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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina again proposed Nepal to use Mongla and Chattogram seaports alongside Syedpur airport for mutual benefits, daily-sun. com reported.

"Nepal can take advantage of using our Mongla and Chittagong ports," she said while a visiting parliamentary delegation from Nepal paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister at her official Ganabhaban residence here this morning.

Chairperson, International Relations Committee, House of Representatives, Federal Parliament, Nepal, Pabitra Niruola Kharel led the Nepalese delegation, according to a press release of the Press Wing of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Mentioning that Bangladesh is developing Syedpur Airport as a regional airport, the premier said,  "Neighboring countries including Nepal can use the airport."

During the meeting, both the sides expressed their eagerness to consolidate further the relations between the two countries alongside strengthening bilateral cooperation on business and trade for mutual benefits.

Expressing  her gratitude to the leadership and the people of Nepal for supporting Bangladesh during the Liberation War in 1971, Sheikh Hasina said  her government attaches great importance to maintaining good relations with neighboring countries, including Nepal.  

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that the delegation visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi and Bangladesh Parliament and went to Tungipara through the much-cherished iconic Padma Bridge.              

At the outset, the Nepalese delegation thanked the government of Bangladesh for arranging an excellent program for them, according to daily-sun.com

The delegation members expressed great satisfaction that Nepal and Bangladesh have been enjoying cordial relations over the years.

They mentioned that this year was very significant for both countries for celebrating the 50th year of establishing diplomatic relations.  

They suggested that the two countries could further consolidate their cooperation in sectors like power, hydroelectricity, tourism, education, ICT, connectivity, and people to people contact.  

They emphasized high-level visits on a regular basis to strengthen the friendly ties.  

The delegation appreciated Prime Minister for her visionary leadership and the recent socio-economic development, which they termed as very impressive.

The Nepalese delegation included Chandtara Kumari, MP, Dr. Deepak Prakash Bhatt, MP,  Dev Prasad Timalsena, MP,  Lila Devi Sitaula, MP, Narad Muni Rana, MP, and  Sarala Kumari Yadav, MP, daily-sun.com reported.

Let’s be honest, sometimes we all judge a restaurant by how it looks from the outside. If you do, Grill and Bakes Family Restaurant at Maharajgunj will not disappoint you. As soon as you enter, you will find the area filled with greenery. 

Once you enter the premises, you will see the restaurant’s cozy bar tucked in the right corner, near the outdoor seating area. Particularly for the ones who prefer to drink and chill outdoors, Grills and Bakes is a good choice, preferably during the evenings because of its beautiful light settings. 

For indoorsy folks, the restaurant offers comfy space, making it a perfect place for large get-togethers as well as intimate dinners. With large gatherings, there is always the question of parking hovering in our heads. You need not worry about that. Parking spots here are spacious enough to accommodate two- and four-wheelers. 

Moving on, complementing its ambience, the restaurant has the best set of dishes to blend perfectly with your tastebuds. From spicy to cheesy delights, the menu has them all. The same can be said for their drinks. 

For first-time visitors, we recommend Parsey Noodle and Chicken A la King. Both the dishes have a smoky-chicken flavor, with perfectly balanced spices. For the ones who prefer cheesy options, go for Stuffed Garlic Potato, and Corn Dogs. You will not be disappointed. 

Chef’s special: 

• Red Dragon Chicken

• Kung Pao Chicken 

• Stuffed Garlic Potato 

Opening hours: 8:00am to 10:00pm 

Location: Maharajgunj

Meal for 2: Rs. 1,500

Online/Card Payment: Yes

Contact: 9749829283

Parking Spot: Available

A strong tremor was felt in Kathmandu on Saturday morning.

At least 14 people were killed and around 40 others injured after a fire swept through a nightclub in Chonburi province in south-eastern Thailand, BBC reported.

The fire broke out at 01:00 local time on Friday (18:00 GMT Thursday) at the Mountain B nightspot in Sattahip district, police said.

Footage shows people screaming as they flee, some with clothes on fire. 

The cause of the fire is not clear, with rescuers saying flammable material on the walls may have exacerbated it. 

The venue in Chonburi, a province located 150km (90 miles) south of Bangkok, was a single-storey complex measuring 4,800 square metres (51,660 square feet).

Firefighters battled for more than two hours to bring the fire under control, local media reported. The blaze apparently broke out during a live music performance at the venue, according to the mother of one of the music performers who died in the incident.

Bodies of the victims were mostly found near the entrance and in the bathrooms. Others were found near the DJ booth. 

So far, all those who died are believed to be Thai nationals. 

