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The bird census conducted in the wetlands in eastern Chitwan has concluded with the recordings of the presence of 55 species.

The census was held in collaboration with the Bird Education Society and Nepalese Ornithological Union on January 6-7.

This time, two more species of birds:  Kalo Tauke Ganga Chil (Black-headed Gull) and Raja Gangachil (Pallas's Gull) were found here, according to Bird Education Society's education coordinator ornithologist Basu Bidari.

The census was conducted along the area from Lothar to Darai Botetal, from Gaidhawa (Jindagani Ghat) to Saurahaghat, Saurahaghat to Kasara Bridge, Tamor Lake, Lami Lake, Bish Hajari Lake, Bhandara Machhapokhare, Budhi Rapti Dhungare river and Patana Lake.

A total of 7,150 birds were traced during the census and among them, 4107 were ruddy shelducks.

Comparatively this time, the population of shelducks has slightly decreased as they numbered 4,304 last year. 

Increasing pollution, water-base extractions and increasing human movement and encroachment have been noticed as growing threats to birds' habitats.

In areas where pollution is less, relatively more birds have been found. 

The Society has been conducting the census of birds since 1987. The census of aquatic birds takes place in 35 countries in East Asia, including in Nepal, in January.

So far, 652 species of birds have been recorded in Chitwan and this year 159 species have been traced while the species of bird dependent on water is 55.

The second meeting of Nepal-India Joint Business Forum (JBF) has laid emphasis on expansion of bilateral trade and business.

The meeting aimed at further deepening the economic and business relations between the two countries concluded on Saturday.

On the occasion, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari said that India is Nepal's largest trading partner and both countries should take the decisions of the JBF meeting into implementation.

He also underscored on carrying out works for resolving the problems seen in the import and export between the two nations in an easier manner.

Ministry Secretary Govinda Bahadur Karki spoke of the need of practical implementation of the topics decided in the JBF meeting.

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) President Chandra Prasad Dhakal said there is immense possibility in the economic sector between Nepal and India. He stressed on moving ahead through policy reforms and exploring practical solutions for addressing the problems seen in both trade and business sectors.  

He called for removing the non-tariff barriers, facilitating in resolving the problems arising due to the certification process of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in export of Nepali goods, for air connectivity between Bhairahawa and Pokhara airports of Nepal with various Indian cities and for the smooth supply of explosives required for construction and development of hydroelectricity projects.

The FNCCI President also raised the topic of expanding Nepal's access to various Indian ports, including Mundra (Gujarat), Dhamara (Udisha) and Jawaharlal Nehru port (Mumbai).

The JBF meeting is a part of Nepal-India Commerce Secretary-level Meeting. In the meeting, the representatives of Nepal and India had discussed trade, investment, energy, tourism, agriculture, information technology and infrastructure development, among other topics.

An agreement was reached in the JBF meeting for the promotion of clean energy through collaboration in hydroelectricity and renewable energy, solar and wind projects, of tourism and connectivity, of easing the trans-border trade by strengthening the road, railway and air connectivity and of enhancing trade and cross-border investment, agriculture and medicinal plants, providing high-yielding seeds and technology by removing the quota for agricultural productions, of collaboration in research and commercialization of medicinal herbs and of cooperation in digital technology and startups.

The agreed upon topics of the meeting have been handed over to the Commerce Secretary of Nepal and India on Saturday itself.

JBF President Bhawani Rana and Santhil Kumar handed over the agreement to Commerce Secretary of India Sunil Barthwal and Nepal's Commerce Secretary Karki.

The Indian Commerce Secretary expressed the commitment to take the initiative for the implementation of the agendas raised in course of the JBF meeting.

Ambassador of India to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava said this meeting is important in terms of the economic issues between the two countries and that he would take initiatives for facilitating the topics raised in the JBF meeting.

JBF Nepal President Bhawani Rana reiterated that there is extensive possibility of investment and trade between Nepal and India, and there should be the required facilitation for taking benefit from this.

Similarly, from the Indian side N Sunil Kumar believed that there would be more convenience in the coming days, as the road, railway and air connectivity between Nepal and India is improving.

It is agreed that the JBF next meeting will be convened in New Delhi, India.

 The government has decided to extend the tenure of four Deputy Inspector Generals of the Armed Police Force—Kamal Giri, Ganesh Bahadur Thada Magar, Kul Bahadur Nembang and Shambhu Subedi by one year.

Spokesperson of the government and Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, today shared this while making public the decisions of Cabinet meeting held on January 7.

Similarly, the meeting also decided to assign Joint-Secretary Bishnu Prasad Sharma on deputation as the Executive Director of Special Structures Operation and Management Development Committee. 

Likewise, permission has been granted to Deputy Auditor General Bamdev Sharma Adhikari to participate in 'Workshop on Inhousing SAI-CSO Engagement on the ASOSAI Region' to be held in Manila of Philippines from February 10-12, added Minister Gurung.

The meeting also gave permission to the Minister of State for Forests and Environment to attend the program related to climate change to be organized in Rome of Italy from February 24-26.

Six development banks and finance companies are under the scrutiny of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) after Karnali Development Bank was declared problematic on Dec 25. The central bank took over the management of Karnali Development Bank after it was found that the Class ‘B’ bank had submitted a fake deposit certificate, claiming it had deposits in commercial banks.

