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Bajura district will not face food shortage this year as the Food Management and Trading Company Limited (FMTCL), Bajura has adequate food stock at its depot in Martadi and Kolti. 

The Martadi branch has 4,000 quintals of rice in stock while the Kolti branch at Budhinanda Municipality in the north-east region has 2,300 quintals in stock, said Umesh Bhandari, Chief of the FMTCL branch office, Martadi.

According to him, unlike in the previous years, people will not have to buy costly food grains during the festival time this year.

"There used to be acute shortage of food grains in the district during the festivals due to the closure of the roads in the monsoon period. This year, the contractors hired for transporting the food grains have brought the food grains on time and the supply is as per the demand. So, there is less chance of food shortage this time," Bhandari explained.

Of the 4,000 quintals of rice stored at branch office Martadi includes 2,106 quintals of Aruwa coarse rice, 1,685 quintals of Aruwa Sona moderate grain rice and 225 quintals of Jira Masino or fine-grain rice.

Similarly, of the 2,300 quintals rice in stock at Kolti depot office includes 1,969 quintals Aruwa coarse rice, 202 quintals of Sona Mansuli rice and 151 quintals Jira Masino or fine-grain rice.

Meanwhile, the FMTCL has operated fair price shops at Martadi and Kolti from today in view of the approaching Dashain and Tihar festivals.

A discount of five rupees has been offered on one kg rice sold from the fair price shops, Bhandari said.

The number of patients with dengue and scrub typhus infection has surged at the Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku.

According to Hospital Director Dr Yubanidhi Basaula, the facility has seen an increase in cases over the past week, leading to challenges in managing adequate beds for patients. Currently, 55 patients with these infections are admitted, with an average of eight patients seeking treatment daily.

Since mid-August, the hospital has treated 195 cases of dengue, 13 of scrub typhus, and 71 snakebites.

Dr Basaula emphasized that these infections can be fatal if not medically intervened on time. 

Although the hospital is permitted to operate 100 beds, it is currently equipped with only 85.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 59. 02 points to close at 2,529.33 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 9. 01 points to close at 454. 41 points.

A total of 13,535,903-unit shares of 329 companies were traded for Rs 5. 66 billion.

Meanwhile, Himalayan Hydropower Limited (HHL) was the top gainer today with their price surging by 9. 84 percent. Likewise, Goodwill Finance Limited (GFCL), Samriddhi Finance Company Limited (SFCL), NIC Asia Flexi CAP Fund (NICFC) and Eastern Hydropower Limited (EHPL) were the top losers as their price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 02 trillion.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba held bilateral meetings with foreign ministers from various countries in New York on Sunday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Rana is in New York in the Nepali delegation participating in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

According to the Foreign Minister's private secretariat, during the meeting with her Indonesian counterpart Retno L.P. Marsudi, two key agreements--the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism and the Visa Exemption Agreement for diplomatic and official/service passport holders were signed by Minister Rana on behalf of Nepal, and Marsudi on behalf of Indonesia. The agreements aim to further strengthen bilateral ties, and enhance cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting discussed a range of issues, including mutual bilateral interests between the two countries, as well as the expansion of future relations, development partnership, and cooperation to reduce the impact of climate change. Likewise, the leaders also discussed the mutual cooperation and investment between the two countries in tourism promotion.

Minister Rana expressed the hope that the newly signed agreements would play an important role in further expanding the mutual relations between the two countries.

Similarly, Minister Rana had a talk with her Burundian counterpart Albert Shingiro. The two ministers discussed issues, including mutual relations and bilateral interests as well as potential future cooperation between the two countries.

The discussions between the two ministers also touched on identifying ways for cooperation to tackle the impacts of climate change, which the two landlocked countries are struggling with. Additionally, Dr Rana held talks with Finland's Minister of Foreign Trade & Development, Ville Tavio.

During the meeting, the two leaders acknowledged over 50 years of strong and friendly relations and cooperation between Nepal and Finland.

