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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he has visited troops near the town of Pokrovsk, where the fiercest front line battle between Russia and Ukraine is currently taking place, BBC reported.

Zelensky posted photos showing him meeting personnel at a command post in the Dobropillya sector, some 20km (12 miles) north of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

Kyiv's top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskiy, said on Monday that Ukraine was increasing pressure on the Dobropillya front to "force the enemy to disperse its forces and make it impossible to concentrate their main efforts in the Pokrovsk area".

Russia has been trying to seize Pokrovsk - a strategic frontline town and logistic hub - for over a year, according to BBC.

It has been two months since the Securities Board of Nepal (Sebon) last approved a public offering. 

A total of 99 companies are currently seeking Sebon’s approval to issue 1.37bn units of shares to mobilize Rs 80.64bn from the market even as Sebon continues to sit idly by, literally. Of these, 74 applications are for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), while eight firms have proposed rights issues, four plan to issue debentures, and nine are mutual fund schemes.

Sebon last granted approval on Sept 3 to NMB Bank for its NMB Saral Bachat Fund E mutual fund scheme. Since then, the stock market regulator has not approved a single public issuance. Although the recent festive season, including Dashain, Tihar and Chhath, led to lengthy office closures, merchant bankers say the prolonged suspension cannot be justified merely by holidays. They allege that Sebon has not only withheld new approvals but also stopped accepting new applications since mid-September.

According to one investment banker, a mutual fund had submitted an application for approval on Sept 1, but no further filings have been registered since. “Sebon stopped registering applications altogether. Even rights and bonus share registrations are facing delays,” the banker said. The halt has disrupted expansion plans of several companies, particularly in the hydropower sector, that were preparing to raise capital through public offerings. Officials of Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN), the umbrella body of privately-owned hydropower projects, a few months ago alleged that Sebon officials had mobilized middlemen to collect kickbacks for IPO approvals.  

Meanwhile, Sebon’s own operations have been paralyzed for 42 days due to an ongoing employee strike. Sebon employees have been on a strike since mid-September against the finance ministry’s instruction for the reduction or elimination of various allowances, facilities and perks that they have legally enjoyed for the past several years. 

Interestingly, neither the Sebon nor the ministry has intervened to resolve the stalemate. Market analysts warn that the prolonged freeze is eroding investor confidence and blocking companies’ access to much-needed capital.

President Ram Chandra Paudel highlighted Nepal’s unwavering commitment to advancing social justice, inclusivity, and sustainable development in line with the Copenhagen Declaration and the Agenda 2030.

He was addressing the plenary meetings of the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha today.

On the occasion, President Paudel called for effective implementation of the Doha Declaration, quality education, universal health coverage and empowerment of women and youth, reads a statement issued by the Nepali Embassy in Doha.

The President underscored that inclusivity and shared prosperity are the foundation of lasting peace, prosperity and human dignity, and urged for collective action to shape a future that ensures socio-economic development for all.

According to the statement, he stressed on the need for enhanced international cooperation, equitable access to resources, and effective implementation of international commitments to ensure just, inclusive and sustainable development.

President Paudel also participated in the High-level Roundtable-1 on the theme 'Strengthening the Three Pillars of Social Development: Poverty Eradication, Full and Productive Employment and Decent Work for All, and Social Inclusion'.

Speaking on the occasion, the President highlighted the importance of good governance through strengthened democratic and inclusive policies, accountable institutions and transparent public service delivery for sustainable and human-centered social development, the statement further reads.

On the sidelines of the Summit, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres paid a courtesy call on President Paudel.

During the meeting, they discussed matters related to strengthening cooperation between Nepal and the United Nations.

The President also attended the State Banquet hosted by the Amir of the State of Qatar in honor of the visiting Heads of State/Government.

 President Paudel is scheduled to return home on November 6.

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has said he is ready to forgo his candidacy for any position if party leaders agree to hold the party’s general convention on schedule.

Speaking at the Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting that resumed on Tuesday, Thapa proposed holding the party’s regular convention in December-January. He also stated that he would accept the condition barring both general secretaries from contesting in the same convention if that helps move the process forward.

“If you say the two general secretaries cannot contest this time and that helps us take the party toward the convention, we are ready for that,” Thapa told fellow leaders. “Let’s make that a commitment to untie the knot.”

Thapa proposed holding the 15th general convention from Dec 31 to Jan 3, stressing that if it cannot be organized by then, the only alternative would be a special convention. “If we cannot complete it in Poush under any circumstance, then there’s no other option but a special convention,” he said, noting that the party’s statute mandates it.

