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The price of gold has increased by Rs 800 per tola in the domestic market on Friday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 112, 500 per tola today. The gold was traded at Rs 111,700 per tola on Thursday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 111, 9500 per tola. It was traded at Rs 111, 150 per tola. Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,455 per tola today.

The Election Commission has summoned an all-party meeting on Friday. The poll body called the political parties to discuss the government’s decision to scrap the district election offices. The EC spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Paudel said that the meeting has been called for 11 am today. He said that various five issues including the government’s decision to scrap the district election offices will be discussed in the meeting. Through the annual budget for the fiscal year 2023/24, the government announced to scrap all the 77 district election offices and put them under the jurisdiction of district administration offices. Earlier, the EC had urged Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayankaji Shrestha to roll back the government’s decision to scrap the district election offices. At Wednesday's Parliament meeting, Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa had raised a question over the government’s decision to scrap the district election offices. He had demanded that the government take back its decision immediately.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Friday arrested a lab technician of the National Public Health Laboratory, Teku, Kathmandu for taking bribe. A team deployed from the CIAA, Tangal apprehended Lekhanath Bhattarai with Rs 50, 000 bribe money from Sankhamul this morning. He is accused of taking a bribe of Rs 50, 000 from a service seeker to facilitate the lab registration process. Further investigation into the case is underway, the CIAA said.  

Save the Children Nepal has launched an initiative to raise awareness about the severe consequences of air pollution and the climate crisis on children’s lives. Introducing ‘Saathi’-the ‘Air Bear’ as the campaign’s mascot, the organization aims to make a significant impact through its flagship child and youth-led campaign, ‘Generation Hope’.  Unveiled on Earth Day, 22 April 2023, Saathi will embark on a nationwide journey, collaborating with young climate change champions, government officials, policymakers, and influencers to address the escalating climate crisis and deteriorating air quality in Nepal. Standing at an impressive four-meter height, Saathi recently concluded its visit to Karnali Province. During this visit, Saathi, accompanied by young climate activists, engaged in meaningful discussions with the Mayor of Birendranagar and other influential stakeholders. The focus was on raising awareness about the detrimental effects of air pollution and advocating for concrete actions to protect the rights and future of children through informed decision-making on climate-related issues. Ashmita, a 14-year-old climate activist, emphasized the gravity of air pollution, stating, “Imagine breathing such toxic air, imagine how this air will darken our future.” She further emphasized the need for collective responsibility by remarking, “As Saathi’s fur grows darker, it will compel us to reflect on the consequences of our negligence.” Young climate activists like Ashmita join Saathi on its journey, actively participating in discussions to find collaborative solutions to combat air pollution and climate change. Saathi’s travels across the country serve as a poignant reminder of the hazards of air pollution, while also underscoring the importance of empowering children and young people as leaders in climate justice conversations. By encouraging duty bearers and influential stakeholders to listen and engage with them, Saathi aims to secure a brighter future for the next generation.  Ayush Joshi, the Director for Advocacy, Campaigns, and Media at Save the Children, believes, “Saathi is a powerful catalyst that instills hope and ignites determination in children and young people. Together, they form a united front, advocating against the adversities of climate change and holding those responsible accountable for securing a sustainable future for children in Nepal.” Joshi expressed optimism, stating, “We are hopeful that Saathi will ignite a nationwide movement alongside young climate activists, raising awareness about the urgent climate crisis and its devastating impact on children and their future.” Through Saathi’s journey and the collaboration with passionate climate activists, Save the Children Nepal aims to galvanize a transformative movement that empowers young voices and drives meaningful change. By addressing air pollution and the climate crisis head-on, forging a path toward a safer and brighter future for the children of Nepal.

