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Prime Minister Dahal for more research on climate change

Published Date : December 13, 2023
Dhulikhel, Dec 13: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has urged Kathmandu University to conduct more research on climate change and its impact. 

Addressing the 29th convocation ceremony of the KU held here today, he requested the teachers and students to conduct academic research and publish in national and international journals to help minimize the adverse effects of climate change on the local community, find local adaptation methods and relief measures.

Lauding the university's efforts to use technology for scientific research and the advancement of human life through the Nepal Technology Innovation Center, Prime Minister Dahal expressed the hope that the center will be used for the benefit of not only scientists but common people with more research that will help the sustainable development of the country. 

Referring to the beginning of Kathmandu University as a science and technology university, the Prime Minister said that the academic scope expanded by the university in the last decade has contributed to the multifaceted development of Nepal. He also expressed happiness that the university has built its own teaching hospital with 1000 beds to bring medical education and practice together.

"After 32 years of establishment, the effort made by the university to establish its own teaching hospital is commendable", the Prime Minister said, "I am ready to help as much as I can as the Chancellor of the university." 

"The vision of internationalizing Nepal's education and making the country an international education hub by connecting with Nepali indigenous knowledge, technology and skills with the world is admirable," he said. Prime Minister Dahal called upon the scholars and youth who are abroad for further study and experience to use the acquired knowledge and skills for the sustainable development of their motherland. 

On a different occasion, Prime Minister Dahal said that the news that more than 200 Nepali youths have joined the Russian army due to various compulsions is worrying. "We are making every effort to bring them back safely."

“I want to assure that there are still many education and employment opportunities in Nepal and if properly managed, it can help build personal life as well as the country.”

Oli calls for improving economic situation

Taksar (Bhojpur), Dec 13: Chairperson of CPN (UML) and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the government under his leadership had given high priority to economic prosperity. 

Addressing a meeting organized by UML Temke Maiyung Rural Municipality Committee in Annapurna today, he stressed on the need to improve the economic situation of the country.

The team reached Bhojpur as part of the Resolve campaign for the development of the Pushpalal Midhill highway. The team including Oli was welcomed at Chakhewa Bhanjyang on the border of Bhojpur and Khotang. 

The team will leave for Dhankuta tomorrow after participating in various programs in the district.

Senior vice president Ishwar Pokharel, general secretary, deputy general secretary, secretary, standing committee, politburo, central committee members, state committee members and other leaders, and experts are participating in Resolve march for prosperity.

Bad governance behind shrunk civic space and dented democracy, argue experts

Kathmandu, Dec 13: At a time when the government has reiterated that efforts are being carried out for good governance, the governance experts and youth leaders have expressed concern over institutional erosion, weakening civic space and thriving bad governance in the country.

Arguing that civic space has badly shrunk of late, the speakers sought accountability on the part of government while awaken and unified role of civil society and vibrant media to foster citizen's freedoms and nurture good governance.

Governance expert Ramesh Adhikari reminded that the civil society movement was in golden stage in Nepal from 1990 to 2016. "Even the recent periodic plans recognized the role of civic space," he said, expressing worry over shrinking civic space at present.

In a dialogue organized by Nepal Centre for Integrated Development in Kathmandu on Wednesday, Adhikari also suggested media to be more inclusive, while underscoring effective governance within CSOs. He argued expectation and fear in relation to political parties and leaders is so entrenched in Nepal that it is jeopardizing democratic rubrics. 

Another expert on governance, Pranav Bhattarai, viewed, "Good laws but weak and bad implementations is sheer obstruction to good governance in Nepal." 

He gave the example of Local Government Operation Act enforced in the wake of federalism that clearly recognizes the role of civil society and civil space for good governance, policy making and development.  But, this Act has been misused much that it not only delayed and denied smooth public services but also derailed efforts to good governance. "The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is an exemplary institution in Nepal to help build good governance, but it has been walloped by political interests, resulting into utter suppression, silence and injustice," he underscored.

Moreover, a youth leader of Nepal Samajbadi Party, Manushi Yami, said our political leaders are almost clueless of value of digital civic space. "Why did some section welcome TikTok ban," she wondered. 

According to her, taking long time to write constitution was betrayal to people. "The Education Bill reflected panchayat-era mindset of our political parties," she said, lambasting the electoral alliance among the political parties that, she argued, deprived women of filing candidacy in the last election.

Once the political transition prolongs, it fuels political parties and leaders with false impression that they are the ultimate power. "More than politicization, the public institutions are suffering 'particization', destabilizing system and fomenting corrupt practices," she added. 

Also speaking on the occasion, editor at nepallivetoday.com, Siromani Dhungana, admitted that media sector also needs restoration of public trust. Spiral of silence has a role to erode democratic values, he said, adding that collective consensus can contribute to build robust system that treat citizens well.

He expressed worry that Nepali media has witnessed unprecedented resource crunch, thereby disabling it to work up to the mark. Partition among journalists is a nagging issue, thereby tarnishing media professionalism.

Other speakers wondered why the concept of civil society was getting blurred in the country of late. Cooperation from all sides was sought for making political parties accountable to restore good governance and functional democracy.

Nepal has abundant potential of green energy-PM

Kavrepalanchowk, Dec 13: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said green energy has huge potential in Nepal. 

