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Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh in Singha Durbar today.

During the meeting, they discussed various topics of bilateral interest and mutual concerns, according to the Ministry of Urban Development.

On the occasion, Ambassador Srivastava extended best wishes of a successful term to Minister Singh and said the Government of India was ready to enhance the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Minister Singh and Ambassador Srivastava also talked about India's possible cooperation in urban development, river pollution control and waste management, Ministry Secretary Maniram Gelal said.

The projects being constructed in Nepal with Indian assistance were also reviewed during the meeting.

Discussions were held on the Integrated Customs Checkpoints being constructed on the border areas of the two countries, according to Secretary Gelal.

Most of the commercial banks have further reduced deposit rates for mid-July to mid-August (Shrawan), which begins on Tuesday.Out of 20 Class ‘A’ banks in the country, 13 have reduced their interest rates on individual fixed deposits. Likewise, two have raised their rates compared to mid-June to mid-July (Ashadh), while five have kept their rates unchanged.

With this revision, the average interest rate on individual fixed deposits has fallen from 6.91 percent in Ashadh to 6.73 percent in Shrawan. Banks offer slightly higher interest rates on long-term fixed deposits, while rates are lower on short-term fixed deposits. The downward revision in deposit interest rates will bring down the base rate and consequently make loans cheaper.

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central monetary authority, requires commercial banks to maintain a maximum difference of five percent between the upper limit of individual fixed deposit rates and the minimum savings rate. Interest rates offered on institutional fixed deposits are one percentage point lower than those offered on personal fixed deposits.

Banks are sitting on a huge stockpile of loanable funds as demand for credit is not picking up due to the slowdown in economic activities. NRB absorbed a total liquidity of Rs 2,705.6bn—Rs 1,060.3bn through deposit collection auctions and Rs 1,645.3bn through the standing deposit facility (SDF)—to mop up excess liquidity in the financial system in the first 10 months of the fiscal year 2023/24.

Total deposits in banks and financial institutions have gone up by 8.5 percent to Rs 489.7bn over the first 11 months of 2023/24. Credit, on the other hand, has seen a slower growth of 5.2 percent to 255.12bn, according to the Current Macroeconomic Situation Report for the first 11 months of 2023/24 published by the central bank last week.

Agricultural Development Bank Ltd and Everest Bank Ltd have increased their interest rates, while Nepal SBI Bank, Laxmi Sunrise Bank Ltd, Nabil Bank Ltd, Nepal Investment Mega Bank Ltd, and Standard Chartered Bank Ltd have kept their rates unchanged.

Out of 20 commercial banks, NIC Asia and NMB Bank Ltd are offering the highest interest rate of 7.53 percent, while Rastriya Banijya Bank Ltd has announced the lowest interest rate of 6.21 percent.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated and extended hearty best wishes to KP Sharma Oli for being appointed as the Prime Minister of Nepal for the fourth time.

The Pakistani PM has wished PM Oli a successful term in office and stated he is eager to work closely with him for further strengthening the Pakistan-Nepal ties.

Prime Minister Sharif expressed the confidence that bilateral as well as regional cooperation would be enhanced during Prime Minister Oli's term in office.

 A dirty kitchen can make your home look and smell bad. You could have spent a fortune on interior décor but if your kitchen isn’t clean, it will take away the whole wow effect of the entire space, especially since most homes these days have open kitchens that merge into the dining and living space. But cleaning your kitchen can be the stuff of nightmares. Also, you have to do it every single day. There’s just no getting away from it. But a few simple things can help ease the process. Here we tell you how.

 Keep the countertops and sink empty

Countertops and the sink are places where things tend to gather in the kitchen. From used coffee cups and empty dishes to vegetable scraps and dishcloths, a lot of things are just there. You put dishes on the sink telling yourself you’ll get to them later but they inevitably pile up and create a mess. Get into the habit of cleaning your countertops and sink as you cook. Put away items you don’t need. Do dishes when you are finished using them and clean the sink with hot water and soap and wipe it down. The easiest way to keep your kitchen clean is to ensure your countertops and sink are devoid of clutter.

 Learn waste management

Separate your dry and wet waste to reduce the bulk of trash as well as to ensure your bins don’t give out a foul smell. The garbage can harbor a lot of bacteria and lead to various communicable diseases. Invest in trash cans with proper lids. Ones that have rubber seals around the edges are perfect for disposing of wet waste like egg shells, banana peels, and other scraps. Even better, learn to compost or reuse scraps to make easy fertilizers. Learning how to manage your waste (and generate less of it if possible) can go a long way in maintaining the hygiene quotient of your kitchen and home.

