Nepse plunges by 14. 10 points on Friday
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 14. 10 points to close at 1,910.38 points on Friday. Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 2. 23 points to close at 371. 90 points. A total of 2,916,271 unit shares of 220 companies were traded for Rs 90 billion. Meanwhile, Nabil Balanced Fund-2 was the top gainer today with its price surging by 7. 87 percent. Likewise, Mirmire Microfinance Development Bank Limited was the top loser with its price dropped by 5. 59 percent. At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 74 trillion.
KMC demolishes illegal structures in New Baneshwor
The Kathmandu Metropolitan City demolished illegal structures in the New Baneshwor area, Kathmandu on Friday. The KMC said that they were compelled to use a dozer to remove the illegal structures after the people ignored the notice issued earlier. Some house owners stage the protest when the dozer was clearing the structures built illegally. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has been dismantling illegal structures in various places of Kathmandu for the past few days.
Gold price drops by Rs 1, 000 per tola on Friday
The price of gold has dropped by Rs 1, 000 per tola in the domestic market on Friday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow bullion is being traded at Rs 91, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 92, 500 per tola on Thursday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 91, 000 per tola today. Similarly, the price of silver is being traded at Rs 1, 170 per tola.
Ashraf Shikhaliyev: Azerbaijan is ready to collaborate with Nepal in e-governance
Ashraf Shikhaliyev is the ambassador of Azerbaijan to India. He also holds concurrent accreditation to Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka. Shikhaliyev was in Kathmandu last week to attend Nepal Infrastructure Summit 2022. Kamal Dev Bhattarai caught up with him to talk about the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Nepal and possible areas of cooperation between the two countries. How do you evaluate Nepal-Azerbaijan relations? Relations between the two countries are developing mainly in international and multilateral forums. In the United Nations, we have excellent relations. Nepal is a founding member of the non-alignment movement and Azerbaijan is the current chair of this movement. So, we have excellent cooperation in our delegations and other areas. On the bilateral front, we have good relations that we need to build on further. We need to expand economic cooperation, for example. Both countries are land-locked and depend on transit countries. That is why for landlocked countries like ours cooperation in the areas of information communication technology is important. In these areas, borders do not matter and we can do cooperation. We can cooperate particularly in the areas of electronic governance. This is an era of digitalization and every country is paying attention to building infrastructure for it. We have made some achievements in Azerbaijan, and we are willing to share them with Nepal if they are interested. What is the current state of trade relationship between the two countries? The economic collaboration between the two countries is very minimal. This is because of geography. The two countries are land-locked and there is a huge distance separating them. But we have to start with something. The realistic sector where we can collaborate is information and communication technologies, and e-governance. Nepal needs investment to develop its infrastructure, are there any prospects of cooperation from Azerbaijan? As I said, we can begin with cooperation in the area of information technology first. We can then move on to infrastructure development. Azerbaijan has many good companies with vast experience in big infrastructure projects, such as building large international airports. Those companies can come to Nepal for the development of infrastructure. Development of infrastructure is important for every country and Azerbaijan is keen to contribute to the development of infrastructure in Nepal. Could you share with us about the ASAN service of your country that won the United Nations award? State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations known as ASAN is a brand name in Azerbaijan, which we are extremely proud of. This is implemented under the president of our country. The basic concept of this project is to make the life of people easier in service delivery. ASAN service was created in 2012 and three years later, it won the United the best service award from the United Nations. The project was picked from among 800 nominees from all over the world. It has been lauded for its transparency, making service convenient to all, and for its role in combating corruption. People are fully satisfied with the service. The project united our 10 ministries as well as some private companies to provide services under the umbrella of ASAN. Every service it offers is transparent and quick. There are volunteers who check the quality of service and they assist the people. For example, if you need to renew your license, the process does not take more than 10 minutes. Acquiring a passport, getting a visa or any other services are also equally swift and easy. Can Azerbaijan assist Nepal to launch such a project? We are ready to share our experiences with Nepal to create a similar project in Nepal. In 2019, the ASAN delegation visited Nepal and made their presentations. In 2020, we shared a draft of a Memorandum of Understanding proposing to work together in this area with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But we did not hear anything from the Nepali side. We are always willing to share our experiences and assist Nepal.
Roger Federer retirement a 'sad day' for sport, says rival Rafael Nadal
Roger Federer's decision to retire from tennis is a "sad day" for sport, his great rival Rafael Nadal has said, BBC reported.
Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, announced on Thursday that he would retire after the Laver Cup this month.
