PARIS: At a time when the US-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing is strolling following crisis involving it jetliner 737 MAX, its European rival Airbus has said it has strike a deal with China to sell 300 passenger jets, international media reported.
The agreement to that end was reached during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to France, CNN reported. China is major market for airline manufacturers and Boeing and Airbus face tough competition.
The order covers 290 planes from the A320 family and 10 from the A350 line, the statement said, adding the deal was a sign of strong demand from all areas of China’s rapidly expanding aviation market, including “domestic, low cost, regional and international long haul”.
SYDNEY: Handmade bamboo stools (mooda) made by inmates in Nepali prisons, can be now purchased in Australia.
Katha Private Limited has launched the bamboo stools in the Australian market, it was informed during a press conference organized by the company on Saturday. At the press conference, Director of Katha Private Limited, Arun Dhakal said some 25 stools have been imported from Nepal in the first phase.
Also speaking Chairman of International Jhapali Society, Dinesh Pokharel remarked that the launch of Nepali products would help to create employment opportunities in Nepal.
The stools imported from Nepal have passed the quality checks by the Australian quarantine. The stools made from bamboo, used tires, plastics among others are of high quality, durable, attractive and environment-friendly, the company stated.
The stools available in three sizes can be purchased from the website of Katha and the Minto-based Namaste Minto Grocery.
The company stated it plans to promote and expands Nepali products in Australia through collaborations with different restaurants and cafes.
BARDIBAS: Chief Minister of State-2 Lal Babu Raut has said the prosperity was a common aspiration of all Nepalis. Investors were encouraged to involve in the national campaign of prosperity, he said, sharing the information that the state government has managed tax-free investment for coming 20 years to create investment-friendly environment.
Inaugurating the 2nd Bardibas Festival 2075 organized by the Bardibas Industry Association here today, CM Raut shared that the whole attention of the state government was centered on the prosperity campaign.
ACHHAM: Private air company, Summit Air on Friday began operating flights from Dhangadhi to Sanphebagar. The company provides air service seven days a week. The airfare has been priced at Rs 3,350 per passenger for a 17-minute flight.
Dhangadhi is the temporary capital of the Far-west State.
“We have kicked off service given the pressure of passengers travelling between the routes,” said Summit Air’s official. The service will also benefit passengers from neighboring Bajura and Doti districts.
Nepal Airlines and Summit Air have been operating Nepalgunj-Sanphebagar flights. Nepal Airlines provides the service on every Sunday and Thursday.
KATHMANDU: Switzerland has reiterated its support in various developmental sectors in Nepal.
Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Manuel Sager pledged support to Nepal. He is on a Nepal visit to mark the 60 years of the Swiss Development Cooperation in Nepal.
Sager also held a high-level meeting with the Nepali authorities including Minister for Finance Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada and Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi. He also observed different Swiss-funded projects in and around Ramechhap.
The Swiss Cooperation Strategy for Nepal 2018-2021 foresees total disbursements in Nepal of approximately Rs 14.7 billion for four years and emphasizes on inclusive federal state building, promotion employment and income, and contribution to the safety of Nepali migrant workers.
KATHMANDU: Nepal is not participating in the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), which is held every year in Hunan Province of China.
The BFA is scheduled to begin from Tuesday this year.
Nepal is not going to participate in Boao Summit this time since it was not invited by China this time.
“Nepal is not prepared for Boao Summit this year,” said Shanker Das Bairagi, secretary at the ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Former Nepali monarchs used to take part in the summit at the invitation of Chinese government. China stopped sending invitation following the People’s Movement in 2006.
However, it resumed invitation to Nepal after Sushil Koirala took charge as the prime minister.
The BFA is a non-profit organization that hosts high-level forums for leaders from governments, business and academia in Asia to share their views on the burning issues in this continent.
BANKE: Indian Custom Office has intercepted as many as 140 Kathmandu-bound fuel tankers at Rupaidiya checkpoint, citing technical glitches with online service.
According to Sharad Kumar KC, custom officer at Nepalgunj Custom Office, 140 fuel tankers as well as a dozen trucks laden with vegetables have been stranded on the Nepal-India border checkpoint for the last two days.
Even though the Indian Custom Office agreed to release the trucks ferrying vegetables, they are not going to release the tankers until the online service comes into operation, KC told Khabarhub.
“We are coordinating with Indian Custom Office since yesterday. They said they are facing server problem with the online service. They are trying to fix it,” he said.
KC said transport disruption started occurring time and again at the border checkpoint since online service was brought into operation.
A view of Rabhunwaghat along the Dudhkosi River. This stretch of the river serves as the boarder for Khotang and Okhaldhunga districts. Construction of 800 MW Dudhkosi reservoir hydro-project is underway here.
Photo: RSS
Kathmandu: Government in cooperation with an international body is launching a program towards restoring the health of forests in some districts.
The project named, ‘Catalyzing Ecosystem Restoration for Climate Resilient Natural Capital and Rural Livelihoods in Degraded Forests and Rangelands of Nepal (EbA 2)’ is launched in Achham, Salyan and Dolakha districts. Forest cover in these districts are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
The project is a joint work of the Ministry of Forests and Environment and the Global Environment Fund. The four-year project has a fund of approximately Rs 550 million.
The project will contribute towards the conservation of bio-diversity, restoration of ecosystem and support livelihood, among others, according to the Ministry.
Speaking at a workshop of the project here today, Minister for Forests and Environment, Shakti Bahadur Basnet said that the project will create employment at the local level and will contribute to poverty reduction through livelihood supports.
Kathmandu: Budget is earmarked to expedite reconstruction of earth quake damaged heritage sites in the country. The budget released by National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) comes to around total Rs 120 million. The budget is allocated to conduct study on six sites – three within the Kathmandu valley and three outside the valley. Similarly, Rs 300 million is earmarked for the reconstruction of the sites, according to the Central Project Implementation Unit.
The 7.8 magnitude Gorkha Earthquake on April 25, 2015 had damaged several monuments and settlements of historical and archeological significance in and outside the Kathmandu valley. Delays in their reconstruction, retrofitting and renovation were attributed to the lack of budget, artisans and lack of coordination among the concerned bodies.
To carry out study, Rs 2 million has been spared for each heritage settlement, said Project Director, Nawaraj Pyakurel. In the first phase, Rs 50 million will be released to reconstruct or renovate each quake-damaged heritage within the current fiscal year.
Reconstruction of heritage settlements, monuments and other archeological structures in Khokana (Lalitpur), Bungmati (Lalitpur) and Sankhu (Kathmandu) in the valley would be prompted as soon as the budget is released.
Similarly, budget will be released for the reconstruction of the Seven-storey Durbar at Nuwakot, the Gorkha Durbar in Gorkha district and Dolakha Bazar in Dolakha district that houses Bhimeshwor Mandir – all lying outside the valley.
Likewise, research and development works will be conducted in the Pashupati Area, Changunarayam Temple Area, Swayambhunath Area and Bouddha Area upon the allocation of budget. The Durbar Square Areas in all three districts in Kathmandu valley – Kathmandu Lalitpur and Bhaktapur – would be conserved and promoted under this project.