Designate separate spaces for different things

Try to assign specific spaces for all your appliances and produce. This not only helps you store items effortlessly and also find them easily but you will be able to keep the space a lot cleaner this way. Try to keep kitchen equipment away from the cooking range so that oil splatters don’t get on them. Create separate zones for food containers, pots and pans, and cleaning supplies. You will be able to cook and clean much more efficiently this way. A neatly organized kitchen where there’s a place for everything and everything is in its place makes the space look aesthetic as well.

Invest in the right cleaning supplies

There’s nothing more nerve-wracking than trying to clean without the right cleaning tools. So have a bucket, mop, and rags handy under the sink. A spray bottle is a must in the kitchen. You can use this for almost any liquid product. Make sure you have vinegar and baking soda as you can clean the harshest of stains and splatters with just these two basic ingredients. Use kitchen napkins or rags so that you aren’t tearing off paper towels and throwing them away after one wipe. This helps you cut down on trash and make your cleaning routine sustainable. A really easy hack is to keep a basket of cloth pieces under your sink. These can be old handkerchiefs, bits of cloth torn from old t-shirts, and just about any other rag you have in the house.

 Deep clean once a month

The kitchen must be cleaned every single day. You must wipe the counters and do the dishes on a daily basis. There are no two ways about that. But in addition to that, the kitchen is a space that needs some extra cleaning every once in a while. The fridge, oven, microwave, kettle etc. must be shown some care at least once a month. This gets rid of pesky odor and grime and also prolongs the life of your appliances. Mix some lemon oil with vinegar and water and heat it up in the microwave. The steam will make the grime slide right off. Then, take your sponge or rag and start to remove some of the leftover food, grease, or dirt to have your sparkling microwave back. Likewise, clean the oven and fridge with baking soda which is a great stain and odor remover.

KP Sharma Oli of CPN-UML was sworn in as the prime minister of Nepal at Sheetal Niwas, Kathmandu, on Monday. President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Oli, who has been elected the chief executive for the fourth time. The President also administered the oath to 21 members inducted into Oli’s cabinet. The cabinet comprises leaders from UML, Nepali Congress, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party and Janata Samajbadi Party.

1. KP Sharma Oli, Prime Minister
2. Prakash Man Singh, Urban Development
3. Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Finance
4. Prithvi Subba Gurung, Communications
5. Ramesh Lekhak, Home
6. Sharat Singh Bhandari, Labor
7. Arzu Rana, Foreign Affairs
8. Pradeep Yadav, Water Supply
9. Balaram Adhikari, Land Management
10. Damodar Bhandari, Industry
11. Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi, Women, Children
12. Devendra Dahal, Physical Infrastructure
13. Tejulal Chaudhary, Youth
14. Pradip Paudel, Health
15. Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya, Law
16. Badri Prasad Pandey, Culture, Tourism
17. Ramnath Adhikari, Agriculture
18. Bidhya Bhattarai, Education
19. Manbir Rai, Defense
20. Dipak Khadka, Energy
21. Raj Kumar Gupta, Federal Affairs
22. Ain Bahadur Shahi, Forest, Environment

Congratulations from int’l community 

Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister

Look forward to working closely to further strengthen the deep bonds of friendship between our two countries and to further expand our mutually beneficial cooperation for the progress and prosperity of our peoples.

Dean R Thompson, US Ambassador to Nepal

We look forward to working with the new Government of Nepal to further strengthen our 77-year partnership.

Rob Fenn, British Ambassador to Nepal

We look forward to further strengthening our longstanding UK-Nepal relationship in the coming days.

Dismal representation 

In Oli’s 22-member cabinet, there are only two women ministers and no Dalit ministers, though the Constitution mandates 33 percent representation of women and 13 percent representation of Dalits in all areas of the state.

Nine new faces

Out of the 21 appointed by Prime Minister Oli, nine became ministers for the first time: Arzu Rana, Pradip Paudel, Badri Pandey, Ramnath Adhikari, Ain Bahadur Shahi, Devendra Dahal, Bidya Bhattarai, Manbir Rai, and Raj Kumar Gupta.

Minister for the eighth time

Deputy Prime Minister Bishnu Paudel, who is also the Vice-chairperson of CPN-UML, has been appointed a minister for the eighth time. This marks his fifth term as Finance Minister and third stint as the deputy prime minister. His first appointment as minister was on 25 March 1997.

