Page 17 - Nepal

Over 1000 youths, students participate in anti-corruption rally in Nepal

Over a thousand youths and students participated in a anti-corruption rally here on Monday, demanding action against those involved in the fake Bhutanese Refugee scam. The rally was held as former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and former home minister Bal Krishna Khand among several others were arrested last week in connection the scam, under which Nepali nationals were sent to the United States by forging fake documents of them being Bhutanese refugees. On Monday, the student organisations and youth bodies belonging to the ruling Nepali Congress, CPN Maoist Centre, CPN-Unified Socialist and CPN-Maoist Centre took out rallies at Bhrikutimandap area in Kathmandu. Holding placards with slogans "We know nothing but action against corrupt", "Investigate property of those in public post", "Zero tolerance to corruption", "Control price rise", "Our future is corruption free Nepal", the participants demanded fair probe in the Bhutanese Refugee scam. "A group of around 1,500

Nepal's ex-King offers prayers at Ram Janmabhoomi in UP's Ayodhya

Former king of Nepal Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah, who is on a visit to India, on Sunday offered prayers to Ram Lalla at the Ram Janmabhoomi here. Shah also oversaw the construction of the Ram temple and offered prayers at Hanumangarhi temple. He also paid a visit to the banks of river Saryu at 'Ram ki Paidi'. "Shah, while on a tour to Uttar Pradesh, expressed his desire to visit Ayodhya. Then on the instructions of the state government, arrangements were made for him. He arrived in Ayodhya with his wife and family as a state guest," District Magistrate Nitish Kumar said. Shah stayed for some time at Circuit House and then visited Hanumangarhi temple and Ram Janmabhoomi amid tight security, he added.

Nepali Sherpa Pasang becomes world's 2nd person to scale Everest 26 times

Nepali Sherpa Pasang Dawa on Sunday became the world's second person to scale Mount Everest 26 times, local media reported

Jaishankar meets Nepalese counterpart in Dhaka, discusses way to boost ties

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Nepali counterpart Narayan Prakash Saud for the first time here on Friday and discussed ways to boost bilateral ties in energy, trade, connectivity and hydroelectricity. The two ministers met on the sidelines of the 6th Indian Ocean Conference being held in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka. "A good first meeting with FM N.P. Saud of Nepal. Congratulated him on his new responsibility. Discussed further steps in our steadily expanding partnership. Spoke about energy, connectivity, and our enduring people-to-people ties," Jaishankar tweeted. The two ministers expressed satisfaction over the excellent state of Nepal-India relations and discussed ways to further consolidate cooperation in the areas of trade, transit, connectivity, and hydroelectricity, among others, Nepal's embassy in Dhaka said. Saud assumed the office of the Foreign Minister of Nepal on April 16. Jaishankar is in Dhaka to participate in the 6th edition of the Indian Ocean ...

Nepal sees uptick in tourism after Covid; 28% of total arrivals from India

Nepal's tourism industry is recovering faster in the post-Covid era, with 3,26,528 tourist arrivals by air from January to April this year, of which around 28 per cent were Indians. Tourist arrivals in the country have increased a lot in the recent period, which is very positive and encouraging, said Nandini Lahe-Thapa, senior director of PR and Publicity, at Nepal Tourism Board. The tourism board estimated that around 1.2 million tourist arrivals, an equivalent to the arrivals the Himalayan nation achieved in 2020, were expected this year. We are no longer concentrating on the traditional destinations such as Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, and Lumbini, she pointed out. Five-star properties are coming up in eastern and western Nepal as well. "New hotels are being constructed, lots of tourism-related activities are coming up, and new cable cars are being operated, Thapa said. We are very positive and hopeful about the prospects of the tourism industry in the country in the post-Covi

Injured mountaineer Maloo to be flown to Delhi as his infection grows

The family of injured Indian mountaineer Anurag Maloo is planning to fly him to New Delhi from Nepal for further treatment as the infection is spreading in his body, a relative and an official of an expedition company said here on Tuesday. Anurag, 34, a resident of Kishangarh in Rajasthan, went missing in mid-April after he fell from around 6,000 meters while descending from Camp III. Mount Annapurna is the 10th highest mountain in the world. He was found alive in a deep crevasse at some 5800-metre altitude on April 20 after three days of continuous search by a team of rescuers. He was rushed to Manipal Hospital in Pokhara and then airlifted to Kathmandu for further treatment. Sudheer, Anurag's cousin, told PTI that the family is planning to fly him to New Delhi for treatment but cannot say anything till all arrangements are done. His infection has spread and needs further treatment, so he will soon be flown to Delhi, an official at the Seven Summit Trek, the organiser of the ...

