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Newly appointed Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Biswo Poudel called on Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel on Wednesday.

On the occasion, DPM Paudel congratulated the newly appointed Governor and extended best wishes for his successful tenure.

Furthermore, DPM Paudel expressed his confidence that Governor Poudel would take important and result-oriented initiatives to address the economic and monetary sector's challenges by ensuring smooth coordination between the fiscal and monetary policy.

In reciprocation, the new NRB Governor reaffirmed the NRB's commitment to facilitate implementation of the Ministry of Finance's fiscal policy through the Central Bank's monetary policy.

Moreover, he pledged to emphasise enhancing supervisory capabilities of the central bank to strengthen efficiency of the financial sector.

Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister Damodar Bhandari, Finance Secretary Ghanashyam Upadhyay and Revenue Secretary Dinesh Kumar Ghimire among others were present on the occasion.

A Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday evening decided to appoint Poudel as the 18^th Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank.

The Ministry of Health, with cooperation from development partners, has created a new vaccine education toolkit aimed at enhancing understanding among Laos' low-literacy and ethnic communities.

The toolkit contains animated movies and infographic flashcards that explain how vaccinations work, what to expect after vaccination, and the significance of immunization, according to Xinhua.

To enable greater accessibility, health staff are translating the information into numerous local languages. The resources, which are available in both mobile and print formats, help health workers during home visits and community outreach.

The initiative also helps parents track their children’s immunization schedules, aiming to boost vaccine acceptance and timely coverage nationwide, Xinhua reported.

Newly appointed Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Biswo Poudel has decided to print new notes of Rs 500 and 1000.

Poudel, who took the oath of office and secrecy amidst a ceremony held at the Supreme Court, said so after assuming the office on Wednesday.

He said that he will move ahead by coordinating with everyone in order to make the country’s economy dynamic.

Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh administered the oath of office and secrecy this morning.

The government on Tuesday appointed Poudel as the 18th Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). 

The decision to appoint Poudel as the new Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank was made during a Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday evening at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.

Newly appointed Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Biswo Poudel took the oath of office and secrecy on Wednesday.

He took the oath of office and secrecy before Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut amidst a ceremony held at the Supreme Court.

The government on Tuesday appointed Poudel as the 18th Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). The decision was made during a Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday evening at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.

Three names were recommended for the position by a committee led by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel. The committee shortlisted Poudel, Acting Governor Neelam Dhungana and former Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai for the role earlier on Tuesday. The governor’s post had remained vacant since April 7, after the end of the previous term.

Before the Cabinet decision, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba held discussions regarding the appointment. Initially, Gunakar Bhatta, Executive Director at NRB, was considered for the role, reportedly with backing from Deuba. However, consensus could not be reached, and Deuba subsequently proposed Poudel as a compromise candidate.

As Governor, Paudel will serve as the chief economic advisor to the government and play a key role in formulating monetary policy in line with fiscal policy.

He previously served as the Vice-chair of National Planning Commission (NPC), Senior Economic Advisor at the Ministry of Finance, Chairperson of the board of governors of ICIMOD, president of the Colombo Plan council and chair of Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration (RECI) in Asia and the Pacific. Additionally, he also served as the Chief Economic Advisor of Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), and a member of the Board of Directors of Sanima Bank and Sanima Middle Tamor Hydropower Company.

He also ran as a Nepali Congress candidate from Chitwan-1 in the 2022 parliamentary elections but lost to Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)’s Hari Dhakal.

Earlier, advocates Pratibha Upreti and Bishal Thapa had filed the writ at the Supreme Court, demanding that Poudel be disqualified from the position. However, the Supreme Court administration dismissed the writ. The advocates had submitted an application to reverse the writ rejection decision, but the court did not entertain the request.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Tuesday that President Donald Trump will not attend the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa. Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio said the decision was made due to the summit’s agenda, which the administration believes does not align with US priorities.

The announcement comes amid growing tensions between the two countries. Relations have worsened since South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Expropriation Act into law in January. In March, the US expelled South Africa’s ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, Xinhua reported.

Despite the strained ties, Ramaphosa is currently visiting the US and is expected to meet with Trump to discuss trade and bilateral cooperation.

US President Donald Trump has announced the development of the “Golden Dome,” a new missile defense system designed to counter advanced threats including hypersonic and space-based missiles, BBC reported.

The system will use land, sea, and space-based interceptors and sensors under a centralized command structure. It is intended to be fully operational by the end of Trump’s current term in 2029.

An initial $25bn has been allocated through Trump’s proposed budget, with long-term costs projected between $175bn and $542bn, depending on scope and execution. The project will be led by Space Force General Michael Guetlein.

Canada has expressed interest in participating through North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), though no official agreement has been confirmed, according to BBC.

The Golden Dome aims to intercept missiles at various stages of flight, addressing gaps in current US defenses. Trump described it as a “near-100 percent effective” shield against future aerial threats.

The British government unveiled 100 additional sanctions on Tuesday, aimed at Russia's military, energy, and financial sectors, as well as individuals implicated in disseminating misinformation about the Ukraine crisis. The United Kingdom pledged to push for a reduction in the $60-per-barrel oil price threshold, which would further limit Russia's revenue, according to Xinhua.

On the same day, the European Union approved its 17th round of sanctions against Russia, with the goal of increasing pressure for a cease-fire in Ukraine.

In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that Russia will not accept ultimatums and accused Europe of attempting to prolong the conflict by rearming Ukraine.

The China Tourism Day was marked in Kathmandu by organising an event on Tuesday evening.

The event was jointly organised by China Cultural Center, China National Tourist Office and China Southern Airlines in Kathmandu that witnessed participation of the business community, travel fraternity from Nepal, Chinese business community, government officials and other stakeholders.

China marks May 19 as its Tourism Day to commemorate the great Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake.

On the occasion, Director of China Cultural Centre in Kathmandu Xiao Jiang said that tourism has become a vital part of modern leisure and lifestyle and has brought us closer to nature.

She said that tourism promotes dialogue and mutual understanding between nations and peoples, strengthens friendships, and contributes to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Also speaking at the event, General Manager of the Kathmandu Office of China Southern Airlines, Yang Wenfu, said the airline has worked to deepen the China-Nepal route network.

He expressed the confidence to further collaborate in opening a new chapter in China-Nepal tourism together with Nepali stakeholders and said that his company aims to advance the development of the aviation and tourism industries between China and Nepal.

On the occasion, representative of China Tourism Office in Kathmandu Mohan Suwal gave a detailed presentation on tourism in China to share deeper insights into China’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and modern achievements.

Suwal shared about China and Chinese festivals including the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival and others.

Stating about the historical sites of China, Suwal said that China has abundant historical sites and relics and carry the memory and wisdom of its people. He briefed about the ancient city of Xi'an, the Terracotta Army, the Forbidden City in Beijing and other sites.

China is home to 59 UNESCO cultural and natural heritage sites—ranking second in the world.

Likewise, China is one of the top source countries for inbound tourism while a large number of Nepali travel to China every year.