Officials from the Sawang Rojanathammasathan Rescue Foundation said flammable acoustic foam on the club's walls might have accelerated the speed at which the fire tore through the venue. 

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Friday ordered an investigation into the fire, and said that families of the victims would receive aid from authorities. He also urged entertainment venues nationwide to ensure they had proper emergency exits and safety measures in place.

Officials said the venue had been turned from a restaurant into a nightclub and was likely operating without permission, according to BBC.

This is not the first time a deadly fire has broken out in a Thai nightclub. 

In 2009, more than 60 people died in Bangkok after a fire spread at the Santika Club in the early hours of New Year's Day. Two men, including the owner of the club, were jailed in 2011.

And a fire at a nightclub in the popular Thai tourist destination of Phuket in 2012 killed four people and injured about a dozen others.

Following tensions between China and the US over Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Nepal is closely following the evolving situation in the Taiwan straits.

Taking to Twitter, The Ministry said that Nepal has always been upholding One-China Policy.

Both Nepal and China have been respecting each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national independence, the Ministry said.

As a peace-loving country, Nepal is in favor of continued peace and stability in the region, Ministry said. 

Nepal reported 912 new Covid-19 cases and one death on Friday.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 2, 941 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 529 returned positive. Likewise, 3, 550 people underwent antigen tests, of which 383 were tested positive.

The Ministry said that 370 infected people recovered from the disease.

As of today, there are 5, 760 active cases in the country.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 34. 61 points to close at 2,113.55 points on Friday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 5. 80 points to close at 406. 45 points.

A total of 6,416,629 units of the shares of 213 companies were traded for Rs 2. 62 billion.

Meanwhile, Joshi Hydropower Development Company Limited was the top gainer today with its price surging by 5. 91 percent. Likewise, Mailung Khola Jal Vidhyut Company Limited was the top loser with its price dropped by 7. 18 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 01 trillion.

Nepal-India relations hit an all-time low over a map row in 2019. Three years later, the two countries’ ties seem to be on the mend. Of late, India’s engagement with Nepal has been largely focused on development, economic and connectivity and it has uncharacteristically maintained a low-key approach. In this connection, Kamal Dev Bhattarai of ApEx talks to Mahendra P. Lama, an expert on India’s neighborhood policy and a member of the Indian half of the Nepal-India Eminent Persons Group (EPG).

How would you evaluate the current state of Nepal-India relations? 

After a few years of stalemate, Nepal-India ties are looking up again. It had to at some point because the two countries have strong people-to-people relations. No matter what happens between Kathmandu and New Delhi at the political level, Nepali and Indian people living in border areas will continue to maintain their age-old relations. 

Do you think Nepal-India connectivity is improving?

Connectivity remains one of India’s priorities, not just with Nepal but also with all its neighbors and beyond. For instance, there is India’s India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, which will be extended to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. So, India clearly prioritizes infrastructure. 

As Nepal is already practicing federalism, the federal units should assert themselves on connectivity. It should not be Kathmandu’s issue alone. Province 1, for example, should think about how it wants to link up with Bangladesh. The provincial government should talk with the government of India about opening a corridor. Nepal’s provincial governments should also take the initiative to find out what India thinks about the connectivity projects. 

There was an enduring perception that India interfered in Nepal’s internal politics. But India of late seems to have changed its approach. Do you agree? 

I think more than India, it is Nepal that should change. If there is strong Nepal with strong leadership, India and its leaders will not interfere in Nepal’s affairs. Just look at India’s relations with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Where is the scope of interference? I think this issue can be resolved with strong Nepali leadership, institutions and policies. Every powerful country likes to manage and control a weak country. This is not just the case between India and Nepal. It is happening with China and its neighbors as well. 

The report of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) that you helped draft has not been submitted to the respective governments. Why?

I do not know why the report’s submission has been delayed. Apparently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not accepted it. And unless he does, the hands of Nepal’s prime minister are tied as well. The report offers new direction and vision for Nepal-India relations. If the governments of the two countries were to study it, they would see its benefits. It encompasses many issues on the future of Nepal-India relations. 

How do you see China’s growing influence in South Asia including in Nepal? 

China is not a new player in South Asia. It has been competing against India for regional ascendance since the 1970s. In that decade, China built many highways in Nepal as well. But development projects are nothing new. What is new, however, is China capturing the state institutions of South Asian countries. To a large extent, China is influencing the people who manage these institutions. Now people suddenly understand what is happening. Just look at Sri Lanka. The country’s parties and institutions came under Beijing’s sway and the consequences are there for everyone to see.