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A delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) called on Finance Minister Barshaman Pun on Thursday.

The delegation is led by Dr Tidiane Kinda, the Deputy Division Chief for the Asia and Pacific Department and the IMF Mission Chief for Nepal.

The delegation called on the minister at the latter's office in Singha Durbar.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the allocation of the fourth installment of loan assistance under the Extended Credit Facility-ECF to Nepal, according to the minister's Secretariat.

It may be noted that the IMF Executive Board had in January 2022 agreed to provide 398.08 million US dollars to Nepal under the ECF during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of the total promised assistance, Nepal expects to receive 42 million US dollars (Rs five billion 590 million) as the fourth and final installment.

Before deciding to allocate the fourth installment of ECF, the IMF makes a review of the progress over the implementation of commitments and the IMF delegation has been in Nepal for the same purpose.

During the meeting, the minister told the IMF delegation that economic stability, good governance and fiscal discipline are the top priorities of the government.

Dr Kinda said the review of the ECF for Nepal is about to complete and the remaining amount will be released soon.

He praised Nepal's efforts in advancing its financial and monetary policy and maintaining fiscal discipline.

Nepal has been spending the amount it received from the IFM under the ECF keeping under the budgetary assistance headings.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 1. 93 points to close at 2,077.78 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 27 points to close at 370. 34 points.

A total of 8,813,374-unit shares of 322 companies were traded for Rs 4. 38 billion.

Meanwhile, Emerging Nepal Limited (ENL), Bhagawati Hydropower Development Company Limited (BGWT) and Mid Solu Hydropower Limited (MSHL) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Mai Khola Hydropower Limited (MKHL) was the top loser with its price dropped by 6. 40 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 29 trillion.

Nepali Congress General Secretary Bishwo Prakash Sharma has urged the government to be entirely free from prejudices while investigating individuals accused of criminal offenses or other wrongdoings.

During a special session of the House of Representatives (HoR) today, the lawmaker stressed that the government must convey a message that it treats all individuals equally in investigations over any accusations.

He said that the government apprehended media entrepreneur Kailash Sirohiya over the citizenship issue, but no significant findings came during the investigation.

The leader added the NC is ready to cooperate with the government fully if it ensures impartial investigations against any alleged cases of irregularities since the 1990s.

He praised the formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate alleged fraud involving cooperative funds, which also has alleged involvement of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rabi Lamichhane.

Sharma viewed this as a positive step.

However, he criticized Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal for seeking a vote of confidence on May 20 despite having 22 days left before the deadline, amidst opposition obstructions.

"The move is dissenting for the party." The leader expressed his concerns over the accusations against the party by CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma.

He challenged the Home Minister to prove the party's involvement in the sale of public property to the company and take action if the charge is proven.

He also criticized the statement of the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister in the Parliament accusing the party of leaking the nation's information to foreigners.

To mark the centenary of the 1924 Everest Expedition, the British Embassy  invited Nepali and international friends to highlight the early contribution to links between Nepal and the UK in the spheres of tourism and mountaineering.

A photo exhibition about the 1924 Everest Expedition was mounted at the Embassy on Tuesday.

Entitled The Fight for Everest 1924, it was first displayed at the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) last week, linked to screening of the documentary Everest Revisited (www.mef.org.uk/news/mef-to-premiere-new-film-on-1924-everest-expedition). The collection will now move to Pokhara for permanent display at the International Mountain Museum (IMM).

Speaking at the Embassy event on Tuesday, Ambassador Rob Fenn commented that, although the 1924 expedition had not come to Kathmandu, Nepalis played an important role in it and “have continued to be pivotal in Everest attempts since.” He added that “Britons are besotted with raw courage”. “It’s what has been drawing us to Nepal and to Nepalis for more than two hundred years”.

Ambassador Fenn shared news announced in the UK in December, that Nepalis are now eligible to apply for expedition funding from the UK-based Mount Everest Foundation (www.mef.org.uk/news/mef-opens-grants-to-nepali-applicants), reads a statement issued by the British Embassy.

