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The Nepal Geotechnical Society (NGS) has announced that GeoMandu 2027, an international conference on geotechnical engineering, will be held in Kathmandu from 17-19 March 2027. The event will take place alongside the 11th Asian Young Geotechnical Engineers Conference (11th AYGEC) under ISSMGE and the proposed 1st South Asian Conference on Geotechnics (SACG) under the Association of Geotechnical Societies of South Asia (AGSSA).

The announcement event was attended by Chief Guest Keshab Kumar Sharma, Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Guest of Honor Keh-Jian (Albert) Shou, Vice-president (Asia) of ISSMGE. Senior regional leaders from AGSSA, the Indian Geotechnical Society, and the Pakistan Geotechnical Engineers Society joined virtually.

NGS President Indra Prasad Acharya said the conference aligns with the Society’s goal of promoting scientific collaboration, research, and resilient infrastructure development. He noted that the GeoMandu series has previously published four volumes of proceedings with over 125 papers through Springer Nature.

NGS General-secretary Kalpana Adhikari highlighted the Society’s focus on inclusive participation from government agencies, academia, research institutions, the private sector, and young professionals.

Conference Chair Mandip Subedi said collaboration with Asian and South Asian institutions will help address shared geotechnical challenges in Himalayan and sub-Himalayan regions. Technical Convener Dhundi Raj Pathak said the 2027 event is expected to host more than 500 delegates from over 40 countries and include over 240 technical presentations and panel discussions, with proceedings to be published by Springer Nature.

Youth Convener Rajan KC said the 11th AYGEC will prioritize youth engagement through affordable participation, awards, mentoring, and leadership opportunities.

Held under the theme “Mountain Geotechnics for Infrastructure Development,” GeoMandu 2027 will focus on issues such as landslides, slope instability, erosion, river dynamics, and seismic risks. International delegates will also be invited to experience Nepal’s cultural and natural attractions.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is going to conduct training on digital literacy to enable its residents to perform tasks related to digital transactions in a safe manner.

KMC's spokesperson, Nabin Manandhar, said that a training program on digital literacy is being launched to protect the denizens against internet-related insecurities.

According to him, it has been decided to conduct this training to promote the use of the internet technology for useful work and to avoid technology-related risks.

"With the growing use of information technology, every individual should know about the proper use of the internet and basic digital security. While the use of technology makes life easier, if not used cautiously, the risks increase equally," spokesperson Manandhar said.

He stated that training is needed to increase easy access to services through the proper use of technology and to protect city residents from potential digital risks.

According to him, to effectively implement e-governance that the government is emphasizing on, citizens must be able to use technology with confidence.

"People should be made aware of cyber security. This responsibility is fulfilled through this type of training," spokesperson Manandhar said, adding that a digital Nepal is needed to make Nepal's governance transparent.

Anirudra Nepal, head of the KMC's Information Technology Department, said that training will begin in the first phase in wards 17, 18, 19 and 29 and will gradually be expanded to other wards.

One should know how to set strong passwords for personal privacy and cyber security, use OTP (one-time password), to identify viruses, antivirus, suspicious links, and ways to avoid them. According to the KMC officials, the training is being organized to make metropolitan residents understand all these topics.

Police have arrested four individuals for their alleged involvement in the robbery of gold, cash, and other valuables from a woman in Nepaltar, Tarakeshwor Municipality, Kathmandu.

The woman, a banker by profession, was reportedly robbed of her jewelry, cash, and valuable documents.

The suspects, who were made public today, have been identified as Ishwor Budhathoki (27) of Syangja; Bishal Rai (20), Sajan Tamang (18) and Samir Tamang (19) all from Nuwakot and currently residing in Tarakeshwor.

According to Superintendent of Police and spokesperson for the District Police Range Kathmandu, Pawan Kumar Bhattarai, the incident took place on the evening of November 24 while the woman was returning home.

