- Monday, 2 June 2025
Kathmandu, May 31: Prime Minister and CPN UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has said the UML could emerge the largest party after the coming general election if it paid heed to national interest, change and prosperity.
PM Oli argued UML will secure majority of seats through the coming election because the party which battled numerous odds has gained strength. He said it while inaugurating the 11th national general convention of Nepal Intellectuals’ Council in the federal capital today.
He reminded the UML, which was about to secure nearly two-thirds of seats in parliament, was cornered due to various elements against the party. However, it came to the present stage of vigor, suffering dents and division, Oli shared.
He further reminded, “The reactionary people declared me ineligible to be a general member even in future. The UML was warned of facing dire consequences. But the UML defeated the odds and became the most popular party now.”
Moreover, the UML Chair argued none could dare challenge and defeat UML anyone. So, UML is now moving ahead with Mission 2084. He sought contribution from all those in party line.
According to him, intellectuals have a significant role to give proper direction to country, so their activism is required. “Don’t dishearten to get critical comment. The struggle in the UML is for party and country. I pride on being a true follower of UML,” he reminded.
The PM urged the intellects to work for national unity and change, keep watch on those who work against country. He also sought intellectuals’ assistance to spread right thoughts.
It was pointless to talk of restoration of monarchy because it is time to protect democracy and constitution.
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East-West Highway blocked
Baniyani, May 31: The East-West Highway has been completely obstructed after the incessant rainfall occurred since this morning swept away diversion at Kalikhola of Mechinagar municipality-6 in Jhapa district.
Information Officer at the District Police Office, Jhapa, Khagendra Bahadur Khadka, said the transport service has come to a standstill after the flood washed away the road diversion, which is under construction as part of the Asian Highway.
An alternative route has been brought into use after road damages. Coordination was being made with concerned bodies for the construction of the road.
Meanwhile, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has informed through SMS that heavy rain was recorded at many places of Jhapa, Ilam, Sunsari and Dhankuta districts.
It also requested the public to adopt high precautions till this afternoon as there was high possibility of flood in various rivers and streams—Mechi, Ninda, Kankai, Mawa-Ratuwa, Bakraha.
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Editors stress more investment in content for sustainable journalism
Kathmandu, May 31: The editors from print and online media have underlined the need of augmenting investment in content to ensure sustainability of journalism.
They were univocal on it during an editors’ dialogue the Press Council Nepal organized on ‘Lessons from Past and Concern for Present’ in the federal capital on Friday. They shared views on contemporary challenges the journalism is facing in the wake of technological innovation and disruption.
On the occasion, Chief Editor at Baahkhari.com, Prateek Pradhan, argued impactful content is the major basis of journalism. Irrespective of the medium, news quality counts much. Journalism’s major role is to hold accountable those in government and power, he emphasized.
Editor with the Nagarik daily, Gunaraj Luitel, said although artificial intelligence (AI) was creating a panic, technology could not displace journalism at all. However, timely changes are essential in journalism along with awareness among journalists, Luitel asserted.
Editor with the Dristi weekly, Shambhu Shrestha, viewed print media still bears significance despites expansion of digital medium. The readers and audience always yearn for something different and quality content, so journalists need whetting skills to serve quality content, according to him.
Editor with the Kantipur Television, Bijay Paudel, admitted that media were yet to get close with public issues and concern. He argued that people were getting detached from media, reasoning they felt their voices were unheard in media. At such, technology could be leveraged to strengthen media relations with public and broader publicity, Paudel added.
Vice Chairperson of the Digital Media Alliance, Monika Singh, said it was wrong to argue that digital platform like YouTube and Facebook were defaming journalism. Blaming another media is not responsible, she underlined.
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Digital Nepal Framework in high priority: Minister Gurung
Tokyo (Japan), May 31: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has said the government has given a top priority to the Digital Nepal Framework (DNF).
Addressing the Asia-Pacific Telecommunications Ministerial Meeting, 2025 in Tokyo on Friday, Minister Gurung viewed the readiness of information technology ecosystem and conducive environment were necessary for successful implementation of DNF.
Also the Spokesperson of the government, he expressed the view that attempts were made to build safe, inclusive and digital era of opportunity. Safe and trustworthy digital environment is the need of hour, according to him.
Minister Gurung mentioned that the government was actively involved to empower citizens, and invest in digital infrastructures, according to Minister Gurung’s Secretariat. Data security and acceleration of innovation are the issues of main concern for Nepal, he opined.
Similarly, the Minister expressed commitment that Nepal would make strong partnership with APT and share knowledge. Nepal has given high importance to the support provided by APT in technology transfer, capacity building and policy-level assistance.