Since its inception in 1955, the MEF has provided funds to over 2,000 expeditions in remote locations and to scientists researching high-altitude medicine, glaciology and climate change.

John Porter, Director and Producer of “Everest Revisited” and MEF’s Honorary Secretary said “It is an honor to represent the Chair of the Mount Everest Foundation, Rebecca Stephens, the first British woman to climb Everest, at this reciprocation of the event hosted by His Excellency Gyan Chandra Acharya at the Embassy of Nepal in London on the International Day of the Mountains last December”.

Porter was also representing the Alpine Club, as associate curator of the exhibition.  “Alpine Club member, Ian Wall, created this superb exhibition with the financial support of the Nepal Mountaineering Association.  I am looking forward to seeing it reach its permanent home in Pokhara on 8 June. One hundred years on from the 1924 Exhibition, The Royal Geographical Society and Alpine Club are delighted they have been able to work together on this exhibition as they did on the expeditions in the 1920s”.

The change in funding criteria helps mark the next chapter of the Britain-Nepal mountaineering story. Ambassador Fenn and guests from the Nepali and international tourism, trekking, and climbing sectors congratulated MEF for making this change.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is leaving for India on Saturday to take part in the oath taking ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Indian Prime Minister Modi is preparing to take the oath of office and secrecy for the third time on Saturday.

Prime Minister Dahal and his Indian counterpart Modi held a telephonic conversation on Wednesday night.

On the occasion, the two leaders briefly discussed the matters concerning mutual benefits and common interests of both the countries, a Baluwatar source informed.

ALSO READ: What will Modi’s 3.0 mean for Nepal ? 

During the conversation, Indian Prime Minister Modi invited Dahal to participate in his swearing in ceremony.

After receiving Modi’s formal invitation, Prime Minister Dahal started preparations to leave for India.

According to a source, he will leave for New Delhi on Friday evening or Saturday morning.

The Prime Minister’s Office informed that a Cabinet meeting to be held today will decide on the Prime Minister’s visit by accepting Modi’s invitation.

There is a partial influence of local and westerly wind along with a low pressure area expanded from Uttar Pradesh of India to Eastern Bangladesh in the country, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said.

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy throughout the country at present with light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning at some places of Koshi and Bagmati Provinces and one or two places of other provinces.

The weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly region and fair in the rest of the country this afternoon. Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and at one or two places of the rest of the country.

According to a weather bulletin issued by the Department this morning, there is a possibility of a storm in one or two places of Sudurpaschim, Karnali, Lumbini and Koshi Provinces. There are chances of light snowfall at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous regions of the country. Similarly, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly regions of the country, including Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces tonight. Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at some places of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces.

Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and at one or two places of the rest of the country in the next 24 hours.

Stating that there are chances of thunderstorms at one or two places of Sudurpaschim, Karnali, Lumbini and Koshi Provinces, the Department has urged the people to remain alert.

Kathmandu Valley will receive normal rainfall this afternoon. According to the Department, the temperature will remain between 29 and 31 degrees Celsius this afternoon.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 1, 800 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 144, 000 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 142, 200 per tola on Wednesday.

Similarly, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 143, 300 per tola.

Meanwhile, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,850 per tola today.

The second meeting of the Nepal-Finland Bilateral Consultation Mechanism was held in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

Chief of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)'s Europe America Division and joint-secretary led the Nepali delegation in the meeting while Deputy Secretary of the State for International Development at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland Pasi Hellman led the Finish team.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides discussed the Nepal-Finland relations and bilateral cooperation.

The meeting reviewed the bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction on the current status of the Nepal-Finland ties.

Both the sides laid emphasis on exchanging high-level visits and enhancing partnerships.

The Nepali sides had extended gratitude to Finland for its continued support in the areas of drinking water, sanitation, education and climate change. The Finland side had expressed its interest to expand development to Nepal in the areas of innovative facilities, particularly public sector investment facilities.

Matters related to mutual cooperation in the regional and global forums. Both the sides had agreed to work together on global issues, including climate change and multilateralism in the multilateral forums were also discussed in the meeting.