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The Embassy of Germany in Kathmandu celebrated 65 years of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Germany amidst the presence of over 400 guests at Hotel Hyatt in Kathmandu on Thursday.

National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina presided over the event as chief guest.

Officials of various ministries, leaders of political parties, heads of Kathmandu-based diplomatic missions, civil society members, Human Rights advocates, businesspersons, media persons and people from various walks of life were present in the program.

In his welcome speech, German Ambassador to Nepal Thomas Prinz said, “We are celebrating 65 years of bilateral relations between Nepal and Germany. 65 years of friendship and solidarity. We have been standing with Nepal in difficult times, be it the civil war, the 2015 earthquake or the Covid-19 pandemic. We welcome the huge progress Nepal has made and continue our support.” He also conveyed his condolences to the victims of the terrorist attacks in Israel, reads a statement issued by the Federal Republic of Germany in Kathmandu.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 600 per tola in the domestic market on Friday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 110, 100 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 109, 500 per tola on Thursday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 109, 550 per tola. It was traded at Rs 109, 000 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,345 per tola today.

When you look good, you feel good. A little makeup can boost your confidence level when something feels off (and don’t we all have those days). Asmi Shrestha, a professional makeup artist and owner of the studio Glamour by Asmi in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu runs us through the basics of makeup while offering some helpful tips on how to take care of our skin. 

 What is the most important thing to keep in mind while buying makeup products? 

You need a good solid base to begin with so investing in proper moisturizer and primer is crucial. It’s also important to make sure your makeup items don’t clash with one another so keep a basic color palate in mind. Also, not every brand will suit you so you have to find out what works for you. I recommend you avoid dupes and invest in good quality products. 

 As a makeup artist, what is the one thing you recommend for those wanting to experiment with makeup?

I’d like to tell people to take care of their skin first and then choose makeup that helps enhance their features. Cleanse your skin every day. Test products before you buy them to ensure it doesn’t lead to rashes or breakouts. You can’t compromise on essentials like face serums, eye creams, moisturizers, and sunscreens. Then, for everyday makeup, consider investing in a good concealer for coverage, mascara to brighten your eyes, blush for a radiant complexion, and a solid lipstick to complete your look. 

 How important is it to understand your skin type before applying any makeup? 

Different skin types have different needs so you must use products that don’t hamper your skin and aggravate your skin issues, should you have any.  Dry skin needs a dewy base, like a good product with cream oil and a thick moisturizer. Oily skin, on the other hand, needs a mattifying product for a clear look. A primer is also essential so as not to clog your pores even further. I recommend a foundation-setting powder to most of my clients because it helps the makeup to stay in place for a long time. Those who have sensitive skin should stay away from makeup products or visit a dermatologist before putting anything on the skin. 

 How do you select the right foundation and concealer shades for different skin tones?

There are three main skin tones, warm, cool, and neutral. In Nepal, you often come across neutral and warm skin tones. Look at the labels for words like Neutral Cool (NC), Neutral (N), and Warm (W) to find the right shade for your skin tone. You can choose one or two shades lighter than your skin tone, apply it to your jawline, and wait for five min to check for oxidation. Likewise, for concealer, you can pick one that’s two shades lighter than your foundation. If it blends seamlessly, that shade is your perfect match. 

Can you share some makeup tricks?

Blending is the most challenging part of makeup but it can make or break your look. Good blending gives you a defined look and can highlight your best features. So practice it well. For eye makeup, use a concealer first for a matt finish. If you want your lipstick to look nice and last long, apply a lip balm before putting on lipstick, and also use a lip liner to enhance the shape of your lips. Highlighting and contouring play major roles in enhancing your facial features. To add a little structure to your face, contour the jawline, lower cheeks, and forehead. Use a highlighter where natural light hits your face, especially on the cheekbones, bridge of your nose, under brows, and chin.

 Is there anything specific people tend to overlook while doing their makeup?

