EC distributes certificates to PR MPs
The Election Commission on Thursday distributed certificates to Members of Parliament elected under the proportional representation (PR) system following the House of Representatives elections held on March 5.
The Commission distributed certificates to 110 proportional representation lawmakers of six political parties amidst a program held at its office this afternoon.
The election body had made public the list of 110 proportional representation lawmakers on Monday.
Under the PR system, the Rastriya Swatantra Party has won 57 seats, Nepali Congress 20, CPN-UML 16 and nine by the Nepali Communist Party.
Likewise, Shram Sanskriti Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party won equal four seats under the PR system.
Under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system, the RSP secured 125 seats, followed by the NC with 19, UML with 9, NCP with 8, Shram Sanskriti Party with 3, RPP with 1, and one independent candidate.
As per constitutional provisions, the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Federal Parliament, consists of a total of 275 members, including 165 elected through the FPTP system and 110 through the PR system.
Qatar says Iran attacked LNG hub; UAE shuts gas facilities
Qatar's state oil giant QatarEnergy said on Wednesday that Iranian missile attacks on Ras Laffan, the site of the country's core LNG processing operations, caused "extensive damage", while the UAE shut gas facilities after intercepting missiles early on Thursday, Reuters reported.
The attacks, which drew a furious response from U.S. President Donald Trump, came hours after Iran issued evacuation warnings for several oil facilities across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, following strikes on its own energy infrastructure in South Pars and Asaluyeh.
QatarEnergy, the world's second-largest LNG exporter, said in a statement that its emergency response team was deployed immediately to contain fires caused by the attack. By early Thursday, all fires at Ras Laffan had been brought under control, with no injuries reported, Qatar's interior ministry said, according to Reuters.
Trump may push Japan for help with Iran war in White House meeting
President Donald Trump may use a White House meeting with Japan’s prime minister on Thursday to press for help in the war on Iran, placing Sanae Takaichi in an awkward position as Tokyo weighs how much support it can provide, Reuters reported.
Trump has lashed out at allies for their lukewarm support for the U.S.-Israeli military campaign ‌and said the U.S. doesn't need any help. However, he is still pushing for more ships to clear mines and escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, largely closed by Iran in the conflict.
Trump hosts Takaichi for a long-scheduled White House visit aimed at burnishing the decades-old security and economic partnership between Washington and its closest East Asian ally, according to Reuters.
Trump says Israel won't attack Iran gas field again after it 'violently lashed out'
U.S. President Donald Trump said an angry Israel had "violently lashed out" and attacked Iran's major gas field, a significant escalation in the U.S.-Israeli war, but said Israel would not make further such attacks unless Iran retaliated, Reuters reported.
Wednesday's attack on the huge South Pars gas field drove oil prices higher and prompted a threat by Iran to attack oil and gas targets across the Gulf, while it fired missiles at Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
The escalation heightens the unprecedented disruption of global energy supplies that has raised the political stakes for Trump, who joined Israel in attacking Iran nearly four weeks ago, according to Reuters.
US weighs military reinforcements as Iran war enters possible new phase
President Donald Trump's administration is considering deploying thousands of U.S. troops to reinforce its operation in the Middle East, as the U.S. military prepares for possible next steps in its campaign against Iran, said a U.S. official and three people familiar with the matter, Reuters reported.
The deployments could help provide Trump with additional options as he weighs expanding U.S. operations, with the Iran war well into its third week.
Those options ‌include securing safe passage for oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a mission that would be accomplished primarily through air and naval forces, the sources said. But securing the Strait could also mean deploying U.S. troops to Iran's shoreline, said four sources, including two U.S. officials, according to Reuters.
Couple dies as truck hits bullock cart in Kailali
A couple died when a truck hit a bullock cart they were travelling on at Bajaipur in Kailari Rural Municipality-5, Kailali on Wednesday.
DSP Yogendra Timilsina of the District Police Office, Kailali said that the deceased have been identified as 60-year-old Kalsu Chaudhary and his 70-year-old wife Setanu Chaudhary.
According to him, the Chaudhary couple, who sustained serious injuries when the truck Na 6 Kha 778 hit the cart from behind last night, were rushed to the Seti Provincial Hospital in Dhangadhi, where both of them died during the course of treatment, police reported.
DSP Timilsina shared that both oxen pulling the cart also died after being hit by the truck.
Police said that they have impounded the truck and arrested its driver for investigation.
Further investigation into the accident is underway, police said.
Gold price drops by Rs 5, 400 per tola on Thursday
The price of gold has dropped by Rs 5, 400 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday.
According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 302, 300 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 307, 700 per tola on Wednesday.
Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 140 and is being traded at Rs 5, 010 per tola.
Man United move for Guimaraes as Real Madrid interest clouds talks
Manchester United are in advanced talks to sign Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes for around 80 million euros, but renewed interest from Real Madrid threatens to complicate the proposed move, sources close to the negotiations have told Reuters.
Newcastle's heavy Champions League elimination by Barcelona has paved the way for the Brazilian midfielder's possible departure, with Manchester United targeting the 28-year-old as a replacement for Casemiro, who has already announced he will leave the club.
Casemiro has personally recommended Guimaraes as his ideal successor, citing his experience and leadership, according to the same sources, according to Reuters.







