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The price of gold has increased by Rs 1, 900 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 160, 000 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 158, 100 per tola on Tuesday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 20 and is being traded at Rs 1, 895 per tola today.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba has congratulated Marco Rubio on his appointment as the 72nd US Secretary of State. 

The Foreign Minister today took to social site X to congratulate Rubio on his appointment as the US Secretary of State.

"We look forward to working together to further strengthen the ties between Nepal and the United States," Foreign Minister Rana posted on X.  

The 53-year-old Rubio has represented Florida in the US Senate since 2011.

According to international news sources, President Donald Trump's proposal to appoint him on the post was unanimously confirmed in a 99-to-0 vote.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 1, 000 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 158, 000 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 157, 000 per tola on Monday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 1, 860 per tola today.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has called the winter session of the Parliament.

He summoned the meeting of both Houses of the Parliament at 1 pm on January 31 (Friday) as per the recommendation of the Cabinet meeting held on Monday, the President’s Office spokesperson Shailaja Regmi Bhattarai informed.

“As per Article 93 (1) of the Constitution of Nepal, President Paudel has called the session of both Houses of the federal Parliament at the International Conference Center in New Baneshwor at 1:00 pm on January 31,” according to the Office of the President.

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has provided over Rs 25.5bn in interest subsidies for concessional loans until mid-December of the fiscal year 2024/25. The government issued integrated procedures for interest subsidies on concessional loans in 2018. It initially covered seven categories with 5-6 percent interest subsidies. This was later amended to include 10 sectors.

The central bank has been providing interest subsidies for 10 different types of loans under the subsidized loan program. The NRB provides subsidies on commercial agriculture and livestock loans both with and without collateral. Similarly, it offers interest subsidies on educated youth self-employment loans, migrant returnee youth project loans, women entrepreneurship loans, Dalit community business development loans, and higher technical and vocational education loans, among others. The NRB has also provided interest subsidies for private housing construction loans for earthquake victims, textile industry operation loans, loans for training provided by institutions recognized by the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), and youth self-employment loans.

These loans are distributed through different commercial banks, development banks, finance companies and microfinance institutions. However, banks and financial institutions haven't disbursed concessional loans for the past six months. Central bank officials say they have informally instructed bank and financial institutions (BFIs) not to disburse such loans as funds provided by the government for the program have been used up.

According to the NRB, 113,148 borrowers have availed of loans totaling Rs 172.29bn by mid-December under the interest subsidy program. Commercial banks have disbursed Rs 147.17bn to 96,372 borrowers and development banks extended Rs 22.42bn to 15,166 borrowers. Likewise, finance companies and micro finance institutions approved Rs 2.64bn to 1,550 borrowers and Rs 59m to 60 borrowers, respectively, in subsidized loans.

BFIs cannot charge more than two percent points above their base rate for these subsidized loans. They are also prohibited from charging additional fees except for loan interest, credit information fees, insurance premiums and loan security charges. Interest subsidies are available for up to five years. However, banks are free to determine the total loan period. Women entrepreneurship loans receive a six percent interest subsidy, while other categories receive five percent.

Commercial agriculture and livestock loans are capped at Rs 50m, educated youth self-employment at Rs 700,000 and migrant returnee youth project loans at Rs 1m. Similarly, women entrepreneurship loans are limited to Rs 1.5m, Dalit community business loans to Rs 1m and higher technical education loans to Rs 500,000. BFIs are allowed to disburse up to Rs 300,000 on private housing loans for earthquake victims, while textile industry loans are capped at Rs 50m, CTEVT-recognized training loans at Rs 200,000 and youth self-employment loans at Rs 500,000.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has extended felicitation to Donald J Trump upon his assumption of the office as the 47th US President.

Taking to social media (X) today, President Paudel said, "My warm felicitations to His Excellency Mr Donald J Trump for assuming the office as the 47th President of the United States of America and my best wishes for the successful tenure."

He expressed hope that the cordial relations, subsisting between Nepal and the United States, would be further deepened and expanded in the days to come.

EV Nepal Motors Pvt Ltd has collaborated with Annapurna Media Network for the cycle rally to raise awareness against cancer.

A collaboration agreement was signed amidst a ceremony organized at the AMN’s headquarters in Tinkune on Monday.

