks on Ukraine kill at least 5 and injure over a dozen
A Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine’s capital overnight killed at least four people and injured others, according to Ukraine’s emergency services, as rescue workers and firefighters sought to remove people they believed trapped under debris in a partially collapsed apartment building, Associated Press reported.
The strikes came nearly a week after a combined Russian attack on Ukraine last Tuesday killed 28 people in Kyiv, 23 of them in a residential building that collapsed after sustaining a direct hit by a missile. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called that attack one of the biggest bombardments of the war, now in its fourth year.
In the early hours of Monday, drones and missiles hit residential areas, hospitals and sports infrastructure in numerous districts across Kyiv, emergency services said, with the most severe damage occurring in the Shevchenkivskyi district, where one section of a five-story apartment building collapsed, according to Associated Press.
Alternative route of Daunne-Dumkibas road also obstructed
The alternative route in Dumkibas area of Nawalparasi (Bardaghat-Susta East) along the Butwal-Narayangadh road stretch has also been completely obstructed.
With the rain-triggered flood sweeping away the bridge in Binayi Triveni Municipality-1 Dumkibas, road transportation was managed through a diversion.
After the diversion was also taken away, traffic had to be routed through an alternative road, which has now been completely blocked since this morning.
Due to the flood-fed Kharange stream in Binayi Triveni-3, the alternative route has been completely obstructed, informed Superintendent of Police at Nawalpur Police, Yadav Dhakal.
With this, vehicles are not in a position to move along the Dumkibas section. Continuous rain has led to an increase in the water current, which washed away the temporary diversion placed over the Binayi River along the East-West Highway.
It may be noted that small and medium vehicles (up to 12 wheels) that were put on hold were being allowed to pass through the alternative inner route using the Hongsigate, Sardi, and Jyamire highways.
SP Dhakal stated that all transportation has been brought to a complete halt. Due to the flow of water in the rivers and streams with rain and the lack of reliable arrangements for the temporary diversion, travelers are facing difficulties.
PCN holds discussion with visiting Chinese journalists on resolving problems of journalism jointly
The Press Council Nepal held a discussion with a team of visiting Chinese journalists about the possibility of jointly resolving the problems seen in journalism.
Representatives from the Tibetan Cultural Center and the Federation of Journalists from Xizang Province (Tibet) held a meeting at the office of the Council on Sunday.
During the meeting, they discussed promoting the customs, culture and traditions of the two countries in each other's countries, as well as taking joint initiatives to solve problems seen in journalism along with digital communication.
On the occasion, Council member Bijay Raj Adhikari welcomed the visiting team and said that they can move forward by strengthening mutual goodwill and relations.
He informed the visiting team about the work, duties, and media monitoring of the Press Council Nepal.
Jhabindra Bhusal, Chief Officer of the Council, gave a presentation on the state of Nepali media, legal system, and opportunities and challenges of digital media.
Similarly, the head of the visiting Chinese team urged the Council to make arrangements for Nepali journalists to visit Tibet, saying that seeing once is more effective than hearing thousand times.
He pointed out the need for adequate exchange of visits between Nepal and China through the media sector.
Saying that China has made a great success in digital transformation in recent years, he said that cooperation can also be made in Nepal.
Stating that a conference on digital media management is going to be held in October in Tibet, the visiting team has urged the Council to coordinate for the participation from Nepal.
35 Nepali nationals held hostage in India rescued
Thirty-five youths from various districts of Nepal held captive under the lure of jobs have been rescued from Kashipur, Uttarakhand, India.
The Nepali Embassy in New Delhi has stated that they were rescued as per the directives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after receiving information that they were held captive, beaten and tortured and extorted money under various pretexts.
The embassy rescued them Thursday with the help of Uttarakhand Police and a community-based organization called KIN India.
The Uttarakhand Police has arrested some people related to the incident and is conducting further investigation, the Embassy stated..
The rescued ones will be sent to Nepal after completing the due legal process.
Gurkha legend Lieutenant Colonel J P Cross OBE clocks centenary
One of the most renowned British Officers in the history of the Brigade of Gurkhas Lieutenant Colonel J P Cross OBE has reached 100 years of lifetime and the extraordinary occasion was marked with a fervent celebration at the British Gurkhas Nepal camp in Pokhara.
