November 11, 2024: Snapshot of today's main news

Kathmandu, November 11 — 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.

COP29 kicks off today: Nepal presenting glaring examples of climate change induced risks

This year alone, 495 people have lost their lives, 66 have gone missing and 522 have been injured in Nepal due to monsoon-related disasters, the NDRRMA source said.  

There are several other explicit incidents of such risks created by climate change. The 29th Conference (COP29) of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has begun in Baku, Azerbaijan, today. The COP will continue till November 22. 

Nepal's Head of State Ramchandra Paudel has left for Baku on Sunday leading a delegation to participate in the global climate summit. He is raising the voice for the protection of the mountains and the earth in the COP this time. 

According to the President's Secretariat, he is scheduled to emphatically present the issue of earth and mountain security before the heads of state and high-ranking officials of more than 192 countries on the occasion. The President, as shared, is citing glaring examples of increased risks due to the effects of climate change. 

Five dead, one injured in Baglung pickup truck accident

The identities of the five individuals who died in a tragic pickup truck accident this morning near Jaidi, Jamini Municipality-7, Baglung, have been revealed.

The accident occurred when a pickup truck, traveling from Chhisti in Jamini Municipality-8 towards the district headquarters, Baglung Bazar, plunged off the road.

The vehicle, with registration number GA 2 CHA 9247, was involved in the accident near the Byarthala area of Jaidi at around dawn today. Along with the driver, five people lost their lives in the crash.

The deceased have been identified as 38-year-old Mahendra Pun, the driver from Jamini-8; 20-year-old Rashmi Shreesh, 50-year-old Nandakali Pun, 17-year-old Niraj Shreesh, and 75-year-old Kul Prasad Shreesh, all local residents of Jamini-8.

PM Oli denies SPP agreement, dismisses Maoist criticism as 'confusion'

Regarding the Maoists’ objections to the government's stance on the SPP agreement, Oli said it was simply a "confusion." He stated, "I don’t need to give a confused answer. Where did you bring the SPP from? When they were in the government, some discussions were held, but there was no agreement on it."

Oli also stated that constitutional amendments would be made through Parliament and not through the formation of a commission. "Why form a commission? Constitutional amendments will be made by Parliament," he emphasized. Regarding dissatisfaction expressed by Congress leader Shekhar Koirala, Oli said he was unaware of such concerns. "I haven't heard about Shekhar Koirala's dissatisfaction. He must not have said that," Oli remarked.

DP asked about 'acting president'; Swarnim smiles in response

Leaders including DP Aryal, the Vice President of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), who had declared that Rabi Lamichhane would remain the party president as long as he is alive, spent half an hour in police custody at the Kaski District Police Office on Monday afternoon.

RSP has two vice presidents. When asked about the acting president, DP commented, "The acting president is a minor issue. Both of us have said this before. If the signature is blocked, we will consult with the party president and take authority."

When questioned about the acting president, Dr. Swarnim Wagle, another vice president, smiled slightly and did not respond. He has not yet spoken about the acting president. Inside RSP, there is a search for Rabi's successor. Some view DP as the successor, while others believe Swarnim should lead the party.

When asked about the acting president on Monday, DP responded while Dr. Swarnim excused himself, saying he had to leave because his "flight was about to depart."

Reconnecting power lines without payment is policy corruption: Opposition MPs

Opposition parties and independent MPs have protested against the government's decision to allow industries that have not paid their electricity bills to reconnect their power lines, calling it a form of policy corruption. 

During Monday's meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, CPN (Maoist Centre) MP Madhav Sapkota and independent MP Amresh Kumar Singh raised objections, referring to the cabinet decision made on Sunday.

Both MPs were present during the discussion on the bill related to the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). They criticized the government for directing the reconnection of power lines to industries that had not paid their electricity bills, calling it a clear example of policy corruption.

Protest letter submitted to Israeli Embassy against genocide in Palestine

Representatives from Nepal’s political parties, civil society, professional organizations, labor unions, student, and youth groups jointly submitted a protest letter to the Israeli Embassy in Kathmandu on Monday against the massacre of Palestinians by Israel.

The protest letter, which was handed over to Israeli ambassador Shmulik Arie Bass, strongly condemns the Israeli government's actions of genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza and Lebanon. The letter expresses firm opposition and disagreement, stating: 

"Our humanitarian conscience has compelled us to present this protest letter and to raise our voices with strength," the letter reads. "Because when any government deliberately kills more than 44,000 innocent Palestinians in a year, of whom nearly 70% are women and children, no one can remain silent."

17 injured in vehicle accident in Jajarkot

A vehicle has met with an accident in Jajarkot, leaving 17 people injured.

According to Dinesh Timilsina, the Information Officer at the Jajarkot District Police Office, the accident occurred at around 11:30 AM on Monday. The vehicle, with registration number Ba 5 Kha 1892, was traveling from Syaule Bazaar in Bheri Municipality-7 toward Nepalgunj when it crashed on the Jajarkot-Chhinchu road, near Kuduma.

There were 21 people aboard the vehicle, and the injured have been rescued and are receiving treatment at the local health center in Kuduma. The vehicle fell 50 meters off the road.

