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The export of Chhurpi (hardened cheese made from yak milk) through the Mechi Customs Office in Kakarbhitta of Jhapa has increased during the first five months of the current fiscal year (2082/83 BS or 2025/26 AD).

According to Information Officer Ishwor Kumar Humagain, a total of 275,246 kilograms of Chhurpi, amounting to Rs 485. 2 million were exported during this period (from mid-July to mid-December). This represents a 32 percent increase in volume compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year.

In the corresponding period last fiscal year, exports totaled 217,068 kilograms, valued at Rs 367.6 million. The export value has therefore risen by Rs 117.6 million.

Kakarbhitta remains the main export point for domestically produced Chhurpi. Among the top 10 export items from this customs point, Chhurpi ranks fourth.

Chhurpi is produced in the hilly and mountainous districts. 

Most of the Chhurpi is exported to Europe and America, where it is given to dogs and cats.

General Secretary of Nepal Chhurpi Producers Association, Rishi Timsina, said that Koshi Province alone produces 80 percent of the Chhurpi produced in Nepal.

He stated that the government has not paid adequate attention to the production and promotion of the trade in Chhurpi, one of the main products exported from Nepal.

At least 36 people have been killed during the last 10 days of protests across Iran, a human rights group has said, BBC reported. 

The foreign-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that 34 of those confirmed killed were protesters and two were affiliated with security forces.

Iranian authorities have not published an official death toll but said three security personnel have been killed. BBC Persian has so far confirmed the deaths and identities of 20 people, according to BBC. 

Russia has deployed navy assets to escort an oil tanker also being pursued by US forces across the Atlantic, CBS News, BBC's media partner in the US, reported. 

The ship, which currently isn't carrying anything, historically has transported Venezuelan crude oil and was thought to be between Scotland and Iceland on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump said last month that he was ordering a "blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, a move the government there described as "theft", according to BBC. 

Three parties have recommended their candidates from Lumbini in the National Assembly elections slated for January 25.

The Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Nepali Communist Party have finalized their candidates for the elections to be held for three seats in Lumbini.

The Nepali Congress has decided to field Basudev Jangli of Dang from disabled quota.

Similarly, the CPN-UML has nominated Ram Kumari Jhankri while the Nepali Communist Party has put forward Somnath Pandey as its candidate for the upper house elections. 

Gauriganga Municipality of Kailali district has closed the schools for a week in a bid to avoid the impact of severe cold to school children.  

The cold wave coupled with declined temperature has badly affected the teaching and learning activities. So, the municipality office decided to close the schools for a week effective from tomorrow, the municipality office informed. 

Thick fog and haze have blanketed the neighbourhood. The cold wave has further added woes to the people.

Earlier, Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City and Gauriganga Municipality had distributed firewood to locals to help them stay warm. 

Although the hilly region in Sudurpaschim has sunny weather, the southern plain has been blanketed with thick fog and haze for some days. It has also adversely affected the winter crops, the locals said.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 400 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday. 

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 267, 700 per tola today.  It was traded at Rs 268, 100 per tola on Tuesday. 

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 4, 935 per tola.

AS Roma got their faltering Serie A title bid back on track with a 2-0 win at Lecce on Tuesday, where Irish striker Evan Ferguson and substitute Artem Dovbyk were on the scoresheet, Reuters reported. 

Roma, who suffered their fourth defeat in six league matches in a 1-0 loss at Atalanta on Saturday, did enough to see off a Lecce side which had held Juventus to a 1-1 draw at the weekend.

"We didn't ‌have much time to prepare the match after the Atalanta defeat, it was mostly video work," player-of-the-match Ferguson told Sky Sport, according to Reuters. 

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe is set to miss Thursday's Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Atletico Madrid as he continues to recover from a knee injury, with the club naming their travelling squad to Saudi Arabia without the Frenchman, Reuters reported. 

The 27-year-old France captain, who equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's club record of 59 goals in a calendar year for Real in their 2-0 LaLiga win over Sevilla on December 20, has a sprain in his left knee. The injury also ruled him out of Sunday's 5-1 LaLiga home victory over Real Betis.

In a boost for manager Xabi Alonso, summer signing Trent Alexander-Arnold has been included in the squad. The England right back, 27, had been sidelined since early December with a thigh muscle injury in his left leg and was initially expected to miss two months, according to Reuters.