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Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in jail after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy in a case related to millions of euros of illicit funds from the late Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi, BBC reported.

The Paris criminal court acquitted him of all other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing. 

The ruling means he will spend time in jail even if he launches an appeal, which Sarkozy says he intends to do, according to BBC.

Speaking after Thursday's hearing, the 70-year-old, who was president from 2007-12, said the verdict was "extremely serious for rule of law".

The stage is set for the final of the ongoing Asia Cup 2025; Team India will be taking on arch-rivals Pakistan in the final of the tournament for the first time in 41 years. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian team has been unbeatable in the tournament so far, winning all of their five matches, India TV reported.

On the other hand, Pakistan made it to the final after defeating Bangladesh in the Super Four stage of the competition. Where India sits in first place in the Super Four standings, Pakistan closely follows in second with two wins and one loss in three matches.

It is worth noting that the only matches that the Men in Green have lost so far have been against India. The side lost the clash against India once in the group stage and once in the Super Four. The two will once again lock horns in the final of the Asia Cup for the first time in the tournament’s history. Notably, both India and have Pakistan have taken on each other five times in a multinational level tournament final with more than three teams, according to India TV.

The International Day for Total Elimination of Weapons is to be observed in different countries with various awareness creating programs on disarmament of nuclear weapons. 

This day has been observed at the call of the United Nations since 2013. 

However, the first proposal for global nuclear disarmament was presented at the UN General Assembly in 1946. 

This Day provides an occasion for the world community to reaffirm its commitment to global nuclear disarmament as a priority. 

It provides an opportunity to educate the public - and their leaders - about the real benefits of eliminating such weapons, and the social and economic costs of perpetuating them, the UN website noted. 

The purpose of the International Day is to further the objective of the total elimination of nuclear weapons through enhancing public awareness and education about the threat posed to humanity by nuclear weapons and the necessity for their total elimination. 

According to the United Nations, approximately 12,241 nuclear weapons remain in various countries today. 

On this occasion, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called upon nations with nuclear weapons to make pledges for the total elimination of these arms.

The influence of the monsoon winds across the country has lost its strength with a partial effect of local winds. 

Most parts of the country is likely to have clear weather. 

This afternoon the hilly regions of the country will generally be cloudy while the remaining areas will be partially cloudy, according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division. 

There is a possibility of moderate rainfall in some hilly areas of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Karnali Provinces, while light rain is likely to occur in one or two places of the remaining areas. 

Tonight the hilly regions of the country, including Koshi province will be partially cloudy, while the rest of the areas will have clear weather, it is stated in the weather bulletin. 

There is a chance of moderate rainfall in one or two places in the hilly areas of the country, including Koshi Province. 

Minister for Education, Science and Technology Mahabir Pun issued four-point instructions to the Centre for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) for immediate implementation. 

Minster Pun, also the chair of CTEVT, instructed the CTEVT to prepare a framework aiming to improve the existing curriculum and incorporate innovations, and submit it by  October 17. 

The minister also instructed to set up an integrated calendar and ensure that exam results are published mandatorily within three months. 

A mechanism that listens to the complaints of students, parents, and teachers at the council's office, and records/addresses the received complaints must be established and put into operation immediately, stated in the instruction. 

Likewise, a report on all applications received for affiliation since the year 2069 BS should be prepared and submitted to the ministry by October 17, and decisions regarding granting or not granting affiliation should be taken promptly. 

Everyone has a smartphone and everyone is taking pictures on it. But if we are to be honest about it, not everyone knows how to take good photos on their phone. However, there are some basics that can help you turn a random shot into a masterpiece. You just need to pay a little attention to some small details and then take it from there. 

Clean your lens

You might scoff at this but you’d be surprised at how many of us don’t get good shots simply because our camera lenses aren’t clean. So take a bit of lens cleaner or a wipe made for glasses and give your phone camera lens a wipe down before taking a photo. Get into the habit of cleaning your phone regularly to ensure your photos aren’t blurry.