Gold price drops by 1,000 rupees per tola

The price of gold in the Nepali market dropped by 1,000 rupees per tola on Monday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, the price of hallmark gold was set at 165,000 rupees per tola (11.66 grams) on Monday. 

The price of gold had been 166,000 rupees per tola the previous day.

NEA employees warn of protests if lines are reconnected without payment of dues

Employees of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) have stated that the government's decision to connect power lines for industrial customers cannot be implemented unless they pay the dues for dedicated and trunkline charges.

On Monday, the Nepal Electricity Authority Employees Welfare Council and the National Employees Union issued a joint statement, warning that if lines are connected forcibly, they will inform the public and initiate a protest movement.

Reminding that regular consumers' power supply will be cut off if bills are not paid within 60 days, the employees emphasized that industrial customers should not be treated differently.

The employees criticized the government's decision to connect power lines for industries with billions in unpaid dues, saying that it is unfair to favor large businesses while disregarding small ones. They argued that all customers should be treated equally.

NEPSE index rises by 22.14 points

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index rose by 22.14 points, reaching 2,760.21 points on Monday. 

The total trading volume on Monday was NPR 11.31 billion, according to the Nepal Stock Exchange.

In comparison, the trading volume on Sunday was NPR 9.77 billion.

Additionally, on Monday, the share prices of 143 companies increased, while 92 companies saw a decline, and 9 companies remained unchanged.

NEA's Kulman Ghising disagrees with cabinet’s decision to reconnect power to industries

A meeting of the Board of Directors of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has started at the Ministry of Energy, located in Singhadarbar. The main agenda of the meeting is to discuss the reconnection of electricity lines for industries that were previously disconnected due to the dedicated and trunk line dispute.

However, at the outset of the meeting, the Executive Director of the NEA, Kulman Ghising, expressed a differing opinion on reconnecting the industry lines. He stated that the NEA had disconnected the electricity lines according to the law, and therefore, it would not be possible to implement the Cabinet’s decision.

The meeting, which was chaired by Energy Minister Deepak Khadka, saw two members of the Board of Directors absent, according to sources close to the Ministry.

2024 to be warmest year on record, UN says

The UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has just said that 2024 is on track to be the world’s warmest year on record.

The WMO says that the global average temperature between January and September has been around 1.54C above those of the late 19th Century.

Back in Paris in 2015, almost 200 countries pledged to try to limit long-term temperature rises to that level, hoping to avoid some of the worst impacts of climate change.

But the UN says this 1.5C target has not yet been breached, because it refers to a longer term average.

Moscow targeted as Ukraine and Russia trade huge drone attacks

Russia and Ukraine have carried out their largest drone attacks against each other since the start of the war.

Russia's defence ministry said it intercepted 84 Ukrainian drones over six regions, including some approaching Moscow, which forced flights to be diverted from three of the capital's major airports.

Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 145 drones towards every part of the country on Saturday night, with most shot down.

The barrages come amid expectations that US president-elect Donald Trump may put pressure on both sides to end the conflict.

Ukraine's attempted strike on Moscow was also its biggest attack on the capital since the war began, and was described as "massive" by the region's governor.

Most of the drones were downed in the Ramenskoye, Kolomna and Domodedovo districts, officials said.

Haiti's prime minister ousted after six months

Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille has been fired by the country's ruling council less than six months after he took office.

An executive order, signed by eight of the council's nine members, named businessman and former Haiti Senate candidate Alix Didier Fils-Aime as Conille's replacement.

Conille, a former United Nations official, was brought in to lead Haiti through an ongoing, gang-led security crisis and had been expected to help pave the way for the country's first presidential elections since 2016.

He described his ousting as illegal, saying in a letter - seen by Reuters news agency - that it raised "serious concerns" about Haiti's future.

India says not nervous about working with Trump

India has said it is not nervous about working with Donald Trump, as the former US president is set to return to office for a second term after his win in the recently held election.

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday that many countries were nervous about a [Trump-led] US, but added that "India was not one of them".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared cordial relations with Trump during his first term between 2017 and 2021.

But India also faced a bitter tariff war with the Trump administration that affected businesses on both sides.

India has enjoyed bipartisan support in the US, working well with both Republican and Democrat presidents over the years.

Different administrations in Washington have long viewed India as a counterweight to China.

Speaking at an event on Sunday, Jaishankar added that Delhi had no reasons to worry that India-US relations would not prosper under Trump.

"Modi was among the first three calls, I think, that President [elect] Trump took," the minister said.

Champions Trophy: PCB approaches Pakistan government after India rule out travelling

The PCB is seeking advice from the Pakistan government on how to proceed with its hosting of the Champions Trophy, after the BCCI made clear it will not send India to Pakistan for the tournament in February.

The BCCI informed the ICC this week of the decision of the Indian government to not allow India to travel to Pakistan. That decision was formally conveyed by the ICC to the PCB on Friday, who have now gone to their government for next steps.

"The ICC emailed the PCB informing them about the inability of the BCCI to send its team to Pakistan," a PCB spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo. "No reason was given. There is nothing in writing we have received from the BCCI. The PCB has apprised the federal government of the situation."

The PCB has adopted a more rigid stance on its hosting of the tournament - the first ICC event in the country since 1996 - with the board chairman Mohsin Naqvi ruling out a hybrid host model very clearly on Friday.