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Farmers in Mustang are busy harvesting native crops, with buckwheat being a particularly popular one. Buckwheat cultivation has long been a tradition for Mustang’s farmers, who grow it for household use, religious purposes, and as gifts for relatives abroad. In Waragung, Gharpazhong, and Thasang Rural Municipalities, farmers are embracing this heritage crop. After sowing, buckwheat takes about 100 days to mature. Once harvested, it is left in the field to dry for three days before the seeds, or kena, are collected. The stems are used as animal fodder, and buckwheat is commonly prepared in various delicious dishes. While some farmers still use traditional methods to separate the kena, others have started using modern techniques.

Most Mustang farmers grow buckwheat in limited quantities for household use. From the lower to the upper Himalayan regions of Mustang, locals have been practicing this form of cultivation for centuries. Alongside other Mustang staples like barley, maize, potatoes, and beans, buckwheat has become a prominent local brand. Buckwheat farming is widespread, from Chusang in Baragung Muktikshetra-3 to Paro Thapla in Thasang-4. Both sweet and bitter varieties are cultivated in altitudes ranging from 1,984 to 3,900 meters above sea level. The cold climate in Mustang enhances the flavor and nutritional value of this native crop.

Sweet buckwheat is typically sown in Lower Mustang in early June and July, with harvesting in October. Bitter buckwheat, planted between July and August, is also harvested by early October. In Upper Mustang, sweet buckwheat is planted in April, and the harvest begins by October. The average height of a buckwheat plant ranges from 100 to 110 cm. Sweet buckwheat flowers bloom in clusters, with light black seeds, while bitter buckwheat produces white flowers. Sweet buckwheat is particularly favored for making traditional dishes like dhido and roti.

Despite its cultural importance, buckwheat is not widely grown commercially in Mustang, partly because it is less expensive than other crops. It remains a staple crop primarily for household use. According to Roshan Thakali, Agriculture Branch Officer of Gharpazhong Rural Municipality, various programs are being implemented to promote native crops like buckwheat. Recognizing its cultural significance, the local government is offering crop diversification training, subsidies, and incentives for farmers to support its cultivation.

Buckwheat offers a wealth of health benefits, with over 24 nutrients. Known to lower blood cholesterol, prevent gallstones, reduce obesity, and benefit those with high blood pressure, buckwheat is rich in minerals, vitamins, fiber, protein, and other nutrients. Many farmers in Mustang also intercrop buckwheat with apples, as it provides them with dual benefits. Niraj Thakali, a farmer in Gharpazhong, emphasized that locals have cultivated buckwheat for centuries, valuing it for its religious, culinary, and gift-giving purposes. Mustang’s native buckwheat can even be found on the menus of big hotels.

The government of Nepal has announced plans to fast-track the preparation of five key infrastructure projects worth approximately Rs 72bn, with financial backing from the World Bank. In a recent meeting at the Ministry of Finance, officials outlined the swift implementation of several critical development projects aimed at enhancing the nation’s infrastructure. The five projects, funded through concessional loans from the World Bank, include key upgrades to transportation, irrigation and energy sectors.

Among the projects set to be fast-tracked are the improvement of the Bagmati-Pathlaiya section of the East-West Highway, the construction of the third bridge, and the modernization of the electricity distribution system. Additionally, the third phase of the Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Project and a digital service transformation project for accessibility and sustainability will also be prepared with urgency.

Dengue infections in Nepal are seeing a marked decrease as extended winter conditions and a government-led mosquito eradication campaign help curb the spread of the virus. According to Dr Gokarna Prasad Dahal, Head of the Dengue Control Program at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), the cooler weather has contributed to a steady decline in dengue cases. Additionally, the government’s ongoing “Find and Destroy Mosquitoes” campaign, which takes place every Friday across government and non-government offices and hospitals, has reportedly played a key role in reducing the mosquito population responsible for the virus.

Data from the division show a sharp drop in reported cases, with infections declining from 2,582 in the 42nd week to just 55 in the 45th week. “As winter progresses, we expect cases to drop further,” said Dr Dahal. Despite this decline, he emphasized the importance of continued precautions against dengue, particularly in areas still prone to mosquito breeding.

Interpol said on Wednesday that a six-day international police operation against human trafficking had led to more than 2,500 arrests and the rescue of over 3,000 potential victims. The operation, called ‘Liberterra II’, took place between Sept 29 and Oct 4 and was the largest-ever operation against human trafficking and people smuggling by the global law enforcement organization. People rescued included minors forced to work on farms in Argentina, migrants in nightclubs in North Macedonia, people forced into begging in Iraq or to serve in private households across the Middle East, Interpol said.

