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The price of gold has increased by Rs 200 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, 900 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 146, 700 per tola on Sunday.

Similarly, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 146, 200 per tola. It was traded at Rs 146, 000 per tola.

Meanwhile, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,885 per tola today. 

The Manakamana cable car will remain closed for the next 50 days from today.

The proprietor company, Manakamana Darshan Pvt Ltd said that the cable car will be closed to upgrade it to the digital system.

The cable car which is currently being operated through analog technology is going to be upgraded to the state-of-the-art digital system, said Ujjwal Sherchan, Deputy General Manager of Manakamana Darshan Pvt Ltd.

Along with upgrading it to the digital system, the main metal cable will also be replaced.

The cable wire that helps run the cable cars is being changed after 26 years of installation.

Technicians from the Austrian company Doppelmeyer are carrying out the upgrading and maintenance work. The Manakamana cable car is being upgraded in various stages.

The cable car has been in operation since 2055 BS, bringing convenience to pilgrims going to Manakamana temple, a famous religious site in Sahid Lakhan Rural Municipality of Gorkha.

Manakamana Darshan Pvt Ltd has said that although the cable car service will remain closed, the restaurant service at the entrance (bottom station) of the cable car located at Ichchakamana-4 Kurintar in Chitwan will remain open.

Newly appointed Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is taking oath of office and secrecy today.

Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to take the oath of office and secrecy amidst a special ceremony at Sheetal Niwas at 11 am today.

Following the oath taking ceremony, Prime Minister Oli is likely to expand his Council of Ministers and administer the oath of office and secrecy to the newly appointed ministers.

President Paudel on Sunday late afternoon appointed UML Chair Oli as the new Prime Minister with the support of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, in accordance with Article 76(2) of the Constitution.

He had given until 5 pm on Sunday for two or more parties in the House of Representatives to stake their claim for the post of the Prime Minister.

A team of security heads including Chief District Officer of Parsa has carried out on-site inspection of Nepal-India border pillars Parsa district.

The district shares an area of 107-kilometer-long border with India.

On the occasion, CDO Dineshsagar Bhusal instructed the security agencies to work with border security as the first priority and address the problems of the people living near the border area.

During the on-site inspection of the Inarwa border post between Nepal and India in Jagarnathpur Rural Municipality-2, he also expressed the commitment to address the issues raised by the local residents.

The team on Saturday also observed the border pillar in Thori Rural Municipality. During the visit, Ward President of Jagarnathpur Rural Municipality-2, Nepali Prasad Kushwaha, requested that the border dispute in the area be resolved through dialogue and discussion between the two parties.

Jamir Mian, a resident of Jagarnathpur-2, said that harmonious relations should be maintained between the Nepali security personnel and the local residents.

A total of 108 people have died due to monsoon-induced disaster including floods, landslides and inundation in different parts of the country.

According to the Nepal police headquarters, the death toll since the monsoon began on June 10 to July 14 has reached 108.

Among the deceased, two died in Kathmandu valley, 19 in Koshi Province, five in Madhesh Province, nine in Bagmati, 38 in Gandaki, 23 in Lumbini, four in Karnali Province and eight people in Sudurpaschim Province.

Similarly, 119 people were injured in the incident including eight in Kathmandu valley, 31 in Koshi, nine in Madhes, seven in Bagmati, 28 in Gandaki, nine in Lumbini, 16 in Karnali and 11 in Sudurpaschim Province.

According to Nepal police, 53 people, who were affected by the floods and landslides, have been rescued while six people are still missing. During the period, a total of 182 houses were inundated due to floods. Similarly, 203 houses, 75 sheds, 41 bridges, one school and two government offices were damaged.

A total of 516 cattle heads perished while 3,552 families were displaced from their homes due to the disaster.

Invasive species have defined themselves as a formidable army that poses a major threat to our  planet’s ecosystem. These species are non-native organisms belonging to other ecosystems and they  can be plants, animals or pathogens. Such species emerge from new environments and cause destructive  consequences in the host ecosystems. They are capable of influencing the local species, altering the environment, and  they may pose health risks to humans and result in economic losses to individuals, communities or nations. Therefore, gaining the knowledge of invasive species and their method of proliferation helps to combat them easily without any loss and also contributes to the conservation of ecosystems. 

