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The price of gold has increased by Rs 2, 100 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 152, 200 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 150, 100 per tola on Monday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 60 and is being traded at Rs 1,925 per tola today.

Eight persons died while five others sustained injuries in a jeep accident in Rautahat on Tuesday.

The jeep (Ba 16 Cha 3162) heading towards Rautahat from Gadhimai of Bara met with an accident at Lamaha along the East-West Highway.

The passengers were returning home after performing puja at the Gadhimai Temple, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Raj Kumar Rai.

The incident occurred when the speeding jeep hit a roadside tree this morning.

DSP Rai identified the deceased as Ramkumari Devi Mahara, Ram Kumari Mahara, Sakuntala Devi Mahara, Urmila Mahara, Laruwati Devi Mahara, Mahagi Devi Mahara, Phulmati Devi Chamar and driver Sri Kumar Yadav. They are from Arnama municipality-3 of Siraha district.

Similarly, Radha Ram, Aryan Ram, Dev Kumari Mahara, Ritik Mahara and Kanya Devi Mahara, who were injured in the accident, have been sent to Birgunj for treatment.

There are so many décor trends that it’s hard to keep up. The problem with trends is also that it comes and goes and you will constantly have to update your home (and spend a fortune doing so). Décor items also don’t come cheap and you run the risk of buying something that will soon become commonplace as the item becomes popular, thanks to relentless marketing by stores and influencers on Tiktok and Instagram. A trick to making your space timeless is by curating one that is uniquely you. It should make you happy and be visually appealing as well. Here are five ways to do just that.

Go local

Hit the local market. Basantapur in Kathmandu and Mangal Bazaar in Lalitpur are great places if you want to pick up some local handicraft. We recommend brass and bronze statues and flower vases. Bronze ones are actually easier to clean than brass ones and there are many interesting ones available, including but not limited to religious idols. These add a touch of regality to your living space and since most items are handcrafted you won’t find two identical pieces, making yours truly unique.

Invest in a good painting

A painting can elevate the look of your space and make it look interesting. It can also be a great conversation starter for when you have guests at home. However, a rule of thumb while buying a painting is to get one that speaks to you. It has to be something you will enjoy looking at as well as match your décor. Don’t buy something on a whim. Think about it, take your time, and then decide. Scour the Boudha area for some great Tibetan and Buddhist paintings that are vibrant and alluring. You can also commission an artist to make one for your space.

Bring nature in

One of the easiest ways to make your space ooze elegance is by bringing in some greenery. A bunch of houseplants is all your need to bring some cheer into your space. Look for low maintenance ones like the Peace Lily or the Snake plant. These are easy to care for and thrive in low light conditions as well. You can also cut some stems of plants and place them strategically in random corners of your home. These will have to be replaced time and again but it will also give you the option to change things up when you feel like it.

Get your hands on an heirloom

An old clock, a black and white enlarged photo of your ancestors, or a turntable—heirlooms are important pieces of your life story. Not only will it connect and remind you of your family, adding a touch of nostalgia to your life, it will also look and feel great in any setting. Ask your grandparents or parents for anything they might have that they are willing to part with. It could be an old stool that you can use as a nightstand or a low bed that you can fashion into a seating arrangement. Look for old photos that you use to create a gallery wall.

Flowers and candles

We underestimate the power of lighting when decorating our homes. While overhead lighting is important and there are a great many types of sconces and chandeliers available to brighten up your space, candles, in long stands and small bowls, add a lot of charm to your home. Place a few on your coffee table or dining area. Light one at night to give your home a cozy feel. Flowers beautifully compliment candles. The good thing is they last longer during winter so you won’t have to replace them frequently. Get a bunch and put them in large vases in places you can see them easily, along with candlesticks and stands, and watch your space come alive.

The CPN (Unified Socialist) has called its Standing Committee meeting for December 11 and 12.

