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Ambassador of Nepal to Spain, Sanil Nepal, presented his letters of credence to Spanish King Felipe VI amid a formal ceremony held at the Royal Palace of Madrid on February 24.

Ambassador Nepal was received at Palacio De Santa Cruz by the Second Introducer of Ambassadors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation of Spain. A brief meeting was held with the Deputy Director General of South and East Asia.

Ambassador Nepal was accorded a Guard of Honor before heading to the Royal Palace.

Following the presentation of credentials, Ambassador Nepal attended a private audience held by King Felipe VI, accompanied by the Under-Secretary of the Ministry. Their discussions centered on the longstanding, cordial Nepal-Spain relations and avenues for enhanced cooperation.

It was shared in a press statement released by the Embassy of Nepal in Spain.

The King congratulated Ambassador Nepal on his appointment and conveyed his best wishes for a successful tenure. He also recalled his previous visit to Nepal and expressed his desire to visit again at a suitable time.

Similarly, Ambassador Nepal conveyed the warm greetings and best wishes of President Ram Chandra Poudel, and extended, through King Felipe VI, the goodwill of the government and people of Nepal to the government and people of Spain.

The Ambassador also briefed the Spanish King on Nepal's foreign policy priorities, development initiatives, and efforts to address climate change, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in tackling environmental challenges.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he plans to offer a “gold card” visa with a path to citizenship for $5 million, replacing a 35-year-old visa for investors.

“They’ll be wealthy and they’ll be successful, and they’ll be spending a lot of money and paying a lot of taxes and employing a lot of people, and we think it’s going to be extremely successful,” Trump said in the Oval Office.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the “Trump Gold Card” would replace EB-5 visas in two weeks. EB-5s were created by Congress in 1990 to generate foreign investment and are available to people who spend about $1 million on a company that employs at least 10 people.

Lutnick said the gold card — actually a green card, or permanent legal residency — would raise the price of admission for investors and do away with fraud and “nonsense” that he said characterize the EB-5 program. Like other green cards, it would include a path to citizenship.

About 8,000 people obtained investor visas in the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, 2022, according to the Homeland Security Department’s most recent Yearbook of Immigration Statistics. The Congressional Research Service reported in 2021 that EB-5 visas pose risks of fraud, including verification that funds were obtained legally.

Investors’ visas are common around the world. Henley & Partners, an advisory firm, says more than 100 countries around the world offer “golden visas” to wealthy individuals, including the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Malta, Australia, Canada and Italy.

Trump made no mention of the requirements for job creation. And, while the number of EB-5 visas is capped, Trump mused that the federal government could sell 10 million “gold cards” to reduce the deficit. He said it “could be great, maybe it will be fantastic.”

“It’s somewhat like a green card, but at a higher level of sophistication, it’s a road to citizenship for people, and essentially people of wealth or people of great talent, where people of wealth pay for those people of talent to get in, meaning companies will pay for people to get in and to have long, long term status in the country,” he said.

Congress determines qualifications for citizenship, but Trump said “gold cards” would not require congressional approval. AP

The reconstruction of the BP Highway (Banepa-Sindhuli-Bardibas) remains stalled, five months after floods and landslides in the Roshi Khola and Sunkoshi rivers severely damaged the Khurkot-Dhulikhel section in September. The delay is attributed to a lack of budget assurance. A technical study estimates the reconstruction cost at approximately Rs 10bn. Of the 12-kilometer stretch from Chowkidanda in Namobuddha, Kavrepalanchok, to Kaldhunga in Roshi Rural Municipality, eight kilometers were completely destroyed. Additionally, the road from Nepalthok to Aapghari in Sindhuli sustained significant damage.

Temporary tracks and diversions have been constructed, but traffic remains difficult. Locals fear that without immediate reconstruction and a permanent track, the highway will become impassable during the upcoming monsoon.

Sindhuli MP Rajan Dahal has urged the government to start rebuilding the Khurkot-Nepalthok and Nepalthok-Bhakundebensi sections. “Even after five months, no reconstruction has begun. If the permanent track is not built soon, the highway will be completely blocked in the monsoon,” he warned.

The BP Highway is a vital route, carrying over 10,000 vehicles daily and serving as the shortest link between eastern Nepal, the central Terai, and Kathmandu. MP Dahal stressed the need for urgent reconstruction or at least a permanent diversion to ensure its operability during the monsoon. Similarly, Shyam Kumar Ghimire, chief whip of the ruling Nepali Congress and Sindhuli MP, has also called for immediate action. He recently raised the issue with Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak at a program in Sindhuli Mardhi, urging the government to allocate funds.

Last Tuesday, the Ministry of Finance reportedly approved Rs 8.5bn for the highway’s reconstruction. However, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has yet to move forward with the process. The government has sought Japan’s assistance, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has conducted a feasibility study. While JICA has shown a positive stance, no final decision has been made. A source from the Department of Roads stated that the contract for permanent reconstruction will be awarded only after Japan’s confirmation.

Currently, traffic is being routed via a temporary track along the Roshi River. The journey, which previously took four hours on the 160-kilometer highway, now takes over eight hours due to poor road conditions. Transport entrepreneur Dipendra Karki reported enduring long traffic jams and excessive dust on the temporary route. Sindhuli Police Chief Govinda Raj Kafle stated that, due to the risk of dry landslides, traffic is prohibited from 6 pm to early morning. “We have restricted night-time travel to minimize risks,” he said.

