Government decides to accept concessional loan of Rs 35 billion from World Bank
The government has decided to accept concessional loan assistance of around Rs 35 billion from the World Bank. Speaking at a press conference organized to make public the decisions of the Cabinet, government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said that the government has decided to accept assistance from the World Bank to enhance transport and trade relations. Similarly, the government has decided to form a team to accept USD 12 billion grant aid from the Asian Development Bank for the woman protection and upliftment strengthening project. Likewise, the government has decided to give permission to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to sign a memorandum of understanding to establish a bilateral consultation mechanism between Nepal and Romania. Moreover, the government has decided to givepermission to establish a zoo in Madhesh Province.
Gold price drops by Rs 100 per tola on Tuesday
The price of gold has dropped by Rs 100 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow bullion is being traded at Rs 93, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 93, 600 per tola on Monday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 93, 000 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 93, 100 on Monday. Similarly, the price of silver is being traded at Rs 1, 185 per tola.
Visiting Chinese leader Li holds meeting with UML Chair Oli
Visiting Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Li Zhanshu held a meeting with CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli at the Parliament building in New Baneshwor on Tuesday.
It has been learnt that the UML delegation and the delegation led by Chinese Speaker Li discussed matters of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation.
Prior to meeting Oli, the Chinese leader held a meeting with National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Timilsena.
Li, who arrived in Kathmandu on a four-day visit to Nepal, held a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota.
On the occasion, Sapkota and Li signed a six-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) on inter-parliamentary cooperation.
Meanwhile, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Li also held a meeting at the Parliament building this morning.
According to a source, the duo discussed matters of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation.
Ukraine war: We retook 6,000 sq km from Russia in September, says Zelensky
Ukrainian forces have seized even more territory from Russia as they continue their counter-offensive, the country's president has said, BBC reported.
Volodymyr Zelensky said troops have now retaken more than 6,000 sq km (2,317 sq miles) from Russian control in September, in the east and the south.
The BBC cannot verify these figures.
Russia has admitted losing key cities in the north-eastern Kharkiv region, in what is seen by some military experts as a potential breakthrough in the war.
Moscow describes its troop withdrawal from the region in recent days as a "regrouping" with the aim of focusing on the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in Ukraine's east.
That claim has been ridiculed even in Russia, with many social media users there describing the stated pull-out as "shameful".
And the BBC's James Waterhouse said it was the most significant Russian military retreat since its failed campaign near the capital Kyiv in late March.
Speaking later on Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Ukrainian forces had made "significant progress" in their counter-offensive, but added that it was too early to predict the outcome.
"The Russians maintain very significant forces in Ukraine as well as equipment and arms and munitions. They continue to use it indiscriminately against not just the Ukrainian armed forces but civilians and civilian infrastructure as we've seen," Mr Blinken said, according to BBC.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. Russia still holds about a fifth of the country.
In his late video address on Monday, President Zelensky said: "From the beginning of September until today, our warriors have already liberated more than 6,000 sq km of the territory of Ukraine - in the east and south".
The counter-offensive appears to have been rapid. Last Thursday, President Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had retaken 1,000 sq km, but by Sunday that stated figure had tripled to 3,000 sq km.
Mr Zelensky thanked several of Ukraine's brigades involved in the counter-offensive, describing their fighters as "true heroes".
He did not reveal which Ukrainian cities and villages had been liberated.
Russia's military earlier admitted that its troops had to leave the key cities of Balakliya, Izyum and Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region. Russia now controls only a small eastern part of the region.
Significant - albeit slower - advances by Ukrainian troops have also been reported in the southern Kherson region, which borders with Crimea - a Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.
However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has insisted that military operations in Ukraine will continue "until all the tasks that were initially set" have been fulfilled, BBC reported.
Russia says its forces have been carrying out strikes in those areas retaken by Ukraine in recent days.
