Vietnam marks 50 years since war’s end with national celebrations
Vietnam celebrated the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War on Wednesday with a large parade and air show in Ho Chi Minh City, commemorating the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, Reuters reported.
The event, which was attended by thousands, marked North Vietnamese forces' victory, which resulted in national reunification and the end of a 20-year conflict that killed over 3m Vietnamese and approximately 60,000 Americans.
Calling it a “victory of faith and justice,” Communist Party chief To Lam quoted Ho Chi Minh’s motto: “Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one” , according to Reuters.
The closing days of the war were marked by the dramatic evacuation of thousands of Americans as North Vietnamese forces entered the city. Vietnam was officially reunified a year later, bringing an end to decades of conflict.
About 600 North Korean soldiers killed in Ukraine, say South Korean lawmakers
South Korean lawmakers revealed that over 600 North Korean soldiers were killed in Russia's battle in Ukraine, citing intelligence from the National Intelligence Service (NIS), Al Jazeera reported.
An estimated 15,000 North Korean forces have been deployed, with a total of approximately 4,700 casualties. Pyongyang has acknowledged its involvement, with Kim Jong Un promising to back Russia in "liberating" Ukraine's Kursk area.
In exchange, North Korea reportedly acquired satellite technology, drones, and air defense systems. Intelligence authorities claim that North Korean forces are getting more effective as they gather battle experience, according to Al Jazeera.
Strong wind likely to occur in Tarai region of Lumbini Province
The influence of westerly and local winds is prevailing in the country at present.
According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, there is also an impact of water vapour-rich air coming from the Bay of Bengal.
The weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly region and partly cloudy in the rest of the country this afternoon, the country's weather bulletin stated.
Some places of the hilly region of the country are likely to receive light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning.
Light rain and snowfall is likely to occur at some places of the mountainous regions of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces.
The strong wind is likely to occur at some places in the Tarai region of Lumbini Province. Similarly, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly region and fair in the rest of the country tonight.
Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at one or two places of the hilly regions of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpashchim Provinces.
Light rain and snowfall is likely to occur at one or two places of the mountainous region of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces.
Nepal to restrict Everest permits to climbers who have scaled another 7,000+ meter Nepali mountain
Nepal will issue Everest permits only to climbers with experience of scaling at least one of the Himalayan nation’s 7,000-meter (22,965 ft) peaks, according to the draft of a new law aimed at reducing overcrowding and improving safety, Reuters reported.
Nepal, which is heavily reliant on climbing, trekking and tourism for foreign exchange, has faced criticism for permitting too many climbers, including inexperienced ones, to try to ascend the 8,849-meter (29,032 ft) peak.
This often results in long queues of climbers in the “Death Zone,” an area below the summit with insufficient natural oxygen for survival.
Overcrowding has been blamed for the high number of deaths on the mountain. At least 12 climbers died, and another five went missing on Everest’s slopes in 2023 when Nepal issued 478 permits. Eight climbers died last year, according to Reuters.
