Israel kills 35 as Gaza City neighbourhood block bombed to rubble

Multiple Israeli strikes on residential buildings in Gaza City’s Shujayea neighbourhood kill at least 35 Palestinians and wound a further 55 while 80 people remain missing under the rubble.

Witnesses to the Shujayea attack say the Israeli strike was "a massacre in every sense of the word," as an overcrowded hospital seeks blood donors to treat dozens of critically injured survivors, according to Al Jazeera.

Israeli forces have carried out a major raid on the Balata refugee camp and nearby Nablus in the occupied West Bank.

Israel's war on Gaza has resulted in at least 50,846 recorded Palestinian deaths and 115,729 injuries, as reported by Gaza's Health Ministry. Over 61,700 individuals have been confirmed deceased by the Government Media Office, saying thousands of people missing under the rubble are presumed dead, Al Jazeera reported.

At least 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks and more than 200 were taken captive.

Nepse plunges by 5. 57 points on Friday

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 5. 57 points to close at 2, 670.70 points on Friday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 0. 19 points to close at 446. 03 points.

A total of 11,384,725-unit shares of 321 companies were traded for Rs 5. 63 billion.

Meanwhile, Nepal Micro Insurance Company Limited (NMIC) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 9. 98 percent.

Likewise, Bottlers Nepal (Balaju) Limited (BNL) was the top loser with its price dropped by 4. 37 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 43 trillion.

Australia declines China's offer to 'join hands' on Trump tariffs

Australia has firmly rejected a proposal from Beijing to collaborate on countering US tariffs, instead reaffirming its commitment to diversifying trade partnerships and reducing dependence on China, its largest trading partner.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on Thursday dismissed the Chinese ambassador’s call for countries to “join hands” on global trade, insisting Canberra would not take sides in broader geopolitical contests, Reuters reported.

The diplomatic exchange comes following a substantial escalation in the US-China trade battle.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced that he would hike tariffs on Chinese goods from 104% to 125%, while temporarily lowering taxes on dozens of other countries.

The move presents both opportunity and risk for Australia, which sends nearly a third of its exports to China, but less than 5% to the United States, according to Reuters.

Trump also imposed a flat 10% tariff on Australian imports—one of the lowest among his reciprocal tariffs—despite Australia being a key US security ally in the Indo-Pacific.

Australia's central bank has cautioned that ongoing global trade tensions, particularly between big economies such as the United States and China, might dissuade company investment and reduce household spending, adding uncertainty to the country's economic outlook.

55 percent of Lumbini gets irrigation access

The data released by the Lumbini Province Government states that 55 percent of the area has irrigation facilities. Irrigation facilities are available in 33 percent of the total irrigable land throughout the year.

Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Bishnu Bhandari, informed that irrigation facilities have been provided in the province through various means and processes. Irrigation facilities have been provided to 21,055 hectares of land in Lumbini, while irrigation infrastructure has been strengthened in 73,768 hectares of land. 211 kilometers of embankments have been constructed for river control, through which 2,632 hectares of land have been raised and 14,119 hectares of land and 17,498 households have been protected.

According to the ministry, 403 irrigation dams and springs have been constructed and 832 kilometers of concrete canals have been constructed so far. There are 107 projects under the lift irrigation system, to which two new projects have been added in the current fiscal year. The installation of shallow and deep tubes has also been accelerated to expand irrigation access. 759 shallow tubes and 232 deep tubes have been installed. The number of pump houses has reached 386, while 82 projects have been electrified for irrigation purposes. 747 kilometers of pipeline have been laid under the pipeline expansion work.

Secretary Bhandari said that the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation of the provincial government has given priority to the expansion of irrigation infrastructure in line with the long-term vision of increasing agricultural production and maintaining economic, social and environmental balance. Various programs related to the construction of irrigation infrastructure, conservation of water resources and disaster management are being operated through the ministry.

Under the major projects, the Praganna Irrigation Scheme for Dang district and the Banganga Irrigation System of Kapilvastu are being operated. Separate irrigation management offices have been established for their management and maintenance. Minister Sita Sharma Chaudhary said that the provincial government has set a goal of increasing agricultural productivity, stabilizing food security and environmental sustainability through strengthening irrigation infrastructure.

