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The Patan High Court declared the letter issued by Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to the Annapurna Media Network as illegal, invalid and malicious in a verdict delivered on Monday.

The court also issued a stay order, directing the concerned authorities to refrain from implementing the letter. 

The letter, which was issued beyond the jurisdiction of the civil aviation regulatory body, had sought clarification regarding the news published in the Annapurna Post daily, which is part of the AMN. 

Delivering his ruling, the single bench of Justice Ramesh Dhakal underscored the severity of CAAN's transgression, condemning its undue interference in matters of the press. “It is a direct interference in the constitutionally enshrined press freedom, and it is imperative to stop the implementation of the letter issued by CAAN.” 

The High Court’s ruling came in response to a writ petition filed by Simrik Air against both CAAN and the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. Senior advocate Sushil Kumar Pant and Narendra Prasad Gautam represented the petitioner’s side during the hearing. Notably, the court's ruling emphasized that the legal framework does not grant CAAN, or its Director General Pradeep Adhikari, the authority to oversee media content. 

If CAAN found published content objectionable, the appropriate recourse would be to request the publication of factual, accurate information. Similarly, if media outlets disseminated information detrimental to CAAN's reputation, the court posited that the Press Council Nepal should be the avenue for redress. As democratic norms dictate, oversight and critique of government agencies, including CAAN, are not only warranted but crucial. Stakeholders have the prerogative to express concerns and voice opinions on CAAN's directives, decisions, and policies. 

Ahead of implementation of Millennium Challenge Corporation which was endorsed by Parliament, some fringe communist parties have begun criticizing the agreement.

The meeting of the board of directors of the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal Development Committee (MCA Nepal) held on August 16 decided to implement the MCC agreement. Senior MCC Officials have arrived in Kathmandu to witness the formal implementation of the MCC-Nepal compact.

Madhav Kumar Nepal, a former Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist) - a ruling partner, has called for more discussion on the 'interpretative declaration' of the MCC.

Speaking at the meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee of the House of Representatives on Monday, Nepal said concerns that have been raised regarding the MCC must be addressed. "Issues related to nationality and other significant matters have come to the forefront. Similarly, concerns have been voiced on the implementation of the interpretative declaration of the MCC," Nepal said.

He said Nepal should move ahead in accordance with a policy of non-alignment and adherence to the principles of the UN Charter.

Similarly, Jhala Nath Khanal, another former Prime Minister and senior leader of the Unified Socialist, termed MCC agreement an unfortunate development for Nepal. "The MCC agreement is not in Nepal's best interest, and some of our leaders have inadvertently damaged the country's reputation,” Khanal said.

Addressing a separate event in Kathmandu, Khanal said he had no information about parliament. “I knew it was signed in agreement after it was tabled in parliament. I raised serious concerns about the agreement when it was presented for endorsement.”

Similarly, Maoist Center General Secretary Dev Prasad Gurung said although parliament has attached an interpretative declaration to the MCC, the US government hasn't said anything about the agreement. "Since the US hasn't said anything about the declaration, this process cannot conclude," he added.

The official statement of MCC released after the MCC agreement was ratified by the parliament doesn't mention anything about the interpretative declaration. "The decision to ratify the Nepal Compact has always rested with the Government of Nepal as a sovereign democratic nation," the statement said.

In the meantime, the CPN (Maoist) led by Mohan Baidya has declared its intent to prevent the implementation of the MCC Compact.

CP Gajurel, a leader of CPN (Maoist), said that his party would organize protests in various parts of the country to oppose the MCC's implementation. He said that although the MCC agreement has been ratified by parliament, it doesn’t mean that it cannot be reconsidered. "While the parliament approved the MCC, it doesn't mean that it cannot be reversed. The government retains the authority to distance itself from the MCC. The authority rests with the people of Nepal," he added.

Gajurel reaffirmed his party's commitment to continue protests until the MCC agreement is rescinded.

