UN's top court says Israel obliged to allow UN aid into Gaza

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has said Israel has a legal obligation to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip by the UN and its entities to ensure the basic needs of Palestinian civilians there are met, BBC reported.

An advisory opinion from the UN's top courtalso said Israel had not substantiated its allegations that the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) lacked neutrality or that a significant number of its staff were members of Hamas or other armed groups.

The UN's chief said he hoped Israel would abide by the "very important decision".

But Israel rejected the ICJ's opinion as "political" and insisted it would not co-operate with Unrwa, which it has banned, according to BBC.

Trump says Putin talks 'don't go anywhere' as he imposes new sanctions

The US has announced new sanctions targeting Russia's two largest oil companies - Rosneft and Lukoil - in an effort to pressure Moscow to negotiate a peace deal in Ukraine, BBC reported.

"Every time I speak to Vladimir, I have good conversations and then they don't go anywhere. They just don't go anywhere," President Donald Trump said, after a meeting with Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte to discuss peace negotiations. 

The sanctions announcement came one day after Trump said a meeting planned with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest would be shelved indefinitely, according to BBC.

44,509 people exit Kathmandu Valley to celebrate Tihar

With the beginning of the second biggest festival of Nepal, Tihar, the number of people leaving the Kathmandu Valley for their home districts for the festivities has increased.

Forty-four thousand five hundred and nine people have left and 31,012 have entered the Valley from various checkpoints, said Naresh Raj Subedi, spokesperson and Superintendent of Police at the Traffic Police Office. 

Data shared by the Valley Traffic Police Office shows that Nagdhunga checkpoint is the busiest checkpoint. From this checkpoint alone, 18,920 passengers have left the valley. 

Similarly, 285 people have left the valley through Thankot checkpoint, 845 through Tinpiple and 692 through Sankhu checkpoint.

Spokesperson Subedi stated that a special traffic management plan has been implemented to reduce incidents such as traffic jams, vehicle accidents, and passengers facing fraud that may occur during festivals.

 

President Paudel performs cow worship on Gaipuja

President Ram Chandra Paudel, accompanied by First Lady Sabita Paudel, performed the Gaipuja rituals by making offerings and paying reverence to the cow on the occasion of the Gaitihar festival today.

There is the tradition of worshipping the cows as the symbol of Goddess Laxmi on the day of Gaitihar festival, a part of the five-day Tihar celebrations.

As per the time-honoured tradition, President Paudel worshiped the cow and offered it delicacies amidst a ceremony at the President House, Sheetal Niwas, the President's Secretariat has stated.

 

Government is committed to creating an environment conducive for upcoming election: PM Karki

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has asserted that the government is committed to conducting the upcoming House of Representatives election in a free and fair manner.

Addressing the ceremony of garlanding the statue of Shankhadhar Sakhwa and honouring the national luminary organized by the National Luminary Shankhadhar Sakhwa Foundation, Madhyapur Thimi today, PM Karki expressed her confidence that all political parties and all sectors of society would provide support and cooperation to the government in conducting a free and fair election.

"It is well known that the government was tasked with holding the House of Representatives elections on March 5, 2026. The government has the responsibility to serve the Nepali people by addressing the legitimate voices of the Gen-Z in accordance with the Constitution of Nepal. The government is committed to creating an environment where the Nepali people can exercise their voting rights without fear in order to strengthen democracy, achieve economic prosperity, and protect citizens' rights," she said on the occasion.

The PM expressed extreme sadness over the loss of young lives and injuries to hundreds of people during the movement led by Gen-Z on the 8th and 9th of September against rampant corruption in the country.

She expressed commitment that the process of indicating the Nepal Sambat on the notes issued by the Nepal Rastra Bank will be taken forward after consulting the relevant parties.

Prime Minister Karki stated that the government's decision to mention the Nepal Sambat in official documents clearly shows that the government is keen to promote, foster and practically implement this calendar. She instructed the relevant ministries to effectively implement the Nepal Sambat in government offices and also mentioned cooperating with the Foundation for monitoring the implementation of the Nepal Sambat calendar.

She expressed that the Nepal Sambat, which was started in the year 936 in recognition of Shankhadhar Sakhwa's unparalleled contribution to society and the country, as well as his great work for social justice, did not originate from the decree of a king or marking a victory in a war, but rather arose from the public level based on the sacrifice and philanthropy of a trader, making it a calendar of high importance and carrying with it the legacy of public welfare.

Highlighting the need to follow the path shown by Shankhadhar Sakhwa to eliminate poverty and inequality in Nepali society and raise the economic status of the people, Prime Minister Karki stated that only by prioritising national interest over individual and party interests, as Shankhadhar Sakhwa did, can our national aspirations be fulfilled.

At the program, she garlanded the statue of Sakhwa and also launched the bulletin published by the Foundation.

PM Karki also on the occasion honoured the cultural scholar Chhatra Bahadur Kayastha and Nepah Pasa Pucha, USA with the Shankhadhar Sirapa award.

The chairman of the Foundation, Gyanram Shrestha, the Mayor of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, Surendra Shrestha, and former chairmen of the Foundation, Shyam Krishna Manandhar and Madan Krishna Shrestha, among others, emphasized that more study and research should be carried out on Shankhadhar Sakhwa, and the Nepal Sambat should be fully implemented.

 

Fermin hat-trick inspires Barcelona to 6-1 rout of Olympiacos

A Fermin Lopez hat-trick and two goals from Marcus Rashford powered Barcelona to a crushing 6-1 Champions League victory over Olympiacos on Tuesday, with the Greek side left fuming over a controversial red card early in the second half, Reuters reported.

The match got off to a flying start when Fermin opened the scoring from a rebound in the seventh minute. The 22-year-old pounced on a loose ball after Lamine Yamal's shot was parried by the Olympiacos goalkeeper.

Fermin smashed the ball into the back of the net and he doubled his tally in the 39th minute by finishing off a lightning-quick counter-attack, according to Reuters.

Djokovic withdraws from Paris Masters

Novak Djokovic will not compete at next week's Paris Masters, the 24-time Grand Slam champion said on Tuesday without giving a reason for pulling out of the 1000-level event, Reuters reported.

"Dear Paris, unfortunately I'll not compete at this year's @RolexPMasters," Djokovic wrote on X.

"I have amazing memories and great success over the years, especially being able to conquer the title 7 times. Hope to see you next year. Merci."

The Serb fell in the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters to eventual champion Valentin Vacherot of Monaco earlier this month. He battled through a leg injury and heat exhaustion in his grueling Round of 16 victory over Jaume Munar, according to Reuters.

Inter beat USG to keep 100% Champions League record

Inter Milan continued their perfect start to the Champions League this season with a convincing 4-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise, BBC reported.

Keen to forget last season's final, where they were thrashed 5-0 by Paris St-Germain, Inter swept Union aside with four different goalscorers and they have now won their opening three matches without conceding a goal.

Denzel Dumfries opened the scoring in the 41st minute as he took advantage of a scramble in the Union box to lash home from close range.

And Inter doubled their lead just before the break when Lautaro Martinez swept past Kjell Scherpen to finish off a blistering counter-attack and grab his third Champions League goal of the season, according to BBC.