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The Nepal Calendar Determination Committee has announced the auspicious hour for observing this year's ritualistic Tihar 'tika'.

According to Committee Chair, Professor Shambhu Prasad Dhakal, the auspicious hour for Tihar Tika, also known as Bhaitika, has been set for 11:39 am on Thursday, October 23.

It is a traditional practice for brothers and sisters to exchange 'tika' on this occasion.

Committee member Professor Devmani Paudel noted that there are no strict astrological restrictions preventing people from receiving Tika in the afternoon. However, it is recommended that state dignitaries observe the ritual at the auspicious time.

This year’s Tihar festival, also known as Yama Panchak, will commence on Saturday, October 18. 

The Kag Tihar (Crow Festival) and Dhanwantari Day will both be observed on Sunday, October 19.

On the morning of Monday, October 20, Kukur Tihar (Dog Festival) will be celebrated. 

In the evening, Laxmi Puja is observed by worshipping the Hindu goddess of wealth, Laxmi along with the celebration of Deepawali festival.

The worship of cows, oxen, and the self will be observed on Wednesday, October 22. 

The ritual of self-worship, known as Mha Puja, is an important tradition of the Newar community.

Three calendars endorsed by the Committee have also been published by calendar makers Siddhi Laxmi Byanjakar, Kirti Kiran Joshi, and Shashidhar Joshi. All three confirm that October 22 is for the Mha Puja.

The Committee also states that October 22 also marks the beginning of Nepal Sambat 1146, the New Year according to the Nepal Sambat calendar.

Kija Puja, also known as Bhai Puja or the worship of brothers, the customary in the Newar community, will be observed on Thursday, October 23.

The Committee also states that October 22 marks the beginning of Nepal Sambat 1146, the New Year according to the Nepal Sambat calendar.

Kija Puja, or Bhai Puja (the worship of brothers), the tradition in the Newar community will also be observed on Thursday, October 23.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 8, 100 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 248, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 240, 400 per tola on Monday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 105 and is being traded at Rs 3, 325 per tola today.

Lionel Messi has rejoined the Argentina squad and could feature in Tuesday's friendly against Puerto Rico, coach Lionel Scaloni said after the forward skipped their 1-0 victory over Venezuela to play for Inter Miami at the weekend, Reuters reported. 

Messi scored twice in Inter Miami's 4-0 victory over Atlanta United in Major League Soccer on Saturday, and Scaloni said he would speak to the 38-year-old about his fitness before deciding if he plays against Puerto Rico. 

"I saw Messi play on Saturday. From what I know, he finished well. I haven't spoken to him yet," Scaloni told reporters on Monday, according to Reuters.

A first-half header from Nick Woltemade was enough as Germany edged a dogged Northern Ireland 1-0 in Belfast on Oct 13 to stay top of their 2026 World Cup qualifying group, Reuters reported.

Woltemade put the visitors in front with a header after 31 minutes, scoring his first goal in Germany colours.

“It was a very important three points for us,” Woltemade told Germany’s RTL, adding “in this atmosphere and in a bit of an ugly game, you have to win and we did well”.

France’s perfect record in their World Cup qualifying campaign ended as they were held to a 2-2 draw away to Iceland who got a late equaliser in an entertaining Group D clash on Monday, Reuters reported.

Jean-Philippe Mateta scored his first goal for Les Bleus to put them 2-1 ahead on his second cap after Christopher Nkunku had equalised for the visitors following Victor Palsson’s opener but Kristian Hlynsson salvaged a point for Iceland.

France remain top with 10 points from four games, three ahead of Ukraine, who beat Azerbaijan 2-1 on Monday, according to Reuters.

Kevin De Bruyne scored a pair of penalties as Belgium boosted their bid to qualify for the World Cup with a crucial 4-2 win against Wales on Oct 13, Reuters reported.

Rudi Garcia’s side trailed to Joe Rodon’s early opener at the Cardiff City Stadium.

But De Bruyne levelled from the penalty spot and Thomas Meunier fired Belgium ahead before half-time, according to Reuters.

Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt won the 2025 Nobel economics prize for their work on how innovation and the forces of “creative destruction” can drive economic growth, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said on Monday, Reuters reported.

The prestigious award, formally known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, is the final prize to be given out this year and is worth 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million).

The prize winners' work explains how technology gives rise to new products and production methods which replace old ones, resulting in a better standard of living, health and quality of life for people around the globe, the Academy said, according to Reuters.

Forty-two Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals have died after a bus taking them home overturned on a South African road, authorities have said, BBC reported.

The crash happened on Sunday night as the bus was moving through "a mountainous section" of the N1 highway in South Africa's Limpopo province, local transport officials said.

"It [then] veered off the road along a steep mountain pass and plunged down an embankment," they added.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa mourned the high death toll, which includes seven children, and said this was not only a tragedy for the country but for "our sister states of Zimbabwe and Malawi" as well, according to BBC.