Page 14 - Nepal

Chinese billionaire Jack Ma in Nepal, likely to meet Prachanda

Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, who landed in Nepal on Tuesday on a private visit, is likely to meet Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda', according to media reports. Jack Ma arrived at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Tuesday, according to sources at the Immigration Department. Jack Ma, who landed in Kathmandu on a special flight via Dhaka in Bangladesh, has business connections in Nepal, the sources said. Founded by Jack Ma, Alibaba has acquired the e-commerce company Daraz, which currently operates in South Asian countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Nepal.

Nepali Gurkhas joining Wagner group for Russian citizenship, better life

While the prospect of Russian citizenship lures the Nepali Gurkhas, the discontinuation of recruitment to the Indian Army also appears to have played a role in this

Anti-graft body takes over Pashupati temple; devotees not allowed inside

Nepal's Pashupatinath Temple was shut for devotees on Sunday afternoon after the Himalayan nation's top anti-corruption body took control of the temple premises to investigate a report that 10 kilogrammes of gold were missing from the ornament weighing 100 kgs. Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. The newly installed gold ornament called Jalhari was installed around the Shiva Linga inside the temple during the Maha Shivaratri festival last year. However, the government directed the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to begin the probe after questions were raised in Parliament following a report that 10 kilogrammes of gold were missing from the ornament. The CIAA is the Nepal government's apex constitutional body for the control of corruption. The Pashupati Area Development Authority claimed that it had bought 103 kilogrammes of gold to make the Jalahari but 10 kilogrammes was missing from the ornament. Ghanashyam Khatiwada, executiv

CWC Qualifier Day 7 Report: All round Raza earns crucial win for Zimbabwe

Sikandar Raza, the most flamboyant and in-form player was at his best again, scoring a fifty and picking crucial wickets as hosts Zimbabwe earned a crucial win against West Indies in CWC Qualifier

SAFF Championship: India beat spirited Nepal 2-0 to qualify for semifinals

Captain Sunil Chhetri found the target yet again as India beat a spirited Nepal 2-0 in their second group match to book a berth in the SAFF Championship semifinals here on Saturday. Chhetri (61st minute) scored his fourth goal of the tournament before Mahesh Singh (70th) struck to notch up the home side's second consecutive win. India had beaten Pakistan 4-0 in their opening match on Wednesday with Chhetri scoring a hat-trick. Chhetri (91 goals from 139 matches) had already become the second most prolific scorer among Asians -- after Ali Daei (109 from 148 matches) of Iran -- and third among active players in the world. He is the most prolific goal-getter among active Asian players. With six points from two wins, India qualified for the semifinals from Group A along with Kuwait (also six points), who beat Pakistan 4-0 earlier in the day for their second victory. India play Kuwait on June 27 to decide the group winner. Nepal and Pakistan are out of the reckoning for a semifinal spo

Himalayan Airlines resumes flight from Kathmandu to Beijing after 3 years

The Himalayan Airlines, a joint venture between Nepal and China, on Saturday resumed its direct flight between Kathmandu and Beijing after a three-year interval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an official statement. Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, Ambassador of Nepal to the People's Republic of China, flew to Beijing in the resumed first direct flight of the Himalayan Airlines, according to a press release issued by the Nepal Embassy in Beijing. "We are pleased to announce that Himalaya Airlines (H9) is re-launching its flight operation between Kathmandu- Beijing- Kathmandu every Saturdays starting from June 24, 2023, which was on halt due to COVID-19 Pandemic, said the statement issued by issued by the Himalayan Airline. In a statement, Nepal's Embassy in Beijing said: "The resumption of direct flight between Kathmandu and Beijing plays a significant role in promoting tourism, socio-economic and cultural relations between Nepal and China".

Nepal cinema's resumes screening of Hindi movies except 'Adipurush'

Screening of Hindi movies resumed in the country on Friday, days after they were banned following a controversy over "Adipurush" dialogues where Goddess Sita is referred as "India's daughter". In Kathmandu, many cinema halls started screening Hindi films, except "Adipurush", which continues to face a ban. In the city's multiplex QFX Cinema, situated in Sundhara, Hindi film "Zara Hatke, Zara Bachke", starring Sara Ali Khan and Vikki Kaushal, was screened. In a statement, Nepal Motion Picture Association said all Nepali and foreign films except "Adipurush" will be screened from Friday. A dialogue of "Adipurush", in which Sita is mentioned as "India's daughter", had led to the ban on all Hindi films, which was announced by Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah. Sita, also referred to as Janaki, is believed by many to have been born in Janakpur in southeast Nepal. On Thursday, a single bench of the Patan High Court judge Dhir Bahadur Chand issued a short term order, stating that the screenin

Nepal apex court clears way for implementation of amended Citizenship Bill

The Supreme Court of Nepal on Thursday cleared the way for the implementation of the newly amended Citizenship Bill which was recently certified by President Ram Chandra Paudel. A division bench of Justice Ananda Mohan Bhattarai and Justice Kumar Regmi paved the way for the bill's implementation as it decided not to give continuity to the interlocutory interim order earlier issued by a single bench. The short-term order issued by Justice Manoj Sharma earlier blocked the way for the implementation of the amended provisions of the Citizenship Act, allowing thousands of children of parents, who got citizenship by birth, to acquire citizenship by descent. An estimated 500,000 such people are waiting for their citizenship certificates. However, the court is yet to issue its final verdict in this matter. Last year, the then president Bidya Devi Bhandari had put the Citizenship Bill, which was passed by both Houses of the federal parliament, on hold without certifying it. The same bill

