Kathmandu, October 16 — In this section, we present the key headlines of the day. If you've been busy and missed the news, we’ve got you covered. Here are the highlights.

Oli government's 90 days: Negative ratings from all parties except UML

It has been three months since the major political parties, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, formed a coalition government.

As the hundred-day mark approaches, Congress MPs have begun to express dissatisfaction with the government's performance, while other opposition parties have also commented that the actions of the two-third majority government have been disappointing.

When urged to review the government's performance over the past hundred days, the chief whips and MPs from represented parties noted that there has been no significant difference in service delivery between the previously unstable government and the current so-called stable government.

However, Mahesh Bartaula, the chief whip of the UML, praised the government's actions, claiming it has done the best work to date.

Call for strong action against the Zionist Israeli government 

Various political parties and civil rights activists in Nepal have called for an immediate end to the brutal and barbaric war waged by Israel against the Lebanese and Palestinian people.

 On Wednesday, leaders from political parties and activists issued a joint statement expressing solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people, emphasizing the importance of respecting their territorial integrity and sovereign rights.

Among those expressing solidarity are the Maoist Centre, Unified Socialist Party, Nepal Communist Party (Masal), and the Scientific Socialist Communist Party, alongside civil rights activists such as Dr. Mahesh Maskey, Dr. Ganesh Gurung, Sharad Wonta, Dr. Sanjeev Upreti, and Shyam Shrestha.

Rashtriya Swotantra Party appeals for special session of HoR

The Rashtriya Swotantra Party (RSP) has demanded for a special session of the House of Representatives.

On Wednesday, the party's acting spokesperson Manish Jha issued a statement, highlighting the need for immediate discussion on contemporary issues facing national life and urging political parties to pay attention to the appeal for a special session of the House.

The statement mentions that although the government led by KP Sharma Oli, formed with the participation of parties including the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, is approaching a hundred days in office, it has not shown even initial signs of fulfilling its declared commitments.

19 thousand dengue cases reported throughout country

Dengue is spreading rapidly with the number of infected people reaching 19,599 throughout the country, according to the latest data of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD).

EDCD said nine people have died of the disease so far and it has spread in 76 districts of the country. Dengue has spread the most in Kathmandu with 3,103 cases, followed by Kaski with 2,847 vases, Tanahu with 2,107 cases and Parbat with 1,562 cases.

Similarly, Chitwan reports 971 cases, Lalitpur 827 cases, Gorkha 588 cases, Baglung 610 cases, Bhaktapur 355 cases and Syangja 335 cases.

Seven killed in separate vehicle accidents across Nepal

Seven people have died in separate vehicle accidents.

According to the Police Headquarters, a bus with registration number Na.8 Kha 1078, traveling from Mahendranagar to Baitadi's Purchaudi, lost control and fell approximately 300 meters off the road at Khasrekhan in Amarghadi Municipality-7, Dadeldhura, last night, resulting in the deaths of four passengers.

In another incident, an 18-year-old named Sandip Syangtan from Marin Rural Municipality-7 died when his motorcycle, with registration number Ba.86 Pa 6031, lost control while coming from Sindhuli towards Chhap.

In Mustang's Gharapjhong Rural Municipality-2, a motorcycle with registration number Ba.76 Pa 4210 was hit by a car with registration number Na.1 Cha 7692 on Tuesday afternoon. The motorcycle rider, 33-year-old Sanjay Khadka, originally from Gorkha but residing in Kathmandu, died during treatment at the district hospital in Jomsom.

Similarly, in Kailali's Bhajani Municipality-7, a tractor with registration number Se.1 Ta 1786 collided with a motorcycle with registration number Se.6 Pa 1061 on Tuesday evening, resulting in the death of 23-year-old Ashish Kumar Chaudhary, a resident of Kailari Rural Municipality-5.

Arrest warrant issued against Inspector Binu Shahi in 'honey trap' case

An arrest warrant has been issued against Inspector Binu Shahi by the Lalitpur District Court. Lalitpur SSP Shekhar Khanal confirmed to Ratopati that the warrant was issued.

The district court in Lalitpur has allowed the arrest for investigating a case where a realtor was allegedly extorted under a "honey trap." 

Four individuals, including a junior constable, are currently in custody on charges of extorting money from the businessman by threatening to frame him in a rape case. Those in custody include Susma BK and Tajmul Islam from Itahari, as well as Bhimadevi Thapa and junior constable Mahendra Hamal.

Darshan Pokharel, also from Itahari, is reportedly on the run. The Lalitpur district police are investigating them for criminal profit-related offenses.

BP Highway to close from 6 PM to 4 AM

The B.P. Highway will be closed from 6 PM to 4 AM. The Road Division of Bhaktapur announced this information in a notice on Wednesday.

Due to continuous rainfall and landslides on September 27, 28 and 29, about 8 kilometers of the B.P. Highway in the Bhakundebesi area was completely washed away. Currently, a track has been constructed in that area, allowing only passenger vehicles to pass.

Although track construction has been completed in some sections of the road, the division office stated that maintenance work is ongoing to make travel easier and safer.

Additionally, there is a possibility of dry landslides in the area at any time, which is why the road will be closed at night.

69th Police Day celebrated

The Nepal Police celebrated 69th Police Day on Wednesday.

