Gold price drops by Rs 300 per tola on Monday
The price of gold has dropped by Rs 300 per tola in the domestic market on Monday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow bullion is being traded at Rs 93, 600 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 93, 900 per tola on Sunday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 92, 100 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 93, 400 on Sunday. Similarly, the price of silver is being traded at Rs 1, 150 per tola.
Home Minister Khand, Law Minister Sharma hold meeting with Maoist Center Chair Dahal
Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand and Minister for law, justice and parliamentary affairs Govinda Sharma (Koirala) held a meeting with CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday. During the meeting held at Khumaltar, the trio discussed contemporary political issues. Home Minister Khand said that they discussed parliamentary and provincial elections scheduled for November 20 and various ordinances pending in the House of Representatives and National Assembly. The tenure of the House of Representatives is ending on September 17. The five-party alliance has not been able to reach an agreement on seat sharing yet. Senior leaders are holding discussions on the report submitted by the task force.
Sweden election: Result could take days as vote too close to call
Sweden's election was too close to call on Sunday night, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said, BBC reported.
Exit polls at first predicted victory for the incumbent left-wing coalition, but results later suggested the right-wing bloc could narrowly win.
Immigration and crime were major issues in the campaign, and the far-right Sweden Democrats look set to become the second-largest party.
It could take until Wednesday for all votes to be counted.
Soon after polls closed, an early exit poll by Sweden's public broadcaster suggested Ms Andersson's coalition of four left-wing parties would narrowly win, with 49.8% of the vote compared to 49.2%.
But the left's celebrations were perhaps premature, as later partial results put the right-wing group ahead, with a projected 175 of 349 seats in parliament.
Whatever the result, the far-right Sweden Democrats have made significant gains, appearing to become the country's second-largest party behind the Social Democrats, according to BBC.
Biden to hit China with broader curbs on US chip and tool exports
The Biden administration plans next month to broaden curbs on US shipments to China of semiconductors used for artificial intelligence and chipmaking tools, several people familiar with the matter said, Reuters reported.
The Commerce Department intends to publish new regulations based on restrictions communicated in letters earlier this year to three US companies — KLA, Lam Research and Applied Materials, the people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The plan for new rules has not been previously reported.
The letters, which the companies publicly acknowledged, forbade them from exporting chipmaking equipment to Chinese factories that produce advanced semiconductors with sub-14 nanometer processes unless the sellers obtain Commerce Department licenses.
The rules would also codify restrictions in Commerce Department letters sent to Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices last month instructing them to halt shipments of several artificial intelligence computing chips to China unless they obtain licenses.
Some of the sources said the regulations would likely include additional actions against China. The restrictions could also be changed and the rules published later than expected.
So-called "is informed" letters allow the Commerce Department to bypass lengthy rule-writing processes to put controls in place quickly, but the letters only apply to the companies that receive them. Turning the letters into rules would broaden their reach and could subject other US companies producing similar technology to the restrictions. The regulations could potentially apply to companies trying to challenge Nvidia and AMD's dominance in artificial intelligence chips.m, according to Reuters.
Intel and startups like Cerebras Systems are targeting the same advanced computing markets. Intel said it is closely monitoring the situation, while Cerebras declined to comment.
One source said the rules could also impose license requirements on shipments to China of products that contain the targeted chips. Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Super Micro Computer make data center servers that contain Nvidia's A100 chip.
Dell and HPE said they were monitoring the situation, while Super Micro Computer did not respond to a request for comment.
A senior Commerce official declined to comment on the upcoming action, but said: "As a general rule, we look to codify any restrictions that are in is-informed letters with a regulatory change."
A spokesperson for the Commerce Department on Friday declined to comment on specific regulations but reiterated that it is "taking a comprehensive approach to implement additional actions...to protect US national security and foreign policy interests," including to keep China from acquiring US technology applicable to military modernization, Reuters reported.
KLA, Applied Materials and Nvidia declined to comment while Lam did not respond to requests for comment. AMD did not comment on the specific policy move but reaffirmed it does not foresee a "material impact" from its new licensing requirement.
