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Gold prices in the Nepali market continued to decline on Thursday. After dropping by Rs 1,100 on Wednesday, the price of gold fell by Rs 1,400 today.

According to the Nepal Gold and Silver Traders’ Association, the price of one tola of gold is now Rs 259,600, down from Rs 261,000 on Wednesday.

Silver prices also decreased, falling by Rs 55 to Rs 4,415 per tola. On Wednesday, the same quantity of silver was traded at Rs 4,470.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) has forecasted haze and fog over most parts of the Terai on Thursday afternoon due to the continued partial influence of western winds, while some provinces are expected to experience partly cloudy conditions.

Currently, most areas of the Terai are covered in haze. According to the DHM, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces are partly cloudy, and partial cloudiness is also expected in Lumbini, as well as in the highland and Himalayan regions of Karnali, Sudurpaschim, and other areas.

Light rain or snowfall is possible in a few locations in the highland and Himalayan areas of Koshi, Gandaki, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces, the DHM added.

The forecast for Thursday night indicates that haze will persist in some Terai areas, while highland and Himalayan regions of Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces will remain partly cloudy. Other regions are expected to experience generally clear weather. Light rain or snowfall may occur at a few highland and Himalayan locations in Koshi, Gandaki, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces.

The DHM has warned that haze in the Terai may partially affect daily life, health, and road transportation. The department has urged the public to exercise necessary caution and to stay updated with daily weather advisories.

Nepalis celebrated the English New Year by observing National Dress Day and Dhaka Topi Day, highlighting the importance of preserving traditional attire.

The practice began in 2013 BS (1970) when some youth started campaigns to promote and protect Nepal’s indigenous dress amid growing global influence and the increasing popularity of the English New Year.

On Thursday morning, youth gathered at various locations across the Kathmandu Valley, dressed in Nepal’s national attire, and held demonstrations.

The event was organized jointly by groups including Swatantra Rashtrapremi Abhiyan Nepal, Jagaruk Yuva Abhiyan Nepal, and Gunyucholi Rashtriya Jagaran Nepal. Participants wearing the traditional Daura Suruwal and Dhaka Topi emphasized the need to preserve the national dress and called for recognition of the Dhaka Topi as a symbol of Nepali identity.

The Rasuwagadhi border point, Nepal’s international trade gateway with China, has resumed operations from today, with import and export activities set to begin after a temporary suspension.

Although movement for vehicle drivers had been allowed since last Sunday, trade had not resumed as the Miteri Bridge at Rasuwagadhi was under reconstruction. The bridge, damaged by floods on Asar 24, was completed last Saturday.

Chief District Officer of Rasuwa Rajesh Panthi said import and export through the checkpoint will start from today. “Drivers transporting goods had crossed into China from last Sunday. From January 1, vehicular movement will operate under a one-way, alternating system,” he said.

From today, the customs office will inspect inbound and outbound vehicles and grant permission for cross-border movement. The Chinese side has stated that the one-way alternating traffic system will be strictly enforced during this period. As road blacktopping work is underway in the G216 border section, only half of the route will be used for cross-border movement from January 1 to January 8.

During this period, traffic will be allowed from 9 am to 2 pm Chinese time, while movement will be restricted for the rest of the day. After January 8, vehicle entry will be permitted from 9 am to 1 pm Chinese time—one hour longer than regular customs hours—with temporary operations continuing from 2 pm to 7 pm.

The Miteri Bridge, which came into operation in May 2019 (Jestha 2076), had been washed away by floods, disrupting road connectivity between Nepal and China. The bridge had previously suffered damage from floods in 2020 and was repaired and reopened. Flooding in the Lhende River, which flows from China, frequently damages infrastructure during the monsoon, leading to repeated disruptions in cross-border connectivity.

The bridge was built with Chinese investment. After sustaining further damage during the 2015 earthquake, it was reconstructed by Tibet Engineering Company Limited Tansen Road and Bridge. As trade volume increased, the new bridge was constructed about five meters northeast of the original location.

Amid growing debate and criticism over proportional representation (PR) closed lists, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane has said that names included outside established procedures would be removed.

“Some individuals who should not have been included have made it onto the list. If any name is found to be outside the prescribed process, it will be removed. I have already issued instructions,” Lamichhane said.

Following the statement, questions have been raised over whether political parties—including the RSP—can amend the PR closed lists submitted for the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5. Specifically, questions have emerged on whether parties can revise submitted lists or withdraw and replace candidates.

According to the House of Representatives Proportional Representation Election Directive, 2082, amendments to submitted closed lists are allowed under specific conditions.

Legal provisions for amendment

Chapter 4 of the directive outlines provisions related to submission, correction, and amendment of PR closed lists. Clauses 13 to 32 specify procedures related to submission, candidate eligibility, verification, and revision of closed lists.

Clause 20 of the directive states that if, during scrutiny, a closed list is found to be inconsistent with the principles of proportional representation and inclusion, or fails to meet other prescribed requirements, the concerned political party will be instructed to correct the list.

Withdrawal and replacement of candidates

Clause 22 allows candidates included in the closed list to withdraw their candidacy within the timeframe specified in the election schedule. Upon receiving a withdrawal application, the election officer is required to remove the candidate’s name from the list and notify the concerned party.

Clause 23 further provides that after a candidate withdraws, the party may nominate another candidate within the stipulated time, subject to approval by its central committee, and submit the revised list to the Election Commission.

