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More than 100 people have been killed after an earthquake hit northwestern China while many people were asleep, Aljazeera reported.

The earthquake, measured at 6.2 according to state news agency Xinhua, struck at about midnight in Gansu Province near the border with Qinghai, causing significant damage, state media reported on Tuesday.

The tremor was felt as far away as Xi’an in northern Shaanxi province, about 570 kilometres (350 miles) from the epicentre.

Gansu provincial authorities told a press conference that as of 7.50am (23:50 GMT on Monday), 105 people had been confirmed dead, and 397 injured. More than 4,700 houses had been damaged, they added. Power and water supplies were disrupted in some villages, Xinhua said.

According to CCTV, at least 11 people were also killed in the city of Haidong in Qinghai. Haidong is situated close to the epicentre about 100km (60 miles) southwest of Gansu Province’s capital, Lanzhou.

People living close to the epicentre rushed out onto the street as they felt the earthquake. Some buildings collapsed.

“I live on the 16th floor and felt the tremors so strongly,” a man named Qin was quoted as saying in the state-run Global Times. “The moment of the earthquake was feeling like being tossed up after surging waves… I woke my family up and we rushed down all 16 floors in one breath.

Qin added that it was minus 12 degrees Celsius (10.4 Fahrenheit), and that while some of his neighbours had put on down jackets or wrapped themselves in blankets others were bare-chested, according to Aljazeera.

Rescue work was under way with Chinese President Xi Jinping calling for “all-out efforts” in the search and relief work. Nearly 1,500 firefighters were deployed with another 1,500 on stand-by, according to state media. More than 300 officers and soldiers were also mobilised for disaster relief.

Supplies including drinking water, blankets, stoves and instant noodles were also being sent to the affected area.

Footage on state television showed emergency vehicles driving along snow-lined highways, and rescue workers pictured shoulder-to-shoulder in the trucks.

The US Geological Survey reported the quake was a magnitude 5.9, while the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said it was a magnitude 6.1.

The earthquake struck at a depth of 10km (6 miles) at 11:59 pm local time on Monday (15:59 GMT), according to the USGS, which initially reported the magnitude at 6.0. Multiple aftershocks were reported.

Gansu has a population of about 26 million people and includes part of the Gobi Desert.

Earthquakes are not uncommon in China.

In September 2022, a 6.6-magnitude quake hit Sichuan Province leaving almost 100 dead.

A 7.9-magnitude quake in Sichuan in 2008 left more than 87,000 people dead or missing, including 5,335 children who were in school at the time it happened.

At least 242,000 people were killed in 1976 after an earthquake struck Tangshan in the worst natural disaster in Chinese history.

Trade measures introduced by G20 economies have become more restrictive in recent months, according to the 30th WTO Trade Monitoring Report on G20 trade measures issued on 18 December. The report shows that between mid-May and mid-October 2023, G20 economies introduced more trade-restrictive than trade-facilitating measures on goods, although the value of traded merchandise covered by facilitating measures continued to exceed that covered by restrictions. Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala called on the G20 to show leadership and contribute to economic stability and growth by unwinding recent and longstanding restrictions on trade.

The report is set against a backdrop of continued slow growth in world trade. The WTO's latest forecast (5 October 2023) estimated merchandise trade volume growth of 0.8% in 2023 (down from the previous estimate of 1.7%) and 3.3% in 2024 (nearly unchanged from 3.2% previously). In the first half of 2023, the volume of world merchandise trade was down 0.5% year-on-year, as high inflation and rising interest rates weighed on trade and output in advanced economies, and as property market strains prevented a stronger post-pandemic recovery in China.

The Trade Monitoring Report indicates that although the trade coverage of import-facilitating measures still exceeded that of restrictive ones during the review period, this gap has narrowed considerably. During the review period, trade-facilitating measures were estimated at USD 318.8 billion (down from USD 691.9 billion in the last report, issued in July 2023) and trade-restrictive ones at USD 246 billion (up from USD 88 billion). 

