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Ghana have been able to overcome a spirited South Korean comeback, defeating them 3-2 in what has been the most exciting day of the 2022 World cup so far, Aljazeera reported. Earlier on Monday, Cameroon and Serbia shared points in an exhilarating 3-3 draw. Mohammed Salisu and Mohammed Kudus gave Ghana a two-nil first-half lead on Monday at Education City Stadium as they brushed aside some early pressure from South Korea. The first goal was bundled in by Salisu in the 24th minute after South Korea failed to clear a cross into the box. The second was a delicate glancing header from the 22-year-old Kudus, who has been on fine form for his club, Ajax, this season.   South Korea fought back in the second half with two almost identical headers from Cho Guesung as they threatened to cause another incredible World Cup comeback. Early second-half changes breathed new life into South Korea’s attack, and Lee Kangin had barely been on the field for a minute when he helped dispossess Tariq Lamptey and fired in a cross that Cho attacked with pace, leaving Salisu watching as he got in front of his marker to power home a 58th-minute header.

It’s impossible for Nepalis to get bored of daal-bhat. For many of us, it’s the ideal go-to meal at any time of the day. So, it’s no wonder why there are so many restaurants serving thakali khana in Kathmandu (and the rest of Nepal too!). But there are only a few places that capture its essence. Jimbu Thakali is one of the most popular Thakali establishments in Kathmandu. With branches in Lazimpat, Baneshwor, and Jhamsikhel, it’s a thriving business so much so that you will most probably have to wait for a table every time you go there. We tried their chicken khana. It was fresh and served hot. The food is slightly on the oilier side and it can be a little spicy for those who can’t tolerate much heat. Our issue was there was no tarkari—just spinach and fried potatoes. Also, with so many customers at any given time of the day, the service is a tad bit slow. When you find yourself waiting to be served a second round, you sometimes lose your appetite. But you don’t have to choose from the khana sets only. There are other items on the menu that are really good. We love their starters. The chips chili was mouth-watering as were the mutton momos. We also recommend the timur chicken and spicy chicken nuggets. They are both crisp and light—great as snacks but not filling at all. The dip could have, however, been better. There are plenty of vegetarian options as well as some specialties that we have heard great things about. We didn’t find any flaws as far as the ambiance was concerned. The place is clean, comforting, and spacious. There are both indoor and outdoor seating arrangements. And in the winter months, sitting under the sun as you indulge in some good food and conversation can make for a delightful time. Their specials: 

• Thakali khana set
• Timur chicken
• Mutton momo

It may take another two-three weeks for Nepal’s Election Commission to prepare a final result of the November 20 elections. But the race for the prime minister has already begun. Inside the ruling Nepali Congress which is all set to emerge as the largest party, multiple leaders have already claimed the premiership. Senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel has already started talks with members of the ruling coalition to solicit support. On November 28, he met the chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist) Madhav Kumar Nepal on the same issue. Poudel has reportedly told Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba to support him for the post. Youth leader Gagan Kumar Thapa has announced to fight the election of parliamentary party leader which paves the way for the prime minister. Deuba wants to be re-elected as prime minister. 

SP Raju Pandey of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City was injured following a clash between squatters and police personnel in Thapathali on Monday. The clash broke out after the KMC police personnel tried to remove the people living along the bank of Bagmati river in Thapathali. The squatters are chanting slogans against the government and KMC Mayor Balen Shah at present. Some are also seen carrying sticks and home-made weapons. The KMC sent a dozer in Thapathali this afternoon as part of the government’s preparations to remove them from the area. Earlier, Nepali Congress leader Prakash Man Singh had assured them that they will not be removed from the area without finding any alternative. But, the KMC in coordination with the Bagmati River Basin Development Project Committee had decided to use the dozer in the area before the implementation of Singh’s assurance.

Renowned street artist Alejandro Poli Jr. (“Man One”) from Los Angeles, California, has arrived in Kathmandu to take part in a twelve-day program to promote and celebrate the voices of minority and socially excluded communities. In collaboration with Nepali art collective, Artudio, Man One will collaborate with local artist in Kathmandu and Janakpur and organize a street art project to showcase Nepal’s vibrant multicultural society through art. A group of Nepali muralists, graffiti artists, folk, traditional artists, and creative practitioners, will participate in a live art showcase November 28. Nepali artists will jointly work on a final mural design with Man One that captures visions for minority inclusion. A final large-scale mural will be revealed December 9. During the art envoy’s stay, Man One will also conduct interactive lectures on the themes of social inclusion and equity and share both their own work and the history of graffiti as “protest art.”

