Page 8 - Nepal

It's dirty now, says last surviving member of 1st team to climb Mt Everest

The only surviving member of the mountaineering expedition that first conquered Mount Everest said Saturday that the world's highest peak is too crowded and dirty, and the mountain is a god that needs to be respected. Kanchha Sherpa, 91, was among the 35 members in the team that put New Zealander Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay atop the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) peak on May 29, 1953. It would be better for the mountain to reduce the number of climbers, Kanchha said in an interview in Kathmandu on Saturday, Right now there is always a big crowd of people at the summit. Since the first conquest, the peak has been climbed thousands of times, and it gets more crowded every year. During the spring climbing season in 2023, 667 climbers scaled the peak, but that brought in thousands of support staff to the base camp between the months of March and May. There have been concerns about the number of people living on the mountain for months on end, generating trash and wast

Reserve Bank of India, Nepal Rastra Bank sign pact for UPI-NPI linkage

The integration of Indian and Nepalese fast payment systems is aimed at facilitating cross-border remittances between the two countries, RBI said

Central banks of India, Nepal sign agreement to link UPI-NPI, says RBI

State-owned Central banks of India and Nepal on Thursday signed terms of reference for the integration of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and National Payments Interface (NPI). The Reserve Bank of India and Nepal Rastra Bank signed the terms of reference. The formal launch of the linkage or commencement of operations will be done at a later date, the Reserve Bank said in a statement. "The integration is aimed at facilitating cross-border remittances between India and Nepal by enabling users of the two systems to make instant, low-cost fund transfers," it said. The RBI further said the collaboration between India and Nepal in linking their fast payment systems through the UPI-NPI linkage will further deepen financial connectivity and reinforce the enduring historical, cultural, and economic ties between the two countries. Based on the terms of reference exchanged between the RBI and NRB, the necessary systems will be put in place for the interlinking of UPI and Nepal's NPI.

Mount Everest climbers must bring their excreta back to base: Nepal

In its bid to tackle the increasing environmental impact on Mount Everest, Nepal has announced a regulation requiring climbers to manage their own excreta and bring it back to the base camp for proper disposal, it emerged on Thursday. The Pasang Lhamu rural municipality, which covers most of the Everest region, has introduced the new rule as part of wider measures being implemented to combat the persistent problem of waste accumulation on the world's highest peak, the BBC reported. "Our mountains have begun to stink," the report quoted Mingma Sherpa, chairman of Pasang Lhamu rural municipality, as saying. Extreme temperatures on the world's highest peak at 8,848.86 metres hinder the natural degradation of excrement. "We are getting complaints that human stools are visible on rocks and some climbers are falling sick. This is not acceptable and erodes our image," Mingma said. Climbers attempting Mount Everest and nearby Mount Lhotse will be ordered to buy poo bags at base camps, whi

India, Nepal sign MoUs for 3 Projects in education, health, culture sector

India and Nepal on Thursday signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for undertaking three High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal, one each in education, health and culture sector at an estimated cost of NRs 122.52 million. The Embassy of India here and the Nepal's Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration signed the MoUs for the three projects for undertaking the three HICDPs under the grant assistance of the Government of India, a release from the Embassy here said. The three projects include the construction of school and hostel buildings for Shree Dang-Bang Secondary School in Airawati Rural Municipality in Pyuthan district; construction of Khamlalung Health Post Building, Aathrai Rural Municipality in Terhathum district and construction and infrastructure development works in Chandan Bharateshwor Mahadev Temple in Chandragiri Municipality in Kathmandu. These projects, which shall be implemented through local authorities of Airawati Rural ...