The suspects, who arrived on motorcycles, allegedly stole earrings weighing 12.630 grams, ear tops weighing 0.98 grams, Rs 2,500 in cash, and other belongings.

Police have sought a five-day remand from the District Court Kathmandu for further investigation against the accused.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 900 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 248, 800 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 247, 900 per tola on Tuesday.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 3, 220 per tola today.

Nepal’s two-wheeler market is expanding rapidly, with imports rising sharply in the first four months of the current fiscal year despite growing global momentum toward electric mobility. 

According to the Department of Customs, Nepal imported 106,768 units of motorcycles and scooters, including both assembled and completely knocked down (CDK) units, during the first four months of the current fiscal year 2025/26. This marks a 25.68 percent increase, or an additional 21,800 units, compared to the same period last year.  In the first four months of 2024/25, the country had imported 84,890 units.

The latest import data shows that the domestic appetite for petrol-powered motorcycles and scooters remains strong, as concerns over affordability, quality, and infrastructure continue to deter consumers from switching to electric two-wheelers.

Automobile industry people say the surge reflects a rebound in economic activity as mobility improves and consumer confidence gradually returns. Two-wheelers remain one of Nepal’s most preferred personal mobility options, particularly in urban areas where public transport is not dependable.

A significant portion of this year’s imports, or 81 percent, were unassembled units. Nepal imported CDK units 86,339 in the four-month period. Nepal currently assembles more than a dozen motorcycle and scooter brands domestically. Selected models from popular brands like Royal Enfield, Bajaj, TVS, Yamaha, Hero, Honda and CFMoto, among others, are imported as CDK units and assembled locally. Local assembly has created jobs and helped reduce prices down to some extent.

During the period, Nepal imported 20,351 units of fully-built two-wheelers, according to the department. While electric vehicles (EVs) have gained traction in Nepal’s four-wheeler segment, the same momentum has not been seen in the two-wheeler market. Traders say consumers remain hesitant to transition to electric motorcycles and scooters due to factors like higher upfront costs, limited model choices, concerns over battery reliability, and a lack of widespread charging infrastructure.

Dealers also say electric two-wheelers are still expensive compared to their petrol counterparts which make them less appealing to middle-income buyers who dominate the two-wheeler market.

Mustang district produced potatoes worth Rs 628 million in the current fiscal year, according to the Agriculture Knowledge Center Office, Mustang. 

The Office shared that five local levels in the district harvested 9,665 metric tons of potatoes after farming in 478 hectares of land in the fiscal year 2082/83 BS.

In the last fiscal year, the farmers grew a total of 8,496 metric tons of potatoes by farming in 460 hectares of land, the Office stated.

Chief of Office Rajesh Gurung said that both production and productivity of potatoes increased this year compared to last year, which resulted in growth of Rs 118.4 million in value.

Gurung mentioned that the productivity of potato remained 20.22 metric tons per hectares this year and the potato farming was done in 18 hectares of additional land compared to the last fiscal year. 

The farmers got good prices for their products this year in Mustang.

According to Gurung, the farmers got Rs 5 more per kilogram for the sale of potatoes this year compared to last year. This year, the average price of potatoes was Rs 65 per kilogram.

The trade deficit widened significantly in the first four months of the fiscal year 2025/26, driven by a sharp rise in imports and only modest export performance, according to the latest foreign trade data released by the Department of Customs.

Nepal recorded a trade deficit of Rs 515.95bn between mid-July and mid-November, an 11.99 percent increase compared to the Rs 460.71bn deficit during the same period last fiscal year. The expansion reflects the country’s growing dependence on imported goods and its struggle to boost export competitiveness.

During the review period, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 609.45bn, while exports amounted to only Rs 93.49bn. Total foreign trade reached Rs 702.94bn, up from Rs 566.05bn in the corresponding period last year.

