Among the total applicants, 55,000 entrants will be selected randomly by a computer, who will be eligible to apply for a diversity visa.

The US Government, on Saturday, announced the winners of the 2022 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2022), popularly known as the visa lottery or the green card lottery.

All the DV-2022 program entrants can check the status of their application in the Entrant Status Check search tool available on the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website, dvprogram.state.gov

Check Status

Starting from May 8, 2021 through to September 30, 2022, the applicants can verify their selection for the program using their unique confirmation number provided at registration. This is the only way the entrants can check their status.

The eligible applicants will get further information regarding how to apply for DV and visa interview appointments through the Entrant Status Check.

Stay Tuned to NepaliSansar for Latest Updates on US Visa!

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The post Live! Diversity Visa 2022 Winners Announced! Check Your Status Here! appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

The meeting was held at the PM’s residence in Baluwatar on February 4, 2020.

He asserted that the three-member committee will submit a report on the Compact within a week.

Later, when asked about his health, PM Oli said that he will soon undergo kidney transplantation.

“MCC Compact offers a valuable opportunity to Nepal and there is no reason for the country to reject the USD 500 million grant,” PM Oli said.

Chaos Around MCC Compact

There are many speculations and criticism about the Compact among the Nepali citizens and political leaders, saying that the conditions in the Compact are against the spirit of the Nepali Constitution.

They exclaimed that MCC is a part of Indo-Pacific Strategy or linked to a military alliance.

Later, the US Embassy in Nepal has published 10 key facts about MCC Compact to clear the confusion about the Compact on January 17, 2020.

The US Government has committed to invest USD 500 million under MCC Compact to fortify Nepal’s economic growth and stability.

Nepal Government has proposed and decided the Electricity Transmission Project and the Transportation Project for MCC program.

The post Nepali Parliament will Ratify MCC ASAP: PM Oli appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

At the event, American Ambassador Randy Berry handed over the aircraft to Nepal Chief of General Staff Sharad Giri.

According to Berry, the US Government is also providing spare parts of the sky trucks, pilot and maintenance training, and support services.

Nepal Chief of Army Staff Purna Chandra Thapa said that the aircraft have further expanded the collaboration between Nepal and USA.

The two planes are offered under the Foreign Military Fund Program (FMFP) and are worth equivalent to USD 15 million.

Skytruck Specifications:

• Payload Capacity – 2,300 kg
• Flying Height – 25,000 feet
• Seating Capacity – 18 people including 3 pilots
• Fuel Consumption – 620 lb/hr

Owing to the Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) feature, the aircraft are meant for disaster rescue operations and humanitarian assistance.

With the addition of these two sky trucks, Nepal Army now has 7 aircraft and 15 helicopters.

The post Nepal Procures 2 US-granted Sky Trucks appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

“We’ve been given an ambitious and exciting goal. History has proven when we’re given a task by the president, along with the resources and the tools, we can deliver,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement.

“We are committed to making this happen. We have the people to achieve it. Now, we just need bipartisan support and the resources to get this done,” Bridenstine added in his address at the 35^th Space Symposium on April 9, 2019.

Bridenstine further informed that they will use a human lunar landing system architecture to return crew to the surface as quickly as possible, as part of the project.

“The human lunar lander will be a public-private partnership working directly with American companies to expedite the return of Astronauts to the Moon’s surface by 2024. The South Pole continues to be the target of our exploration,” read NASA’s statement.

The agency is planning the project in two phases over the next five years.

First phase will focus on speed to land the next man and first woman on the Moon by 2024, followed by the Second to establish sustainable missions by 2028.

“To do that, we need our powerful Space Launch System to put the mass of reusable systems into deep space,” adds NASA.

As an immediate step in the process, the space agency is planning to send science and technology investigations to the lunar surface through its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS), very soon.

These investigations are likely to be completed before sending the crew to the Moon, with the first one expected by the end of this year if a commercial lander is ready.

“Using new landers, robots and eventually humans, we will conduct science and technology demonstrations across the entire lunar surface of the Moon to learn more about resources on the Moon and how we can use them for future exploration. We will move forward to the Moon, this time to stay. And then we’ll take what we learn on the Moon, and go to Mars,” NASA informed.

It is noteworthy that NASA has launched maiden Bird-3 satellites of Sri Lanka and Nepal, namely Raavana-1 and Nepal’s nanosatellite NepaliSat-1 on April 18, 2019.

Stay tuned for more updates on NASA’s new launches!

The post NASA Takes Up Mission To Moon by 2024! appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

A lawsuit was filed in the Federal Court of California after the US President declared a national emergency to fund a wall on the US-Mexico border.

According to the lawsuit regarding the border wall, the President’s order goes against the Presentment and Appropriation Clauses.

As per the aforementioned clauses, Congress becomes the authorizing authority over public funds.

With the declaration, the President would be able to bypass Congress and draw funds from the Pentagon and other budgets.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra issued a statement on Monday alleging that Trump’s government violated the Constitution over the border-wall issue.