Organizational activities, district and province convention, review of local level by-election, contemporary politics, and allocation and reshuffle of responsibilities among leaders will feature during the two-day meeting, according to Ram Kumar Bhattarai, deputy general secretary of the party.

Although the party had conducted its 10th general convention last June, it is yet to allocate responsibilities like department chief, district in-charge, and in-charge of commission and sister organizations of the party.

It is said that the meeting will endorse the names for the work division finalized by the taskforce led by party Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal.

For the first time, Nepal hosted a student-level international engineering expo. With participation from neighboring countries India and Bangladesh, the event was organized at the Sagarmatha Engineering College in the capital. Named Orbit Engineering Expo 2.0, the fair was organized by Engineers Vlogs. Although this was the second edition of the expo, it was the first international conference of its kind, according to Ayush Karn, CEO of Engineers Vlogs. “This is the first time an engineering exhibition of this scale has been organized in Nepal, with international participation from India and Bangladesh,” he said.

The exhibition, held over three days, was inaugurated by Minister for Communication, Information, and Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung on Dec 6. The event provided an international platform for engineering and medical students to showcase their innovative projects, with the Nepal Police and Nepal Army also presenting their technologies.

Karn stated that the expo covered a wide range of engineering fields, from school-level projects to master’s level, including disciplines such as computer science, civil engineering, and electrical engineering. It also highlighted the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning, making it the first international engineering expo of its kind in Nepal.

This year’s Orbit Engineering Expo 2.0 also offered an opportunity for both engineering and medical professionals to present their projects on the same platform. The event was organized with the approval of the Ministry of Communication, Information, and Technology, with Sagarmatha Engineering College as the title sponsor. 

The Expo was an action-packed event, featuring more than 20 activities across 101 stalls. Participants engaged in competitions such as the International Robo War, International Robot Soccer, Junior Robot Race, and Future Projects, along with a 48-hour hackathon, CAD competition, survey challenge, code-decode competition, UI-UX design competition, tech-debate, and other exciting activities.

In addition, a three-day free health camp was held, offering free checkups for eyes, ears, nose, throat, and teeth. Blood donation drives were also organized. On the second day, the Engineers Musical Night provided a free concert for attendees. The event attracted about 30,000 visitors over its three-day run.

In the competitions, Bootminds won in Robo War, Bootminds triumphed in Robo Soccer Three vs Three, Nexon won in Robo Soccer One vs One, and Nakshatra claimed victory in the Robo Race. Team Cathford won the Project Demonstration (Civil) competition, while Akash Choudhary (Pulchowk Campus) and Anand Choudhary (LEC) won the Survey Challenge. AB Strikers (Pulchowk Campus) won the Mix Design competition, and ACIT won the Project Demonstration (Computer) category.

In the UI/UX competition, Pluto the Planet won Best Visual Aesthetic, Control Plus Alter Plus Design & 303 won Best User Experience, Penguin won Best Innovative Design, Sparker Squad won Best Presentation, and Code Odyssey won Best Problem Solving.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has underlined the need of healing divisions and building peace.

In his message given on the occasion of International Human Rights Day today, he expressed worry over human rights facing assault. "Tens of millions of people are mired in poverty, hunger, poor health and education systems that have not yet fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic," he reminded.

According to him, all human rights are indivisible. "Whether economic, social, civic, cultural or political, when one right is undermined, all rights are undermined," he underscored.

The global leader further stressed the collective need to tackle scourges of poverty and hunger, ensure health care and education for all.

Other issues the Secretary General emphasized in his message are justice and equality for women, girls and minorities; protection of democracy, press freedoms and workers’ rights; promotion of right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment; and defense of human rights defenders.

The theme of the Day for this year is: 'Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.'

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), in collaboration with the Partnership for Healthy Cities (PHC) initiative, has launched a groundbreaking project to install air quality monitoring devices across the Kathmandu Metropolitan Area.