AMN General Manager Manoj Basnet, Marketing Assistant Manager Madhuri Sapkota and EV Nepal Motors PVT Ltd General Manager Nawaraj Koirala (NK Sharad) signed the agreement.

“This program to raise awareness against cancer is a very commendable work,” EV Nepal Motors PVT Ltd General Manager Koirala said, adding, “This kind of rally is very important to raise public awareness about cancer and to make Nepal cancer free.”

He said that this cycle rally is not only important to raise awareness against cancer, but also helps in the campaign of green city and clean city.

The bicycle rally will be held at 6:30 am on Saturday.

Nepal has been according high priority to the climate change issue which has emerged as the topic of global concern over the recent years.

Nepal's participation has also been increasing in the national and international programs and forums related to this issue.

In this context, Nepal has resumed preparations to organize 'Sagarmatha Sambaad (Dialogue)' after a long wait. Earlier in 2076 BS, preparations for the Sagarmatha Dialogue initiated by the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli-led government had to be postponed at the last moment due to COVID-19.

The government has advanced the Sagarmatha Dialogue to gain global leadership on climate change and advocate for climate justice.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Forests and Environment have initiated preparations for the event by forming various committees.

The Council of Ministers has made a decision to organize the Sagarmatha Sambaad every two years. In 2025, it is proposed to be convened on May 15, 16 and 17.

Heads of state and government of mountainous and maritime countries, experts working in the field of climate research, representatives of the private sector of national and international level, subject experts, media experts and social influencers will be especially invited to the dialogue.

Dialogue to be made part of International Year of Glaciers' Preservation

Joint-secretary and chief of the Climate Change Management Division at the Ministry of Forests, Dr Maheshwor Dhakal, said that Nepal is going to start the preparations for the Dialogue by declaring it as part of the International Year of Glacier Conservation tomorrow.

The United Nations is celebrating 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and UNESCO, representing the United Nations, are jointly launching the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation on January 21.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Oli will announce the Sagarmatha Sambaad in Nepal tomorrow or on January 21.

All ministers, secretaries, heads of diplomatic missions, chiefs of development partner organizations, heads and representatives of organizations working in the climate sector, media and others will participate in the announcement program to be held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

The Sagarmatha Sambaad is going to be held for the first time in the country, under the theme of 'Climate Change, Mountain and Human Future'. Since COVID-19, four international conferences have been held in the field of climate change, namely COP-26 in Glasgow, COP-27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, COP-28 in Dubai and COP-29 in Baku. He said that since the climate agenda has become more pronounced, it is inevitable for Nepal to organize the Dialogue.

Joint Secretary Dr Dhakal, who is coordinating for the Dialogue, said, "Looking at the effects of climate change on the mountainous region and the problems faced by the local people, there is a need for more discussion and debate in this area. On the basis of this, the need to find solutions for collective efforts to develop the ability to deal with the effects of climate is being raised everywhere. Nepal has announced that it will reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2045.

Nepal's policies on climate are good, but the resources available for implementation are low and the capacity is weak economically and socially. "In spite of that, Nepal is providing services to the international community by protecting biological diversity and environment," he said, adding, "but instead of paying for these services, the international community has contributed to the melting of snow and glaciers on our mountains by emitting carbon."

According to him, during the dialogue, climate justice will be advocated for and if we fail to explain to the international community in time and find solutions, we may have to pay a huge price to save our human civilization. 

"Informing the international community about the impact of climate change on Nepal, thereby increasing capacity building for access to climate finance, increasing youth participation in technology development and expansion, providing more resources to local communities for adaptation are the objectives of the Dialogue."

Informing the world community about the pain of being exposed to high risk even with low carbon emissions, Nepal will also advocate during the Dialogue regarding the compensation that Nepal should receive from the damage it is suffering from climate change consequences and the payment for the environmental services provided by Nepal.

"Climate change is a serious global challenge to all. Its effect is more visible especially in countries like Nepal with a small crop and sensitive geography."

In this year alone, Nepal had to suffer a huge loss of life and property due to climatic disasters. It is estimated that climate-related risks and disasters will increase in the future. According to scientific studies, it is estimated that the temperature of the Himalayan region will be 0.3°C to 0.7°C higher than the average temperature of the world in the present and future.