London —- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has called for urgent action to cut fossil fuel subsidies and accelerate investment in clean energy to prevent catastrophic climate change that threatens the region’s economic development.
The ADB report highlights that Asia’s economic growth is being fuelled in a carbon-intensive way, well above the global average. Several countries are developing new coal-fired power plants in Asia, which accounts for 94% of the global pipeline of coal-fired power plants under construction, planned, or announced.
The report recommends reducing subsidies for fossil fuels, putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions and providing more policy incentives for clean energy. It also calls for international coordination to tackle the problem.
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Last remaining Gurkha Victoria Cross recipient dies in Nepal aged 83
London — Captain Ram Bahadur Limbu VC, MVO, a decorated Gurkha soldier known for his bravery and valor on the battlefield, has passed away at the age of 83 on Saturday. According to his son Mohan Begha Limbu, he passed away at 3:45 am this morning while receiving treatment at Mediciti Hospital in Lalitpur. He had been unwell for the past six months and was initially treated at B&C Hospital in Jhapa for kidney and heart-related issues.
Captain Limbu was transported to Kathmandu for further treatment as his condition failed to improve. With the assistance and coordination of Gorkha Welfare and Armed Police, a helicopter was chartered to bring him to the capital city. Initially, Limbu was transported to and from his home in Nakhipot to Nepal Mediciti Hospital for the first two months. However, he was eventually admitted to the hospital last month.
Captain Limbu will be remembered for his heroic actions during the Borneo Confrontation in November 1965, when, as a 26-year-old Lance Corporal serving in the 2nd Battalion of the 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles, he rescued two of his men under intense enemy fire and, after securing their safety, fought valiantly against enemy soldiers. He then served in the 2nd Battalion of the 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles.
Nepal-UK BCM meeting held in London
London — The 6th Nepal-United Kingdom Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) meeting was held on 26 April 2023 at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the overall state of Nepal-UK relations and discussed ways to enhance engagements in various areas of mutual interest.
The delegations exchanged views on the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the two countries and discussed progress made in major aspects of the bilateral relations, including development cooperation, trade, investment and tourism, education and human resource development, consular matters, and people-to-people linkages. They also discussed the British Gurkha issues, climate change, and sustainable development, as well as working together on agendas of mutual interest in multilateral forums. The meeting also reviewed the ongoing talks on Ex-Gurkha issues and agreed to continue discussions towards addressing the grievances.
The UK side highlighted the changing shape of its development cooperation portfolio and shared the priority areas of future cooperation with Nepal, including support in transitioning to a middle-income country and progress towards sustainable development goals, help in mobilizing investment and climate finance, support in expanding access to education, and addressing gender inequalities. The Nepali side appreciated the valuable development cooperation provided by the United Kingdom as one of the largest development partners and emphasized the need for continuity and enhancement of such support at a critical time of graduation from the least developed country status.
The two sides agreed to work towards further consolidating and widening cooperation and engagements in productive sectors such as trade, investment, energy, and tourism. It was also agreed that scaling up investment in Nepal’s clean energy would not only foster economic growth but would also help address the agenda of climate change. The two sides also discussed the utilization of investment windows such as British International Investment and the possibility of channelizing more resources from British Investments Partnership.
The two sides renewed their willingness to cooperate on various matters of common interest at multilateral forums, such as advancing the agendas of climate change, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development, among others. The United Kingdom appreciated Nepal’s contribution to UN peacekeeping as the second-largest troops providing country currently.
In a separate meeting, Foreign Secretary Mr. Bharat Raj Paudyal and the Permanent Under-Secretary at FCDO Sir Philip Barton had a productive discussion on a range of topics, including marking the centenary of the Friendship Treaty, exchange of high-level visits, and bilateral cooperation. Overall, the meeting was seen as productive in terms of furthering the Nepal-UK relationship and exploring new avenues for cooperation.
Nepal Issues Record Number of Permits to Climb Mount Everest This Spring
Nepal has issued a record number of 454 permits for climbers to scale Mount Everest this spring. This comes four years after overcrowding on the world’s highest peak was blamed for at least four deaths. The high number of permits issued could cause heavy traffic and bottlenecks on the way to the summit if there is a shorter window to reach it due to unfavorable weather.
Most climbers will attempt to summit Everest with the help of a Nepali guide, and over 900 climbers are expected to head for the summit during the peak climbing season from April to May. The highest number of climbers receiving permits this season were from China (96), followed by the United States (87).