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Karnali Highway to be closed for four days from June 3
Kalikot, May 31: The Karnali Highway will remain closed for four days. The traffic movement will be fully halted from coming Tuesday in order to repair the road in the Kalalu-Lalighat section.
The road closure will directly inconvenience the people especially from Kalikot, Bajura and Humla districts.
The stakeholders’ meeting held at District Administration Office took a decision in this regard on Friday, according to Assistant CDO Janak Sharma.
“The road remains closed from June 3 to 7 for maintenance,” he said, adding that the vehicles using the road will be stopped at different locations on both sides.
The road was closed fully because the place requiring maintenance was narrow with difficult geography. Nearly 1-km stretch will be repaired.
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CIEDP works in favour of conflict victims: Chair Gadtaula
Kathmandu, May 31: Chairperson of the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP), Lila Devi Gadtaula, has committed to providing justice to the conflict victims by holding discussions with conflict victims, experts and stakeholders.
During an interaction with editors, Chairperson Dadtaula requested all the bodies concerned to extend support to the Commission, assuring of carrying out activities being sensitive and responsible to settle the problems of conflict victims.
“I expect the media persons will disseminate factual, fair and authorized news, taking into account the privacy and human sensitivity of victims. I, on the behalf of the CIEDP, request you to support the task of creating public mandate in favour of the victims with the dissemination of factual news”, she said before media persons on Friday.
She further shred CIEDP was moving ahead in a transparent and accountable manner as per existing laws, acts, and regulations. It pays heed to adoption of the national and international practice and precedents on transitional justice, for which she sought support from all sides.
Sharing that after the appointment of office bearers along with Chairperson, CIEDP is now busy in discussion and meeting with different sides along with study of activities carried out earlier, she clarified that interaction with editors was organized as part of charting future course.
Similarly, Commission Secretary Khem Raj Gyawali, assured that CIEDP activities would move ahead unobstructed once regulation, schedule, action plan and operation network were in place.
There is a situation to give equal priority to psychosocial counseling while settling the problems of conflict victims, he stated.
Likewise, CIEDP Spokesperson Srijana Pokharel said the CIEDP had received 2,542 complaints so far and the deadline for registering the complaints was extended by three months. Stressing the need of regular meeting with media persons, Spokesperson Pokharel expressed the view that it would be easier to disseminate news if there is arrangement of ‘focal person’.
CIEDP received the highest number of complaints from Lumbini Province and the lowest from Madhes Province. Similarly, district wise, highest- 259 complaints were from Bardiya and lowest- three from Rasuwa, she added.
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Four women-run enterprises in Sudurpaschim Province chosen for technology transfer
Godawari (Kailali), May 31: Four women-run enterprises in Sudurpaschim Province have been selected for technology transfer programme.
The Directorate of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection under the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment in Sudurpaschim Province chose these four enterprises by inviting proposals from women entrepreneurs from all 9 districts of the Province, according to Yashoda Bohara, Information Officer at the Directorate.
Information Officer Bohora shared that the selected enterprises were Mukta Kamaiya Food Industry run by Junkiri Devi Chaudhary at Bani of Krishnapur municipality -2 in Kanchanpur district and Aljivi Garment Industry operated by Amritadevi Dholi at Janaki rural municipality-6 in Kailali district.
Similarly, the Sidda Bhagawati Livestock and Agriculture Firm run by Parbati Dhami of Chure rural municipality-6 in Kailali district and Panchakoti Agriculture Firm run by Sunita Karki at Dilasaini rural municipality-6 in Baitadi district will be benefitting from the programme aimed at fostering industrial growth among women entrepreneurs.
The provincial government had allocated Rs 1.5 million budget for this programme for the current fiscal year 2024/25. The Directorate selected these enterprises after a thorough evaluation of the applications received, according to Bohora.
The selected beneficiaries will receive subsidy in procurement of necessary materials, tools and technology to scale up the enterprises. The Directorate had called for applications from those women who had not previously received technology or other grants over the last three years.
All selected enterprises will receive the equal funding. She further explained that the women entrepreneurs would receive 30 per cent of required subsidy for the procurement of technology while the provincial government will cover the remaining 70 per cent of the expenses needed to technologically advance the selected enterprises.
Agreements were already inked with proprietors of the selected firms to accelerate the technology transfer, she informed. All sort of women-run businesses registered in the Office of Cottage and Small Industries in the Province are eligible to apply for the programme, she said.
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One dies in elephant attack
Saptari, May 31: A person died in an elephant attack in Saptari district this morning.
