Severe flooding in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, has prompted traders to set up a “floating market” on the inundated streets to sell their goods. Due to waterlogged roads, vendors have turned the situation into an opportunity by operating their businesses afloat on the flooded streets. This unique phenomenon has attracted the attention of both local residents and tourists alike.
October 1, Kathmandu – Japan has announced a substantial hike in fees for visa renewal and permanent residency (PR) applications, effective from Thursday. The new fees have been set by Japan’s Immigration Services Agency in accordance with amendments to the Immigration Control Act passed in May this year. Going forward, the fees for visa renewal and change of residency status will be determined based on the duration of stay, with shorter durations incurring lower fees and longer durations carrying significantly higher charges.
Under the new regulations, the maximum fee for visa renewal is set at 75,000 yen, while the maximum application fee for permanent residency will be 200,000 yen. This represents a sharp rise compared to the previous fees of 6,000 yen and 10,000 yen, respectively. The detailed fee structure is as follows: up to 3 months – 10,000 yen; 3 to 6 months – 18,000 yen; 6 months to 1 year – 25,000 yen; 1 year – 33,000 yen; 1 to 3 years – 48,000 yen; 3 to 5 years – 64,000 yen; and 5 years or more – 75,000 yen.
The latest revision also introduces the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA), targeting visa-exempt travelers from 74 countries and regions. JESTA is planned for implementation by fiscal year 2028 and seeks to prevent terrorism and illegal employment. Under this system, travelers must provide information such as their name, purpose of visit, and destination online several days before departure. The data will be cross-checked against criminal records and other databases. If there is suspicion that a traveler might overstay their visa-free period, they could be denied boarding on planes or ships.
By the end of 2025, the number of foreign residents in Japan reached approximately 4.13 million, marking the highest recorded figure to date.
The Nepalese women’s kabaddi team, which won the bronze medal at the 20th Asian Games held in Japan, has returned home. Kathmandu, 14 Ashoj. The Nepali team arrived in the country on Wednesday afternoon via Thai Airways. Although they were originally scheduled to return two days earlier, their flight was delayed due to flooding in Thailand, which disrupted air travel and caused the team to be stranded there temporarily. A welcoming party led by Ramcharitra Mehta, Member Secretary of the National Sports Council (Rakhap), greeted the team upon arrival. Nepal advanced to the semifinals and secured the bronze medal by defeating Thailand and Sri Lanka. In the semifinals, Nepal was defeated by India. The Nepalese women’s kabaddi team had also won the bronze medal at the previous, 19th Asian Games.
According to Israeli officials speaking to local media, a passenger plane flying from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to Tel Aviv, Israel, was diverted to Saudi Arabia due to a dispute between the pilots. Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 reported that the Flydubai flight, which departed Dubai International Airport on Wednesday morning, sent an emergency signal two hours into the flight. Moments later, the emergency signal was changed to a hijack alert, before reverting back to a standard emergency signal. The aircraft was carrying approximately 150 passengers, most of whom were Israeli citizens. Flight number FZ1053 was scheduled to land at Ben-Gurion Airport but unexpectedly landed at Tabuk Airport in northeastern Saudi Arabia following the dispute between the pilots, officials confirmed.
Israeli authorities reported that one pilot allegedly stabbed the other with a knife before taking control of the aircraft. Passengers on board also reported the use of a sharp weapon inside the plane. A Flydubai spokesperson confirmed an “incident occurred during the flight” but stated that further details will be provided once available. “Our teams are working in coordination with the relevant authorities,” the spokesperson added.
Data from FlightRadar24 shows that about two hours after takeoff, at around 05:21 UTC, the plane descended rapidly from over 17,000 feet (5,000 meters) within two minutes. At 05:40 UTC, the flight briefly entered Jordanian airspace before returning to Saudi Arabian airspace shortly after. Upon entering Saudi airspace, the plane initiated descent for landing. Concern over a possible hijacking prompted emergency consultations between the Israeli Prime Minister and Defense Minister. The Israeli Air Force deployed fighter jets as the aircraft diverted from its expected route. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement assuring that the situation is under control and that efforts are underway to safely repatriate Israeli passengers from Saudi Arabia.
