Rainfall likely in one or two places of different provinces

The weather will be generally cloudy over the hilly and mountainous regions in the country and partly cloudy in the remaining parts of the country today.

According to the Weather Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, there is a possibility of moderate rain and snowfall with thunder and lightning at some places in the mountainous region of Koshi, Bagmati, Lumbini, Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces. 

There is also a possibility of moderate rain with thunder and lightning at some places in the hilly regions of Koshi, Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim Provinces 

, at a few places in the hilly regions of the remaining provinces, and at one or two places in the Tarai region.

The meteorological analysis by the Division stated that there is a partial influence of the westerly low-pressure system in the country.

 

Iran arrests 500 accused of giving information to enemies, police chief says

Iran has arrested 500 people accused of sharing information with enemies, the Islamic Republic's police chief said on Sunday, as ​Israeli and U.S. fighter jets continue to strike new targets ‌in the country, Reuters reported. 

Half of those cases had involved serious incidents "including people who provided information for hitting targets and individuals who took footage of strike locations and sent them," ​Ahmadreza Radan said, without going into detail on when the arrests ​took place.

Earlier, Iranian media reported dozens of arrests in several regions ⁠on Sunday, according to Reuters. 

Iran wants 'serious review' of Gulf ties, denies role in Saudi oil attacks

Iran's relations with Gulf states will require a "serious review" in light of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, limiting ‌the power of external actors so the region can become prosperous, Tehran's ambassador to Saudi Arabia told Reuters on Sunday, Reuters reported. 

Asked if he was concerned that relations would be harmed by the war, Ambassador Alireza Enayati said: "It's a valid question, and the answer may be simple. We are neighbors and we cannot do without each other; we will ​need a serious review."

"What the region has witnessed over the past five decades is the result of an exclusionary approach [within the region] ​and an excessive reliance on external powers," he said in a written response to questions, calling for deeper ties ⁠between the Gulf Cooperation Council's six members, along with Iraq and Iran, according to Reuters. 

Zelensky accuses EU allies of 'blackmail' in oil pipeline row

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused European allies of seeking to "blackmail" Kyiv into reopening a pipeline transporting Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, BBC reported. 

He said restoring the flow of Russian crude oil through Ukraine into the European Union (EU) would be like lifting economic sanctions on Moscow.

Ukraine says the Soviet-era Druzhba oil pipeline was damaged by Russian air strikes in January and has yet to be repaired, according to BBC. 

 

 

Severe flooding kills 66 in Kenya, as heavy rains continue

A further four people have died in Kenya after heavy rain caused widespread flooding, police said, taking the number to have died in the past week to at least 66, BBC reported. 

The capital, Nairobi, was hit by more heavy rain overnight although no new deaths were reported.

Eleven people were rescued after a minibus taxi, known locally as a matatu, got stuck as water rose in Nairobi, according to the Kenya Red Cross, while two children were saved from a flooded house, according to BBC. 

NOC hikes prices of petroleum products

The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has hiked the prices of petroleum products effective from midnight today. 

According to the NOC, the price of petrol was hiked by Rs 15 per liter, while the prices of diesel and kerosene were increased by Rs 10 per liter.     

Consumers in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Dipayal will now pay Rs 172 per liter for petrol and Rs 152 per liter for diesel and kerosene.     

In a statement issued this evening, the NOC mentioned that the decision for the rate adjustment was made as the fuel prices were hiked in the new supplies to the NOC from the Indian Oil Corporation.

The NOC has stated that the unusual price hike of petroleum products in the international market led to this situation, while urging the consumers for their continued support.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nepalis in Kuwait urged to return home via Saudi Arabia

The Nepali Embassy in Kuwait has urged Nepali nationals residing in Kuwait with a valid resident permit and who wish to return home to travel via Saudi Arabia. 

Issuing a notice on Sunday in view of the evolving situation in the Middle East, the Embassy requested Nepalis residing in Kuwait to submit their Saudi Visa application online if they intend to travel to Nepal via airports in Saudi Arabia. 

The Embassy also notified that Nepalis bearing a valid resident permit (Kuwait's Civil ID) are allowed to enter Saudi Arabia via land route for their travel to Nepal once they obtain a visa.

Hearing on Lamichhane's writ scheduled for Monday

The Supreme Court (SC) is hearing the writ petitions filed against President of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rabi Lamichhane, on money laundering and organized crime charges on Monday, as the case could not be completed on Sunday. 

A division bench of Justices Saranga Subedi and Sunil Kumar Pokharel would continue hearing on the petitions. 

Prior to this, a division bench of Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Shreekant Poudel had ordered that the petitions be presented for the hearing on Sunday.

Attorney General Sabita Bhandari had on January 14 decided to withdraw the case at a time when the case was under consideration in the SC. 

The writ petitions were filed against the decision of the Office of the Attorney General to withdraw the case related to the organized crime and money laundering charges.

Senior Advocate Dinesh Tripathi, advocates Yubaraj Paudel and Avash Regmi had filed separate writ petitions at the SC against the decision of the Attorney General.