Valerii Marchenko, mayor of Izyum, told the BBC the Ukrainian army was in his city and the state flag had been raised.
The military is now engaged in cleaning up the war-torn city and Ukrainian forces are searching for Russian soldiers potentially hiding in people's houses.
Mr Marchenko said that after "about 10 days", residents who had to flee the city would be able to return "safely".
Russia has been accused of targeting civilian infrastructure in revenge for setbacks on the battlefield.
A wave of missile strikes on Sunday caused massive power cuts across north-eastern Ukraine, leaving tens of thousands of people without electricity and running water for several hours, according to BBC.
Premier League: Chelsea-Liverpool, Man Utd-Leeds & Brighton-Palace off before Queen's funeral
Three Premier League matches have been postponed this weekend before the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, BBC reported.
Chelsea's home game with Liverpool and Leeds United's trip to Manchester United have been called off.
Brighton against Crystal Palace had already been called off because of rail strikes and remains postponed.
The other league matches between 16 and 18 September will take place after football paused last weekend as a mark of respect following the Queen's death.
The Queen's funeral will be held on Monday 19 September.
"Following extensive consultation with clubs, police, local safety advisory groups and other relevant authorities, there was no other option but to postpone the three fixtures," said a Premier League statement.
"The Premier League would like to thank the UK Football Policing Unit and other police forces across the country, as well as our broadcast partners, for their support during this process, and will continue to liaise with them ahead of the weekend, according to BBC.
"For the matches being played during the period of national mourning, tributes will be paid to the Queen at Premier League stadiums.
"New dates for the postponed matches will be announced in due course."
Brighton were scheduled to host Palace on Saturday and, while a rail strike on that day has been suspended following the death of the Queen, the game will not go ahead.
The other two postponed games were due to take place on Sunday.
"The UK Football Policing Unit and National Police Chiefs' Council have worked closely with the Premier League, English Football League and Football Association to balance the policing requirements following the death of Her Majesty the Queen, daily policing and enabling as many football matches as possible to go ahead as planned," said an NPCC statement.
Chelsea's game against Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League on Wednesday is still on, but Arsenal's Europa League tie with PSV Eindhoven on Thursday has been postponed.
All English, Welsh and Northern Irish football and senior Scottish football was postponed over the weekend but matches across the game are set to resume.
English Football League fixtures will return from Tuesday, while the Women's Super League and Women's Championship - due to start last weekend - will take place as scheduled.
Football will resume in Northern Ireland on Monday, while Welsh football will restart on Tuesday. and Scottish football on Wednesday.
National League fixtures will go ahead from Monday, along with all matches across grassroots football in England, BBC reported.
The Football Association confirmed all scheduled matches on the day of the Queen's funeral will be postponed.
In a statement, the FA said: "All matches held at stadiums are subject to leagues and clubs working with the relevant authorities to stage these fixtures, as usual practice.
"We will be recommending to clubs, leagues and competitions across the country that a minute's silence is observed before matches are played, and that black armbands should be worn where possible."
Emmys: Lizzo picks up best reality contest award for Watch Out For The Big Grrrls
Singer Lizzo has won her first Emmy for her hit show Watch Out For The Big Grrrls at a ceremony in Los Angeles, BBC reported.
The star won in a category dominated in recent years by RuPaul's Drag Race.
Lizzo was tearful as she collected her award, saying: "When I was a little girl, all I wanted to see was me in the media. Someone fat like me, black like me, beautiful like me."
The show offers plus-size dancers the chance to compete to join the About Damn Time singer on tour.
Series including Ozark, Dopesick, White Lotus and Ted Lasso have also picked up prizes.
For the second year in a row, Jason Sudeikis won best leading actor in a comedy series for playing the titular football coach in Ted Lasso.
Fellow Brit Matthew MacFadyen won best supporting actor for his portrayal of ambitious interloper Tom Wambsgans in Succession.
