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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 16.24 points to close at 1,985.43 points on Tuesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 2.43 points to close at 381. 17 points.

A total of 4,336,583-unit shares of 272 companies were traded for Rs 1. 17 billion.

Meanwhile, Shuvam Power Limited was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Emerging Nepal Limited was the top loser as its price fell by 8.00 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 99 trillion.

Police have arrested four persons for their alleged involvement in snatching gold chains in various places of Kathmandu in broad daylight.

The suspects have been identified as Sujan Gurung (44), bike rider, of Bagbazaar, Kathmandu Metropolitan City-28, Anawar Husain Ansari (48) of Birgunj-17, Parsa, currently residing at Chhetrapati, Shakti Bhaumik (47) of Udayachowk, Modhinapur district, West Bengal, India and presently living in Kathmandu and Sachin Gadwe (30) of Goradawani, Solapur district, Maharastra State of India and currently residing in Pyukhachowk, Kathmandu-22.

Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office said that two were found involved in snatching gold chains and two in selling the robbed items.

They were on the run after snatching a two tola gold chain of Apsara Shrestha of Baluwa, Panchkhal Municipality-12, Kavre while she was walking on the road side at Kuleshwor, Kathmandu 14 at around 5 pm  on September 11.

Police said that they were nabbed from various places in Kathmandu.

The Office said that they along with the seized items have been sent to the Metropolitan Police Circle, Kalimati for investigation.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 500 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 113, 000 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 112, 500 per tola on Monday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 112, 450 per tola. It was traded at Rs 111, 950 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,405 per tola today.

Canada’s prime minister has said Canadian security agencies are investigating “credible allegations of a potential link” between Indian government agents and the killing of a prominent Sikh-Canadian activist earlier this year, Aljazeera reported.

Speaking in Parliament on Monday afternoon, Justin Trudeau said he personally conveyed “deep concerns” to his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, at the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi earlier this month.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was fatally shot on June 18 outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, a city in Canada’s westernmost province of British Columbia, spurring widespread questions and condemnation.

“Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” Trudeau said on Monday.

“In the strongest possible terms, I continue to urge the government of India to cooperate with Canada to get to the bottom of this matter.”

India’s foreign ministry rejected the allegations, which it described as “absurd”, saying they had also been rejected by Modi when mentioned by Trudeau, according to Aljazeera.

“Allegations of Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated,” the ministry said in a statement. “We are a democratic polity with a strong commitment to rule of law.”

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said later on Monday that the government had expelled an Indian diplomat – the head of India’s external intelligence agency, known as RAW, in Canada – over the allegations.

She did not provide additional details, such as the official’s name or when the expulsion took place.

“We see this possible breach of sovereignty as completely unacceptable, and so that is also why we’re coming [out] with this information today,” Joly told reporters during a brief news conference.

The Indian foreign ministry statement also rejected Joly’s comments.

The Globe and Mail newspaper first reported that Canadian national security authorities had “what they consider credible intelligence that India was behind” the killing of Nijjar, Aljazeera reported.

Sources that spoke to the Canadian news outlet did not say how they made that determination.

“The Canadian government has privately ruled out severing diplomatic relations with New Delhi but is considering measures to respond to what it considers a serious violation of Canadian sovereignty,” the newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources.

A person died when a scuffle broke out between two groups at the Kewalani-based SG Restaurant in Tilottama Municipality-9 on Monday.

The deceased has been identified as Suresh Syangden (25) of Hetauda, Makwanpur.

Police said that they have arrested eight persons including Roman Tamang (19) of Likhu Rural Municipality-4, Nuwakot.

A joint team from the Area Police Office, Mangalpur and the Area Police Office, Butwal had reached the incident site after they got the information that a fight broke out between two groups under the influence of alcohol at the SG Restaurant.

They sent four injured persons including Suresh to the Bhairahawa Medical College for treatment,  but he breathed his last during the course of treatment.

Among the injured, one is said to be in critical condition.

Police said that they are looking into the incident.

The iconic vultures, nature’s efficient scavengers, are facing a grim threat in Pokhara and across South Asia due to a lack of healthy food sources and habitat destruction.

Until the 1990s, South Asia was home to tens of millions of vultures, with Nepal alone harboring millions of these birds. However, their populations began to plummet rapidly, primarily due to the widespread use of the veterinary drug Diclofenac on livestock. Vultures that consumed the meat of animals treated with Diclofenac suffered kidney damage, ultimately leading to their untimely demise.

Diclofenac nearly wiped out vultures

India reported a staggering 99.9 percent decline in its white-rumped vulture population and a 97 percent decrease in slender-billed vultures due to Diclofenac use. Nepal also witnessed a significant reduction in its vulture population. In response to this crisis, Nepal, India, and Pakistan imposed a ban on the usage and distribution of Diclofenac in 2006 by recommending Meloxicam as an alternative.

