Page 9 - Nepal

India, Nepal ink pact for 5 projects under ₹39 crore grant assistance

India and Nepal on Monday signed an agreement to implement five "high-impact" development projects related to education and health in the Himalayan nation under an Indian grant assistance of NRs 390 million, according to an official statement. The Embassy of India and Nepal's Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration and Project Implementing Agencies signed Memorandums of Understanding, the Indian mission here said in a statement. The five "High Impact Community Development Projects" include the construction of various school buildings in the Madhesh and Sudurpashchim provinces. It also includes the construction of a five-bed hospital building in the Gandaki province, the press release said. The construction of these facilities will help provide better education and health facilities to the people in Nepal, it said. As close neighbours, India and Nepal share wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation," said the statement, adding that the projects' implementation refle

Nepal PM Oli confirms India visit, says timing depends on groundwork

Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has said that he will be visiting India and that ground work is underway on both sides for the visit. He, however, did not specify any time. Oli's comment about his visit to India comes amid speculations by some sections of local media that he didn't receive any invitation from India for an official visit, indicating that his relations with India became sour. I will probably embark on a visit to India. My visit to India will take place after the two sides do necessary ground works, Oli said in an interview to a Nepalese Youtube channel Dishanirdesh TV late on Thursday. It was in July last year that Oli, the chairperson of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) - popular as the CPN-UML - assumed the office of Prime Minister for the fourth time. He had chosen to visit China for his maiden foreign visit, breaking the tradition of visiting India as the first destination after assuming the post of prime minister. Oli also revealed t

Floods near Nepal-China border disrupt Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage

Nepal is expected to host at least 25,000 Indian pilgrims this year for the revered Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, resuming after a five-year hiatus

Rescue efforts underway in Nepal after floods kill 9, leave many stranded

Rescue efforts continued on Thursday in Nepal to evacuate people stranded in flood-hit areas, after monsoon rains triggered a river flood in Rasuwa district that left nine dead and nearly 20 missing, media reports said. We are fully deployed in the field. We rescued more than 150 individuals, including 127 foreign nationals, and airlifted them to Kathmandu, Arjun Paudel, chief district officer of Rasuwa, was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post newspaper. Paudel said that electricity and telephone services were disrupted in the area, disrupting rescue and other operations. "We are currently maintaining limited communication through the Chinese border. Efforts are underway to restore telephone connectivity and resume electricity supply, he said. Search operations are also ongoing for the 19 people who went missing following the flood on Tuesday morning, Nepal Police said. Those missing include six Chinese nationals and two police personnel. The flash flood that hit parts of Rasu

At least 9 killed, 20 missing as heavy rain floods Nepal-China border

At least nine people were killed and 20 others were missing after monsoon rains flooded a river in Nepal's Rasuwa district, sweeping away the "Friendship Bridge" that links the country to China. The continuous monsoon rainfall in China on Monday night triggered a flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Nepal. The flooded river carried away at least nine people. Their bodies were recovered downstream, miles away from Dhading and Chitwan districts, the Republica newspaper reported. The Miteri Bridge in Rasuwa district, 120 km northeast of Kathmandu, was swept away by flooding at around 3:15 am on Tuesday. Of the 20 individuals reported missing, three are security personnel and six are Chinese nationals. Dozens of rescuers were already in the area. The flood damaged four hydropower projects in the district, affecting the supply of at least 211 MW of electricity to the national power grid. The flooded river swept away 23 cargo containers, six freight trucks, and 35 electric vehicles.

20 missing as floods wash away Nepal-China border bridge in Rasuwa

At least 20 people were missing after a river flooded by monsoon rains on Tuesday washed away the Friendship Bridge connecting Nepal with China. The continuous monsoon rainfall in China on Monday night triggered a flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Nepal. The Miteri Bridge in Rasuwa district, 120 km northeast of Kathmandu, was swept away by flooding at around 3:15 am on Tuesday. Twenty people, including six Chinese nationals, have gone missing, official sources said. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 55 people, including four Indian nationals and one Chinese, were rescued by the joint team of Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli visited the flood-affected areas near the Nepal-China border, including parts of Rasuwa district. He was accompanied by Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel. Oli in a social media post said the government is working on a war-footing to res

