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US Ambassador to Nepal Randy W. Berry said that the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) will help modernize Nepal’s energy and transportation sectors, assisting more than 23 million Nepalis.

The government of Nepal ratified the MCC agreement in February this year.

In a statement issued to mark the 75th year of diplomatic relations between the United States and Nepal on Friday, Ambassador Berry said that throughout these 75 years – and through the decades of change that have occurred in both of our countries – the United States and Nepal have stood with one another.

Americans know Nepalis as the people who make laudable advances in medicine and science, reach nearly impossible heights as mountaineers, honorably and bravely serve as UN peacekeepers, and enrich the world’s heritage through a vast diversity of arts and culture.

The United States’ historic support for Nepal’s health sector reflects the powerful results of our partnership. In the 1950s, malaria afflicted nearly 25 percent of the population. The US government through USAID, supported the Malaria Control Program and by 1968, malaria cases dropped from more than 2 million to 2,468 cases nationwide, the statement further read.

In the last two years since the beginning of the pandemic, the United States has donated nearly 3.8 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Nepal to date, and given over $124.8 million in COVID assistance.

“The foundation of this multi-generational US– Nepal relationship is people-to-people connections, sovereignty, and democratic values. Today, we need each other more than ever to tackle difficult issues like addressing the climate crisis and protecting democracy in the face of rising authoritarianism. We look forward to doing this together, giving us the results that this friendship has given us for generations,” Ambassador Berry said in the statement.

Police have arrested five persons in possession of 2. 33 kg gold from the Tribhuvan International Airport on Thursday.

DSP and Information Officer Himalaya Kumar Shrestha said that the gold was recovered from the purse of Bhim Kumar Mobale and Suman Tamang.

Based on the duo's information, police have also apprehended Rajesh Rai (28) of Limchungbung Rural Municipality-2, Udayapur, taxi driver Hem Bahadur Thapa (41) and Tarakanta Chaudhary (36) of Surunga Municipalitiy-4, Saptari.

They have been handed over to the Tribhuvan International Airport Customs Office, Gauchar for further investigation.

The ruling coalition has decided to immediately scrap the alliances forged with other parties.

A meeting chaired by Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba on Friday also decided to immediately withdraw the candidacies registered from the ruling coalition against the agreement.

“The alliance has decided to immediately withdraw the nominations filed from the ruling coalition against the agreement in the mayoral and deputy mayoral posts of six metropolitan cities and 11 sub-metropolitan cities,” read a statement issued after the meeting.

The meeting has also decided that the concerned parties will immediately take action against the rebel candidates if they refused to withdraw from electoral race.

Nepal is putting a 21st-century spin on a tourism sector dominated by activities unchanged for generations as it looks to boost a vital part of an economy decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic and soaring import bills, Reuters reported.

As part of broader plans to lure more tourists to the home of eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks, authorities are promoting bungee jumping, paragliding and sky diving on top of traditional trekking and climbing, said Taranath Adhikari, director general at the Department of Tourism, Reuters reported.

“We are adding new tourism infrastructure and investment in hotels is (also) rising,” he told Reuters in the capital Kathmandu.

The country has additionally called on its envoys to promote tourism, promised to ease visa rules and urged China to allow more people to visit despite COVID curbs.

Nepal suspended climbing and trekking in early 2020 because of the pandemic, and Adhikari called the rate at which visitor numbers were rising again “inspiring”.

In the first quarter of 2022, foreign arrivals more than doubled year on year to almost 79,000, and he said he expected the recovery to continue in coming months.

But numbers remain less than half of pre-pandemic levels, leaving the economy more vulnerable to shocks at a time when prices for imports including crude, edible oils and coal have soared, according to Reuters.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s government imposed a complete ban on imports of some luxury goods including cars until mid-July amid dwindling foreign exchange reserves and mounting debt.

Regardless of that, hoteliers are ready to cater for the hoped-for tourism resurgence.

