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Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli said sustainable infrastructures, robust connectivity, and seamless transit are essential pillars of growth, resilience, and hope in the landlocked developing countries (LLDCs). 

PM Oli said it while addressing a High-Level Thematic Roundtable on 'Building sustainable infrastructure, strengthening connectivity, and promoting the unfettered transit systems for landlocked developing countries' in Awaza, Turkmenistan, today.  

According to him, they are a lifeline. Indeed, they form the backbone of economic transformation, and they are essential for our competitiveness, according to him. 

"As we enter the next decade of action, let us renew our collective determination to connect LLDCs — physically, digitally and economically— to the global opportunities. Let us focus on infrastructure, connectivity, and transit as urgent imperatives for equity, inclusion, and shared progress," the PM said. 

The PM further viewed that our progress continues to be hindered by a lack of sea access, remoteness from global markets, high trade costs, delayed transit, limited connectivity, and fragile infrastructure. This is the best forum to discuss these challenges and its innovative solutions, reiterated.   

"To overcome these structural challenges and vulnerabilities, we must invest in integrated and climate-resilient infrastructure that connects regions. We must harness digital technologies to unlock new opportunities. We must create seamless transit systems that are reliable, efficient, and predictable. We need to simplify, harmonize and modernize customs procedures," the PM explained. 

According to him, it is time to deliver on the promise and build a future where no states are left behind.

Nepal's priority on seamless transit

On the occasion, the Head of the government took time to share Nepal's ambition of ‘Prosperous Nepal and Happy Nepali.

 In order to fulfill this aspiration, Nepal has prioritized sustainable infrastructure, improved connectivity, and seamless transit systems for durable and accelerated economic growth. 

He informed the world that Nepal is actively expanding and reinforcing cross-border linkages to ensure smooth and uninterrupted transit and trade. 

Nepal is committed to deepening partnership with its neighboring countries and beyond in the spirit of economic cooperation, regional integration and shared progress, the Prime Minister said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has directed the secretaries to prepare an action plan and implement the annual budget accordingly.

During a meeting at the Finance Ministry today, the Finance Minister reminded the secretaries to ensure results with proper enforcement of the budget.

 The ministry would extend support from its side for this, he pledged. 

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 18. 30 points to close at 2, 850. 37 points on Thursday.

The sensitive index, however, dropped by 2. 61 points to close at 490. 16 points.

A total of 25,403,540-unit shares of 318 companies were traded for Rs 8. 53 billion.

Meanwhile, Sikles Hydropower Limited (SIKLES) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 9. 81 percent. Likewise, Unnati Sahakarya Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (USLB) was the top loser as its price fell by 8. 26 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 61 trillion.

Non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular, chronic respiratory complications and cancers are found increasing in Nepal. 

Dr Manita Pyakurel of Nepal Non-Communicable Disease Alliance said the cases of non-communicable disease are on the rise in Nepal. 

Among key non-communicable diseases, cardiac and chronic respiratory complications, and cancers are reportedly high, she shared. 

Dr Pyakurel further informed that heart disease accounts for 30 percent, chronic respiratory diseases 10 percent and cancer nine percent. 

Nearly 51 percent of total deaths were caused by non-communicable diseases in Nepal in 2010, some 15 years back, it has been reported. 

The number of mortalities had increased to 60 percent in 2014, and whopped to 66 percent in 2016. By 2019, around 71.1 percent of total deaths were attributed to non-communicable diseases according to the Global Burden of Disease report. 

It has stated that the cost of treating non-communicable diseases is immoderately rising in Nepal. 

Globally, non-communicable diseases are responsible for the mortality of 4.3 million people per annum.  

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Chairperson Jin Liqun paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Thursday. 

They held a meeting on the sidelines of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) underway in Awaza of Turkmenistan. 

As many as 2,438 households from Nisikhola Rural Municipality in Baglung are in imminent threat of landslides and floods.

The households settled near the river and streams, roads and sloppy lands are facing the disaster risks.

Ward-1 out of seven wards at Nishikhola has the highest number of houses facing the threat. There are 920 households in the villages like Huldi, Lebang Kiteni and Swar, according to rural municipality chair Surya Bahadur Ghartimagar.     

Locals said that they were facing the recurring landslides since 2074BS. The data managed by the rural municipality said ward-2 has 207 such households while ward- 3 has 140, ward- 4 has 400, ward-5 has 170, ward- 6 has 31, and ward- 7 has 570. 

The entire village has developed huge long cracks, but they were forced to stay there for not having any alternatives, said Hum Kumari Malla from Huldi. 

A huge landslide occurred a decade back in the middle of the village still panics people because the landslides are continuous. The landslide that took a huge toll initially has resulted in multiple fissures and depressions in the villages.

Malla shared the plight, "All three tiers of government are informed about such problems, but our plight went unheard."

Padam Bahadur BK from Nisikhola-2 said they were desperate to leave the village for safer locations but had no option. 

When it rains heavily, they are compelled to leave homes with chattels. 

He also complained why the government was indifferent to their gross state.

Financial constraint has barred him from migrating to the Tarai region, according to him.

US President Donald Trump's sweeping new tariffs on more than 90 countries around the world have come into effect, BBC reported.

"IT'S MIDNIGHT!!! BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TARIFFS ARE NOW FLOWING INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!," Trump said on social media minutes before the deadline in Washington, DC.

Earlier, the president hit India with a 50% tariff, which will take effect on 27 August unless it stops buying Russian oil.

Trump also threatened a 100% tariff on foreign-made computer chips as he pushes tech firms to invest in the US. It came as Apple announced a new $100bn (£75bn) US investment after coming under pressure from the White House to move more production to America, according to BBC.

A dry landslide that occurred at Bimire Bhanjyang in Madhyanepal Municipality-10 along the Mid Hill Highway this morning has completely disrupted the road. 

Police said that there is no situation right now to remove the debris with the landslide continuing. 

Vehicles to and from Pokhara are being operated via the alternative routes of Kaure, Bangre and Chautara of Thansing Danda after the road disruption. 

Police Inspector at the Area Police Office, Bhorletar, Yam Narayan Aryal, informed that it may take time to clear the landslide debris.