“President Trump treats the rule of law with utter contempt. He knows there is no border crisis, he knows his emergency declaration is unwarranted and he admits that he will likely lose this case in court,” said Becerra.

Speaking about the situation, Becerra further stated that the state of California and other states were at risk of losing money that was allocated for disaster assistance, military projects and other projects, if the project would be carried out.

California and New Mexican states also mentioned in the lawsuit that the move will harm wildlife in the region.

15 states’ Attorney Generals including Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Virginia joined California Attorney General Becerra in filing the lawsuit against Trump.

“Use of those additional federal funds for the construction of a border wall is contrary to Congress’s intent in violation of the US Constitution, including the Presentment Clause and Appropriations Clause,” the complaint said.

The Lawsuit

“Congress has repeatedly rebuffed the president’s insistence to fund a border wall, recently resulting in a record 35-day partial government shutdown over the border wall dispute,” reads the lawsuit document.

The document further stated that after the government reopened, the President signed a law according to which he was granted USD 1.375 billion only for fencing along the southern border. However, Congress made it clear that funding could not be used to build President Trump’s proposed border wall.”

The lawsuit also added that the Department of Homeland Security went against the National Environmental Policy Act as it failed to evaluate the environmental impact of the wall in California and New Mexico.

The post US President Trump ‘Sued’ Over National Emergency Declaration appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

On the occasion, the US Embassy organized a half-day symposium that highlighted the role played by the Government of United States towards the development of Nepal.

The symposium witnessed a participation of over 250 academics, journalists and researchers, and saw discussions on a wide range of issues related to trade enhancement, collaboration in scientific research to address public health and fight human trafficking.

The history of US-Nepal bilateral ties dates back to November 16, 1945, the day George R Merrell, the first US official, visited Nepal.

Merrel, who was then the Chargé d’Affaires at New Delhi, presented the Legion of Merit to then Nepal Prime Minister Padma Shumshere Jung Bahadur Rana recognizing the role played by Nepali Gurkha soldiers in the British Army during the World War II.

Further on April 25, 1947, both the countries signed an Agreement of Commerce and Friendship in Kathmandu. 

The post US, Nepal Celebrate 70 Years Friendship appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

In a move strengthening US-Nepal trade ties, the Government of United States has urged Nepal to make better utilization of the US trade facilitation program.

The US Ambassador to Nepal Aliana B Teplitz made a statement in this regard at a US-Nepal trade workshop held in Nepal, recently.

Nepal and US officials gathered for a workshop titled ‘Enhancing Nepal-US Trade by Utilizing Trade Preference Program’ jointly organized by Pavilion Group and the US Embassy in Nepal on October 10, 2017.

Addressing the gathering, Aliana said, “Clock is ticking for Nepali exporters and businesses to take advantage of the trade preference program offered by the US. The US-Nepal trade preference program creates an opportunity to expand the trade between the two countries. Nepali exporters and businesses have duty-free access only until 2025 to the US market for certain kinds of Nepali exports.”

She further stated that the special program under the Nepal Trade Preferences Act, which allows preferential treatment for certain exports from Nepal to the US, is a good opportunity for both the countries in strengthening economic ties.

In this regard, the US official said Nepal can increase its exports to US under the duty-free tariff facilitated by the trade preference program.

The program planned under the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) allows new duty-free tariff benefits for certain Nepali exports to the US, which includes carpets, headgear, bags, scarves, shawls, travel goods and leather.

Nepal’s Exports to US Can Be Doubled

Through this program, the US government intends to support the Nepali economy for its recovery from the 2015 earthquake. It has been effective from December 30, 2016 and is active until 2025.

Out of the total exports worth USD 89 million Nepal sent to the US in 2016, USD 6.75 million was exported under the duty-free tariff.

“The market potential for the products is obviously much greater. We hope that the USD 6.75 million can be doubled, if not tripled or quadrupled in the near future,” Aliana added.

In response, the Nepali Minister for Industry Sunil Bahadur Thapa said, “All these products can be manufactured and exported to the US and we can fully utilize the facility provided to us by the US if we come out of the comfort zone.”

Arjun Kumar Karki, Nepali Ambassador to the US said, “The private sector should make investment in the production of these items so that they can be exported to the US. If we would be able to do better, we can request the US Government for additional privilege.”

Made in Nepal Can Be of Special Advantage

On the occasion, Nepali exporters were also urged to try special ways to diversify and enhance their business as per the changing trends in foreign markets for full benefits.

“If more Nepali products are exported to the US, there would be high demand for these products, ‘Made in Nepal’ could be very powerful branding tool that you should take advantage of,” says Aliana.

Other experts, who had attended the workshop, opined that encouragement of production from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), R&D and boosting connectivity in the domestic market can help Nepal in generating long-term business across foreign markets.

The post US-Nepal Ties: Nepal Urged to Utilize US Special Trade Program appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

The Government of United States has announced the opening of applications for the United States’ 2019 electronic Diversity Visa (DV) program for the Nepali immigrants.