Nepal, China to sign implementation plan of BRI projects: Nepal's Deputy PM

Nepal and China will sign the implementation plan of the Belt and Road Initiative very soon, Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha said on Saturday, nearly seven years after the two neighbours inked an agreement to undertake ambitious Beijing-backed infrastructure projects in the Himalayan nation. Once we sign the implementation plan, we will move into the implementation phase, Shrestha, also the Minister for Home Affairs said while addressing an event here that is part of the Silk Road Youth Forum and South Asian Cooperation Conference. He said the two countries will sign the implementation plan of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) very soon without specifying any date. His statement came as Sun Haiyan, a senior leader of China's ruling Communist Party, was visiting Nepal and meeting the country's top leaders. The signing of the BRI implementation plan is the key to negotiate and execute the projects under the initiative. Nepal and China signed a Memorandum of Understandin

Hero MotoCorp partners with CG Motors to expand operations in Nepal

Hero MotoCorp and CG Motors will set-up a state-of-the-art greenfield facility for assembling products in Nepal

Nepal PM Dahal reiterates 'One China Policy' after recent Taiwan polls

PM Dahal also expressed his commitment not to allow activities that are against China's interests. The remarks of the Nepali PM came after the result of the Taiwan election held this week

Nepal, India plan to implement bilateral initiatives to boost connectivity

Nepal and India have expressed a commitment to implementing bilateral initiatives aimed at further strengthening the seamless cross-border connectivity, as the officials from the two sides met to discuss ways to fortify the economic and commercial linkages. The India-Nepal Inter-Governmental Sub-Committee (IGSC) on Trade, Transit, and Cooperation to Combat Unauthorised Trade convened its latest session in Kathmandu on January 12-13. Both sides also discussed mutual market access for pharmaceuticals and Ayurvedic products. The Indian side highlighted the need for an IPR regime by the provisions of the Paris Convention for encouraging Foreign direct investment (FDI). Vipul Bansal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, led the Indian delegation, which included senior officials from various ministries and the Embassy of India in Kathmandu. The Nepali side was headed by Ram Chandra Tiwari, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Government of

Nepal's Janakpur plans events on consecration ceremony of Ram temple

Ahead of the January 22 consecration of the Ram temple at Ayodhya in India, Nepal's Janakpur - believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram's wife Sita is gearing up to join the celebrations with multiple cultural and religious events. Sita's other name is Janaki, daughter of King Janak of Janakpur. It is 220 kms southeast of Kathmandu and about 500-odd km east of Ayodhya. Our daughter, Mata Janaki was married to Lord Shri Ram. We are very elated and proud that the consecration of Ramlala will take place at Ayodhya. People of Janakpur were very happy when the Supreme Court of India had declared its final verdict (in the Ayodhya matter), Nepal's former deputy prime minister Bimalendra Nidhi said on Saturday. For the people of Janakpur, Shri Ram is not just a deity but also their son-in-law. People are happy that their daughter and the son-in-law are entering their own house, added Nidhi, a senior Nepali Congress leader. Nepal is situated between India and China. Both India and China h

Nepal's ex-captain Sandeep Lamichhane sentenced to 8-year jail in rape case

The court had earlier declared the Nepal leg-spinner as a convict on December 29, 2023

EAM Jaishankar envisions Nepal as partner in India's development journey

Earlier today, Jaishankar offered prayers at Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal. He stated that he prayed for the well-being of people of Nepal and India and the ties between the two nations

EAM Jaishankar meets Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel in Kathmandu

Upon arrival, Jaishankar met Nepal's Foreign Minister NP Saud and the two leaders engaged in conversation as they proceeded towards their car

SJVN gets govt approval to form JVs for 8778 MW hydro, renewable projects

State-owned power producer SJVN Ltd on Monday said it has received the finance ministry's permission to form four joint venture firms for the development of hydro and renewable projects with a total capacity of 8,778 MW in India and Nepal. SJVN will be the leading partner in three joint venture companies, whereas SJVN's wholly-owned subsidiary SJVN Green Energy Ltd (SGEL) will be the leading partner in the fourth JV, a company statement said. According to the statement, the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), Ministry of Finance, Government of India has agreed to the proposal of SJVN and Ministry of Power to form four joint venture (JV) companies for the development of Hydro and Renewable Projects in India and Nepal. SJVN will form a JV with Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Ltd to develop 5,000 MW Renewable Energy Projects. Another JV will be formed between SJVN, Government of Arunachal Pradesh and Navyuga Engineering Company Ltd. The JV will ..

