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Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, on behalf of Government of India, handed over 200 vehicles to Finance Minister of Nepal Janardan Sharma as a gift of India for logistical support to various Nepali institutions to conduct upcoming elections amidst a program on Tuesday. India handed over the vehicles at the request of Nepal. Of the 200 vehicles, 120 will be used by security forces and 80 by the Election Commission of Nepal. These vehicles would be useful to conduct elections across the country. On the occasion, Finance Minister Sharma thanked Government and people of India for their continued support in the form of development partnership with Nepal, including the gifting of these vehicles. The Government of India has been extending support in the form of vehicles as per the request of the Government of Nepal in previous years as well. Till date, more than 2400 vehicles have been gifted to various Nepali institutions to conduct elections, including around 2, 000 vehicles to Nepal Police and Armed Police Forces and around 400 vehicles to Nepal Army and Election Commission. India and Nepal enjoy multi-faceted and multi-sectoral development partnership that is reflective of the closeness of the people of both countries. The extending of these logistical provisions reflects the continued support of the Government of India for contributing to development of people to people links.

The first phase of transportation of election materials has been completed in all the districts for the elections of the House of Representatives and Province Assembly slated for November 20. The Election Commission said that all the materials needed to hold the elections in Dolpa, Mugu, Jumla, Bajura, Gorkha, Manang and Sindhuli districts have already been transported while preparations are underway to send additional materials in the remaining districts in the second phase. The poll body has transported 93 tons of goods so far. The election materials will be transported to the districts of Tarai which has a high population density and constituencies. The EC said that the ballot papers of only seven districts are yet to be printed under the first-past-the-post system. All ballot papers for the proportional election system have already been printed and transported to 75 districts. The ballot papers for Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Bara, Dhanusha, Sarlahi and Rautahat districts are yet to be printed. At least 8, 400, 000 ballot papers are needed for these districts. Ballot papers have already been transported to Argakhanchi, Palpa, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Pyuthan, Rolpa, Dang, Salyan, Rukum West and Rukum East.  

The price of gold has increased by Rs 100 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 93, 100 per tola today. The gold was traded at Rs 93, 000 per tola on Monday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 92, 600 per tola. Similarly, the price of silver has increased Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 1,215 per tola today.

The World Bank has projected that Nepal’s gross domestic product (GDP) would fall due to climate change. It has been shown that the negative impact of climate change could reduce the GDP by 25 percent after 70 years. The World Bank made such a projection while making public the report ‘Nepal development update’, on Monday. It has been said in the report that its impact will also depend on the model and parameters adopted by Nepal to control the effects of climate change. That is why, the World Bank has drawn the attention of the government to formulate the policy by observing the changes in the climate. The World Bank stressed on the change in policy as it can affect the construction of infrastructure and foreign employment in Nepal as well. The World Bank has handed the micro fiscal model over to the Nepal government for the same. It has been learnt that this model is also being used in the preparation of Nepal development update. This model is being used in the analysis of economic and monetary facts. If Nepal adopts the model emphasized by the World Bank, it will help in policy making, economists said. According to the report, Nepal has mentioned the options to make environment-friendly policies in the future and to protect the rivers from the risk of drying in the country which has a huge contribution in hydroelectricity. Economist and ICIMOD Program Coordinator Dr Mani Nepal said that the formulation of a good policy would help reduce the risk in the future. It has been mentioned in the report the ways to control the impact of climate change on agriculture and on labor and employment and infrastructure among other sectors. Nepal said that it would help to avoid risks if Nepal changes the policy on such issues. Meanwhile, the World Bank has suggested Nepal to lift the ban on imports. Instead, Nepal has been suggested to increase the policy interest rate based on needs and loan facility. By doing so would subdued external demand and discourage imports, the World Bank said.

Three persons died and two others were injured when a boat capsized at Ghol in Narayani river in Susta of Nawalparasi district on Monday. Police identified the deceased as Guddu Harijan (22), Niraj Harijan (18) and Ranjit Gupta (18) of Susta-4. The ill-fated boat carrying youths returning home after a picnic capsized in Susta Rural Municipality-4 yesterday. Kishor Harijan and Sohit Sahahi, who were injured in the incident, have been taken to Bhairahawa for medical treatment. Police said that they are looking into the case.  

Newly appointed US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R. Thompson and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal held a meeting at the latter’s residence in Khumaltar on Tuesday. During the meeting, the duo discussed bilateral ties between the two countries and contemporary political issues among others, Dahal’s Secretariat said. On the occasion, former Prime Minister Dahal thanked the United States for its continuous support to Nepal’s economic development. Ambassador Thompson said that he was happy to be appointed as the ambassador of Nepal, a beautiful country rich in nature and cultural diversity. He believed that the relations between Nepal and the US would reach new heights during his tenure.  

The main opposition CPN-UML is unveiling its election manifesto for the elections to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly slated for November 20. According to Publicity Department Deputy Head Bishnu Rijal, the party will unveil the manifesto at 1 pm today. Earlier, the party had formed a Draft Committee under the headship of party Chairman KP Sharma Oli to prepare the manifesto. The final shape to the manifesto was given as per the suggestions to the committee. After unveiling the manifesto, Oli will hold a “live debate” on the manifesto. Meanwhile, Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN (Unified Socialist), who had formed an alliance against the UML, have already unveiled their respective manifestos on Monday.

Brazil’s electoral authority says Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva has defeated incumbent Jair Bolsonaro to become the country’s next president, Aljazeera reported. The news on Sunday marked a stunning return to power for the 77-year-old, of the leftist Workers’ Party, who had led Brazil from 2003 to 2010. His 2018 imprisonment over a corruption scandal sidelined him from that year’s election, paving the way for then-candidate Bolsonaro’s win and four years of far-right politics, according to Aljazeera. The result marked the first time since Brazil’s 1985 return to democracy that the sitting president has failed to win re-election.