Only Spain's Nadal, with 22 majors, and Serbia's Novak Djokovic, with 21, have more men's Grand Slam singles titles than the 41-year-old.
"Dear Roger, my friend and rival. I wish this day would have never come," Nadal posted on social media.
"It's a sad day for me personally and for sports around the world."
Nadal defeated Federer 24 times in 40 matches during one of the most celebrated rivalries in tennis history, according to BBC.
"It's been a pleasure but also an honour and privilege to share all these years with you, living so many amazing moments on and off the court," Nadal said.
"We will have many more moments to share together in the future, there are still lots of things to do together, we know that.
"For now, I truly wish you all the happiness with your wife, Mirka, your kids, your family and enjoy what's ahead of you. I'll see you in London."
Ukrainian president: Mass grave found near recaptured city
Ukrainian authorities found a mass burial site near a recaptured northeastern city previously occupied by Russian forces, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Thursday night, Associated Press reported.
The grave was discovered close to Izium in the Kharkiv region.
“The necessary procedures have already begun there. More information — clear, verifiable information — should be available tomorrow,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly televised address.
Associated Press journalists saw the site Thursday in a forest outside Izium. Amid the trees were hundreds of graves with simple wooden crosses, most of them marked only with numbers. A larger grave bore a marker saying it contained the bodies of 17 Ukrainian soldiers.
Investigators with metal detectors were scanning the site for any hidden explosives.
Oleg Kotenko, an official with the Ukrainian ministry tasked with reintegrating occupied territories, said videos that Russian soldiers posted on social media indicated there were likely more than 17 bodies in the grave.
“We haven’t counted them yet, but I think there are more than 25 or even 30,” he said.
Izium resident Sergei Gorodko said that among the hundreds buried in individual graves were dozens of adults and children killed in a Russian airstrike on an apartment building.
He said he pulled some of them out of the rubble “with my own hands.”
Zelenskyy invoked the names of other Ukrainian cities where authorities said retreating Russian troops left behind mass graves of civilians and evidence of possible war crimes.
“ Bucha, Mariupol, now, unfortunately, Izium. … Russia leaves death everywhere. And it must be held accountable for it. The world must bring Russia to real responsibility for this war,” he said in the address, according to Associated Press.
Sergei Bolvinov, a senior investigator for Ukrainian police in the eastern Kharkiv region, told British TV broadcaster Sky News that a pit containing more than 440 bodies was discovered near Izium after Kyiv’s forces swept in. He described the grave as “one of the largest burial sites in any one liberated city.”
Some of the people buried in the pit were shot. Others died from artillery fire, mines or airstrikes. Many of the bodies have not been identified yet, Bolvinov said.
Russian forces left Izium and other parts of the Kharkiv region last week amid a stunning Ukrainian counteroffensive. On Wednesday, Zelenskyy made a rare trip outside the capital to watch the national flag being raised over Izium’s city hall.
Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Enin said Thursday night that other evidence found after Kyiv’s sweeping advance into the Kharkiv region included multiple “torture chambers” where both Ukrainian citizens and foreigners were detained “in completely inhuman conditions.”
“We have already come across the exhumation of individual bodies, not only with traces of a violent death, but also of torture — cut off ears, etc. This is just the beginning,” Enin said in an interview with Ukraine’s Radio NV.
He claimed that among those held at one of the sites were students from an unspecified Asian country who were captured at a Russian checkpoint as they tried to leave for Ukrainian-controlled territory, Associated Press reported.
Enin did not specify where the students were held, although he named the small cities of Balakliya and Volchansk as two locations where torture chambers were found. His account could not be independently verified.
Ronaldo scores first Europa goal in Man Utd win
Cristiano Ronaldo ended his barren spell with the first Europa League goal of his career as Manchester United earned victory at Sheriff Tiraspol, BBC reported.
Erik ten Hag's men suffered defeat at Old Trafford in their Group E opener against Real Sociedad but responded by claiming all three points in Moldova.
The Red Devils opened the scoring in the first half as a lovely team move was coolly finished off by Jadon Sancho from Christian Eriksen's reverse pass.
Sancho, who was left out of the England squad earlier in the day, came close to a second but his low shot was brilliantly cleared off the line by Sheriff captain Stjepan Radeljic on the stretch.
But United did double their advantage before half-time courtesy of Ronaldo's penalty, awarded after Patrick Kpozo tripped Diogo Dalot in the box, according to BBC.
Ronaldo could have taken his tally to 700 club goals but side-footed over from the edge of the area while at the other end, Sheriff could not force David de Gea into any meaningful saves.
In the group's other game, Real Sociedad made it two wins from two with a 2-1 victory over Neil Lennon's Omonia Nicosia.