Nepal police arrest 10 Indians for illegally acquiring citizenship cards

Ten Indian nationals, including three women, have been arrested here for allegedly acquiring Nepali citizenship cards illegally by producing fake documents, police said. A Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office team apprehended the Indian nationals, all hailing from Bihar, from various parts of Kathmandu on Saturday, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ravindra Regmi said. Of those arrested, seven were males, while three were females. The Kathmandu Valley Police Office revealed their identities at a press conference at its office on Sunday. The Indian nationals were found to have obtained the Nepali citizenship certificates on different dates from the district administration offices of Rupandehi, Bara and Parsa districts by producing fake documents, Regmi said. Police said those arrested have lived in Nepal for a long time, some since as far back as 2006, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported. The arrests took place after a three-month-long investigation, and those apprehended we

Dry port in Dodhara Chadani: 4-track access road to Nepal border from India

To boost trade and transport services between the two countries, India has opened a four-lane track for road access up to the Nepal border. Nepal-based online magazine e-Pardafas reported

Buddha inspired me to renounce violence, just like Ashoka: Nepal PM

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda on Friday said he was inspired by Lord Buddha to abandon the path of violence after conquering many smaller states and adopt a peaceful path shown by him. Addressing a special function on the occasion of Buddha Purnima organised at Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, Prachanda compared himself with Maurya King Ashoka, who renounced violence after coming into the fold of Buddhism. Recalling the historic incident of Maurya emperor Ashok transforming himself by shunning the path of war and adopting a peaceful way of life by following the teachings of Buddha, Prachanda said the same is true with the Nepalese Maoists, who renounced armed struggle and adopted peaceful politics through signing Comprehensive Peace Agreement (in 2006). It is estimated that the 10-year-long conflict (1996-2006) resulted in the death of over 17,000 people. The Maoist rebels started an armed agitation in 1996 to overthrow the monarchy in Nepal and establish

Nepal's economy slightly rebounds after entering a brief recession

Nepal's economy showed some signs of improvement after entering a brief recession, with the country's statistics department on Tuesday projecting a 2.16 per cent growth rate for the Himalayan nation. Nepal plunged into its first recession in six decades as economic output continued to be weighed down by inflation and political instability. However, the new data published by the National Accounts Statistics Division of the Nepal Government on Tuesday indicated some improvement as the country's economy is projected to witness a growth of 2.16 per cent towards the third and fourth quarters based on the basic price, according to Hem Raj Regmi, Deputy Chief at National Statistics Office of Nepal. However, this growth is low as compared to last fiscal year's (2021-2022) revised estimated growth of 5.26 per cent and the previous year's (2020-2021) final estimate of 4.49 per cent. The department on Tuesday published an annual estimate of the Gross Domestic Product, Gross National Product a

Nepal grants record 466 climbing permits for Mount Everest this spring

A record 466 mountaineers, including 40 from India, have been given climbing permits by the Nepal Government to scale the 8,848.86 metre Mt Everest, the highest peak in the world, this spring. Climbers aiming to scale the peak this season are from 65 different countries including Nepal, India and China, according to data released by the Department of Tourism. A total of 466 climbers from 43 groups have received the permit. Among them 368 are male and 98 are female, it said. This has broken the previous record of 2021, which was 409. The highest number of 96 climbers from China have got the permit followed by 89 from the USA and 40 from India. Similarly, 33 climbers from Hungary, 21 from Canada, 18 from Russia and 15 from the UK among others, received the permit. The number of climbers receiving permits from Nepal might have increased significantly this time as climbing from the Tibet side (northeast ridge route) is not permitted since the COVID-19 pandemic, Ang Tshering Sherpa,

Nepal's President Paudel discharged from AIIMS, to return home tonight

Nepal's President Ramchandra Paudel has been discharged from a hospital in New Delhi after undergoing treatment for a chest-related ailment and he will return to Kathmandu on Sunday night, the President's Office said. Paudel, 78, was airlifted to India on April 19 for treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, (AIIMS), New Delhi, after he complained of shortness of breath. "President Paudel is flying back to Kathmandu on Sunday through the regular flight of Nepal Airlines after he was discharged from the hospital following his successful treatment," the President's Office said in a statement here. He has gone through various health check-ups and treatment at the AIIMS, the statement said. Doctors involved in Paudel's treatment have advised him to rest for a few more weeks. "His health conditions have now improved significantly, said the statement issued by the President's Office Spokesperson Sagar Acharya. President Paudel has thanked Nepalese and Indian health ...

