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Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to bow to a sanctions ultimatum expiring this Friday from U.S. President Donald Trump, and retains the goal of capturing four regions of Ukraine in their entirety, sources close to the Kremlin told Reuters.

Trump has threatened to hit Russia with new sanctions and impose 100% tariffs on countries that buy its oil - of which the biggest are China and India - unless Putin agrees to a ceasefire in Russia's war in Ukraine.

Putin's determination to keep going is prompted by his belief that Russia is winning and by scepticism that yet more U.S. sanctions will have much of an impact after successive waves of economic penalties during 3-1/2 years of war, according to three sources familiar with discussions in the Kremlin, Reuters reported.

It’s only rock ‘n’ roll, but it’s messy.

A guitar once played by two members of the Rolling Stones is at the center of a dispute between the band’s former guitarist Mick Taylor and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The 1959 Gibson Les Paul was donated to the Met as part of what the New York museum calls “a landmark gift of more than 500 of the finest guitars from the golden age of American guitar making.” The donor is Dirk Ziff, a billionaire investor and guitar collector, Associated Press reported.

When the Met announced the gift in May, Taylor thought he recognized the guitar, with its distinctive “starburst” finish, as an instrument he last saw in 1971, when the Stones were recording the album “Exile on Main St.” at Keith Richards’ rented villa in the south of France.

In the haze of drugs and rock ‘n’ roll that pervaded the sessions, a number of instruments went missing, believed stolen, according to Associated Press.

Hiroshima on Wednesday marked the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the western Japanese city, with many aging survivors expressing frustration about the growing support of global leaders for nuclear weapons as a deterrence, Associated Press reported.

With the number of survivors rapidly declining and their average age now exceeding 86, the anniversary is considered the last milestone event for many of them.

“There will be nobody left to pass on this sad and painful experience in 10 years or 20 years,” Minoru Suzuto, a 94-year-old survivor, said after he kneeled down to pray at the cenotaph. “That’s why I want to share (my story) as much as I can.”

The bombing of Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, destroyed the city and killed 140,000 people. A second bomb dropped three days later on Nagasaki killed 70,000. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II and Japan’s nearly half-century of aggression in Asia, according to Associated Press.

Gold price soared to a record high of Rs 198,500 per tola (11.664 grams) in the domestic market on Tuesday, as international bullion rates held near a one-week high amid growing expectations of a US interest rate cut. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of hallmark gold rose by Rs 1,900 per tola compared to Monday, when it was traded at Rs 196,600. Silver prices also saw a modest rise, increasing from Rs 2,255 per tola on Monday to Rs 2,280 on Tuesday.

Gold price, which had crossed Rs 100,000 per tola and was traded at Rs 100,300 per tola on 9 Dec 2022, is now close to doubling in less than three years. On Tuesday, spot gold held steady at $3,371.40 per ounce as of 0432 GMT, after hitting its highest level since July 24 in the previous session. The international surge was triggered by a weaker-than-expected US jobs report, which strengthened hopes that the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates in September, according to Reuters. 

Lower interest rates typically reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold, making it more attractive to investors. A weakening US dollar and a dip in Treasury yields have further supported the bullish trend in gold prices, it added. Gold is forecast to hit $3,500 per ounce in the next three months, US bank Citi said, citing a deteriorating outlook for US growth and inflation. This suggests the price of gold expected to climb further in the domestic market.

As Nepal relies entirely on imports to meet its gold demand, any fluctuation in global prices is directly reflected in the local market. The recent surge has coincided with rising prices in neighboring India as well, where gold crossed 102,000 Indian rupees per 10 grams on Tuesday, fueled by continued demand for gold as a safe-haven asset amid global uncertainties.

Over the past three weeks, gold prices have shown a steady upward trend, climbing from Rs 192,300 on July 17 to Rs 198,500 on Tuesday.  Officials of the federation attribute this to both international price movements and increased seasonal demand ahead of the Teej festival.

The monsoon wind is active across the country at present. 

The Weather Forecasting Division said Koshi and Sudurpaschim Provinces are likely to have heavy rainfall today.

The weather service has appealed to all concerned to be aware in daily life, and in the sectors of health, transport and aviation in the wake of adverse weather.

Currently, the low pressure belt of monsoon is towards Tarai region of Nepal- on the northern side of its average range. It results in cloudy weather in most of the hilly regions across the country. 

Few places in Madhes Province are receiving moderate rainfall now. 

The moderate rainfall is predicted also in some places of hilly regions in Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces  today.

It will be generally cloudy in the country tonight.

The Nepal Women Association has drawn the government's attention against the efforts being made for law allowing polygamy.

The Bagmati Province Committee of the Association submitted a memorandum before Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya, urging him not to draft the law that encourages polygamy. 

Nepali women have been suffering much from patriarchal oppression for long, the Committee reminded, adding that the achievements made through various struggles and sociopolitical movements must not be jeopardized.

