Submit your Article

More than 1,000 flights to, from, or within the US were cancelled on Saturday after airlines were told this week to cut traffic during the federal government shutdown, BBC reported.

Nearly 4,000 flights were also delayed, down from over 7,000 delays on Friday, according to flight tracker FlightAware. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced earlier in the week that it would be reducing air travel capacity by up to10% at 40 of the nation's busiest airports as air traffic controllers, who are working without pay during the shutdown, report fatigue, according to BBC.

A new diplomatic initiative, the International Relations Concern Community (IRCC) Nepal, has been launched under the leadership of Dr. Hari Prakash Chand. The initiative aims to enhance the diplomatic acumen of the state and build a consensus on key issues of Nepal’s foreign policy.

The concept paper of IRCC Nepal was presented on Saturday during a seminar titled ‘Nepal’s Political System and Foreign Policy after the Gen-Z Movement.’ The paper emphasizes the urgent need to reform Nepal’s diplomatic appointment system to strengthen the nation’s international reputation.

“For the sake of Nepal’s international image, the appointment of diplomats representing the country must be conducted with utmost seriousness and careful consideration,” the paper states. 

It warns that repeating past weak practices will only further deteriorate Nepal’s foreign affairs and diplomacy.

The concept paper proposes that Nepal adopt a merit-based system in which only qualified subject-matter experts are appointed as diplomats, following global standards and best practices.

According to the paper, eligible candidates should include:

• Professors or academic experts with a Ph.D. in International Relations, Diplomacy, Political Science, International Law, or Economics, who are actively engaged in teaching or research.
• Individuals holding a Ph.D. in any discipline with at least 15 years of service in the foreign service.
• For political appointments, those with a minimum of 15 years of active involvement and significant contributions in the foreign affairs departments of political parties, holding a Ph.D. in any field, or independent experts in the related disciplines.
• Individuals with at least 15 years of experience in other diplomatic missions, or those who have served as heads of diplomatic missions for at least one term.
• Researchers with a minimum of 10 years of experience in foreign affairs–related think tanks.
• Individuals who have led missions in international peacekeeping or other missions under the Nepalese Army.

The IRCC initiative seeks to institutionalize professionalism, academic expertise, and meritocracy in Nepal’s foreign service to strengthen the country’s diplomatic standing globally.

The Mustang-Dolpa road has been closed for the last 10 days due to accumulation of snow on the road following heavy snowfall. 

The Road Division Office in Mustang has expanded the Mustang–Dolpa road from Pakling in Mustang through Sangta village to Chhuksam in Dolpa. 

To assist Upper Dolpa residents in transporting goods to Jomsom in Mustang and traveling to Pokhara–Kathmandu, the Baglung Road Division Office has upgraded the Mustang–Dolpa road and created a new track as the shortest direct route from the Dolpa headquarters. 

Additionally, the Mustang–Dolpa road was widened to facilitate the transport of goods from Mustang to Upper Dolpa and to enable the movement of sheep and yaks from Dolpa to Mustang. 

Surendra Gurung, the ward chairperson of Baragung Muktichhetra–5, reported that the Mustang–Dolpa road, situated at an elevation of 4,000 meters above sea level, has been blocked due to heavy snowfall. 

The blockage has hindered the transport of goods and vehicles from Jomsom to Chhuksam. 

Ward Chairperson Gurung mentioned that a request has been made to the Baglung Road Division Office to remove the snow.

Russia has capacity for a limited attack against NATO territory at any time but a decision to act would depend on the Western allies' posture, a top German military official warned, Reuters reported.

"If you look at Russia's current capabilities and combat power, Russia could kick off a small-scale attack against NATO territory as early as tomorrow," Lieutenant General Alexander Sollfrank told Reuters in an interview.

"Small, quick, regionally limited, nothing big - Russia is too tied down in Ukraine for that."

Sollfrank, who heads Germany's joint operations command and oversees defence planning, also echoed NATO warnings that Russia could potentially mount a large-scale assault on the 32-member alliance as early as 2029 if its armament efforts persist, according to Reuters.

