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Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is leaving on an official visit to the People's Republic of China on Monday.

At the friendly invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, the Prime Minister is visiting China from December 2 to 5.

During the visit, Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

He will also hold bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Li and exchange views on matters of mutual interest, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Prime Minister will also hold a meeting with Chairperson of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress in China, Zhao Leji.

He will be a key note speaker at an event to be held in Peking University in Beijing.

Moreover, the Head of the Government is scheduled to address the Nepal-China Business Forum, which is being jointly hosted by the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, the China Council for Promotion of International Trade and the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

The Prime Minister is being accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the Nepali delegation to be led by the Prime Minister will also include Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, PM's Chief Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, PM's Economic and Development Advisor Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada, members of parliament, high level government officials, representatives of private sector and media persons.

The Prime Minister and his delegation are scheduled to return Kathmandu on December 5. 

In the past eleven months of 2024, the country registered the arrivals of over one million foreign tourists via flights.

According to the Nepal Tourism Board, one million 55, 533 tourists from outside the country visited Nepal between January and November 2024.

They arrived by flight. The data shows that it has been challenging to meet the target of welcoming 1,315,000 tourists this year.

The NTB expects that around 70,000 foreigners will arrive in Nepal in the remaining one month as tourists and the number will be around 111,5000.

However, in November alone, 114,000 tourists arrived in Nepal, and this figure is 5.40 percent more than the corresponding year in 2023.

NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane said the analysis of the data so far suggests that the tourist arrivals this year compared to the previous year are likely to go by around 10 percent.

In 2023, 1014,871 tourists visited Nepal. Earlier, the NTB hoped to witness the arrival of the highest number of tourists since 2019, the year before COVID-19 hit the tourism industry.

In 2029, the arrivals were tallied at 1,197,191. However, Nepal's tourism is above the recovery line than in the Asia Pacific sector.

According to the data of the past six months of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Nepal's tourism industry recovered 96 percent globally.

However, the target for tourist arrivals as projected in 2024 seems to be challenging to meet due to various reasons, he added. 

An official bilateral talks between the armies of Nepal and India is scheduled to take place today, focusing on enhancing mutual defense and strategic ties.

Chief of Army Staff of Nepal, Ashok Raj Sigdel and Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, who arrived here on Wednesday afternoon on a five-day official visit, will hold bilateral talks at the Nepal Army Headquarters, NA spokesperson Assistant General Gaurav Kumar KC said.

President Ramchandra Paudel is scheduled to confer the honorary rank of 'General of the Nepal Army' to the Indian Army Chief General on Thursday.

This is Dwivedi's first official visit to Nepal after he was appointed the Army Chief on last June 30.

He is scheduled to hold separate courtesy calls on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Defense Minister Manbir Rai on Friday.

The westerly wind has partial impacts across the country and the weather is partly cloudy in the hilly regions of the Koshi and Gandaki Provinces and fair in the rest of the country.

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly region and fair in the rest of the country this afternoon.

Light rain is likely to occur at one or two places of the hilly regions of the Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and light snowfall at a few places of the high hilly and mountainous region.

Similarly, the weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly region and fair in the rest of the country tonight.

Light rain is likely to occur at one or two places of the hilly regions of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and light snowfall at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous regions in the next 24 hours.

Taking this into consideration, the Department has urged all concerned to remain cautious as the weather condition can partially affect agriculture, health, tourism, mountaineering, road and air transport. 

A total of 400 Nepalis have obtained passports from a mobile camp, recently organized by the Ottawa-based Nepali Embassy in Toronto City.

Passport and other consular services were provided in the two-day camp. With a view to render services closer to the service seekers, the Embassy conducted mobile consular/passport camp in Toronto on 16-17 November 2024.

This is a continuation of the effort of the Embassy to bring services to different cities of Canada where is there significant number of Nepali diasporas.

This is the third such mobile consular camp in Greater Toronto Area (GTA) alone organized in past one year, stated a press release issued by the Embassy.

The mobile camp in Toronto this time was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Passports, Honorary Consulate of Nepal in Toronto, NRNA NCC Canada, and other community organizations in GTA.

Besides, the Embassy had conducted similar mobile consular/passport camps in Edmonton, Vancouver, Halifax, and Calgary in past six months.