Effect on local ecosystem 

Invasive species can cause the devastation of local ecosystems in several ways: 

1. Biodiversity loss: Invasive species compete more effectively for resources such as food, light and space with native species. Such competition results in the elimination or complete extinction of native species. For example, the arrival of brown tree snakes in Guan has eventually caused the loss of several bird species. 

2. Habitat loss: Some invasive species alter the abiotic factor of the ecosystem making it unsuitable for other endemic species. One of the best examples of such species is the freshwater invasive species known as Zebra mussel, which changes the physical properties of water. 

3. Predation and disease: Non-indigenous species are capable of eradicating the indigenous species that have not developed any means of defense to defend themselves against them. Furthermore, Invasive species bring new diseases against which native species possess no immunity. A good example is chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium  dendrobatidis) that caused the disease chytridiomycosis, which caused a disastrous impact on amphibian populations. 

4. Economic impact: The economic loss due to invasive species is very high in current and future scenarios. Invasive species are capable of destroying crops, fisheries and forests. Combating them often requires expensive control mechanisms. For instance, the emerald ash borer alone caused the loss of billions of dollars of North American Ash tree.

How they spread 

Invasive species spread through various means, often helped by human activities: 

1. Global trade and travel: Various modes of transportation such as airplanes and ships unknowingly transport invasive species across borders. For example, the ballast water from the ship is one of the causes of introduction of invasive species in the ocean. 

2. Animals and horticulture: The trade of plants for farming or gardening and animals for pets is also behind the spread of invasive species. 

3. Climate change: The change in climatic conditions create a suitable environment for invasive species helping them to expand their territory. 

4. Human activities: Activities such as construction, deforestation and changes in land use  make the condition suitable for the invasive species to grow and thrive. 

Measures to manage or eliminate invasive species 

This involves a range of strategies, which includes early detection, prevention and long-term management. 

1. Prevention: One of the most effective preventive measures is to prevent the introduction of invasive species. The rules and regulations on importing plants and animals should be tightened and the public should be made aware of the dangers associated with the release of non-native species  

2. Early detection and rapid response: The species should be promptly identified, and  their progress should be stopped. Relevant programs should be introduced to monitor and report  on invasive species.  

3. Methods to manage species: a. Physical control: It involves manual removal like pulling out the invasive plant species or trapping the invasive animal, b. Chemical control: It involves the use of pesticides or herbicides, but it may have adverse effects on the environment, and c. Biological control: It involves the introduction of natural predators of the non-native species but it should be proceeded with caution as it may cause harm to native species also. 

4. Restoration: The best way to respond to the impact of the invasive species is by restoring  native habitat and supporting the native species.  

In conclusion, global biodiversity and ecosystem health are increasingly under threat from invasive  species. Given their widespread, and often severe consequences—in both time and space—they will  continue to require deliberate, sustained mitigation. By learning how they spread, and practicing both preventative and reactive measures, we can work to keep the natural balance of our  ecosystems to continue long into the future.

Saqib Shamim

Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus

CPN UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has been appointed the Prime Minister.

President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed UML Chairman Oli as the Prime Minister in accordance with Article 76 (2) of Constitution, according to the President's Press Advisor, Kiran Pokhrel.

Oli was appointed the PM in the backing of the largest political party in The Parliament, Nepali Congress.

UML Chairman Oli and NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba had submitted the signatures of a majority of lawmakers proposing Oli as the new prime minister in the wake of President Paudel's call on staking a claim for PM after the outgoing PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal's failure to secure trust vote in the House of Representatives meeting on Friday.

The President had called to stake a claim for PM with the support of two or more political parties representing in the parliament, giving a deadline till today.

The oath-taking ceremony will be held at 11 am tomorrow.

Kwak Gil-sup, President of One Korea Center

Since May 28, North Korea has sent trash into South Korean airspace four times. While North Korea's abnormal behavior is not a recent occurrence, this provocation marks a new low in the history of leaflet distribution.

Neither passively enduring nor overreacting is the best response. If the government fails to unite domestic and international public opinion, it could lead to a loss of national dignity and pride, leaving us vulnerable to further provocations and tactics aimed at creating internal conflicts.

It's Not Trash "Balloons" but Trash "Terror"

Media reports have been referring to the incidents as "trash balloons" since they began. However, this term doesn't accurately capture the severity of the situation. "Trash terror" is a more precise and fitting description.