Nepal authorities lift restrictions on organising protests in Kathmandu

Nepal authorities have lifted the restrictions imposed on organising protests in most parts of the national capital, according to an official notice. The order issued on May 31 prohibiting sit-ins, hunger strikes, protests, public gatherings and demonstrations within the Ring Road areas of Kathmandu has been withdrawn effective from June 19, said the notice issued by the Kathmandu District Administrative Office on Thursday. The pro-monarchy protesters, demanding the reinstatement of the monarchy and the establishment of a Hindu state in Nepal, were organising protest programmes before the restrictions were imposed. The protests were disrupting business activities and transportation services, the local administration had said. Pro-monarchist groups, including the Rastriya Prajatantra Party and supporters of former king Gyanendra Shah, had earlier said they would continue the protest until the monarchy was restored. However, they have withdrawn protest programmes due to the onset of

Nepal starts exporting 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh via Indian grid

Nepal has begun exporting 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh through an Indian transmission line. Nepal, India and Bangladesh signed a trilateral agreement on October 3, 2024 to export electricity produced by Nepal to Bangladesh via the Indian transmission line. A Nepalese official said the export of electricity to Bangladesh has started from Saturday midnight. As per the agreement, Nepal will export 40 MW of electricity from June 15 to November 15. The electricity will be transmitted to Bangladesh via India's 400-kV Muzaffarpur-Baharampur-Bheramara transmission line. Last year, Nepal exported electricity to Bangladesh on November 15, for a single day, as a token to implement the agreement. As per the bilateral agreement reached between Nepal and Bangladesh, Nepal will charge 6.4 US cents per unit of electricity. Bangladesh has agreed to import electricity from Nepal for the next five years.

Nepalese Foreign Minister calls for 'green energy cooperation' with India

Green energy cooperation will foster mutual interdependence between New Delhi and Kathmandu, Nepal's Foreign Minister Arzoo Rana Deuba said on Thursday, adding that it can be done by promoting clean and sustainable energy sources. India's commitment to import 10,000 MW electricity over the next decade reflects the growing momentum in Nepal-India energy cooperation, Deuba said while speaking at the NepalIndia Strategic Dialogue organised by think tanks Ananta Aspen Centre and Centre for Innovative Foreign Policy in Kathmandu. Nepal and India had signed a long-term agreement in January 2024 to facilitate the export of 10,000 MW of electricity to India in the next 10 years. The foremost priority in Nepal- India relations is the need to advance our economic partnership by intensifying cooperation in trade, transit and investment, Deuba asserted. Nepal's enormous hydro-potential offers a clean climate resilient and renewable energy source that can be harnessed for generations to come, s

US ends Temporary Protected Status for Nepal, grants 60-day transition

The US has terminated the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) provided to Nepal in the wake of the 2015 earthquake, a media report said. A US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) notice on Saturday said TPS would not be extended for Nepal after its expiration on June 24 this year. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the beneficiaries would be granted a 60-day transition period through August 5, The Himalayan Times reported. TPS allows immigrants from designated countries without another legal status to stay in the US for up to 18 months and get legal work authorisation when social circumstances prevent a safe return. Nepal was initially designated for TPS on June 24, 2015, for a period of 18 months, in the wake of the devastating earthquake that resulted in a substantial, but temporary, disruption of living conditions. The DHS had extended the designation on October 26, 2016, for an additional 18-month period and multiple occasions thereafter. "After reviewing country conditions and ...

China asks Nepal to join its new international mediation organisation

China has asked Nepal to join the newly formed International Organisation for Mediation as Beijing wants more countries, besides Pakistan, from the South Asian region to join the initiative formed to further its global influence. The International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) was launched on Friday in Hong Kong. State-run Xinhua news agency reported that 33 countries signed the convention on-site, making them the founding members of the IOMed. However, the full member list is not yet released. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who launched the initiative met his Nepali counterpart Arzu Rana Deuba on the sidelines of the ceremony in Hong Kong on Friday and expressed hope that Nepal will join IOMed at an early date, an official press release said here. Deuba attended the IOMed inaugural event but apparently Nepal has not signed up to join it. We discussed various aspects of Nepal-China bilateral ties, including high-level exchanges and development cooperation, Deuba said in a p

Nepal govt announces budget of nearly Rs 2,000 billion for 2025-26

Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel on Thursday unveiled a budget of approximately NPR 1,964 billion for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26. Paudel allocated NPR 730 million in subsidised loans to support startups in the budget, which was presented during the joint session of the Parliament. The loan scheme will be offered at a concessional interest rate of just 3 per cent and is aimed at encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly among the Gen-Z people (those born between 1997 and 2012). For the social security allowance, the government has allocated NPR 109 billion in the budget, which will take effect from mid-July. Similarly, NPR 10 billion has been set aside for health insurance. Additionally, to attract international students, free visas will be offered as part of a scheme outlined in the budget to foreign students wishing to pursue higher studies in Nepal.

