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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 20. 46 points to close at 2,661.09 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 4. 68 points to close at 482. 15 points.

A total of 47,790,837-unit shares of 325 companies were traded for Rs 19. 60 billion.

Meanwhile, Nepal Finance Ltd. (NFS) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 9. 77 percent. Likewise, Aarambha Chautari Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (ACLBSL) was the top loser with its price dropped by 8. 35 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 22 trillion.

The Nepalese Society for Oculoplastic Surgeons (NESOS), in collaboration with the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) and with technical and financial support from the Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF) and Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology (TIO), organized a workshop on the Nepal Thyroid Eye Disease Registry (Nep TED) in Kathmandu on July 27.

This one-day event marked the first in-person workshop for the Nep TED registry and was timed to coincide with “Graves Disease Awareness Month” in July. Graves disease, a major thyroid disorder, is the primary cause of Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). The workshop featured international expert and Nep TED advisor, Prof. Dr. Kelvin Chong, who shared his extensive knowledge of TED research in the Asia-Pacific region. National research expert Prof. Dr. Biraj Karmacharya highlighted the vision of the registry, while Dr. Sadikshya Bhattarai from NHRC and Uma Kafle discussed the challenges in working on the registry.

Thyroid Eye Disease affects 25-35 percent of dysthyroid patients, with approximately five percent of cases being severe and sight-threatening. TED predominantly affects females, significantly impacting their quality of life. Research suggests that the pattern and natural history of TED in the Asian population may differ from those in Western populations, according to a press release from the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology.

Nep TED, a collaborative initiative involving over 51 hospitals and eye clinics across Nepal, aims to establish a comprehensive database for TED patients in the country. This initiative seeks to provide accurate information on the disease burden and enhance the quality of care for TED patients. The vision of NESOS is supported by an expert advisory team, including Prof Dr Sanduk Ruit, Prof Madanmani Upadhaya, NESOS Founder President Prof. Rohit Saiju, NESOS President Dr Sulaxmi Katuwal, NOS President Prof Meenu Chaudhary, NNJS Chair Prof Dr Chet Raj Pant, Health Secretary Dr Roshan Pokhrel, and DEAN President Prof Dr Robin Maskey.

This workshop represented a significant step forward in understanding and managing Thyroid Eye Disease in Nepal and underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in improving patient care.

The meeting of the transitional justice mechanism held on Monday ended inconclusively.  

The meeting held at the Ministry of Home Affairs at Singha Durbar this morning in participation of the stakeholders including the members of the mechanism ended without making a concrete decision.

Nepali Congress leader and Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak, CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula and CPN (Maoist Center) Deputy General Secretary Janardan Sharma attended the meeting aimed at finalizing the issue of the transitional justice bill.

UML Chief Whip Bartaula said that today's meeting ended with the decision to meet again on Thursday.

"The main Act, bills and reports of sub-committees on transitional justice related issues will be studied and reviewed. The questions raised on them will be collected and the next meeting will be held Thursday with full preparations," he pledged.

He said that the mechanism will also prepare the draft of all discussions held so far on the matter and focus on them in upcoming meetings, he said.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya, President of the Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee Bimala Subedi and Attorney General Ramesh Badal among others were present in the meeting.

Earlier on Friday, a meeting of the mechanism held at the Ministry of Home Affairs had discussed the issue of building consensus on the transitional justice bill.

The Lekhnath area of the Pokhara Metropolitan City is famed as a city of seven lakes, and all seven lakes there are enlisted in Ramsar sites. Not just of the lakes it has, the small valley that lies to the northeast of the Prithvi Highway in Kaski district is equally popular for the fish recipes.

The businesspersons argue that touristic activities have increased there due to the fish recipes that tempt the visitors. A large number of hotels and eateries on the banks of Begnas Lake, Majhikuna, Piple, and Damside offer a variety of fish recipes to a large number of visitors every day.

Most of the visitors throng the city of seven lakes to enjoy the fish dishes. The local people residing around Begnas, Rupa, and other lakes are engaged in commercial fish farming. Most of the households in the small village of Piple near Begnas Lake have fully relied on fishing in the lake.