The large amount of trash has insulted and instilled fear in the South Korean public. In some areas, trash has damaged windshields and disrupted operations at Incheon International Airport. Although the damage was not severe this time, the potential for a major accident remains. In the worst-case scenario, we could imagine North Korea deploying biological or chemical weapons in such balloons, which is terrifying. Therefore, it is crucial to accurately name the issue from the start. It is not "trash balloons" but "inhuman trash terror."

Background of North Korea's choice of Trash Terror' provocation

North Korea claimed that its first trash terror at the end of May was in response to the leaflet distribution by the North Korean defector group Fighters for a Free North Korea on May 10. However, this is actually a calculated multi-purpose psychological warfare, also serving as a test of hybrid warfare applied to the Korean Peninsula, a tactic recently highlighted in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

I assume North Korea's recent trash terror has the following motives:

In the long term, it is an extension of the 'power-for-power' strategy pursued since the diplomatic disaster in Hanoi in February 2019; In the short term, it is a practical step towards Kim Jong-un's "two-Korea policy" declared at the end of the year.

More directly, it is part of the follow-up actions to the decisions made at the Politburo meeting chaired by Kim Jong-un on May 24.

Kim Jong-un orchestrated two significant events during the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea meeting in late May. First, he decided to hold the "10th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the WPK" in late June. This plenary meeting to be held just before the Supreme People's Assembly will formalize new borders in the constitution.

Second, after hearing reports on military issues from the General Staff Department, he issued related, undisclosed orders. The content of these orders can be inferred from the statement by North Korea's vice defense minister Kim Kang-il on May 25, which warned of strong responses to South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises, civilian leaflet distributions, and South Korean Navy's Northern Limit Line (NLL) violations.

Since then, North Korea has engaged in various provocations, including launching a reconnaissance satellite, trash terror against South Korea, testing the 600mm super-large multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), GPS jamming in the West Sea, violating the military demarcation line, and reinstalling loudspeaker broadcasting along the demilitarized zone. These actions indicate calculated psychological warfare and simulated attack training. Additionally, the conditional suspension announced by Kim Kang-il on June 2 ("100-fold response if leaflets are distributed again") and Kim Yo-jong's retaliation warning on June 9 ("new response to leaflet distribution and loudspeaker broadcasts") are typical hit-and-run tactics aimed at blaming South Korea for heightened tensions, characterized by low-cost, high-efficiency fear-inducing strategies.

Based on current developments, North Korea is likely to continue provoking South Korea with aggressive rhetoric and various actions. These provocations aim to create internal debates about 'war or peace' and instill fear of conflict. By the late June Plenary Meeting and the July Supreme People's Assembly, North Korea is expected to finalize and announce new borders, marking a significant step in their "two-Korea Policy".

North Korea will likely exploit South Korea's political landscape, characterized by intense conflicts and opposition, as well as the anti-American struggle period (June 25 to July 27) and the South Korea-U.S. joint nuclear exercises in August. This includes launching reconnaissance satellites, testing strategic weapons, and possibly conducting a seventh nuclear test. These maneuvers aim to dominate the Korean Peninsula situation and set the stage for new negotiations after the U.S. presidential election and the Ukraine war.

Outlook and direction of response

Kim Jong-un has pushed an anti-nationalistic, anti-unification "two-Korea policy" this year, unlike his predecessors. Over the past five months, he likely weighed the pros and cons and decided the benefits outweighed the costs, erasing traces of national cooperation. The recent trash terror operation is part of this strategy. It's assumed North Korea anticipated South Korea's countermeasures, such as resuming psychological warfare.

The recent provocations, including trash terror, are part of North Korea's strategy to solidify its "two Korea policy." After unsettling South Korea internally from late May to early June, North Korea is expected to adjust its tactics before Vladimir Putin's visit and the late June Party Plenary Meeting. Following the constitutional amendment at the July Supreme People's Assembly (stipulating territorial regulations), North Korea will likely intensify its offensive across all domains.

The South Korea and international community should approach Kim Jong-un cautiously. To solve this abnormal behavior problem, regional and global organizations such as the United Nations and its members, particularly ASEAN, which is close to the Korean Peninsula, should have a strong voice to pressure and enforce the existing sanctions against North Korea. Embracing this challenge as an opportunity, the government should strive to bring about fundamental transformation in the North Korean regime. Now, the South Korean government took steps: suspending the September 19 Military Agreement, putting the military on high alert, and resuming loudspeaker broadcasts. These actions aim to manage the situation and advance North Korean liberalization.