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The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Meteorological Forecasting Division has urged people to take necessary precaution against cold as the mercury is on a dipping trend throughout the country.

Meteorologist at the Division Saroj Pudasaini said although there is no significant weather system at play in Nepal at present, cold is increasing and hence the need to take precautions.

It is partly cloudy in the hilly region of the country and generally fair in the Tarai region, the Division said.

"There is partial influence of the westerly wind and impact of a big weather system is ruled out for some days," Pudasaini added.

The weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly region of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces and generally clear in the rest of the regions today. It will be partly cloudy in the hilly region of Koshi and Gandaki provinces and generally fair in the rest of the regions tonight, the Division stated.

Dense fog had occurred in Biratnagar, Janakpur and Bhairahawa in the Tarai region in the morning today.

The minimum temperature in Kathmandu today was 5.4 degrees Celsius and the maximum 18 degrees Celsius. Cold has intensified in Kathmandu as the mercury has dropped. Although it is sunny towards noon, extreme cold is felt in the morning and evening.

Jumla recorded the lowest temperature of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius throughout the country, the Division said.

The gold is being traded at Rs 119, 900 per tola in the domestic market on Monday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 119, 350 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,475 per tola today.

Two persons died on the spot when a bus and motorbike collided with each other at Boharetar in Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-3 of Sindhuli along the BP Highway on Monday.

According to Chiranjibi Dahal, spokesperson at the District Police Office, the bike rider and the pillion rider died in the incident.

The identity of the bike rider is yet to be ascertained while the pillion rider is identified as Munakala Rai (18) of Diktel Municipality-10, Khotang.

The bus (Ba Pra O1-006 Kha 4593) heading towards Kathmandu from Manthali, Ramechhap collided head-on with the two-wheeler (Ba 60 Pa 3545) this morning.

Police said that they have impounded the bus and arrested its driver Rupesh Adhikari (24) of Manthali Municipality-13, Ramechhap for investigation.

Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has published a 45-day auction notice to dispose of its five China-made aircraft—two MA-60s and three Harbin Y-12s.

According to Ramesh Poudel, the spokesperson for the NAC, the national flag carrier will hand over the aircraft to parties quoting the higher prices.

NAC grounded these aircraft three years ago. The annual cost of NAC for these aircraft hovers above Rs 200m. One of the aircraft, Y-12, crashed at Nepalgunj Airport. NAC has already received the insured amount for the aircraft.

Earlier, NAC had also published two auction notices to get rid of these aircraft. However, it didn't receive any applications.

NAC inducted the six aircraft into its fleet in 2014 to expand its share in the domestic market. The Chinese government provided one MA-60 and Y-12 as a grant, while it arranged a concessional loan to finance the purchase of three Y-13 and one MA-50 through a government-to-government agreement.

NAC owes nearly Rs 4bn to the Chinese lenders. According to the national flag carrier, it incurred a loss of Rs 2.5bn in five years from operating the aircraft.

NAC was to begin installment payments from Oct 2020. However, the aircraft were grounded from July of the same year.

NAC has cited reasons like a lack of trained pilots, high training costs to produce pilots (which are said to be four times higher compared to other aircraft) and high insurance fees, among others, behind its decision to ground these Chinese aircraft.

House committee to study EU blacklist

The International Relations and Tourism Committee of the House of Representatives has decided to study the decision of the European Union to continue Nepal on its Air Safety List.

A meeting of the committee held on Thursday decided to form a technical sub-committee to study the matter.

Earlier, the committee had sought a comprehensive plan from the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to address concerns raised by the EU in its safety audit. NAC had submitted its plan in the meeting.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has also submitted its report, specifying future plans, to the committee.

The Christian community is celebrating Christmas Day to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity.

Jesus Christ is believed to have been born in Bethlehem, Israel some 2022 years ago today, on December 25.

Today is celebrated as Love Day for those who came to love people, Peace Day for those who came to establish peace, and Liberation Day for those who came for liberation.

On the occasion, the government also announced a public holiday today.

It has been revealed that Min Bahadur Ghale, who was arrested with 14 kg gold from the Tribhuvan International Airport on December 7, used to smuggle gold into Nepal by contacting Ankit Agrawal of Dubai.

The probe committee formed by the Customs Office of the TIA to investigate the gold smuggling case concluded that Min Bahadur Ghale, Chandra Ghale and Krishna Kumar Shrestha smuggled a total of 138 kg  gold into Nepal.