October 1, Sydney – Australia will completely eliminate additional fees charged when making payments via debit or credit cards starting next October. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the obligation for consumers to pay extra fees when using cards will be removed. This regulation will take effect from October 1, 2026. Under the new rule, stores, cafes, and restaurants must charge the exact price displayed on the product even when payment is made by card.
Prime Minister Albanese stated on social media, “Due to card surcharges, the price you pay for your coffee shouldn’t be more than its actual price.” According to the government, starting in October, all card payments made through Visa, MasterCard, and EFTPOS networks will be prohibited from having any surcharges added. Once implemented, the government estimates that Australian consumers will collectively save approximately 1.6 billion AUD annually by avoiding these surcharges. Similarly, it is expected that small businesses will reduce their operating costs by about 91 million AUD per year. Amid rising living expenses recently, the government introduced this policy to provide some financial relief to the general public.
13 Ashoj, Butwal – India’s Khaira Volleyball Club Punjab and the departmental team Nepal Police Club have started on a winning note in the second edition of the Madan Bhandari Cup International Invitational Running Shield Men’s Volleyball Competition. Organized by the Madan Bhandari Sports Academy, the tournament’s Group ‘A’ match on Tuesday at the Butwal International Conference Center saw Khaira Club Punjab defeat Manimukund Volleyball Club in a commanding 3–1 set victory.
Khaira Club secured the first set 26–24 and the second set 25–18 comfortably. Although Manimukund claimed the third set 25–22, Khaira Club bounced back to win the fourth set 25–20, clinching the match.
In another match, Nepal Police Club defeated Sri Lanka Police Club in straight sets, 3–0, with set scores of 25–23, 25–21, and 25–20. Meanwhile, in Group ‘B’, Galkot Volleyball Club was disqualified for failing to appear on time for their match. Following Galkot’s disqualification, seven teams remain in the tournament.
The tournament was inaugurated by former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, who emphasized that events like this provide Nepali athletes with valuable international competitive experience.
Dhruv Acharya, President of the Madan Bhandari Sports Academy, stated that the academy prioritizes sports by organizing competitions ranging from school level to international events. He added that hosting an international volleyball tournament in Butwal not only promotes competition but also contributes to the development of sports tourism in the region.
The competition will run until Ashoj 17. Group ‘A’ includes Khaira Club Punjab, Sri Lanka Police Club, Nepal Police Club, and Manimukund Volleyball Club. Group ‘B’ features Sabapokhari Volleyball Club, India’s Gujarat Sporting Club, and Nepal APF Club. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, with the winners of the semifinals competing for the title.
October 1, Kathmandu – US President Donald Trump has indicated in a conversation with Axios that National Intelligence Director Jay Clayton could become the administration’s new ‘AI czar.’ As demands grow for government control and regulation in the AI sector, Trump is searching for the right person to lead this effort. Commenting on who might take the AI leadership role, Trump said, ‘I have someone in mind,’ pointing toward Jay Clayton. He added, ‘Clayton is a good person, he’s available, and it would be a good idea.’
Speaking with reporters outside the White House, Trump expressed his desire to announce a name for the position within the next three to four days. While the exact responsibilities of the ‘AI czar’ remain to be clearly defined, Trump has already shared plans to establish a new government body called the ‘AI Force.’
Jay Clayton, who oversees 18 intelligence agencies, serves as President Trump’s chief intelligence advisor. During a congressional hearing last July, Clayton echoed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s view by stating that AI poses not only opportunities but also significant threats to the intelligence community. Discussions have taken place involving Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and senior officials from AI companies on balancing AI innovation with security concerns. The meeting included talks about encouraging companies to regulate themselves and each other. Previously, Silicon Valley investor David Sacks had fulfilled the role of ‘AI czar.’ After his special government position ended last March, he stepped down from that responsibility but has continued to influence as an external advisor.
October 1, Kathmandu – Nepal’s left-arm spinner Lalit Rajbanshi has surged 38 places in the ICC T20 International bowling rankings. According to the latest rankings released by the ICC on Wednesday, Lalit moved up to 80th position with a rating of 468 points. Nepal participated in only two matches during the Asian Games held in Japan, and Lalit bowled in just one of those games. His ranking improvement was driven by his performance against Afghanistan, where he took 3 wickets for 13 runs in 4 overs. In other bowling rankings, Sandeep Lamichhane advanced two spots to 47th place, while Dipendra Singh Airey climbed one spot to 59th. In the T20I all-rounder rankings, Dipendra Singh Airey maintained his strong position at fourth place.
