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Six people have died in separate incidents in various districts of the country in the last 24 hours. 

A report from Bhajani in Kailali district said three people, including twin sisters, drowned in a canal at Pathraiya Gujaruwa of Janaki Rural Municipality-5 in Kailali.

According to police, they drowned while bathing in the Kulariya Canal under the Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Project. 

The deceased have been identified as twins Nisha Bajgai and Manushi Bajgai of Tikapur Municipality-1, and Sulochana Timilsaina of Janaki Rural Municipality-5.

The twins were fifth graders at Janajagriti Secondary School, Sitapur, Tikapur, while the third one was a fourth grader at Saraswoti Secondary School, Durgauli, Janaki rural municipality-1.

Area Police Office, Tikapur’s Chief Deputy Superintendent of Police, Prakash Dangi, said Nisha and Manushi had been to a relative's home when they went to the canal. 

The bodies have been kept at Tikapur Hospital for post-mortem examinations.

In Baitadi district, a person has died in a motorcycle accident. 

The spokesperson of the District Police Office Baitadi, Police Inspector Baldev Badu, said that the deceased has been identified as 58-year-old Prem Singh Bisht from Sukeli, Patan Municipality-6.

According to him, Bisht, who had said he would go to Siude from home around 4 pm on Thursday, was found dead today. 

Badu added that Bisht's family had urged the Patan Area Police Office to search for him when he did not return home until late on Thursday. 

Accordingly, while searching, Bisht's body was found about a hundred metres down from Annadi Mod, Patan Municipality-4, below the Dasharath Chand Highway. 

Inspector Badu stated that the Su Pa Pra 01-011 Pa 7151 numbered motorcycle driven by Bisht was also found to have fallen off the road.

In Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East), a youth was beaten to death by a group participating in a cultural Deusi Bhailo program at Dumakatta of Binayi rural municipality-4 in Nawalparasi (Bardghat Susta East).

Police confirmed the death of Santa Bahadur Thada, 44, of the same locality. Severely injured in the assault, Thada was pronounced dead upon arrival at the local medical hall.

Police have arrested Rinku Gurung, 19, Dharan Paija Magar, 20, and another 17-year-old boy of Binayi Tribeni rural municipality-4 for their alleged involvement in the beating. Police are further investigating the case, said Dumkibas Police Inspector Thaman Singh Rana.

In Jhapa, a woman died of electric shock in Birtamod Municipality-10. 

The incident occurred when Talamai Mardi (55) was  trying to repair an electric cable at her home. 

Further investigation into the case is underway, said Area Police Office, Anarmani.

Nepal has intensified its preparations as the date for the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change draws closer.

COP30 is taking place from November 10 to 21 in Belem, Brazil.

It is stated that COP30 will focus on discussions around topics such as fossil fuel consumption displacement, enhancement of forest, ocean and biodiversity conservation, transformation of agriculture and food systems, human welfare and social development, and technology and capacity building. The Brazilian government has put forward a proposal for that.

Similarly, Nepal has also begun preparations to raise the issues such as the Sagarmatha Call for Action related to protecting the mountains drawn from the conclusions of the Sagarmatha Sambaad (Dialogue), held in Kathmandu on May 16-18 this year.

The Ministry of Forests and Environment has forwarded preparations for COP30 by conducting phased meetings with relevant government, non-government, and development partner representatives.

The Ministry stated that for COP30, it will present its agenda based on a global review of the conference achievements, climate-induced losses and damages, adaptation, mitigation, carbon finance, and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, along with the conclusions of the Sagarmatha Dialogue.

Dr Maheshwar Dhakal, the Joint Secretary and Head of the Climate Change Management Division at the Ministry, said that the Ministry will present an agenda based on climate finance, transparency frameworks on climate issues, mountain issues, capacity building and technology transfer, and climate justice.

He stated that in the conference Nepal will highlight the issues it has faced due to climate change by presenting examples of major climate-related damages the country has recently endured.

Dhakal mentioned that unlike in the previous COP summits where high-level sessions used to be held on the first and second days of the inauguration by inviting high-level political leadership, at the COP30  the high-level sessions will be held three days before the conference and the political and technical sessions will be convened separately.

Draft of National Position Paper readied

“We have already completed most of the preparations required from the Ministry’s side, and due to the country's latest situation, the delegation attending the COP30  will be as small as possible,” said Dr Dhakal, the Division Head and Joint Secretary.

According to him, the draft of the National Position Paper for COP30  has been prepared while the task of holding necessary discussions with and taking suggestions from stakeholders is in its final stage.

It may be recalled here that Nepal's position paper for COP29 had focused on securing increased, accessible climate finance, especially for mountain-specific issues like glacier melt and glacial lake outburst floods. Key agendas included adaptation and mitigation strategies, the implementation of the loss and damage fund, carbon trade agreements, and technology and capacity enhancement, all aimed at addressing the country's climate-induced vulnerabilities and supporting its low-carbon development goals.

A joint Nepal-India Chhath ghat has been constructed along the Bigahi River located on the border of Mahottari and Dhanusha.

An attractive ghat, about two kilometres long, has been constructed on the bank of the Bigahi River, for convenience of the devotees observing the Chhath festival on October 27.

Matihani Municipality Mayor Hari Prasad Mandal said that the Chhath ghat has been constructed for the residents of Wards 6, 7, and 8 of Matihani Municipality in Nepal, Tulasiyahi of Mukhiyapatti Musaharnia Rural Municipality–3 in Dhanusha, and for the locals in Madhawapur and Rampur areas in India.

He stated that although they live in separate countries, citizens of Nepal and India have been constructing a common Chhath ghat as they practice shared religion, culture, festivals, marital traditions and joys and sorrows.

"The no-man's land has separated our two countries, but our costumes, language, culture and festivals are the same. There is a culture of celebrating cultural festivals together, and this ghat is an example of that," said Mayor Mandal.

Citizens from Matihani and Tulasiyahi in Nepal and Madhawapur and Rampur in India have come together to decorate this shared ghat between Nepal and India.

Jit Narayan Majhi, the Chairman of Matihani, Ward 7, said that more than two thousand devotees from both countries are expected to perform the Chhath Arghya rituals at this ghat and over ten thousand devotees will be present to observe the festival. 

During this festival, devoted to the worship of the Sun god and the goddess Shashti Devi (commonly called Chhathi Devi), the fasting devotees will offer 'arghya' to the setting sun on the evening of Kartik Shukla Shashthi which falls on October 27 and to the rising sun on the morning of Saptami on October 28, after bathing at this very ghat.

Traveling from Kathmandu to Dhangadhi on a clear day feels like passing through a magnificent gallery of mountains.

While looking north from around Kathmandu Valley, it seems that the peaks of Ganesh Himal and the Langtang Himalayan Range are bidding farewell to us.

The mountains look so close and clear like a huge painting of white snow has been hung in front of us.

We can see an exotic view of central Nepal while moving ahead towards the west. The view of Mt Manaslu, towering over 8, 000 meters, flanked by Himalchuli and Ngadi Chuli, is truly priceless.

Apart from that, the peaks of Machhapuchhre, Annapurna I, II, and III, refresh our mind.

In clear weather, when the sun shines, these peaks shine like silver, and their beauty touches the heart.

On top of that, the beauty of Dhaulagiri and its white glittering appearance make the journey even more exciting.

The sight of the mountains brings a wave of serenity and joy to the mind long before arriving in Dhangadhi.