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Kathmandu Metropolitan City has started confiscating tobacco products from shops, a day after imposing a blanket ban on the storage, sale, distribution and use of such products. On Thursday, it raided shops in the metropolis, seizing betel quid, gutkha, cigarettes and other chewing tobacco products. KMC has warned that it will shut shops violating the ban.

Acting chief of the Metropolitan Police, SP Bishnu Joshi, informed that they seized two sackfuls of tobacco products from Balaju area, two bagfuls from the Jadibuti-Koteshwar area and three sackfuls from other places in the Kathmandu valley on Thursday.

The metropolis has mobilized five teams comprising 10 people each to keep a tab on selling tobacco products along with police personnel in plainclothes.

“For up to two instances of violation of the ban, tobacco products will be confiscated from the shops in question. The third instance of violation will lead to the shop’s closure,” said SP Joshi.

KMC had published a 15-day notice on Nov 28 announcing a ban on public consumption, sale and storage of all types of tobacco products, including raw tobacco and gutkha, in accordance with the Tobacco Control and Regulation Act, 2011.

Section 11 (4) of the Act states that the government of Nepal may prohibit the retail sales and distribution of cigarettes, quid of tobacco (Bidi) or cigar sticks by publishing a notice in the Nepal Gazette.

KMC has banned the sale of cigarettes and smoking at a perimeter of 100 meters around public places, slapping a fine of up to Rs 100 on each violation. 

Meanwhile, KMC has also requested citizens to use KMC Police Force’s hotline 18105000060 or telephone numbers 01-5901763/01-5901764 to inform them about the violation of the ban.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has completed one year in office. In this period, Dahal visited the key countries India, China and US, and also attended some multilateral platforms. In this context, ApEx  talked with Rupak Sapkota, prime minister’s foreign affairs advisor, about the Dahal’s accomplishments and foreign policy. 

How do you assess the situation of Nepal’s foreign policy under the leadership of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal?

The foreign policy of Nepal, under the leadership of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, has been independent, balanced, and committed to non-alignment movement. The nation has successfully cultivated friendly and balanced relations with neighboring countries, development partners, and major powers. This has fostered an environment of mutual trust, conducive to international cooperation and economic collaboration.

Prime Minister Dahal conducted official visits to India and China, and also visited the US to attend the United Nations General Assembly. At the UN General Assembly, he highlighted Nepal's achievements in the peace process and underscored the adverse impacts of climate change faced by the country. Additionally, in his capacity as the President of the 47 Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the prime minister effectively advocated for the interests of LDCs on the international stage. 

Many see this government as pro-Indian and pro-Western, do you agree?

Early on, there were speculations regarding the foreign policy that Dahal might adopt. But Prime Minister Dahal proved them wrong, as he has already undertaken visits to various countries, including both neighboring nations and the United Nations. These visits have resulted in crucial agreements and understandings.

Notably, a historic agreement has been reached with India to export 10,000 MW of power within a 10-year timeframe. During the visit to China, long-term agreements of importance, particularly in the realm of connectivity, were reached. These include the operation of new trading points and an agreement on a power transmission line. The agreement to open the Korala border has recently been put into operation. The Covid-19 pandemic, natural calamities, etc. had affected Nepal's cooperation with China for some years, but after Prime Minister Dahal’s visit, the relationship between the two countries has gained a new momentum.

Furthermore, the prime minister’s participation in the United Nations General Assembly was noteworthy. UN Secretary-General Guterres also visited Nepal at the prime minister's invitation. During Guterres's four-day visit, Nepal’s key agendas were presented to the global audience. The discussions covered topics such as Nepal’s aspiration to graduate from least developed countries by 2026, the unique and original character of Nepal’s peace process, and the pressing issue of climate change.

But some critics say the prime minister failed to take up key issues with major powers, what is your take on it?

On the contrary, Prime Minister Dahal's tenure has seen notable achievements, thanks to his prudent and mature foreign policy leadership in the face of challenging global circumstances. 