October 1, Kathmandu – US President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson announced a voluntary agreement to regulate, review, and ensure transparency in artificial intelligence (AI) systems following discussions with key figures in the technology sector. This agreement places the primary responsibility for AI technology safety and risk management on the respective companies involved. Leading AI firms have committed to adopting internal risk assessments, external audits, and multi-layered control systems during the training and operation of frontier models.
Trump described the agreement as “morally binding” and expressed concerns that self-regulation cannot be effective without mutual oversight among companies. He also announced a decision to rename the term “Artificial Intelligence” (AI) to “Super Intelligence” (SI). Signing an executive order titled “Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence,” he directed US government agencies to use the term “SI” instead of “AI.”
According to Trump, this technology surpasses the internet in significance. Prior to the White House meeting, leading AI labs such as Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google had already been developing internal strategies to collaborate on technology testing and auditing. Several AI experts have voiced concerns that reliance on self-regulation in the absence of government oversight may not fully address current safety challenges. Trump is reportedly planning to select a new “AI czar” within the next three to four days, with National Intelligence Director J. Clayton being suggested for the role.
October 1, Kathmandu – The home team, Gandaki Province, registered their second consecutive win over the visiting Bhutan cricket team during their Pokhara tour. In the match held Wednesday at the Pokhara Stadium cricket ground, Gandaki defeated Bhutan by 64 runs. Previously, in the first practice match on Tuesday, Gandaki had beaten Bhutan by 8 wickets.
Chasing a target of 197 runs set by Gandaki, Bhutan was all out for 132 runs in 17.4 overs. Sonam Chopel top-scored for Bhutan with 43 runs, but it was insufficient to chase down the target. Other contributors included Tashi Dorji with 31, Tenzing Rabgyé 21, Namgyang Choje 6, Namgyé Thinley 1, Ranjung Mikyo Dorji 2, Thinley Jamtsho 17, and Tashi Chopel 4 runs. Gakul Kumar Ghale and Tashi Phuncho did not score any runs, while Sonam Yeshey remained unbeaten on 1 run.
Bowling for Gandaki, captain Bipin Khatri led with 4 wickets, conceding 22 runs in 3.4 overs. Deepakkumar Dumre took 3 wickets, Sibrin Shrestha claimed 2, and Sandip Khatri Kshetri took 1 wicket. After losing the toss, Gandaki batted first and posted 196 runs for 7 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Openers Sibrin and Karan Pangeni put together an important 88-run partnership after Gandaki had lost 4 wickets for just 45 runs. Karan scored 45 runs off 27 balls, while Sibrin also scored 45 off 24 balls. Sandip added an unbeaten 30 runs off 9 balls. Other contributors were Arjun Kumal 2, Muskan Thapamagar 21, Sameer Kandel 1, Deepak Dumre 19, and Rohit Chand 20, with Abhishek Thapa unbeaten on 2 runs.
On the bowling front for Bhutan, Thinley Jamtsho took 4 wickets, Sonam Yeshey claimed 2, and Namgyé Thinley took 1 wicket. Bhutan, who came to Nepal to prepare for the sub-regional qualifiers of the T20 World Cup, is scheduled to play practice matches against CYC-11 on Thursday and Friday.
October 1, Kathmandu – A Flydubai flight from Dubai, UAE to Tel Aviv, Israel was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a violent altercation between two pilots on board, according to CNN citing sources. The aircraft descended from an altitude of 34,000 feet to approximately 16,600 feet within about two minutes while in flight. Flight tracking data indicates that this incident occurred around 1:20 AM local time.
About 12 minutes after the incident, an emergency signal was transmitted from the aircraft, which was then redirected towards Saudi Arabia. Israeli officials have confirmed that this was not a hijacking. They have described it as a dispute between members of the flight crew. Upon receiving the emergency alert, both the Israeli Prime Minister and Defense Minister engaged in security consultations.
According to a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Israeli fighter jets were deployed following the incident. The Flydubai plane is expected to land in Saudi Arabia shortly. CNN has reached out to Flydubai for a response regarding the situation.
