Submit your Article

The Election Commission has made public the final results of the elections to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly held on November 20. Organizing a press conference on Wednesday, Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya announced the results of the election to the House of Representatives. The results of the Province Assembly will be made public on December 17. Earlier on December 7, the Election Commission had given three days to the parties and had asked the name list of the candidates to be elected under the proportional representation category from the closed list. The Election Commission made public the final results today after the parties submitted the list by correcting the names of the lawmakers in the closed list. The poll body is scheduled to submit the report of the final results of the elections to President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Thursday. The way to form a new government will be opened after the Election Commission submitted the report to the President. Seven parties got recognition of national party in the elections. Twelve political parties will be represented in the Parliament. Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center), Rastriya Swatantra Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Janata Samajbadi Party and Nepal Janamat Party have become the national party. Among these parties, Rastriya Swatantra Party and Nepal Janamat Party have emerged as new political parties. Nepali Congress has become the largest party with 79 seats—57 FPTP and 32 PR followed by CPN-UML with 78 seats—44 FPTP and 34 PR. Thirty-two lawmakers of the CPN (Maoist Center) will represent the party in the Parliament. Similarly, 20 lawmakers of Rastriya Swatantra Party and 14 lawmakers of Rastriya Prajatantra Party will represent their respective parties in the Parliament. Likewise, 12 lawmakers of Janata Samajbadi Party and six lawmakers of Nepal Janamat party will participate in the Parliament. The Election Commission said that three lawmakers of Nagarik Unmukti Party, five independent lawmakers and one lawmaker each from Nepal Workers and Peasants Party and Rastriya Janamorcha will also show their participation in the Parliament.  

The price of gold has increased by Rs 1,000 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 101, 000 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 100, 000 per tola on Tuesday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 100, 500 per tola. Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 10 is being traded at Rs 1, 400 per tola today.

At a time when efforts are being made to form a new government under the leadership of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and CPN (Maoist Center) General Secretary Dev Gurung held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss a possible left alliance and power sharing. The CPN (Maoist Center) has been bargaining with the Congress saying that they could even join hands with the UML. A key partner of the incumbent coalition government, the Maoist Center, which had earlier said that the current alliance should be given continuity to take the country towards the path of prosperity, has recently intensified meetings with the main opposition UML. Second rung leaders of the UML and the Maoist Center have been mounting pressure on Oli and Dahal to join hands together. Earlier this week, UML politburo member Mahesh Basent held a meeting with Maoist Center Chairman Dahal and stressed that the UML and Maoist Center should form a government together. During the meeting held on Tuesday night, Maoist Center leader Gurung told Oli that there is no alternative to left alliance and can form a government now also. According to a source, second rung leaders of both the parties are planning to arrange a meeting between Oli and Dahal. “We are creating a conducive environment to arrange a meeting between the chairperson of two parties. Oli and Dahal will meet soon,” a UML leader close to Oli said. The leader was of the opinion that both the leaders have felt that a communist government is indispensable for the long-term development of the country. “Both the chairmen are ready to move ahead by correcting the mistakes made in the past,” the leader said, adding, “Both the leaders have felt that the left alliance and communist government are essential for the long-term development of the country.” A Maoist Center leader said that Gurung went to Balkot to meet Oli after holding a broader discussion with Dahal. The source said that the duo discussed the possibility of forming a government by roping in some fringe parties. The CPN-UML has won 79 seats – 57 FPTP and 32 PR while the Maoist Center has won 32 seats.

At least 17 persons died when a bus met with an accident at Chalan Ganesthan in Bethanchok Rural Municipality-4 of Kavre district on Tuesday. The bus (Ba 3 Kha 4385) was returning from Chyalte, Bethanchok-5 when the tragedy occurred at around 6:30 pm yesterday. SP Chakra Raj Joshi of the District Police Office, Kavre said that 13 died on the spot and four breathed their last during the course of treatment. The deceased have been identified as bus driver Santosh Timilsina of Mahankal, Lalitpur, Ram Kumar Tamang of Banepa Municipality-14, Nirmala Tamang, Yogesh Tamang, Ankur Tamang, his wife Hema Tamang, Pushkar Tamang, Kopila Tamang, Shreya Tamang of Banepa Municipality-11, Jeli Tamang of Mandan Deupur-1, Buddha Tamang of Dhulikhel Municipality-11, Manju Tamang of Bethanchok-5 and Gita Shrestha of Banepa-14. SP Joshi said that the identities of four others are yet to be ascertained. A three-year-old child and five-year-old Renjen Tamang, who were critically injured in the accident, have been referred to the Annapurna Hospital in Kathmandu and Yogesh Tamang (13) has been taken to the Balmaitri Hospital for treatment, police said. Four others, who were also seriously injured in the incident, are undergoing treatment in Kathmandu and those who sustained minor injuries are receiving treatment in Banepa and Dhulikhel. Local Dib Man Lama said that the incident occurred due to over speeding. Police said that they are looking into the case.  

Lionel Messi bent over, clutched his left hamstring and appeared to grimace, immediately spreading panic through the soccer world but especially among all Argentines.

Was their superstar — their idol — injured? Was he going to have to come off early in the World Cup semifinals?

No such luck for Croatia.

Before long, Messi was producing perhaps the best performance of his record-tying 25 appearances at the World Cup, leading Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Croatia on Tuesday that set up a meeting with either France or Morocco in Sunday’s final, Associated Press reported.

Messi is back in soccer’s biggest match on his mission to win the game’s greatest prize for the first time. At 35, he could hardly be playing any better.

