November 10, 2024: Snapshot of today's main news

Kathmandu, November 10 — In this section, we present the key headlines of the day. If you have been busy and missed the news, we have got you covered. Here are the highlights.

Eight die in Kalikot jeep accident, army helicopter deployed for rescue

Eight people have died in a jeep accident in Kalikot.

Alaipura Jaishi, the vice-chairperson of Palata Rural Municipality, informed Ratopati, citing the local police post, that eight people had lost their lives in the accident.

"Eight people have died, as informed by the police post. Of those, the identities of four have been confirmed," she told Ratopati over the phone.

The accident occurred on Sunday in Raduneta, located in Palata Rural Municipality-3. The jeep reportedly fell about 300 meters down from the road.

DIG Janak Bhattarai from the Karnali Province Office in Surkhet stated that a team of DSPs from the district police office had been sent to the scene, and local police had already reached the location and started rescue operations.

Meanwhile, a helicopter from the Nepal Army has reached the site of the jeep accident for rescue operations.

President Paudel departs for Baku to attend COP29

President Ram Chandra Paudel has departed for Baku, Azerbaijan, to participate in the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP-29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The conference, which focuses on climate change, will be held in Baku.

At Tribhuvan International Airport, President Paudel was seen off by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Speaker of the Parliament Deb Raj Ghimire, and other dignitaries as he embarked on his official trip.

Former Koshi minister Adhikari to be tried for human trafficking

Former Minister for Internal Affairs and Law of Koshi Province, Lilaballav Adhikari, has come under police investigation under the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, 2007, after the court granted a two-day remand for further inquiry. He is accused of attempting to traffic youths to Japan using fake documents.

According to SP Navaraj Adhikari of the Kathmandu District Police Office, the investigation pertains to allegations that Lilaballav Adhikari, along with six other individuals previously arrested, was involved in trafficking youths to Japan under the pretense of a cultural program, using forged paperwork.

Police have converted the case from one related to document forgery to one involving human trafficking after evidence confirmed that money had been exchanged through middlemen for sending people abroad.

NEPSE soars 62.54 points

Registering a total turnover of about one million rupees, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index today soared significantly to sit at 2738.06. The rise was by 62.54 points.     

A total of 22 million 474 thousand 281 shares were traded in the domestic market in the first day of the week to make a total turnover of Rs 9 billion 771 million 124 thousand 73.55.     

The number of total scrips traded was 324 and the total transaction was 100,651.     

The sub-index of hydroelectricity increased the highest by 4.26 percent and the rise in the banking sector was 1.62 percent.     

The development banks posted a 2.71 percent rise, finances 2.48, hotel and tourism 0.96 percent, and the investment group 2.56 percent.  

President appoints ambassadors to China, US

President Ramchandra Paudel has appointed Prof Dr Krishna Prasad Oli as the ambassador to the People's Republic of China. Similarly, Lok Darshan Regmi has been appointed the ambassador of Nepal to the United States of America (USA). They both are designated as resident ambassadors.     

The Head of State made the appointments on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers.     

The appointments were made in accordance with Article 282(1) of the Constitution, the Office of the President said in a press statement today.

Lamichhane remanded in custody for 13 more days

The Kaski District Court has granted permission to keep the president of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rabi Lamichhane, in custody for an additional 13 days.

On Sunday, Judge Nabaraj Dahal's bench at the Kaski court authorized the police to continue investigating Rabi by extending his custody for another 13 days.

This extension comes after the previous remand period for investigation expired.

Prachanda accuses PM Oli of pushing for controversial SPP agreement

Former Prime Minister and Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', has accused the government led by KP Oli of advancing the State Partnership Program (SPP) agreement.

Speaking at a press conference organized by the Press Centre Nepal, a journalists' organization close to the Maoist party, in Makwanpur on Sunday, Prachanda leveled serious allegations against the Oli government.

"Another serious issue is that the current Prime Minister had already given theoretical agreement on the SPP in the past, as reported by U.S. media. This is a matter of great concern. Is this government bargaining the nation’s sovereignty to save its seat? Is it going to harm the nation? The theoretical agreement is a serious issue. Will it lead to a formal agreement?" Prachanda remarked.

Dengue infections decline with falling temperatures

With the declining temperatures, the incidence of dengue infections is also on the decline. Dr. Gokarna Dahal, Chief of the Vector-borne Disease Control Branch under the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), shared that the trend of dengue infections is decreasing based on current statistics.

He explained, “Dengue control activities, such as the search-and-destroy campaign, have been launched at the municipal level. The drop in temperature is also a contributing factor. Naturally, in colder weather, mosquitoes lay fewer eggs."

TU forms committee to appoint part-time professors on contract

Tribhuvan University has initiated the process of appointing part-time professors on contract. A three-member field study team has been formed under the leadership of Professor Yogendra Prasad Gurung to carry out the necessary assessments.

Based on the team's report, Tribhuvan University will create a procedure for the appointment of teaching assistants, and the process for the recruitment of teacher assistants will move forward.

