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Squatters residing along the Bagmati river have staged a demonstration in the Capital on Monday demanding safe settlement. They took out a protest rally from Maitighar Mandala to New Baneshwor this afternoon. They have asked a question to the government, “For how long do we have to live without land ownership certificates?” The squatters have also demanded that the government open doors of dialogue and debate, ensure rights to housing and rights to live with options. Earlier, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City had issued a notice, asking the squatters living in Thapathali along the Bagmati river to vacate the areas. After the squatters expressed their reluctance to clear the Bagmati corridor settlements within the given time frame, the KMC police personnel had reached Thapathali along with a dozer. In the meantime, a clash broke out between the squatters and the KMC police personnel. Around a dozen KMC police personnel including SP Raju Pandey were injured in the clash.  

Senior leaders of the five-party alliance are holding a meeting today to review performance in the November 20 parliamentary and provincial elections. CPN (Unified Socialist) General Secretary Beduram Bhusal said that the meeting to be held in Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s official residence in Baluwatar at 3 pm today will evaluate the polls. It has been learnt that the meeting will also dwell on the government formation. Also Read: Nepal: Parties begin deliberations on power-sharing The five-party coalition currently consists of Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Democratic Socialist Party-Nepal and Rastriya Janamorcha. The Nepali Congress and the CPN (Maoist Center) won 57 and 18 first-past-the-post seats of the lower house respectively. Similarly, CPN (Unified Socialist) won 10 seats and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party and Rastriya Janamorcha Party won four and one seats respectively.  

The price of gold has increased by Rs 400  per tola in the domestic market on Monday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 99, 900 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 99, 500 on Sunday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 99, 400 per tola. Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 1, 385 per tola today.

CPN (Maoist Center) candidate Ganga Karki has been elected as a member of the House of Representatives from Dolakha. He defeated CPN-UML candidate Bal Krishna Shivakoti by a margin of 317 votes to emerge victorious. Karki secured 36, 799 votes while Shivakoti garnered 36, 482 votes. Similarly, Rastriya Swatantra Party candidate Jagadish Kharel got 3, 793 votes and Rastriya Prajatantra Party’s Bijaya Khadka received 1, 561 votes.  

Like all great strikers, Harry Kane’s timing was perfect.

The England captain got off the mark Sunday, scoring his first goal at this year’s World Cupin a 3-0 victory over Senegal that set up a must-see match against France in the quarterfinals, Associated Press reported.

“I was waiting patiently to try to score and thankfully that was today,” said Kane, who was the leading scorer at the last World Cup. “I feel good and hopefully this can start a good run for me personally because I know that will help the team as well.”

It certainly was a good time for Kane to end his dry spell in Qatar because Kylian Mbappe, the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals, is waiting to face England on Saturday at Al Bayt Stadium.

With that in mind, England could do with its most prolific striker at his sharpest.

“It is the biggest test that we can face,” England coach Gareth Southgate said. “They are world champions, they have an incredible depth of talent, outstanding individual players, very difficult to play against and score goals against. It is a fantastic challenge.

“(Mbappe) is a world class player, has already delivered in big moments in this tournament and in previous tournaments.”

Kane scored six goals at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, each one helping England reach the semifinals. But it has been harder this time around, with the captain having to wait until first-half stoppage time against Senegal to finally get one.

When the moment came, he never looked like missing. Head down, he powered a shot past Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to put England ahead 2-0. Then, arms spread wide, the relief poured out as he ran away in celebration, according to Associated Press.

“As a striker scoring goals is what you do and it’s one of the best feelings you can have in football,” Kane said. “The ball just sat up nicely and the connection was perfect. I had one just before that I should have done better with so it was nice to see that one go in.”

It was Kane’s 52nd goal for England, moving him within one of Wayne Rooney’s national record. He also overtook Gary Lineker as his country’s leading scorer in major tournaments with 11 goals.

“You could see the lift that gave him in the second half,” Southgate said. “For any striker, when you haven’t scored, it is there in the back of your mind and you get that lift of confidence when it comes.

