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Chinese troops will travel to Russia to take part in joint military exercises that will start at the end of the month, Beijing’s defence ministry has said, Aljazeera reported.

Last month, Moscow announced plans to hold “Vostok” (East) military drills from August 30 to September 5, saying some foreign forces would also take part without naming them.

Beijing and Moscow have close defence links and China has said it wants to push bilateral relations “to a higher level,” even as Moscow faces international sanctions and widespread condemnation over its February 24 invasion of Ukraine. “The aim is to deepen practical and friendly cooperation with the armies of participating countries, enhance the level of strategic collaboration among the participating parties, and strengthen the ability to respond to various security threats,” the Chinese defence ministry said in a statement. India, Belarus, Mongolia, Tajikistan and other countries will also participate, it said. Relations between Russia and China have grown increasingly close under Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, and Beijing has been under pressure for its opposition to sanctions imposed by many Western countries over the war. Shortly before the invasion, Moscow and Beijing agreed on a “no limits” partnership. Beijing said its decision to participate in the joint exercises was “unrelated to the current international and regional situation”. A year ago this month, Russia and China held joint military exercises in north-central China involving more than 10,000 troops. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu praised the drills in China’s Ningxia and suggested they could be developed further, according to Aljazeera. In October, Russia and China held joint naval drills in the Sea of Japan. Days later, Russian and Chinese warships held their first joint patrols in the western Pacific. The following month, South Korea’s military said it had scrambled fighter jets after two Chinese and seven Russian warplanes intruded into its air defence identification zone during what Beijing called regular training. The Vostok drills are the second joint military exercise conducted by Chinese and Russian troops this year. Bombers from the two countries conducted a 13-hour drill close to Japan and South Korea in May, forcing those countries to scramble jet fighters, as United States President Joe Biden was visiting Tokyo. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said that while warming ties between China and Russia undermined global security, Washington did not “read anything” into the drills, Aljazeera reported. “Most of the participating countries also routinely participate in a wide array of military exercises and exchanges with the United States as well,” he told a press conference. Russia’s eastern military district includes part of Siberia and has its headquarters in Khabarovsk, near the Chinese border.

Nepal reported 542 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 2, 082 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 224 returned positive. Likewise, 2, 848 people underwent antigen tests, of which 318 were tested positive. The Ministry said that no one died of virus in the last 24 hours. The Ministry said that 421 infected people recovered from the disease. As of today, there are 5, 265 active cases in the country.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 27. 56 points to close at 2,068.26 points on Thursday. Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 5. 41 points to close at 400. 08 points. Meanwhile, a total of 5,101,290 unit shares of 220 companies were traded for Rs 2. 05 billion. In today’s market, all sub-indices saw green. HydroPower topped the chart with 70. 77 points. Meanwhile, Mandakini Hydropower Limited and Upper Solu Hydro Electric Company Limited were the top gainers today, with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. NIBL Pragati Fund was the top loser as its price fell by 3.80 percent. At the end of the day, total market capitalisation stood at Rs 2. 96 trillion.

At least 16 persons have been tested positive for Covid-19 in the district prison in Baitadi. Prison chief Radha Bhandari said that four were tested positive on Wednesday and 12 on Thursday. Bhandari said that those who have tested positive for Covi-19 have been kept in isolation. She said that they have been barred from meeting anyone from today. Despite its capacity to accommodate only 25 prisoners, 93 inmates are kept in the prison, Bhandari said. The prison was built in 1983 to house 25 inmates. The virus has spread at the community level in Baitadi. Yogesh Prasad Bhatta, Chief at the District Health Office, Baitadi, said that the Covid-19 was detected in the people coming from India a few days ago.  

Three persons died when a bus hit an auto rickshaw in Chandrapur Municipality of Rautahat district on Thursday. The bus (Bagmati Province 03-001 Kha 201) heading towards Sarlahi from Kathmandu hit the auto rickshaw (Province 2 -02-001 Ha 2109) coming from the opposite direction this morning. Police said that of the four persons traveling in the auto rickshaw sustained injuries in the accident and three died on the way to a hospital. The deceased have been identified as Prem Thadamagar, Dhaka Bahadur Lungeli Magar and auto rickshaw driver Rabi Magar of Soltee, Sarlahi-2, according to the Area Police Office Chandrapur. Sabina Lungeli, wife of Lungeli, who sustained serious injuries in the accident, has been sent to the Neuro Hospital, Birgunj for further treatment. Police said that they have arrested bus driver Chandan Kumar Sah for investigation.

A person died when a fire broke out at a house in Belepur of Sundarharaicha Municipalty-11, Morang in Wednesday. DSP Deepak Shrestha, spokesperson at the District Police Office, Morang said that the fire broke out at the two-storey house of Bal Krishna Giri at around 11 pm yesterday. He said that Kumar Shrestha (38) of Sundarharaicha-11, who was sleeping in the house, died in the incident. He, a painter by profession, had been living the house of Shrestha for the past three days. The house of Shrestha was completely destroyed in the flame. The fire was taken under control with the help of locals, police personnel and fire engines at around 2 am today. Details of the property destroyed in the fire, however, is yet to be ascertained, DSP Shrestha said. He said that police are looking into the incident.        

The United States and Taiwan on Wednesday agreed to start trade talks under a new initiative, saying they wanted to reach agreements with "economically meaningful outcomes," in another sign of stepped up US support for the island, Reuters reported.

Washington and Taipei unveiled the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade in June, just days after the Biden administration excluded the Chinese-claimed island from its Asia-focused economic plan designed to counter China's growing influence. 

The office of the US Trade Representative said the two sides had "reached consensus on the negotiating mandate" and it was expected that the first round of talks will take place early this autumn.

"We plan to pursue an ambitious schedule for achieving high-standard commitments and meaningful outcomes covering the eleven trade areas in the negotiating mandate that will help build a fairer, more prosperous and resilient 21st-century economy," Deputy United States Trade Representative Sarah Bianchi said in a statement.

The negotiating mandate released along with the announcement said the United States and Taiwan have set a robust agenda for talks on issues like trade facilitation, good regulatory practices, and removing discriminatory barriers to trade.

It said the start of the formal talks would be for the purpose of reaching agreements with "high standard commitments and economically meaningful outcomes."

It did not mention the possibility of a broad free trade deal, which is something Taiwan has been pressing for, according to Reuters.

Washington, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, has been keen to bolster support for Taiwan, especially as it faces stepped up political pressure from China to accept its sovereignty claims.

British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to buy Manchester United, BBC reported.