The intending applicants can apply for the programthrough digital forms at www.dvlottery.state.gov starting from 9:45 pm of October 3, 2017 till 10:45 pm of November 7, 2017, the US Embassy in Kathmandu said in a statement.

The Embassy further informed that the program recommends the applicants against using a consultant to assist with their applications.

According to the US Department of State, the program allows up to 50,000 immigrant visas annually and these are drawn from a random selection process among all entries to individuals belonging to the nations enjoying low rates of immigration to US.

The final winners immigrate through consular processing and get the immigrant visa.

The post US 2019 Diversity Visa Programme Applications for Nepalese Begin appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Nepal is receiving a wide appreciation for the successful completion of its landmark local-level elections.

The Government of Nepal considered the local body polls as a prestigious matter and had also claimed that ‘holding of local-level elections on time’ as its major achievement in first 100 days of its functioning.

Not just Nepal, its friendly countries are also of hope that the recently-held local-level polls would open avenues for new style of government functioning in the country.

UN Secretary-General Lauds Nepal

The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guteress congratulated Nepal on successful completion of its three-tier local polls held recently.

The UN official was speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly currently currently being held in New York, wherein, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is representing Nepal.

In a high-level meeting with PM Deuba, Antonio Guteress also appreciated Nepal on latest developments and its ongoing process of institutionalizing democracy, informed Deuba’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Dinesh Bhattarai.

Local Elections Held Peacefully, Says Japan

In a recent update, Japan congratulated Nepal hailing the way the elections were organized.

“Japan appreciates that, overall, the local elections were conducted in a peaceful and fair manner,” said the Embassy of Japan in a statement, citing the observations made by a special Japanese team including the Embassy of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Nepali local polls.

“Japan would like to pay its sincere respects to the people of Nepal who contributed to the successful holding of local elections after a break of 20 years,” the Embassy further added, “This is a significant progress towards the implementation of the constitution that was promulgated in 2015.”

Extending Japan’s support to the Himalayan nation, the Embassy further informed, “Japan is committed to supporting the government of Nepal to the best possible extent.”

A Significant Milestone for Nepal: US

In his greetings to the 2^nd Nepali Constitution Day yesterday, the United States President Donald Trump hailed Nepal for successful holding of local body polls.

“Most importantly, you have held the first local elections in 20 years – a significant milestone for your democratic government,” said Donald Trump.

“Nepal has achieved important progress,” he added.

Indian Prime Minister also hailed Nepal saying, “As a close friend and neighbour, India remains steadfast in its support to the people and Government of Nepal in their national efforts to achieve peace, stability and development.”

Local Governance Act Endorsed

Meanwhile, following the local polls in Province 2, the Legislature Parliament of Nepal yesterday endorsed the Local Level Governance Act for the full-fledged functioning of local bodies elected through earlier phases.

Since the time they were formed, the local bodies of Provinces 1,3,4,5,6 and 7 have limited their operations only to administrative works due to lack of relevant Act.

“The newly-elected bodies can now function effectively after the Act comes into effect,” said the Minister for Land Reform Gopal Dahit while presenting the bill for endorsement.

The new bill, yet to be signed by the President, allows the local governments to change their names and operating centers (if required), change the status and boundaries of the wards, besides granting them executive, legislative and judicial rights.

CPN-UML Leading the Way

According to the latest update, CPN-UML is leading the overall local polls race with 276 seats and 18 majority, followed by Nepali Congress (226 seats). Whereas, the case is exactly reverse in Province-2 as Nepali Congress is leading with 35 seats majority, followed by Others (22) and CPI-UML (18).

The local elections, planned in three phases, ended yesterday with a record voter turnout in the third phase polls (compared to earlier phases) in Province 2. The first and second phases of local elections were held on May 14 and June 28.

Now, the country is eagerly waiting for its provincial and federal elections scheduled for November 26, 2017, and December 7, 2017, respectively.

The post Local Polls 2017: An All-round Applause for Nepal appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

The Government of United States yesterday honoured two Nepali firms for implementing innovative Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions to boost agriculture productivity.

Nepali firms stood in the list of top four international firms selected for the Global Data-Driven Farming Prize under the US Government’s Feed the Future Initiative.

Kathmandu-based ICT firm Db2Map received a cash prize of USD 100,000 for its GEO Krishi programme, under which, it uses satellite data and relevant information from other official sources to assess soil condition and help farmers in maximizing their crop productivity.

Another firm, ICT for Agriculture, was awarded USD 50,000 for their mobile and web-based platform that provides agriculture-related information to the farmers in rural areas.

Addressing the event, Acting Mission Director at USAID Amy Tohill-Stull said, “Data should no longer reside on computer servers at research institutes. We must make it open and accessible to Nepal’s farmers, agribusiness owners, and all stakeholders across the agriculture value chain. This is what we mean by data-driven farming.”

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the Data-Driven Farming Prize in February 2017. This USD 300,000 prize recognizes innovation-driven approaches that can help small-scale farmers in improving their crop productivity.

While a total of 143 participants from 21 countries applied (including 83 from Nepal), only 13 were finalized for the award and six of the finalists were from Nepal.

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