“There is nobody I would rather have in that moment bearing down on goal, a really clinical finish.”

England’s great strength at this year’s World Cup has been the amount of different goal threats it has, and another emerged on Sunday when Jordan Henderson gave his team the lead. Bukayo Saka completed the scoring with his third of the tournament.

Marcus Rashford, who has also scored three goals in Qatar, didn’t even make the starting lineup.

“The great thing for us is the goals have been spread,” Southgate said. “We’ve not been dependent upon him (Kane). It’s great that we are showing another side to our attacking play.”

Jude Bellingham is also one of England’s goal scorers, but his game is about so much more. He proved that with a dominant midfield performance against Senegal, Associated Press reported.

“Goodness me, @BellinghamJude is unbelievably good. He’s the leader in this team. His parents must be so proud. Love him,” Lineker wrote on Twitter after the 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder crossed for Henderson to score the first goal in the 38th minute.

Up to then, Senegal had been creating the more dangerous chances. But everything changed once Bellingham seized control, charging into the box to set up Henderson before starting the move that led to Kane’s goal.

“I’ve spoken really highly of him,” Kane said. “He’s a fantastic player, has everything with and without the ball, presses really well, getting around the pitch, tackles. With the ball he can run, take players on, play a through ball. As you saw today he was really important with our goals.”

It all seems so straightforward — laughable, perhaps — for Kylian Mbappé when it comes to the World Cup.

The France forward, who scored four goals when he led his country to the title four years ago as a 19-year-old phenom, put on yet another demonstration of how devastating he can be on the soccer field.

After it was over, Mbappé almost seemed to be chuckling as Robert Lewandowski came over to congratulate him.

Mbappé scored two goals Sunday and set up another for Olivier Giroud to give France a 3-1 victory over Poland and move the 2018 champions within three wins of successfully defending their title, Associated Press reported.

He already has a tournament-best five goals in Qatar as Les Bleus have reached the quarterfinals for the third straight World Cup.

“The only objective for me is to win the World Cup,” Mbappé said. “The only thing I dream is this. I came here to win this World Cup. I didn’t come here to win the Golden Ball or Golden Boot. If I win it of course I’m going to be happy but that’s not why I’m here. I’m here to win and I’m here to help the French national team.”

France will play England for a spot in the semifinals. The English team beat Senegal 3-0.

Mbappé scored his first goal in the 74th minute when he was left unmarked to blast in a long-range shot following a counterattack. He added another in stoppage time when Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny could only get a weak glove on another powerful shot from the man in the No. 10 shirt.

“He can change a match in just a moment and he’s always playing with such joy and we all want to share those smiles with him,” France coach Didier Deschamps said. “France needed a great Kylian Mbappé tonight and they got one.”

Having also provided two assists, Mbappé has easily been the most productive player in Qatar.

After his latest exploits, Mbappé explained why he hadn’t addressed the media in Qatar before Sunday.

“I needed to focus on the tournament and my soccer,” he said through a translator, adding that he had volunteered to pay a French federation fine for his silence. “When I want to concentrate on something that’s the way I function. And that’s why I didn’t want to come speak to you before now.

“I’ve been preparing for this tournament throughout the season, physically and mentally,” he added. “I wanted to be ready for this tournament and I am.”

Mbappé celebrated his second goal by waving his arms for the crowd to cheer louder. Then he hoisted himself up onto the crossbar shortly after the final whistle in front of France’s celebrating fans.

Mbappé already has nine career World Cup goals and if he stays healthy, he could probably play in another three editions of soccer’s biggest event — meaning he might approach the tournament’s career scoring record held by Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 goals over four World Cups, according to Associated Press.

“He hurt us today but I am cheering for him because he is a real star,” Poland coach Czesław Michniewicz said through a translator. “I’m talking about (Lionel) Messi, (Cristiano) Ronaldo, Lewandowski. If someone is going to take over, I think Mbappé will be the player to be the best one (for) many years.”

No country has repeated as World Cup champions in six decades — since Brazil achieved the feat by claiming consecutive trophies in 1958 and 1962. Italy is the only other nation to have won two straight, in 1934 and 1938.

