1. Nepali Congress Central Working Committee Meeting Scheduled for Tomorrow

Kathmandu: The Central Working Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress is scheduled to be held tomorrow at 1 PM at the party’s central office in Sanepa. Acting Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Dulal provided this information.

The meeting is expected to discuss setting the date for the party’s 15th General Convention. According to a party official, there is a possibility that the meeting will finalize the convention date.

Earlier meetings held on Friday and Sunday reviewed the party’s defeat in the House of Representatives elections. The report presented by Vice President Bishwaprakash Sharma was accepted as an official document.

Those meetings were chaired by Sharma, and the resignation submitted by party president Gagan Kumar Thapa was rejected. Leaders have stated that Thapa, who was absent in previous meetings, will attend tomorrow’s session.

2. Insurance Authority Fines 8 Companies for Non-Compliance

Kathmandu: The Nepal Insurance Authority has taken action against eight insurance companies for failing to comply with the Insurance Act. Each company has been fined Rs. 200,000.

According to the Authority, clarification was sought from the companies for not following directives. However, their responses were found unsatisfactory, leading to the penalties. The decision has also been approved by the Authority’s board of directors.

The penalized companies include Nepal Reinsurance Company, Himalayan Reinsurance Company, Neco Insurance, Alliance Insurance Broker, Asian Life Insurance, Oriental Insurance, and Himalayan Life Insurance.

The Authority warned that stricter action will be taken if such violations are repeated in the future.

3. Protest at National Women Commission Demanding Justice for Victims

Kathmandu: Victims and their supporters staged a protest at the National Women Commission demanding justice for women affected by violence.

Protesters raised slogans such as “Ensure women’s rights,” “End violence against women,” and “Why is the Women Commission silent?” They also demanded justice for Inisha BK and Reshmika Pariyar.

The victims’ families have called for a swift investigation and strict punishment for those responsible in the rape and murder cases of Inisha BK from Surkhet and Reshmika Pariyar from Khotang.

They stated that even earlier protests at Maitighar Mandala failed to bring attention to their demands. The Khotang Sewa Samaj has expressed solidarity with the victims, with Secretary Navaraj Rokaya urging swift justice and strict punishment.

4. Bagmati Province Collects Only 36.29% Revenue in First Eight Months

Kathmandu: The Bagmati Province Government has collected only 36.29% of its revenue target in the first eight months of the current fiscal year 2082/83.

A total of Rs. 24.49 billion has been collected, falling short of the Rs. 30.89 billion target set for the period from Shrawan to Falgun, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning.

Although land registration and vehicle taxes remain major revenue sources, collections have been weak. Official Suraj Paudel attributed this to liquidity shortages, a slowdown in real estate transactions, and ongoing protests.

5. NEPSE Index Rises Slightly Despite Mixed Market Performance

Kathmandu: The NEPSE Index increased by 5.01 points on Monday, closing at 2,936.

During the day’s trading, share prices of 102 companies increased, while 154 declined and 8 remained unchanged. The total transaction value reached Rs. 15.78 billion.

Investors in Sunrise First Mutual Fund gained the highest return of 3.71%. Meanwhile, Kumari Equity Fund investors lost 3.56%, followed by Sindhu Development Bank at 3.23%.

Similarly, investors in Citizens Balanced Fund and Swastik Microfinance also recorded losses of 2.86% and 2.75%, respectively.

Overall, despite mixed trends, the high transaction volume indicates continued investor activity.

6. Deadly Collision at LaGuardia Airport Leaves Two Pilots Dead

New York: A fatal accident occurred at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday night when an Air Canada aircraft collided with a fire truck.

The aircraft, operated by Jazz Aviation, was taxiing on the runway after arriving from Montreal when it struck a Port Authority fire truck responding to a suspected odor complaint on another plane.

The pilot and co-pilot were killed in the crash, while two others were injured. The plane was carrying 72 passengers and 4 crew members, and two individuals in the fire truck were also injured.

The Federal Aviation Administration has closed the airport until Monday afternoon, while the National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation.

Hundreds of flights to and from New York have been affected due to the incident.

7. Nationwide Blackout Leaves Cuba in Darkness

Havana: Cuba has been plunged into darkness following a complete collapse of its national power grid.

According to the Ministry of Energy, more than 10 million people out of the country’s 11 million population have been affected.

The blackout occurred due to fuel shortages, which prevented power plants from operating. Authorities have stated that efforts to restore electricity are underway.

Public anger has risen as the blackout follows earlier disruptions in the transmission system. Protests were reported in Moron city, where demonstrators set fire to an office of the Communist Party.

The crisis has been largely attributed to halted crude oil supplies from Venezuela and reduced exports from Mexico under pressure from the United States.