KATHMANDU, Oct. 17 -- In case you missed them, here are the major news stories that Republica covered over the past 24 hours.

Minister for Home Affairs, Ram Bahadur Thapa has hinted at acting tough on the underground Netra Bikram Chand-led Nepal Communist Party (NCP). Addressing a function at the Nepal Police headquarters, Naxal, to mark the 65th Nepal Police Day, the home minister said that the government will act aggressively against all underground outfits who have been launching extortion drive, bringing hurdles to development projects and working against the people's rights to live with freedom. However, Minister Thapa did not take the name of the Chand-led group, which has been running violent activities for the past few years, and...