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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 13. 95 points to close at 2, 748. 78 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 2. 33 points to close at 486. 03 points.

A total of 21,660,639-unit shares of 321 companies were traded for Rs 10. 32 billion.

Meanwhile, Gurans Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (GLBSL), Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SMFBS) and Upper Hewakhola Hydropower Company Limited (UHEWA) were the top gainers today, with their price surging by 10. 00 percent.
Likewise, Rawa Energy Development Limited (RAWA) was the top loser as its price fell by 9. 12 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 37 trillion.

The government has intensified its efforts to combat gender-based violence (GBV).

The Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens has launched an integrated service access project aimed at preventing and responding to GBV.

This initiative includes various programmes, with project implementation units established in three municipalities: Dhankuta, Urlabari, and Mechinagar.

According to Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi, the Ministry has also begun drafting the National Gender Audit Manual as part of its ongoing commitment to addressing GBV. In the past four months, 74 survivors of GBV have been compensated under the GBV Elimination Fund (Operation) Regulations, 2067 BS, including 63 as per court verdicts.

The Ministry has also ensured the operation and management of the Mangala-Sahana Long-Term Rehabilitation Centre, providing safe rehabilitation for women and girls who have survived GBV.

Furthermore, the federal government has signed an agreement with the governments of Lumbini and Sudurpashchim provinces to implement the Women Upliftment Programme.

As part of this initiative, Women’s, Children’s, and Senior Citizens' Service Centers will be established in 15 police units across the Lumbini, Madhesh, and Sudurpashchim provinces.

Additionally, regional long-term rehabilitation centers will be constructed at three locations, as said by Minister Sudi.

President Ramchandra Paudel received the Tihar 'tika' from his sisters Sharada Pandit and Chanda Ojha at the auspicious hour of 11.37 am at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Shital Niwas, on the occasion of Bhaitika festival today.

On the occasion, the President's sisters put the ceremonial 'tika' on the forehead of the President and presented to him gifts including walnut and groundnut. Similarly, the President put 'tika' on the forehead of his sisters and offered them with money, as per the time-honoured tradition.

The ceremonial 'tika' comprises of blob of seven colours marked on a vertical thick line of white paste of rice flour on the forehead.

The Nepal Calendar Determination Committee had fixed 11.37 am today as the most auspicious time for the Bhaitika rituals.

However, the Committee has stated that the rituals can be conducted throughout the day today.

There is a custom of the sisters putting 'tika' on the foreheads of their brothers and vice-versa on Bhai Tika, the last and main day of the five-day-long Yamapanchak or the Tihar festival, the second biggest festival of Nepal.

The Thai Asia Airlines has launched flights on Bangkok-Bhairahawa-Bangkok route from today.

A Thai Asia Airlines plane landed at Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) at 6.55 am today with seven crew members. "The Thai Asia Airbus A-320 carrying the crew members has landed here at GBIA as the initial test flight.

The Airlines has a schedule to operate two regular flights per week from November 8," said Binod Singh Raut, the Information Officer at GBIA.

The GBIA officials and staff, security personnel, immigration employees and the local tourism entrepreneurs had received the flight as well as the crew members on the occasion.

The plane took off for Bangkok from GBIA at 7.40 am. The one-way airfare from Bhairahawa to Bangkok is Rs 12 thousand. 

Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister for Urban Development, Prakash Man Singh, today left for Cairo, the capital of Egypt, to participate in the World Urban Forum programme.

He is leading a Nepali delegation to the programme. The World Urban Forum (WUF) is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, bid him farewell at Tribhuvan International Airport this morning.

DPM Singh is the high-level official to attend the programme in which more than 150 countries are participating.

The ministers related to urban development will be participating from other countries whereas Singh, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, is attending from Nepal, according to the Ministry of Urban Development.

DPM Singh will be addressing three sessions of the World Urban Forum, calling attention of the world on challenges Nepal is facing in the development of settlements, on the problems encountered in the face of climate change and on the achievements the country has made in terms of habitat development.

The World Urban Forum programme is taking place from November 4-8 in Cairo.

The Twelfth Session of the World Urban Forum WUF12 is convened by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) under the theme – 'It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities.' The WUF was established in 2001 by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: rapid urbanisation and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies. The first WUF was held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2002 and has been held around the world ever since.

Representatives of national, regional and local governments, academics, business people, community leaders, urban planners and civil society representatives will be among the thousands of people are expected to attend WUF12 which is co-organized by The Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

DPM Singh is accompanied by his spouse Srijana Singh, officials of the Ministry of Urban Development. DPM Singh and his delegation will return home on November 9. 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has extended best wishes to all the Nepalis on the occasion of Bhaitika, the main day of the Tihar festival, the festival of lights.

He wished happiness and enthusiasm among all Nepalis on the occasion, saying Tihar is a glorious festival of the Nepalis that spreads light in the life of all.

Wishing for the happiness, peace and enthusiasm of all sisters and brothers, the PM believed that the Bhaitika ceremony will engender additional love and affection among sisters and brothers.

"Today is the last day of this year's Tihar. May the great festival of Bhaitika that fosters love and affection among sisters and brothers spread health, happiness, peace and enthusiasm in the life of all sisters and brothers. Best wishes of Bhaitika to all," the Prime Minister posted on the social site Facebook.

On the occasion of Nepal Sambat 1145, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed his respect to Shankhadhar Sakhwa, the National Luminary who started the Nepal Sambat.

In a Facebook post, the Prime Minister has said today is the first day of Nepal Sambat 1145, sincere respect to its founder Luminary Shankhadhar Sakhwa.

He has also described Mha Puja being observed today as a fundamental and significant festival of the Newar community.

Extending greetings on the occasion of Nepal Sambat New Year and Mha Puja, he said that both Nepal Sambat and Mha Puja have their own characteristics.

"Mha Puja is performed today among the Newar community, which increases the sense of pride towards oneself. On the occasion of Nepal Sambat 1145, best wishes to all at home and abroad,” reads his post.

The Nepal Sambat New Year 1145 is being celebrated across the country today amidst various programs.

The people of the Newar community have been celebrating the Nepal Sambat as New Year's Day at present.

The Nepal Sambat is an indigenous calendar of Nepal.

The Nepal Sambat or calendar year was begun by Shankhadhar Sakhwa by relieving the people of Nepal off debt during the rule of Lichchhavi King Raghavdev in 880 AD.

Recognizing the contribution of Shankhadhar Sakhwa to the country and people, the government announced Sakhwa a national luminary on November 18, 1999.

Also today, the people of the Newar community observe the Mha Puja ritual in the evening.

Mha Puja is the worship of the self. Mha Puja is based on the religious belief that the soul or self is the most important in the world and that if the soul is satisfied, the gods are also satisfied and one's life becomes meaningful and prosperous.

Likewise, the government had on October 23, 2008 nationally recognized the Nepal Sambat propounded by national luminary Shankhadhar Sakhwa.

Meanwhile, the President and the Vice-President, the Prime Minister as well as various party heads and leaders have issued statements extending best wishes to all those celebrating the Nepal Sambat today.

This day is celebrated especially as the new year of Nepal Sambat and as a special festival by the majority Newar population residing in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Bahrabise and Dolakha.