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Finance Minister Janardan Sharma was found facilitating the release of suspicious Rs 400 million belonging to one Prithvi Shah.

Earlier on March 25, Shah had submitted an application directly to Minister Sharma. He had written the application on a plain paper urging the Finance Minister to release the money that came in the name of his 11 companies. 

According to a source, the Ministry wrote a letter to the Governor of Nepal Rastrya Bank Maha Prasad Adhikari asking the reason for not releasing the money.

Later, the Rastra Bank sent a letter to the Ministry with reasons that the money cannot be released at present. 

Because of that, Minister Sharma was miffed with Governor Adhikari. 

It has been learnt that the Financial Crime Enforcement Network (FINSEN) of the United States had written to the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to freeze and return the money received in the name of various companies of Shah.

The Rastra Bank started the investigation on the basis of the same. 

“Nepal will be blacklisted for money laundering if the Nepal Rastra Bank releases the money asked by the FINSEN,” a source at the ministry said, adding, “The Rastra Bank took the right decision to prevent Nepal from being in the blacklist.”

Former Finance Minister Ram Saran Mahat said that the government should take action against Minister Sharma if he has taken a decision against the law. 

“It is wrong to direct the Nepal Rastra Bank to release the suspicious money without knowing the source. This is a kind of misusing the post,” he said. 

Former Governor Bijay Nath Bhattarai said that it is wrong to try to release the suspicious money that came in the name of Shah and his relatives from the United States. 

“Finance Minister Sharma has already made a mistake. He has no right to talk about the issue,” Bhattarai said.

During the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent visit of to Nepal in March, he stated to the Nepali Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka three supports from China for Nepal - supporting Nepal to pursue a development path that suits its own national conditions, to pursue an independent domestic and foreign policy, and to more deeply participate in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Global Times reported.

Nepal is an important partner of China's construction of the Belt and Road in South Asia, and the two countries signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the BRI cooperation in 2017. In an exclusive interview with the Global Times (GT) reporters Yin Yeping, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi (Hou) shared her view on the bilateral cooperation between the two nations under the BRI. She stressed Nepal should become a "demonstration garden" for friendly cooperation among countries, not a "fighting ring" for geopolitical games.

GT: What do you think of the significance of Wang's visit under the current international situation?
Hou: Nepal is China's good neighbor and good friend. The two countries have always respected each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, not interfering in each other's internal affairs, while watching over each other and sharing a common destiny, setting a model for countries big and small to treat each other as equals and to cooperate for win-win results.

At present, great changes unseen in a century are intertwined with a major epidemic rarely seen in this century. 

While the international situation and landscape are rapidly evolving in depth, and world peace and development are facing new challenges, both China and Nepal are facing with the important task of fighting the epidemic and promoting economic and social development, according to the Global Times. 

Wang's visit to Nepal at this time fully reflects the importance and support China attaches to its friendly neighbor Nepal. 

During the talks with Narayan Khadka, Foreign Minister of Nepal, Wang clearly stated three supports from China for Nepal -- supporting Nepal to pursue a development path that suits its own national conditions, to pursue an independent domestic and foreign policy, and to more deeply participate in the construction of the BRI.

These three areas of support send a very positive signal to the Nepali side, that is, China's friendly policy is aimed at all parties and people in Nepal in deepening mutually beneficial cooperation and achieving common development.

Through this visit, the two sides reiterated their respect for each other's national interests and core concerns, and agreed to speed up the joint construction of the Belt and Road and gradually build a Trans-Himalayan Multi-dimensional Connectivity Network, so as to make the Himalayas a bond of friendly cooperation between the two countries, and to promote the development of the two countries' cooperation.

Cooperation in the fields of medical and health care, economy and trade, people-to-people and cultural engagement, connectivity has helped Nepal recover its economy after the COVID-19 epidemic and help Nepal realize the transformation from a land-locked country to a land-linked country, Global Times reported.

China and Nepal will also jointly resist unilateralism and oppose power politics. The Chinese side appreciates the Nepali side's firm support for the global development initiative, and is willing to work with the Nepali side to accelerate the promotion of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In a word, this visit has consolidated the traditional friendship between China and Nepal, enhanced mutual understanding, deepened strategic mutual trust, clarified key cooperation directions and important areas, effectively promoted the implementation of the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, and promoted the bilateral relations and pragmatic cooperation in various fields into a new level.
 

