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US President Donald Trump announced that Coca-Cola will return to using real cane sugar in its namesake soda sold in the US, following his discussions with the company.

“I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using real Cane Sugar in Coke… and they have agreed,” he posted on Truth Social, according to Xinhua.

Coca-Cola confirmed the decision, adding that more product updates will follow soon. The company switched to high-fructose corn syrup in the 1980s to cut costs.

The move comes amid rising health concerns over artificial sweeteners. Coca-Cola already sells a cane sugar version known as “Mexican Coke”, Xinhua reported.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 34. 61 points to close at 2,794. 78 points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 7. 86 points to close at 489. 27 points.

A total of 43,111,416-unit shares of 330 companies were traded for Rs 14. 03 billion.

Meanwhile, 10% KBL Debenture 2090 (KBLD90) and Three Star Hydropower Limited were the top gainers today, with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Mai Khola Hydropower Limited (MKHL) was the top loser as its price fell by 7. 87 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 65 trillion.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that he has instructed officials to bring the Korala border with China in Mustang into full-fledged operation after setting up necessary infrastructure. During a meeting with people’s representatives from Mustang in Kathmandu on Tuesday, Oli said he had already issued directives to open the Korala border point as an alternative trade and transit route with China, particularly in the wake of recent natural disasters that have disrupted other customs points.

The Rasuwagadhi border point, Nepal’s primary land route for trade with China, has been shut since July 8 after a flash flood in the Lhendekhola River damaged customs and immigration facilities and roads. Similarly, the Tatopani customs point, another gateway to China, is facing operational issues due to frequent landslides and poor road conditions, making it an unreliable route for trade and passenger movement.

Given these setbacks, local representatives and other stakeholders of Mustang have been pressing the government to fast-track preparations for the Korala route. A few days ago, tourism entrepreneurs urged the government to initiate diplomatic talks with China to allow Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrims, who were stranded due to the Rasuwagadhi flood, to travel to Tibet, China via the Korala border.

During the meeting, local representatives drew the Prime Minister’s attention to the lack of necessary infrastructure at the border. They said the government should immediately initiate the process to blacktop the 97-kilometer Kagbeni–Korala section of the Kaligandaki Corridor Road and establish customs, immigration, an integrated security post and a dry port at the Korala point to support cross-border operations.

The Korala border, believed to be a part of the ancient Silk Route, facilitated trade between Tibet and the Indian subcontinent for centuries. Realizing the trade prospects of this border point, Nepal has been building the Kaligandaki Corridor Road to link Tibet with India. The 254-kilometer highway links Gaidakot along the East-West Highway with Korala via the Kali Gandaki Corridor.

While China has built most of the facilities on its side, the Nepali side of the border remains deserted. About a dozen tents of Nepali traders selling products brought from China can be seen at the border, catering to domestic tourists who reach the border point. The Armed Police Force (APF) has built a border outpost (BOP) a few kilometers below the border. Although the government has set up an immigration office, it is largely non-operational.

“As soon as Rasuwagadhi was hit by floods, I instructed officials to begin preparations for operating the Korala point as an alternative,” Oli told people’s representatives from Mustang.

Locals also raised concerns about the high restricted area permit fee, $500 per person for 10 days, which, they say, has restricted tourism activities in remote villages of Mustang, particularly those in Lomanthang and Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda rural municipalities.

Only five percent of the total financial equalization budget allocated by the federal government to local governments actually reaches the municipalities. Despite the limited budget, municipal representatives remain optimistic, as the program has earned their trust. Since citizens directly participate in budget planning, municipalities do not receive arbitrary allocations. Local representatives argue that if the budget size is increased—especially in municipalities closely tied to the daily lives of people—development will no longer be a distant goal. The Federation of Rural Municipalities and Municipalities has also urged the federal government to increase the financial equalization budget allocated to the local level.

Devdaha Municipality in Rupandehi has introduced its annual policy, programs, and budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26, which includes a plan to provide land ownership certificates to 14,300 landless individuals. Mayor Dhruv Prasad Kharel emphasized that land ownership is crucial to identity and human dignity. “We have appointed 34 employees, and work is underway across the Rupandehi district,” Kharel said. “We’ve prioritized this program, and all landless individuals will receive land titles by the end of the next fiscal year.”

Madhukrishna Paudyal, the municipality’s Chief Administrative Officer, said a budget of Rs 20 million has been allocated for the program—double the amount allocated in the previous fiscal year. “This land title distribution program is our main priority,” Paudyal noted. Currently, land surveys are ongoing in wards 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10.

Out of 1,400 individuals who received public notices, 834 have already paid the necessary fees to receive land ownership certificates. The municipality plans to distribute the certificates to them in the coming days and aims to complete all surveying work by September.

Meanwhile, Jhimruk Rural Municipality in Pyuthan has launched a “One Ward, One Product” initiative. Each of the municipality’s eight wards has been designated for the cultivation of specific agricultural products. Ward 1 focuses on turmeric and soybeans; Ward 2 on turmeric, soybeans, and millet; Ward 3 on seed production; Ward 4 on oranges; Ward 5 on commercial vegetables; Ward 6 again on seed production; and Wards 7 and 8 on commercial orange farming.

“We’ve linked each ward with a product through our policies and programs,” said Pramod Pokharel, Vice-chairperson of the rural municipality. “A municipality cannot progress without commercial agriculture.” He added that subsidies are being provided to farmers who are eager to engage in productive farming. To help market the products, the municipality has constructed a new marketplace in Machhibazar, its administrative center, which will be operational at the beginning of the next fiscal year.

“Local municipalities are the true engines of grassroots development,” Pokharel said. “National prosperity lies in the hands of local governments. But the subsidies we receive from the federal and provincial governments are not scientific. This must change. If resources are allocated appropriately, these local Singha Durbars can truly deliver transformative results.” He emphasized that financial equalization subsidies should be determined not only by geography and population but also by revenue generation capacity.

Tilottama Municipality in Rupandehi has introduced a popular policy: “One Ward, One Kilometer of Blacktopped Road.” Now in its third year of a five-year plan, the initiative ensures that each ward gets one kilometer of road blacktopped annually. Additional roadworks are also being carried out under regular municipal planning.