Petroleum pipelines in a country that can light homes, run industries, mass transit systems with the green energy—hydroelectricity—with a little bit of planning. How does it sound? Sounds a bit odd, regressive even, doesn’t it? Well, it should. In international fora, Nepal has pledged to reduce emissions drastically. Submitting its 2020 Nationally Determined Commitments (NDC) to the UNFCC Secretariat, the country pledged to devise and implement a low greenhouse gas emission development strategy to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050—a commitment that the then Prime Minister reiterated during the Climate Ambition Summit. That was a big pledge from a country with a negligible carbon footprint, grappling nonetheless with disproportionate effects of climate change like receding snowline, glacial retreat, cloudburst, flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods. Thanks to the Russia-Ukraine war that came right after the Covid-19 pandemic, Nepal has been witnessing an upward swing in petroleum prices for months, driving consumer prices in a fossil fuel-ruined economy and adding to the miseries of the consumer with ever-dipping purchasing power amid a deepening economic crisis. The situation is such that the people have lost count of the times that the state-owned petroleum monopoly, Nepal Oil Corporation, has ‘adjusted’—read hiked—prices of the imports from India, based on the exporter’s price list, say, in the past six months. Nepal is neither producing oil nor making arrangements for cheaper imports, in the foreseeable future. Fuel prices are not going down anytime soon. Countries around the world are moving away from the oil-based economy. They are seeking greener alternatives. Against this backdrop, our government’s obsession with petroleum imports is beyond comprehension. This obsession got reflected also in the budget for the fiscal 2023/24, which has increased taxes on electric vehicles while lowering taxes on vehicles that run on fossil fuel. What’s more, after his recent visit to India, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal informed the Parliament that the two sides are gearing toward the construction of a cross-border pipeline from Siliguri to Charali (Jhapa) and the extension of the cross-border Motihari-Amlekhgunj pipeline up to Lothar of Chitwan. He also talked about an understanding to build more petroleum pipelines within the country. In the same breath, the PM talked about lofty plans to export 10,000 MW of hydroelectricity to India within a decade. A country with good hydropower potential planning to export almost all of the green energy and continuing with the import of the dirty fuel—petroleum products—does not make sense. Increased consumption of oil is sure to widen Nepal’s trade deficit with India that currently stands at a whopping Rs 504.74 billion. The petroleum addiction will worsen air pollution in the country, thereby affecting public health as well as environmental well-being in one of the most climate vulnerable countries and taking a huge toll on its economy. So, the government should decrease petroleum consumption and promote the use of hydroelectricity through policy intervention. If it fails to do so, it will be no wonder if these pipelines become some sort of albatross around Nepal’s neck. Let better sense prevail before it’s too late.

Nepal have announced their final squad for the SAFF Championship to be held in Bengaluru of India from June 21. Head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese announced a 23-member team on Thursday. Nepal will play a friendly against the Philippines on June 15. The Nepali team will head directly to India from the Philippines. Nepali squad Goalkeepers: Kiran Chemjong, Bishal Shrestha and Deep Karki Defenders: Bimal Pandey, Ananta Tamang, Devendra Tamang, Nishant Khadka, Rohit Chand and Simantha Thapa Midfielders: Pujan Uperkoti, Arik Bista, Nabin Lama, Mani Kumar Lama, Laken Limbu and Abash Lamichhane Forwards: Ayush Ghalan, Deepak Raj Singh Thakuri, Anjan Bista, Nawayug Shrestha, Manish Dangi, Ashish Chaudhary and Bimal Gharti Magar    

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 7.27 points to close at 1,939.61 points on Thursday. Similarly, the sensitive index plunged by 1.05 points to close at 364. 42 points. A total of 5,962,093-unit shares of 273 companies were traded for Rs 2. 30 billion. Meanwhile, Dolti Power Company Limited was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Similarly, River Falls Power Limited was the top loser as its price fell by 6.64 percent. At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 83 trillion.

The Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD) under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has asked people to exercise caution in view of the possibility of a heat wave in Tarai belt of the country for next four days. Temperature of the country is soaring above 40 degree Celsius in most parts of Tarai, according to the Division. Temperature will continue as it will take some days for monsoon to arrive this year, said the Division officials. The MFD has urged people to remain indoors as far as possible during the excessive heat, stay in cool places and wear protected clothes while walking out to avoid a severe heat wave. Similarly, one has to take enough amounts of liquid to get hydrated. Heat wave-related illness symptoms include exhaustion, weakness, thirst, headache, dizziness, vomiting and muscle pain.