It further expressed worry over the decreasing representation of women in politics due to electoral alliance. 

The efforts being made against women empowerment are therefore deplorable, the Committee added.

Association's Chair Bimala Chaulgain informed that entire Nepali society was alarmed over the efforts to draft a law with the amendment of Criminal Code, 2074, thereby allowing polygamy.

The Department of Information and Broadcasting (DoIB) has informed that it would no longer register and renew online media. 

Issuing a notice on Tuesday, the DoIB said that it stopped registering and renewing online media in the wake of the changed rule.

The DoIB issued such a notice after the government decided to get the online media registered from the District Administration Offices. 

The government made such a provision by amending Some Nepal Act.

Earlier, the DoIB was registering and renewing the online media as per Online Media Operation Directive, 2073.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that geography must no longer determine destiny. 

"With strengthened partnerships, smart investments and unwavering collective will, we can overcome limitations of 'landlockedness' and ensure economic prosperity to our people," PM Oli said while addressing the UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) in Turkmenistan on Tuesday.

He informed that Nepal firmly believes that regional solidarity and global cooperation are vital to bridging the development divide. "We are confident that, with the continued support of our neighbours, India and China, and the broader international community, we can transform the barriers of 'landlockedness' into gateways of opportunity," PM Oli underscored. 

“As a committed member of the LLDC family, Nepal stands ready to work with all of you, not only as a beneficiary of change, but also as a partner in shaping it,” PM Oli said.

Togetherness for driving progress 

He called for togetherness to drive progress for a future interlocked by connectivity, powered by innovation and defined by resilience, inclusion and shared prosperity.

PM Oli, however, said the LLDCs continue to face persistent structural barriers: geographical isolation, dependency on transit countries, inadequate transport networks and limited integration into regional and global markets.

These challenges are even more acute for half of the LLDCs that are also LDCs. Their very geography of 'landlockedness' continues to hinder their development. He reminded that despite two decades of journey from Almaty to Vienna Program of Action, LLDCs still grapple with infrastructure and connectivity deficits, high trade and transit costs, limited diversification and little value addition, heavy reliance on primary commodity exports, low levels of private investment, and growing vulnerability to climate change and disasters. These barriers pose severe impediments to their economic growth and development, the PM argued.

LLDCs need unlocking potential

"LLDCs are not just defined by their inherent geographical constraints. They are also defined by their potential. These countries are rich in untapped natural endowments, offering many investment opportunities. They are home to youthful and innovative populations. They are increasingly engaging in the digital economy," he PM lauded, underlining the urgency to unlock such potential.

According to him, the Awaza Programme of Action offers a renewed opportunity to address these long-standing bottlenecks and seize new pathways toward inclusive and resilient growth. But we must be clear: ambition without action will not suffice, he exhorted, highlighting the need for stronger political will, renewed and strengthened global partnership that leaves no country behind, and coordinated actions at all levels. 

The Awaza PoA outlines five clear priorities under the theme of “Driving Progress through Partnership”: Structural transformation and STI; trade facilitation and regional integration; transit, transport and connectivity; climate resilience and adaptation; and means of implementation, the PM shared.

"With the right policies, strong solidarity and support, LLDCs can transition: from landlocked to land-linked, from transit-dependent to trade-competitive, and from climate-vulnerable to climate-resilient countries," PM Oli said.

In his opinion, science, technology and innovation, especially digital technologies, hold immense promise to overcome the physical limitations of LLDCs. This Conference is a call to collective resolve. It is a pathway to equity, inclusion and shared opportunity.

PM Oli underlined, "Invest in smart, sustainable, and climate-resilient infrastructure; deepen regional and subregional cooperation; harness the opportunities offered by technology to advance and accelerate development; and drive progress through inclusive global partnerships with shared responsibility."

He sought renewed commitment to convert the Awaza Programme of Action into tangible and measurable progress, for more than 570 million people who live in the LLDCs.

Awaza Programme of Action blueprint for decade

He shared that Nepal welcomed the Awaza Programme of Action as a visionary and actionable blueprint for the decade ahead. Its priorities strongly resonate with Nepal’s national goals, including our national aspiration of a “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali.” 

Irrespective of being a landlocked LDC graduating next year, Nepal continues to face high transport costs, limited regional integration, and inadequate infrastructure, according to him.

Our vision is to transform Nepal from a landlocked country to a land-linked country.

The Head of the Government also informed about Nepal's investment priority like expanding highways and railways, cross-border trade routes, digital corridors, and green energy partnerships.

"We are working closely with our neighbours, India and China, to enhance connectivity and integration across multiple domains. We are also committed to aligning our efforts with regional and international initiatives to ensure that LLDC-specific vulnerabilities are addressed in broader development frameworks," he explained during the address.