Raids led to the rescue of “3,222 potential victims of human trafficking and identified 17,793 irregular migrants,” it said. In addition to police raids, authorities also reinforced strategic border points, monitored nearly 24,000 flights and deployed officers to known trafficking and smuggling hotspots, said the organization based in Lyon, France.

Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the US Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.

With a win in Wisconsin, Trump cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency.

The victory validates his bare-knuckle approach to politics. He attacked his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, in deeply personal—often misogynistic and racist—terms as he pushed an apocalyptic picture of a country overrun by violent migrants.

The coarse rhetoric, paired with an image of hypermasculinity, resonated with angry voters—particularly men—in a deeply polarized nation. As president, he’s vowed to pursue an agenda centered on dramatically reshaping the federal government and retribution against his perceived enemies.

“It’s a political victory that our country has never seen before,” Trump told a victory party in Florida.

Vice-president Kamala Harris, who only entered the race in July after President Joe Biden dropped out, ran a centrist campaign that highlighted Trump’s inflammatory messaging and use of openly racist and sexist tropes.

But his apocalyptic warnings about immigration and championing of isolationism found their mark with voters battered by the post-Covid economy and eager for a change from the Biden years.

The campaign pointed to a nail-bitingly close contest, but the results came surprisingly fast, delivering a crushing victory that included wins in the swing states of Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Trump is the first president in more than a century to win a non-consecutive second term.

He is also the only person to be elected as a convicted felon—he will face sentencing in a New York court for fraud on Nov 26.

Already 78, Trump is on course to break another record as the oldest-ever sitting president during his four-year term. He will surpass Biden who is set to step down in January at the age of 82.

The US dollar surged and bitcoin hit a record high while most equity markets advanced, with traders betting on a victory for Trump as the results rolled in.

But turmoil likely lies ahead.

Trump’s victory comes with his promise of radical policy shifts—not just at home but also abroad, where his unrestrained isolationist and nationalist ‘America First’ stance is likely to have enormous consequences.

He has repeatedly suggested he would end the conflict in Ukraine by pressuring Kyiv to make territorial concessions to Russia, and his threat of mass deportations of illegal immigrants has stirred deep concern in Latin America.

He also returns to the White House as a climate change denier, poised to dismantle his predecessor Biden’s green policies and jeopardize global efforts to curb human-caused warming.

Even before Trump’s stunning victory was fully confirmed, foreign leaders rushed to send congratulations.

AFP

All 2024 election polls are now closed, leaving voters to wait and see whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris will win a historic presidential election.

By winning North Carolina, Trump could reach the 270 electoral vote threshold by carrying Georgia and Pennsylvania or by carrying Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin. He also can win by carrying Wisconsin and Arizona, as well as other combinations involving Nevada.

As midnight approached on the East Coast, the Harris campaign turned off its projected broadcasts of CNN at its election night watch party at Howard University. Instead, various high-energy remixes blared from speakers alongside floodlights flickering in tempo to hype the crowd.

The cheers in the crowd had become less frequent as more results came in from battleground states showing a tight race or victories for Trump.

Some attendees began leaving the event though the vast majority of rallygoers remained. It is unclear if Harris will make an appearance at her alma mater.

AP

The Supreme Court has sentenced Deepak Manange, a member of the Gandaki Provincial Assembly, to five years in prison for murder. The verdict, delivered on Tuesday by the bench of Justices Nahkul Subedi and Tek Prasad Dhungana, upholds a previous ruling by the Patan High Court.

The Patan High Court had sentenced Manange to five years in prison in 2078 BS. In 2061 BS, Manange and his associates were charged with attempting to kill Chakre Milan, leading to this case.

Nepal Airlines is set to begin Bhairahawa-Dubai flights from Gautam Buddha International Airport starting Friday, Nov 8. According to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Information Officer Gyanendra Bhul, the airline will operate a Kathmandu-Bhairahawa-Dubai-Kathmandu route, with flights departing from Kathmandu at 9:30 pm on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and from Bhairahawa to Dubai about 30 minutes later.

In addition to Nepal Airlines, three other international carriers—Fly Dubai, Jazeera Airways, and Thai Air Asia—are scheduled to operate flights from Bhairahawa. Thai Air Asia will commence flights on Nov 8, Fly Dubai on Nov 9, and Jazeera Airways on Nov 10.

"Currently, four airlines, including Nepal Airlines, are ready to operate from Bhairahawa," said Bhul, noting that Qatar Airways, Air Arabia, and other international airlines are also preparing to begin services from Gautam Buddha International Airport in the near future.