The decision to begin the contract appointment process for part-time professors across all 62 constituent campuses was made during a meeting of the University Executive Council on August 7. Following that, the office of the university's academic dean formed a task force to proceed with the matter.

National power grid reaches Tilicho base camp in Manang

The base camp of Tilicho Lake, a popular tourist destination in the mountainous Manang district, has now been connected to the national power grid.

The base camp, located at an altitude of 4,250 meters above sea level in the Khangsar area of Manang's Ngisyang Rural Municipality-9, has started receiving electricity from the national transmission line. A 50 kVA transformer has been installed to supply electricity to the area.

At the base camp, there are 10 hotels, a health post, and small restaurants, with a total of 15 electricity consumers. Prior to the arrival of the national power line, the base camp relied on solar power and diesel generators for electricity. The area falls within the Annapurna Conservation Area.

Gold prices see slight decline on Sunday

The price of gold in the Nepali market has slightly decreased on Sunday.

Compared to Friday, the price of hallmarked gold has dropped by 500 rupees per tola (11.66 grams).

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, the price of hallmarked gold on Sunday is set at 166,000 rupees per tola. In contrast, the price of hallmarked gold was 166,500 rupees per tola on Friday.

Similarly, the price of silver on Sunday is 1,960 rupees per tola.

Israeli strikes kill dozens in Lebanon and isolated northern Gaza

Israeli strikes killed dozens of people including children on Sunday in Lebanon and northern Gaza, where the military has waged a major offensive for more than a month that aid groups say has worsened the humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.

The Israeli airstrike in Lebanon killed at least 23 people including seven children in Aalmat village north of Beirut, far from the areas in the east and south where Hezbollah militants have a major presence. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said another six people were wounded. There was no immediate Israeli comment.

Hezbollah began firing rockets, drones and missiles into Israel after war broke out in Gaza, in solidarity with the Palestinians and fellow Iran-backed militant group Hamas. Israel retaliated, and a series of escalations have led to all-out war.

In northern Gaza, an Israeli strike on a home sheltering displaced people in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya killed at least 17 people including nine women.

Tens of thousands protest in Valencia over floods

Tens of thousands of people have protested in Valencia against authorities' handling of recent deadly floods, demanding the resignation of regional head Carlos Mazón.

Protesters chanted, "we are stained with mud, you are stained with blood" as they took to the streets on Saturday evening.

More than 200 people died in the flooding, which was caused by torrential rain hitting Valencia and neighbouring provinces in October. Eighty people are still missing.

Protesters have accused local authorities of issuing flood warnings far too late.

Pictures show Valencia City Hall smeared with mud, while the Reuters news agency reports protesters throwing chairs and other objects.

Fernandes shines as Man Utd beat Leicester

Bruno Fernandes marked his 250th Manchester United appearance by playing a starring role as Ruud van Nistelrooy signed off his stint in interim charge with a 3-0 Premier League win over Leicester.

Fernandes scored the opener and claimed a second - which went down as a Viktor Kristiansen own goal - before setting up Alejandro Garnacho for an excellent third as United completed a third win in four games since Erik ten Hag was sacked.

It provides a positive platform for new head coach Ruben Amorim to fly into England on Monday, although it will be a couple of days before the Sporting boss gets his visa so he can officially start work.

United are still to confirm the precise nature of Amorim’s backroom team and whether Van Nistelrooy will be part of it.

Pakistan quicks set up famous series win in Australia

Pakistan 143 for 2 (Ayub 42, Shafique 37, Morris 2-24) beat Australia 140 (Abbott 30, Afridi 3-32, Naseem 3-54, Rauf 2-24) by eight wickets

Completing a remarkable revival, having been engulfed in turmoil ahead of the tour, Pakistan claimed a rare series triumph in Australia after a comprehensive eight-wicket victory on a bouncy Optus Stadium surface in the third and final ODI.

Having lost a heartbreaker in the opener at the MCG, Pakistan rebounded brilliantly with almost flawless performances in Adelaide and Perth to completely overwhelm world champions Australia, who have plenty of question marks ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025.

It was Pakistan's first series victory in Australia since 2002 and a result made more incredible given white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten quit just a week before the tour amid well-worn Pakistani turmoil.

Writ petition filed in Supreme Court to halt Nepal Premier League

A writ petition has been filed in the Supreme Court demanding the suspension of the Nepal Premier League (NPL). The petition has been filed by Amir Akhtar, on behalf of Zora Sports Management. The petition is scheduled to be heard on Sunday in the bench of Justice Hari Prasad Phuyal.

Akhtar has argued in his writ that the Nepal Cricket Association (CAN) had agreed to grant the NPL franchise to him for a period of 10 years, and it is not permissible for another company to operate the league now. 

Speaking to Ratopati, Akhtar claimed that CAN had treated him unfairly and he had gone to court seeking justice. He further stated that he had been given full rights to the NPL but was not informed about the transfer of those rights to another company. Based on this, he argued that the league could not be operated by another entity.