Earlier this week, the NRB wrote a letter to different commercial banks, requesting them to furnish details of deposits maintained by these six institutions. An internal investigation by the central bank showed that funds in the Class ‘B’ bank were misappropriated with the involvement of Karnali’s former Executive Chairperson and CEO Rajendra Bir Raya, former CEO Dinesh Kumar Rawat, former Finance Department Head Mahadev aka Bed Prakash Thakuri, and incumbent CEO and Finance Department Head Niraj Bikram Shah.

While the bank’s core banking system showed a balance of Rs 227.46m in Karnali Development Bank’s Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) account at NRB as of 22 Dec 2024, the investigation committee found the account did not have the said funds. The investigation committee also reported that the bank’s senior management covered up the misappropriation by creating fake balance certificates from other banks.

The central bank wrote letters to different commercial banks, requesting them to send details of deposits maintained by Saptakoshi Development Bank, Excel Development Bank, Narayani Bikas Bank, and Sindhu Bikash Bank as well as Janaki Finance and Pokhara Finance.

While share prices of a majority of Class ‘A’ banks, which have better corporate governance compared to these institutions,  are below Rs 300 per unit, shares of these institutions are traded at as high as Rs 1,100 per unit on the bourse.

NRB sources say they have begun analyzing the liquidity situation of four development banks and two finance companies with weak financial conditions and governance issues.

An NRB official said they are taking stock of the liquidity situation in these institutions before taking required action. “Our efforts will be on resolving the issue through the management of the concerned financial institutions themselves,” the official added.

About a decade ago, the central bank formed a dedicated Problematic Institutions Management Department and managed 16 banks and financial institutions.

Normal life in Mahottari district has been adversely affected due the cold wave which continued for five days. The decreasing temperature has taken a toll on people’s movement.

Even the livestock and crops are negatively impacted with plummeting temperatures coupled with cold waves, fog and cloud, according to Birendra Sharma from Jaleshwor-7.

People’s movement is sparse at district headquarters, Jaleshwor. The vehicles are also operated in less numbers.

In the wake of rising cold, the sales of warm clothes have, however, surged in the market.

Similarly, a tea seller Umesh Sah from Jaleshwor Municipality-1 informed that people throng tea shops to take hot soup and scalded tea. Selling tea is on rise, he shared.

Similarly, district health offices and hospitals have witnessed dismal visits of patients.

The locals began making fire to keep themselves warm. The decline in temperature has hit the children, elderly ones and women in postpartum hard. 

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

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, the gold is being traded at Rs 154,100 per tola. It was traded at Rs 153,300 per tola on Thursday.

Similarly, the Federation has fixed the price of silver at Rs 1,845 per tola today.

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane is appearing before the Kathmandu District Court today.

He was released on Thursday after posting the bail amount of Rs 6.5 million.

Lamichhane, who is also the former Home Minister, was arrested for his alleged involvement in embezzling the funds of local Suryadarshan Cooperatives Saving and Cooperatives, Pokhara.

He is facing a similar case of misappropriation of funds in a cooperative in Kathmandu.

RSP President Lamichhane will appear before the District Court, Kathmandu today, according to acting spokesperson, Manish Jha.

Six persons, including Lamichhane, were released on bail in the same case. They were Chhabi Lal Joshi, Ram Bahadur Khanal, Krishna Bahadur Gurung, Mina Gurung and Arati Gurung, according to the record keeper at Kaski District Court, Rajan Khanal.

District Judge Nitij Rai yesterday issued an order saying that Lamichhane be released on a bail of Rs 6.5 million, Joshi on a bail of Rs 8. 8 million, Pachhai on Rs 3. 7 million, Khanal on Rs 1.5 million, Mina Gurung on Rs 500, 000, Arati Gurung on Rs 500, 000 and Krishna Bahadur Gurung on Rs 100, 000.  

However, Pachhai failed to submit the bail amount resulting in continuity of detention.

The District Attorney Office, Kaski on December 22 had filed a case against 44 persons including Lamichhane, accusing them of embezzling the cooperative’s funds.

Annapurna Media Network is to organize a bicycle rally on February 8 on the occasion of the World Cancer Day with an aim to raise awareness against this chronic disease.

World Cancer Day is celebrated every year on February 8 to raise awareness about cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.

Annapurna Media Network has been organizing a bicycle rally every year since 2015 to raise public awareness against cancer.

So far, 20,000 people have participated in the bicycle rally. The slogan for this year’s rally is “Ride for Life”.

“Scientists around the world have been conducting intensive research for the drugs to treat cancer patients. But no medicines have been developed to completely cure cancer till now. Hence, in this situation it is important to raise awareness for the control of this disease,” Annapurna Media Network General Manager Manoj Basnet said. “That is why we have been organizing a bicycle every year to raise awareness against cancer as part of our social responsibility.”

The Network said that it has been organizing this program every year to raise awareness against Cancer, which has been spreading as a terrible disease in recent times, as it can be completely cured if detected and treated on time.

The Network has also started a free cervical cancer screening campaign from this year.

It has also called upon all to participate in the campaign to raise awareness against cancer.

Those who are interested in participating in the rally can fill up the form by clicking on this link. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkdUm_BHo3FOVX5AREn0RN3-KzBgrG1MLxBS4jvCaAhMj4Gg/viewform

Likewise, you can call on Network’s phone number: 014112031 (3728) to register the name for the cycle rally.