China held a meeting this week with 19 countries from the Indian Ocean region in which India was conspicuously absent, PTI reported. The China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), an organisation connected with the Chinese Foreign Ministry held a meeting of the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation on November 21, in which 19 countries took part, according to a press release issued by the organisation. The meeting was held in a hybrid manner under the theme of "Shared Development: Theory and Practice from the Perspective of the Blue Economy" in Kunming, Yunnan Province, it said. Representatives of 19 countries, including Indonesia, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Afghanistan, Iran, Oman, South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius, Djibouti, Australia and representatives of 3 international organisations were present, it said. India was reportedly not invited, according to informed sources here. Last year, China held a meeting with some South Asian countries on COVID-19 vaccine cooperation without the participation of India. CIDCA is headed by Luo Zhaohui, the former Vice Foreign Minister and Ambassador to India. According to the official website of the organisation, he is the Secretary of the CPC (the ruling Communist Party of China) Leadership Group of CIDCA. CIDCA’s official website said the aims of the organisation is to formulate strategic guidelines, plans and policies for foreign aid, coordinate and offer advice on major foreign aid issues, advance the country's reforms in matters involving foreign aid, and identify major programmes, supervise and evaluate their implementation. During his tour of Sri Lanka in January this year, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed to establish a “forum on the development of Indian Ocean Island Countries.” When asked whether the CIDCA meeting is the same that is proposed by Wang, the Chinese Foreign Ministry here has clarified to the media that the November 21 meeting was not part of it. At the November 21 meeting, China has proposed to establish a marine disaster prevention and mitigation cooperation mechanism between China and countries in the Indian Ocean region, the CIDCA press release said. China is ready to provide necessary financial, material, and technical support to countries in need, it said, according to PTI. China is vying for influence in the strategic Indian Ocean region with substantial investments in ports and infrastructure investments in several countries, including Pakistan and Sri Lanka. While China has established a full-fledged naval base in Djibouti, its first outside the country, Beijing has acquired the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka on a 99-year lease besides building the port at Pakistan’s Gwadar in the Arabian Sea opposite India’s western coast besides infrastructure investments in the Maldives. The Chinese forum apparently is aimed at countering India’s strong influence in the Indian Ocean region where India-backed organisations like the Indian Ocean Rim Association, (IORA), which has a membership of 23 countries have taken strong roots. China is a dialogue partner in the IORA formed in 1997. IORA became an observer to the UN General Assembly and the African Union in 2015. Besides the IORA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed “Security and Growth for All in the Region” (SAGAR) in 2015 for active cooperation among the littoral countries of the Indian Ocean region. The Indian Navy-backed ‘Indian Ocean Naval Symposium’ (IONS) seeks to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the region. Since the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash between Chinese and Indian armies, bilateral ties have been severely hit, PTI reported. India has consistently maintained that peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are important for the overall development of bilateral relations with China.

Millennium Challenge Account-Nepal (MCA-Nepal) has called tender for the construction of transmission lines. The  tender was in three packages. Earlier, the government of Nepal and Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) had reached an agreement to implement the project from August 2023. The tender was called according to the same. The tender was called to construct 315 km long 400 KV electricity transmission projects— Lapsiphedi-Ratamate-Hetauda (117 km), Lapsiphedi-Ratamate-Damauli (90 km) and Damauli-Butwal (90km) and three sub-stations. It will take 180 days to complete the tender process. After awarding the contract, the company will start constructing the power lines from September, 2023. The government has allocated Rs 9. 27 billion for the construction of transmission lines in the initial phase. Out of the budget allocated this year, Rs 8. 91 billion will be an American grant. According to the Finance Ministry, Rs 365.6 will be recovered from the sources of the Nepal government. The money of this project will be spent for capital purposes. MCC compact is an assistance under which the United States will provide $500 million to Nepal for electricity transmission lines and road maintenance. As per the agreement, the five-year project will come into implementation under the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Nepal. The government of Nepal signed the agreement with the United States for the MCC project on September 14, 2017. The then Finance Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki on behalf of the government signed an agreement with MCC Acting CEO Jonatha Nas in Washington on September 14,2017. The then Finance Minister Yuvaraj Khatiwada signed an agreement for the implementation of the MCC on September 29, 2019, but it got delayed due to the controversy generated by some political parties and a section of society over some of its provisions. The compact was registered in the Parliament Secretariat on July 15, 2019 for the endorsement. The MCC was tabled in the Parliament on February 20, 2022 nearly 20 months after it was registered in the Parliament Secretariat. The Legislature-Parliament held on February 27 had endorsed the MCC Nepal compact with interpretative declaration. Finance Minister Janardan Sharma had proposed a 12-point interpretative declaration incorporating the questions raised about the MCC agreement, which was endorsed by the Parliament. Nepal’s Parliament endorsed the MCC as the Americans wished, but in the run-up to ratification Beijing tried mighty hard to stop it. It sees the $500 million development grant to Nepal as a part of America’s strategy to encircle China.  

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 300 per tola in the domestic market on Monday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow bullion is being traded at Rs 97, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 97, 800 per tola on Sunday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 97, 000 per tola today. Similarly, the price of silver is being traded at Rs 1, 285 per tola.