Ang Tshering Sherpa, former president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, said the high numbers this season were due to many climbers being unable to travel to Nepal in recent years due to the pandemic. In addition, new rules on the Chinese side of Everest requiring climbers to have scaled one other 8,000-metre peak first were sending more Chinese to Nepal.
A team of professional mountaineers is currently preparing the route up to Everest and has already fixed ropes up to Camp IV at 7,924 metres (25,997 feet). However, recent snowfall has heightened the risk of avalanches on the mountain, according to Sherpa.
The government charges $11,000 per foreign climber and has collected $4.86m from the Everest permits. Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 10 highest peaks, and foreign climbers who flock to its mountains are a major source of revenue for the country.
Sri Lanka’s cabinet approves negotiations with ADB for financial assistance
COLOMBO — Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers endorsed a proposal to authorize the Finance Ministry to proceed with negotiations seeking a 350 million U.S. dollar loan and another 1.5 million dollar grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), cabinet spokesperson Bandula Gunawardena said on Tuesday.
Gunawardena told the media that such financial assistance would be sought to carry out policy implementation in keeping with the 3 billion dollar program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The cabinet met on Monday and approved a paper submitted by President Ranil Wickremesinghe who is also the finance minister authorizing the secretary to the ministry to go ahead with the ADB negotiations, said Gunawardena.
He said Sri Lanka worked out the program with the IMF for economic recovery, and the ADB and the World Bank had pledged assistance to the South Asian country in its implementation.(Xinhua)
India to overtake China to become the most populous country this week
India will overtake China to become the most populous country in the world by the end of this week, the United Nations has said.
India’s population is expected to reach 1,425,775,850 people by the end of April, the new data shows.
A different UN body last week predicted that India would overtake China by the middle of this year.
The Asian nations have accounted for more than a third of the global population for over 70 years.
“China will soon cede its long-held status as the world’s most populous country,” the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) said in a statement.
It added that “due to the uncertainty associated with estimating and projecting populations, the specific date on which India is expected to surpass China in population size is approximate and subject to revision”.
The UN Population Fund said last week India would have 2.9 million more people than China by the middle of 2023.(BBC)
British NGOs call for enhanced support to Nepal
London – British NGOs and charities working in Nepal have called for enhanced support to countries like Nepal amid the global food, fuel, and climate crisis.
Taking part in a day-long conference organised by the Britain-Nepal NGO Network (BRANNGO) on Thursday, representatives of various British NGOs showcased their activities and called for continued support to Nepal, especially in the areas of education, health, and combating climate change.
The fundraising director of Community Action Nepal (CAN), which is working among remote mountain communities in the Solukhumbu region, Nicola Terry, said that the global cost of living crisis, increased prices in Nepal and food insecurity, climate change, and urban and overseas migration were major challenges.
A well-known travel writer, Lisa Choegyal, said that Nepal should focus on eco-tourism as it will bring benefits to local communities. Developing new destinations will help. We need help to develop refreshing, exciting destinations, she said.
Ruby Glasspool, Deputy Director of The Glacier Trust, which is working in the Kavre region, said that there was a lack of education regarding agriculture techniques among local communities. “We should encourage people to stay where they are and keep working on the land they own,” she said. She also described how her organisation was helping local communities to grow high-value crops like coffee.
Founder and CEO of Pipal Tree, a British NGO that has been working in Nepal since 1999, Lt Col (Retd) Philip Holmes said that the elephant in the room is climate change. Saying that there are 22,000 Community Forest User Groups in Nepal, Mr Holmes said indigenous knowledge and local communities should be mobilised to combat climate change. He said that his organisation was working in Dhanusha and Kathmandu and had already created 13 forests using the Miyawaki method.
Camilla Sugden, Deputy Head, South Asia region at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), said that Nepal and UK are celebrating 100 years of peace and friendship treaty this year. The maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Nepal stood at 900 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1950 but has come down to 151 per 100,000 live births now. “It’s a fantastic achievement. The UK government is committed to supporting Nepal’s socio-economic transformation.”
Nepal became a Lower Middle-Income Country (LMIC) in 2020, but its graduation is fragile. Drop in remittances could see Nepal return to the Low-Income Country (LIC) status, she warned.