Following the Diclofenac ban, an innovative initiative known as the ‘vulture restaurant’ started established in Pithauli, Nawalparasi district. It soon expanded to Gaidahawa of Rupandehi, Lalmatiyar of Dang, Bijauri, Khutiya of Kailali, Ghachowk of Kaski and Ramdhuni of Sunsari. This effort aimed to provide hygienic food for vultures by allowing people to bring their aging cattle to these restaurants. These cattle are cared for until they naturally pass away, after which their carcasses are fed to vultures.

However, new challenges have emerged in the preservation of vultures in Nepal. Stray dogs poisoned by unknown individuals and the reckless expansion of high-voltage electricity lines have become pressing threats to these magnificent birds.

Nature’s scavengers

Vultures play a vital role in maintaining a clean environment by rapidly consuming carcasses of deceased animals near rivers, lakes, and other areas, leaving behind only bones. By performing this essential ecological service, vultures have been instrumental in safeguarding humans and other animals from diseases like rabies, plague, cholera, diarrhea, as well as anthrax, brucellosis, and tuberculosis in livestock.

Despite their critical role in environmental and public health, vultures are now endangered due to human activities and negligence. For example, an unfortunate incident occurred in Jitpur, Ramgram-4 of Nawalparasi, where 69 vultures died after feeding on poisoned dogs. Such incidents underscore the urgency of vulture conservation efforts.

Haphazard expansion of high tension lines has emerged as another challenge in vulture conservation. Vultures unintentionally perch on high-tension electricity lines, resulting in electrocution. This hazard is particularly prevalent near the Bhorletar-Damauli 33 kV transmission line of the Midim Hydropower Project where, locals say, more than a dozen vultures die every year.

Loss of habitat and grazing lands

The loss of habitat and grazing lands is another significant concern for vultures in Pokhara. Chinnedanda in Pokhara-14, Kaski, used to serve as prime grazing land for vultures before an airport was constructed. Horses, mules from the highlands, and local livestock used to graze in this area. When these animals died from the rigors of their journey, vultures would feast upon them. The construction of the airport led to the displacement of a substantial number of vultures.

Similarly, the conversion of farmlands into residential plots has negatively impacted the vulture population. These farmlands used to host a significant cattle population, and vultures would feed on the deceased animals. However, with the urbanization trend, the cattle population in Pokhara has dwindled significantly.

All nine vulture species found in South Asia can be found in Nepal. They include Himalayan vulture, slender-billed vulture, white-rumped vulture, red-headed vulture, Egyptian vulture, bearded vulture, long-billed vulture, Eurasian griffon, and cinereous vulture. Six of these species breed within Nepal, building nests in tall simal trees or high rocky cliffs.

Conservation expert Dr Hem Sagar Baral said that the environment in Pokhara and its surroundings remains suitable for vultures. Experts like Dr Baral say concerted efforts are essential to mitigate the challenges posed by habitat loss, poisoning, and electrical hazards to ensure the survival of these invaluable creatures.

Foreign Minister NP Saud, who is in New York to attend the UN General Assembly, called on UN Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix on Monday.

On the occasion, the two discussed the training and security of Nepali security personnel mobilized under the UN for peacekeeping missions in different countries.

Similarly, Minister Saud met Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Ville Tavio. Matters relating to bilateral relations, mutual interest and cooperation were discussed in the meeting.

On the sideline of the UNGA, Minister Saud also called on the first Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia, Dr Ivica Dačić. Issues of bilateral relations were discussed during the meeting.

Foreign Minister Saud also called on his Romanian counterpart, Luminița Odobescu.

The Hindu women across the country are observing the Rishi Panchami festival today as per the rituals. The festival, the concluding day of the Teej, is observed on the fifth day of bright half-moon of the month of Bhadra.

Hindu women reaching their menstruation period observe this festival with due respect and importance by fasting and paying homage to the Saptarshis (seven powerful saints as per the Hindu mythology) with a belief that they will be blessed and forgiven for all sins they believed to have committed during the menstrual cycle.

On the day, those observing the festival wake up early in the morning, go to nearby river, stream, pond and lake and take bath with established rituals. They clean their body with 365 stems of Apamarga, a medicinal plant; take bath with cow dung and soil collected from sacred places and ash.

The fasting ritual requires the devotee to take bath in the morning and carryout prayers after which the person is required to eat grains, vegetables, wild fruits, Kandamul, guava for a single meal and fast again.

On this day, woman devotees throng the Shrisheshwar Temple in Teku of the capital city, Kathmandu, and other Rishi Temples across the nation for homage and worship.