Messi converted a penalty and played a part in the other two goals by Julián Álvarez — one with an outrageous piece of skill that brought roars of approval from Argentina’s huge following — to turn an initially tense occasion into a procession.

It will be Messi’s second World Cup final — Argentina lost the other one to Germany in 2014 — in what might be his last appearance at the tournament.

The stage is set for a player widely regarded as one of the game’s best, if not the absolute best, to go out on the ultimate high.

He is thrilling his legion of fans along the way.

His swivel and driving run to set up the third goal for Álvarez in the 69th minute left Josko Gvardiol — one of the best defenders at the World Cup — grasping at thin air and epitomized Messi’s confidence and swagger.

He is embracing the responsibility of leading Argentina to its third World Cup title, scoring in five of his six games in Qatar.

He even had a penalty saved in the one game in which he didn’t score.

“I am honored to train him and see him play,” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who was in tears in the post-match celebrations. “Every time you see him play, it’s a huge source of motivation for his teammates, fans and the whole world.”

Croatia failed in its bid to reach a second straight World Cup final after conceding two goals in a five-minute span from the 34th, just when the team was looking comfortable at Lusail Stadium and Messi was raising concerns by rubbing his hamstring.

Maybe it was a ruse. Messi was soon toying with his opponents in a way only he can and put Argentina ahead by lifting his penalty into the top corner after Álvarez was taken out by Dominik Livakovic after clipping the ball past the Croatia goalkeeper, according to Associated Press.

Álvarez scored himself in the 39th after a surging run from halfway, which started after he collected Messi’s short pass. Then came the crowning moment, Álvarez’s second goal, after Messi took Gvardiol for a ride in the right corner.

It was one game too far for Croatia, which had beaten Japan and Brazil on penalties in the knockout stage, and star midfielder Luka Modric, who — at 37 — has likely played his final World Cup match.

Summing up a frustrating game for the little midfield magician, he was substituted in the 81st minute and had a bright red nose after the ball slammed into his face moments earlier.

“The first goal took the match in a different direction,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić said. “It’s the true Messi we all expected to see.”

Argentina maintained its record of never having lost in the World Cup semifinals and has reached the final for the sixth time.

Those dark days after losing to Saudi Arabia in its opening group match seem so long ago now for Argentina, which will be hard to stop in the final with Messi playing this well, Associated Press reported.

“Even though we lost our first match, we were confident that this group was going to push forward,” Messi said. “We know what we are, and we called on the fans to believe in us.”

Tharu leaders of the ruling coalition have united in favor of the ordinance brought by the government. Organizing a joint press conference in the Capital on Tuesday, the Nepali Congress and the CPN (Maoist Center) leaders defended the ordinance. At a time when the Nepali Congress General Secretary duo Gagan Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma have been protesting against the ordinance, NC central members Ram Janam Chaudhary, Yogendra Chaudhary, Gopal Dahit, and Kalpana Chaudhary among others welcomed the government’s move. During the conference, they strongly condemned the remarks of their own leaders including Thapa and Sharma. NC central member Yogendra Chaudhary warned that they would retaliate against those who protested against the ordinance. “The Tharuhat movement was held to protect the sovereignty of the country. But, the sentiments of Tharu were hurt by showing the Tharu movement. We honor the ordinance brought to resolve the false cases filed during the movement,” he said, adding, “We will not remain silent against those who are playing a game to destroy the ordinance and raise questions against it. We are ready to take to the streets to retaliate against them.” He said that Resham Chaudhary was framed because of a political conspiracy. Another NC central member Ram Janam Chaudhary said that they are hopeful that President Bidya Devi Bhandari would authenticate the ordinance. He also urged Gagan Thapa to recall his remarks he made some time ago. During a program, Thapa had said that Resham Chaudhary was innocent and should be released at the earliest. CPN (Maoist Center) politburo leader Santa Kumar Tharu welcomed the government’s move to issue the ordinance and said that the Tharu leaders became united to pile pressure on the party leaders. Earlier, NC General Secretary Bishwo Prakash Sharma had also objected to the government decision to bring the ordinance.  

Suspended Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana is retiring today. He resumed office on 2 January, 2019 after taking the oath of office and secrecy. On 13 February, 2022, JBR faced an impeachment motion accusing him of failure to discharge his official responsibilities. Following this, he on December 6 pleaded by filing an application at the Parliament Secretariat seeking for the impeachment motion against him becoming ineffective. As per his demand, the Secretariat on December 7 sent a letter to the court citing that the impeachment motion against him was ineffective. However, a writ petition was filed in the Supreme Court against the letter. Following this, the apex court on Friday issued an interim order asking for not implementing the letter. Following the suspension of JBR, senior justice Hari Krishna Karki is working as acting CJ of the apex court. For the appointment of the new CJ, the Judicial Council will send an eligible name for the CJ to the Constitutional Council. Thereafter, the Constitutional Council will recommend the name with the Parliamentary Committee for a hearing. After the approval of the name by the Parliamentary Committee, President will appoint the new CJ, according to a legal provision. Spokesperson at the Judicial Council, Man Bahadur Karki said the hearing process will move ahead accordingly as the formation of the Constitutional Council and the Parliamentary Hearing Committee will likely take some time.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 2. 57 points to close at 1,899.70 points on Tuesday. Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 63 points to close at 371. 30 points. A total of 2,058,510 unit shares of 248 companies were traded for Rs 77 billion. Meanwhile, CYC Nepal Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Tehrathum Power Company Limited was the top loser with its price dropped by 3. 29 percent. At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 73 trillion.