The first monitoring site was inaugurated today at a formal ceremony held at the KMC main office building by Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol.

This initiative reinforces Kathmandu’s commitment to tackling air pollution as part of the Partnership for Healthy Cities, a prestigious global network of 74 cities dedicated to saving lives by preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries. The Partnership is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Vital Strategies. In Kathmandu, the project is being implemented by the National Federation of Youth NGO Nepal (NFYN) in close coordination with the KMC office.

Under this initiative, the KMC is installing 18 Clarity Node-S air quality monitoring devices, designed to measure PM 2.5 concentrations, a critical pollutant affecting respiratory health. These devices have been trusted by over 70 cities globally, including London, Bogota, Accra, Jakarta, Dhaka, Perth, and many others.

The Clarity Node-S sensors are equipped with advanced features, including solar-powered operation, eliminating the need for external power sources, and built-in data connectivity for real-time data transmission to KMC’s centralized dashboard. To ensure data reliability and accuracy, all devices have undergone rigorous colocation and calibration processes with ground stations, supported by the Department of Environment. This calibration aligns with standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), ensuring high-quality, and actionable data for policy formulation.

The initiative aims to provide localized, real-time air quality data to inform evidence-based policymaking and targeted interventions. It also serves to engage the public and stakeholders in addressing air pollution. This project positions Kathmandu as the first local government in Nepal to establish an independent air quality monitoring system, marking a significant milestone in environmental governance.

Speaking at the event, Sarita Rai, Head of the Environment Management Department, emphasized KMC’s commitment to combating air pollution through programs such as vehicle emissions testing and enforcement against open waste burning. She also declared the month of Poush as “Air Pollution Awareness Month” in collaboration with the PHC initiative.

Similarly, Er. Sanjeeb Pandey, Project Lead for PHC Kathmandu, provided a detailed overview of the technical features of the devices and shared plans to make the data accessible to the public via a web portal and mobile application in the program. He encouraged private and public entities to actively participate in the Air Pollution Awareness Month Campaign.

Likewise, Rajaram Shrestha, National Program Officer at WHO Nepal, highlighted the severe health risks associated with air pollution, calling it a “silent killer.” He stressed the importance of preventive measures to mitigate these risks.

On the occasion, Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol reaffirmed the KMC’s commitment to utilizing the data from these monitoring devices for evidence-based policies. She highlighted the importance of initiatives such as “Car-Free Saturday” at Hadigaun and strict penalties for open burning. She called upon all stakeholders to join hands in making Air Pollution Awareness Month a resounding success, ensuring the city’s residents have a right to live in a healthier environment.

This initiative represents a historic step, positioning KMC as a leader in air quality management and environmental sustainability in Nepal.

The rights defenders have expressed strong objection to the published shortlist to fill positions in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Disappearances Commission.

The names have been proposed by the Recommendation Committee headed by retired Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra.

Nepal’s human rights community has repeatedly and publicly demanded that the Recommendation Committee propose individuals who are knowledgeable on transitional justice, who do not have a controversial record, and who will be trusted by the community of conflict victims.

Eventually, a problematic list was published, and practically every conflict victim organization in the country joined in a statement on December 6, 2024 rejecting the names recommended for chairpersons of the two commissions.

“It has become clear to us that neither commission will have credibility if led by the individuals on the present shortlist, and even more so two individuals who are said to be favored by the political leadership,” reads a statement signed by Sushil Pyakurel, Mohna Ansari, Kanak Mani Dixit. The two commissions cannot expect cooperation from the human rights and conflict victim communities.

“Given the lack of credibility of the published shortlist, we demand that the Recommendation Committee embark on a fresh exercise to put forward a shortlist of the two transitional justice mechanisms,” the rights defenders said, adding, “We have always been of the opinion that Nepal’s polity has the will and capacity to bring the transitional justice process to a just and proper conclusion, but the failure to establish a credible transitional justice commission is bound to attract international interest and involvement.”