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Russian climber Pavel Kostrikin died at Camp I of Mount Everest, the first reported death of a foreigner on the world’s highest peak in the current climbing season that began in March, a Nepali official said on Sunday, Reuters reported.

Kostrikin, 55, died at the camp, which is located at an altitude of around 5,360 metres (17,585 feet) during a rotation on the 8,848-metre (29,031 feet) mountain on Saturday, said Bhishma Kumar Bhattarai, an official of Nepal’s Department of Tourism.

“The Russian climber fell sick at Camp II and died after being brought to the Camp I,” Bhattarai told Reuters without giving further details.

Camp II on the normal southeast ridge route on Everest is located at a height of around 6,400 metres (20,997 feet).

Hiking officials said the body of Kostrikin would be brought to Kathmandu when the current cloudy weather conditions improve, according to Reuters.

Mount Everest has been climbed 10,657 times since it was first scaled in 1953, from both the Nepali and Tibetan sides of the mountain, with many climbing multiple times and 311 people have died so far, according to The Himalayan Database.

An Indian climber died during a summit push at Nepal’s Mount Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain, a hiking official said on Saturday.

Last month, a Greek climber and a Nepali Sherpa guide died on other peaks.

Mountain climbing is the main tourism activity in Nepal and a key source of income as well as employment. The country has eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains.

More than 900 foreign mountaineers have received permits to climb 26 Himalayan peaks in Nepal, including 316 permits for Mount Everest, during the current season ending in May, Reuters reported.

Nepal logged 17 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 2, 905 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 17 returned positive. Likewise, 1, 105 people underwent antigen tests, of which no one were tested positive.

The Ministry said that no one died of the virus in the last 24 hours. The Ministry said that 21 infected people recovered from the disease.

As of today, there are 201 active cases in the country.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 17. 95 points to close at 2,256.57 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index increased by 3. 80 points to close at 436. 35 points.

A total of 3,341,214 unit shares of 233 companies were traded for Rs 1. 32 billion today.

In today’s market, all sub-indices saw green except for Banking and Micro Finance.

Meanwhile, Jalpa Samudayik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Unnati Sahakarya Laghu Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the top loser as its price fell by 4. 92 percent

At the end of the day, total market capitalisation stood at Rs 3. 21 trillion.

The government has recommended President Bidya Devi Bhandari to convene the budget session on May 17.

A Cabinet meeting held on Sunday decided to recommend the President to call the budget session.

There is a constitutional provision for the President to convene a meeting on the recommendation of the Cabinet.

By securing 99.16 percent supportive votes from the Election Committee members who cast their votes on Sunday, the sole candidate John Lee Ka-chiu was elected as the sixth-term Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), The Global Times reported.

The highly expected Chief Executive Election for Hong Kong, the first CE election since the implementation of electoral reform which aims to ensure only patriots governing Hong Kong, kicked off on Sunday as most of 1,461 Election Committee (EC) members cast their ballots at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. 

The overall voting process started from 9 am and concluded at 11:30 am, going smoothly and being organized in the eyes of some EC members. The central government is expected to formally appoint him as Hong Kong's next chief executive soon.  

In total, 1,428 Election Committee members cast their votes "support" or "not support" for Chief Executive Election in Hong Kong, with the overall turnout rate of 97.74 percent. 33 members did not vote. Lee secured 1,416 supportive votes among the 1,428 EC members who cast their votes, or 99.16 percent of the votes cast, according to The Global Times. 

"Serving Hong Kong and serving our people for the next five years, this is an honor with humility and sincere gratitude, with loyalty and perseverance," Lee told after being elected.  

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR. We must continue to ensure the comprehensive, accurate and full implementation of the principles of the "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and "high degree of autonomy to maintain our long term prosperity and stability." 

Having restored order from chaos, it is high time that Hong Kong starts a new chapter of development, a chapter that we get toward greater prosperity for all, he said.  

Lee gained a high rate of 99.16 percent of the votes, which reflects recognition and affirmation of the Hong Kong society, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said in a congratulatory message to Lee published shortly after the result came out. It's believed the new CE will lead the new government and representatives from various sectors of Hong Kong to unveil a new chapter for good governance in the city, the office said.  

It also said the election is a successful practice of Hong Kong's new election system, which has proven to fit "one country, two systems" and Hong Kong's reality, The Global Times reported.

The six-term CE election has great significance for Hong Kong, especially after the implementation of the national security law for Hong Kong and the electoral reform, the city returned to the correct track, resisting the foreign interference and stabilizing the society with active measures for economy and livelihoods.  The election stimulates the positive energy, underscores the democracy with broad representation and unity as the candidate and residents are focusing on measures for building the city together rather than making confrontations or divisions, the top office on Hong Kong affairs said. 

The next five years will be the period for Hong Kong to emerge from the social turmoil to being well governed to develop, and we believe that if the new government and representatives from various sectors seize the historical opportunities, it would be a new starting point for Hong Kong to make a splendid history, said the State Council's Hong Kong and Macao office, according to The Global Times.

The price of gold has risen by Rs 600 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, gold is currently trading at Rs 98, 600 per tola. The yellow metal was traded at Rs 98, 000 per tola on Friday.

Similarly, the Tejabi gold is now trading for Rs 98, 100 per tola in the market. It was traded at Rs 97, 500 the previous day.

Similarly, the price of silver rose by Rs 5 per tola and is now trading at Rs 1, 285 per tola.

The government has decided to provide financial assistance of Rs 2 million to the families if the security personnel deployed for the security of elections died while on duty.

A Cabinet meeting held on Sunday morning made the decision to this effect on the recommendation of the Home Ministry.

"The government has decided to provide Rs 2 million to the families if the security personnel (Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, National Investigation Department) and myadi police (temporary police) deployed for the security of elections died while on duty, " a source said.

Similarly, the government has also decided to bear the expenses of treatment of the security personnel if they sustained injuries during the duty hours.

An unidentified person attacked a candidate with a khukuri in Bhojpuri on Saturday.

The District Police Office, Bhojpur said that Amita Tamang, a ward member candidate of Sangpang, Sadananda Municipality-10, was attacked at around 10 pm yesterday.

Police said that Tamang sustained deep cuts on his head.

Further investigation into the incident is underway.