I believe it’s very important to use the right makeup tools. Different brushes are designed for different purposes. I recommend a beauty sponge to apply foundation. For liquid products like blush and contour, flat-top brushes are quite useful. As a makeup artist, I recommend you to have at least a fluffy brush, eye makeup brush, and brows brush in your makeup bag. After each use, make sure to clean and sanitize your brush. For thorough cleaning, you can use baby shampoo and olive oil. As for the beauty sponge, you need to wash it after every use and squeeze it properly otherwise the water will dilute your oil-based makeup.

The government has expressed its commitment to develop Provincial Investment Climate Reform Action Plans across all provinces, beginning with the Koshi, Madhesh, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces to stimulate investments at the subnational level.

These plans will identify important reforms based on Provincial Investment Climate Assessments (PICA) conducted in the four provinces to help create an investment-friendly environment and promote private sector investment at the provincial and local levels. This new initiative will also be extended to the remaining three provinces of Bagmati, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim over the course of the Fiscal Year.

The announcement was made at a workshop on PICA organized by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers with the support of the World Bank, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the International Finance Corporation on October 9, 2023.

“PICA will help us to get disaggregated data on investment climate at provincial level and offers necessary data for shaping evidence informed policies at local level.  It suggests some policy alternatives for potential transformation of Nepal’s business environment,” expressed Dr Baikuntha Aryal, Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal. “We need to internalize the framework, ensure effective policy coordination, simplify and harmonize policies and develop understanding of priority reform agenda among all state actors to improve Nepal’s business environment”.

The workshop was organized under the World Bank and SDC-financed Post-Covid Private Sector Recovery Technical Assistance (TA) Program (PSRP). It discussed the findings from the PICA and the strategic actions needed for the formulation of Provincial Investment Climate Reform Action Plans, drawing upon the insights derived from the assessment report.

“PICA will, for the first time, provide insights in terms of the readiness of provinces to attract investment and support private sector growth,” said Meuwly, Ambassador of Switzerland to Nepal. “PICA’s effort is a much welcome step in Nepal’s federalized context. We need to support the ongoing devolution of federal power and promote collaboration between national and sub national authorities. By fostering businesses and private investment, we are ultimately working to achieve Nepal’s aspiration of becoming a middle-income country.”

PICA offers an evidence-based assessment to help policymakers at the provincial and local governments identify important policy changes that affect investment environment and competitiveness. It assesses the investment climate across 18 indicators divided into four pillars: Basic Infrastructure, Regulatory Efficiency, Regulatory Transparency and Firm Engagement, and Quality of Life.

The PICA was undertaken initially in four provinces and municipalities - Koshi (Biratnagar), Madhesh (Birgunj), Gandaki (Pokhara), and Lumbini (Siddharthanagar). The preparation of the PICA will commence in the remaining provinces later this calendar year.

“A conducive climate for robust private sector participation and investment in cities within and outside Kathmandu Valley is central to Nepal’s economic growth,” said Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. “Subnational policy makers play an important role in targeting reforms and action plans towards mobilizing greater private investments and creating job opportunities for people at federal, provincial, and local levels.”

The workshop also included a panel discussion on ‘Investment Climate Reforms in Provinces: Possibilities and Way Forward’ where panelists delved into governance issues, the significance of public-private dialogue in reform implementation, and the impact of infrastructure development on enhancing the investment climate.

Eknarayan Aryal, Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, highlighted the importance of inter-government coordination for effective implementation of PICA reform activities and stressed the significance of the private sector’s role in the industrialization of Nepal’s economy.  The workshop was attended by secretaries and joint secretaries from federal ministries, principal secretaries and secretaries from the provincial governments, chief administrative officers from the pilot local governments, development partners, and private sector representatives.

Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has urged the European Union (EU) to remove Nepal from their aviation safety concern list.

He made this request in a sideline meeting with EU Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen in Marrakesh of Morocco on Thursday. Finance Minister Mahat is currently in Marrakesh to participate in the annual meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Similarly, during the meeting, he urged the EU to increase its economic assistance to Nepal, Minister Mahat's secretariat stated. 

