15 injured as vehicle belonging to NA meets with accident in Panchthar
Fifteen persons were injured when a vehicle belonging to the Nepal Army met with an accident in Miklajung-6 of Panchthar district on Sunday. Out of the injured, two are in critical condition. SP Nabin Raj Rai, spokesperson at the District Police Office, Biratnagar, said that the incident occurred when the vehicle (Ba 1 Ga 3442) heading towards Ranashwor of Phiding from Budhabare fell some 150 meters down the road this afternoon. There were 18 persons on board the vehicle when the incident took place. Police said that some of the injured have been taken to other districts for treatment while some are undergoing treatment in Panchthar.
One held with 120 kg marijuana from Rautahat
Police have arrested a man with a huge cache of marijuana from Gaur, Rautahat. Acting on tip off, a police team raided the Phalak Poultry Farm in Gaur Municipality-3 and recovered 180 kilograms of marijuana. Police said that they have impounded a mini truck (Bagmati Province 01-006-Kha 2830), which was parked near the poultry farm, and arrested its driver Surendra Syangden (21) of Agra, Makwanpur. DSP Uma Shankar Yadav of the District Police Office, Rautahat said that they are looking into the case.
Gold price increases by Rs 400 per tola on Sunday
The price of gold has increased by Rs 400 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 99, 500 per tola today. The yellow bullion was traded at Rs 99, 100 per tola on Friday. Meanwhile, the price of silver has increased by Rs 25 per tola and is being traded at Rs 1, 370 today.
UML’s KC elected PA member from Dolakha-2
Bharat Bahadur KC of the CPN-UML has been elected as a member of the Province Assembly from Dolakha-2. He was elected as the Province Assembly member by defeating Barma Lama of Nepali Congress by a margin of 1, 809 votes. KC secured 19, 424 votes while his nearest rival Lama got 17, 595 votes.
Maya Luhar murder accused APF constable nabbed from Kanchanpur
Police have arrested an Armed Police Force (APF) constable accused of murdering a woman. A special security team arrested Bharatram Koli of Shivanath-4 of Baitadi from Kanchanpur, DIG Mohan Kumar Acharya, Chief at the Province Police Office, said. He was nabbed for murdering Maya Luhar of Pancheshwor Rural Municipality-4, Baitadi. Preliminary investigation suggests they were in a relationship, police said. Further investigation into the incident is underway.
NC’s Pandey wins HoR seat from Bajura
Nepali Congress candidate Badri Prasad Pandey has been elected as a member of the House of Representatives from Bajura. Pandey, a common candidate of the ruling alliance, defeated CPN-UML candidate Karna Bahadur Thapa by a margin of 5, 437 votes. Pandey secured 31, 786 votes while his closest contender Thapa garnered 26, 349 votes. This is the first time that the Nepali Congress won the election since 2007.
Suspicious object found outside former minister Baskota’s house in Bhaktapur
A suspicious object has been found outside the house of CPN-UML leader Gokul Baskota in Lokanthali of Bhaktapur on Sunday morning. Police have suspected that the suspicious object could be a pressure bomb. A team of police has reached the area for investigation. Police said that a bomb disposal team is heading towards the spot. Baskota has recently won the election to the House of Representatives from Kavre-2. An Improvised explosive device (IED) had gone off at the under-construction house of Baskota, former Minister for Communications and Information Technology, in March 2020.
Messi scores, Argentina reaches World Cup quarterfinals
Lionel Messi was pushed into the middle of a joyous post-match huddle as Argentina’s players jumped up and down to celebrate reaching the World Cupquarterfinals.
Messi delivered again for his country, marking the 1,000th game of his era-defining career with his first goal in the knockout stage of a World Cup to lead Argentina to a 2-1 win over Australia on Saturday, Associated Press reported.
This was not the walkover most were expecting against the unheralded Australians, though.
At the final whistle, Argentina was just as grateful for its goalkeeper as the No. 10 with magic in his boots.
Emi Martinez came up with a sprawling save in the last seconds of an increasingly anxious match to prevent the need for extra time and the potential of another shock in a World Cup full of them.
“That is the World Cup for you,” Messi said. “All the matches are difficult and what’s important is that you win.”
With a flourish of his famous left foot in the 35th minute, Messi put Argentina ahead with his third goal at this year’s tournament and ninth in total at the World Cup — one more than Diego Maradona.
“Wow, he’s just remarkable,” Australia coach Graham Arnold said.
Julián Álvarez pounced on a heavy touch by Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan to tap into an empty net for the second goal, but this was no cruise to a quarterfinal meeting with the Netherlands.
Australia’s fightback in the final 20 minutes was as stirring as it was unexpected. Craig Goodwin’s shot deflected into the net off Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez in the 77th. Then, amid a late aerial bombardment from the Australians, Garang Kuol had a dramatic chance when he was left free at the far post. Shooting on the turn, his effort was smothered by Martinez and two Argentina players fell on top of their goalkeeper in relief as much as happiness.
“Before we came here, people were saying we were the worst team at the World Cup and the worst Socceroos team ever,” Arnold said. “That’s gone now.”
On the only other occasion Australia reached the last 16 — in 2006 — the team lost to eventual champion Italy.
Maybe it’s an omen for Argentina, which has fully recovered from its shocking loss to Saudi Arabia in its opening group match and won three straight games.
As for Messi, he now has 789 goals in a career that might yet reach a crescendo on Dec. 18 by winning soccer’s biggest trophy in his fifth and likely last World Cup, according to Associated Press.
The dream is still alive for the seven-time world player of the year and the tens of thousands of Argentina fans who dominated the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, massively outnumbering the small pockets of green-and-gold-clad Australia supporters to make it feel like a match in Buenos Aires or Rosario.
Argentina’s players linked arms and formed a long line to celebrate in front of their scarf-waving fans at one of end of the stadium after the game.
“The whole of Argentina would like to be here, but it’s not possible,” Messi said. “This bond, this union we have, it’s beautiful.”
Messi had been quiet before his goal, crowded out by a compact and defensively solid Australia team. He’s never quiet for long, though.
He sent a pass inside to the edge of the area and kept running, eventually receiving a lay-off from Nicolas Otamendi to take one touch and stroke his finish through the long legs of Australia defender Harry Souttar — the tallest outfield player at the World Cup.
When Alvarez added the second to score in successive games, Australia looked out of it and Messi began to put on a show.
One 40-meter (yard) dribble wowed the crowd as he slalomed past three defenders and was tackled just as he was about to shoot.
“MESSI! MESSI!” came the chant.
Messi used his control and vision to set up two opportunities in the frantic finale — one being curled over the crossbar by Martinez — before Australia came on strong after putting Souttar up front in stoppage time for his aerial threat.
“We gave it everything,” Australia striker Jackson Irvine said through tears, “but it wasn’t enough.”
QUARTERFINALS
Argentina and the Netherlands will play their quarterfinal match at Lusail Stadium, the 89,000-seat venue where the final will be staged. The teams last met at the World Cup in 2014, when Argentina won a penalty shootout in the semifinals, Associated Press reported.