The law requires that any replacement candidate must belong to the same inclusive group as the candidate who withdrew. The replacement may be placed at the same ranking position or at the end of the closed list.

Scrutiny and objections

Once revised lists are submitted or if no revision is required, the election officer must publish the closed list on the Election Commission’s website and notice board. The law allows a seven-day period for filing objections if any candidate is found to lack qualifications under the Constitution or relevant laws. After reviewing complaints, the final closed list will be published.

Clause 19 of the directive details the scrutiny process, which includes verification of voter registration, compliance with inclusion and proportional representation requirements, group-wise representation percentages, gender representation (minimum 50 percent women in each inclusive group), representation from backward regions, inclusion of persons with disabilities, duplication of names, legal eligibility, and proper authorization by the party.

Election Commission Assistant Spokesperson Sita Pun Shrees stated that scrutiny of PR closed lists submitted by political parties has begun. She said parties failing to meet prescribed criteria would be instructed to correct their lists.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Bala Nanda Sharma is returning back to Kathmandu from Dhaka Thursday afternoon. He is on an official visit to Bangladesh from Tuesday to attend the state funeral of Begum Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Minister Sharma attended the state funeral in Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon, where a floral wreath was laid at the burial site of the late leader on behalf of the Government of Nepal.

During the visit, Foreign Minister Sharma met Tarique Rahman, son of the late Begum Zia and Acting Chairperson of the BNP, and conveyed condolences on behalf of the Government and people of Nepal. Sharma noted Begum Zia’s role in Bangladesh’s political and democratic journey. Rahman thanked the foreign minister for attending the funeral and expressed hope for continued cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh.

On Wednesday afternoon, Sharma also called on the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, and handed over a message of condolence from Prime Minister Sushila Karki. In the message, the prime minister acknowledged Begum Zia’s contributions to strengthening Nepal-Bangladesh relations during her three terms as prime minister.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discussions during the meeting covered bilateral relations and explored ways to enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, connectivity, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

Foreign Minister Sharma also met Bangladesh’s Adviser for Foreign Affairs Md Touhid Hossain and delivered a personal letter of condolence. Hossain thanked Nepal for its continued support and for the foreign minister’s presence at the funeral.

Zohran Mamdani was a trailblazing candidate whom many in his city of 8 million -- some with hope, some with trepidation -- expect to be a disruptive New York mayor.

The democratic socialist's plans for his first day in office on Thursday nod to his politics and priorities, without straying far from his predecessors with a sober official midnight oath-taking followed by a more celebratory ceremony in the afternoon.

New York law spells out that four-year mayoral terms start on the January 1 after elections. To avoid any ambiguity about who's in charge of America's most populous city, it has become a tradition to hold a small midnight swearing-in.

Mamdani has chosen as the site of his midnight oath the Old City Hall subway stop, which was decommissioned in the middle of the previous century and is accessible only a few times a year through guided tours.

The subway site, according to Mamdani’s transition team, reflects his "commitment to the working people who keep our city running every day."

Mamdani, a 34-year-old former state lawmaker, promised a freeze on rents and free buses and childcare, building a campaign around affordability issues that some have seen as a path forward for his Democratic Party around the country ahead of midterm elections.

Mamdani inspired a record-breaking turnout of more than 2 million voters and took 50 percent, nearly 10 points ahead of Andrew Cuomo running as an independent and well ahead of Republican Curtis Sliwa.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who was among Mamdani's earliest prominent backers, was to administer the midnight oath to Mamdani. During the first administration of President Donald Trump, James began investigating his business practices in New York, resulting in a judge finding in 2024 that Trump fraudulently overstated his net worth to dupe lenders. The Trump administration has targeted James during his second term, accusing her of mortgage fraud.

Grant Reeher, a Syracuse University political science professor, said the role James was to play in the inauguration sent a message to core supporters that Mamdani is "going to be independent of the president.”

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday his administration was removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland but he added in his social media post that federal forces will "come back" if crime rates go up.

Local leaders in those cities and Democrats have said the deployments, which have faced legal setbacks and challenges, were unnecessary. They have accused the Trump administration of federal overreach and of exaggerating isolated episodes of violence to justify sending in troops.

Trump, a Republican, has said troop deployments in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Memphis and Portland were necessary to fight crime and protect federal property and personnel from protesters.

"We are removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, despite the fact that CRIME has been greatly reduced by having these great Patriots in those cities, and ONLY by that fact," Trump wrote.

"We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again - Only a question of time!"

Judges overseeing lawsuits filed by cities challenging the deployments have consistently ruled that the Trump administration overstepped its authority and found that there is no evidence to support claims that troops are necessary to protect federal property from protesters.

Trump's announcement came shortly before a federal appellate court ruled on Wednesday that his administration had to return hundreds of California National Guard troops to Governor Gavin Newsom's control.

The U.S. Supreme Court on December 23 blocked Trump's attempt to deploy National Guard troops in Illinois, a ruling that undercut his legal rationale for sending soldiers to other states.

The court said the president's authority to take federal control of National Guard troops likely only applies in "exceptional" circumstances.

"At this preliminary stage, the Government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois," the court's majority held in an unsigned order.

The local leaders who opposed Trump's deployment of the National Guard said on Wednesday the legal challenges compelled him to end the deployments in those cities.