US Open: Carlos Alcaraz beats Casper Ruud in New York to win first major
Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz fulfilled his potential as a future Grand Slam champion and world number one by beating Casper Ruud in the US Open final to achieve both feats, BBC reported.
Alcaraz won 6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 in his first major final.
The 19-year-old is the youngest men's Grand Slam champion since Rafael Nadal won the French Open in 2005.
Ruud, 23, would have become the new world number one if he had won, but has now lost both of his two major finals.
Instead it is Alcaraz who replaces Russia's Daniil Medvedev at the top, becoming the first teenager to climb to the summit in the 49-year history of the ATP rankings.
After hitting a routine forehand long on his first championship point, Alcaraz took his second with a service winner out wide and instantly fell flat on his back in celebration.
Alcaraz, who saved two set points in the third which would have put Ruud ahead, ran up to his team in the stands and danced with them in a huddle, before returning to his seat where he was crying at the same time as smiling.
"This is something which I dreamt of since I was a kid, being number one in the world and a champion of a Grand Slam," said Alcaraz, who saved a match point against Jannik Sinner in the last eight to reach his first major semi-final, according to BBC.
"It is something I have worked very hard for. It is really, really special."
Ukraine war: Kharkiv blackouts caused by targeted Russian attacks - Zelensky
Russia aims to "deprive people of light and heat" by causing power cuts across eastern Ukraine in revenge for a Ukrainian counter-offensive, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, BBC reported.
The blackouts have reportedly affected around nine million people in eastern regions including Kharkiv and Donetsk.
It comes after Ukraine said it had retaken over 3,000 sq km (1,158 sq miles) during a rapid counter-offensive in the east.
The BBC cannot verify these figures.
Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov said Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure left much of his city without power or water.
He called it a vile and cynical attempt at revenge for the Ukrainian army's recent successes.
Mr Terekhov and the region's governor called for calm, saying the emergency services were working to repair damage and put out fires.
The governor of the neighbouring Sumy region said over 130 settlements in one district alone were without power.
Similar problems have been reported in Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava regions.
"Cold, hunger, darkness and thirst are not as terrible and deadly for us as your 'friendship and brotherhood'," he wrote on Telegram.
President Zelensky said 1,000 sq km had been retaken on Thursday evening. That figure rose to 2,000 sq km on Saturday evening, then to 3,000 on Sunday, according to BBC.
Journalists have been denied access to the front lines but several videos on social media show Ukrainian troops present in towns and villages that were until recently held by Russia.
Ukrainian forces entered the key town of Balaklyia on Friday. Russia later confirmed the withdrawal of troops, to "bolster efforts" on the Donetsk front.
The vital Russian-held supply towns of Izyum and Kupiansk were taken by Ukraine on Saturday. Russia confirmed its forces' retreat from both towns, which it said would allow them to "regroup".
Valerii Marchenko, mayor of Izyum, said residents should be able to return to the town in about 10 days for the first time since it was captured by Russia in March.
Izyum was probably the biggest logistical hub for the Russian army, he said, as it is a gateway to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk in the Donbas region, where Russia wanted to advance.
But Russia still holds around a fifth of the country, and few imagine a swift end to the war.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov warned of the potential for a Russian counter-attack, BBC reported.
"A counter-offensive liberates territory and after that you have to control it and be ready to defend it," Mr Reznikov said.
Queen Elizabeth II: Details revealed for Queen's lying-in-state at Westminster
Mourners wishing to pay their final respects to the Queen have been warned to expect long queues, BBC reported.
Details have been revealed about how people can attend the lying-in-state, which will take place at the Palace of Westminster.
Large crowds are expected and there are warnings those wanting to take apart in the historic occasion may have to wait for hours and even overnight.
People are advised to bring food and drink as well as suitable clothing.
The lying-in-state begins at 17:00BST on Wednesday and will last until 06:30 on Monday, 19 September - the day of the Queen's funeral.
It will be open 24 hours a day between those times.
The Queen's funeral will be "living tradition in action", the Dean of Westminster has said.
The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle said it would be "an opportunity for us to give thanks for an extraordinary life... and an opportunity, if you like, for us to give the grief somewhere to go."