The deceased has been identified as Kedar Bahadur Bista, 66, of Kanchanrup municipality-12, Dharampur Tole, said police.
The incident took place at a maize farm which is 500 meters away from his house. A local Lil Bahadur Magar said Bista used to go to his farm in order to ward off the animals like boar and even spend night in a hut built in the farm.
“We had heard the sound of elephant at around 2:00 am and it might had attacked and killed Bista. We informed the police after seeing Bista lying lifeless on the ground”, added Magar.
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Documentation of democratic fighters must: Minister Poudel
Katmandu, May 31: Minister for Health and Population, Pradeep Poudel, has said documentation of democratic fighters was essential to recognize their role in restoration of democracy.
During a programme organized by Bagmati Province committee of Nepal Democratic Fighters’ Association in the federal capital on Friday, Minister Poudel reminded that democratic fighters had faced tremendous hardship in their life. Even a book ‘Jivanghatha’ written based on the life story of democratic fighter Tulsi Narayan Khamu Shrestha was released on the occasion.
“For lack of credible documentation on democratic fighters, many of them were not in the list. It is worrying in deed. Those who worked for democracy must be recognized and documented, “he stressed.
Central Chairman of the Association, Balkrishna Dahal, said the democratic fighters must not be forgotten. He demanded the formation of all-powered democratic fighters’ commission in order to conduct further study on those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of democracy and country.
The democratic fighters should be provided reservation in Nepali Congress, he demanded, adding that Association was for the NC to allocate 80 percent of election tickets to those who have not got opportunity so far. Dahal also handed over a memorandum to Minister and central member Poudel and leader Shekhar Koirala.
As many as 100 persons fighting for the democracy from 13 districts were honoured on the occasion.
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Budget made adhering to fundamental values: Finance Minister
Kathmandu, May 31: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel informed that budget for the fiscal year, 2025/026 was brought by adhering to the basic principles, values and limitation.
Minister Paudel said it during a post-budget discussion organized by Nepal Economic Journalist’s Association in the federal capital today. The revenue estimates and targets were set being realistic and with rigorous homework. The estimates of resources were also paid heed. “Effective enforcement of budget helps achieve economic growth,” he reminded.
On the occasion, former Finance Minister Janardan Sharma, however, criticized that the budget brought as continuation of the past schemes could not ensure economic reform and change citizen’s life.
Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Dr Shivraj Adhikari, believed the enforcement of budget would internalize the suggestions made by the major opposition and private sectors.
FNCCI President Chandra Dhakal lauded the budget for it incorporated the suggested given by business entities. President of Nepal Chamber of Commerce, Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal, appreciated the budget brought in the difficult situation, saying it was development-oriented and ambitious, keeping the IT and technology in mind.
Former President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries, Bishnu Agrawal, mentioned that the budget was brought in a way that creates investment friendly environment and boosts the confidence of private sector while President of Federation of Contractors’ Association of Nepal, Rabi Singh, opined that the budget had incorporated all sectors in overall.
President of NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal, Karan Chaudhary, stated that a positive budget was brought as it aimed at highlighting the country’s economy.
President of Independent Power Producers’ Association Nepal, (IPPAN), Ganesh Karki, commented that the budget brought to construct reservoir -based project is private sector-friendly.
Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank, Guru Prasad Poudel, said the budget had stressed the need of using technology to boost country’s economy.
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103 quintals of garlic from Chaurgaun dispatched to Kathmandu
Rukum Paschim, May 31: A total of 103 quintals of garlic produced at Chaur village of Musikot municipality in the district has been sent to Kathmandu.
The garlic was produced by 28 households of the Chaurgaun. Among the total 250 local farmers cultivating garlic commercially at the ward no 10 of the municipality, Khimlal Oli yielded highest production- 13 quintals, informed Dhan Bahadur Khadka, chairperson of ward no 10.
The local ward office has been facilitating the local farmers to get their produces, especially garlic, to the potential market including Kathmandu, he shared.
According to him, garlic cultivated in some other places in the village is yet to be sold. Thus, plans are afoot to harvest and sell the garlic cultivated across Kharsupani, Galampati, Naumabasti and Khadka Tole in the municipality, he added.
Garlic is categorized into three grades-A, B, C before sending to the market. While the A-grade garlic is being sold at Rs 125 per kg at present, B-grade garlic cost Rs 105 per kg and Rs 60 per kg for C-grade garlic.
According to an estimate of the ward office, garlic cultivation in Musikot municipality generates Rs 150 million annually to the local municipality.
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