For the first time since 2015, the monthly average of 9.8 new trade restrictions introduced by G20 economies during the review period outpaced that of trade-facilitating measures (8.8). In addition, the longstanding stockpile of G20 import restrictions in force showed no sign of any meaningful roll back of existing measures. By mid-October 2023, USD 2,287 billion worth of traded goods (representing 11.8% of G20 imports) were affected by import restrictions implemented by G20 economies since 2009. 

Export restrictions have become more prominent since 2020, with a series of measures introduced first in the context of COVID-19 and more recently of the war in Ukraine and the food security crisis. Although some of these export restrictions have been rolled back, as of mid-October 2023, 75 export restrictions on food, feed and fertilizers were still in place globally. 

The implementation of new COVID-19 trade-related measures by G20 economies decelerated further over the past five months, with the number of new COVID-19-related support measures falling sharply. As of mid-October 2023, 82.9% of G20 COVID-19 trade restrictions had been repealed, leaving 11 export restrictions in place. The trade coverage of the pandemic-related trade restrictions still in place was estimated at USD 15.1 billion (down from USD 16.2 billion).

The review period saw a significant increase in the introduction of new general economic support measures by G20 economies. These included environmental impact reduction programmes, renewable-energy production schemes, support for energy efficiency and decarbonization and for clean- and renewable-energy projects. Other measures included various support programmes for the agricultural sector, tourism, aviation and transport.

The report also shows that the succession of crises and the uncertain economic environment continue to weigh on international investment and in particular on foreign direct investment (FDI). This sustained weakness in FDI makes it more challenging to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This concern is amplified by the SDG investment gap in developing countries, the deficit in investment needed to help developing economies achieve the SDG targets. This has alarmingly widened from USD 2.5 trillion to about USD 4 trillion per year, leading up to 2030, according to data by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The WTO trade monitoring reports have been prepared by the WTO Secretariat since 2009. G20 members are Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Canada; China; the European Union; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Italy; Japan; the Republic of Korea; Mexico; the Russian Federation; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; South Africa; Türkiye; the United Kingdom; and the United States.

The National Human Rights Commission has said that its serious attention has been drawn towards the Nepalis joining the Russian and Ukrainian army in an illegal way.

The human rights watchdog has urged the government of Nepal to protect the life of people by ending the situation of going to foreign countries for employment through illegal ways, reads a statement issued by the Commission on Sunday.

Joint Secretary Dr Tika Ram Pokharel, Joint Secretary at the Commission, said that the Commission's serious attention has been drawn towards the information received through various news agencies that the Nepalis, who have joined the Russian and Ukrainian army through illegal means, have died and injured during the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and still hundreds of Nepalis are serving in the Russian and Ukrainian army.

The Commission claimed that it is the duty of the government to rescue and protect the human rights of the Nepali citizens in any kind of situation.

The Commission has received information that some Nepalis serving in the Russian army have died, some injured are undergoing treatment in various hospitals, some have been held captives and hundreds are serving in the army of both the countries, according to the statement.

The Commission has urged the government to take initiatives to bring the Nepalis who want to return home through diplomatic channels and provide relief to the families of those killed and injured in the war.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 47. 75 points to close at 1, 907. 95 points on Sunday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 7. 83 points to close at 364. 81 points.

A total of 6,530,64-unit shares of 294 companies were traded for Rs 2. 01 billion.

Meanwhile, Chhyangdi Hydropower Ltd and Bhagawati Hydropower Development Company Limited were the top gainers today, with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Infinity Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited​​​​​​​ and NMB Sulav Investment Fund - 2 were the top losers as their price fell by 2. 47 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 94 trillion.

A 4.5 magnitude earthquake jolted Kathmandu Valley and adjoining districts on Thursday.

According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, the earthquake with epicenter in Chitlang of Makwanpur district was recorded at 1: 19 am.

Ten Nepalis have died in the attacks of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Israel.

According to Nitin Bhandari, a Nepali student, four persons have been injured and one is still missing.

He said that two others are in safe hands of police.

Bhandari said that all of them are the students of Far-Western University.