Putin-Xi talks: Russian leader reveals China's 'concern' over Ukraine
Vladimir Putin has acknowledged China's "concern" over Ukraine, in his first face-to-face talks with President Xi Jinping since the Russian invasion, BBC reported.
But speaking in Uzbekistan, Mr Putin also thanked China for its "balanced position" - and said US "attempts to create a unipolar world" would fail.
Mr Xi said China was willing to work with Russia as "major countries".
China hasn't endorsed Russia's invasion but has grown trade and other ties with Moscow since it was launched.
The two leaders' meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand comes at a crucial point in the Ukraine war, as Russian troops lose ground in parts of the country.
"We highly value the balanced position of our Chinese friends when it comes to the Ukraine crisis," Mr Putin told Mr Xi, on only his second foray abroad since February's invasion.
Revealing that China had "questions and concern" about the situation in Ukraine, he said he understood.
"During today's meeting, we will of course explain our position," Mr Putin said.
In contrast to Mr Putin's statement, the Chinese government readout after the meeting notably did not mention the Ukraine war.
But it said Russia and China would extend "strong mutual support" on core interests. Together, the two would play "a leading role in injecting stability into a world of change and disorder", and Beijing called their partnership "as stable as mountains".
The invasion has plunged Moscow into its worst crisis with the West since the Cold War and has sent global food and energy prices soaring, according to BBC.
It also poses a huge challenge for China - whose relations with the West have nosedived in recent years over issues including human rights and the future of Taiwan.
Mr Putin and Mr Xi have met dozens of times over the years but their latest talks received particular scrutiny.
Their growing relationship - which they characterise as a bulwark to Western dominance - signifies a major shift in the world order following the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The roles are reversed now, with China the dominant partner, having risen to become an economic superpower.
"Putin is getting more out of it than Xi - Russia is quite isolated internationally," Professor Emeritus Rosemary Foot, a senior research fellow in international relations at Oxford University, told the BBC.
"So it's important to show that China is a supportive partner, not an ally but certainly a supportive actor. There is a close relationship."
For Mr Xi, who described Mr Putin as "an old friend", the optics of the meeting were also significant.
He is seeking a historic third term at a Communist Party congress next month, and his visit to Central Asia is the first time he has left China since the start of the Covid pandemic.
His trip comes amid fresh lockdowns in China, where his "zero Covid" policy is still in place. While the rest of the world has opened up, Beijing continues to shut down entire cities and provinces every time cases flare up.
China and Russia have long sought to position the SCO, founded in 2001 with four ex-Soviet Central Asian nations, as an alternative to Western multilateral groups. India, Pakistan and Iran are also members.
During their last meeting in February - when Mr Putin travelled to Beijing for the Winter Olympics at Mr Xi's invitation - the two sought to demonstrate their close ties, famously declaring they shared a friendship with "no limits".
Days later Russia invaded Ukraine, prompting international condemnation and sanctions, while putting the China-Russia relationship under an intense spotlight.
Beijing has urged an end to hostilities and stressed the importance of national sovereignty. But it has also refused to call the war an invasion, as Russia refers to it as a "special military operation".
In recent weeks China has sent troops to take part in joint military exercises with Russia, and sent senior officials to meet Russian counterparts. It has also come to Russia's economic aid as Western sanctions were imposed, BBC reported.
This relationship has been a win-win for both countries. With Europe reducing its dependency on Russian oil and gas, China has increased its purchases, which it is reportedly getting at discounted rates.
Last month Beijing also agreed to pay for gas in Russian roubles and Chinese yuan, giving Moscow a much-needed alternative to dollars as a foreign reserve, while furthering China's interests in boosting the yuan as an international currency.
But China appears to have drawn a line.
US intelligence says Moscow is so desperate for weapons, it has turned to Iran and even North Korea for supplies. It has also apparently approached China - but there has been no indication so far that Beijing has agreed.
Some experts believe that despite the rosy picture of comradeship, Mr Xi will want to maintain some distance between him and Mr Putin for several reasons.
"It would be spectacularly inept to choose the moment of maximum Russian tactical retreat in Ukraine to lean into Moscow even harder than Beijing already has," said Evan Feigenbaum, vice-president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, in a recent commentary.
Another concern for Mr Xi is that former Soviet Central Asian countries, four of which are members of the SCO, do not support Russia's invasion of Ukraine - which also used to be part of the USSR, according to BBC.
"[Mr Xi] must be very aware that Central Asia is unhappy and nervous about what's going on," Prof Foot told the BBC.