MThe government is using the $500 million MCC Compact to upgrade a 77-kilometer segment of the East-West Highway and the construction of a 315-kilometer 400kV transmission line along with three substations.

The parliament ratified the MCC agreement on February 27, 2022.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 600 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 111, 700 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 111, 100 per tola on Monday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 111, 050 per tola. It was traded at Rs 110, 550 per tola.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 5 and is being traded at Rs 1,465 per tola today.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that his visit to China will further strengthen the historical relations between the two countries.

During a question-answer program with Prime Minister Dahal at the Parliament meeting on Tuesday, Dahal said that the visit is focused on giving a new momentum to the social and economic development of Nepal.

During the visit, Prime Minister Dahal said that he would stress on the implementation of the agreements reached earlier.

He claimed that his visit would make the trade between Nepal and China easier.

The Prime Minister said that discussions will also be held to make the border operation effective and to open a new border point.

He said that priority will be given to the roads, energy and agriculture sector.

A person died of dengue infection in Kanchanpur on Monday.

The deceased has been identified as Hikmat Khatri (28) of Pachui of Belauri Municipality-8.

Belauri Municipality Chairman Bisham Ram Rana said that Khatri breathed his last during the course of treatment at the Nova Hospital of Dhangadhi in Kailali last night.

Khatri, who had come home from India last week, suffered high fever following which he was rushed to the hospital.

It is not ascertained whether he had dengue before returning home, Chairman Rana said.

Rana has urged all people in the municipality to participate in a search and destroy campaign against dengue-transmitting mosquitoes.

The newly elected Presidents of all the ten committees under the House of Representatives took the oath of office and secrecy on Monday.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire administered the oath of office and secrecy to the unanimously elected presidents amidst a program in Singha Durbar.

Ram Hari Khatiwada has been elected as the President of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, Santosh Chalise as the President of the Finance Committee, Arzu Rana Deuba as the President of the Agricultural Cooperatives and Natural Resources Committee. All of them are from the Nepali Congress.

Similarly, Rishikesh Pokharel and Kiran Kumar Sah of the CPN-UML have been elected as the Presidents of the Public Accounts Committee and Women and Social Affairs Committee respectively.

Likewise, Bimala Subedi of the CPN (Maoist Center) has been elected as the President of Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee, Deepak Kumar Singh as the President of Infrastructure Development Committee, Bhanubhakta Joshi as the President of Health and Information Technology Committee, Raj Kishor Yadav as the President of International Relations and Tourism Committee, and Abdul Khan of the Janamat Party as the President of Industry, Commerce, Labor and Consumer Welfare Committee.

The presidents of all the ten committees under the House of Representatives have been elected unopposed.

Ram Hari Khatiwada in the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, Santosh Chalise in the Finance Committee, Arju Rana Deuba in the Agricultural Cooperatives and Natural Resources Committee from the Nepali Congress have been elected unanimously.

Similarly, Rishikesh Pokharel and Kiran Kumar Sah of the CPN-UML have been unanimously elected as the presidents of the Public Accounts Committee and Women and Social Affairs Committee respectively.

Likewise, Bimala Subedi of the CPN (Maoist Center) has been elected as the President of Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee, Deepak Kumar Singh as the President of Infrastructure Development Committee, Bhanubhakta Joshi as the President of Health and Information Technology Committee, Raj Kishor Yadav as the President of International Relations and Tourism Committee, and Abdul Khan of the Janamat Party as the President of Industry, Commerce, Labor and Consumer Welfare Committee unopposed.

They will take the oath of office and secrecy today itself.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 5.09 points to close at 1,998.48 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 1.45 points to close at 383. 56 points.

 A total of 3,670,731-unit shares of 279 companies were traded for Rs 998 billion.

Meanwhile, Kutheli Bukhari Small Hydropower Limited was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Similarly, Swabhimaan Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the top loser as its price fell by 4.38 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 99 trillion.