Lieutenant Colonel John Philip Cross OBE, popularly known as JP Cross, served together with the Gurkhas in the British Army for nearly 40 years, when he earned legendary respect because of his experience, leadership and devotion to his units.
Following retirement from a very rich service accounting numerous deployments, he has been living in Nepal for the last 49 years, the latter years as an official Nepali citizen. Now fond of being called a ‘Nepali born in Britain’, the retired Officer recalls his first arrival in Nepal with the British Army 80 years ago at the age of 21.
He has authored 19 books on his lifelong military service and knowledge and in his remarks and recollections, has always held the Gurkhas in high esteem. His passion for Nepal, its people and the Gurkhas has cemented his name in Nepal and the Gurkha community, while his knowledge expressed in his writing has gained good recognition in the wider military world.
Addressing the event attended by Mrs Julia Fenn, wife of the British Ambassador to Nepal, Gurkha veterans and serving officers and staff, Colonel Dan Rex MVO, Commander British Gurkhas Nepal urged all to reflect how the milestone celebration resonated beyond the camp in Pokhara to all of the Brigade of Gurkhas and British Army. “It is also a moment being closely watched and related by many Nepalis who are proud of their association with JP Saheb,” he said.
In addition to his distinguished career as an officer and author, Lt Col (Retd) J P Cross OBE is recognised as an expert in jungle warfare and counter-insurgency, with experience as a police officer, defence attaché, and Gurkha recruitment officer. He is also a highly skilled linguist, fluent in Nepali and its dialects. His military service spans Burma, Indo-China, Malaya, Borneo, Pakistan, India, Hong Kong, and Nepal, among other regions. He now lives a settled life in Pokhara, Nepal—the home of Gurkha recruitment—with his godson and family. Back when 93 years, with his sharp sense of humour, he had quipped: "Call me old when I am 100." Maybe it’s time to dig more humour out of J P Saheb
Parliament meeting scheduled for today
Deliberations on the Appropriation Bill, 2082 related to different ministries will continue in the meeting of the House of Representatives today.
The meeting will be held at 11 am at the Federal Parliament Building, New Baneshwar.
According to the agenda shared by the Federal Parliament Secretariat, lawmakers will discuss new financial year appropriation of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Finance, Urban Development, and the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Secretariat of the National Planning Commission, the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President.
Similarly, proposals for expenditure cuts in the budget set aside for the ministries proposed by some lawmakers will be presented for a vote.
Speaker Devraj Ghimire is also scheduled to announce the change in the names of members of some parliamentary committees under the House of Representatives.
Heavy rainfall likely in Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini
The weather today will be partly to generally cloudy across the country.
There is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning at many places in the hilly regions of the country including Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces.
According to the Weather Forecasting Division, there is also a possibility of heavy rain at one or two places in the hilly regions of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces. There is a possibility of light rain and snowfall at a few places in the high-hilly and mountainous regions of the country.
Later tonight, the weather will continue to remain partly to generally cloudy across the country. There is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning at many places in Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces and at some places in the rest of the country.
There is a possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places in Koshi, Madhesh and Bagmati Provinces and heavy rainfall at one or two places in Gandaki, Lumbini and Sudurpaschim Provinces. Light to moderate rainfall and snowfall is likely at a few places in the high-hilly and mountainous regions of the country.
Investors brace for oil price spike, rush to havens after US bombs Iran nuclear sites
A U.S. attack on Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday could lead to a knee-jerk reaction in global markets when they reopen, sending oil prices higher and triggering a rush to safety, investors said, as they assessed how the latest escalation of tensions would ripple through the global economy, Reuters reported.
The attack, which was announced by President Donald Trump on social media site Truth Social, deepens U.S. involvement in the Middle East conflict. That was the question going into the weekend, when investors were mulling a host of different market scenarios.
In the immediate aftermath of the announcement, they expected the U.S. involvement was likely to cause a selloff in equities and a possible bid for the dollar and other safe-haven assets when trading begins, but also said much uncertainty about the course of the conflict remained.
While Trump called the attack "successful", few details were known. He was expected to address the nation later on Saturday, according to Reuters.