The deceased have been identified as Narayan Prasad Neupane and Ashish Chaudhary of Kailali, Ganesh Kumar Nepali of Bajhang, Dipesh Raj Bista and Lokendra Singh Dhami of Darchula, Ananda Sah of Dhanusha, Rajesh Kumar Swarkar of Sunsari, Rajan Phulara and Padam Thapa of Doti and Pravesh Bhandari of Salyan.

Nepali Ambassador to Israel Kanta Rijal confirmed the death of 10 Nepali in the attack.

Pramod KC of Salyan and Birendra Chaudhary of Kailali are in safe hands.

Among the four persons injured in the attack, Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary of Kailali and Himanchal Kattel have sustained injuries in their legs. They are undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

Bipin Joshi of Kanchan has not come in contact with the concerned authority.

The government has decided to form a four-member high-level probe commission to investigate the gold smuggling case.

The meeting has decided to form the commission under the headship of former High Court Chief Judge Dilliram Acharya.

Other members of the commission are Kishor Jung Karki of the Finance Ministry, Prem Raj Joshi of Home Ministry and former AIG Sahakul Thapa.

Earlier, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had called an all-party meeting to discuss the gold smuggling case.

Following the all-party meeting, Prime Minister Dahal had summoned a Cabinet meeting.

The meeting has decided to form a high-level probe commission under the headship of former High Court Judge Acharya to investigate the recent gold smuggling case, Information and Communications Minister Rekha Sharma said.

The Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NICCI) and the Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCC&I) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on economic collaboration during the inaugural day of the Indo-Pacific Economic Conclave 2023 held in Kolkata, India.

Shreejana Rana, President of NICCI, and Subir Chakraborty, President of BCC&I, signed the MoU in a ceremony that symbolized a new era of economic cooperation.

The Indo-Pacific Economic Conclave 2023, organized by BCC&I, served as the ideal platform for this landmark agreement, reads the statement issued by NICCI.

During the program,  Rana addressed the critical issues facing the Indo-Pacific region.

Her speech touched on various aspects, including cargo shipment, infrastructure development, logistics optimization, supply chain efficiency, visa regulations, and more.

In addition to that, Rana underscored the immense potential of the Indo-Pacific region, highlighting its economic dynamism, cultural diversity, and capacity for innovation, according to the statement.

She emphasized the need to confront the pressing challenges that hinder the region's progress, such as infrastructure gaps, logistics inefficiencies, and the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on supply chains.

Moreover, Rana shed light on concerns related to visa regulations, non-tariff barriers, environmental sustainability, and climate change, all of which can significantly affect cross-border trade and investment.

Meanwhile, Rana put forth a comprehensive set of solutions to resolve these problems.

Furthermore, she advocated for the negotiation of bilateral agreements on labor movement to address labor shortages and skills gaps in various sectors.

Rana also emphasized the importance of digitalization and e-commerce initiatives to facilitate the seamless movement of goods and services across borders, reducing paperwork and administrative burdens, the statement reads.

Recognizing the increasing importance of environmental considerations in global trade, Rana urged for collaborative efforts to address environmental concerns and promote sustainable practices.

She encouraged regional stakeholders to adopt eco-friendly trading practices and engage in responsible environmental stewardship to enhance the region's reputation as a responsible and eco-conscious trading partner.

On top of that Rana also highlighted the significance of cultural exchanges, educational programs, and tourism as instruments to promote greater understanding and cooperation among nations. She stressed the importance of fostering a sense of regional identity and unity as a means to bolster cooperation further.

Additionally, she emphasized the critical role of collaborative research and innovation initiatives in driving economic growth and technological advancement within the region. Mrs. Rana also proposed coordinated efforts in disaster management and relief, including the establishment of early warning systems and joint response teams, to minimize the impact of natural disasters on the region's economies, the statement further reads.

As part of the seamless connectivity agenda and to promote bilateral and regional tourism, Rana unveiled the recent release of a Coffee Table Book on Spiritual Circuits between Nepal and India. This beautifully curated book features five religious circuits - Ramayana, Mahabharat, Shivashakti, Buddhist, and Sikh - in both countries. Following its successful unveiling in Nepal, plans are underway for a grand launch in India, enhancing cultural exchanges and promoting tourism.