Urgent matters first

The newly-appointed Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ramnath Adhikari, shelved a plan to assume office by organizing a program due to an ongoing strike. After taking the oath of office, the minister visited the ministry and listened to the demands of the agitating employees of the ministry. Then he asked the employees to give him “2-4 days to see what he can do about their demands”. The employees’ demands include the retention of permanent posts for 328 individuals currently in bridge positions within agricultural services unions, along with arrangements for regular filling of vacant positions.

First decisions

Cabinet

The inaugural meeting of the new cabinet has decided to upgrade the TU International Cricket Ground with full facilities, including spectator stands and floodlights for night games, all to be completed within 300 days. Additionally, the cabinet has approved providing relief akin to that for the deceased to families of individuals missing for 10 days due to disasters like floods and landslides. The government also decided to make the decisions of the cabinet meeting public only after 24 hours.

Home Affairs

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has formed a task force to study the Simaltal bus accident. Led by Joint Secretary of the Home Ministry Chhabi Rijal, the panel includes representatives from three security agencies and one from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. The task force has 10 days to complete the investigation.

Urban Development

Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh signed a file for the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to amend the laws requiring self-declaration of non-foreign permanent residency in political appointments under the ministry’s departments and agencies.

Finance

Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel made his first decision related to conducting a study on identifying areas for development finance. He approved alternative financial procedures, making it easier to utilize blended finance, the Green Climate Fund, and other alternative financial resources, streamlining their acquisition and utilization processes.

Health and Population

Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Paudel has made the first decision to formulate a strategy for preventing cancer. Health Secretary Roshan Pokharel highlighted the rising number of cancer patients in Nepal, underscoring the need for a strategic approach to address this issue. Consequently, Minister Paudel approved the National Cancer Strategy (2024-2030).

Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation

Minister Balaram Adhikari signed two decisions: First, to send to the Law Ministry for the formation of a land registration committee for former Maharani Jhoda wards number 4 and 5 of Jhapa, and second, to approve the format for requesting instructions from agencies and departments under the Ministry.

Education, Science and Technology

Minister for Education, Science, and Technology Bidya Bhattarai formed a committee to study the integration of local agricultural products into the mid-day meals provided to students. She signed the decision to establish a committee tasked with developing a plan to connect the mid-day meals program, serving students from early childhood development up to the 5th grade, with locally-sourced agricultural products.

Foreign Affairs

Arzu Rana, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has decided to give continuity to the practice of sending congratulatory messages to the heads of state of friendly countries on their National Days, a practice observed during the monarchy.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 900 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 147, 800 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 146, 900 per tola on Monday.

Similarly, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 147, 100 per tola. It was traded at Rs 146, 200 per tola.

The price of silver, however, has decreased by Rs 10 and is being traded at Rs 1,875 per tola today.

Three children swept away by a flooded stream have been found buried, while a person went missing.

The flooded Jhinchaur rivulet swept away some houses at Athbiskot Municipality-12 in Rukum Paschim district last night.

Those washed away by the flood were Hit Maya Pun (8), Dhanisha Pun (5) and Manisha Sarki (4). Similarly, 40-year-old Dilli Bahadur Budhathoki has gone missing, according to Rabi KC, Mayor of Athbiskot municipality.

Moreover, Bijay Sarki (10), Anisha Pun (22), Janak Khatri (29), Mansari Pun (65), Mexan Pun (4), Dhan Maya Pun (20) and Kalpana Kami (65) were injured in the flooding.

Mayor KC further informed that as three children were found buried, it was difficult to pull them out from the mudslide.

Efforts are on to take the injured ones to the municipal hospital at Radi.

Police personnel and locals are carrying out rescue operations.  

The annual general meeting of the Nepal chapter of PEN International, an international organization of writers, has concluded. The meeting, chaired by PEN Nepal President Ram Kumar Pandey, also elected a new working committee. According to the constitution of PEN, Bhishma Upreti has been elected as the president of the newly elected working committee, Hiranya Kumari Pathak as the Vice-president, and Mitrabandhu Poudel as the general secretary. Electoral Officers Shiromani Dawadi and Shushma Chitrakar awarded certificates to the elected officers, confirming their official status.

Senior writer and linguist Chunamani Bandhu, while addressing the formal session of the general meeting, emphasized that as PEN is an international organization, it is necessary to translate Nepali works to internationalize Nepali literature while maintaining its dignity. He also suggested being active institutionally to represent the entire Nepali literary world in the future.

On the same occasion, the book ‘Literary Leadership’ was released by Pandey, which reflects his extensive experience as the president of PEN Nepal and contains the activities, experiences, and insights from his tenure. He also passed proposals to reduce the term of PEN’s working committee from five years to three years, award annual prizes to English books based on Nepali literature, and revise the statute as needed.