Zelensky welcomes amendments to proposed peace plan

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed proposed changes to the controversial 28-point peace plan for ending the war with Russia, BBC reported.

It appears Ukraine's European allies produced an amended version of the plan after rejecting parts which favoured Russia's war aims.

"Now the list of necessary steps to end the war can become doable..." Zelensky said on Telegram. "Many correct elements have been incorporated into this framework."

Bollywood's 'He-Man' Dharmendra dies at 89

Bollywood star Dharmendra has died in the Indian city of Mumbai at the age of 89,  BBC reported.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the actor, saying his passing "marks the end of an era in Indian cinema".

Dharmendra, who often described himself as "a simple man", commanded extraordinary affection and loyalty from his tens of millions of fans.

Best known as Veeru, the lovable petty criminal in the 1975 blockbuster Sholay, he appeared in over 300 films, many hits, captivating audiences for decades, according to BBC.

Biratnagar Kings defeat Janakpur Bolts by nine runs

Biratnagar Kings defeated Janakpur Bolts by nine runs in the ongoing second edition of the Nepal Premier League on Monday.

It is the third consecutive win of Biratnagar Kings in this NPL. 

Chasing the 136-run target posted by Biratnagar Kings, Janakpur Bolts were limited to 126 runs in 20 overs at the loss of nine wickets. 

For Janakpur, Loftie Eaton made 41 runs while Lahiru Milantha 23 runs, Sanjay Krishnamurthi 20 runs and Aasif Sheikh 13 runs. 

Captain Lamichhane took four wickets for Biratnagar while Surya Ramang two wickets and Marchant de Lange and Shubham Ranjane one wicket each. With this victory, Biratnagar Kings are in the top position with six points. 

Earlier, losing the toss at Kirtipur-based Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Biratnagar Kings were invited to bat first and made 135 runs in allotted  20 overs losing seven wickets. 

For Biratnagar, Shubham Ranjane contributed 37 runs off 29 balls while Bashir Ahmad made 36 runs, Lokesh Bam 28 runs, Martin Guptill 13 runs and George Munsey 10 runs. 

Towards bowling, Janakpur's Rupesh Singh and Sangeeth Kure took two wickets each while Aditya Mahata one wicket.

 

Aryal appointed as Chief Secretary

Suman Raj Aryal, Secretary at the Ministry of Defense, has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of the government. 

According to the Education Minister Mahabir Pun, the Cabinet meeting held today promoted him to the post of Chief Secretary. 

Current Chief Secretary Ekanarayan Aryal is retiring on November 26 due to age bar. 

 

 

MoU Signed Between Kathmandu University and Sathsathai Foundation

Kathmandu University, School of Science and Sathsathai Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) to work together in the multiple areas including climate change.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Dr. Bed Mani Dahal, Dean of the School of Science, stated that collaborating with Sathsathai Foundation is highly important for linking environmental aspects with socio-economic perspectives, which also aligns with the foundation’s vision. He elaborated on the major areas of cooperation, including joint research design and implementation.

Assistant Professor Smriti Gurung of the School of Science shared that both parties can jointly raise issues of climate justice through practical and actionable solutions.

Dr Siddhartha Bajra Bajracharya, Vice President of Sathsathai Foundation, highlighted the organization’s work in promoting sustainable tourism and empowering local communities, and shed light on the initiatives the foundation has undertaken so far.

Sathsathai Foundation’s President, Prajita Karki, mentioned that they have been raising local climate-justice issues in international forums. Since its establishment, Sathsathai Foundation has been contributing to research, studies, and policymaking on various climate- and environment-related issues, while bringing Nepal’s agendas to the international arena.

Earlier, the university and the foundation had already been collaborating—particularly on COP-28 and implementation of Coal Exit Program which was launched on World Environment Day. 

 

Nepse surges by 50. 44 points on Monday

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 50. 44 points to close at 2, 650. 66 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 7. 84 points to close at 456. 13 points.

A total of 14,204,362-unit shares of 330 companies were traded for Rs 7. 03 billion.

Meanwhile, Jhapa Energy Limited (JHAPA) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. 

Likewise, Mabilung Energy Limited (MABEL) was the top loser as its price fell by 4. 44 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 50 trillion.

“Walk for Play, Not Screens” organized by Kidzee

Kidzee preschools across Nepal held a nationwide Walkathon on Nov 22, promoting the theme “Walk for Play, Not Screens.” Preschoolers, parents, and teachers participated across Kathmandu and major cities including Chitwan, Biratnagar, Janakpur, and Birgunj, celebrating active childhood and family togetherness.

Just two days earlier, Kidzee Nepal announced former national cricket captain and CAN Secretary Paras Khadka as its new Brand Ambassador. He highlighted the value of real-world experiences over screen time.

Parents praised the initiative for encouraging children to be active and learn beyond classrooms. Filled with joy and community spirit, the Walkathon served as a reminder of the importance of outdoor play and meaningful family moments.

Private-sector credit growth slumps to 1.5 percent in Q1

Credit disbursement to the private sector grew at a significantly slower pace in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, reflecting subdued economic activity and weakened investor confidence. According to the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), banks and financial institutions (BFIs) increased lending to the private sector by just 1.5 percent to Rs 82.93bn in the first three months of 2025/26. During the same period of the previous fiscal year, private-sector lending had increased by 2.5 percent, with BFIs extending Rs 128.65bn in loans. 

As of mid-October, the total outstanding credit has reached Rs 5,580.64bn. In the review period, outstanding loans of BFIs to the construction sector increased 2.9 percent, transportation, communication and public sector by 2.4 percent, industrial production sector by 2.4 percent, consumable sector by 1.6 percent, and wholesale and retail sector by 1.4 percent. Outstanding loans to the service industry sector, however, decreased by 0.3 percent.

The slowdown in credit expansion has been attributed to the overall economic slump and the adverse investment climate following the GenZ protests of Sept 8 and 9, which created uncertainty and discouraged new business expansion. Even though interest rates have come down, demand for credit has not picked up because economic sentiment remains weak,” a banker says.

Average interest rates on loans have fallen notably compared to last year. In mid-October, average lending rates stood at 7.5 percent for commercial banks, 8.77 percent for development banks, and  10.18 percent for finance companies, down from 9.33 percent, 10.63 percent, and 11.86 percent, respectively, last year. However, lower interest rates have not spurred demand for credit from the private sector.

Commercial banks and finance companies expanded lending by only 1.6 percent each, while development banks posted an even smaller growth of 0.5 percent in the review quarter. In contrast, deposits in BFIs grew by a healthy three percent in the review period. The total outstanding deposits in the banking system have reached Rs 7,482.59bn. 

The mismatch between rising deposits and sluggish credit growth has raised concerns about pressure on banks’ profitability. With limited lending avenues, interest income of banks—the primary source of earnings for most institutions—has been falling over the past few months.

Experts say credit uptake is not growing despite ample liquidity and lower borrowing costs due to weak investor sentiment. If the government does not act now, they say, credit demand—and therefore economic recovery—may remain subdued in the coming months.