Thapa argued that the Nepali Congress should not head into elections without holding its convention, as it provides a platform to connect with the public and elect new leadership. “We must go to the people with renewed legitimacy. The general convention is our bridge to the voters,” he said.

Thapa also admitted that the party, which once led political movements, is now facing protests from within. “We are being cornered in the streets by our own people. If we fail to answer the questions of our cadres and supporters now, the voters will deliver their verdict during the elections,” he warned.

Thapa questioned whether the public and party committees were still waiting for the Congress to act. “Are people eagerly waiting to vote for us? Are our committees just sitting idle?” he asked, adding that voters would not wait indefinitely for Congress to resolve its internal disputes.

He dismissed claims that the recent GenZ movement was entirely sponsored, saying such interpretations were unfair.

Meanwhile, Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka said efforts were underway to resolve all differences through consensus. “We are trying to create an environment where all agendas can be concluded through agreement,” he said, adding that informal meetings would continue in that regard.

However, the party remains divided over whether to hold the convention before or after the upcoming elections. The establishment faction, represented by Joint General Secretary Mahendra Yadav, has proposed holding the regular convention between 8-11 May 2026, while Thapa’s camp is for holding the convention in December.

The CWC meeting, which had been repeatedly postponed over disputes regarding the convention date, resumed at the party’s central office in Sanepa on Tuesday.

Dissenting leaders have already submitted signatures from 54 percent of convention representatives demanding a special convention if a regular one is not held before the vote.

At a separate gathering in Thapagaun, dissident leader Jagadishwar Narsingh KC accused the party’s central office in Sanepa of becoming “powerless” and claimed the party was being directed from Singapore, where party president Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Arzu Rana Deuba, are currently undergoing treatment. “The party is being run from Singapore. Sanepa is helpless,” KC said, alleging that Deuba would return before the elections to distribute tickets in his favor.

Christine L Mace, a black-and-white photographer based in New York City, presented her latest exhibition, Sacred City, at Mcube Gallery in Lalitpur. The showcase, which ran from Oct 26 to 30, marked her first international exhibition.

Sacred City explores authentic human experiences and the spiritual essence of daily life through natural, unposed photographs. Mace’s work centers on humanizing the “other” and capturing fleeting moments of genuine connection among people, spaces, and places.

Reflecting on the inspiration behind the series, Mace said, “After my surgery, I lost a lot of myself and realized there wasn’t much humanity left in the chaos of daily life. I began searching for a spiritual quest and wanted to document people who pray. Through Sacred City, I aim to highlight sacred and spiritual places in Nepal and across South Asia.”

She described her visit to Nepal as deeply moving: “I loved the experiences here and my work in this environment. Watching children play around temples and stupas as if they were playgrounds was wonderful—it showed how culture and daily life blend beautifully here.”

Mace draws inspiration from photographer Richard Sandler, known for capturing the soul of New York City through his street photography. In 2019, her photo series Dominoes in Havana won First Place in the Black and White Category at the 14th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards, cementing her place as a leading contemporary black-and-white photographer.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Paudel, who is currently in Qatar's Capital, Doha, in the course of attending the 'Second World Summit for Social Development'.

On the occasion, the two leaders discussed the implementation of Copenhagen commitments, social development, peace, social justice and attainment of shared goals of Sustainable Development, informed President's press advisor Kiran Pokharel.

President Paudel noted that Nepal would closely work with the United Nations towards attaining shared goals of social development, peace, social justice and sustainable development besides the implementation of the Copenhagen commitments.

The Head of the State shared that general election was announced for March 5 after dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR), and Nepal was effortful for conducting the election in a free and impartial manner.

He expressed the confidence that the upcoming election would give a political outlet to the country, and assure the pathway of good governance, development and prosperity.

The President also took the opportunity to call for support from the international community for adaptation and mitigation of adverse effects of climate change despite Nepal's negligible contributions to carbon emission.

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has floated a proposal to hold the party's 15th general convention in December.

During the Central Committee meeting held at the party office in Sanepa, Thapa proposed to hold the central general convention from December 31 to January 3.

He made the proposal as per Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. Prior to that , he said that an election committee for the general convention should be formed from the central committee meeting.

Along with the formation of the Statute Amendment Committee, he said that the new memberships should be distributed and renewed by November 26.