Since 2013 the EU has put Nepal's airlines companies in its safety concern list and due to this the airlines companies of Nepal are not allowed to operate flights in the European skies.

The EU had refused to de-list Nepali airlines from the safety concern list when it carried out a monitoring of Nepali airlines in 2079BS.

It had announced its plan of conducting an on-site monitoring of the status of air safety issues in February 2023, but the EU team did not come to Nepal for the monitoring following the air crash near the Pokhara Airport on January 15.

The EU's security committee has, however, conducted an on-site study of Nepali airlines companies and on aviation security in August/September and the Finance Minister has made this request in this context.

On the occasion, the EU Commissioner said that they would be carrying out works on this matter through the EU Embassy in Nepal and also hold discussions on this.

The Nepal government has brought 254 Nepalis stranded in war-torn Israel following the armed attacks by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

They were brought home on a wide-body aircraft of the Nepal Airlines Corporation this morning. Government officials, including Minister for Foreign Affairs, NP Saud, had gone to Israel to evacuate them.

Talking to the mediapersons upon landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Minister Saud said 254 of the 503 Nepalis who wish to return home from Israel were brought in this rescue flight and the remaining ones would also be brought soon.

"Five hundred and fifty-seven Nepalis had provided their details in response to the request of the Embassy of Nepal based in Tel Aviv, Israel to the Nepalis wishing to relocate to safer places and return to Nepal to give their details online. Out of the 557 Nepalis, 503 had applied to return to Nepal and among them 254 have returned home today with us," the Foreign Affairs Minister said.

According to him, 54 Nepalis who requested to be relocated from risky areas have been shifted to safer areas in Israel.  He added that four Nepali nationals were injured in the attack by Hamas militants in the southern part of Israel and one among them has returned to Nepal today itself after treatment, another one has been discharged from hospital while two others are receiving treatment in hospital in Israel.

"A search has been intensified for Bipin Joshi who has gone missing following the attack. We will share the information as soon as we get additional information on this," Minister Saud said. 

Minister for Foreign Affairs Saud said that 10 Nepali students, who had gone to Israel from the Far-west University of Nepal, were killed in the attack and coordination is being established with the Government of Israel to repatriate their bodies.

"The Israeli side has said that it will take some time for handing over the bodies as it is required to complete the legal process and keep separate details of each and every deceased, and the number of bodies in Israel is currently very high," he said and requested the families and relatives of the deceased Nepalis to have patience for some time.

Minister Saud maintained that the government will make arrangements to rescue the remaining Nepalis who could not be brought this time due to some reasons, as regular commercial flights are also being operated from Tel Aviv at present.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has thanked mediapersons, the Government of Israel and the Government of Nepal, the Embassy of Israel in Nepal and the Embassy of Nepal in Israel and the members of the flight crew, who helped in rescuing Nepali nationals and expressed their solidarity in this.

Nepal Police had kept three buses on stand-by at the airport to take the rescued Nepalis to various destinations.

According to the statistics of the Ministry, there are currently 265 Nepali students studying in Israel and about 4,500 working in various professions and sectors. The 265 Nepali students went to the Israeli government funded 'Learn and Earn' program.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the bodies of all the deceased will be brought to Nepal as soon as possible after the due procedures are completed.

Dengue is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus (DENV) and transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes, according to the World Health Organization. Half of the world's population is now at risk of dengue with an estimated 100–400m infections occurring each year. Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. While many DENV infections are asymptomatic or produce only mild illness, DENV can occasionally cause more severe cases, and even death, per the United Nations health agency. 

In Nepal, dengue has emerged as a public health crisis. It has already spread in 76 districts infecting around 40,000 people so far this year and leaving many people dead. Hundreds of dengue infections in a day point at the gravity of the crisis. Favorable climatic conditions from the southern plains to the hills to even the Himalayan region have definitely contributed to this spread, apart from a general lack of awareness about the disease. Water stagnated in tyres, flower pots, air conditioning equipment, buckets, drums and puddles can be a breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes that spread this disease through their bites. 