GT: Previously, foreign media reported that the China-Nepali cross-border railway project was in a "stagnant state." Is this true? What are the difficulties of China-Nepali cooperation under the BRI?

Hou: The construction of the China-Nepal cross-border railway is an important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries in the field of connectivity, and it is also the earnest expectation of the two peoples. 

The railway departments of the two countries have coordinated and communicated with each other for many times, completed the pre-feasibility study and other preparations, and made important progress.

During Wang's visit to Nepal, the two sides signed the technical assistance plan for the feasibility study project of the China-Nepal cross-border railway project, laying a solid foundation for the next step to promote the project implementation, according to the Global Times.

At the same time, it should be noted that the project needs to cross the Himalayas. The less than 200-kilometer section of road has a drop height of over 1,000 meters. That means that it needs to solve many technical problems such as complex geological conditions and frequent natural disasters along the way. According to preliminary calculations, the bridge-to-tunnel ratio of the entire railway exceeds 90 percent, and the construction cost per kilometer is about 200 million yuan.

In addition, this project, like many other infrastructure projects in Nepal, also faces a series of challenges such as the epidemic, land acquisition, demolition and ecological protection.

It is hoped that the authorities of both countries to strengthen communication and coordination, and in the spirit of science, overcome difficulties and make contributions for a long time. 

It is also hoped that the Nepali side will further improve the business environment, strengthen policy stability and support, and promote the practical implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects such as cross-border railways, so as to realize the common dream of the two peoples at an early date.

GT: The Nepali parliament recently passed the Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC), which is believed to be part of the US "Indo-Pacific strategy." Some foreign media reported that this plan will compete with the BRI. What do you think of this? How are the two different?

Hou: Nepal should become a "demonstration garden" for friendly cooperation among countries, not a "fighting ring" for geopolitical games.

China and Nepal have carried out fruitful cooperation in infrastructure construction covering roads, airports, electric power and water conservancy.

This is due to the advantages of China, in terms of technology, experience and capital, as well as the fact that China and Nepal are connected by mountains and rivers and geographically adjacent. It is also because the Chinese people are sincere and selfless toward the Nepalese people, supporting the friendship with Nepal without any conditions attached, Global Times reported.

It can be said that there is no other country that can replace the advantages that China and Nepal have in the BRI cooperation.

Although the pace of pragmatic cooperation between the two countries has slowed down due to factors such as the epidemic and changes in the political situation in Nepal, there is a Chinese saying that "a distance knows horsepower, and a long time sees people's hearts." 

I believe nothing can interfere with the great cooperation between the two countries. The people of Nepal have benefited and will continue to benefit from the BRI. I have full confidence in that.

It should be pointed out that China's support for Nepal is aimed at promoting Nepal's economic and social development, improving the living standards of Nepali people, fully respecting its national sovereignty and dignity, while never interfering in Nepal's internal affairs, and not competing with any other country, nor engaging in geopolitical games in Nepal.

China understands and respects that Nepal, as a least developed country, needs to use various resources to develop its own economy, and is happy to see Nepal getting along with other countries. 

It is hoped that the international community can provide sincerer support for Nepal's national development and help the country realize the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at an early date.

GT: Could you please brief us on the achievements of the joint construction of projects under the BRI?

Hou: Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the BRI cooperation between the two countries in 2017, positive progress has been made in cooperation in various fields such as connectivity, economic and trade investment, infrastructure, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, making important contributions to Nepal's economic and social development. In 2021, the trade volume between China and Nepal reached $1.98 billion, a year-on-year increase of 67 percent, of which Nepal's exports to China rose by 63 percent.

In its cooperation with Nepal, China pays attention to the characteristics of Nepal's national conditions, and helps Nepal leverage its own advantages, while sharing China's opportunities and speeding up the development and revitalization of Nepal. 

For example, Nepal is inland, facing challenges caused by undeveloped road conditions and difficulty in connecting with the outside world, which has become a bottleneck for the development of Nepal's country. 

The old Chinese saying goes "if you want to get rich, build roads first."

In recent years, the Chinese side has helped Nepal complete the construction of the third phase of the Anigo Highway project, the first phase of the reconstruction of the Kathmandu inner ring road, and a series of road infrastructure projects such as the Post-Disaster Recovery Project of the Tatopani Frontier Inspection Station, according to the Global Times.

With the joint efforts of China and Nepal, the two sides have overcome the difficulties of the epidemic, and the efficiency of one-way cargo passing at the  Kerung-Rasuwagadhi Port has been gradually improved. Currently, 14 containers pass through the port each day.

