Author: Suha Mughal

Nepal, a buffer state between the two economic giants, India and China, struggles to maintain financial stability. Its strategic location between these two global powerhouses has positioned it at the crossroads of economic activity. Still, it has also exposed the nation to unique challenges that have impacted its macroeconomic landscape. The indicators of Nepal’s economic health often paint a picture of a country grappling with macroeconomic issues exacerbated by various internal and external factors. In recent years, Nepal’s transformational journey has been marked by destabilizing forces emanating from quarters disinterested in the country’s progress. This unsettling dynamic has hindered the…

LAHORE: “Currently, 64 percent of Pakistan population is younger than 30 years of age. The country now has more young people than it has ever had, and this is forecasted to continue to increase until at least 2050. Because the youth have the power to transform a country’s future, they could be the engines of development. Or their disillusionment could lead to social unrest. We cannot empower our youth through distribution of laptops only, rather green jobs for women and youth are need of the hour. The unemployment rate among degree holders is three times higher than the overall unemployed…

China has launched a new “Silk Roadster” platform under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Nepal, in a slight change in marketing and explanatory direction that may be rolled out elsewhere. Chinese leaders said the Nepal platform is a new concept brought to mark the tenth anniversary of the proposition of the BRI by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Nepal signed up to the framework agreement on the BRI in 2017, however six years later, no BRI projects have begun, although Kathmandu has selected nine to be executed under the framework. Delays in getting projects off the ground in Nepal…

People splash in muddy fields and sing traditional songs to thank gods for sending the rain needed for the rice to grow. Thousands of farmers and their families across Nepal celebrated an annual paddy festival by planting rice, splashing in the muddy fields and enjoying a special feast. The farmers were joined by other villagers, visitors from the cities and tourists visiting the Himalayan nation to mark the National Paddy Day on June 30. Rice is a staple food for millions of Nepalese and the crop is generally planted once a year in July and harvested about four months later.…

At least 12 people have been killed and several injured after Russian forces attacked cities and regions across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, in a series of night-time air raids. Rescue workers were searching for survivors on Friday, hours after the first large-scale assault in months. In the central city of Uman, at least 10 people were killed and 17 wounded when a missile hit an apartment building, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. In Dnipro, city’s Mayor Borys Filatov said, a woman and a young child were killed in the attacks in the early hours of Friday but gave no…

An international arbitration court has ruled against Turkey in a long-running dispute with the Iraqi government regarding crude oil exports from the autonomous Kurdistan region, two Turkish sources familiar with the issue, but not authorised to speak to the press, told Middle East Eye.  The Iraqi oil ministry in a separate statement on Saturday welcomed the favourable ruling from the International Court of Arbitration that had been issued on Thursday, saying that the judgement confirmed that Iraqi national oil company SOMO is the only entity authorised to manage oil export operations through the Turkish port of Ceyhan. The ministry said that it…

KATHMANDU, Feb 21: Nepal took the fourth wicket against Scotland today in the ICC World Cup League-2 triangular ODI series. While taking the fourth wicket, Nepali bowler Kusal Malla dismissed Scotland’s Christopher McBride for 22 runs. Before this, Sandeep Lamichhane took the first, second and third wickets to take his number of wickets to 12 in this series. Scotland is playing by scoring 118 runs after losing four wickets in 21 overs. Nepal won the toss and decided to bowl first in this match which started at Kritipur cricket ground from 9 am today. In this series, Nepal has decided…

Kazakhstan rose from 88th to 79th place out of 121 countries in the 2023 Global Soft Power Index by Brand Finance, the world’s leading independent brand valuation and strategy consultancy, according to the company’s report The ranking was announced on March 2 at Brand Finance’s Global Soft Power Summit in London, where delegates discussed the role of soft power in international politics and business. “This annual report into Soft Power covers the ability to influence others through attraction or persuasion rather than coercion. It encompasses a wide range of tools, including business and trade, governance, international relations, culture and heritage, media and…