Since the Queen died peacefully at her Balmoral home on Thursday thousands of mourners have been leaving floral tributes at places she loved, including at Buckingham Palace, Sandringham House and Windsor Castle, according to BBC.
Crowds gathered to watch the Queen's funeral cortege travel from Balmoral to Edinburgh on Sunday, as her coffin began its journey to London ahead of the funeral.
On Monday members of the Royal Family will follow behind the hearse as it travels to St Giles' Cathedral in the Scottish city, where the Queen's coffin will lie under vigil for 24 hours.
During the lying-in-state period the Queen's closed coffin will rest on a raised platform inside Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament.
People are being warned that they will need to stand for many hours, possibly overnight, with little opportunity to sit down as the queue will be continuously moving.
There are also expected to be delays on public transport and road closures around the area.
Visitors, who will be required to go through airport-style security, are only allowed to bring one small bag with a single opening or zip per person and there are restrictions on what can be taken in.
People are asked to respect the dignity of the event including by remaining silent while inside the Palace of Westminster and dressing appropriately - with clothes "with political or offensive slogans" banned.
Filming, photography and the use of mobile phones or other devices will not be allowed in the security search area or the Palace of Westminster.
Those queuing are also asked not to attempt to queue on behalf of others or leave personal items unattended in the queue.
Madhav Karki: Loss and damage is our prime agenda at COP27
Preparations are underway to finalize the key agenda that Nepal flags in COP27. Government is holding consultations with key stakeholders to finalize those agendas. In this context, The Annapurna Express talked Madhav Karki, Climate Change and Environment advisor to the Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on the government’s climate priority. What role do you play as an advisor to the prime minister on climate change and environment? My main role is to advise the prime minister on the following aspects: a) Effective coordination among agencies working on Environment Protection and Climate Change; b) Assess the effectiveness of the current institutional arrangements to tackle country’s growing environment and climate change problems and challenges; c) Help the Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoFE) to implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP) at all tires of government; and d) Help improve the health ecosystem to increase the sustained production of ecosystem goods, services and the capacity of vulnerable communities. What are the priorities of the government regarding the climate change issues for the upcoming COP27? The main priorities are: a) Secure 50 percent of the committed climate finance for adaptation and push for a decision on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA); b) Reduce the mitigation ambition gap by calling upon developed countries; c) Secure inclusion of the loss and damage and agreement on the operationalization of the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage (SNLD) by receiving commitment for its permanent Secretariat and dedicated funding; d) Secure 50 percent finance for adaptation out of the $100bn annual climate change finance committed by the developed country by 2023; and e) Champion the cause of mountains by promoting mountain agenda at various forums of the COP27 as a part of highlighting the disproportionate impact vulnerable countries are facing due to global climate change. Besides, Nepal also needs to call for transparency and accountability in stepped-up climate change funding especially to the most vulnerable and least developed countries to support adaptation, capacity building and technology transfer. What are the major tasks of the government regarding the impact of climate change issues? The government is engaged in completing a number of tasks to implement the Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). As a priority, we are strengthening the institutional mechanism to manage climate change by operationalizing the long pending apex body of Environment Protection and Climate Change Management National Council chaired by the prime minister. Under the MoFE, following tasks are being carried out: a) Remain carbon negative between 2030 to 2045 and from 2045, achieve the target of Net Zero Emission by 2045. It was committed by the incumbent prime minister at COP26; b) By 2045, maintain 45 percent forest of the total area of the country (including other wooded land limited to less than four percent green cover); c) By 2030, manage 50 percent of Tarai and Inner Tarai forests and 25 percent of middle hills and mountain forests sustainably, through REDD+ initiatives; d) Ensure forests under community-based management will comprise at least 60 percent of forest area; e) By 2030, upgrade watershed health and vitality in at least 20 districts to a higher condition category; f) By 2030, all 753 local governments will prepare and implement climate-resilient and gender-responsive adaptation plans. The plans will address climate change, disaster vulnerability and risks as well as prioritize adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management measures focusing on women, persons with disability, children, senior citizens, youth, indigenous people, economically deprived communities and people residing in climate-vulnerable geographical areas; and g) The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) will be updated in every ten years and a national level Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (VRA) exercise will be carried out in every five years to influence and inform climate finance resource allocation decisions. Why does the MoFE only change the climate-related policy? However, there should be multiple stakeholders linked for cross-cutting issues. When will the government bring such policies? Or are there any specific plans to fight against climate change issues through joint efforts? As the current Climate Change Policy of the government is to mainstream climate change management in all sectoral policies, plans and programs at the all levels of government, following plans have been introduced for a joint, integrated and holistic approach: Under agriculture sector
- By 2030, soil organic matter content of agriculture land will reach to 3.95 percent
- By 2030, the number of organic fertilizer production plants in the country will reach 100
- Integrate climate change in the upcoming revised Agriculture Policy;
- By 2025, update the Rangeland Policy and develop plans for the sustainable management of rangelands
- By 2030, establish 200 climate-smart villages and 500 climate-smart farms.