The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted international relations for a considerable period, and ongoing conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars, along with heightened global power competition, has added complexity. Against the backdrop of the Galwan Valley clash between China and India in 2020, regional tensions escalated which affected Nepal due to its geographical proximity with China and India. Major world powers sought to enlist Nepal into their strategic plans and alliances, creating a challenging and intricate situation. 

Despite these challenges, the current government has steadfastly pursued an independent, balanced, and non-aligned foreign policy. It has effectively communicated that Nepal aims to avoid entanglement in any geopolitical camp. This stance has laid the groundwork for Nepal’s future international relations, focusing on economic and political development aspirations.

Are you suggesting that Nepal has successfully resisted attempts by powerful nations to influence its alliances, and there are no such risks moving forward?

Not definitively. The nation faces a pressing need to chart its own course in the coming days. The evolving dynamics among major powers indicate a trend towards rivalry, disrupting the existing international security system. This can lead to challenges for Nepal. We should be able to steer clear of these challenges while steadfastly pursuing the chosen path of economic and political cooperation.

What are these challenges, could you please explain them ?

First, there is the heightened military competition and the potential for strategic conflicts. This is a growing concern globally, with superpowers engaging in a military showdown that raises alarms in countries, both large and small. Like Nepal, many countries in the southern hemisphere are hesitant to engage in the current geopolitical conflict and are more concerned about their own economic development. They want to avoid unnecessary entanglements between the eastern and western hemispheres, recognizing the potential negative impact on economic cooperation.

Upholding this policy is crucial to ensuring stability and avoiding distractions in the future. 

Second challenge is the emergence of new political polarization. Unlike the Cold War era, today's rivalry is characterized by ideological competition through trade and technology wars. This shift in political dynamics can lead to the creation of camps. 

And lastly, there is the shift of strategic interests towards economic and political cooperation. Nepal should strive to avoid being caught in such dynamics. The country has already conveyed its stance that it won't participate in such polarization.

After taking both neighbors into confidence, where will be the emphasis of the government in terms of foreign policy?

We must prioritize international cooperation for economic development. Determining the key agenda and effectively managing cooperation are imperative aspects of reshaping our foreign policy and international relations. For a long time, Nepal has championed economic diplomacy as its central approach for development. However, the current global scenario reveals a shift towards military engagements among international powers. This shift has prompted countries, irrespective of size, to escalate military spending. This may affect the dynamics of financial grants and aid that Nepal has historically received. Despite this evolving landscape, Nepal will stick to economic diplomacy. But the pillars of 'economic diplomacy' which we are adopting should be refined and made more comprehensive. So far we have promoted foreign aid, trade, investment, tourism and labor as important pillars of economic diplomacy. Now, the government is broadening the scope of ‘economic diplomacy’ by incorporating ‘climate diplomacy.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 300 per tola in the domestic market on Friday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 119, 100 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 118, 800 per tola on Thursday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 118, 550 per tola. It was traded at Rs 118, 250 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,470 per tola today.

A five-year-old girl has been murdered after rape in Dhanusha.

According to a preliminary investigation, the girl of Kushamaha-5, Sabaila Municipality-9 of the district was raped and later strangled to death.

The District Police Office, Dhanush said that the girl’s body was found in a pit at around 8 pm on Thursday.

The parents of the girl informed the police after she, who had gone with a neighbor of the village on a motorbike, did not return home till 9 pm on Wednesday.

Later, a police team deployed from the District Police Office, Dhanusha started searching for the girl and found her body at Sabaila Municipality-9 on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, police have arrested two persons for their alleged involvement in the incident.

Police said that they are looking into the case.

Two persons died and another sustained injuries when a motorbike they were riding on met with an accident in Dhanusha on Friday.

The deceased have been identified as Bharat Sahani (25) of Kamala Municipality-8 and Bijay Kumar Sahani (30) of Bideha Municipality-1 of Dhanusha, DSP Ranjan Awa, spokesperson at the District Police Office, Dhanusha, said.

