Submit your Article

Ambassador of Nepal to Thailand Dhan Bahadur Oli on Thursday had a meeting with Urasa Mongkolnavin, Director-General of the Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.

During the meeting, they discussed various ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, particularly trade, investment, tourism, culture, agriculture, and education. 

In a press release, the Embassy stated that the two sides also briefly reviewed the implementation status of the eight Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) concluded between Nepal and Thailand last year and insisted on the effective implementation of these MoUs. 

It is mentioned that both sides underscored the importance of facilitating visa procedures and improving tourism-related services on a reciprocal basis and agreed to strengthen cooperation in exchanging intelligence and information to combat human trafficking, money laundering and cybercrime.

They also discussed the possibility of early conclusion of the proposed bilateral agreements on Agricultural Cooperation and Mutual Legal Assistance in criminal matters, including the exchange of feedback on the draft agreements.

The Embassy stated that discussions were held on convening of the next meeting of the Nepal-Thailand Joint Consultative Mechanism in Nepal on a mutually convenient date.

According to the Embassy, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation at the regional and multilateral levels, including extending reciprocal support for each other's candidatures in international forums.

The other areas of discussion at the meeting included enhancing complementarities in bilateral trade, strengthening value chains between Nepali and Thai products, and creating added value through the integration of Himalayan and ocean-based goods and services. 

The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police recorded 2,144 cases of traffic violations in the past 24 hours. 

It has been learnt that Rs 1.95 million in revenue was collected from the violators of traffic rules. 

According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police, such cases include 140 of drunk-driving, 151 of ride-sharing against the rule, 149 of traffic signals violations and 186 of over-speed driving. 

Likewise, 102 incidents of breaching lane disciplines, 142 cases are related to honking in prohibited areas, 95 of parking on roadsides and pavements, 118 violations are related to driving on one-way routes and 1,110 of other traffic-related violations.

The country at present is under the influence of a western low-pressure system, local winds, and a low-pressure area in the lower atmosphere, the Weather Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology stated. 

The weather is generally cloudy in the Himalayan and hilly regions of Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces, and partly cloudy in the remaining parts. 

One or two parts of Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces are receiving light to moderate rain.  

This afternoon, Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces, as well as the Himalayan and Hilly regions of the country, will be generally cloudy, while the Tarai region will be partly cloudy. 

There is a possibility of moderate rain with thunder and lightning at some places in Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces, at a few places in the remaining Himalayan and hilly regions, and at one or two places in the remaining Tarai regions.

Later tonight, Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces, as well as the Himalayan and hilly regions of the country, will be generally cloudy, while the Tarai region will be partly cloudy, according to the weather forecast service. 

There is a possibility of moderate rain with thunder and lightning at a few places in Koshi and Madhes Provinces, as well as in the Himalayan and hilly regions of Bagmati and Gandaki provinces, and at one or two places in the Himalayan and hilly regions of Lumbini and Karnali Provinces.

China has agreed to ​buy 200 Boeing jets, U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News Channel on Thursday, a number that was far fewer than analysts had expected, and the planemaker’s shares fell, Reuters reported. 

Details of the deal were not immediately available, including when and which type of jets would be delivered, but the amount was much smaller than the roughly 500-plane package that sources told Reuters was under discussion ahead of a meeting on Thursday between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

U.S. President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping are set to meet on Friday to ​wrap up a two-day state visit that has featured pomp and business deals but also a warning from Xi that mishandling the Taiwan issue could send relations spiraling. 

Trump is on the first visit by a U.S. president to China, America's main strategic and economic rival, since his last in 2017, and has been seeking tangible results that might improve his dented approval ratings ahead of crucial midterm elections, Reuters reported. 

It was a day heavy with symbolism in Beijing, marked by choreographed ceremonies and carefully staged optics, but there was no sweeping trade breakthrough or major business agreements, BBC reported. 

US President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday for more than two hours of talks, describing the US-China relationship as "the world's most consequential economic relationship".

The White House described the meeting as "highly productive". Trump, speaking at the Great Hall of the People, called it potentially "the biggest summit ever".

Andy Burnham will attempt to return to the Commons as an MP, after Wes Streeting resigned as health secretary, saying he had lost confidence in Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's leadership, BBC reported. 

Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, said he would ask to run for Labour in Makerfield after Labour MP Josh Simons said he would resign to make way for him.

Any candidate in a Labour leadership contest to replace Sir Keir must be an MP.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has reshuffled the Council of Ministers by changing appointments made in the Council and their portfolios as per the government's amended Performance Regulations. 

President Paudel on the recommendation of Prime Minister Balendra Shah-led government formed on Chaitra 13, 2082 BS in accordance with the Article 76 (9) of the Constitution today reconstituted the current Council of Ministers by appointing, reshuffling, and dividing the responsibilities, the President's Office informed. 

According to the work division, Prime Minister Shah has taken charge of the Ministry of Defense, Home, and Science, Technology, and Innovation. 

Similarly, Dr Swarnim Wagle has been appointed the Finance Minister, Shishir Khanal as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha the Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Sunil Lamsal the Minister for Infrastructure Development, Sobita Gautam the Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, and Sita Badi the Minister for Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities, and Social Security, stated the press release issued by the President's Office.

Spokesperson at the President's Office, Ritesh Kumar Shakya, stated in a press release that Pratibha Rawal has been appointed the Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration, Nisha Mehta the Minister for Health and Food Hygiene, Sasmit Pokharel the Minister for Education and Sports, Khadak Raj Paudel the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Dr Bikram Timilsina the Minister for Information and Communication, Geeta Chaudhary the Minister for Agriculture, Forest and Environment, Gauri Kumari the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and Ramji Yadav the Minister for Youth, Labour and Employment.