‘Nepal focusing on inclusive and accelerated economic growth’
Addressing the conference organised at the Nepali embassy in London, Ambassador of Nepal to the UK, Gyan Chandra Acharya, appreciated the work of British NGOs in Nepal.“The work you do is very critical to enhance the quality of education in rural areas. Your work is critical in providing and delivering services to people. We need to do more and do better. After the earthquake and pandemic, Nepal has now moved towards green development and towards achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) agenda, among others. Nepal is focusing on inclusive and accelerated economic growth, making it sustainable and resilient from disaster, and degradation of the environment, we look forward to working with you all,” he added.
President of Non Resident Nepali Association International Coordination (NRNA ICC), Kul Acharya, appreciated the fantastic work British NGOs were doing in Nepal. “NRNA always stands ready to work together with BRANNGO and assist your members in whatever way possible. We look forward to work closely with you all in the days to come,” he added.
A member of the British Parliament and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Nepal, Virendra Sharma said the rise of India and China will continue to impact Nepal as a crossroad of Asia. “The UK must support Nepal to continue its own roots for the future. It will be the government of Nepal and civil society that will fight against climate change and eradicate poverty.”
“In this interdependent world, no country is an island. The UK is the largest bilateral donor to Nepal. Successful but sustainable and responsible businesses have to be part of prosperity. Govt oversight is also equally important,” he added.
The participants also called upon the British government to increase its Overseas Development Aid (ODA) commitment to 0.7 percent of its Gross National Income (GNI).
The United Nations has set a target for countries to spend 0.7 percent of their GNI on ODA. In 2013, the UK achieved this target for the first time. But in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the British government reduced its ODA to 0.5 percent of GNI from 2021 “as a temporary measure.”
“Countries like Nepal need more assistance now, not less,” said Nick Hinton, chairman of BRANNGO. “Our members are committed to helping the people of Nepal to help themselves. But we also need help from the British government and the public.” He urged the Nepal government to facilitate the works of British NGOs so that they could support local communities more effectively.
BRANNGO was established in 2018 to support its members and share their expertise and experiences of working in Nepal. BRANNGO has developed Working Groups broadly aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in relation to Nepal. Education, Health, Environment, Conservation, and Climate Change are its primary focus areas. It also organises ‘virtual coffee mornings’ online providing a useful forum for informal inquiries and discussion.
UK Ambassador to Nepal to be replaced
Rob Fenn, a seasoned diplomat, has been appointed as His Majesty’s Ambassador to Nepal. He will be succeeding Ms Nicola Pollitt, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Fenn is expected to take up his new role in July 2023.
Born in 1961, Fenn has a wealth of experience in the diplomatic service. He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1983 as a third secretary in The Hague. Since then, he has served in various capacities in different parts of the world.
Fenn’s most recent assignment was in Jakarta, where he served as the Deputy Head of Mission from 2018 to 2022. Prior to that, he was the Head of Human Rights and Democracy Department in the Multilateral Policy Directorate at the FCO from 2014 to 2017.
Other notable positions held by Mr Fenn include his tenure as the British High Commissioner in Bandar Seri Begawan from 2009 to 2013 and as the Deputy High Commissioner in Nicosia from 2004 to 2008. He has also served as the Deputy Head of the Southern European Department in the Europe Directorate at the FCO and as the First Secretary in the EU/Economy in Rome.
Fenn’s career in the diplomatic service has taken him to various parts of the world, including the United Nations in New York, where he served as the First Secretary at the UK Permanent Representation to the UN from 1993 to 1997. He also worked as a Desk Officer in the South Africa Desk, Africa Directorate at the FCO from 1990 to 1993.
Fenn is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear in his new role as His Majesty’s Ambassador to Nepal. His appointment has been welcomed by the British government, which is confident that he will build on the strong ties that already exist between the UK and Nepal.
Nepal all set to emerge as a tech hub, entrepreneurs say
London – Nepali officials as well as tech entrepreneurs have said that Nepal is all set to emerge as a tech hub.
Addressing an event organised by the Embassy of Nepal in London on Tuesday, Nepal’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Gyan Chandra Acharya, said that as the world was passing through the fourth industrial revolution, time had come for Nepal to leapfrog through technological revolution.
“We have a young, dynamic population and the country is moving towards socio-economic transformation. Nepal government’s policy is to support the promotion of Information Technology (IT),” said Ambassador Acharya adding, “We are looking for partnership with all – IT experts, private sector and international agencies. We can make Nepal a tech hub if we put our resources together,” he added. Saying that broadband internet connectivity was over 60 percent in Nepal and there was a huge talent pool in the country, Ambassador Acharya urged the British investors to invest in Nepal including in the IT sector. He said Tuesday’s event was just a beginning and that the Embassy will be organising a big investment event in September 2023.
Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Anil Kumar Dutta, said that the government of Nepal was promoting the use of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) in almost all sectors of governance. Mr Dutta said that Nepal adopted the Digital Nepal Framework in 2019 and was implementing it now with a view to provide transparent and efficient services to the general public. “The government welcomes investment in the IT sector and we have so many prospects in this area,” he added. He also informed that the government was ready to reform existing laws and regulators so as to facilitate foreign direct investment in the IT sector.
‘Promoting Nepal as an emerging tech hub’
Making a presentation on the theme ‘Promoting Nepalas an emerging tech hub,’ Anjani Phuyal, founder and Global CTO of Genese Solution– a multinational digital transformation company,’ said that besides hydropower and tourism, Nepal now is being seen as a country with vast IT potential.
“Nepali IT professionals are now working in major IT companies in the US, Europe and other countries and Nepali IT companies based in Nepal are providing their services to global businesses,” said Phuyal adding, “Nepal is now producing almost 70,000 graduates every year in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects.”
In 2019, CDC Group, the UK’s development finance institution, invested approximately US$12 million in WorldLink, the largest private sector internet service provider in Nepal. In addition to this, the ISP also secured a combined Series B investment of $15 million – $8.2 million from British International Investment and $6.2 million from Dolma Impact Fund. In 2022, the World Bank provided a concessional loan of US$140 million (equivalent to NRs. 17.79 billion) to the government of Nepal to implement the Digital Nepal Acceleration (DNA) Project. The project will mobilise private capital to increase access to broadband services in rural areas and will also support and secure the delivery of digital government services through improvements in Nepal’s public data infrastructure and cybersecurity capabilities, among others.
“These are but a few examples and illustrate the potential of the IT sector in Nepal,” said Phuyal adding, “Nepal has a distinct advantage in terms of global competitiveness due to the establishment of AWS, Microsoft, and Google academies. These academies have made it possible for individuals to attain internationally recognized certifications and develop expertise in these technology platforms. This, in turn, can help Nepal produce a pool of skilled resources that can compete at a global level. Nepal now has progressive legal and infrastructure framework, offers a skilled workforce and there is an advantage of time zones also.”
Mr Phuyal said that the government of Nepal should emulate policies of the UK, India, Israel and Singapore governments, for example, to develop the country as an IT tech hub. He also called upon the government of Nepal to adopt the Cloud First policy, reduce minimum FDI threshold, promote ICT education in collaboration with AWS & Microsoft Academy and introduce policies like e-residency. “Global investors can begin to create a connected Nepali workforce,” he said.
Taking part in the panel discussion, Chief Executive Officer of Dolma Impact Fund, Tim Gocher said that the companies they’ve invested in now combinedly employ around 10,000 people. “Infrastructure is already there and many talents are there. The cost of doing business is much lower in Nepal compared to other countries in the region.”
Mr Tim Gocher said that besides hydropower and health sector, his company was now investing in Nepali IT companies including CloudFactory and Fusemachines Inc.
“The process to get money into Nepal is quite tedious and it can take up to a year. The delay on part of the government can change the mind of the investors. Delays are destroying. Nepal should learn from India where the FDI regime has been turned automatic,” said Gocher adding, “Remote working potential is very good in Nepal as there are a lot of highly skilled personnel in Artificial Intelligence (AI), BigData, and cloud computing. Tech can create employment in a big way. Tech sector is highly beneficial for Nepal in terms of employment, income taxes and corporate taxes. Nepali companies should also be allowed to have a foreign subsidiary.”
Chairman and CEO of MBI MBO Ltd, Bryan Duffy, said that technology could transform either business or consumer products. “Nepal should provide great innovator service, great value, and less bureaucracy. Businesses need to be agile because we are living in a changing world,” said Duffy adding, “It’s all about people and culture. You should create a culture that can inspire generations. Innovation is about looking at problems and trying to resolve them through a different perspective.”
Mr Bryan Duffy said that Nepali tech has a great future. “Nepalese are intelligent, hard working and creative. The government should also focus on Research and Development.”
Richard Slater, a UK-based consultant, said that the level of cyber security is still weak in Nepal. “Nepal is highly susceptible to cyber attacks, especially the banking sector. It could be a huge opportunity forinvestors to try to address that,” he added.