DSP Awa said that Satrughan Sahani of Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City-12 was injured in the incident.

He has been taken to the Kathmandu-based Neuro Hospital for further treatment.

The incident occurred when the two-wheeler (Pradesh 2-02-002 Pa 4092) heading towards Dhalewar from Janakpurdham went out of control at Sapahi in Laxminiya Rural Municipality-4 at around 3 am today.

Police said that they are looking into the case.

The Armed Police Force seized goods worth Rs 3.2 million which were imported from India by evading taxes.

DSP Mahendra Bharati said that the goods were confiscated on Thursday during the security check at Simalghari of Khajura Rural Municipality-6, Banke.The police also seized a truck used to supply the goods from India by evading taxes.

The seized goods include cloths, copper idols, kitchen items, goods for decoration and others.

DSP Bharati shared that two persons including the truck driver were also held. The truck driver is Indian national Sakir Hussein.

Of the total 717 jailbirds in Chitwan prison, 111 are found to have suffered from different diseases.

The officials at the prison office shared that more than half of the patients are suffering from high blood pressure.

Kamal Prasad Acharya, chief of the prison, said that the number of patients in Chitwan jail is on the rise. This is also due to the arrival of the jailbirds from other districts for treatment.

The inmates from Nawalparasi, Dhading, Gorkha, Makawanpur and other neighboring countries are taken here for their medical treatment, Acharya shared.

Currently, 26 diabetes patients and four people living with HIV are doing their time in Chitwan jail.

Likewise, there are three thyroid patients, four heart patients, for epilepsy patients and five mental patients.

The Chitwan prison is overcrowded as well since more than 200 inmates are housed than the jail's capacity.

The jail administration also shared that the officials have faced difficulties for the treatment of the jailbirds for lack of sufficient budget. "We are taking support from donors for the treatment of jailbirds for lack of budget to purchase medicines," Acharya shared.

COP28 has concluded with an agreement that signals the ‘beginning of the end’ for the fossil fuel era by laying the ground for a swift, just and equitable transition supported by substantial emissions reductions and increased financial commitments.

Despite this progress, the absence of a concrete deadline for phasing out fossil fuels remains a notable shortcoming, particularly in meeting the crucial 1.5-degree temperature rise limit. While celebrations echo in the Western world, the outcome has left least developed and developing countries dissatisfied.The most celebrated outcome for countries like Nepal is the operationalization of loss and damage funds. But pledges made by big countries to the fund are disappointingly low at $700m.

 Studies show developing nations require a minimum of $400bn annually to effectively address loss and damage due to climate change. Furthermore, the operational details of the fund and its beneficiaries remain unclear. Nevertheless, Nepal achieved success in highlighting the agendas of mountainous regions and issues related to the least developed countries during COP28. 

High-level rhetoric does not automatically translate into action. We have struggled to attract sufficient funds from international sources in the past. For instance, due to a lack of sufficient homework and preparations, Nepal received very minimal support from the Green Investment Fund. While Nepal is technically eligible for loss and damage funds, the responsibility lies with the country to conduct thorough groundwork and preparations. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal has returned home after attending the COP28. However, he has not held any meeting with agencies concerned to undertake the necessary preparations.

The Prime Minister is just engaged in a publicity stunt saying that Nepal has been loud and clear this time without specifying what that means. The global community is well aware of the severe impacts of climate change in Nepal. It is a brutal reality that Nepal is not alone in facing these challenges. Securing climate finance is a competitive process and it is contingent on a nation’s capacity. As far as documentation is concerned, Nepal has done a commendable job. 

The Ministry of Forests and Environment has done adequate study about the multifaceted impacts of climate change. However, Nepal lags behind in enhancing capacity for negotiations and research. While the ministry is the nodal agency for handling such issues, there is a lack of coordination among government bodies. PM Dahal should, therefore, form a high-powered mechanism dedicated to climate-related issues. The PM’s efforts to advocate for Nepal’s agenda will be judged by tangible actions, not mere words.