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Typhoon Ragasa has made landfall in southern China, where nearly two million people have been evacuated in preparation for its arrival, BBC reported.

It comes after authorities said at least 17 people had been killed and more missing in Taiwan after a lake burst on Tuesday, causing severe flooding in the island's east.

Ragasa was downgraded from a super to a severe typhoon on Wednesday but it remains highly destructive, with top winds of 241km/h (150mph) recorded in Taishan county in China's south-eastern Guangdong province.

The equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane, Ragasa is the world's strongest storm this year and has been roaring over the South China Sea for days, according to BBC.

More than 80 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, most of them in Gaza City, local hospitals said, BBC reported.

Women and children were among at least 20 who died when a strike hit a building and tents sheltering displaced families near Firas market in Gaza City's central Daraj neighbourhood overnight, according to first responders.

The Israeli military said it struck two Hamas fighters and that the number of casualties did not align with its own information.

Meanwhile, Israeli tanks and troops continued their advance into the heart of the city, which Israel says is the last stronghold of Hamas, according to BBC.

Vladimir Putin "will keep driving the war forward wider and deeper" if he is not stopped, Ukraine's President Zelensky has warned, BBC reported. 

Speaking at the UN's General Assembly in New York, Zelensky said more countries would be met with Russian aggression unless allies displayed a united front and ramped up support.

He said all nations were threatened by a global arms race, as military technology advances, adding that "weapons decide who survives" and calling for global rules on AI.

His comments come after US President Donald Trump shifted his position on the Russia-Ukraine war, saying for the first time that Ukraine could win back all of its land, according to BBC.

hina, the world's biggest source of planet-warming gases, has for the first time committed to an absolute target to cut its emissions, BBC reported.

In a video statement to the UN in New York, President Xi Jinping said that China would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions across the economy by 7-10% by 2035, while "striving to do better".

The announcement comes at a time the US is rolling back on its commitments, with President Donald Trump on Tuesday calling climate change a "con job".

But some critics said China's plan did not go as far as hoped to keep global climate goals in reach, according to BBC.

Nepal’s exports surged by nearly 89 percent in the first two months of the current fiscal year, but the sharp rise has once again exposed the country’s growing overdependence on refined edible oil shipments to India.

According to the Department of Customs, Nepal exported goods worth Rs 47.32bn during mid-July to mid-September, compared to Rs 25.09bn in the same period of last fiscal year. Nearly half of the export earnings came from soybean oil alone, while sunflower oil and palm oil took the second and third spots, respectively.

In just two months, Nepal exported 509,962 tons of soybean oil worth Rs 20.42bn (509,962 tons) to India. Sunflower oil followed with Rs 1.38bn (35.2m liters) in exports, also to India. Refined palm oil, which ranked low in last year’s list, jumped to third place with Rs 1.31bn (7.4m liters) in shipments.

Nepal’s edible oil trade with India has flourished largely because of a loophole in regional trade agreements. Under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and the bilateral India-Nepal Trade Treaty, Nepali exports to India enjoy zero-duty access. In contrast, exporters outside South Asia face a 35 percent tariff on soybean oil exports to India. This makes Nepali refined oil significantly cheaper for Indian buyers.

Nepal imports almost all of its crude soybean oil from countries such as Argentina, Brazil, China, Iraq, Thailand, and Ukraine, refines it, and re-exports it to India. Domestic production of soybean, which was just 36,671 tons in 2023, is insufficient even to meet local demand.

Experts say this re-export model leaves Nepal highly vulnerable to Indian policy changes. Indian refiners, led by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA), have long complained that cheaper Nepali oil has been affecting their business. Earlier this year, SEA urged the Indian government to regulate edible oil imports from Nepal and other SAARC countries.

If India were to curb these imports, Nepal’s export earnings would collapse overnight. This will put investments made in refining plants at serious risk.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 27. 89 points to close at 2, 654. 35  points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 4. 97 points to close at 459. 38 points.

A total of 9,408,663-unit shares of 317 companies were traded for Rs 4. 12 billion.

Meanwhile, Mathillo Mailun Khola Jalvidhyut Limited (MMKJL) and City Hotel Limited (CITY) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Unnati Sahakarya Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (USLB) was the top loser as its price fell by 5. 38 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 43 trillion.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has issued an ordinance to amend the Voter Registration Act, 2073 BS.

The President has issued the ordinance today in accordance with subsection (1) of Article 114 of the Constitution of Nepal, and on the recommendation of the Nepal Government, Council of Ministers, the President's office has stated.

Works have begun to remove landslide debris at the Tuin Khola section along the Narayangadh-Muglin road, following a major landslide that occurred on Tuesday afternoon at around 4:30 pm. It is said that it will take two days to restore the route. 

According to Narayan Lamichhane, Chief of the Division Road Office, Bharatpur, the debris removal efforts are being carried out with the help of two loaders, one excavator, and one vacuole. An additional excavator has been requested from Damauli to support the ongoing work.

The landslide has got deposited along the 160 meters section of the roadway. Officials have also warned that the current condition of the site indicates a risk of further small- to medium-scale mudslides from above.

Although minor mudslides had been occurring since Friday, the massive landslide on Tuesday brought traffic to a complete standstill.

A large number of container trucks remain stuck, while passenger buses have been diverted to alternative routes.

Alternative routes for travelers 

The Division Office Chitwan has urged those in need of travelling via the route to use alternative routes. 

As it was updated, light vehicles can pass through Jutpani to Malekhu of Dhading via Shaktikhor and Mayatar. Likewise, light vehicles are passable from Hetauda to Dakshinkali via Bhainse, Kulekhani and Sisneri. 

Similarly, large vehicles heading towards Kathmandu from the east can use the Kanti Lokpath route via Hetauda and Gingan, reaching Battedanda and exiting at Satdobato in Lalitpur. 

Likewise, both large and small vehicles can travel to Pokhara via Butwal. The Kaligandaki Corridor route can be used for operating small vehicles. The office has suggested that it is possible to travel from Gaindakot to Bhimad in Tanahun and Rampur in Palpa.