Pakistan’s prime minister offers talks to Afghanistan after deadly militant attacks

Pakistan’s prime minister on Wednesday offered talks to Afghanistan’s Taliban government in a renewed peace overture, about a week after negotiations between the two sides collapsed in Istanbul, raising fears that a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey could unravel and trigger new border clashes, Associated Press reported.

Shehbaz Sharif made the offer in a televised speech to parliament, a day after a deadly suicide bombing outside a court in Islamabad killed 12 people and wounded 27 others.

 

Indian government calls deadly car blast a terror attack by ‘anti-national forces’

India’s Cabinet on Wednesday called this week’s deadly car explosion in the capital a terror attack carried out by “anti-national forces,” though it did not release any new evidence linked to the blast, Associated Press reported.

Earlier Wednesday, authorities said several suspects had been arrested in the disputed Kashmir region as part of the investigation into the blast Monday near the historic Red Fort monument that killed eight people and injured several others. 

Authorities on Tuesday announced that they were investigating it as possible terrorism — a step that gives investigating authorities broader powers to arrest or detain people. But they have not publicly detailed their evidence, according to Associated Press.

Italy investigates claim that tourists paid to go to Bosnia to kill besieged civilians

The public prosecutor's office in Milan has opened an investigation into claims that Italian citizens travelled to Bosnia-Herzegovina on "sniper safaris" during the war in the early 1990s, BBC reported.

Italians and others are alleged to have paid large sums to shoot at civilians in the besieged city of Sarajevo.

The Milan complaint was filed by journalist and novelist Ezio Gavazzeni, who describes a "manhunt" by "very wealthy people" with a passion for weapons who "paid to be able to kill defenceless civilians" from Serb positions in the hills around Sarajevo, according to BBC.

Republic of Korea celebrates National Foundation Day

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal hosted a reception today in Kathmandu to celebrate the National Foundation Day of the Republic of Korea.  

Welcoming the guests to the event, H.E. Mr. Taeyoung PARK, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Nepal said that, Korea has worked together with Nepal for sustainable economic development and prosperity.

Ambassador PARK stated that Nepal has huge potential in the "three Hs": Human resources, Hydropower, and rich Heritage and Korea wanted to be the right partner to realize these three H potentials.   

The event was attended by Right Honourable Vice President of Nepal, Ministers of different portfolios, Ambassadors, high-ranking government officials and media persons as well as the representatives of diplomatic missions in Kathmandu, business persons based in Kathmandu and South Korean community representatives. 

 

PM Karki holds discussion with EC office-bearers

Prime Minister Sushila Karki held a discussion with Election Commission office-bearers today regarding preparations for the upcoming elections to members of the House of Representatives.

Commission's Acting Chief Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari, Commissioners Dr Janaki Kumari Tuladhar, Sagun Shumsher Rana and other officials took part in the discussion held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Singha Durbar.

On the occasion, EC office-bearers informed the Prime Minister that more than 60 percent of the work under the elections preparations has been completed and based on the assessment so far it is confident that the elections can be held on March 5.

Acting Chief Commissioner Bhandari said that the process of registering new parties as well as updating of the voter lists, including new voters is encouraging. It is possible to hold the elections on the scheduled date and that the commission is capable of this. 

The commission is working in two sessions from 7 am to 7 pm to manage the pressure of voter list registration in its online system with increased human resources and made arrangements for immediate resolution of technical problems.

Similarly, Director General of the National Civil Registration Department, Namraj Ghimire, said that he is ready to provide the biometric data collected for the distribution of national identity cards to the Election Commission.

The commission is also starting the process of including the voters in the voter list based on the details of the national identity card from Thursday. 

The commission has stated that all the technical preparations and testing work for this will be completed tonight.

So far, 22 national and two international observer organizations have applied for election observation for the elections. 

Similarly, the commission has stated that the draft of the election code of conduct has been sent to all parties for suggestions and is now publishing the election program.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Karki inquired about the possibility of reducing the limit on candidate spending in the election and arranging inter-district voting for the convenience of voters.

 

Nepse plunges by 20. 56 points on Wednesday

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 20. 56 points to close at 2, 544 . 59 points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 3. 33 points to close at 441. 04 points.

A total of 8,404,616-unit shares of 321 companies were traded for Rs 3. 84 billion.

Meanwhile, Bhugol Energy Development Company Limited (BEDC) and Sagar Distillery Limited (SAGAR) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Daramkhola Hydro Energy Limited (DHEL) was the top loser as its price fell by 8. 72 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 44 trillion.

Starmer will fight attempts to replace him, allies say

Allies of the prime minister are making it clear he would fight any challenge to his leadership from Labour MPs, BBC reported.

There are fears from those loyal to Sir Keir Starmer that his job might be under immediate threat, perhaps as soon as shortly after the Budget in a fortnight's time.

Critics say it is evidence that Downing Street is "in full bunker mode" which "won't help the government out of the hole we're in."

Friends of Sir Keir are deeply worried about what they see as plotting going on to try to replace him and are seeking to make clear what they see as the grave risks of a leadership challenge, according to BBC.

Israel has destroyed more than 1,500 buildings in Gaza since ceasefire

Israel has destroyed more than 1,500 buildings in areas of Gaza that have remained under its control since the ceasefire with Hamas started on 10 October, satellite images reviewed by BBC Verify show, BBC reported.

The new photos - the latest of which was taken on 8 November - show that entire neighbourhoods controlled by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been levelled in less than a month, apparently through demolitions.

The actual number of destroyed buildings could be significantly higher, with satellite imagery for some areas being unavailable for BBC Verify's assessment, according to BBC.