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United States (US) Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu arrived in Nepal on Sunday.

Before Nepal, he visited India and Sri Lanka.

While in Nepal, he will be meeting with senior leaders of Nepal to advance cooperation on environmental protection, women’s empowerment, and sustainable development, said the US Department of State.  

He will also meet with youth leaders to gain insights into their vision for the future of US-Nepal relations. Additionally, discussions will emphasize the importance of cultural preservation, recognizing Nepal’s rich heritage as a cornerstone of its identity and a key driver of its tourism and economy.

The US Embassy in Kathmandu stated that Assistant Secretary of State Lu's visit will contribute towards strengthening US-Nepal ties.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has extended warm greetings and cordial felicitations to the governments and people of the member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) on the auspicious occasion of the fortieth anniversary of SAARC Charter Day today.

In the felicitation message, PM Oli stressed SAARC's prominent role in fostering mutual trust, understanding and cooperation among member states, and expressed firm commitments of Nepal- current SAARC Chair- to its Charters for building a peaceful, prosperous and integrated South Asia. It was mentioned in a press statement released by the Foreign Ministry today.

Highlighting persisting socioeconomic and environmental challenges including climate change and transnational organized crimes, the PM also called for revitalizing SAARC process for promoting shared interest and prosperity of the people in the regions.

Similarly, in a separate message, Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba expressed best wishes to the governments and the people of SAARC member states on this special occasion. Minister Rana acknowledged the vision of founding leaders and importance of SAARC Charter in promoting collective self-reliance, improving quality of life of people and fostering regional solidarity to address multiple challenges faced commonly by the member states.

She also underscored the need for reviving and enabling SAARC to live up to its objective including SDGs in the spirit of amity, mutual consensus enshrined in the Charter.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 45. 93 points to close at 2,689.00 points on Sunday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 6. 96 points to close at 457. 04 points.

A total of 17,392,244-unit shares of 321 companies were traded for Rs 7. 46 billion.

Meanwhile, Khanikhola Hydropower Co. Ltd. (KKHC) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 9. 98 percent. Likewise, Khanikhola Hydropower Co. Ltd. (KKHC), Life Insurance Corporation (Nepal) Limited (LICN) and Joshi Hydropower Development Company Ltd (JOSHI) the top losers as their price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 46 trillion.

The drinking water project initiated 13 years ago to supply water to three wards of Jaljala rural municipality in Parbat remains incomplete. Jaljala, located near Benibazar in Myagdi, began constructing the Jaljala Kukurchihan drinking water project in 2011 to provide water to 500 households across various settlements, including Malgaon, Arubot, Dadakateri and Falamedanda.

According to Tilakbahadur GC, ward Chairperson of Jaljala-5, the project has stalled due to inadequate budget allocation. “With an estimated cost of over Rs 30m, the project has only been receiving Rs 200,000 to Rs 500,000 annually, limiting progress,” he said. To date, only 65 houses in Banmade and Lopre have access to drinking water, with Rs 5m spent so far.

Despite the transfer of responsibility from the federal to the provincial government, insufficient funding has left residents disappointed. Sam Bahadur Tilija, secretary of the Jaljala Kukurchyan drinking water and sanitation consumers’ association, expressed frustration: “Thirteen years have passed waiting for water. The intake, reserve tanks and taps built as part of the project have fallen into disuse for want of water supply.”

The project aimed to source water from the Kukurchihan and Lopre forest springs at the base of Mohredada in Annapurna rural municipality-8 and distribute it to households via taps. Local resident Purkha Purja Pun emphasized the impact of the delay, noting that Falamedanda, a tourist destination included in the project, has been suffering from chronic water scarcity.

This fiscal year, Rs 21m has been allocated for the project under three headings. The provincial government has earmarked Rs 1m, while the Federal Ministry of Water Resources has allotted Rs 10m each for various segments of the Jaljala project.

Jaljala rural municipality Vice-chairperson Deepak Acharya stated that efforts are underway to coordinate federal and provincial budgets to avoid duplication. Project Office Chief Padam Bahadur Kunwar confirmed that work will be divided into phases to accelerate construction and ensure completion.

Janakpur Bolts defeated Lumbini Lions by one run in the ongoing Nepal Premier League on Sunday.

It is the fourth consecutive win of Janakpur Bolts in the NPL. Earlier, they had defeated Biratnagar, Karnali and Pokhara.

In the match played at TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur today, the Lumbini Lions were chasing the target of 137 runs, but they lost eight wickets in 20 overs, thereby limiting them to 135 runs.

Rohit Kumar Paudel made 35 runs off 38 balls. He hit three fours to make up the runs. Tom Moores and Sundeep Jora were in the team to collect runs, while others failed to ensure runs in double digit.

On the other hand, Harsha Thokar took highest five wickets for Janakpur, while Kishor Mahato, Sher Malla and Lalit Rajbansi took one wicket each.

Earlier, invited to batting first, the Janakpur Bolts made a total of 136 runs in 20 overs at the loss of nine wickets. Captain Anil Shah was able to secure highest 45 runs. He hit one four and four sixes in 39 balls.

Similarly, Lahiru Milantha made 24 runs, Shubh Kansakar 22 runs and opener and marquee player Aasif Sheikh 16 runs.

In the same match, Abhisekh Gautam who made debut for Lumbini took three wickets and skipper Rohit Paudel and Saad Bin Zafar two wickets each. Sundeep Jora took one wicket.

It is the fourth consecutive defeat of Lumbini. Earlier, they were defeated by Biratnagar Kings, Pokhara Avengers and Sudurpaschim Royals.

A black panther and squirrel have been found for the first time in Rara National Park. The images of these animals' presence in the park were seen in the cameras installed inside the park area by zoology students of Tribhuvan University. The students are studying mammals inhabiting the national park.

Rara National Park's officiating senior conservation officer Mahesh Neupane said the cameras have captured the images of mammals like Black Panther, Himalayan bear, fox, musk deer, wild boar and squirrel, among other animals. Of these animals, black panther and squirrel have been sighted for the first time.

According to Neupane, the camera-trap technology has been used for studying the big and medium-sized mammals found in the park, their activities and details.

Tribhuvan University's PhD student Tilak Thapa Magar and researchers Bimal Raj Shrestha, Master level student Bachan Prasain and former president of the Park Buffer Zone Consumers Committee Birkha Bahadur Rokaya are involved in the research. 

The cameras were installed at 40 various locations inside the park for 21 days from October 22, with permission from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, and the Rara National Park.

Although the Rara National Park office has been conducting bird census inside the park, it has not so far carried out census of wildlife, aquatic animals and plants.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 400 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 149, 700 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 150, 100 per tola on Friday.

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 25 and is being traded at Rs 1,890 per tola today.

Police have arrested three persons with gold, silver and foreign currency worth more than Rs 10 million from the Kauwakheda border area of Bhajani Municipality-5 in Kailali.

Mahendra Bahadur Shahi (36) of Chaukuni Rural Municipality-10 of Surkhet, Harka Bahadur BK (31) of Birendranagar Municipality-1 and Mahesh Sunar (32) of Panchpuri Municipality-11, were arrested last night, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police Shailendra Thapa, Joint Spokesperson of the Armed Police Force.

They were arrested with 620 grams of gold worth Rs 8,079,561, 8.9 kg of silver worth Rs 1,528,460, and Indian currency 611,625 of various denominations, Saudi riyals, four mobile sets of various types, and silver-plated utensils.