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The Mechinagar Municipality in Jhapa district has run a campaign against gender-based violence (GBV) in 10 schools in the municipality. 

Students from grades 9 to 12 are attending the event which is primarily focused on ending gender-based violence. The Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens and the World Bank have supported the intervention. 

Chief of Women and Children Section of Mechinagar Municipality Jayanti Kharel said the program was started at Jyamirgadhi Secondary School and will be run in the remaining schools in the municipality.

Expert of the Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Project Kamala Upreti said that the municipality was selected for the intervention, as the Mechinagar Municipality has recorded the highest number of GBV cases in the province. 

The schoolchildren will be made aware about the gender-based violence, and will be trained on ways to counter, raise voice and file complaints in case of gender-based violence, officials said.

The students have shared ideas on the 'bad touch' and 'good touch', and also the role of teachers and schools to prevent the possibilities of GBV.

Former Asian Development Bank vice president and Chancellor of the University of Nepal Dr Biswo Nath Lohani hasidentified policy uncertainty, regulatory fragmentation, overlapping agencies, weak contract enforcement and lack of accountability as major barriers to attracting investment in Nepal.

Addressing the 31st Annual General Meeting of the Nepal–India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI), Lohaniurged the government to act as a “partner, not a gatekeeper,” stressing the need for a mindset shift from approvals to facilitation. He warned that without policy certainty, speed and reliability, investments could bypass Nepal.

Similarly, former Indian ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri asking Nepal to figure out the market, said that Nepalis fortunate to have huge potential, and now needs to incubate new sets of private players.

Delivering the special remarks, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy Dr Rakesh Pandey informed Embassy’s initiatives in strengthening the Nepal India economic relations.

“Nepal is the most hydro-happening country,” said executive member of NICCI and vice-president of IPPAN UttamBhlone Lama. “After successful hydropower generation, the private sector now wants to focus on high- capacitytransmission lines,” he added. 

The event featured a panel discussion on private sector collaboration and cross-border power trading, where officials fromNepal and India highlighted growing opportunities for private participation in hydropower and electricity trade. NepalElectricity Authority Managing Director Hitendra Dev Shakya welcomed private sector involvement, while Indian officials shared India’s experience and invited Nepali power producers to participate in India Energy Week.

Finance Minister Rameshwor Prasad Khanal said NICCI could play a key role in strengthening investor linkages betweenNepal and India and encouraged the private sector to better understand market dynamics. He also awarded certificates to top tax-paying NICCI members and launched a baseline survey on Nepal’s fruit candy (Titaura) industry, highlighting itsexport potential and role in women-led MSMEs.

Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister Anil Sinha said foreign direct investment has increased in several sectors. 

NICCI President Sunil KC outlined the chamber’s activities, while leaders of major Nepali business associationsreaffirmed NICCI’s role in deepening Nepal–India economic ties.

On the occasion, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) President Chandra PrasadDhakal, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) President Birendra Raj Pandey, and Nepal Chamber of Commerce(NCC) President Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal highlighted the role of NICCI in strengthening the bilateral trade andeconomic relations between Nepal and India.

Atletico Madrid eased to a 3-0 victory at Girona in LaLiga on Sunday thanks to first-half goals from Koke and Conor Gallagher and one in added time from substitute Antoine Griezmann as they ended the year with a fourth straight win in all competitions, Reuters reported. 

The visitors provisionally rose to third, two points above Villarreal, who have three games in hand and host leaders Barcelona later on Sunday. Relegation-threatened Girona, who have won only one of their last five games, remained 18th.

Atletico targeted Girona with crosses into the area from the start and it paid off in the 13th minute when midfielder Koke hammered home with his right foot from outside the box after Arnau Martinez botched an attempted clearance from the right, according to Reuters. 

Barcelona secured a composed 2-0 LaLiga victory at Villarreal on Sunday thanks to goals from Raphinha and Lamine Yamal in a ​match that tilted firmly in the visitors’ favor when the hosts were reduced to 10 men just before the break, Reuters reported. 

Barcelona moved on to 46 points, ensuring they head into the new year top of the standings, four points ahead of Real Madrid.

Villarreal are fourth on 35.
It took just 12 ‌minutes for Barcelona ‌to take the lead from ‌the ⁠penalty ​spot ‌after Santi Comesana blocked Raphinha with his back as the winger tried to break through and the Brazilian calmly converted the spot-kick, according to Reuters. 

Morgan Rogers struck two superb goals for Aston Villa as they beat Manchester United 2-1 at home on Sunday to record their seventh straight Premier League victory and 10th in a row in all competitions, Reuters reported. 

Rogers gave the home side the lead with a brilliant solo goal in the 45th minute, bringing a difficult ball down and keeping it in play before cutting into the box and curling a superb shot past keeper Senne Lammens and into the top corner.

United managed to level before the break when Matty Cash was robbed to the right of the Villa penalty area and Matheus Cunha blasted the loose ball past Emiliano Martinez, but their joy was short-lived as captain Bruno Fernandes had to be replaced at halftime due to injury, according to Reuters. 

Undefeated Bayern Munich cruised past hosts Heidenheim 4-0 on Sunday to go into the winter break with a nine-point advantage at the top of the Bundesliga standings, Reuters reported. 

The Bavarians, who have gone through 2025 without an away league loss, are on 41 points, with Borussia Dortmund second on 32 following Friday's 2-0 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach. StrugglING Heidenheim are in 17th place on 11. 

It was one-way traffic from the start for Vincent Kompany's team, despite missing injured Joshua Kimmich, Manuel Neuer and suspended Konrad Laimer among others, and they took a 15th-minute lead through a close-range Josip Stanisic header at the far post after Heidenheim keeper Diant Ramaj failed to clear a Jonathan Tah header, according to Reuters. 

The price of gold reached an all-time high in the domestic market on Monday, setting a new historical record.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Traders, the price of gold has increased by Rs 3, 400 per tola to reach Rs 261, 700 per tola today.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 130 and is being traded at Rs 4, 235 per tola.

The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has fined Rs 50,000 each for two restaurants for not abiding by the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2075 BS.

The two restaurants were fined for not keeping their business registration documents, license and other basic documents at their business sites.  

The Department shared that Priya Sweets House at Maharajgunj and Eye Café Restaurant and Bar located at Tokha were fined Rs 50,000 each. 

Likewise, the Department has issued a warning to 14 other business firms after an inspection of their services.

Activities for the road expansion drive on the Sanga-Dhulikhel road section along the Araniko Highway have been expedited lately. 

Last week, the project was given one more year for completion. 

The Lama Construction Pvt Ltd had won the contract bidding in Rs 4.5 billion for the construction of eight kilometres road from Sanga in Bhaktapur district Dhulikhel in Kavre with the commitment to complete the project in the second week of December 2025. 

However, only 60 percent of the total construction works were completed during the given deadline, Construction Manager of the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel Road Project Rabindra Shrestha said.

Presently, the project has prioritized the blacktop of the road in the Dhulikhel and Pulbazaar-Janagal area. 

The tasks of lane cutting and gravel in the service lane have achieved progress in the Basghari-Budol section and preparations are going on to fix a culvert at Chandani chowk in Banepa, the project officials said.