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A Turkish Airlines plane flying from Kathmandu to Istanbul reported a fire shortly after takeoff. The fire broke out in the right engine about four minutes after departure from Tribhuvan International Airport. The aircraft was carrying 225 passengers.

Airport officials said the pilot shut down the right engine and turned the plane westward. Tribhuvan Airport was closed for about 15 minutes as emergency teams were placed on alert. Fire engines and ambulances were prepared as a safety measure.

The fire was brought under control after the engine was shut down. The aircraft was diverted to Kolkata, India, using its left engine. The plane landed safely, and airport operations in Kathmandu returned to normal.

Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy sector on Monday night - as temperatures dropped to -20C (-4F) - were "barbaric" and "particularly depraved", UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said, BBC reported. 

He made the comments after speaking to US President Donald Trump hours after Russia hit power plants and critical infrastructure in the capital, Kyiv, and elsewhere.

The attacks came at the end of a week-long pause that Trump had asked Russia's President Vladimir Putin to observe as a fierce cold swept Ukraine, according to BBC. 

China will ban hidden and electronic car door handles starting next year, AP reported. The rule applies to most vehicles, including many electric cars. All doors must have a mechanical release, except tailgates.

Officials said to AP that the move follows safety concerns after fatal accidents. In some cases, electronic door handles failed to open and trapped passengers. The new rule will take effect on 1 Jan, 2027, while older approved models have until 2029 to comply.

Popular EVs like Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y use retractable handles and may need redesigns. Experts say the rule could influence other countries to adopt similar standards. Carmakers may face higher costs to update vehicle designs.

Italy is expanding efforts to make its cultural sites more accessible to people with disabilities. In Rome, blind visitors are now offered sensory-based tours of landmarks like the Colosseum according to AP. These tours use touch, sound and storytelling instead of sight.

AP reported, the push gained speed in 2021, when Italy linked EU recovery funds to accessibility reforms. Sites like Pompeii added braille signs, tactile models and audio guides. Museums in Florence also published detailed accessibility routes for visitors with special needs.

Experts sais to AP that inclusive tourism improves experiences for everyone and makes economic sense. Guides now encourage slower tours and creative interaction with art. Italy hopes the changes will help more people connect with its history in new ways.

Greek coast guard boats and a helicopter searched the sea near the island of Chios on Wednesday. AP reported, the search followed a late-night collision between a patrol vessel and a migrant speedboat. At least 15 people were killed in the accident.

Officials said to AP, 24 migrants, including 11 children, were injured and taken to hospital. Two coast guard officers were also hurt. The bodies of 11 men and three women were pulled from the sea, while another woman later died in hospital.

The coast guard said the speedboat was traveling without navigation lights and ignored orders to stop. It changed direction and collided with the patrol boat before capsizing. Greece is a key entry point for migrants to Europe, and deadly accidents during sea crossings remain common.

Heavy snow has piled up in northern Japan over the past two weeks. Roads are blocked and daily life has been disrupted. Government officials said the snow has already caused dozens of deaths across the country.

According to the AP, 15 prefectures have been affected. Snow in the worst-hit areas has reached about two meters. At least 35 people have died and hundreds have been injured. Most deaths happened when people fell while clearing snow from their roofs. Niigata prefecture reported the highest number of deaths.

The heavy snowfall is linked to cold Arctic air staying over Japan. Authorities warned that rising temperatures could melt snow and trigger landslides and slippery roads. More heavy snow is expected this weekend in northern Japan. Officials urged people to take safety measures while removing snow.

Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE) is organizing the Nepal–India Think Tank Forum 2026, themed “Regional Resilience: Strengthening Nepal–India Security Cooperation,”  to celebrate its 10th Anniversary. 

The one-day event will be held on Tuesday at the Kathmandu Marriott Hotel.

The forum will feature three focused sessions that will examine the convergence, continuity, and future trajectory of Nepal–India security cooperation; address transnational threats, connectivity, and economic security challenges shaping bilateral relations and explore the role of think tanks, youth, and media in building resilient Nepal–India relations, reads a statement issued by NIICE. 

Speakers from India include Ambassador Pankaj Saran, former Deputy National Security Advisor of Indian Prime Minister Modi who is heading a think tank called NatStrat; Former Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh (Retd.), Director General of the United Service Institution of India, that is the oldest security think tank of India; Capt. Dr. Alok Bansal, Executive Vice President of India Foundation which closely works with the ruling party Bharatiya Janata Party; Prof.Sangeeta Thapliyal of Jawaharlal Nehru University and Dr. Gaurav Saini, Co-Founder of Council for Strategic and Defence Research.

From Nepal, speakers Anurag Acharya, Director at Policy Entrepreneurs Inc., Dr. Angana Guha Roy, Associate Director at Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs; Maj. Gen. BinojBasnyat (Retd.), political and security analyst; and senior journalists Sanjeev Satgainya, Bibek Dhoj Thapa, Research Associate and Program Coordinator at NIICE and several others. 

“At a time when our region is facing new and complex challenges, Nepal and India must work closely together to address shared concerns, "Sumitra Karki, Director of NIICE said, adding, "​​​​​​Platforms like this will create valuable space for dialogue, enabling experts and policymakers from both sides to sit together, exchange ideas, and jointly explore practical solutions to common challenges.”

Police have arrested two persons on the charge of taking a youth hostage in Siraha. 

The accused allegedly lured the victim to India by promising him a lucrative job.

According to District Police Office information officer Ramesh Bahadur Pal, the arrestees have been identified as Suraj Mukhiya (26) of Kalyanpur Municipality-7, and Prashant Chaudhary (22) of Lahan Municipality-11.

Police said the alleged victim, Rishakesh Kumar Marik of Kalyanpur-7, was assured of a well-paying job in Gaya, India. 

After he reached there, the two allegedly confiscated his mobile phone and academic certificates. The incident reportedly took place on January 4. 

As stated by the victim, he was kept in a hostel, physically assaulted, and threatened with death while the accused demanded ransom from his family. 

The accused allegedly collected Rs 217,000 from the victim’s family as ransom and also took Indian currency (INR) 30,000 from the victim himself.