Preventive measures at household and community levels can go a long way in bringing dengue under control. This does not mean that local levels, provinces and the federal government should do nothing to address this health emergency. There’s a deepening feeling among the public that the governments–local, provincial and federal–have not been paying much attention to the outbreak because it does not afflict the ruling elites, given the health safeguards in place for them and easy availability of treatment. 

Through effective steps, the government should prove that this perception is wrong. 

This daily, through extensive reports, has tried to bring the attention of the government toward a public health delivery system that has become dysfunctional, by and large. At least in part, rising dengue infections are an indication of a disease afflicting this system. 

In turn, dengue is symptomatic of governance that has not been as effective as it should be in providing remedies for multiple ills plaguing Nepal and the Nepalis, from violation of national sovereignty to unabated corruption to rising market prices to increasing defense and security challenges. 

The challenges are formidable but they should not be insurmountable. Once again, the onus is on the government to take political parties, civil society, the people and other relevant actors into confidence and do whatever it takes to tide the country over the crises.    

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the government is ready to form a high-level mechanism for addressing problems seen in the economy at present.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the 'National Economic Debate' organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) here today. On the occasion, the PM said the government is ready to form such a mechanism as proposed by the private sector.

"It is required that all sectors are at one place and there is a centralized expression for improving the economy. We need this kind of mechanism as we need suggestions and guidelines to initiate a new dimension for economic reforms," the PM said, adding that the efforts for improving the economy could be started from this very point. He asserted that the government is ready to make such a mechanism as proposed by the private sector.

Chairperson of the Dialogue and FNCCI president Chandra Prasad Dhakal had proposed making the high-level mechanism for improving the country's economy and the PM, who addressed the program after this, agreed to the proposal.

Stating that the government is about to take a 'bold decision' for economic reforms, PM Dahal opined that improvement of the overall economy would not be possible through 'minor operation'.

"The main problem of the economy is not resolved despite taking the path of reform. Pathwork-type reforms are not adequate and there needs to be a policy shift," he reiterated. The PM also shared on the occasion that the government has made long efforts to have a synchronization of the finance policy and the monetary policy.

He also claimed that the overall economic situation of the nation could not improve if the government did not facilitate the private sector in their business enterprises. The PM reiterated that Nepal itself will take decisions as to how the problems seen in the country's economy are addressed.

The Prime Minister said the government would restructure the nation's economy through the next fiscal year's annual policies and programs.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal said that the citizen's morale has been down due to the narrative that is being fomented forcefully that the economy is in the doldrums. He said this narrative should be shattered.

According to him, although the economy is not growing at present, it is not slumping either. "It would create even more problems if the narrative that the country is crisis-hit is spread," he said and called for the united efforts of all sectors, including the private sector in improving the economy.

FNCCI president Dhakal spoke at length highlighting the condition of the economy, calling for urgent action with the government and the private sectors working together to improve it.

Chief economic advisor of the Ministry of Finance Poshraj Pandey said the current critical economic problem was a continuation of problems that piled up in the past.

Stating that there was no uniformity about the present economic situation (the private sector points out economic problems, but the government denies it), economist Dr Achyut Wagle stressed the need for bringing out facts about the current economic situation.

President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Malla called for the government to bring the monetary policy that suits the goals of economic growth.

Vice President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Birendra Raj Pandey said the time has come to restructure Nepal's economy.

Similarly, President of the Federation of Nepalese Industries and Commerce Khimlal Bhandari pointed out structural problems in Nepal's economy.

President of the Federation of Nepali Cottage and Small Industries Umesh Prasad Singh ruled that there was no recognition of the contribution of cottage and small to the country's economy.

Also, General Secretary of the Federation of Nepalese National Industry and Enterprises Bhagirath Sapkota viewed that the state should recognize the role of cottage and small industries for building socialism-oriented society as envisioned by the constitution of Nepal. Industry friendly laws are also required, he added.