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The CPN (Maoist Center) has changed the Parliamentary Party leader in Sudurpaschim Province.

A Parliamentary Party meeting of the Maoist Center held at the Province Assembly Secretariat on Friday decided to appoint Man Bahadur Dhami as the Parliamentary Party leader by changing Khagraj Bhatta.

Province Assembly member Shiva Singh Oli said that Speaker Bhim Bahadur Bhandari has already been informed about the change of leader.

The Maoist Center has 11 members including the Speaker in the Province Assembly.

Majority members ( six persons) have changed the leader of the party in today's meeting.

Province Assembly members Man Bahadur Dhami, Akkal Rawal, Shiva Singh Oli, Om Bikram Bhat, Laxmi Bk and Gita Mal were present in the meeting.

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

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 118, 000 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 118, 400 per tola on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 117, 450 per tola. It was traded at Rs 117, 850 per tola.

Similarly, the price of silver, however, has increased by Rs 20 and is being traded at Rs 1,400 per tola today.

The gold is being traded at Rs 118, 400 per tola in the domestic market on Monday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 117, 859 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1, 390 per tola today.   

Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard on 17 January discussed the negotiating priorities for WTO members in the run-up to the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi next month and areas where members are considering reform of the WTO at a seminar on the WTO organized by the Washington International Trade Association, World Trade Organization reported.

DDG Ellard observed that a key priority for MC13 is to build on the achievements of the previous June 2022 Ministerial Conference, MC12, by concluding the second wave of negotiations on fisheries subsidies and ensuring the entry into force of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. She noted that in the month remaining before MC13, WTO members will be conducting intensive negotiations on provisions to curb subsidies contributing to overcapacity and overfishing. She added that 55 members have already deposited their instruments of acceptance for the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which is half of the required number for entry into force, and that many more are underway. 

DDG Ellard said that other negotiating priorities include dispute settlement reform and extending the moratorium on the imposition of customs duties on electronic transmissions, which will expire if members do not renew it at MC13. In addition, members are considering whether to extend the TRIPS Decision on COVID-19 vaccines adopted at MC12 to COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics. She added that the negotiations on agriculture continue, with many members pointing to food security as an important priority.  However, the talks remain difficult as members have different views on issues such as public stockholding for food security purposes, domestic support and market access.

DDG Ellard explained that negotiations have different formats, depending on the subject matter and the level of maturity of the issues discussed. She underlined the role of regular General Council and committee meetings as well as group meetings and informal retreats in building trust among members. "The goal is to make the Geneva process as successful as possible and to have the ambassadors present final texts for ministers' blessing at MC13," she said.

With respect to WTO reform, she said that everyone agrees that the WTO needs reform, but members' views on what needs to be improved differ. She outlined three broad areas of reform: (i) negotiating new rules and revising the existing rules; (ii) reinvigorating the deliberative function of the organization; and (iii) improving the way the Secretariat assists members. She noted that many members are interested in reforming the regulation of subsidies, although their priorities differ. While some members concentrate on addressing state intervention in support of industrial sectors, some developing members seek policy space to promote industrialization, according to World Trade Organization.

With respect to the improvement of the deliberative function, DDG Ellard  explained that many members emphasize enhancing transparency and improving compliance with notification requirements. In addition, developing countries would like reform in this area to enhance effective and meaningful participation of small and resource-constrained delegations in all deliberations and decisions. 

Finally, DDG Ellard emphasized the efforts aimed at enhancing the WTO's deliberative function through improved working procedures, such as in the Council for Trade in Goods and its subsidiary bodies, as part of "reform by doing". She noted that 127 improvements have already been adopted by members in Geneva. She also highlighted the Secretariat's development of new digital tools and databases with a view to improving transparency and facilitating members' participation in different activities of the organization.

The world is currently grappling with multiple crises, ranging from the Russia-Ukraine conflict and tense dynamics between the US and China to escalating tensions in the Middle East, economic recessions, and the pressing issue of climate change. Navigating foreign policy and international relations efficiently during such tumultuous times is challenging for every country.

As major power rivalries escalate, countries in the Global South are facing difficulties staying away from this bloc and alliance politics. Powerful countries are putting pressure on these countries to support them on global issues such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the crisis in the Middle East. In the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine war, a noticeable shift has been seen in the Global South which is trying to adopt a policy of neutrality on various international matters. A common thread among these nations is that they do not want to engage in strategic and military competitions between two countries, but want to maintain equal economic relations with all countries.

Amid these global challenges, leaders from about 120 countries have gathered in Kampala, Uganda, for the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which kicked off on Monday. There is a high-level participation from Nepal in the summit under the leadership of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud has already addressed the ministerial conference, highlighting non-alignment as the basis of Nepal's foreign policy. Saud has conveyed a clear message that Nepal maintains an independent and balanced foreign policy and will never join military alliances or security pacts.

The statement of the foreign minister has come at a time when there are intensive discussions on the relevance of the policy of non-alignment in contemporary geopolitics. Such discussions and points of view are misguided because the policy of non-alignment is not merely a movement that began in the 1960s; it is a principle that is still relevant. While interpretations of non-alignment may vary, its essence remains rooted in the refusal to align with one power at the expense of antagonizing others. Nepal's policy of non-alignment has not hindered its ability to forge economic cooperation with all powers.

The policy is still relevant today as powerful nations vie to pull Nepal into their orbits, pressuring it to abandon its neutral stance and support their military and strategic initiatives. Given its geographical, geopolitical, and strategic location, Nepal cannot afford to take sides. Through the policy of non-alignment, Nepal has to give a clear message: it seeks engagement on economic terms while steering clear of military and strategic entanglements. It is willing to consider economic offers devoid of strategic components. As the world grapples with complexity, we urge the government and political parties in Nepal to adhere to the principles of non-alignment.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 700 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 117, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 118, 200 per tola on Wednesday

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 116, 950 per tola. It was traded at Rs 117, 650 per tola.

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 10 and is being traded at Rs 1,390 per tola today.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by -12. 10 points to close at 2, 163.06 points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by -1. 11 points to close at 396. 31 points.

A total of 33,525,702-shares of 300 companies were traded for Rs 9. 76 billion.

Meanwhile, Global IME Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd and Nepal Warehousing Company Limited were the top gaines today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Eastern Hydropower Limited  and Bhugol Energy Development Company Limited 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 1. 17 trillion.

One more Nepali youth—Sajan Gurung (32) from Lamjung district—has died while fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war, pushing further the toll of Nepalis in the war and raising questions about the safety of more than 200 youths that are reportedly involved in the war. Leaving behind his parents, wife and son, Gurung had headed for Russia three months ago and joined the Russian army. His family came to know about his death five days ago. 

Though the government claims to have intensified diplomatic efforts with Russia to address some of the key concerns surrounding the Nepali youths involved in the war, nothing has been done as yet to repatriate the youths. The government maintains that the Kremlin should have stopped the Nepalis from joining the Russian army in the first place.  Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said recently that approximately 200 Nepalis have been serving in the Russian army, but independent observers have said upon their return from Russia that the number could be much higher. Till date, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the death of more than 10 Nepalis in the war. 

In the wake of mounting deaths in the war, the Department of Foreign Employment has stopped issuing work permits to those seeking jobs in Russia and Ukraine.  The government seems to have no idea about the exact number of Nepalis fighting the war, the number of prisoners of war and the number of those injured in action. Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud had pledged to seek those details, in vain.