He also laid emphasis on properly capitalizing the potentials of 'clean energy, green energy'. 

Laying the foundation stone of 'women entrepreneurs green industrial park' to be constructed in Panchkhal municipality-7 of Kavrepalanchowk today, Prime Minister Dahal said clean energy-green energy will be put on priority while embarking on the new era of green revolution. 

"In the capacity of the Prime Minister, I will impart a message of the commencement of green revolution by first travelling on hydrogen-run vehicle. This will mark a beginning of the campaign to end pollution in Nepal. We should cash in on the vast array of the potentials of clean energy-green energy". 

On the occasion, Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat pledged to arrange budget for the green park to be constructed in Panchkhal in the next fiscal year while sharing that the government is scaling up the park construction in all seven provinces. 

Panchkhal municipality's mayor Mahesh Kharel said the park is to be constructed to promote women entrepreneurship and the initiative will be fruitful to add value to the local production. 

The park is under construction at the initiative of the South Asian Women Development Forum in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and Panchakhal municipality. The park will have training center, store house, cold storage, packaging, processing, drying and grading of agriculture products. 

Forum Chairperson Pramila Acharya Rijal shared that a total of 50 micro, medium and small enterprises will be established in the park.

NSL: Birgunj defeats Ilam

Kathmandu, Dec 13: Birgunj United Football Club has defeated Ilam FC in the match held today under the Nepal Super League football tournament.

In the match held at the Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwar, Birgunj defeated Ilam by 2 goals to 1. 

However, Ilam had taken the lead with Ashish Chapagain scoring in the 15th minute of the game. But the lead could not last long, as Bishan Gurung of Birgunj scored in 33rd minute.

William Opoku then converted a penalty awarded to Birgunj in the extra time of the second half, to take his team to a victory.

With this win, Birgunj has added 5 points in five games while Ilam has 4 points in six games.

Indigenous culture will be promoted: Minister Kirati

Kathmandu, Dec 13: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, has announced that the government would launch programme to promote indigenous culture linking culture to tourism, production, employment and industry.

At a cultural programme 'Matoko Git' organized by Cultural Corporation in a bid to form capital and prop up tourism on Wednesday, Minister Kirati said the arts of local artistes should be nationalized to foster tourism.

According to him, a taskforce was formed to formulate a cultural policy, and Nepali culture would be boosted to make it visible in the international arena. 

He argued that the reason behind failure of 52 percent of projects their detachment from culture.

General Manager of the Corporation, Ashok Kumar Rai, informed that a special Nepali cultural programme would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Friday.

Complaint for not obtaining citizenship despite court’s order

Kathmandu, Dec 13: Victims have voiced their complaints noting they were not yet provided with citizenship despite courts' order for the same. 

At a discussion programme organized by the Forum of Women, Children and Development (FWLD) on the status of enforcement of court orders on the cases of citizenship and vital registration today, victims complained that the District Administration Office staffs warned them to approach the judges issuing such order for citizenship certificate. 

Director of the Order Enforcement Directorate Saroj Raj Regmi admitted that the people are still being denied of citizenship for lack of enforcement of all the courts' orders. 

He said the directorate will continuously work for the enforcement of the courts’ orders.

Reactions pour in as COP28 concludes, LDC terms outcome ‘not perfect’

Kathmandu, Dec 13:  As the two-week-long UN climate summit, COP28, concludes, reactions are pouring in from various groups- with concern and with little celebration.

“This outcome is not perfect, we expected more. It reflects the very lowest possible ambition that we could accept rather than what we know, according to the best available science, is necessary to urgently address the climate crisis." It is the reaction of Chair of UN Least Developed Countries Group, Madeleine Diouf Sarr, to the outcome of COP28, which concluded in Dubai, UAE on Wednesday.

She called the inclusion of 'fossil fuel' a historic decision as it is the first ever references in the outcome document. Sarr, however, stated, "We are concerned about the loopholes that it leaves open, which could limit true emissions reductions and ambition."

According to her, international cooperation is key to ensure limiting global heating to 1.5 C, which she called 'matter of survival'. The LDC's concern was also on the yawning gap between the needs in developing countries and finance available. 

Similarly, Dean and Professor at Fletcher School, Kelly Sims Gallagher, viewed, "The 'transitioning away from fossil fuels' language is new and sends a useful signal to the market but the critical task is to peak global emissions as soon as possible with immediate and sustained reductions thereafter and there is no decision text on peaking global emissions."

Head of Global Political Strategy at Climate Action Network International, Harjeet Singh, observed, "After decades of evasion, COP28 finally cast a glaring spotlight on the real culprits of the climate crisis: fossil fuels. A long-overdue direction to move away from coal, oil, and gas has been set."

Yet the same time, he showed concern that resolution is plagued by dodges which, he says, will create escape routes to the fossil fuel industries. 

A keen observer of COP28 and member of the National Climate Council, Bimal Raj Regmi, responded that the inclusion of mountain in decision text of global stocktake and global goal on adaptation is an achievement for Nepal. However, he said, “While we are celebrating the success, we failed to do justice to vulnerable communities. The GGA text is full of generic goals and lack real, immediate, and impactful support to adapt to climate change.”

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