Amanda Seyfried was named best lead actress in a limited series or anthology for her role as Elizabeth Holmes in The Dropout, which is based on the real-life story of the disgraced biotech entrepreneur.
She beat fellow stars including Lily James (Pam and Tommy), Toni Collette (The Staircase) and Julia Garner (Inventing Anna).
Garner didn't go home empty-handed however, picking up best supporting actress for her role as Ruth in Netflix crime drama Ozark - the third time she has won the award for that role.
There was a muted build-up to the event, with some pre-show festivities called off following the death of Queen Elizabeth II last week.
The British Film and Television Academy cancelled its traditional Hollywood tea party for nominees, while the Canadian consulate postponed its celebrations.
Hosted by Saturday Night Live comedian Kenan Thompson, it is the first full-scale Emmys since the pandemic. Last year's ceremony was staged outdoors and had limited in-person attendance, according to BBC.
Royal drama The Crown, which was last year's big winner, is not in contention for the 2022 awards. Filming on the latest series was put on pause "as a mark of respect" for the Queen, Netflix said last week.
Succession is the favourite to replace it in the hotly-contested best drama category.
It is up against teen drama Euphoria; drug cartel series Ozark; Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul; throwback sci-fi drama Stranger Things; Korean thriller Squid Game; psychological coming-of-age series Yellowjackets and sci-fi mystery Severance.
If it were to take the trophy, Squid Game - in which misfits and criminals compete for cash in barbaric and deadly versions of schoolyard games - would be the first foreign-language series to win best drama.
Succession is particularly well represented in the drama acting categories. Scottish actor Brian Cox, who plays media mogul Logan Roy, will compete for best actor against his on-screen son, played by Jeremy Strong.
Kieran Culkin lost out to MacFadyen in the supporting actor category, while Sarah Snook - MacFadyen's on-screen wife - and Dame Harriet Walter, who plays Logan Roy's ex-wife Caroline, are up for best supporting actress in a drama.
Dame Harriet is also nominated for playing Deborah in Anglo-American football series Ted Lasso, which is the most-nominated comedy.
Other comedies in the running include school mockumentary Abbott Elementary, Hacks, Only Murders in the Building and long-running show Curb Your Enthusiasm, which has never won, BBC reported.
New hit show Abbott Elementary landed its first win of the night for Sheryl Lee Ralph who won best supporting actress in a comedy. She plays no nonsense teacher Barbara Howard in the primary school mockumentary and is the first black actress to win in this category since 1987.
She sang the opening lines of Dianne Reeves' song Endangered Species after accepting her award, adding in an impassioned speech afterwards: "This is what believing looks like."
The shows with the most nominations: Succession - 25 Ted Lasso - 20 The White Lotus - 20 Hacks - 17 Only Murders In The Building - 17 Euphoria - 16
Killing Eve's Jodie Comer, who is up for outstanding actress in a drama series, a prize she took home in 2019.
The Liverpudlian is up against her co-star Sandra Oh for the award, as well as Laura Linney, Reese Witherspoon and Euphoria actress Zendaya, who won last year.
Pam and Tommy is about Anderson and Tommy Lee's leaked sex tape, which is up for best limited series, alongside the aforementioned White Lotus.
They are in competition with three other dramas based on real-life stories - Dopesick, which chronicles the US opioid crisis, The Dropout, which depicts the fall from grace of biotech entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes (starring Amanda Seyfried) and Inventing Anna, inspired by the story of Anna Sorokin/Delvey, who pretended to be a German heiress so she could convince rich New Yorkers to fund her lavish lifestyle.
Another British actor, Nicholas Hoult, is nominated for lead actor in a comedy series for his part in The Great, and will face competition from the likes of Atlanta creator and star Donald Glover.
Saturday Night Live already has the most wins for best variety sketch show and it picked up the prize again on Monday, extending the number to six.
The Emmys are voted for by more than 25,000 members of the US Television Academy, which represents those in front of and behind the cameras, according to BBC.
