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Caracas and Washington have reached a deal to export up to $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude to the United States, US. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, a flagship negotiation that would divert supplies from China while helping Venezuela avoid deeper oil production cuts, Reuters reported. 

The agreement is a strong sign that the Venezuelan government is responding to Trump's demand hat they open up to US. oil companies or risk more military intervention. Trump has said he wants interim President Delcy Rodriguez to give the US and private companies "total access" to Venezuela's oil industry.

Venezuela has millions of barrels of oil loaded on tankers and in storage tanks that it has been unable to ship due to a blockade on exports imposed by Trump since mid-December, according to Reuters. 

Nine rhinos have died in Chitwan National Park (CNP) and surrounding areas since July 17. 

These rhinos died in the park area, the adjoining community forest areas and nearby regions.

According to CNP Information Officer, Avinas Thapa Magar, five male and three female rhinos have died since Saun (July 17). 

He said that the gender of one could not be identified.

Magar further said that among the dead rhinos, one died due to an electrocution while the rest died due to natural causes. 

He said that the death of a male rhino was reported as recently as on January 6. 

According to him, the male rhino of approximately 35 years was found dead in the Kumroj buffer zone community forest.

“It is estimated that this rhino died in a fight with another one. The rhino's horn and hooves were intact,” he added.

The CNP Information Officer Magar stated that rhinos die every year due to various reasons, primarily naturally, by electric shock, fighting among themselves, or getting stuck in swamps.

According to him, there are 694 rhinos in CNP according to the latest count.

The export of Chhurpi (hardened cheese made from yak milk) through the Mechi Customs Office in Kakarbhitta of Jhapa has increased during the first five months of the current fiscal year (2082/83 BS or 2025/26 AD).

According to Information Officer Ishwor Kumar Humagain, a total of 275,246 kilograms of Chhurpi, amounting to Rs 485. 2 million were exported during this period (from mid-July to mid-December). This represents a 32 percent increase in volume compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year.

In the corresponding period last fiscal year, exports totaled 217,068 kilograms, valued at Rs 367.6 million. The export value has therefore risen by Rs 117.6 million.

Kakarbhitta remains the main export point for domestically produced Chhurpi. Among the top 10 export items from this customs point, Chhurpi ranks fourth.

Chhurpi is produced in the hilly and mountainous districts. 

Most of the Chhurpi is exported to Europe and America, where it is given to dogs and cats.

General Secretary of Nepal Chhurpi Producers Association, Rishi Timsina, said that Koshi Province alone produces 80 percent of the Chhurpi produced in Nepal.

He stated that the government has not paid adequate attention to the production and promotion of the trade in Chhurpi, one of the main products exported from Nepal.

At least 36 people have been killed during the last 10 days of protests across Iran, a human rights group has said, BBC reported. 

The foreign-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that 34 of those confirmed killed were protesters and two were affiliated with security forces.

Iranian authorities have not published an official death toll but said three security personnel have been killed. BBC Persian has so far confirmed the deaths and identities of 20 people, according to BBC. 

Russia has deployed navy assets to escort an oil tanker also being pursued by US forces across the Atlantic, CBS News, BBC's media partner in the US, reported. 

The ship, which currently isn't carrying anything, historically has transported Venezuelan crude oil and was thought to be between Scotland and Iceland on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump said last month that he was ordering a "blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, a move the government there described as "theft", according to BBC. 

Three parties have recommended their candidates from Lumbini in the National Assembly elections slated for January 25.

The Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Nepali Communist Party have finalized their candidates for the elections to be held for three seats in Lumbini.

The Nepali Congress has decided to field Basudev Jangli of Dang from disabled quota.

Similarly, the CPN-UML has nominated Ram Kumari Jhankri while the Nepali Communist Party has put forward Somnath Pandey as its candidate for the upper house elections. 

Gauriganga Municipality of Kailali district has closed the schools for a week in a bid to avoid the impact of severe cold to school children.  

The cold wave coupled with declined temperature has badly affected the teaching and learning activities. So, the municipality office decided to close the schools for a week effective from tomorrow, the municipality office informed. 

Thick fog and haze have blanketed the neighbourhood. The cold wave has further added woes to the people.

Earlier, Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City and Gauriganga Municipality had distributed firewood to locals to help them stay warm. 

Although the hilly region in Sudurpaschim has sunny weather, the southern plain has been blanketed with thick fog and haze for some days. It has also adversely affected the winter crops, the locals said.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 400 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday. 

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 267, 700 per tola today.  It was traded at Rs 268, 100 per tola on Tuesday. 

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 4, 935 per tola.