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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 5.63 points to close at 1,966.23 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 1.19 points to close at 350. 60 points.

A total of 7,058,399-unit shares of 313 companies were traded for Rs 3. 12 billion.

Meanwhile, Oriental Hotels Limited (OHL) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 8. 46 percent. Likewise, Kumari Sabal Yojana (KSY) was the top loser as its price fell by 8.48 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 11 trillion.

CPN-UML Parliamentary Party leader Hikmat Kumar Karki has been appointed as the chief minister of Koshi Province.

Province Chief Parshuram Khapung appointed Karki as the chief minister on Thursday.

He was appointed as the chief minister with the 52 provincial assembly members of the CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN-UML.

Karki presented his claim to provincial head Khapung with the signatures of 52 province assembly members to be appointed as the chief minister as per Article 168 (5) of the Constitution.

He will be administered the oath of office and secrecy after some time.  

Karki is likely to form a small Cabinet today itself.

Police on Thursday opened fire to arrest an alleged drug peddler at Ganapur in Janakai Rural Municipality-6, Banke today.

According to the District Police Office, Banke, the suspect has been identified as Sushil Pariyar (26) of Chappargaudi, Kohalpur Municipality-12.

A joint team from the Narcotics Control Bureau, Kathmandu and the District Police Office, Banke had to open fire on him to foil his efforts to evade the arrest, DSP Narayan Dangi of the District Police Office, Banke said.

Pariyar suffered injuries to his left leg and is undergoing treatment at Bheri Hospital, Nepalgunj.

Meanwhile, police have also apprehended local Sharan Bahadur Karki (27) who was accompanying Pariyar.  The team confiscated brown sugar weighing 114.25 grams from them.

The two will face a trial under the Narcotics Drugs (Control) Act, DSP Dangi informed.

A Parliamentary Party meeting of the Nepali Congress scheduled for Thursday has been postponed.

The meeting called for today at Lhotse Hall of Federal Parliament Building in New Baneshwor was postponed due to the demise of former minister, former central committee member of the Nepali Congress and Constituent Assembly member, Surya Man Gurung. 

Gurung passed away on May 7. The meeting was postponed as the last rites of Gurung are to be performed today, according to the Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party.

The next meeting is scheduled for Friday morning.

CPN-UML leader Hikmat Kumar Karki on Thursday staked a claim to lead the new provincial government in Koshi Province.

Karki presented his claim to provincial head Parshuram Khapung with the signatures of 52 province assembly members.

Earlier on Wednesday, Province Chief Khapung had called on provincial members to stake claim for the post of chief minister and form a new government as per Article 168 (5) of the Constitution.

He called for the formation of a new government after the coalition parties withdrew support extended to the Kedar Karki-led government a month ago.

Province Chief Khapung was compelled to call on the provincial members to stake claim for the chief ministerial position after Karki did not resign from his post or called for a floor test despite being in the minority.

There is provision that the government needs to seek a vote of confidence within a month if any of its coalition partners withdraw the support.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 800 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 135, 600 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 136, 400 per tola on Wednesday.

Similarly, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 134, 950 per tola. It was traded at Rs 135, 750 per tola.

Meanwhile, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,685 per tola today.

The weather has remained partly to generally cloudy throughout the country while light rain is currently taking place at one or two places of the Koshi Province, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said.

At present, there is an influence of westerly wind, local wind as well as a low-pressure system formed around Bihar, India.

According to the Department, the weather will be partly cloudy throughout the country this afternoon. Light rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at some places of the hilly regions, including Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces.

Light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is likely to occur at some places of the Tarai region. There is a possibility of light snowfall in some places of the high hilly and mountainous areas of the country.

It will be partly to generally cloudy throughout the country tonight. Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder, lightning and gusty winds is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and at one or two places of the rest of the country.

Light snowfall is likely to occur at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces.

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of the hilly region of the country, including Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces and at one or two places of the rest of the Tarai during the next 24 hours.

There is a possibility of light snowfall in some places of the high hilly and mountainous regions of the country, the Department said, urging the people to remain alert of possible impact on daily life including agriculture, health, tourism, mountaineering, road and air transport in the region.

Koshi Province Chief Parshuram Khapung has called for the formation of a new government.

In accordance with the Article 169 (5) of the Nepal Constitution, province Chief Khapung called for the formation of a government in the province.

Time has been given till 5 pm Friday (May 10) for the formation of a new government, according to a press release issued by the province chief's office on Wednesday.

"The province Chief has called upon any member of the Koshi Province Assembly, who can secure a vote of confidence for the formation of the province government, to present the claim by 5 pm Friday", information officer at the province chief's office, Ram Kumar Shrestha, said in a press release.