On this occasion, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and others addressed the ceremony held in the capital.

During the event, Prime Minister Oli honored police officers and various personalities for their contributions.

The program also featured performances by police personnel, including artistic displays and a parade.

Gold price reaches all-time high

The price of gold has reached an all-time high.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, gold prices have broken all previous records.

As of Wednesday, the price of hallmark gold is set at NPR 161,800 per tola (11.66 gramms).

Previously, on August 2, the price was NPR 161,300. On Wednesday, gold prices approached NPR 162,000, breaking the previous record.

On Tuesday, the price of gold was NPR 160,500 per tola.

Boeing seeks up to $35bn as costly strike drags on

Boeing says it aims to raise up to $35bn (£26.8bn) from investors and banks as a costly strike by thousands of its workers enters its second month.

Also on Tuesday, the union representing more than 30,000 of the aviation giant's workers held a rally in the city of Seattle.

The company is moving ahead with plans to layoff around 17,000 workers, with the first redundancy notices expected to be issued in mid-November.

Talks to end the walkout collapsed last week as the firm withdrew an offer that included a 30% pay rise over four years.

Boeing plans to raise up to $25bn in stock and debt offerings and said it has reached a deal with major banks to borrow as much much as $10bn.

Interest rates for Kartik announced: 10 banks cut rates, 10 hold steady

During the festive season, the expected demand for loans from banks and financial institutions has not materialized, leading to a continued stability in interest rates.

Commercial banks have published their interest rates for the month of Kartik accordingly.

As per the regulations, banks are required to announce interest rates for the new month by the end of the previous month.

 In this context, 10 banks have reduced their interest rates, while the remaining 10 banks have maintained the same rates as the previous month. No bank has increased interest rates this time.

At least 94 killed in fuel tanker explosion in Nigeria

At least 94 people were killed in northern Nigeria when a crashed tanker exploded near locals who had gathered to retrieve fuel, police told CNN.

The toll is expected to rise from the blast, which happened late evening local time on Tuesday in Majiya, a village in Jigawa state.

“The driver lost control and the tanker somersaulted and spilt fuel into a drainage ditch,” Jigawa police spokesperson Shiisu Lawan Adam said.

‘Our neighbours burned alive’: The bombing of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital

Many Palestinians displaced multiple times end up at schools and hospitals, setting up tents again and again, using whatever materials they can find, clustering close together due to a lack of space.

Israel’s bombs spread fire through the crowded tents within minutes as Civil Defence workers struggled to put it out with what limited capabilities they had.

“People – women, men and children – were running away from the spreading fire, screaming,” Madi says. “Some of them were still burning, their bodies on fire as they ran. Terrifying, horrific, … unbelievable.

“Where are we supposed to go? It’s nearly winter. Is there no one to stop this holocaust against us?”

US gives Israel 30 days to boost Gaza aid or risk cut to military support

The US has written to Israel, giving it 30 days to boost humanitarian aid access in Gaza or risk having some US military assistance cut off.

The letter, sent on Sunday, amounts to the strongest known written warning from the US to its ally and comes amid a new Israeli offensive in northern Gaza that has reportedly caused a large number of civilian casualties.

It says the US has deep concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation, adding that Israel denied or impeded nearly 90% of humanitarian movements between the north and south last month.

Israel is reviewing the letter, an Israeli official was reported as saying, adding the country "takes this matter seriously" and intends to "address the concerns raised" with US counterparts.

Serena Williams had a benign cyst removed from her neck and says, "all is OK"

Serena Williams says she had a benign branchial cyst “the size of a small grapefruit” removed from her neck and “all is OK.”

The retired tennis star, who turned 43 last month, posted Wednesday on social media that she found a lump on her neck in May, had an MRI exam, and was told she didn’t need to get it removed if she didn’t want to. So she didn’t then, “but it kept growing,” Williams said.

After more tests, including a biopsy that was negative for cancer, Williams said, her doctors said she should have a procedure.

She showed video of herself in a hospital bed and wrote: “So this is me removing it. I am feeling so grateful, and fortunate everything worked out, and most of all I’m healthy.”

S Korean striker sorry for filming secret sex videos

South Korean football player Hwang Ui-jo has apologised for secretly filming sexual encounters with his partners.

Prosecutors say the 31-year-old striker filmed sexual encounters with two of his partners without their consent on four occasions between June and September 2022.

In his first court appearance in Seoul on Wednesday, Hwang said he was "deeply sorry" for causing "disappointment".

The former striker had just last month left England's Nottingham Forest for Turkey's Alanyaspor.

Sajid fights back to undo Duckett's ton

England 239 for 6 (Duckett 114, Root 34) trail Pakistan 366 (Ghulam 118, Ayub 77, Leach 4-114) by 127 runs

Slowly, slowly … and then with the snap of resolve that vindicated every one of their seemingly half-baked plans, Pakistan roared into command in the second Test at Multan, transforming another day of dominant England batting with a trademark surge of wickets, the likes of which had eluded them throughout their dismal run of six Test losses in a row.

By the close, England were on the ropes at 239 for 6, still trailing by a substantial 127 despite battling hard to bowl their opponents out for 366 shortly after lunch. This was in spite of a brilliant fourth Test hundred from Ben Duckett that had, at one stage, been almost contemptuous in its dominance.