October 1, Kathmandu – At the ongoing 20th Asian Games in Japan, Nepal’s Vijay Majhi achieved 10th place in the men’s single canoe slalom competition. The final, held on Wednesday at the Yahagigawa Canoe Slalom course, saw Vijay complete the course with a time of 311.14 seconds. During the run, he incurred a penalty of 164 seconds.
China’s Hu Zhaosan claimed the gold medal with a winning time of 91.41 seconds. Japan’s Yuki Tanaka secured the silver medal with a time of 92.87 seconds, while Kazakhstan’s Alexander Korobov took bronze with 94.48 seconds. Vijay Majhi finished 219.73 seconds behind the gold medalist Hu Zhaosan.
October 13, Kathmandu – After the completion of the first round of the men’s individual stroke play golf event at the Asian Games, Nepal’s Subash Tamang is positioned 18th. Subash completed all 18 holes of the first round with an even par score, posting a total of 70 strokes. Another Nepalese golfer, Rahul Bishwakarma, stands 43rd following the first round. Rahul finished the 18 holes with six over par and recorded a total score of 76.
Nepal’s Sadhbhaw Acharya was unable to participate in the first round due to health issues. The men’s individual stroke play golf competition is scheduled to be held over four rounds. After the first round, Subash and Rahul will continue to compete in the remaining three rounds.
US President Donald Trump and executives from major technology companies have reached an agreement on regulating artificial intelligence (AI). Trump described the agreement as “morally binding.” The announcement came after a meeting at the White House with representatives from technology companies. As the pressure to address the risks AI poses to humanity grows, the Trump administration is facing increasing demands for regulation. President Trump stated that AI companies will be capable of self-regulation. Rejecting calls for stricter safeguards, he emphasized that regulation will be “broadly self-imposed.”
Previously, President Trump declared that no joint AI ventures would be conducted with China, remarking that doing so would be akin to revealing secrets to America’s chief economic competitor. On Tuesday, OpenAI unveiled a new AI assistant called ‘Dots,’ which claims to actively work on behalf of users. At an event held in San Francisco, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described ‘Dots’ as an “extraordinarily capable and always-active agent that can perform virtually any task you can imagine.” The event took place while President Trump was dining with technology sector leaders and House Speaker Mike Johnson at the White House.
Trump reiterated the need for AI companies to self-regulate. He discussed plans to form a 10-member committee within the industry, which he believes will foster “broad self-regulation.” In response to public incidents involving security breaches by AI models, some researchers and company leaders have called for slowing the pace of AI development. “We need to adopt a middle path,” Altman told reporters on Tuesday. “I hope our industry will adopt more thoughtful and practical policies.” Altman declined to name any specific companies or leaders. Both OpenAI and Anthropic are expected to go public on stock markets in the coming months, with Anthropic likely to list this year and OpenAI planned for 2027. Altman expressed his willingness to sell shares of his company publicly. “I believe it would be detrimental to the world if OpenAI goes public too late. I want people to share in the benefits AI can bring.” Both companies have clearly stated their belief that AI poses significant risks to public infrastructure and safety.
October 1, Kathmandu – In Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, India, a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel opened fire on his fellow officers, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including an Assistant Commandant. According to officials, the incident occurred around 7:30 PM on Tuesday evening near Bashohli, in the Mashka area.
Indian news agency PTI reported that a dispute had arisen between CISF Head Constable Abhidesh Kumar and several of his colleagues. Following this altercation, Kumar allegedly fired at his fellow personnel with his rifle.
Four CISF personnel sustained serious injuries from the gunfire and were immediately taken to the nearby NHPC hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, all four succumbed to their injuries during medical care. The deceased include Assistant Commandant Ankit Kumar Pandey, Sub-Inspector Laxman Singh, Constable Rafique Ahmad, and Constable Sandeep Kumar. Following the incident, other CISF personnel apprehended Head Constable Abhidesh Kumar, who was later arrested by the police. Authorities also recovered the rifle that was used during the shooting.
Upon notification of the incident, CISF and police personnel arrived at the scene and commenced an investigation. Officials stated that further inquiries are underway to determine the exact cause and circumstances behind the shooting.