Rubi Sah murder case: Main accused Paswan found with his body badly burned in Rautahat

The main accused of the Rubi Sah murder case was found with his whole body badly burned in Rautahat on Wednesday.

Police said that Laxman Paswan was found with burn injuries on the way to Bisunpurwa-Manpur road from Madhopur, Madhav Narayan Municipality-6, Rautahat.

Police took him under control and rushed to the Garuda Hospital, but he was referred to Kathmandu after treatment was not possible at the hospital, informed SP Netramani Giri, Chief at the District Police Office, Rautahat.

SP Giri suspected that Paswan might have set himself on fire.

Rubi Sah had been living in the rented room at Madhavpatti, Gaur-2.

The body of Sah was found inside a suitcase in Gaur on Sunday.

 

 

 

Israel destroys entire neighborhoods in push to occupy Gaza City

Israel has intensified its military operations in Gaza City, with tanks and airstrikes flattening entire blocks, according to Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum. At least 64 Palestinians were killed in attacks across Gaza on Tuesday, including five at a local market.

The Palestinian Authority condemned the escalation, following an Israeli raid in Ramallah that injured dozens in the occupied West Bank.

Since the conflict began, Israeli strikes have killed over 62,800 Palestinians and wounded more than 158,600. In Israel, at least 1,139 people were killed and over 200 taken captive during the October 7 attacks led by Hamas, Al Jazeera reported.

 

 

France returns human skulls to Madagascar, 128 years after French massacre

France has returned three human skulls to Madagascar, including one believed to belong to King Toera, who was decapitated by French troops in 1897. The remains, from the Sakalava ethnic group, were handed over at a ceremony in Paris, Al Jazeera reported.

French Culture Minister Rachida Dati acknowledged the violation of human dignity, while Madagascar’s Volamiranty Donna Mara called it a step toward healing a “century-old open wound.”

The skulls, confirmed by a scientific committee, will be buried in Madagascar, with a tribute planned on the anniversary of King Toera’s execution, according to Al Jazeera.

 

Karnali Highway obstructed at Kalikot

The Surkhet-Jumla road section along the Karnali Highway has remained disrupted after its segment caved-in at Kalekhola, Kalikot.

With this, the roadway has remained completely closed since last night.

According to the Road Division Office Chief Dipendra Kumar Chaudhary, the required workforce has been mobilized to undertake the restoration efforts.

It is to take some time to restore the damaged section, he said, urging one and all to opt for an alternative route for the necessary travel.

 

US envoy prompts outrage in Lebanon after telling media to ‘act civilized’

US diplomat Tom Barrack, ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, faced backlash in Lebanon after telling local journalists to “act civilized” during a briefing following a meeting with President Joseph Aoun on Hezbollah disarmament, Al Jazeera reported.

Barrack, of Lebanese descent, chided reporters for shouting questions and linked their behavior to regional conflicts. His remarks drew accusations of arrogance and “colonial” attitudes.

The Lebanese Presidency expressed regret, praising journalists’ professionalism, while the Union of Journalists urged media to boycott Barrack’s events until a formal apology is issued. Critics said his comments reflected a lack of respect for press freedom. The US State Department has not commented, according to Al Jazeera.

North Korea blasts South Korea’s Lee as ‘confrontation maniac’

North Korea has condemned South Korean President Lee Jae-myung as a “confrontation maniac” following his US speech advocating denuclearization for lasting peace and a stronger South Korea–US alliance, Al Jazeera reported.

The state-run KCNA dismissed Lee’s call as naive and reaffirmed Pyongyang’s commitment to its nuclear arsenal, citing external threats.

Lee, in office since June, has pledged improved inter-Korean relations, but North Korea has repeatedly rejected engagement, with Kim Jong Un’s sister recently declaring Pyongyang “does not care” about South Korea’s outreach.

According to Al Jazeera, North Korea is estimated to have around 50 nuclear warheads and material for more.

 

First World Lake Day being observed today

World Lake Day is being observed for the first time across the globe today.

According to the United Nations, there are more than 117 million lakes on earth, covering some four percent of land surface.

The lakes are reliable sources of fresh water to the entire planet, but it is worrying that the quality of lake water is declining fast for some years.

"If we continue to put pressure on them, lakes will face a serious decline. By 2050, their ecosystem value could drop by 20 percent; pollution could more than double, and methane emissions may surge—fueling both environmental damage and economic loss. Freshwater species have declined by 85 percent over the past 50 years," UN stated.

The observation of the World Lake Day is expected to create public awareness on present threats to the world's lakes and promote initiatives for the preservation, restoration and sustainable management of lakes.

The UN had organized an event, zeroing in on the importance of lakes, thereby passing the Resolution A/RES/79/142 that determined August 27 as the World Lake Day. The UN Environment Program has been designated as the chief agency facilitating the observation of the Day.

The UN Resolution passed in 2024 had emphasized, "Water ecosystems, including lakes, energy, food security and nutrition are linked and that water is indispensable for health, well-being and human development, and a vital element of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and other relevant goals in the social, environmental and economic fields."

It further recognized the urgency to revive fast declining quality and quantity of lake water in the world.

The SDG Knowledge Hub has described contaminants, fertilizers, and solid waste as major pollutants to the lakes.

 

US and Russian officials discussed energy deals amid Ukraine peace talks

US and Russian officials discussed potential energy deals this month as incentives to advance peace in Ukraine, sources familiar with the talks said. Proposals included allowing Exxon Mobil to rejoin Russia’s Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project, supplying US equipment for Russian LNG projects, and purchasing Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker vessels, according to Reuters.

The discussions took place during US envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit to Moscow, where he met President Vladimir Putin and investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev, and were also raised in White House meetings with President Donald Trump. The talks coincided with the Alaska summit on August 15.

A White House official said Trump’s team continues engaging with both sides to end the war but declined to comment further on negotiations, Reuters reported.