During the panel discussion moderated by Anjani Phuyal, panellists Tim Gocher and Bryan Duffy responded to queries from participants. Deputy Chief of Mission at the Nepali embassy in London, Mrs Roshan Khanal, delivered the vote of thanks while Rambabu Nepal, Second Secretary at the embassy hosted the event.
The event, organised in collaboration with Genese Solution Ltd, was followed by a networking reception.
Nepal-China bilateral security meeting stresses reopening Tatopani transit point
SINDHUPALCHOWK : A bilateral meeting of security officers from Nepal and China was held on Monday. The meeting focused on various issues of mutual concerns such as the reopening of the Tatopani transit point along the Nepal-China border in the district, border management, control of cross-border crimes and other contemporary issues.
According to the information officer of the District Police Office Sindhupalchowk, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ram Kumar Yadav, the meeting discussed the possibility of regularizing the Tatopani transit point from coming May 1 and measures and strategies for strengthening border security and combating the risk of the COVID-19 infection due to cross-border movement.
The meeting stressed the need for taking measures against COVID-19, and promoting a mutual communication system for the updates of the virus, further strengthening border security mechanisms and combating crime, making arrangements for increasing the number of checkpoints, ensuring a swift bilateral communications system for security purposes, and promoting bilateral collaboration and cooperation, it is said.
The District Administration Office, the Office of Immigration, security bodies and customs chiefs were among those attending the meeting on behalf of the Nepali side.
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Missing Indian climber on Mt. Annapurna found alive on Mt. Annapurna
Kathmandu — Baljeet Kaur, a 27-year-old Indian climber who successfully climbed Mt Annapurna, the world’s 10th-highest peak without supplemental oxygen, was found alive on Tuesday after being reported missing. She was descending from the summit when she went missing. Aerial search teams located her above Camp IV and preparations are being made for a long-line rescue to airlift her from above the high camp. Kaur was seen descending alone towards Camp IV and remained out of radio contact until the morning (18) when she was found. Kaur had become the first Indian climber to scale four 8,000-metre peaks in a single season last year in May.
However, Anurag Malu, a resident of Kishangarh in Rajasthan, fell into a crevasse and died while descending from Camp IV on Mt Annapurna on Monday (17). In addition, Noel Hanna, the first Irish person to reach the summit of K2 during the winter season, died at Camp IV on Monday night (17). Efforts are underway to bring their bodies back to base camp.
Mt. Annapurna is known for its difficulty and danger in ascent and is the tenth-highest mountain in the world, standing at 8,091 meters above sea level.
The Asian Development Bank and the GEAPP announced a capital fund to accelerate clean energy
The primary focus of the fund will be to support the adoption of clean energy technologies in low- and middle-income countries, with a particular focus on battery energy storage systems in Vietnam and the early retirement of coal-fired power plant initiatives in Indonesia. Technical assistance, grant components for investment projects, and blended concessional instruments will be used to encourage additional capital.
GEAPP’s chief executive officer, Simon Harford, stressed the importance of increasing clean energy access in low- and middle-income countries. In 2021, just 8% of financing for energy transition technologies went to LMICs, the lowest share in a decade. The partnership between GEAPP and ADB aims to mobilize new and additional capital at a ratio of at least 15x at portfolio level to encourage the use of clean energy in the region, underpinned by practical innovation, scalable solutions, and knowledge sharing.
The new fund is part of GEAPP’s 2023 priority to increase accessibility to clean energy technologies across LMICs. It is hoped that the partnership will contribute to international climate finance ambitions and build on ADB’s track record of supporting universal access to reliable and affordable energy while promoting the low-carbon transition in the region.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) have announced a new capital fund that aims to accelerate clean energy access and transitions in South and Southeast Asia. The partnership will provide an initial US$35m of catalytic capital towards the fund, which will be established and administered by ADB. The fund will focus on countries including India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
The primary focus of the fund will be to support the adoption of clean energy technologies in low- and middle-income countries, with a particular focus on battery energy storage systems in Vietnam and the early retirement of coal-fired power plant initiatives in Indonesia. Technical assistance, grant components for investment projects, and blended concessional instruments will be used to encourage additional capital.