The Duke of Sussex has apologised to Canada for wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers hat while attending a World Series game against the Toronto Blue Jays, BBC reported.

Prince Harry joked that he was "under duress" when he wore the bright blue cap during the epic Game 4 of the World Series in Los Angeles. He thought it was "the polite thing to do" after being invited to the game by the Dodgers' owner.

His headgear choice upset many in Canada - a Commonwealth nation- who criticised him for not showing his allegiance to the realm, or to the only Canadian team in Major League Baseball, according to BBC.

The Supreme Court is coming into full operation from November 17. 

It has been delivering its service partially after the SC building was torched and damaged during the Gen Z protest on September 9.  

A meeting of the Supreme Court's full bench held on Thursday decided to operate all services regularly. 

The  hearing date for which was already scheduled would be conducted regularly from November 17 as case files have been saved from destruction. 

The meeting also took the decision to register all types of cases, applications and conduct hearings.

In a move prompted by unmet demands, groups of vendors and committees representing Melamchi flood victims have halted the diversion of water from the Melamchi stream to Kathmandu. 

Jagarnath Das, the Executive Director of the Melamchi Water Supply Development Board, said that local residents obstructed the water diversion at the source of the Melamchi Water Supply Project on Thursday. 

He remarked, "The locals have blocked the source today, demanding the fulfillment of the agreement made last year with former Water Supply Minister Pradeep Yadav." Since the main supply was cut off, the diversion of Melamchi water to Kathmandu has been entirely halted since Thursday afternoon. 

The locals have ceased the water supply, asserting that the demands of the flood and landslide victims from 2078 BS, along with other affected individuals, remain unaddressed. The Melamchi water supply, which had been interrupted in Mid-June due to the onset of rains, resumed on October 12. 

Executive Director Das stated that discussions would be initiated with the protesting groups to seek a resolution for the water supply to Kathmandu. Additionally, four concerned committees from Sindhupalchok and Kavre had previously blocked the Melamchi Water Supply Office in Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu, a week ago.

The government is providing concessional loans to 400 startup enterprises in the current fiscal year 2025/26. The Industrial Enterprises Development Institute (IEDI), an autonomous entity dedicated to developing human and knowledge resources for entrepreneurship and business promotion in Nepal, has issued a public notice calling for project proposals from aspiring entrepreneurs seeking startup loans. Interested applicants can submit their proposals by Nov 27.

The loans will be disbursed under the Startup Enterprise Loan Operation Procedure, 2025, approved recently by the government. As per the revised procedure, qualified applicants must demonstrate innovative ideas, knowledge, skills, and the capacity to transform their concept into viable enterprises.

The government has allocated Rs 730m for the program in the current fiscal year. Loans will be offered at a three percent interest rate. Altogether, 765 startups have benefited from the program so far. In the previous fiscal year, 600 entrepreneurs received concessional loans under the same scheme, while 165 were financed in fiscal year 2023/24. 

The government, however, has revised the loan limit for this fiscal year. Startup enterprises, which have received financing of up to Rs 2.5m, will get only up to Rs 2m in the current fiscal year. The minimum loan amount remains unchanged at Rs 500,000. To qualify for the scheme, a startup must be registered as a private firm, partnership firm, company, or cooperative enterprise under relevant laws. Eligible businesses must be involved in the production of goods or services using innovative and creative technology, have growth potential, and not exceed 10 years since registration. Additionally, their annual turnover should not surpass Rs 150m.

The program covers 16 priority sectors, including agriculture and livestock, tourism and hospitality, forest-based industries, science and technology, health services, education, renewable energy, environmental protection, waste management, and climate change mitigation. The IEDI has urged interested entrepreneurs to submit detailed project proposals as per the prescribed format within the deadline. The proposals will be evaluated by a three-member committee as outlined in the amended procedure. Successful applicants will also be offered entrepreneurship and business management training before receiving the loan.

The startup loan initiative, which was first introduced in fiscal year 2023/24, is part of the government’s broader policy to foster a culture of innovation and reduce youth unemployment through entrepreneurship.