Submit your Article

Authorities in Iran have sprayed clouds with chemicals to induce rain, in an attempt to combat the country's worst drought in decades, BBC reported.

Known as cloud-seeding, the process was conducted over the Urmia lake basin on Saturday, Iran's official news agency Irna reported.

Urmia is Iran's largest lake, but has largely dried out leaving a vast salt bed. Further operations will be carried out in east and west Azerbaijan, the agency said, according to BBC.

Cartel de los Soles, a group the US alleges is led by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, will be designated a terrorist organisation, the US State Department has said, BBC reported.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement on Sunday announcing that the group will be considered a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) from 24 November. 

It means that Maduro will effectively be designated a terrorist as well, because the US alleges he heads the Cartel de los Soles, an accusation Maduro strongly denies, according to BBC.

Maldhunga–Beni road, which is part of the Kaligandaki Corridor linking Myagdi and Mustang to the national highway, will be closed for seven hours daily for the road upgrading works, starting from November 17.

The decision to close the road from 10am to 4pm, effective from Monday (tomorrow) to December 6, has been made in view of the ongoing blacktopping work. 

Badri Prasad Tiwari, Chief District Officer of Myagdi, stated that only ambulances, vehicles transporting patients, and those necessary for development and construction will be allowed, while other vehicles are advised to take alternative routes. 

The 13 km section of road connecting Kushma Municipality-1 Maldhunga to Beni in Myagdi, passing through wards 8, 7, 4, and 3 of Jaljala Rural Municipality, is being upgraded to a two-lane road. 

During the closure, the route from Maldhunga, Baglung via Ratnechaur to Beni will be available for use. 

The project, which has faced delays due to contractor issues and lack of action from the project side, has not yet been completed despite a contract signed in Chaitra 2077 BS for Rs 524.6 million. 

Originally initiated under the 'Food for Work' programme in 2048 BS, the Maldhunga–Beni road was opened in 2052 BS and asphalted in 2068 BS, but has recently deteriorated significantly. 

This road serves residents of Myagdi and Mustang, as well as Jaljala Rural Municipality in Parbat, and is part of Nepal’s shortest route connecting China and India via the Kaligandaki Corridor.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to "overhaul" state-owned energy companies, after a major corruption scandal engulfed the country's energy sector, BBC reported.

Around $100 million (£76m) has been embezzled, anti-graft investigators said, causing outrage in a country where Russian attacks have resulted in crippling power outages.

"Alongside a full audit of their financial activities, the management of these companies is to be renewed," Zelensky wrote in a post on X on Saturday, according to BBC.