- By 2025, climate-sensitive diseases surveillance systems will be strengthened through the integration of climate and weather information into existing surveillance systems
- Public Weather Services (PWS), including the Agro-Meteorological Information System, will be strengthened and established
- By 2030, a multi-hazard monitoring and early warning system covering all the provinces will be established
- By 2025, a national strategy and action plan on Loss and Damage (L&D) associated with climate change impacts will be devised
- By 2030, expand clean energy generation from approximately 1,400MW to 15,000MW, of which 5-10 percent will be generated from mini and micro-hydro power, solar, wind and bio-energy. Of this, 5,000 MW is an unconditional target. The remainder is dependent upon the provision of funding by the international community
- By 2030, ensure 15 percent of the total energy demand is supplied from clean energy sources
- By 2030, ensure 25 percent of households use electric stoves as their primary mode of cooking
- By 2025, install 500,000 improved cook stoves, specifically in rural areas
- By 2025, install an additional 200,000 household biogas plants and 500 large scale biogas plants (institutional/industrial/ municipal/community)
- By 2030, increase the reliable supply of clean energy, ensuring access to all
- Increase the quantity (kWh), quality, reliability, and affordability of electricity access from renewable sources
- Strengthen transmission and distribution links to support upscaling of e-cooking, e-heating, e-transport and charging stations
- Adopt national building codes and prepare Integrated Urban Development Plans (IUDPs) emphasizing low carbon and climate-resilient urban settlements in all municipalities
- By 2025, revise the urban environment management guidelines to incorporate activities related to promoting low carbon and climate resilient urban settlements.
- By 2030, create an enabling environment for both public and private sector to treat industrial and municipal waste, including fecal sludge
- By 2030, adopt and implement waste segregation, recycling and waste-to-energy programs in at least 100 municipalities
- By 2030, the burning of healthcare waste in 1,400 healthcare facilities will be prohibited by proper management of healthcare waste through the application of non-burn technologies
- Promote the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) approach to waste management, along with source segregation and management of degradable and non-degradable waste
- Focus on co-production of energy and organic fertilizer from solid waste, wastewater and fecal sludge
- By 2025, formulate and implement nature-based tourism plans in at least five main tourist destinations
- By 2030, ensure at least five tourist destinations are carbon neutral
- By 2030, including measures in policies to offset the carbon footprint of emissions resulting from tourism transport
- Sales of electric vehicles (e-vehicles) in 2025 will be 25 percent of all private passenger vehicles sales, including two-wheelers and 20 percent of all four-wheeler public passenger vehicle sales (this public passenger target does not take into account electric rickshaws and electric-tempos) in 2025. Due to this e-vehicle sales target, fossil fuel energy demand for the transportation sector will decrease from approximately 40m GJ in the Business as Usual (BAU) scenario in 2025 to 36m GJ. This would be around a nine percent decrease in fossil fuel dependency. This target will reduce emissions from a projected BAU of 2,988 Gg CO2eq. in 2030 to 2,619 Gg CO2 eq., which is around 28 percent decrease in emissions
- By 2030, develop 200 km of the electric rail network to support public commuting and mass transportation of goods.