This year's awards honour the best TV shows that premiered or streamed between 1 June 2021 and 31 May 2022.
Taoiseach: Queen's death 'reminder to nurture UK-Ireland relations'
Queen Elizabeth's death is a reminder to the UK and Ireland that they need to "proactively nurture the relationship", the Taoiseach (Irish PM) told the BBC.
Micheál Martin noted the monarch's trip to Ireland in 2011 was a "watershed moment" for relations between the two.
It was the first trip by a British sovereign to the independent state and saw the Queen greeted by large crowds.
It was a diplomatic success, and left the Irish with a "fondness" for the Queen, Mr Martin said.
Her passing, he added, had left him with a sense of "deep sadness" - but also with hope for the future relationship between the UK and Ireland, which has come under strain amid the British government's plan to scrap parts of the post-Brexit trade deal it agreed with the EU.
"I would like to think that the visit of Queen Elizabeth II first of all to Ireland, her passing would give us all time for reflection, and will remind us of the need to proactively nurture the relationship between Britain and Ireland to enhance it in the time ahead," the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) said during an interview with the BBC's Fergal Keane.
The sight of the Irish flag at half-mast above City Hall spoke to the genuine affection of Cork people for Queen Elizabeth. Inside a book of condolence was filled with messages praising the Queen as a "healer" and "peacemaker".
One hundred years ago Cork was at the centre of the insurgency which pitted guerrillas of the Irish Republican Army against the forces of the British Crown. Following an IRA ambush in 1920, parts of the city - including the original City Hall - were destroyed by police and soldiers, BBC reported.
Two Lord Mayors who died in the conflict are commemorated by statues outside City Hall. One was assassinated by undercover police. His successor died on hunger strike in a British jail.
Yet by the time she arrived in Cork in 2011 it seemed sure that largescale political violence had ended on the island of Ireland. The Troubles in Northern Ireland had been brought to an end by the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 and violent activism was confined to small dissident Republican groups.
The Queen's visit signalled a closeness between the two countries after years of careful negotiation and compromise.
It saw the Queen speak a few words in Irish - a language once banned under British rule - at a state dinner in Dublin Castle, the former seat of British power in Ireland, and lay a wreath in Dublin's Garden of Remembrance - a park dedicated to Irish people who fought against the British.
It was her bowing her head in the Garden of Remembrance which struck Mr Martin in particular.
"It was a great, great gesture - more than a gesture, an act - that really meant a lot to people, and I think what it really said was, A hundred years on, we all must mature and evolve and have that generosity of spirit which allows us to look back on history in a much more informed, non-prejudicial way."
However, he pointed out that King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales, had also played a role with his own visit in 1995, and then again in 2002 and 2015. He noted on the final visit, the King had made "again a very generous speech remembering all who had died". The Royal Family, he pointed out, had suffered their own hurt with the killing of Lord Mountbatten, the Duke of Edinburgh's uncle, in an IRA bombing, according to BBC.
"All of that has helped the cause of reconciliation - the basic idea we have a lot in common now," he added.
"He was there long before many, in terms of wildlife, biodiversity and climate change. That to me is leadership - in terms of pointing people in the right direction to protect future generations."
Nepal, China sign six-point MoU on inter-parliamentary cooperation
A six-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) on inter-parliamentary cooperation has been signed between Nepal and China on Monday.
Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota and Li Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, signed the MoU at the Parliament building in New Baneshwor this evening.
Both the countries have agreed to respect each other’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and respect each other’s freely chosen social system and development paths and support each other’s core interests and important concerns.
According to the agreement, both sides have agreed to give priority to high-level visits and exchange of contacts between the Legislature of Nepal and the People's Republic of China.
Chinese Speaker Li had arrived in Kathmandu on a four-day visit to Nepal on Monday.
He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka on Tuesday.
The Chinese leader will pay a courtesy call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Wednesday.