GEAPP’s chief executive officer, Simon Harford, stressed the importance of increasing clean energy access in low- and middle-income countries. In 2021, just 8% of financing for energy transition technologies went to LMICs, the lowest share in a decade. The partnership between GEAPP and ADB aims to mobilize new and additional capital at a ratio of at least 15x at portfolio level to encourage the use of clean energy in the region, underpinned by practical innovation, scalable solutions, and knowledge sharing.
The new fund is part of GEAPP’s 2023 priority to increase accessibility to clean energy technologies across LMICs. It is hoped that the partnership will contribute to international climate finance ambitions and build on ADB’s track record of supporting universal access to reliable and affordable energy while promoting the low-carbon transition in the region.
Apple opens first retail store in India
NEW DELHI — Apple Inc on Tuesday opened a store in India’s financial capital Mumbai, the first retail store in India.
Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook came to India to mark the formal launch of the company’s first retail store in the South Asian country.
“The energy, creativity and passion in Mumbai is incredible! We are so excited to open Apple BKC, our first store in India,” Cook wrote on his social media platform, besides posting a photo of himself and excited staff at the new Apple store.
Videos captured on the occasion showed Cook interacting with some of customers while waving to others as employees cheered and clapped in excitement.
The store, called Apple BKC, is located in Mumbai’s bustling Bandra Kurla Complex.
A crowd, mostly fans of Apple, from across Mumbai and other parts had gathered outside the store a day in advance, hoping to be among the first to enter the store.
An Apple fan carrying a vintage Apple computer that he had bought in the 1980s was seen interacting with Cook.
“I brought this just to show Apple’s journey. I bought this in 1984, and since then, I have been using Apple products,” the fan told media.
“Apple BKC is a reflection of Mumbai’s vibrant culture and brings together the best of Apple in a beautiful, welcoming space for connection and community,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of retail.
So far Apple products were available online in India and through resellers.
A second Apple store in India is set to open in the capital New Delhi on Thursday. (Xinhua)
Qatari princess successfully climbed 8,091-meter high Mt Annapurna
Kathmandu —- Qatari princess Sheikha Asma Al Thani has successfully climbed the 8,091-meter high Annapurna Mountain located in Annapurna Rural Municipality-4 Narchang, Myagdi, according to Mingma David Sherpa, the Director of Elite Expedition. The princess climbed the mountain along with famous mountaineer Nirmal Purja, reaching the peak at 4 pm on Saturday. She completed all the necessary training for the climb after coming to Annapurna-3 Dana, the birthplace of Nirmal Purja, a month ago. Princess Al Thani holds a world record in the field of mountain climbing and has climbed seven out of 14 peaks above 8000 meters, including K-To’ Lhotse, Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, and Manaslu. She aims to complete all 14,000-meter-high peaks and is participating in mountaineering with this goal in mind. Annapurna is the tenth highest mountain in the world, and Maurice Hergoz from France was the first to climb it in 1950.
Nepali tea received a “gold medal” in China
Kathmandu —- Nepali tea has recently received a “gold medal” in China, which has boosted demand for Nepali tea from foreign countries. The Nepali tea industry is seeing an increase in foreign traders as the demand for Nepali tea is rising again after a slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
After a quality test of “Black Tea” by the Tea Marketing Association of China, the “Pearl Golden Tea” prepared by Tinjure Cooperative of Ilam secured first place. Sharad Subba, owner of Jasbire Tea Processing Industry in Ilam, said that demand for Nepali tea has increased and local production cannot meet the demand.
Uday Chapagain, owner of Gorkha Tea Estate, emphasized the need to focus on quality rather than quantity and highlighted the potential for Nepali tea to significantly contribute to the economy. The National Tea and Coffee Development Board is exploring trade agreements with China and other markets for Nepali tea.
Federalisation has positive effects on Nepal’s health system but improvements still needed – Study
London — A team of researchers from the UK and Nepal met with MPs to present their findings on how federalisation has impacted Nepal’s healthcare system. The study, funded by the Health System Research Initiative, identified both positive and negative developments in the country’s decentralised health system. Positive aspects included improvements in the availability of resources for health, the construction of new health posts and hospitals, and better availability of essential medicines in many places. Areas that need improvement include communication between different levels of government, several health workforce-related issues, oversight and coordination of buying of medicines, and financial issues. The researchers worked in three provinces, interviewed 243 stakeholders at all three levels of government, and conducted 31 Participatory Policy Analysis workshops at local and province levels. The interdisciplinary study began in April 2020 and will last till January 2024.