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The Mechi Customs Office has witnessed a 55.70 percent rise in tea exports in the last six months of the current fiscal year, 2081/82. The export of tea in the past six months (Shrawan-Poush) amounted to nearly Rs 3 billion.

A total 11,232 metric tons of tea was exported via the Mechi Customs Office, according to information officer Ganapati Kandel. In the same period last year, it had recorded exports worth Rs 1.90 billion.

Chairman of the Tea Producers' Association, Aditya Parajuli, informed that it was a positive trend in tea export. The decrease in tea production in India is largely behind the rise in export. "If the government ensures further facilitation in tea export in view of growing demand in the Indian market, they will be able to make the foreign trade of tea at a higher amount.

Similarly, the Office shared that the export of black cardamom increased by 16 percent in the past six months. The spice worth Rs 4.55 billion was sold to the foreign market. It had posted an income of Rs 3.90 billion.

Another export posting increase is plywood. Its exports upped by 27.90 percent. Even the cement clinker was exported in a higher amount this time.

However, it was reversed in case of iron, chhurpi, ginger, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, among others.

Foreign Minister Arjun Rana Deuba today held a telephonic conversation with her Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty, requesting the latter for an initiation to free Nepali hostage Bipin Joshi who has been held by Hamas in Gaza for 15 months.

Following a ceasefire deal between the government of Israel and Hamas, the Hamas has started freeing hostages beginning Sunday.

The Foreign Minister urged Egypt, which is facilitating the ceasefire negotiations, to prioritize Joshi’s release in the first phase.

The Minister who is presently in Bangkok for her medical checkup made the call from there.

In response, the Egyptian Minister assured that he would direct Egypt’s facilitators to work toward Joshi’s release.

A few days ago, Rana also spoke with Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, and Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa'ar, requesting their intervention in setting the Nepali hostage free in the initial phase.

Khulaifi plays a key role in the Israel-Hamas peace talks.

The Nepali government has been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts since last year, seeking Bipin’s release.

The Foreign Minister has been appealing through various international and regional forums, as well as the United Nations, to facilitate for ensuring Bipin's release.

The government has recommended President Ram Chandra Paudel to convene a meeting of both the Houses of the Federal Parliament on January 31.

A Cabinet meeting held on Monday decided to recommend President Paudel to call the Parliament meeting at 1 pm on January 31 (Friday).

Prior to calling the meeting, Prime Minister KP Sharma had held a meeting with Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire.

During the meeting, they discussed convening the winter session of the Parliament.

Opposition parties have been mounting pressure on the government to call the Parliament session at the earliest.

Issuing a joint statement on Friday, the opposition parties had urged the government to call the Parliament session as soon as possible.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire held a meeting at the former's official residence in Baluwatar on Monday.

According to a Baluwatar source, they held a discussion on convening the Parliament session on January 31.

Opposition parties have been mounting pressure on the government for not calling the winter session of the Parliament.

It has been said that they also held a discussion on the Parliament business.

The opposition parties have already warned the government that they would start the process to call a special session if the Parliament session is called at the earliest.

Organizing a press conference on Friday, the opposition parties had urged the government to convene the Parliament session as soon as possible.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 6. 78 points to close at 2, 607. 99 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 0. 10 points to close at 439. 14 points.

A total of 13,677,983-unit shares of 311 companies were traded for Rs 6. 57 billion.

Meanwhile, Manushi Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (MLBS) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 9. 05 percent.

Likewise, Wean Nepal Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (WNLB) and Super Madi Hydropower Limited (SMHL) were the top losers as their price fell by 10.00 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 32 trillion.

A Nepal-Indonesia cultural exchange programme was organized in Kathmandu on Sunday night for the country's tourism promotion.

Singers and performers from Nepal and Indonesia made their cultural performances at the event organized by The Last Frontiers Trekking Company in association with the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and AMS Music and Entertainment.

For the event, a 13-member delegation from Indonesia had arrived in Nepal some days ago.

Such events are expected to deepen cultural ties between Nepal and Indonesia as well as contribute to the tourism sector.

The Last Frontiers Trekking Company's Managing Director Mingma Dorjee Sherpa said collaboration between Nepal and Indonesia is likely for tourism development in the future adding that more than 2 million Buddhists could be welcome in Nepal for their visits.

The Indonesian singers sang some pop songs and folk songs from Indonesia and expressed happiness for the opportunity to visit and perform in Nepal.

The farmers in Lamjung district have earned almost Rs 220 million by selling 150 metric tonnes of cardamom in the current fiscal year.

Senior Agricultural Officer of Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project Implementation Unit Office in Lamjung, Hari Bahadur Mijar, shared that the farmers in the district made a decent amount of income by supplying cardamom at a rate ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,400 per kilogram.

But the production has decreased this year compared to the last year.

The farmers sold cardamom worth Rs 240 million in the last fiscal year despite selling the product at Rs 1,200 per kilogram.

Likewise, the district produced 380 metric tonnes of cardamom and earned Rs 200 million in the year 2079/80 BS.

As per the data, the production of cardamom has decreased in Lamjung but the price has soared.

The Marsyangdi Rural Municipality in Lamjung has produced the highest quantity of cardamom.

Sanjapu village in Marsyangdi Rural Municipality alone produced 6,700 kilograms of cardamom in this year.

Around 60 households in the village there earned almost Rs 150 million from cardamom, Chairman of Sanjapu Cardamom Farmers' Group Kamkashi Gurung stated.

The Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project Implementation Unit Office said that cardamom farming is done on 750 hectares of land in the district. 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has directed the Ministry of Health and Population to develop an action plan based on the submissions from the Task Force on Health Insurance Reform.

After a briefing on the report and recommendations by the Task Force at the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar today, the Prime Minister stressed that no one should be deprived of healthcare services due to lack of money during illness.

He also highlighted the importance of working towards building a disease-free society.

Stating the Task Force’s recommendations on the health insurance programme as objective, the Prime Minister directed the Ministry to present an action plan for reform within a week.

Minister for Health and Population, Pradip Paudel, Task Force coordinator Dr Shambhu Acharya, members Dr Bhagawan Koirala, Dr Raghuram Kafle, and member secretary Dr Saroj Sharma briefed the Prime Minister on the need for policy, legal, and structural changes in the health insurance program.

Currently, the payment of around Rs 11 billion is awaited under the programme. Of the total population, 27 per cent is enrolled and 48 percent of them are receiving services.

The Task Force recommended that the government make participation in the programme mandatory for all citizens, ensuring free services for those living below the absolute poverty line.

More, the Task Force suggested integrating basic health services with other social security programmes.

The Task Force submitted its report to the Ministry on December 29, 2024.