These projects have greatly improved the traffic and logistics conditions of Nepal's roads and provided assistance for the recovery and development of Nepal's economy.

For another example, Nepal is among the world least developed countries, and its basic infrastructure is still developing. In recent years, the restoration of Durbar High School, Civil Service Hospital of Nepal, and the Public School Recovery Project in Dolakha, which were built with Chinese aid, have been completed or completed their mid-term acceptance.

Meanwhile, a number of livelihood improvement projects such as the Public School Recovery Project and the Hospital Recovery Project in Sindhupalchok are about to start construction.

Thirteen groups of Chinese medical personnel in Nepal have worked successively in Nepal's hospitals, relieved the pain of many local people, and trained front-line doctors. 

This cooperation directly serves the people of Nepal and have made important contributions to improving their living standards and promoting the progress of Nepalese society.

According to statistics, Nepal's hydropower reserves amount to 83,000 megawatts, accounting for about 2.3 percent of the world's hydropower reserves, making it the second largest inland water resource country.

Making full use of clean energy to meet its own needs and earn foreign exchange through exports will become an important means for Nepal to protect the environment and achieve economic development.

With the support of China, a number of hydropower projects, such as Upper Marsyangdi-A Hydropower Station and Upper Trishuli 3A Hydroelectric Project, have been launched one after another, and a number of industrial projects using clean energy have been put into production. These not only alleviate the problem of power shortage in Nepal, but also create a large number of jobs for Nepal, while cultivating many technical talents, and playing an important role in promoting the economic development of Nepal, Global Times reported.

GT: During the visit to Nepal, Wang attended the completion ceremony of the Pokhara International Airport project via video link. Could you please brief us on the air connectivity between China and Nepal?

Hou: For a landlocked country like Nepal, air transport is an important channel for communicating with the outside world and attracting foreign tourists to visit Nepal. At present, Nepal's only international airport, Tribhuvan International airport in Kathmandu, can no longer meet the needs of its international connectivity.

China attaches great importance to the needs of Nepal's air transportation infrastructure construction, and strengthens air connectivity with Nepal, taking it as an important cooperation content in the joint construction of the Belt and Road between the two countries.

The Pokhara International Airport, which the Chinese government helped build in Nepal, is a typical example. The project started in July 2017, and China provided a soft loan to Nepal for this project, which not only created a new model of development cooperation between the two countries, but also effectively guaranteed the smooth implementation of the project.

After the airport construction and installation project is completed, follow-up work will also be carried out, and the overall construction is expected to be completed in July 2022. According to statistics, during the implementation of this project, nearly 1,000 Nepalese engineering and technical talents have been trained. Pokhara is an internationally renowned tourist city, and the transportation effect of the airport will be immeasurable in the future.

Chinese enterprises have also successively undertaken the reconstruction project of the runway and smooth track of Tribhuvan International Airport and the upgrading and reconstruction project of Gautam Buddha International Airport.

Chinese enterprises have actively participated in the construction and upgrading of the three international airports in Nepal, which fully reflects China's advantages in large-scale infrastructure construction and become the biggest contributors to the external communication of Nepal's air.

In addition, China and Nepal jointly established Himalaya Airlines in 2014. At present, the company operates more than 10 routes, playing a fundamental role, especially in helping Nepal overcome the epidemic.

In the future, the Chinese side will help Nepal further improve the air transportation network, promote the development of Nepali air transport, tourism and other related industries, as well as facilitate economic and trade cooperation and personnel exchanges between the two countries, according to the Global Times.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi has said that Nepal should become a "demonstration garden" for friendly cooperation among countries, not a "fighting ring" for geopolitical games.

In an interview with Global Times, the Chinese Envoy said Nepal is an important partner of China's construction of the Belt and Road in South Asia, and the two countries signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the BRI cooperation in 2017. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Nepal at this time fully reflects the importance and support China attaches to its friendly neighbor Nepal, she said.

China and Nepal have carried out fruitful cooperation in infrastructure construction covering roads, airports, electric power, and water conservancy, the Chinese envoy said.

Although the pace of pragmatic cooperation between the two countries has slowed down due to factors such as the epidemic and changes in the political situation in Nepal, the Chinese envoy says, there is a Chinese saying that "a distance knows horsepower, and a long time sees people's hearts."