Nepal resumes import of onions from India after halting it for 2 weeks

Traders in Nepal have resumed importing onions from India, more than two weeks after they stopped buying from the neighbouring country following the Nepal government's move to impose a hefty 13 per cent Value-Added Tax (VAT) on vegetables last month. Vegetable vendors started bringing onions to the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market, Kathmandu's main vegetable trading centre, on Monday, with the largest consignments of onions being poured in on Tuesday and Wednesday. Onions have started arriving in the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market, said Arjun Prasad Aryal, Deputy Executive Director of the market's Development Committee. "In total, 145 metric tonnes of onions arrived in Kathmandu's major vegetable wholesale market on Tuesday and Wednesday, Aryal said, adding that there is a smooth supply of the vegetable in the market as traders have started bringing onions by paying VAT. According to the financial bill introduced in the Himalayan country's Parliament on May 29, imported .

Nepal hosts massive event to mark International Yoga Day, promote tourism

The event, organised by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, in association with Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), lasted for over an hour

CWC Qualifier Day 3 Report: ZIM win courtesy 'Razball', Nepal thanks to KC

Commentators coined the term 'Razball' after Sikandar Raza hit a 54-ball 100 and took 4/55 to win the second game for Zimbabwe in CWC Qualifier. Karan KC did the job for Nepal against the USA

CWC Qualifier Day 3 preview: Depleted Dutch face Zimbabwe, Nepal take on US

After registering a fantastic win in their first game, hosts Zimbabwe would take on a depleted Netherlands. Nepal and USA will also face each other today. Both teams lost their opening matches

At least 5 dead, 28 missing in rain-induced landslides in Eastern Nepal

At least 5 people were killed following rain-induced landslides in four districts of Eastern Nepal on Monday, Police officials said

After Kathmandu, Pokhara bans all Indian films amid Adipurush dialogue row

Standing alongside Kathmandu Metropolis, the Pokhara Metropolitan City has also enforced a ban on the screening of Indian films following the 'Adipurush' dialogue controversy

CWC Qualifier Day 1 Report: Williams-Ervine thrash Nepal; Windies beat USA

Craig Ervine and Sean Williams hit centuries as Zimbabwe chased down 290 against Nepal. West Indies won by 39 runs even as US' Gajanand Singh hit a century against the country of his origin

At least two killed, 26 missing in eastern Nepal floods, landslides

At least two people were killed and 26 others went missing as floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains wreaked havoc in eastern Nepal, officials said on Sunday. A man was found dead and 21 others working at the under-construction Super Hewa Hydropower Project in Chainpur Municipality-4 have gone missing, the Kathmandu Post newspaper quoted police officials as saying. Deputy Superintendent of Police Birendra Godar said it is yet to be ascertained whether the workers moved to a safer location following the flood or were swept away by Hewa River, the report said. In the neighbouring Panchthar district, a 9-year-old girl died after her house was swept away in a landslide. Five villagers of Chainpur have also gone missing after flooding in the area, police said. Preliminary investigation suggests the flood occurred after landslides at Chainpur Municipality-4 and Panchkhapan Municipality-9 blocked the river, the report added. Weather forecasters have warned heavy rains would ..

CWC Qualifier Day 1 preview: Hosts Zimbabwe take on Nepal, Windies face US

On the first day of the most important tournament in the Associate calendar, hosts Zimbabwe would take on Nepal to begin the Cricket World Qualifier 2023. West Indies will play the United States

1 dead, 25 missing as floods, landslides wreak havoc in Eastern Nepal

At least 25 people have been unaccounted for while one has been confirmed dead in flooding and landslide incidents in Eastern Nepal as the monsoon sets off in Nepal

CWC Qualifier group A: Dutch miss key players; Nepal, USA pose great threat

In group A of Cricket World Cup (CWC) Qualifier 2023, West Indies and Zimbabwe are favourites. The fight for the third place gets interesting with the Netherlands, USA and Nepal fighting for it

Nepal's former deputy PM among 16 sent on remand in Bhutan refugee scam

As many as 16 people including the former deputy prime minister of Nepal were on Friday remanded to custody for further investigation into the Bhutanese refugee scam. The persons in custody allegedly collected large amounts of money from Nepali nationals, promising to help them relocate overseas as Bhutanese refugees. The Kathmandu District Court on Friday sent former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, former home minister Balkrishna Khand, government secretary (now suspended) Tek Narayan Pande, former home minister Ram Bahadur Thapa's security advisor Dr Indrajeet Rai, and Bhutanese refugee leader Teknath Rijal, who are facing charges of forgery, fraud and organised crime, to custody for further investigation into the scam, according to officials. Rayamajhi has now been suspended as the secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) party. The bench of Justice Prem Prasad Neupane however ordered to release two of those accused Tanka Gurung and Laxmi