The Nipah virus outbreak in India’s West Bengal has prompted several Asian countries to introduce airport screenings and health checks. Thailand, Nepal, and Taiwan now screen travelers arriving from West Bengal. The outbreak has killed several people in the region, including healthcare workers. No vaccine or cure exists for the virus, which spreads from animals to humans. Countries across Asia are taking steps to protect their populations. What Is Nipah Virus? The Nipah virus spreads from fruit bats and pigs to humans. It can also spread between people through close contact or contaminated food. Malaysia first identified the virus in…
Author: Nepal Monitor
A plane crash killed Ajit Pawar, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra state in India, the country’s aviation regulator confirmed Wednesday. The aircraft took off from Mumbai, the state capital, and crash-landed at the airport in Baramati, Pawar’s constituency, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Two staff members and two crew members also died in the crash. Officials have not confirmed the cause of the crash. Flightradar24, an online flight tracking service, said the aircraft was making a second approach to Baramati airport when it crashed. The DGCA told The Times of India newspaper that the aircraft,…
KATHMANDU — Nepal’s banks and financial institutions are reporting slow overall credit growth, but personal home loans are rising at a strong pace. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, policy support, higher loan limits, and lower interest rates have pushed home‑loan demand higher in the current fiscal year. While banks hold about NPR 1.2 trillion in idle lendable funds due to weak credit demand, personal housing loans continue to expand. The central bank’s data shows that by mid‑December of fiscal year 2082/83, banks had issued NPR 27.34 billion in personal home loans of up to NPR 20 million. During the same…
Nvidia now sits at the center of the global AI boom. The company has become one of the most valuable in the world, and its stock price has climbed since AI entered the mainstream. Nvidia now works with major firms across hardware, software, retail, and even space technology. Few large companies remain that do not partner with it. Recent reports show that Nvidia has formed a new partnership with Eli Lilly, one of the largest drug makers in the United States. The two companies agreed to build what they describe as the world’s most powerful pharma supercomputer. They plan…
MUSTANG — Two government offices in Mustang have merged to improve service delivery and reduce administrative costs. The Tourism and Industry Office, under the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, and the Social Development Office, under the Ministry of Social Development, Youth, and Sports, now operate as a single integrated service center. The merger took effect Sunday, according to office chief Nirpati Darji. The unified office is located at the former Tourism and Industry Office site. This change follows a decision by the Gandaki Province government last Saun to consolidate offices that provide similar services. The province dissolved seven directorates and…
KATHMANDU — Gold and silver prices increased in Nepal on Monday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers, the price of hallmark gold rose to NPR 265,000 per tola. That’s an increase of NPR 4,600 compared to Sunday, when gold traded at NPR 260,400 per tola. Nepal saw its highest recorded gold price on Sunday, Poush 13, when it reached NPR 270,600 per tola. Silver also saw a price jump. On Monday, silver traded at NPR 4,685 per tola, up NPR 185 from Sunday’s price of NPR 4,500. The highest silver price so far was NPR…
KATHMANDU — Yatri’s new electric scooter, designed and prototyped in Nepal, is now undergoing road testing across the country. The company has taken the prototype to different regions to study performance on varied terrain. Yatri Motorcycles began the scooter project in partnership with Sipradi. Before this, Yatri had already designed, produced, and sold two motorcycles built in Nepal. About a year and a half ago, Sipradi and the startup announced a plan to produce electric motorcycles and scooters in Nepal. The two companies held detailed talks and signed a cooperation agreement. Yatri then started work on both the motorcycle…
Kathmandu — The Kalimati Fruit and Vegetable Market Development Committee has released today’s wholesale prices for fresh produce. The list includes updated rates for fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices sold in bulk. Fruit Prices (per kilogram unless noted) Indian mango: NPR 100 Nepali mango: NPR 70 Lapsi (hog plum): NPR 75 Strawberry: NPR 500 Kiwi: NPR 350 Custard apple: NPR 200 Avocado: NPR 350 Fuji apple: NPR 350 Jhole apple: NPR 250 Banana (per dozen): NPR 200 Lemon: NPR 90 Pomegranate: NPR 350 Nepali orange: NPR 110 Watermelon (green): NPR 100 Sweet orange: NPR 110 Junar: NPR 120 Jackfruit…
Kathmandu — The United States has formally ended Nepal’s duty‑free access for 77 export items. The facility expired last Wednesday. The program began after the 2015 earthquake to support Nepal’s economic recovery. Under the Nepal Trade Preference Program, the U.S. offered zero‑tariff entry for selected Nepali goods from 2015 to 2025. Government data shows that most eligible products saw low export volumes. Although the U.S. Congress approved the facility in early 2016, Nepal exported only 29 of the 77 eligible items over ten years. The remaining 48 items recorded no exports, according to the Trade Promotion and Export Center (TPEC).…
As the world prepares to enter 2026, countries will mark the new year at different times because of their position on the globe. Earth takes one full year to orbit the Sun, but its 24‑hour rotation determines when each region sees the first sunrise of January 1. The first places to welcome the new year are the countries and islands just west of the International Date Line (IDL). The Line Islands in Kiribati are the earliest to enter 2026. Kiribati has followed this schedule since 1995, when it shifted its time zone eastward. It is also the only country with…