Gold price increases by Rs 3, 700 per tola on Tuesday

The price of gold has increased by Rs 3, 700 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 290, 300 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 286, 600 per tola on Monday. 

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 5, 335 per tola today.

Sounders transfer Obed Vargas to La Liga’s Atletico Madrid

The Seattle Sounders transferred star midfielder Obed Vargas to La Liga giant Atletico Madrid on Monday, Reuters reported. 

Vargas is signing with Atletico through June 30, 2030, and ESPN reported that the Sounders will earn a club-record transfer fee for the move.

"I couldn't be happier for Obed. He's earned this opportunity through his work ethic, competitiveness and willingness to keep getting better every day," said head coach Brian Schmetzer. "We've seen him grow into a confident, impactful player who has excelled in every situation he's faced. This is a great moment for Obed and his family, and I have no doubt that he is ready to take on this challenge with Atletico Madrid."

Diarra leads Sunderland's charge as they move up to eighth place

Sunderland's record signing Habib Diarra began to pay back his fee with a leading role as the hosts easily beat struggling Burnley 3-0 on Monday to move up to eighth in the Premier League standings, Reuters reported. 

Diarra's ninth-minute shot took a deflection off Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe and although initially credited to the midfielder, it was later changed to an own goal.

But Diarra, freshly returned from winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, made sure of his name on the scoresheet with a close-range effort in the 32nd minute, his first goal for Sunderland since his move from Strasbourg in a reported club-record 30-million-pound ($40.99 million) deal, according to Reuters. 

Romero criticises Tottenham's 'disgraceful' squad shortage

Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero said it was "disgraceful" that only 11 fit players were available during their 2-2 Premier League draw against Manchester City on Sunday, Reuters reported. 

Romero had to withdraw at halftime due to illness with Pape Matar Sarr coming on in his place, as the North London club overcame the two-goal deficit in the second half to salvage a point.


"Great effort from all my team-mates yesterday, they were incredible," Romero wrote in a post on Instagram on Monday, according to Reuters. 

Baglung village sells orange worth Rs 40 million

The farmers in Sigana village in Baglung Municipality–8 have made a decent income from orange production and the production is also on the rise year on year.

Ananta Khadka, an orange farmer, sold oranges worth Rs 500,000 to traders last year but his income this year increased to Rs 750,000. 

Khadka and other farmers sold their production directly to the traders in lump sum from their gardens. 

The local people shared that the village received nearly Rs 40 million from orange sales this year, while such amount was Rs 35 million last year.

More than 100 farmers in Sigana village have earned from Rs 100,000 to Rs 700,000 from the same of orange and there are many other families making income from orange farming. 

The Ganesh Agricultural Cooperative in the village has maintained the record of the orange production and sales. 

The farmers shared that the oranges from there are sold to the cities including Pokhara, Kathmandu, Chitwan and others. 

The villagers there had switched to commercial farming of oranges nearly three decades ago and have rapidly expanded the orange cultivation area. 

Leading farmer Shiva Kumar Khadka in Sigana shared that the cooperative has been constructed to expand the areas for orange farming and the farmers are provided with the orange saplings at a subsidized rate.

This year, the production of oranges has increased due to favorable weather coupled with the absence of diseases, Chairman of Ganesh Agricultural Cooperative Ram Bahadur Khadka stated.

 

Pokhara's lakeside area to be made tourism-friendly

The stakeholders and local community have commenced their initiatives to ensure a tourism-friendly environment in the lakeside of Pokhara. 

The Pokhara Tourism Council has partnered with different agencies and local communities to create a favorable environment, ensure safety and security to the tourists and tourism-friendly situation in the Lakeside area.  

Council's Chairman Taranath Pahari shared that the Ward Police Office, Tourism Police, Metropolitan Police, ward officials, tourism related organizations have joined hands together to materialize the initiative. 

The representatives shared that any sort of unwanted activities would be curbed in the lakeside area.

Likewise, onsite monitoring of the lakeside area would be carried by the representatives of the team in the evening, Pahari said. 

Furthermore, hygiene, cleanliness, sanitation, street vendors, and activities causing disturbance to the tourists would be controlled in the lakeside area.

Westerly low-pressure system influences weather across the country

The meteorological analysis by the Weather Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology stated that the westerly low-pressure system is currently affecting the weather system in the country, causing partial clouds across the country.

Fog and mist is likely at some places over the Tarai region today. 

Furthermore, generally cloudy conditions are expected over the hilly and mountainous regions of Gandaki, Karnali, Lumbini and Sudurpashchim Provinces, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology stated.

Partly cloudy conditions are likely over the remaining mountains, it is said. 

Likewise, there is a possibility of light snowfall at one or two places in the high hilly and mountainous regions in the country. 

Later tonight, fog is likely to continue in a few places in the Tarai region. 

Generally cloudy conditions are expected over the hilly and mountainous. In addition, there is a possibility of light snowfall at one or two places in the high hilly and mountainous regions.

 

30 days left for HoR polls: EC removes 76 candidates from PR list

The Election Commission (EC) has removed the names of 76 candidates from the political parties' closed list submitted for the proportional representation (PR) electoral system for the House of Representatives (HoR) elections scheduled for March 5. 

EC Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said a decision to remove those candidates was taken following an assessment.

Bhattarai stated that the details of the candidates were reviewed on the basis of complaints filed against the candidates, existing laws on provisions for qualification of candidates, decisions of the EC taken on different dates and information received from the political parties. 

The EC's statement mentioned that a candidate of the Nepali Congress (NC), one of the CPN-UML and three candidates of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) were removed from the PR list.