The committee submitted the investigation report to Tekraj Pandey, Chief Customs Administrator of the TIA Customs Office, on Sunday.

A six-member probe committee was formed under the headship of Customs Office of the TIA Customs Office Maniram Paudel after Min Bahadur was arrested with 14 kg gold from the TIA on December 7.

Out of 138 gold smuggled into Nepal, police have managed to recover only 14 kg gold, the committee said.

According to the report, the TIA staffers were also found to have been involved in taking out the gold from the airport.

The committee said that AC mechanic Radkha Krishna Shrestha of Civil Aviation Office, Gauchar, office assistant Lek Bahadur Tamang, Ramesh Deula, working on contract, assistance Anil Shrestha and plumber Sher Bahadur Basnet had played an important role to take the gold out of the airport.

Once the gold was taken out of the airport, Ramesh Deuba, Radha Krishna Shrestha and Anil Shrestha delivered the precious yellow metal to the house of DB Gurung at Suryadarshan Height in Baniyatar, Tokha Municipality.

It has also been revealed that Min Bahadur Ghale and his friend Jeevan Gurung aka John take the gold to the place mentioned by Ankit Agrawal.

DSP Surya Prakash Subedi of Nepal Police, customs officers of the airport Customs Office Prakash Niraula, Dillu Prasad Sharma, Manju Thapa and Lok Raj Dhungana are the members of the committee.

The CPN-UML today made public the achievements of its 18-day long roadshow (Sankalpa Yatra) along the Mid-hill districts.

The Yatra started from Jhulaghat of Baitadi district on November 30 and concluded upon reaching Chiwa Bhanjyang of Panchthar on December 17.

During a press conference organized at the party central office, Chyasal and in the presence of UML Chair KP Sharma Oli today, the party said that the 'Sankalpa Yatra’ has achieved important milestone in linking development, prosperity and nationality, besides bringing enthusiasm in the party and amongst the party workers and the local people. 

Describing the Yatra as unprecedented and unforgettable, Chair Oli urged the government to give priority to the development and prosperity of the Mid-hilly region. Public assemblies and meetings, and discussions with college and school students were held in course of the campaign with the spirit and message of 'Relation Local, Message National'.

Similarly, the UML stated that interaction with the local farmers, dialogue with agriculture scientists, observation of developmental works and meeting with entrepreneurs carrying out model works, observation of historical, religious and cultural places, and collection of people's experiences, grievances and feedback were other highlights of the campaign.

UML General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel said the campaign helped the party in identifying the growing out migration from the hills and seeking solution to it, in promoting social harmony and national unity, and in understanding the economic, social, cultural and religious condition as well as the industrial and tourism potentials of the mid-hilly region.

The party top leadership, central office-bearers, the standing committee, politburo and central members and technical teams participated in the ‘Sankalpa Yatra’.

Automated cause-list management system has been launched at the high courts throughout the country from today.

Chief Justice Bishwombhar Prasad Shrestha inaugurated the system amidst a program held at the Patan High Court. There are 18 high courts, including one high court in each province and the temporary benches. The cause list would be determined through this automated system at all these courts from today. 

On the occasion, Chief Justice Shrestha said the service-recipients would be able to access services in an easy manner and the quality, transparency and credibility of the service would be enhanced when the courts are fully made technology-friendly.

"We have started the system of determining the cause-list at high courts also through the automated machine after it was a success at the Supreme Court. It is transparent, credible and ensures quality. It is not done on the basis of one's special request. This system is initiated in high courts for the first time in the judiciary's history," the Chief Justice said.

According to him, this system has been possible from the human resources available at the IT Division of the Supreme Court alone and a study is ongoing for starting this service at district courts in the coming days.

"There is no discrimination in determining the cause-list through this system. Works in which the court and the bar have to carry out together are done in an effective manner. We are making a study regarding managing a system of registering cases at the Supreme Court from own law firm in the near future. This work has reached the final stage," he further added.

Stating that preparations are being made to create a situation in which one will not have to go to the court to take court date, Chief Justice Shrestha said arrangements are being made to conduct hearings via online at the Supreme Court and high courts as well.

He also shared on the occasion that preparation is being made to conduct online hearing at the remaining high, special and labor courts and at the foreign employment tribunal as well.