The Embassy appreciates the continued collaboration and support of Nepali Diaspora community in such efforts.

The Embassy plans to conduct more such mobile camps in the future in different cities of Canada where there is significant number of service seekers, it is shared. 

Thinley Lhamo is a Tibetan actor who was recently seen in the movie Shambhala, a 2024 film directed by Min Bahadur Bham. She was awarded the prestigious Boccalino d’Oro Prize for Best Acting Performance at the 77th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. Shreya Shrestha from ApEx spoke to Lhamo about the challenges of being an actor, her aspirations, and how the work she does makes her the person that she is. 

How did you get into acting and how has your journey been so far?

My journey started with the first movie, ‘Naka,’ which was released in 2017. It was followed by ‘Hari’ in 2018. Shambhala happened after a long gap but I’m grateful to be back. I met many directors after my first film and there were talks of working together but nothing came out of them. It could have been due to bad timing, conflicting visions, or maybe the stories just didn’t work out. I believe I was also a little slack, meaning I could have been more out there and invested in my personal and professional growth.

Shambhala has been a huge success and it’s gotten you many accolades. How does it feel?  

It took a lot of time for me to process what was happening. We were told that I was getting an award at the very last minute, and I was in the middle of something. I had to rush through everything, and things happened so quickly that I didn’t have a chance to truly comprehend what had just occurred. It was incredibly hectic, and everything moved at a breakneck pace. We were immediately thrust into a whirlwind of activity, including taking photos for the media. While I understand that people were genuinely happy and enjoying the moment, I personally didn’t have the opportunity to fully experience those feelings. Instead, I felt a sense of public joy, as I was surrounded by many people who were celebrating my success and the impact of my work.

 What was your experience like while shooting for Shambhala?

The experience was wonderful. I was able to return to filmmaking after a long gap and that thrilled me. The project instilled in me a sense of determination, making me realize that I can overcome any obstacle. I believe I was physically and mentally prepared to act again. I can’t control how things go and the outcome isn’t in my hands but I was thankful that the opportunity came my way. I had some problems with the local dialect and had to work on that. The team dedicated itself to practicing the dialogues and we also spent a lot of time understanding the culture of the place the story was set in.

 What are some of the challenges of being a part of the film industry?

Getting into the film industry without prior knowledge can be a daunting task. Navigating the complex work systems, understanding industry norms, and building relationships with professionals are challenging, especially when you lack a strong support network. I vividly recall a particularly nerve-wracking experience at the Berlinale press conference. Despite preparing for various scenarios, I found myself overwhelmed by all the pressure. This incident, among others, has been a valuable learning experience. It has reinforced the understanding that I’m still in a phase of continuous learning and growth.

 Do you have anything you want to highlight about Berlinale and Locarno?

The level of competition is undeniably high, and it’s essential to network with as many people as possible at such events. This opportunity allowed me to connect with a diverse range of individuals. One aspect that truly impressed me was the profound respect for cinema. In Nepal, I noticed people talking and disturbing others during screenings. However, at the event, the audience was incredibly attentive, fully immersed in the films. They even expressed annoyance if anyone disrupted the viewing experience, highlighting a level of cinematic appreciation that I found truly admirable.

 How has your work contributed to your personal growth?

Meeting a diverse range of individuals and navigating interpersonal dynamics is a fascinating aspect of life. People are interesting with their unique perspectives and experiences. Some individuals are driven to achieve great things, yet remain unsatisfied, while others find contentment in a simpler lifestyle. While I’ve previously done two films, this time the acceptance has been notably different. It seems that the nature of the work and the impact it has made have resonated with people, inspiring a desire to push boundaries and strive for even greater achievements.

The Mechi Customs Office has posted a rise of tea export by 69.22 percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.

The first four months (Saun-Kartik) witnessed the export of 8062.16 metric tonnes of tea.

Information Officer at the Office, Ganapati Kandel, informed that with the rise of outbound trade, the value of the produce also increased by 67.87 percent.

The export was worth Rs 2.20 billion. It was only Rs 1.31 billion in the corresponding period last year.

However, the Office posted a decline in the export of black cardamom, ginger, amriso, chhurpi, cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli.