He has proposed to carry out preliminary investigation till November 29, finalize the new membership and renewal issues by December 6, submit the updated list of active members to the Central Committee by December 10, and hold a ward convention from December 13.

Likewise, he has proposed to hold the regional session of the House of Representatives on January 20 and 21.

Leader Thapa has also proposed to hold the convention for the district with a single constituency and a central convention representative.

Similarly, the General Secretary has proposed to hold the convention of the Nepali Public Relations Committee by mid-December.

The 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit wrapped up in Gyeongju, highlighting South Korea’s notable achievements in diplomacy, economic leadership, technological innovation, and cultural influence.

After hosting APEC for the first time in two decades, South Korea promoted the theme “Connect, Innovate, prosper” by introducing a fresh cooperative framework that blends inclusive economic growth, technological advancement, and cultural engagement.

Approval to build nuclear-powered submarines

One of the most symbolic achievements was US President Donald Trump’s announcement granting South Korea approval to build nuclear-powered submarines.

The decision marks a turning point in strengthening the country’s maritime defense capability and consolidating its strategic autonomy in defense technology. With this approval, South Korea is now able to advance nuclear propulsion research and fuel supply negotiations—paving the way for a stronger role in the Indo-Pacific maritime security network.

Major NVIDIA AI chip supply agreement

NVIDIA signed a deal with the Korean government and leading firms like Samsung, SK Group, and Hyundai Motor to provide more than 260,000 next-generation Blackwell AI chips.

The deal is considered a key milestone in meeting demand for the government-led National AI Computing Center and the private-sector “AI Factory” initiative.

Experts described it as the largest GPU supply project ever concluded in Asia, expecting it to accelerate Korea’s rise as a global AI powerhouse.

The government stated that the deal secures stable access to high-performance computing resources across public and private sectors, establishing a solid foundation for South Korea’s goal of becoming one of the world’s top three AI leaders.

Diplomatic achievements

During the summit, South Korea recorded notable progress in diplomacy with three key partners—China, the United States, and Japan.

In the Korea–China summit, both sides agreed to resume working-level and exchange channels, officially signaling the restoration of bilateral cooperation in trade, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

The Korea–U.S. summit reaffirmed mutual commitment to strengthen cooperation in supply-chain stability, advanced technologies, and economic security. Both leaders agreed to expand the alliance beyond military domains to include economic and digital security dimensions.

Relations with Japan also entered a phase of recovery and forward-looking cooperation.

Seoul and Tokyo agreed to normalize practical cooperation in security, economy, and human exchanges, while reopening working-level talks to strengthen future-oriented relations.

These developments restored a balance in Northeast Asian diplomacy and reaffirmed Korea’s role as a stabilizing mediator in the region.

Structural reform and supply-chain resilience

In the economic sphere, APEC members adopted structural reform and supply-chain resilience as key pillars for regional growth.

South Korea played an active role in shaping these discussions, proposing digital transformation support for small and medium enterprises and trade resilience measures—many of which were reflected in the joint ministerial statement. The agreement is seen as a concrete step to prevent future global crises, such as pandemics or geopolitical disruptions, from paralyzing regional trade networks.

Expanding cultural diplomacy and K-Culture influence

South Korea also made notable strides in cultural diplomacy, showcasing the power of K-Culture through K-POP, film, drama, and beauty industries.

BTS member RM delivered a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit, emphasizing “the value of borderless cultural exchange and creativity,” which drew enthusiastic attention from delegates. The “K-Culture Showcase” event held during the summit received strong interest from visiting leaders and delegations, underscoring culture’s potential as a catalyst for innovation and mutual understanding across the Asia-Pacific region.

Vision for inclusive and sustainable cooperation

The APEC 2025 Gyeongju Declaration outlines a vision centered on digital innovation, clean energy, and demographic adaptation, aiming for inclusive and sustainable growth. Through this summit, South Korea presented an integrated cooperation model combining diplomacy, technology, and culture—reinforcing its strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Analysts praised the summit as a milestone that demonstrated Korea’s ability to exercise “smart power,” combining technological capacity, cultural influence, and diplomatic engagement. With the adoption of the Gyeongju Declaration, South Korea has positioned itself as a key driver in addressing the region’s challenges of digital transformation, demographic shifts, and climate adaptation.

The summit reaffirmed Korea’s readiness to translate its vision of “connection and innovation for shared prosperity” into concrete global leadership. (This article draws upon publicly available statements, official Korean government materials, and verified reports from Reuters, APEC, AP, Yonhap, and Asia News Network.)