On the occasion, Minister Rana appreciated Finland's continued support in Nepal's economic and social sectors. They also discussed mutual interests, future cooperation and potential partnership areas.

Nine detainees have escaped after breaking ventilation of the custody at the District Police Office, Dhanusha.

According to District Police Office Spokesperson Ranjan Awale, nine of the 10 detainees escaped this morning.

One of the absconders has been arrested, he said. All the absconding detainees were arrested in drug and theft cases.

Spokesman Awale said the detainees escaped by cutting ventilation with a 'hacksaw blade' used to cut the rod.

Investigation is taking place into how the hacksaw blade reached the access of detainees, he informed.

Meanwhile, police have made public the names of the absconding detainees.

According to the police, Amit Kumar Jha, Ranjit Mandal, Roshan Mandal, Bhaskar Yadav and Bishal Mukhiya were arrested on charge of their involvement in drug case while Sumit Mestar, Manish Mandal and Vicky Karki were held in the indecent behavior case.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 400 per tola in the domestic market to set a new record.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, the gold is being traded at Rs 159,200 per tola (11.66 grams) against Rs 158,800 on Sunday.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1, 920 per tola.

Over 300 participants, including youths, farmers, women, people with disabilities, members of civil society organizations, and marginalized and indigenous people, gathered in Kathmandu for the People’s Climate March 2024. They called for accountability in climate finance, urging the Global North to #PayUp for its climate debt.

The march began at Jawalakhel at 8:30 am, passing through Damkal Chowk and Lalitpur Mahanagar Parisar, and ended at Pimbahal Pokhari at 10 am. 

A flash mob led by youth groups energized the concluding event at Pimbahal Pokhari, where speakers from diverse backgrounds shared their views. Moderated by Ojaswee Amagain of Climates Nepal and Susmita Baidawar of the Digo Bikas Institute, the session featured prominent voices, including Min Bahadur Shahi from the Human Rights Alliance, Lubh Raj Neupane of RYOM, Jharana Giri from Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA), and Ganesh Dhami of Youth Advocacy Nepal (YAN).

“Today, we stand united with activists worldwide, demanding climate justice,” said one speaker. The rally participants emphasized the $5trn annual debt owed by the Global North to the Global South, calling for immediate action on climate finance as both a moral and legal obligation.

Supported by 24 civil society organizations and networks in Nepal, the march echoed global demands for climate justice and equitable solutions to the climate crisis.

The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub, in collaboration with GIZ’s Green Resilient Agricultural Productive Ecosystems (GRAPE) Project, has successfully conducted Climate Resilient Agriculture Workshops for young farmers from Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. The workshops provided participants, aged 18 to 25, with critical insights into climate change, its effects on agriculture, and practical strategies for mitigation and adaptation tailored to their local environments.

As climate change increasingly threatens food security and agricultural systems, the initiative aims to drive positive change through dialogue and climate action. The workshop is part of a broader four-part series, culminating in a talk event titled “Adapting Agriculture to Changing Climates.”

Govinda Sharma, the lead trainer from the HASERA Permaculture Learning Center, highlighted the hands-on malt-making process as a key learning experience. Many participants, who had previously relied on traditional farming practices, found the workshop transformative. Learning to convert basic cereal grains into malt not only introduced them to new skills but also revealed income-generating opportunities for their communities.

Sharma also emphasized other practical skills taught during the workshop, such as biochar production, advanced composting techniques, and pest control—each tailored to the specific agricultural needs of the participants. The immediate impact of the workshop is already visible: one participant from Karnali has started producing malt from local grains and is eager to pursue quality checks, marking an early success in what promises to be a wave of innovation across the region.

One of the organizers of these workshops expressed optimism about the future of youth engagement in agriculture, saying, “Hearing these young farmers share their stories made me realize the resilience it takes to grow food in such challenging conditions and the vital role they play in feeding our communities.”

The Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub is now looking forward to the upcoming talk series, which will further explore adaptive strategies for agriculture in the face of climate change and empower the next generation of farmers in Nepal.