Page 25 - Nepal

Nepal forms 4-member committee to probe helicopter crash near Mt. Everest

The Nepal government has formed a four-member panel to probe the deadly helicopter crash near Mount Everest in the country's eastern region, authorities said on Wednesday. The Manang Air helicopter 9N-AMV crashed on Tuesday, killing all six people on board, including five members of a Mexican family. The probe committee is headed by Budhisagar Lamichhane, joint secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation, according to the ministry sources. The helicopter took off from Surke Airport in Solukhumbu district at 10.04 am for Kathmandu and suddenly lost contact at an altitude above 12,000 feet at 10.13 am. The helicopter crashed in the Lamjura area of Likhupike Rural Municipality in the remote mountainous Solukhumbu district. A meeting of the Council of Ministers convened at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar on Tuesday expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in the crash and decided to form a committee to probe it, cabinet source

5 out of 6 bodies recovered from Manang helicopter crash site in Nepal

A Manang Air helicopter with six people aboard went missing near Mount Everest in Nepal on Tuesday, aviation authorities said. According to Tribhuvan International Airport General Manager Pratap Babu Tiwari, the chopper, with call sign 9N-AMV, went contactless 15 minutes into the flight. The chopper had taken off from Surki in Solukhumbu for the capital Kathmandu at 9:45 am, the Kathmandu Post newspaper quoted Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Information Officer Gyanendra Bhul as saying. According to initial reports, the helicopter was carrying a total of six individuals. It was piloted by Senior Captain Chet Gurung, the Himalayan Times newspaper quoted a source as saying.

Nepal PM Prachanda acknowledges mistakes regarding controversial remarks

Dahal acknowledged the mistake while making controversial remarks during a book launch on July 2. Addressing the parliament, he pledged to exercise greater caution while expressing personal emotions

Nepal needs to further strengthen relations with India, China: FM Saud

Nepal's Foreign Minister N P Saud on Monday underlined the need for further strengthening the Himalayan nation's ties with India and China as he asserted that the relations with one neighbour should not be compared with another. "Both our neighbours are rising economic powers and their influence is increasing... Nepal enjoys a traditional friendship with both the neighbours," which needs to be further nurtured, Foreign Minister Saud said while speaking at the International Relations Committee of the House of Representatives. He said the relationship with one neighbour should not be compared with another neighbour, according to his office. "So far as Nepal's relations with the neighbouring countries are concerned, we should not feel psychological pressure and we need to put our concern in a transparent manner," he added. Nepal's relations with India are historical and special, he said, noting that "owing to our open border, two-third trade links and transit facilities, our relations

Nepal, India to finalise detailed project report of Pancheshwar power plant

Nepal and India have agreed to hold a meeting of experts to "iron out the differences" and finalise the detailed project report of the much-awaited 6,480 megawatt Pancheshwar Multipurpose bi-national power plant to be developed on the bordering Mahakali river, according to a media report on Saturday. The understanding was reached during a meeting of the governing council of the Pancheshwar Development Authority held in Pokhara in Nepal on Thursday and Friday, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported. The meeting decided to extend the term of the team of experts which expired in March, the report quoted Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation ministry spokesperson Madhu Bhetuwal as saying. The two sides also agreed to hold the next meeting of the team of experts within 10 days to iron out the differences over the DPR (detailed project report) and make a move towards concluding the DPR, he said. Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP) is a bi-national hydropower project to be developed on

Prachanda's remark on India stirs up storm in Nepal, Oppn demands resign

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda's stunning remarks that an Indian businessman settled here "once made efforts" to make him the premier has stirred up a storm in the Himalayan Nation with the Opposition demanding his resignation. Prachanda also said that Sardar Pritam Singh, a pioneer trucking entrepreneur in Nepal, played a special and historic role in enhancing Nepal-India relations. Prachanda made these remarks on Monday while addressing a function to launch the book, Roads to the Valley: The Legacy of Sardar Pritam Singh in Nepal' He (Singh) had once made efforts to make me the prime minister, Prachanda said. He travelled to Delhi several times and held multiple rounds of talks with political leaders in Kathmandu to make me the prime minister, the Prime Minister said. Prachanda also said that Singh has played a special and historic role in enhancing Nepal-India relations. The remarks have stirred up a storm and drawn criticism from several quarters. The main

ADB approves $50 million loan to help Nepal in making policy reforms

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday said it has approved a USD 50 million loan to the Nepal government to support the implementation of policy reforms and help improve the Himalayan nation's domestic and international trade with its key economic partners like India and Bangladesh. The development of the trade and industry sector will boost competitiveness and help steer the country toward sustainable economic growth, said ADB South Asia Department's Director of Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination, Thiam Hee Ng. Furthermore, improved trade facilitation can boost exports and help address Nepal's balance of payment, he said. In fiscal year 2022, trade and industry contributed 14.1 per cent to Nepal's gross domestic product (GDP). The Nepal government is pushing to increase the contribution of trade to the country's GDP by improving the trade and export promotion environment and strengthening the supply chain of primary products, according to an ADB press ...

Nepal's Supreme Court issues order to govt to register same-sex marriage

Nepal's Supreme Court on Wednesday issued an interim order to the government to temporarily register same-sex marriage, a notice by the apex court said. A single bench of Justice Til Prasad Shrestha issued the order to the government to make necessary arrangements for registering the marriage of sexual and gender minority couples if they demand so, the directive said. Seven people, including activist Pinky Gurung on behalf of Blue Diamond Society (BDS), an LGBTI rights organisation, filed a writ to the Prime Minister and the Office of the Council of Ministers to legalise same-sex marriage. In the order, the apex court has also asked the opponents to furnish a written reply on the issue within 15 days. The petitioners said that they filed the writ as the Nepalese law has obstructed same-sex marriage despite a Supreme Court decision, which allowed such marriages 15 years ago. Citing that Clause 69 (1) of the National Civil Code 2017 mentions that each individual citizen has the free

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