Make use of natural light

Have you noticed how the flash always makes your photos look a little off? If you can, try to take photos in natural light. They always come out looking much better than photos in artificially lit spaces or with the flash on. Avoid harsh overhead lights or midday sun which create strong shadows. However, there are different forms of natural light and over time you will slowly come to understand how they affect the quality of the photos you take. 

Learn the right framing technique

Many people take off looking photos because they just point and shoot without considering the frame of the photo. Framing is a technique that can make your photos look so much nicer. Use archways, trees, doors, or windows to create visual borders around your subject. This draws your eyes to the subject and makes it look appealing. It also provides depth and context to your photos. 

Play with angles and composition

Don’t just point and shoot. Look at how you can try different angles to take a photo. For portraits, slightly above eye level works great. Low angles create a dramatic effect. Make sure you consider the background and keep it as clutter free as possible. If you are taking photos in a crowded space, move around to get the perfect shot. Turn on the grid in your camera setting so that you can place your subject along lines and intersections to ensure they are aligned properly. 

Ask a pro to help 

Chances are that you know someone who takes really good pictures. That friend whose photos you always like on Instagram? Or a colleague who becomes the designated photographer at every event? Take tips from them. Ask them questions. Look at their photos. If possible, tag along when they are out to take photos. You will learn more by practicing than by reading or watching tutorials. 

Use your phone’s features 

Your phone comes with some preset features that can make your photos look nice. Try experimenting with the different modes and settings. Experiment with portrait mode for blurred backgrounds. If the object you are photographing is moving, use the burst mode. There are also options for shooting in both bright and dark areas. You could also use different filters to edit your photos. The key is to play around with your phone camera. 

The government has decided to insure state-owned assets for the first time, aiming to reduce financial exposure from disasters and unrest such as the recent GenZ protests that left public buildings and vehicles in ruins. The Cabinet meeting held on Sunday endorsed the plan to make insurance mandatory for government property. The Ministry of Finance confirmed the decision in a statement two days later, saying it would “initiate the process of insuring government infrastructure.”

Until now, the state had borne the full cost of rebuilding whenever earthquakes, floods, fires, or arson damaged public assets. But the scale of destruction during the Sept 8–9 GenZ protests, which targeted iconic institutions including the Supreme Court, Parliament, Prime Minister’s Office, and ministries inside Singha Durbar, highlighted the need for risk-sharing mechanisms.

According to the Nepal Insurance Authority, non-life insurers have already received 2,478 claims amounting to Rs 22.25bn following the protests. While private properties and businesses had coverage, government buildings were not insured, meaning reconstruction would have to be funded entirely from the treasury.

While the exact number of government buildings is not available, observers say it is substantial. In addition to federal-level structures, all seven provincial governments and 753 local governments maintain their own offices across the country. Each ward within the local units also has its own building. Major government agencies are represented in all 77 districts, while the army and police maintain nationwide presence with extensive infrastructure. There are also numerous universities, colleges, and schools under the public sector.

Officials said the new policy would initially focus on insuring government buildings and vehicles, which alone would generate billions of rupees in premiums for the domestic insurance industry. Full-scale coverage of all public assets would take time, they added, but the step marks a major breakthrough for insurers who have long pushed for mandatory government asset coverage. Industry experts say the government's decision could more than double the size of the non-life insurance market. 

The Nepal Insurance Authority had earlier advised the government to include asset coverage in this year’s budget. But the proposal was shelved due to fiscal constraints. Finance ministry officials now say the scheme will be implemented beginning the next fiscal year. Government vehicles are insured, but they only have the mandatory third-party insurance cover.

Ambassador of the United States (US) Dean R Thompson has paid a courtesy call on Minister for Communications and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel. 

At a meeting held at the ministry today, the two discussed the matters related to the recent political situation of Nepal and various aspects of bilateral relations, Minister Kharel's secretariat informed. 

On the occasion, Minister Kharel briefed the US ambassador about the changed political circumstances after Gen Z protests and the incumbent government's priorities. 

Ambassador Thompson extended congratulations and best wishes to Minister Kharel for the latter's successful tenure, according to the minister's secretariat.