Nepal's PM visit to India delayed till June due to internal reasons

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda's proposed visit to India has been delayed further due to internal reasons, including the jolt in the recent by-polls, and it is unlikely that his first foreign visit will take place before June, according to his top aide. This is the second time that Prachanda's visit to India has been postponed due to internal reasons. The visit to India would have been his first foreign trip after he assumed charge as Prime Minister for the third time in December last year. Nepal government is preparing to present its annual budget for the coming fiscal year towards May-end and the Prime Minister's visit to India will take place only after that, the top aide close to Prime Minister Prachanda told PTI on Saturday. The proposed visit by the Prime Minister has been further delayed due to internal reasons and it is unlikely that the first foreign visit will take place before June, the aide, who did not want to be quoted, said. Earlier, the government

FMCG brand Dabur to make additional investment of Rs 9.68 bn in Nepal

After signing the MoU, Bedi expressed his happiness for investing a part of the company's accumulated capital in Nepal for capacity enhancement and diversification of products

Nepal to give priority to enhancing relations with both India, China

Nepal's new government, led by a communist prime minister, will give priority to enhancing relations with both of its giant neighbours, India and China, but won't use them against each other for its own benefit, the newly appointed foreign minister said Wednesday. Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud told The Associated Press in an interview that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is set to make his first official trip abroad to India since taking power earlier this year. Nepal is bordered on three sides by India and shares an open border, while the highest Himalayan peaks are divided between Nepal and China. Saud, however, said the government will continue to maintain good relationships with both countries and would not do anything to hamper ties with either of the neighbors. "We will never use the two nations against each other for our own benefit. We will not interfere with the internal matters of their countries, and we would also want that no other country should interfere wit

Dubai-bound aircraft catches fire in engine after taking off from Nepal

A Fly Dubai aircraft with nearly 150 people on board on Monday reported fire in one of its engines soon after taking off from the Tribhuvan International Airport here, according to airport sources. The aircraft heading towards Dubai returned back and was trying to force land at the airport, they said. Fire engines are kept on alert at the airport, according to sources. There are more than 150 people on board including 50 Nepali passengers. Eye-witnesses said they have seen aircraft catching fire in the Kathmandu sky.

Need to do home work before visiting India, says Nepal PM Prachanda

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda' is making elaborate preparations ahead of his much-publicised trip to India next month, saying he needs to do home-work before embarking on the visit. The official date of his visit to India is yet to be announced. Prachanda could be travelling to New Delhi during the first or the second week of May, a Prime Minister's aide said. This will be his first foreign trip since he became Nepal's Prime Minister in December last year. Boosting bilateral ties and talks on trade, energy, agriculture, culture, and air service will prominently feature in his talks with Indian leaders. I am preparing for my upcoming visit to India, which is taking place soon Prachanda said at an event here. We need to do proper home-work before the visit, the 68-year-old Maoist leader said. Foreign ministry officials have begun the groundwork for his visit. Earlier this year, Prachanda announced that he would visit India on his first foreign trip after assum

Nepal's border points with India sealed for 72hrs ahead of by-polls

Nepal's border points with India in the country's southern Bara district have been sealed for 72 hours in view of the by-election in Bara-2 constituency on Sunday. Nepal's Election Commission is conducting by-elections for the House of Representatives in the three constituencies of Tanhun-1, Chitawan-2 and Bara-2. The District Administration Office in Bara said in a statement on Thursday that the border points shall remain closed from midnight of Thursday to Sunday midnight. The sale and supply of liquor have been restricted in the district until the vote counting is completed. Also, vehicular movement along the Postal Highway in the district has been closed except for emergency ones from Saturday midnight to Sunday 7 pm. As the by-polls draw close, political parties displayed their strength by organising rallies for the last time on Thursday. The ruling coalition held election rallies in Chitwan and Bara on Thursday. Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Prime Minister

Nepal Prez Paudel airlifted from Kathmandu, to be admitted to AIIMS

Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel on Wednesday was airlifted to India for treatment after he was admitted to a hospital here for the second time within a month after he complained of shortness of breath, his press aide said. Paudel, 78, was admitted to TU Teaching Hospital here on Tuesday. A preliminary investigation has revealed that he had a chest infection. President Paudel will undergo treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, (AIIMS), New Delhi, the aide said. Kiran Pokharel, the press adviser to the President, said that the President was medevacked to India in an air ambulance around 10.30 am on Wednesday. He was accompanied by his son Chintan Paudel and others. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Purna Bahadur Khadka, among other leaders, visited him to inquire about his health condition. Last week, the President complained of pain in his stomach. On April 1, President Paudel was admitted to a ..

Nepal can attain economic prosperity by exploiting hydropower potential: PM

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" said on Tuesday that the government recognises the importance of the hydropower sector and its potential to become a strong base for the Himalayan nation's economic prosperity and export clean and green energy. Prachanda was the chief guest at the inaugural session of the Power Summit 2023, which kicked off on Tuesday here with the slogan "Broaden green energy market. Over 250 delegates from around two dozen countries, including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, are participating in the summit, organised by the Independent Power Producers' Association of Nepal (IPPAN). The Prime Minister underlined Nepal's need to export surplus electricity to attain economic prosperity. He identified four areas where hydropower can be utilised in the country:- agriculture, cooking, industry and transportation, and asserted that domestic use of hydropower not only helps to reduce pollution but also aids in minimising the Himalayan country's