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The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the Wakayama Prefecture of Japan have signed an agreement on tourism cooperation aimed at strengthening tourism diplomacy between Nepal and Japan.

Deepak Raj Joshi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NTB and Izumi Miyazaki, Governor of the Wakayama Prefecture, signed the MoU amid a programme at NTB office at Bhrikutimandap today.

Under the MoU, both sides have agreed to collaborate on joint promotion, knowledge exchange and sustainable tourism development.

The MoU prioritizes joint tourism promotion and marketing, exchange of tourism-related information and best practices, exchange of visits by experts and officials. 

It also seeks to enhance cooperation in communications and public relations while promoting culturally respectful and sustainable tourism.

During the MoU signing ceremony, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Anil Kumar Sinha acknowledged the visit of the governor-led Japanese delegation as a welcome step. 

Minister Sinha further noted that this collaboration, taking place in the context of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Nepal–Japan diplomatic relations, would play an important role in advancing sustainable and responsible tourism. 

The Minister remarked, "Both countries attach high importance to cultural values. This partnership, marking 70 years of diplomatic ties between Nepal and Japan, will provide a strong foundation for sustainable tourism." 

Likewise, Mukunda Prasad Niraula, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, recalled the long-standing relation between Nepal and Japan and termed the agreement a historic step for tourism promotion.

He added that the MoU comes at an opportune time to expand and diversify Nepal’s tourism market, highlighting the country’s identity as the land of the Himalayas and the birthplace of Lord Buddha

Similarly, Izumi Miyazaki, Governor of Wakayama Prefecture, expressed his happiness over the collaboration agreement with Nepal.

He said, "We are happy to have signed an agreement with Nepal, which is rich in history and culture. I am confident that this agreement will further strengthen tourism promotion between Nepal and Wakayama."

Also speaking at the programme, CEO Joshi mentioned that Japan is one of Nepal's important tourism source markets and cited that Japanese tourist arrivals have recently increased by around 8 per cent in the recent time.

The MoU will come into effect from the date of signing. As per the agreement, both parties will designate contact point for coordinating cooperation activities.

Furthermore, the MoU states that both parties will bear their respective expenses.

Although the MoU is not legally binding, this agreement based on mutual goodwill and trust is expected to further enhance the seven-decade long Nepal-Japan relations through tourism cooperation. 

Police have arrested seven inmates, who had absconded from different jails of Kathmandu Valley during Gen Z movement.   

A team from District Police Range, Kathmandu made them public today. 

They are Tenjing Bahadur Tamang (41) of Rasuwa; Pritam Gurung (20) of Lamjung; Babita Tamang (23) of Kanchanpur; Bikram Nepali of Kavrepalanchowk; Bhuwan Tamang of Dolakha; Bhuwan Tamang of Sindhuli; and an Indian national Roshan Sah, said Spokesperson at the Range, Superintendent of Police, Pawan Kumar Bhattarai. 

All of them have been sent to respective jails where they had been serving terms on various charges before Gen Z uprising, added the police.

The body of a nine-year-old boy missing after a bus accident in Ramechhap has been found. Police said the body was recovered from the banks of the Sunkoshi River on Monday.

The child was identified as Krichan Tamang of Manthali Municipality-2, Piple. His body was found near the lower market of Golanjor Rural Municipality-7, according to the District Police Office Sindhuli. He was identified by his great-grandfather, Yubaraj Tamang.

With the discovery, the death toll from the Ramechhap bus accident has risen to 13. Earlier, the bodies of 12 passengers had been recovered from the Tamakoshi River after the bus plunged into the river.

The bus, bearing the number Province 3-01-005 Kha 9975, met with the accident on 10th Magh. The incident occurred near Benighat Bridge in Manthali Municipality-6. Police said further investigation into the accident is ongoing.

Farmers in Bardibas area of ​​Mahottari have started commercial turmeric cultivation after wild animals destroyed their fruit crops. Kisan Multipurpose Cooperative (Shared Organization Bardibas) has launched a campaign to expand commercial turmeric farming in the city.

According to Dakraj Pokharel, a member of the cooperative operating committee, Bijalpura, Kisannagar, Hattilet, and Pashupatinagar have been listed for turmeric farming and a campaign has been launched for farming. Cooperative chairperson Bhanubhakta Pokharel has planned to cultivate turmeric in a total area of ​​25 bighas in the first phase. “The cooperative provides interest-free loans for the cost of planting up to five katthas of turmeric. The cooperative purchases the turmeric no matter how much the farmer grows. For that, he will have to be a shareholder of the cooperative,” he said.

According to Chairperson Pokharel, the cooperative has stated that the cooperative will invest Rs 1.2m in turmeric farming. Bardibas Municipality has provided Rs 1.5m as a grant to the cooperative. It is said that it will be done. A group has also been formed to cultivate turmeric.

Separate five-member groups have been formed under the chairmanship of Bishwanath Mahato for Ward No 12 Bijalpura of Bardibas Municipality and Manish Samal for Ward No 13. The group led by Mahato has been named Bijalpura Farmers Group and the group Samal has been given the responsibility of is named Maharani Agriculture Group.

Meanwhile, the cooperative chairperson Pokharel said that since wild animals like nilgai, wild boar and monkeys destroy crops, turmeric cultivation is being expanded as an alternative. He said that initiatives are being taken to provide subsidies for turmeric in the coming days.

According to farmer Jagjivan Mahato, if the cultivation flourishes, eight quintals of turmeric can be produced in a katha. The cooperative has stated that the cost of cultivating one katha of turmeric is 8000, while the income is 21 thousand. Cooperative Vigya Sudarshan Dhakal said that the local government should make a plan to connect all farmers to the agricultural cooperative.

Farmer Bishwanath Singh said that this crop with medicinal properties in turmeric is very beneficial and beneficial. Another farmer Ram Pramod Mahato demanded that the local government provide technical, fertilizer and mechanical equipment to turmeric farmers. Former ward member Rampujan Mahato said that there is a need for cooperation with cooperatives at the local level. Farmer Dipendra Mahato believed that expanding turmeric farming would get rid of the terror of wild animals. Chief Administrative Officer of Bardibas Municipality Rammani Adhikari said that agricultural cooperatives are the basis for the prosperity of farmers.

Ward Chairperson of Bardibas Municipality-13, Laxman Singh, said that policies, programs and budget allocations will be made in the upcoming budget to address the demands of farmers. Two groups of five members each have been formed under the chairmanship of Bishwanath Mahato for ward number 12 and Manish Samal for ward number 13. The group led by Mahato is named Bijalpura Farmers Group and the group for which Samal has been given responsibility is named Maharani Agriculture Group.