Irrigation Day was celebrated in the province on Monday. The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Lumbini Province, organized a program on the occasion of Irrigation Day. Addressing the program, Lumbini Province Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya said that alternative measures can be put into practice to solve the water crisis arising in irrigation.

Chief Minister Acharya said that the water problem can be solved by building ponds and collecting rainwater and using it for both irrigation and drinking water. “If irrigation can be provided to barren land, it can also attract tourists. The water problem can be solved by building water reservoirs in the Tarai and hills. Rainwater can be collected and used for irrigation in winter,” he said.

Chief Minister Acharya, mentioning the need to focus on the conservation and economical use of water resources, expressed concern over the gradual depletion of both underground and surface water resources, which has led to the deterioration of irrigation projects. “The federal government has not been able to transfer those irrigation projects to the provinces. Due to this, farmers are not able to irrigate easily. The provincial government has taken this problem seriously.” He said that a solution to the irrigation problem would be found through coordination and cooperation, and that the problem had become more complicated when the groundwater irrigation projects operated by the federal government were not effective.

Nepali cricket team all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee sets new record

Nepal cricket team’s all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee has set a new record in the T20I.

He has set a record as a player who has never been ducked out in any match in T20I. Airee has not been ducked out while playing 66 matches of 76.

In the match played against Kuwait on Thursday, he scored 31 runs off 12 balls with three boundaries and three sixes.

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His attacking game brought the match to Nepal’s favor.

He set this record after playing the second match of the Quadrangular T20I Series underway in Hong Kong.

Marlon Samuels of West Indies is on the second of the list who has not been duked out.

 

 

 

 

Nepal hands over 27 tons of relief materials to quake-hit Myanmar

The Government of Nepal handed over 27 tons of relief materials to quake-hit Myanmar.

A team of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had reached Myanmar to hand over relief materials, including food, medicine, clothes, and tents among others to the quake-affected people.

Earlier, the Cabinet meeting had decided to send relief materials to the quake-victims in Myanmar.

Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tapas Adhikari informed that the materials collected under the joint initiative of the Government of Nepal and the private sector have been handed over to the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar.

He added that the Government of Nepal provided assistance as a relief for the people of Myanmar.

The Government of Myanmar will distribute the materials provided by the Government of Nepal to the affected people.

Meanwhile, Nepal's Ambassador to Myanmar Harish Chandra Ghimire informed that a team of Nepal Army has been helping the Government of Myanmar in carrying out rescue operations and providing humanitarian assistance.

He informed that the Nepal Army has treated more than 1, 300 patients so far. He pointed out that there are millions of Nepali speakers in Myanmar.

The deadliest 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on Friday killed more than 3, 600 people and injured thousands. According to the Nepal Embassy, 18 non-resident Nepalis have died in the earthquake, while 10-15 people are missing.

Lionel Messi scores twice as Inter Miami advances to Concacaf Champions Cup semis

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are off to the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals.

Miami scored three consecutive goals on Wednesday, two of which were scored by Messi, to overcome a 2-0 deficit and win its two-game, total-goal-wins series against rival MLS club Los Angeles Football club. LAFC entered Wednesday's game with a narrow, 1-0 aggregate lead owing to their triumph last week in Southern California, according to Fox Sports.

In contrast to the UEFA Champions League, which eliminated the away goals tiebreaker a few seasons ago, Concacaf, which encompasses North and Central America as well as the Caribbean, continues to employ this contentious method to determine the winner in the event that clubs are tied after 180 minutes. Long's goal from distance meant that the series would not go to extra time even if Miami scored two goals in a row.

But Messi scored a sensational goal just before halftime to give Miami some hope, Fox Sports reported.

Noah Allen, a 20-year-old native of Florida, opened the second half with a 2-2 aggregate score. Then, Messi was sent to the penalty spot after a LAFC handball with six minutes of regular time left. Miami is headed to the final four for the first time in the club's history after the greatest of all time made a perfect 12-yard field goal.

 

Gold price hits new record at Rs 181, 100 per tola

The price of gold has reached an all-time high in the domestic market on Thursday, setting a new historical record.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Traders, the price of gold has increased by Rs 5, 700 per tola to reach Rs 181, 100 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 175, 400 per tola on Wednesday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 65 and is being traded at Rs 1, 900 per tola.