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Nepal reported 324 new Covid-19 cases and one death on Friday. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 1, 673 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 163 returned positive. Likewise, 1, 842 people underwent antigen tests, of which 161 were tested positive. The ministry said that 11, 999 people lost their lives to the virus so far. At least 418 infected people recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours. As of today, there are 3, 943 active cases in the country.

Health Minister Bhawani Khapung has been admitted to the Bir Hospital on Friday. Dr Bhupendra Basnet, Director at the hospital, said that the minister was admitted to the hospital today. “He came to the hospital after he complained of dizziness,” he said, adding, “His medical examination has been done, the report is yet to come.” He came to Kathmandu on Thursday after staying in his home district Tehrathum for a week.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 16. 93 points to close at 2,022.62 points on Friday. Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 2. 77 points to close at 391.74 points. A total of 3,588,833 unit shares of 213 companies were traded for Rs 1. 29 billion. Meanwhile, Life Insurance Corporation (Nepal) Limited was the top gainer today with its price surging by 5. 95 percent. Likewise, Panchakanya Mai Hydropower Limited was the top loser with its price dropped by 4. 88 percent. At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 89 trillion.

Query I am a 25-year-old student struggling with forgetfulness. I cannot remember the tasks I need to complete, people’s names and the conversations I have with them. This started last year. I cannot learn and understand new things and of late, I cannot even hold a conversation for long. I always have a mild yet persistent headache. I am afraid I might have some brain disease. I am terrified. What should I do?—A scared fellow Answered by Krishangi, Psychologist, Happy Minds  There can be several reasons for your forgetfulness, both mental and physical: lack of sleep, stress, or some form of mental illness. I suggest you start by going through your daily routine and identifying potential causes of your stress.  If you find no major stressor in your daily life, it is best that you get a thorough physical examination. To understand why you might be having these symptoms, I suggest you get a brain scan.  If the tests indicate no physical problem, we can be sure that this is a mental issue. Perhaps your sleep pattern is wrong, or you are having a tough time with your studies. We have to identify what is causing your symptoms in order to move ahead with treatment.  Check your surroundings for that. Maybe something is happening in your college, or among circles of friends and family, which is causing you stress without you realizing it. Again, we have to find the underlying cause first.   All the things I suggest above, they do seem like a lot. But you can take a step at a time. Start with something small, something easy. For instance, you can start by making improvements in your sleep pattern before moving to other steps.  If you feel like it is too much for you to follow these steps, get an accountability partner, a close friend or a family member, to assist you in this process. You can also reach out to a psychologist. 

Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah has given continuity to his drive to demolish illegal structures. Shah along with his team reached the Department of Passport in Tripureshwor on Friday. The KMC had issued a 35-day notice to demolish the illegal structures. The Metropolitan City swung into action after its notice was ignored by the people. Earlier on Thursday, the KMC demolished the basement of the Alfa Beta Complex in New Baneshwor. A team led by Mayor Shah demolished the structure saying that it was built against the rule. The Alfa Beta had been operating a pharmacy in the basement. Shah with his team reached the Alfa Beta Complex after the owner ignored the 35-day notice of the KMC. When the team reached the Complex, managing director of Alfa Beta Dwiraj Sharma asked the Mayor Shah to present his building’s blueprint.

The price of gold and silver has remained constant on Friday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, the gold is being traded at Rs 95, 800 per tola. Similarly, the tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 95, 300 per tola. The Association said that the silver is being traded at Rs 1, 175 per tola.

Police have arrested three persons of the Presidential Immigration Pvt. Ltd for defrauding millions of rupees of people with fake assurances of sending them to the United States with green cards from Nepal. After the Annapurna Post, sister publication of the Annapurna Express, published the news regarding the issue on Thursday, a team of police carried out a raid at the office of the company in Gairidhara and apprehended them. The suspects have been identified as consultancy operator Prabin Rai (35) and deputy director duo Omkar Gupta (46) and Sanjay Tamang (34). Rai, a permanent resident of Silichong Rural Municipality-2, Sankhuwasabha, has been living at Saraswatinagar, Kathmandu while Gupta of Parasi Bazaar, Ramgram Municipality-3, Nawalparasi has been residing at Gothatar and Tamang of Karphok, Suryadoya Municipality-11, Ilam has been living at Basundhara. Krishna Koirala, spokesperson at the Crime Investigation Bureau, said that they will be charged under the Education Act, 2028 and fraud case. He said that police have taken some documents of the consultancy. Though the company has been registered, it has been found that the consultancy has not taken permission from the Educational Counseling Branch of the Ministry of Education. Gupta had said that the consultancy had so far collected around Rs 130 million from around 50 people at the rate of 2.5 million each. Further investigation into the incident is underway, police said.  

Novak Djokovic says he will be unable to travel to New York for the US Open, which begins on Monday, BBC reported.