Nepal to receive additional USD 50 million grants for MCC projects
The Government of Nepal and Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) under the US Government have announced an additional grant of USD 50 million (around Rs 7 billion) for the MCC Nepal Compact.
With this announcement, the total amount available for Nepal under the Compact has reached USD 747 million (around Rs 106 billion), of which 550 million dollars will be provided by the US Government and the remaining 197 million dollars by the Government of Nepal.
This additional funding is expected to help deliver the Compact’s core objectives: completing priority electricity transmission infrastructure, strengthening Nepal’s power system, and enabling increased regional power trade.
By improving grid reliability and market access, the Compact is expected to support international connectivity and promote American excellence and best practices in energy infrastructure. The Compact also expands opportunities for US companies and technology to enter Nepal’s market, the US Embassy in Kathmandu stated.
This financial aid from the US government reflects the sustainable partnership between the United States and Nepal.
It may be noted that for decades, the two countries have established partnership in the efforts to advance economic growth, energy security, and mutual prosperity.
According to the US Embassy in Kathmandu, the MCC Nepal Compact continues that history through grant-based, debt-free assistance focused on high-impact infrastructure, it is said.
Government issues 12-point directive to further regulate casinos
The government has issued a 12-point directive with the aim of bringing casinos under further legal regulation.
The Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has emphasized that all casinos currently in operation fully comply with the Anti-Money Laundering Act and all its provisions.
The Department has sought full compliance with the directives issued to casino operators and the Directives Related to Preventing Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Activities. It has also reminded that trading in foreign currency without obtaining permission from Nepal Rastra Bank is not allowed.
Details in accordance with the Casino Regulations, 2082, and the directives issued by the Department of Tourism to casino operators regarding the prevention of money laundering and financing of terrorist activities must be regularly submitted to the Department.
The guidelines state that casino bettor's customer identification system and biometric details must be updated as prescribed and made available to the Department upon its request, and all activities at the casino premises must be recorded on CCTV, with the recordings kept secure for at least six months.
It is prohibited to operate a casino by making agreements with third parties or by any other means, and it is completely forbidden to operate a casino at any other location except in the authorised premises.
Before paying the amount won by a punter from the casino, the profit tax should be promptly deducted from the amount won by such a gamer in accordance with the prevailing law.
After deducting the profit tax, the licensed company must immediately send the details of the certificate of such tax deduction obtained for the player to the concerned Inland Revenue Office and also provide this information to the Department.
Similarly, any casino betting based on the internet or through online means has been prohibited. Sufficient security must be guaranteed both inside and outside casino and hotel premises.
Likewise, the guideline states that immediate legal action will be taken if deficiencies are found during the monitoring of risk of casinos in accordance with the Expounding of Immediate Reformative Activities for Nepal's Exit from Grey List, 2082.
Bala Chaturdashi being observed (With photos)
The Bala Chaturdashi festival is being observed throughout the country today by commemorating the departed souls.
Devotees have gathered in the Shiva temples including the Pashupatinath Temple since last night to observe the festival.
In the night, they light lamps in commemoration of the departed family members and spend the night observing a vigil. In the wee hours the next day, the devotees sow the Satbeej (seven kinds of grains) along the premises of the shrines this morning.
The festival formally began on the night of the 13th day of the waning moon in the month of Mangsir and is concluded today by spreading the Satbeej along the premises of shrines of Hindu god Shiva.
A large number of devotees have thronged the Pashupatinath Temple to observe the Bala Chaturdashi festival. Those unable to visit reached the temples of Shiva nearby their residences and localities and observed the festival.
Four houses gutted in Taplejung fire
Four houses were destroyed in a fire at Temba Bazaar in Mikkakhola Rural Municipality-4, Taplejung on Tuesday.
Vice Chairman of the rural municipality, Dandu Lama Sherpa, informed that the houses belonging to Indra Kumar Sanwa, Raj Kumar Sanwa, Anil Sanwa, and Bishnu Sanwa were gutted in the fire.
Everything in the houses turned into ashes. However, the human loss was prevented in the fire.
Detailed information on the incident is awaited, according to the District Police Office, Taplejung.