Here is the link of the interview:https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202204/1259363.shtml

I’m a 20-year-old female who is afraid of the dark. When I’m alone in a dark room or a closed space, I get extremely scared. I always sleep with the lights on, but then again I struggle to fall asleep in a bright environment. If I force myself to sleep in the dark, I get sleep paralysis. I went to the doctor and I was prescribed ‘Clonazepam’ for a week. When I took the medicine, I fell asleep sooner and I didn’t get scared. But after a week, it all started again. —SK 

Answer by Dr Rishav Koirala, Psychiatrist at Grande International Hospital  

First, the information you provide here is limited, and we need more detail to exactly know what it is that may be causing your problem. It appears you are suffering from fear of the dark, also known as nyctophobia.  

With phobias, there are many features that align with anxiety. It can lead to anxiety disorder, thus, your anxiety needs to be checked by a specialist to provide medication accordingly.  

Sleep paralysis could be an outcome of anxiety and stress. You may be putting yourself in a stressful and anxious state when you force yourself to go to sleep in the dark. So your phobia may be the reason for the sleep paralysis.  

On a personal level, you can practice anxiety-relieving techniques like mediation, stretching exercises, yoga, cardio, aerobics, etc. Also try to avoid coffee if you are a coffee drinker, because it can trigger anxiety and lead to sleep disturbances.  

There are specific treatments designed to cure this and medication is one of them. Clonazepam is prescribed as a short-term anxiety medication, and it won’t help you in the long run. So you cannot depend on it.  

There are also therapies for phobias. There is the exposure therapy, where you’re made to face your fear using different techniques. It is different from facing your fear on your own which might be traumatic.  

So visiting a psychologist or a specialist is the best thing you can do right now to calm your anxiety and to face your fear. 

A person died and 13 others sustained injuries in a Scorpio jeep accident at Adhabhar Jungle in Bara along the East-West Highway on Thursday.

The deceased has been identified as jeep driver Loknath Sedhai (25) of Jitpur Simara Sub-Metropolitan City-11, Bara.

The jeep (Ba 19 Cha 4377) was heading towards Hetauda from Simara when the incident occurred this morning, DSP Rajesh Thapa, spokesperson at the District Police Office, Bara said.

Prem Sah (22) of Bindabasini Rural Municipality-2, Parsa, Raju Gupta (12) of the same place and Nirmala Devi Sah of Jitpur Simara-7, who were critically injured in the incident, are undergoing treatment at the Birgunj-based Bayodha Hospital.

Others are receiving treatment in Simara-based Alpine Hospital and Birgunj-based Bayodha Hospital, DSP Thapa said.

A place in the Champions League semifinals secured. The dream of an unprecedented quadruple of trophies still intact. Key players rested amid a hectic schedule, Associated Press reported.

Liverpool is in a good place entering the home straight of what could turn out to be the club’s greatest ever season.

Even conceding two late goals to draw 3-3 at home to Benfica couldn’t take the smile of Jurgen Klopp’s face.

“The day we qualify for the semifinals of the Champions League and I’m not happy, please come here and knock me out,” the Liverpool manager said Wednesday after seeing his team advance from the quarterfinals 6-4 on aggregate.

With Liverpool inflicting significant damage by winning the first leg 3-1 in Lisbon last week, Klopp was confident enough to rest stars like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold for a return match against Benfica that turned into a wild, end-to-end contest at Anfield, according to the Associated Press.

Roberto Firmino’s second-half double put Liverpool 3-1 ahead on the night and 6-2 ahead on aggregate, only for Klopp’s team to ease off the pace. Benfica took advantage by getting behind Liverpool’s makeshift defense to score through substitute Roman Yaremchuk and rising star Darwin Núñez, but the gap was too much to make up.

“It was pretty comfortable,” Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said, “but we’re disappointed with the goals we conceded.”

Ultimately, Liverpool has coasted into the last four of Europe’s top club competition and is there for the 12th time — tying the record for an English team with Manchester United — and the first since the last of its six title triumphs in 2019.

Villarreal awaits Liverpool in the last four. Despite the Spanish team eliminating both Juventus and Bayern Munich and its coach, Unai Emery, being a master strategist of European competitions, it’s pretty much a dream scenario for Klopp and his team, Associated Press reported.

The quadruple of major trophies might really be on for Liverpool, already the winner of the English League Cup, currently in second place in Premier League — just a point behind Manchester City — and into the semifinals of the FA Cup.