The BP Highway, which suffered collapses at multiple points during the 2015 earthquake, was further damaged by this year’s floods and landslides. Uncertainty looms over its reconstruction timeline. Originally built with Japanese support, the highway was completed on 3 July 2015, and handed over to the Nepal government. While JICA estimated the original construction cost at Rs 350m per kilometer, the current reconstruction is projected to cost Rs 1bn per kilometer.

Nepali Hindus are observing the Mahashivaratri festival by offering prayer to and worshiping Lord Shiva today, on Fagun Krishna Chaturdashi (the fourth day of the waning moon in the month of Phagun), as per the lunar calendar.

According to the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, Brahma took the form of Shiva at the midnight of Krishna Chaturdashi of Fagun. So, this day is observed with prayers, pooja, and visits to Lord Shiva's shrines. Hindus believe that the observation of the Mahashivaratri brings peace and prosperity to one's life.

From early morning today, devotees take baths in rivers and ponds, visit Lord Shiva's shrines, and pay homage.

The day is regarded as the favorite day of Lord Shiva, who is believed to bring happiness to the hearts of those living in difficulty.

Some observe fasting on the day and the night is observed with a vigil (jagram), celebrating Shiva.

People also make fire at home, on public squares, and at temples, chant hymns, and take prasad on occasion.

Classical dances are performed at Kailashkut and Kirateshwor of the Pashupati area in Kathmandu.

The Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu is thronged by devotees from across the country and neighboring India.

Meanwhile, Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has made special arrangements to facilitate the visitors.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has expressed belief that the Mahashivaratri festival would foster harmony, tolerance and unity among all Nepalis, thereby instilling positive energy, knowledge and peace.

Giving a message of best wishes on the occasion of the Mahashivaratri festival today, Speaker Ghimire said the festival reinforces benevolence, love, compassion and faith so that human values would be bolstered. The Mahashivaratri is the major religious festival of Hindu people. God Shiva is worshipped and fasting is observed on this occasion, he reminded.

This festival bears religious, cultural and spiritual values. As per legend, it is the wedding night of the God Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

God Shiva is remembered as the power that creates, protects and destroys as well.

"Nepal is a religiously and culturally rich country. The temples, festivals and heritages are unique features of Nepali civilization. The Mahashivarati best reflects the cultural values and tradition of Nepalis," Speaker Ghimire explained in the message of best wishes.

The Pashupatinath Temple located in Kathmandu is the destination of hundreds of thousands of Hindu people during this festival, he added.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has said it is a matter of pride for all Hindu people to have the holy Pashupati in Nepal.

Giving a message of best wishes to all Nepali sisters and brothers on the occasion of the Mahashivaratri today, President Paudel said, "God Shiva is celebrated in many vedic texts. Having the holy Pashupati area in Nepal is a matter of pride not only for Nepalis but for the entire Hindu people," he reminded.

The Head of the State wished peace, prosperity and happiness to all Hindu Nepalis on this occasion.

The existing cultures in different religious sects reflect continued faith in God Shiva, he said, adding that Nepal is the world centre for spiritual thoughts for those revering the Pashupatinath and Kirateshwor Mahadev as the form of God Shiva.

God Shiva represents both the creative and destructive forces of nature. 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' (Truth, God and Beauty) is the inspiring adage relating to God Shiva.

According to the President, the Mahashivaratri, the grand festival celebrating God Shiva, urges us to continue life in coexistence and cooperation with nature.

He also underlined the need of preserving the cultural and religious heritages, including the Pashupati area.

The Head of the State wished the festival brought spiritual awakening among all.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has once again invited the group protesting the implementation of a cable car project in Pathibhara, Taplejung, for talks.

Joint Secretary Prem Prasad Bhattarai, the coordinator of the government’s talks team, confirmed that the protesting group has been urged to come back to the negotiating table.

On Monday night, the Ministry issued a formal notice, inviting the protestors for dialogue. The notice cordially called on all those opposing the project for negotiations so as to address the social, cultural, and local concerns raised by the agitating groups.

A talks team was formed by the government on February 2, and two previous rounds of discussions ended inconclusively. The "No Cable Car" group had previously announced to walk away from the talks. The area has already experienced clashes between the two sides over the dispute.

Lawmakers have demanded the state guarantee free treatment for those injured in road accidents.

During a meeting of the House of Representatives today, lawmaker Ramhari Khatiwada raised his concern over the road accident that took place at Kavrebhanjyang today, insisting on providing free treatment for those injured in road accidents.

He also demanded the government not make the national identity card for senior citizens mandatory and provide services for acquiring the card from the respective local governments.

Similarly, lawmaker Devendra Paudel also sought free treatment for those injured in road accidents and strict implementation of road safety programs and the traffic rules to minimize cases of road mishaps. 

Likewise, lawmaker Gyan Bahadur Shahi said that the government has been unable to designate the Chief Administrative Officer in many local levels and employees at some local governments have not been paid on a regular basis.

He also expressed his concern of the reduction in fiscal equalization grants for local levels after a half yearly review of the budget for the current fiscal year. 

Also speaking at the meeting, lawmaker Anita Devi accused people's representatives of not cooperating with employees. She stressed on the government's role in sorting out disputes surfaced during the implementation of the cable car project in Pathibhara of Taplejung.  

Lawmaker Lalbir Chaudhary drew the government's attention to an increasing number of casualties and injuries from wildlife attacks, calling on the respective bodies to take measures for addressing the situation.

Lawmaker Amaresh Kumar Singh stressed the need of regulation on the operation of social sites platforms to prevent potential attempts there to jeopardize social and communal order and harmony.