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One more person has been tested positive for monkeypox.

A 44-year-old Saudi Arabia returnee man has been tested positive for the infection, according to Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population Dr Prakash Budhathoki.

He said that further details regarding the infection will be made public soon.

On December 20, a 36-year-old male from Tahanun was diagnosed with the monkeypox infection. He is also a returnee from Saudi Arabia.

Nepal recorded the first case of infection on June 16, 2023. The infection was confirmed on a foreign national.

It is caused by a virus called monkeypox and is transmissible to humans or animals to humans. 

This disease is transmitted via contact with infected individuals or animals. Transmission can occur through direct contact with wounds, sores, or bodily fluids such as saliva or mucus, as well as through surfaces and materials contaminated with the virus.

Infected animals, including monkeys, rats, squirrels, and contaminated bedding or clothing, can also transmit the virus.  

President Ram Chandra Paudel has expressed grief over the demise of Jimmy Carter, the former President of the United States of America.

President Paudel today, via social platform X, expressed sorrow over Carter's death and mentioned that Carter's contribution to peace, human rights and charity has become an inspiration to the world. President Paudel also expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and the American people.

Carter, the 39th President of the United States, died at the age of 100 on Sunday at his home in Hospice Care in the small town of Plains, Georgia.

His wife Rosalyn passed away in November 2023 at the age of 96. Carter, who conducted diplomatic missions in his 80s, built houses for the poor in the 90s.

Former President Carter visited Nepal in 2008 to supervise the Constituent Assembly elections held for the first time in Nepal. 

Police have arrested two persons along with a truck laden with 160 kg marijuana in Birgunj on Sunday.  

The arrestees have been identified as truck owner Krishna Ghalan (44) of Kamane, Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City-7, Makwanpur and Rajal Bishwokarma (20) of Jhurjher, Rapti Municipality-3, Chitwan.

Police recovered the drug from the false bottom created in the hood of the truck (Na 3 Kha 4212) heading towards the dry port of Birgunj from Parwanipur at Bhawanipur, Birgunj Metropolitan City-18 during a security check.

DSP Kishor Lamsal of the District Police Office, Parsa informed that they have impounded the truck and arrested the duo for the investigation.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has extended heartfelt wishes to all Nepali citizens at home and abroad on the occasion of Tamu Lhosar, the major cultural festival of the Gurung community.

In a message shared on social media, he expressed, "We are immensely rich in culture. Best wishes to all on the occasion of Tamu Lhosar."

The festival reminds of a scene in which Gurung women wear traditional ornaments in their heads, a Makhamali or velvet blouse, Ghalek (a traditional shawl), Patuki (a traditional belly-binding cloth), and a saree. Gurung men dress in cultural attire such as the Bhoto (a sleeveless vest), Bhangra (a white shirt-like garment), and Kachhad (a type of kilt), and perform vibrant cultural dances, the Prime Minister said.

The festival is celebrated on the 15th of the Nepali month Push (December-January) and the night today is the longest of the year and then, the duration of the night is believed to gradually shorten.

In observance of the festival, the government has announced a public holiday.

Commercial banks in Nepal are experiencing a decline in dividend capacity due to weak credit demand and high non-performing loan levels amid a prolonged economic slowdown. Most banks declaring dividends for the fiscal year 2023/24 have reduced their payouts, with some opting not to distribute dividends at all.

Of the 20 commercial banks in the country, 11 have decided to distribute dividends from their earnings in the previous fiscal year, while five have opted not to distribute dividends. Four are yet to announce their decision on dividend payouts. Among the 11 banks which provided dividends to their shareholders, seven have reduced their rates compared to the previous fiscal year.

Himalayan Bank Ltd, Machhapuchchhre Bank Ltd, NMB Bank Ltd, Rastriya Banijya Bank Ltd and Prabhu Bank have announced they would not distribute dividends from last fiscal year’s profits. Among these, Machhapuchchhre had distributed 14 percent dividend in 2022/23 (13.3 percent bonus shares and 0.7 percent cash for tax purposes). Rastriya Banijya Bank had provided 5.5 percent cash dividend last year. Himalayan, NMB, and Prabhu Bank did not distribute dividends last year either.