Compared to the same period last year, export of black cardamom declined by 11.87 percent, amriso by 11.66 percent, chhurpi by 41.45 percent, and cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli each by 27.98 percent.

However, the plywood export increased by 29.63 percent. The Office collected Rs 4.72 in revenue in the first four months of the current fiscal year.

It is the achievement of 27.22 percent of the total annual revenue target.

Nepal's participation in the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, under President Ramchandra Paudel's leadership has been fruitful, as the nation strongly voiced its major agendas on addressing climate change consequences.

Addressing a news conference organized at the VVIP lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport today upon President Paudel's arrival home after attending the COP29 in the Azerbaijani capital, Joint Secretary and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amrit Bahadur Rai, said the President's participation has further augmented the topics on climate change like 'the climate has to be protected with the unified sentiments from the Himalayas to the seas' that Nepal has been raising over the years.

"The President's visit has further supported in highlighting Nepal's view that the world community should increase the assistance in terms of technology and funds for the climate financing, reducing loss and damage and minimizing the sufferings of the least developed countries due to climate change impact," he said.

Spokesperson Rai said the President gave the message that Nepal is to host the 'Sagarmatha Sambad' or the 'Everest Dialogue' to forge a single voice calling for addressing the relationship from the Himalayas to the Oceans in an integrated way, and invited the world community to participate in the Dialogue.

According to him, the topic 'Protection of the Himalayas is Protecting the Earth' that the President raised in every forum, representing the common sentiment of the mountainous countries, has been found to be effective.

While in Azerbaijan, President Paudel participated in the inaugural session of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit on November 12 and addressed the event as the leader of the Nepali delegation.

Delivering the national statement at the Summit, the President reminded the global community that Nepal has been facing terrible consequences of global warming and climate change despite its negligible emissions.

He also underlined the importance of climate justice, adequate climate finance, and reparations for loss and damage.

The President underlined the importance of integrated approach and broader collaboration among mountainous and coastal countries as there is a linkage from mountains to the sea.

He highlighted that protecting the Himalayas is protecting ourselves and the entire humanity across the planet.

Besides, in the margins of the Summit, the President also held a meeting with his Maldivian counterpart, Dr Mohamed Muizzu.

Matters related to strengthening the bilateral relations, as well as cooperation on regional and multilateral issues were discussed at the meeting.

On November 13, the President addressed the 'High Level Dialogue: Advancing the Mountain Agenda and Mainstreaming Mountains and Climate Change within UNFCCC'organized by Kyrgyz Republic at the sidelines of COP29.

In his address to the High Level Dialogue, President Paudel stressed that integrated programs on poverty reduction and climate action should be implemented in the mountain region.

He underscored the importance of the Himalayas in ecological and environmental balanced and urged for mainstreaming mountain issues in global mountain agenda.

In the afternoon the same day, he chaired a high-level event titled 'Mountains in Peril: Loss and Damage in the Himalaya,' organized by the Government of Nepal, the Ministry of Forests and Environment.

Delivering his concluding remarks in the event, he stressed on the fact that mountains, particularly the Himalaya, are facing higher loss and damage due to their fragility. He also emphasized the need to build unity among mountainous nations and to raise unified voice in global forums for addressing the problem.

President also participated in a meeting of Heads of Delegation of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the sidelines of COP29.

In the meeting he urged the United Nations to intensify efforts for availing financial, technological and other forms of support to the LDCs and other developing countries to fight the impacts of global warming and climate change.

The President utilized the meeting to urge the UN Secretary-General to make the developed countries serious about the impact of climate change. President Paudel and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan held a bilateral meeting on November 14.

On the occasion, President Poudel thanked his Azerbaijani counterpart for organizing the COP29 successfully.

The two Presidents also exchanged views on strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Spokesperson Rai said that the Nepali delegation, under the leadership of the Ministry of Forests and Environment, will actively participate in the dialogues and discussions on thematic issues related to climate change and the documents to be passed therein, ensuring Nepal's national interest.

COP29 commenced on November 11 and it will continue until November 22. President Paudel had reached Baku on last Monday, leading the high-level delegation to the conference at the invitation of the Azerbaijan President Aliyev.