That Klopp was able to rotate so heavily against Benfica — even Andrew Robertson and Fabinho had the night off — should enable Liverpool to field a full-strength team against Man City in the FA Cup semifinals at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

City wasn’t in such a luxurious position Wednesday, taken all the way by Atletico Madrid in the Spanish capital where a 0-0 draw sealed a 1-0 aggregate victory. City, which will face Real Madrid in the semifinals, saw Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker go off with injuries in an often brutal game against Atletico, on the same night Klopp kept his best players fresh and relied on his backups.

Ibrahima Konaté was one of them and he followed up his goal in the first leg — his first both for Liverpool and in the Champions League — with another header to open the scoring off Kostas Tsimikas’ outswinging corner, according to the Associated Press.

Gonçalo Ramos made it 1-1 in the 32nd minute — keeping Benfica in with the unlikeliest of chances — with a goal that had a hint of fortune about it. The ball ricocheted to the 20-year-old forward from a tackle by Liverpool midfielder James Milner and his finish from the edge of the area was emphatic past Alisson.

Firmino is no longer first choice for Liverpool following the arrivals of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz but the Brazil striker staked his claim for a starting spot in the team’s big upcoming games with a double in the space of 10 minutes.

His first goal came after mistakes from goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, who fumbled as he attempted to gather a through-ball, and center back Jan Vertonghen, who hurried his resulting clearance. Jota drove the ball back into the middle of the area and Firmino applied the finish in the 55th.

The Brazilian volleyed in Tsimikas’ free kick to make it 3-1 but Liverpool let Benfica back into the match.

“We were 6-2 up on aggregate and maybe we relaxed,” Jota said, Associated Press reported.

In the end, it was Pep Guardiola getting the better of Diego Simeone in the battle of contrasting styles in the Champions League, Associated Press reported.

Atlético Madrid couldn’t find a spark for its struggling attack and was held to a 0-0 draw by Guardiola’s Manchester City on Wednesday in a game that featured more heated exchanges and rough fouls than clear-cut chances and fluid play. 

The result put City through to the semifinals thanks to its 1-0 win in the first leg at home, and kept alive its hopes of winning Europe’s top club competition for the first time. 

But the game was marred by ugly scenes as the teams left the pitch. A scuffle had broken out between players during the final minutes as Atlético accused City of time wasting, and the animosity spilled over into the tunnel as the teams walked off after the game. Extra security had to be called in to keep players and officials from the two camps separate. Some players had to be restrained as police officers intervened, according to the Associated Press.

“We have to congratulate our rivals, they played a great match with the type of soccer that we are used to seeing,” Simeone said. “It hurts to be eliminated but I’m proud of what we are and of how we compete.”

Simeone started smiling and applauding when City resorted to time-wasting in stoppage time, though he later said he was only pushing his fans to keep supporting their team. He also appeared to take a shot at Guardiola when asked after the match if he felt the City coach had disrespected him by saying it was hard to play against overly defensive teams like Atlético.

“Many times, those who have a great lexicon, are very intelligent and are capable or praising you with a contempt,” Simeone said. But we are not fools, even though we may have a smaller lexicon.” 

Atlético tried to leave behind its more defensive-minded approach and created some danger, but it still managed only three attempts on target after having none in the first leg, Associated Press reported.

“In the second half, they were better than us and we were lucky that we didn’t concede,” said Guardiola, who became the first coach to reach nine Champions League semifinals. “Overall, though, we are in the semifinals and it’s deserved.”

The hosts played the final minutes a man down after defender Felipe was sent off for kicking an opponent. The benches had been cleared a few moments earlier as Atlético’s players appeared upset with City’s attempt to waste time.

The match ended with more than 12 minutes of stoppage time and Atlético had a couple of goods chances to break the deadlock but couldn’t capitalize on them. 

Runner-up last year, City will next face Real Madrid, which eliminated defending champion Chelsea on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

In the other quarterfinal on Wednesday, Liverpool advanced past Benfica to set up a semifinal against Villarreal, the modest Spanish club that eliminated Bayern Munich on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

At least six people were charred to death and 10 to 12 others were injured after a fire broke out at a chemical factory in the Eluru district of Andhra Pradesh, the police said Thursday, The Indian Express reported.

Superintendent of police Rahul Sharma said the fire in the factory at Akkireddygudem was possibly caused by a nitric acid leak. The state government has announced ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh to those injured in the fire.

Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan expressed anguish over the fire accident and extended condolences to the bereaved families, according to The Indian Express.