Binayak Shah of the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) said the country could now accommodate up to 2.5 million visitors, more than double the record 1.2 million of 2019.

While tourism is Nepal’s most famous industry, it is however far from its biggest source of income, accounting for around 5% of foreign exchange reserves compared with around 60% from remittances sent home by Nepali working abroad, Reuters reported.

They also dropped during the pandemic as many expatriates were forced to return home, leaving many of its 29 million citizens facing hardship.

In mountain areas that depend largely on tourism, nearly 80% lost their income during the pandemic and the trekking ban, and about 3,500 tourism-reliant enterprises in the Thames area of Kathmandu alone closed, according to industry estimates.

Despite tourists trickling back, niggling worries persist.

More visitors come from neighbouring India and China than anywhere else, and both countries are taking measures to prevent another wave of COVID cases.

Nepal, with a $36 billion economy, has recorded fewer than 50 COVID-19 cases and zero deaths in more than a month. So far 66.8% of its population have been fully vaccinated, according to Reuters.

“I am fully vaccinated … Nepal is a safe place,” Swiss tourist Katharine Loosli, 65, told Reuters in Thames’s normally teeming streets.

She has been coming to Nepal regularly since 1998, and was preparing to trek to Pun hill, near the world’s 10th tallest peak Mount Annapurna.

The Ukraine conflict also deterred tourists from there and Russia, while air fares and other costs are rising.

Despite the headwinds, some restaurant and hotel owners are looking forward to better times, Reuters reported.

Agni Dhakal, 47, who has run a souvenir shop in Thamel for 30 years, said most people in the business felt the worst was behind them. “It looks like that the black era for Nepal tourism is over.”

The Nepali Congress has warned of taking stringent action against the leaders and cadres who have filed their independent candidacies against the official candidates of the party in the local level elections slated for May 13.

Issuing a statement on Friday, party Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Paudel directed the rebel candidates to the withdraw from the local elections race and support the official candidates of the party.  

He warned of removing candidates, proposers and supporters from the general membership if nominations are not withdrawn within the given timeframe.

The party has given time till 5 pm today, the deadline set by the Election Commission, to withdraw rebel candidacies.

The party issued such a statement after the leaders and cadres filed independent candidacies against the official candidates in various municipalities and rural municipalities.

Meanwhile, the ruling coalition is holding a meeting at Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s official residence in Baluwatar to discuss the rebel candidacies.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Khadka and Deputy Vice President of Millennium Challenge Corporation Jonathan Brooks held a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.

During the meeting, the duo discussed the implementation of MCC projects in Nepal, including their economic benefits, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The Parliament of Nepal ratified the Millennium Challenge Corporation compact with interpretative declaration on February 27 after years of delay.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Nepal has seen incredible changes in its governance, economic development, and international engagements.

In a tweet to mark the 75 years of diplomatic relations between Nepal and the US on Friday, Blinken said that the US looks forward to many more decades of friendship.

"Today we mark 75 years of US-Nepal diplomatic relations. Nepal has seen incredible changes in its governance, economic development, and international engagements," Blinken said in the tweet, adding "We are proud of our accomplishments as partners, and look forward to many more decades of friendship."

Nepal and the US established diplomatic ties on April 25, 1947.

Delhi Capitals defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by four wickets in the Indian Premier League on Thursday, The Indian Express reported.

Sent into bat, Kolkata Knight Riders were restricted to 146 for nine. DC chased down the target with six balls to spare. Opener David Warner blasted 42 off 26 balls for DC.

With the exception of skipper Shreyas Iyer (42), the KKR top-order struggled to get going against the Capitals’ bowlers at the Wankhede Stadium.

Batting at number six, Nitish Rana top-scored with 57 off 34 balls and hit three fours and four sixes, even as the others failed to leave KKR reeling at 35/4 at one stage, according to the Associated Press.

Wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the most impressive bowler with figures of 4/14 from three overs, while Mustafizur Rahman took three wickets in a brilliant final over.