While Lewandowski is a prolific scorer himself, he’s never come close to winning a major title with a Poland team that struggles to get him the ball.

Mbappé, by contrast, is supported by a large array of talented players — even though half a dozen top France players are out injured.

The French team took the lead when Mbappé threaded a pass to Giroud and the AC Milan striker quickly slotted the ball into the far corner. It was Giroud’s 52nd career international goal — breaking a tie with Thierry Henry on France’s all-time scoring list.

Nepal’s major political parties have started intra-party consultations in order to make their respective positions on the possible power-sharing deal. Similarly, top leaders of major parties are reading each other’s minds through their trusted lieutenant. Second-rung leaders of the Nepali Congress such as Purna Bahadur Khadka, Prakash Sharan Mahat, and Prakash Man Singh are meeting the leaders of CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN-UML. The leaders have not spoken about the contents of such closed-door meetings. The meeting of the five-party coalition is taking place on December  5 which is likely to hold a preliminary discussion on power-sharing. The Maoist has already started internal deliberations on the issue. The first meeting of top leaders of the party on December 3 provided a conflicting message about the party’s position on power-sharing. The party had said that it intends to keep all options open on government formation. Many have read its position as a play to increase the bargaining chip with the NC. At the same time, party leaders say their first priority is go ahead with the current coalition. Speaking with media persons on December 4, Maoist leader Dev Gurung said: “As the coalition remains intact, our first effort is to continue the current coalition.” He said they have not yet thought of any alternatives. Before the elections, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal used to be vocal about this claim for the premiership as he had hoped that his party would play a decisive factor which somehow still remains but without around 30 seats in the national parliament, his position has weakened. The situation is different now. The NC and UML could secure majority votes  without the Maoist support. But, the government will be a fragile one. Inside NC, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has started consulting with his core group. The weakened position of the Maoist party has provided a space for Deuba to claim the PM. Before the election, Deuba was morally obliged to accept Dahal as the prime minister, given the latter’s unconditional support to form a government under his leadership following the Supreme Court order in 2021. The first preference of the NC is to convince the Maoist party to form a coalition government under its leadership. If the Maoist agree to form a government under Deuba’s leadership, it stakes a claim on vital positions. But, state institutions including Nepal Army and external powers could show concerns over power-sharing. In this scenario, the president may go to CPN (Unified Socialist) but the Maoist may not settle merely for the speaker. Some NC leaders are also floating the proposal of forming a government under its leadership sans Maoist, bringing all fringe parties and independent candidates on board. But this is not a feasible option for the party because it will make it difficult to form governments in the provinces because it does not have a single majority in either of the provinces. The CPN-UML, which has emerged as the second largest party, is closely following the ongoing talks among the members of the current coalition. The party leaders are saying that external meddling has increased in the government formation. If the current coalition splits, the new government led by the UML or the Maoist party cannot be ruled out. Despite having a souring relationship between Oli and Dahal, the two parties could come together to form coalition government cajoling fringe parties on board. Inside the UML and the Maoist, there are strong urges that left parties must come together, but the ego of Oli and Dahal is preventing that from happening. Another option being floated in the political circle is the NC-UML coalition government. Through some NC leaders, Oli has conveyed this message to PM Deuba. At the same time, there are opinions inside both parties that as two parties are each other’s key competitors, both should not stay in power making the opposition front weak. Those leaders are of the view that one party should lead the government and another stay in opposition. But, there are strong voices inside both parties that for the stability of the country and to counter the emergence of new forces, the two parties should form a strong government. If two parties come together, it would be comparatively easier to share vital positions.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 2. 16 points to close at 1, 963.22 points on Sunday. Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 1. 17 points to close at 384. 83 points. Meanwhile, a total of 3,694,084 unit shares of 243 companies were traded for Rs 1. 56 billion. Meanwhile, Dhaulagiri Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 9. 98 percent. NESDO Sambridha Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the top loser as its price fell by 6.11 percent. At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 82 trillion.