Four commercial banks—Kumari Bank Ltd, Nepal Investment Mega Bank Ltd, Nepal Bank Ltd and NIC Asia Bank Ltd—are yet to make their dividends announcements. Despite low credit expansion, commercial banks posted a profit of Rs 64.15bn in 2023/24, a 13.4 percent compared to net profit of Rs 56.57bn in 2022/23. However, most banks could not increase their dividend payouts as they had to set aside substantial funds for provisioning for their non-performing loans.

Commercial banks set aside a combined Rs 201bn for provisioning in 2023/24, compared to Rs 147bn in 2022/23. Himalayan, NMB and Prabhu have not distributed dividends for two successive fiscal years. Himalayan is not in a position to distribute dividend because non-performing loans of its merging partner—Civil Bank—was 27 percent at the time of the merger which necessitated provisioning of substantial funds. The two Class ‘A’ banks started joint operation after merger on Feb 24 last year.

Four banks have increased their dividend payouts compared to the previous fiscal  year. Standard Chartered Bank Nepal has announced a dividend of 25.5 percent (6.5 percent bonus shares and 19 percent cash) from its profits of 2023/24 compared to 19 percent cash dividend a year earlier. Payout of Nepal SBI’s dividend payout has increased slightly from 10.55 percent (3.75 percent bonus shares and 6.8 percent cash) to 10.65 percent (3.8 percent bonus shares and 6.85 percent cash). Prime Commercial Bank Ltd and Agricultural Development Bank (LTD), which didn’t provide dividends from the earnings last year, have announced five percent cash dividend and 10.53 percent dividend (three percent bonus shares and 7.53 percent cash), respectively, this year. However, Everest Bank Ltd, Nabil Bank Ltd, Global IME Ltd, Laxmi Sunrise Ltd, Sanima Bank Ltd, Citizens Bank International Ltd and Siddhartha Bank Ltd have reduced their dividend rates.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed cases against the mayor of Nagarjun municipality in Kathmandu district, Mohan Bahadur Basnet, on charges of corruption and money laundering.

He is accused of misusing authority by causing a huge loss to state coffers and amassing individual property in collusion with business groups. He abused power in favor of Padma Colony Private Limited, Padma Merchant Company, and Jagatguru Kripalu Foundation Nepal that heavily dented State coffers.

The charge sheet mentioned that Basnet was involved in illicit dealing to provide land worth Rs 477 million at low price- Rs 232 million- to Padma Colony.

Similarly, Rs 21.5 million was stashed in the bank accounts of Mayor Basnet and his spouse Urmila Basnet.

Proprietor of Padma Colony, Raju Prasad Kandel, provided the hush money for the land worth Rs 68 million, while Rs 2.4 million for a wedding party.

In the lawsuit, the anti-corruption body demanded a recovery of Rs 92 million from Basnet, his spouse, and proprietor, Kandel.

On Sunday itself, CIAA filed the case on money laundering against mayor Basnet, his spouse and proprietor Kandel, demanding recovery worth Rs 132 million.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has wished peace, prosperity and happiness to all Nepali sisters and brothers living in the country and abroad on the occasion of Tamu Lhosar, the festival mainly celebrated by the Gurung community, today.

"I believe the festival like Lhosar fosters mutual harmony, tolerance and fraternity among all Nepalis who have been enjoying multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-cultural society. The festival further strengthens national unity," President Paudel said in the message of best wishes given today.

Tamu Lhosar festival is observed with fanfare as the New Year among the Gurung community of the upper hilly and mountainous regions of Nepal. It is gradually being celebrated by other people of late. The districts with Gurung settlements have special fervor for this festival.

The President hailed the role of the Gurung community in Nepal's socioeconomic progress in addition to preservation and promotion of culture.

He further wished for unity among all Nepalis leading to further progress and prosperity of the country on this occasion.

The Gurung community is marking Tamu Lhosar today by bidding adieu to the year gone by.

In the Gurung language, ‘Lho’ means year or age and ‘Sar’ denotes change. Members of the Gurung community mark the festival by organizing feasts and cultural programs.

Tamu Lhosar is also associated with the rays of the sun, it is said.

The festival is marked on the 15th of the Nepali month of Poush as sun rays reach early in the geography of Gurung settlements including Lamjung, Gorkha, Tanahun, Syangja, Manang, Kaski and Parbat.

The government has announced a public holiday on the occasion of Tamu Lhosar.