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Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall in Vietnam on Thursday after killing at least 114 people and flooding entire towns in the Philippines, BBC reported.

More than 260,000 soldiers are on standby for rescue efforts as winds of up to 92mph (149km/h) hit the country's coastline, according to Vietnamese media and the government's online portal.

Six airports in the country have been forced to close and hundreds of flights are expected to be affected, the government warned, according to BBC.

President Ram Chandra Paudel returned home from Qatar on Thursday after attending the 'Second World Summit for Social Development' held in Doha, Qatar. The event commenced on Tuesday. 

Vice President Ramsahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, the Qatari Ambassador to Nepal, and the chiefs of security agencies received the Head of the State  at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

On the occasion, a contingent of Nepali Army accorded a guard of honour to President Paudel. 

Paudel departed for Doha on Monday at the invitation of Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, leading a Nepali delegation along with First Lady Sabita Paudel.

The President addressed the main session of the 'Second World Summit for Social Development' held in Doha as per the UN General Assembly's decision.

He also addressed a high-level roundtable conference focused on enhancing the three pillars of social development: poverty alleviation, productive employment and decent work for all, and social inclusion. 

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres paid a courtesy call on President Paudel during his stay in Qatar.

Paudel also visited the Qatar National Museum on Wednesday.

Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NICCI) today suggested Finance Minister Rameshwor Khanal to form the Foreign Investor Council.

Paying a courtesy call on Finance Minister Khanal, NICCI President Sunil KC suggested forming the council to facilitate foreign investors, apprised with issues faced by the Indian multinationals in Nepal including General Sales Tax (GST) and control of unauthorized trade, reads a statement issued by NICCI. 

The recent review of GST by the Indian government is expected to result in widening price arbitrage (raising grey-channel risk) and improved affordability for impacted formal imports – as price ladders shift downwards along with India MRP revisions.

India’s 56th GST Council has approved broad rate changes effective from September 22 this year. This re-bases India MRPs across several Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) lines.

On the occasion, KC also highlighted the rise of illegal trade that is bleeding the government coffer.

Responding to KC, Finance Minister Khanal said that the ministry will take up the idea of Foreign Investor Council under the Ministry to facilitate the foreign investor. Nepal needs foreign investment to not only create jobs in the country but also to boost the export and expand economy, he said, according to the statement. 

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 11. 29 points to close at 2, 596. 12 ​​points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 2. 08 points to close at 451. 52 points.

A total of 10,868,146-unit shares of 320 companies were traded for Rs 5. 41 billion.

Meanwhile, Daramkhola Hydro Energy Limited (DHEL) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent.
Likewise, Sampada Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SMPDA) was the top loser as its price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 47 trillion.

The death toll in the Philippines from Typhoon Kalmaegi rose to 114 with another 127 people still missing, the disaster agency said on Thursday, as the storm that devastated the country’s central regions regained strength as it headed towards Vietnam.

In Vietnam’s Gia Lai province, some 350,000 people were expected to have been evacuated by the middle of the day as authorities warned of heavy rains and damaging winds that could cause flooding in low-lying areas and disrupt agricultural activity.

In the Philippines’ hardest-hit province of Cebu, the scale of the destruction became clearer as floodwaters receded to reveal flattened homes, overturned vehicles and streets choked with debris.

Alejandro Garnacho ensured Chelsea returned from Azerbaijan with a point as he came off the bench to equalise in their 2-2 draw away to Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

The former Manchester United forward fired a sweetly-struck left-foot effort into the net after 53 minutes of an enthralling contest which had slipped from Chelsea's grasp.

Brazilian teenager Estevao put the visitors ahead with a neat finish in the 16th minute but after a slow start Qarabag came alive in the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, according to Reuters.

Villarreal fell to a humbling 1-0 defeat away to Pafos on Wednesday, as their dismal Champions League campaign continued after Derrick Luckassen scored to give the Cypriot side their first win of the competition, Reuters reported.

The Spanish club may be riding high in third place in LaLiga, but remain on one point in Europe, while Pafos move on to five points.

Given both clubs' campaigns so far, a goal fest was never likely. Villarreal scored twice in three games, both coming in a 2-2 draw with Juventus, while Pafos had netted only once, which came in a 5-1 loss to Bayern Munich, according to Reuters.

Manchester City's Erling Haalandcame back to haunt Borussia Dortmund with a clinical finish against his former team, while Phil Foden bagged a brilliant brace as the hosts cruised to a 4-1 win in the Champions League on Wednesday to climb to fourth, Reuters reported.

Pep Guardiola's side have 10 points after four of the eight league-phase games, while Dortmund fell to 14th on seven points.

City, who hoisted the Champions League trophy in 2023, were dominant from the start at the Etihad Stadium, according to Reuters.