Although Nepal engaged in trading activities with more than 140 countries over the four-month period, it managed to maintain a trade surplus with only 28 of them. The largest surplus was recorded with Denmark. Nepal exported goods worth Rs 324.41m to the Scandinavian nation while importing products worth only Rs 49.99m, resulting in a surplus of Rs 274.41m. Major export items included tea, pasta, light snacks, pet food, felt products, and pullovers, while imports from Denmark consisted mainly of machinery, ophthalmic instruments, pharmaceutical raw materials, and animal feed.

Other notable countries with which Nepal posted trade surpluses were Romania (Rs 67.85m), Sweden (Rs 25.08m), Niger (Rs 17.34m), Iraq (Rs 17.31m) and the Seychelles (Rs 11.16m). Surpluses with the remaining countries were below Rs 10m.

On the deficit side, Nepal’s largest trade gap—by a wide margin—was with India, its largest trading partner. Imports from India totaled Rs 337.92bn during the review period, while exports reached only Rs 76.5bn, resulting in a deficit of Rs 261.41bn.

Nepal also experienced substantial deficits with China (Rs 132.27bn), Argentina (Rs 34.72bn), and the United Arab Emirates (Rs 21.56bn), reflecting the high volume of crude oil, manufactured goods, machinery, and industrial inputs sourced from these economies.

The widening deficit highlights Nepal’s limited export capacity and rising import dependency. Experts say it is high time the country prioritized industrial productivity, export diversification, and more competitive trade policies to narrow the growing imbalance.

Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Agricultural Development Bank Limited (ADBL), signed an agreement to implement the component “Increased Access to Financial Support for Korea Returnee Migrants.”

This component falls under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Government of Nepal on September 23, 2022 for the project “Strengthening Stage-Wise Support System for the Stable Reintegration of Korea Returnee Migrants in Nepal.”

The Agreement was signed by Mooheon Kong, CD of KOICA and Govinda Gurung, CEO of the ADBL, where Dhani Ram Sharma, Joint Secretary of FACD, Ministry of Finance and Krishna Prasad Sapkota, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Labor Employment and Social Security MoLESS signed the agreement as the witness.

The main objective of this program is to create a stable environment for entrepreneurship by improving financial access for Korea returnee migrants in Nepal. For this eligible Korea returnee will get subsidized loan from the ADBL. The loan will be subsidized for 5 years, reads a statement issued by KOICA. 

KOICA will provide USD 2.5 million (approximately NPR 320,000,000) for the Program. KOICA’s contribution will be used solely for interest subsidies. ADBL will contribute approximately NPR 1.2 billion (1,200,000,000) as loan capital for the Program.

It is estimated that the Program is expected to support approximately 200 to 250 Korea returnees with an average loan size of Rs 5 million.  The program will run from 2026 to 2028. The interest subsidy will be provided for the period of 5 years.

Through this program Korea returnees will have full opportunity to employ their skills and establish successful enterprises that support the local economy. In addition to this, local employment will be created.

In the event KOICA CD stated that it is a shared commitment to empowering Nepali returnee migrants who have contributed their skills, labor and aspirations while working in Korea. As they return home, it is our collective responsibility to create an enabling environment where they can reintegrate with dignity, security and opportunities for long-term economic stability, according to KOICA. 

In the event, Joint Secretary Sapkota stated that Nepal and the Republic of Korea share a longstanding relationship grounded in cooperation, mutual respect, and a shared vision for human-centered development. Our collaboration in the employment and migration sector especially through the Employment Permit System (EPS) has benefitted thousands of Nepali workers. As these workers return home with experience, skills, and aspirations for a better future, it becomes essential that we, as institutions, support their smooth and productive reintegration.

Similarly, Joint Secretary Sharma stated that KOICA has always been a meaningful partner. Its cooperation has been meaningful and very much effective.

ADBL CEO stated that the program is new and very much useful for returnee migrants who wish to start their own venture. He further stated that the ADBL will execute this program successfully and look forward to such innovative programs in the future.