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Presently there is a general influence of westerly wind in the country with foggy weather in many places of the Terai.

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly regions of Lumbini, Karnali, Gandaki and Sudurpaschim provinces and mainly fair in the rest of the country this afternoon.

Similarly, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the high hilly and mountainous regions of Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces tonight.

Fog is likely to occur at many places in the Terai and Kathmandu Valley on Friday morning, the Department said, urging all concerned to remain alert as it could affect daily life, health, transport and aviation.---

CPN-UML's former leader Dr Bhim Bahadur Rawal has said the party's action against him is not aligned with the party's statute, rule of law and procedures.

It may be noted that the CPN-UML recently decided to expel Rawal from the party even with the annulment of his general membership.

At a press meet organised for the first time following the party's move, the leader accused that the party took revenge against him for his candidacy to the post of party Chair in the 11th General Convention.

The former Vice Chair of the party announced that he would engage in what he called the 'Motherland Awareness Campaign' and move ahead based on the feedback and sentiments of his 'well-wishers' 'supporters' and the masses.

The UML's Secretariat meeting on December 25 took the action against him.

The leader has already served as the Deputy Prime Minster, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Minister for Home Affairs and the Minister for Defence at different times.

The leader who preferred to identify himself as a 'nationalist leader' was the competitor for the party's Chair post in the UML's11th National Congress.

He had obtained the party leadership in 2032 BS.

He said that since his association with the party, he remained dedicated towards the country, people, sovereignty and the party principles amidst challenges. 

 Eighty-four leprosy cases have been identified in Banke district in a period of one year, indicating the district is at high risk of the disease.

One hundred and forty-six new leprosy cases were identified at INF-run Shining Hospital based at Janaki rural municipality-3 in the district in the last Fiscal Year 2080/81.

Of them, 84 are from Banke alone. Hospital Chief Mangal Bahadur Tharu said that among the new cases, 84 are from Banke, 24 from Bardiya, 21 from India, five from Sudurpaschim, four from Rukum, three from Salyan and one each from Dailekh, Surkhet, Jajarkot, Rolpa and Humla.

Thirty-nine per cent among the identified cases tested positive to Mycobacterium leprae, a type of bacteria that causes leprosy.

Tharu said the leprosy patients have been sent to various health facilities for treatment.

According to Tharu, the Hospital provided OPD services to 17,265 people last fiscal year.

The Shining Hospital has expanded its leprosy services and established itself as the leprosy referral centre in the western region.

The newly appointed five ambassadors to various countries have taken an oath of office and secrecy in the presence of President Ramchandra Paudel.

In the oath-taking ceremony held at the Office of the President at Sheetal Niwas today, President Paudel administered the oath to the newly appointed ambassadors for Portugal, Malaysia, South Africa, Belgium and Denmark.

​​​​Prakashmani Poudel, the Ambassador designate to Portugal; Dr Netra Prasad Timilsina, the Ambassador designate to Malaysia; Prof Dr Kapilman Shrestha, the Ambassador designate to South Africa; Sewa Lamsal, the Ambassador designate to Belgium; and Sumnima Tuladhar, the Ambassador designate to Denmark took the oath of office and secrecy before the Head of the State.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 5. 10 points to close at 2, 58. 60 points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 0. 58 points to close at 444. 12 points.

A total of  9,434,009-unit shares of 305 companies were traded for Rs 3. 59 billion.

Meanwhile, Trishuli Jal Vidhyut Company Limited (TVCL) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Support Microfinance Bittiya Sanstha Ltd. (SMB) was the top loser as its price fell by 10.00 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 28 trillion.

The Maiti Nepal's Nepalgunj office said it rescued 598 women and girls at risk of trafficking from the Nepalgunj border checkpoint.

Keshav Koirala, Maiti Nepal, Nepalgunj coordinator shared this information in an interaction with journalists against human trafficking organized by the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Banke Chapter here on Tuesday.

He said these girls and women were in risky travel to various countries, including India, in 2024.

According to Koirala, such number of girls and women were turned back after it was found while interrogating them out of suspicion that they were at risk of being trafficked in the pretext of finding work, marriage, visiting places and relatives, shopping, among other purposes.

Koirala said Maiti Nepal's Nepalgunj Office received applications for finding out whereabouts of 177 people in one year and 407 of them were found.

The family members of the missing people register application at the Office seeking its support in finding out their status after those who have reached India or third country go out of contact.

Coordinator Koirala said the highest number of applications were received from Banke district in 2024.

Most of the rescued women and girls are from Surkhet, Bardiya, Dang, Jajarkot, and Dailekh among the districts of Lumbini and Karnali provinces, he added.

Stating that agents are active in women trafficking through the misuse of social sites, Koirala said that Maiti Nepal has been carrying out anti-trafficking activities coordinating with all the three tiers of the government.

The Annapurna region, a renowned and adventure destination for trekking, welcomed a record number of foreign tourists in 2024, reaching a total of 244,045 visitors.

Of these, 132,094 were from South Asia, and 111,951 hailed from other countries. According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) office, this marks the highest number of visitors to the region in its history.

In 2023, the region had already set a high record, with 191,558 tourists visiting.

This surge follows a significant drop in arrivals due to the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019.

In 2021, the area saw only 16,105 tourists, with numbers climbing to 129,733 in the following year.

ACAP Chief Dr Rabin Kadariya said that not only did tourist arrivals revive in 2024, but they also set a new record with a substantial increase.

The Annapurna Circuit Trek, which includes attractions like the Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Peak, Ghandruk, Manang's Tilicho Lake, Thorong La Pass, Upper Mustang, Muktinath, and Ghodepani of Myagdi, continues to draw both domestic and international visitors.

The Annapurna region has been recognized for its natural beauty, biodiversity, mountain life, and cultural significance. Four years ago, Lonely Planet, the international travel site, ranked it among the top ten most visited destinations globally, while CNN included it in their list of the 23 top travel sites for 2023. 

The price of gold increased by Rs 1,400 per tola (11.66 grams) in the domestic market today.

However, the price of silver remained unchanged as compared to yesterday.

The rise in the price of gold in international market and internal demand are among the reasons behind the price-rise, it is said.

According to the Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, the gold price is being traded at Rs 151,000 per tola on Wednesday. It was traded at Rs 149,600 per tola on Tuesday.

The silver is being traded at Rs 1,765 per tola today.