Earthquake of 4.3 magnitude jolts western Nepal, no casualty reported

A 4.3 magnitude earthquake struck western Nepal's Jajarkot district on Monday afternoon. With an epicentre in the Ramidanda area of the district, the earthquake was recorded at 2:25 pm, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center. There were no immediate reports of any damage caused by the earthquake. On May 23, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Baitadi district.

Leftist unity without clear ideological clarity can backfire: Nepal PM Oli

Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Saturday cautioned that uniting leftist forces without a shared ideological foundation could be detrimental to the communist movement. "It will be meaningless to bring those who have turned to many directions into leftist unity without proper ideological understanding," Oli said while addressing a programme organised here to mark the 32nd death anniversary of former CPN-UML general secretary Madan Bhandari. He highlighted a persistent tendency within the communist movement to oppose even just initiatives and to create discord, noting that divisions often arise from personal interests rather than genuine ideological differences. The tendency to oppose even the right thing and create discord has been evident in the communist movement since history. Even though there was no real ideological difference, divisive lines were drawn based on personal interests, Oli said. The Prime Minister emphasised that the concept of 'people's multi-party ...

Refused to descend: Indian mountaineer dies at Mt Everest near 'death zone'

Subrata Ghosh, 45, dies descending Mount Everest near the Hillary Step in the death zone marking the first Indian fatality of the 2025 spring climbing season

Over 350 illegal religious structures removed along Nepal border

The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday said that more than 350 unauthorised religious sites, including madrasas, mosques, mazars and Eidgahs, have been identified and subjected to sealing or demolition in recent days, an official statement issued here said. Acting on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's clear directive that no religious encroachment will be tolerated, the administration in districts such as Pilibhit, Shravasti, Balrampur, Bahraich, Siddharthnagar and Maharajganj has launched a sweeping campaign, it said. The authorities have systematically identified illegal structures and taken strict action, continuing operations even on Sunday. The chief minister has made it clear that encroachment in the name of any religion will not be allowed and all violators, especially those running unrecognised religious institutions, will face legal consequences, the statement said. On May 10 and 11, 104 madrasas, one mosque, five mazars and two Eidgahs built illegally on public and private

Deeply saddened: New Delhi on death of Nepalese student at Odisha's KIIT

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said it is "deeply saddened" over the death of a Nepalese student of the KIIT University in Bhubaneswar. The ministry said it has been in constant touch with the Odisha government since it knew about the "tragic incident". The body of the 18-year-old B. Tech computer science student from Nepal was recovered from her hostel room at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) on Thursday evening, police said. The state government has extended full support to the family of the deceased, and a thorough enquiry is currently being conducted by the Odisha police, it said. "We are deeply saddened by the tragic demise of a Nepali student of KIIT University, Bhubaneswar," the MEA said. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family during this difficult time," it added in a statement. This is the second such case at the institute this year. Prakriti Lamsal, another Nepalese student, died by suicide on February 16.

Nepal launches diplomatic efforts to probe death of another student at KIIT

Nepal has launched diplomatic initiatives to probe the death of an 18-year-old student from the Himalayan nation at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha's Bhubaneswar, hours after she was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her hostel room. The incident comes barely two-and-a-half months after Prakriti Lamsal, another Nepalese student of the same institute, died by suicide on February 16. The incident of Prisa Sah, a Nepali student studying at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University in Odisha, India, being found dead in her hostel room has left us deeply saddened. I pray for the eternal peace of Prisa's soul and express my deepest condolences to her family at this sad hour, Nepal's Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba said in a post on X. Immediately after the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated diplomatic initiatives to investigate the truth of the incident through high-ranking officials of the Government of India, the .

UP govt takes action against illegal encroachments along India-Nepal border

Action was taken against 89 illegal encroachers in Bahraich and 119 illegal constructions in Shravasti

China-built airport in Nepal littered with corruption, finds inquiry

In 2023, The New York Times reported that CAMC had inflated the project's cost and undermined Nepal's efforts to maintain quality control