US lifts Caribbean airspace curbs after attack on Venezuela
The United States has advised airlines its Caribbean airspace curbs will expire at midnight ET (0500 GMT) and flights could resume as schedules are quickly updated, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Saturday, Reuters reported.
The comments on X followed the cancelation of hundreds of flights by major airlines after the US attack on Venezuela and the capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro.
Key carriers United Airlines ‍and Delta were readying to resume flights to the Caribbean by Sunday, according to Reuters.
Below-average winter rainfall predicted
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has predicted that rainfall this winter season would be below average.
As per the estimation, rainfall would be below the average from January 1 to February 28 across the country.
Information Officer at the Department, Dinakar Kayastha, shared that the below-average rainfall had occurred in last December and below-average rainfall would be witnessed in coming days as well.
He added that Sudurpaschim Province, north part of Karnali Province and northwestern part of Gandaki Province would witness below-average rainfall, average rainfall and above- average rainfall respectively.
Central parts of Sudurpaschim Province, southern part of Karnali, Lumbini and Gandaki Provinces, most of the parts of Bagmati Province, central part of Madhes Province and western part of Koshi Province will witness below-average rainfall (with 55-65 per cent chance).
Kayastha mentioned that below-average rainfall is predicted in south-western part of Sudurpaschim Province, northern part of Lumbini Province, central part of Gandaki Province, central part of Bagmati Province, eastern and western part of Madhesh Province and central and south part of Koshi Province (with 45-55 percent chance).
As per the estimation, the remaining parts of the country would also witness below-average rainfall (with 35-45 per cent chance).
According to preliminary data received so far, below-average rainfall was recorded across the country last December.
The Department said this assessment was prepared based on climate model assessments of the World Meteorological Organisation's global and regional climate information production centers.
It was also prepared taking into account the current situation of the El Nino phenomenon developing in the Eastern Pacific-ocean, which affects Nepal's winter climate, and Indian Ocean Dipole developing in the Indian Ocean, he added.
Import resumes through Rasuwagadhi border
With the resumption of the Rasuwagadhi border checkpoint, the import of goods from neighbouring China has begun.
According to the Border Security Post Rasuwagadhi, 18 electric vehicles (EV Micro-bus) entered Nepal from the Rasuwagadhi border checkpoint on Saturday.
These vehicles were imported for the first time in the current fiscal year and are currently in the parking area at Timure. The customs office has stated that the importers of these vehicles are working to pay the due revenue.
Similarly, on Saturday alone, 39 cargo containers carrying apples, ready-made clothes, garlic, vehicle spare parts, walnuts, batteries, and medical supplies entered Nepal.
Customs Office Spokesperson Thakur Gautam shared that since the reopening of the Rasuwagadhi border crossing last Thursday, 96 containers of goods have entered Nepal till Saturday and the inspection and clearance process for ready-made goods will begin from today. He said that perishable goods such as apples and walnuts are given priority for the customary inspection for clearance.
Meanwhile, the Office collected Rs 90.87 million in revenue in two days after the border crossing came back to regular operations.
The customs in the Nepal-China border point remained closed for a long time after the Miteri bridge connecting the two countries was washed away by the devastating floods in July last year.
The Chinese side has constructed a bailey bridge to bring back the customs point into operation.
Pathibhara sees snow for second time this winter
The Pathibhara area has received snowfall for the second time this winter.
The area had received snowfall for the first time this season on December 6.
Snowfall occurred in the Pathibhara area on Saturday evening. As a result, cold has increased, said Rajendra Mahat, an employee of the Pathibhara Area Development Committee.
Fiber roof has been installed on the trekking route for the convenience of pilgrims visiting the famous religious shrine.
This has made it easier for pilgrims to reach Pathibhara Dham even in rain and snowfall.
In the past, Pathibhara, located at an altitude of 3,794 meters above sea level, used to receive snowfall starting mid-November.
However, the pattern of snowfall has changed due to the impact of climate change.
Gold price drops by Rs 2, 100 per tola on Sunday
The price of gold has dropped by Rs 2, 100 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday. .
According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 260, 400 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 262, 500 per tola on Friday.
Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 25 and is being traded at Rs 4, 4500 per tola.
Juventus's title hopes suffer blow in draw with struggling Lecce
Juventus's Serie A title hopes were dealt a hammer blow when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by relegation battling Lecce on Saturday, with the hosts coming from behind but failing to win after Jonathan David had a penalty saved, Reuters reported.
Juventus remain fifth in the standings on 33 points, five off leaders AC Milan who have played a game less. Lecce are 16th on 17 points, five points above the relegation zone.
The home side put in a dominant display but wasted a host of opportunities and, after ending 2025 with three successive league wins, the New Year began in disappointing fashion for Luciano Spalletti's men, according to Reuters.
Ten-man Mali beat Tunisia on penalties to reach Cup of Nations quarters
El Bilal Toure scored the winning spot-kick as 10-man Mali beat Tunisia 3-2 on penalties on Saturday to reach the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after their last-16 tie had finished 1-1 at the end of extra time, AFP reported.
It looked as if Tunisia had got the job done against a Mali side forced to play most of the game a man down when substitute Firas Chaouat headed the Carthage Eagles in front in the 88th minute.
Mali had defender Woyo Coulibaly sent off in the 26th minute at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, but earned a reprieve when they were awarded a stoppage-time penalty, according to AFP.
Democratic US lawmakers say they were misled on Venezuela, demand a plan
Democratic members of the U.S. Congress said on Saturday that senior officials of President Donald Trump's administration had misled them during recent briefings about plans for Venezuela by insisting they were not planning regime change in Caracas, Reuters reported.
The U.S. attacked Venezuela and deposed its long-serving President Nicolas Maduro in an overnight operation, in Washington's most direct intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama.
Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democrats' leader in the Senate, said he had been told in three classified briefings that the administration was not pursuing regime change or planning to take military action in Venezuela, according to Reuters.