Likewise, the number of fisheries has increased in Dipang, Khaste, Neureni, and Maidi lakes too.

According to Tek Bahadur Jalari, the owner of The Fisherman Restaurant, the area is popularly known as a common destination for fish lovers. It is said that each household makes from Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 in a month from fishing.

Jalari said that grilled fish is one of the most famous food items, and the recipe includes marinating fish with a blend of local spices, grilling, and serving with a side of aromatic and fresh vegetables.

According to Jalari, publicity on social networking sites including YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms has further promoted the publicity of fish recipes from Majhikuna, Piple, and other vicinities.

The Rupa Lake Reinstatement and Fishery Cooperative Limited is also proactively working for the conservation and utilization of fish in the Rupa Lake, Chairman Shivaraj Adhikari said. “This has increased economic and touristic activities,” he said, adding that more than 1,030 members are engaged in the cooperative organization now and that it has offered direct jobs to 24 individuals. The cooperative has produced fish worth Rs 20m in a year, Adhikari shared.

A person died and 26 others were injured in a school bus accident in Pokhara on Monday.

The deceased has been identified as Arati BK (33), helper of the Birauta-based LP Devkota Memorial English Boarding School.

The bus (Ga 1 Kha 6219) heading towards Pokhara from Ramdi met with an accident at Gudku in Pokhara Metropolitan City-21 at 8:55 am today.

The bus fell some 50 meters down the road.

Kaski police said that the injured students are undergoing treatment in various hospitals of Pokhara.

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

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 146, 100 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 145, 700 per tola on Sunday.

Similarly, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 145, 400 per tola.

Meanwhile, the price of silver has increased by Rs 10 and is being traded at Rs 1,750 per tola today.

Sajina Rai, the Program Director of the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA), has joined the Scientific Council of COP29 Presidency as a Board Member.

"Program Director and Research Fellow of the AIDIA, Sajina Rai, has joined the Scientific Council of COP29 Presidency as a Board Member at the invitation of ADA University of Azerbaijan," reads a statement issued by the AIDIA on Sunday.

Rai has long been working for the AIDIA, a foreign policy think-tank headquartered in Kathmandu.

The US Embassy in Kathmandu concluded its two-day Creator’s Mela on Saturday. This conference was designed to sharpen and develop the skills of Nepali digital creators and influencers, helping them launch and grow their online presence or businesses. The event was themed ‘Build, Brand, and Boost’.

Every session in the program provided information to inspire and transform young people in the context of our rapidly changing digital society. Influential speakers such as Priyanka Karki, Elise Hu, Oshin Sitaula, Shrinkhala Khatiwada, Shanta Nepali, Lemi, and Parakram Rana, among others, were invited to share their insights.

Journalist Hu emphasized the importance of prioritizing the audience over the content itself while Sitaula discussed the Instagram algorithm, the significance of watch time, and her own experiences blogging about food.

Addressing critical remarks, Karki stated, “I try to turn every negative controversial topic into positive points so that it won’t affect my health. But, after all, we are all human beings, and it does affect me at some point.”

Former Miss Nepal Khatiwada expressed her unease about the future of social media. “If you are involved in any type of social platform, you need to be true to yourself, be honest, and have the right intentions. Despite that, if someone judges you badly, that’s beyond your control, so you can voice it and move on,” she commented.

Sizzu, setting an example for young women, stated that everyone must exercise caution and never misuse their newfound freedom. She noted the changes and advances she has witnessed in the places she has traveled, which greatly motivate her. As a solo female traveler, she received the Solo Travel Award 2024.

More than 1,000 content creators attended the event over two days. This year, there were 31 sessions and acts, including 12 main stage sessions and 19 interactive sessions on topics such as podcasting, brand-building, monetization, and mental health. Performances, including fashion shows and music concerts, were also held on the main stage.

Sessions covered various topics, including podcasting, growing social media presence across different platforms, leveraging AI for social media success, visual storytelling, addressing social media regulations, attracting sponsors, Q&A sessions, food vlogging, Instagram stories and reel workshops, comedy writing workshops, travel vlogging, building personal brands, boosting presentation skills, and protecting online businesses.