Nepal's former cricket captain Sandeep Lamichhane convicted of raping minor

Lamichhane is one of the most famous Nepal cricketers having played in leagues all around the world. He was arrested in the same case in January 2023 and released on bail

Nepal's 2023: High-level meetings with Indian, Chinese leaderships & quakes

After experiencing a turbulent 2022, Nepal witnessed much-needed political stability this year that enabled Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda' to focus on improving relations with its two important neighbours India and China even as he faced the regular staple of Himalayan problems - earthquakes, corruption scandals, and air crashes. After becoming Prime Minister in December 2022, Prachanda secured the vote of confidence from the House of Representatives on January 10 ending the political impasse amid a power tussle among Nepali political parties with the third largest party CPN-Maoist Centre gaining power and garnering support from the largest party Nepali Congress. However, Nepal's second-largest party in Parliament, the CPN-UML, on February 27 withdrew its support to the Prachanda-led government following a rift over backing the main opposition party's candidate for the presidential poll. It has had no significant impact on the government. On March 9, Nepal's Parliame

India-Nepal border under tight vigil ahead of PM Modi's Ayodhya visit

The state police and the Sashastra Seema Bal along with intelligence agencies have increased vigil on the India-Nepal border in view of the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ayodhya, officials said on Wednesday. The tight watch is being maintained on the porous border of India-Nepal ahead of Modi's arrival for the inauguration of Shri Ram Airport in Ayodhya on 30 December. The grand Ram Temple is slated for inauguration on January 22. "To prevent the movement of unwanted elements in the area, the security agencies have been asked to ascertain the identities of people before allowing them to cross over through the border," Deputy Inspector General, Sashastra Seema Bal, Gorakhpur, Akhileshvar Singh said. "Cameras have been put on SSB posts besides the main roads. Dog squads and one platoon of women wing have also been deployed. Metal detectors have been installed at Sonauli and Thuthibari outposts on the Indo-Nepal border," Singh said. In addition to this, security agencies

Will establish sister city relationship between Janakpur, Ayodhya: Nepal

Nepalese Ambassador to India Shankar Prasad Sharma on Friday said that Nepal and India are working to establish a sister city relationship between Janakpur and Ayodhya.He further said the Nepal Embassy in New Delhi was glad to receive Janakpur Mayor Manoj Kumar Sah and other dignitaries to participate in a program organized by the Chamber of India."Gald to receive Mayor Manoj Kumar Sah and other dignitaries from Janakpur Dham at @EONIndia. They were here to participate in a program organized by the Incredible Chamber of India. & are also working to establish sister city relationships between Janakpur and Ayodya," the Nepalese Ambassador wrote on 'X'.Recently, the Embassy of India in Nepal, in collaboration with Lumbini Development Trust and Lumbini Buddhist University, organised the inaugural India-Nepal Cultural Festival in Lumbini."The festival showcased the rich cultural heritage and traditions of India and Nepal, with a focus on Buddhism. The festival featured a Sand ...

India, Nepal to ink key power deal during Jaishankar's trip: PM Prachanda

India and Nepal will ink a long-term power deal during the visit of Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the first week of January, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda said on Friday. Speaking during the inauguration of the Inaruwa substation of Nepal Electricity Authority, Prachanda said that Nepal is doing extremely well in the sector of power generation. A long-term agreement between Nepal and India will be reached during the upcoming visit of Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to Nepal in the first week of January, Prachanda said. The power deal, once signed between the two neighbouring nations, will come nearly six months after Prachanda's visit to India when the two countries agreed in principle that India would import 10,000 megawatts of hydroelectricity from Nepal in the next 10 years. However, a formal agreement to this effect is yet to be signed. Nepal has been focusing on its hydroelectricity generating capacity for some time and has read

Asian buyers struggle with high price of onions after India's export ban

The world's biggest exporter of onions banned shipments on Dec. 8 after domestic prices more than doubled in three months following a drop in production.