- Tuesday, 16 December 2025
Kathmandu, Oct 24: The Nepali national women’s football team is taking on Iran today in its first match under the Tri-Nation Women’s International Friendlies 2025 currently underway in India.
The match will start at 6:15 PM Nepal time at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, India.Nepal, under the captaincy of Sabitra Bhandari, is playing with the aim of starting the tournament on a positive note by defeating Iran.
Iran also would be playing with the spirit of continuing its victorious journey. In the first match, Iran secured a 2–0 victory against the home team India.
The last encounter between Iran and Nepal was in 2019. Nepal won the Hero Women’s Cup Football Tournament held in Kalinga Stadium, India.
Iran is ranked 70th in FIFA rankings while Nepal is ranked 89th.
The Nepali squad comprises Captain Bhandari along with Anita Basnet, Anjana Rana Magar, Anjila Tumbapo Subba, Bimala BK, Deepa Shahi, Hira Kumari Bhujel, Manmaya Damai, Mina Deuba and Nisha Thokar.
Similarly, other players included in the team are Preeti Rai, Pratiksha Chaudhary, Pooja Rana, Purnima Rai, Rashmi Kumari Ghising, Rekha Paudel, Renuka Nagarkote, Sabita Rana Magar, Sajani Thokar, Sameeksha Ghimire, Saraswati Hamal, Saru Limbu and Usha Nath.
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07- Farmers making good income from zero tillage-based garlic cultivation in Kanchanpur
Kanchanpur, Oct 24: Janaklal Dagaura of Pipaladi, Shuklaphanta Municipality-3, has recently completed this season’s rice harvest. However, instead of taking a break, he is already busy planting garlic directly on the paddy stubble using a hoe, a method known as zero tillage farming.
Dagaura’s experience over the past few years shows that garlic cultivation using zero tillage method is more profitable than traditional tillage-based farming, as it yields higher production. He earns around Rs 90,000 per season from garlic farming.
In Pipaladi, many farmers have adopted garlic as a cash crop.
Each family engaged in garlic cultivation under the zero tillage method plants garlic on one to five katthas of land (one kattha is 3,645 square feet). The yield from one kattha of land is around two quintals, and the market price during the season ranges from Rs 300 to Rs 500 per kilogram.
According to Binay Raj Joshi, Agriculture Development Officer at the Municipality’s Agriculture Section, farmers are increasingly attracted to zero tillage garlic farming because it eliminates the need for plowing, reduces production costs, and helps maintain soil quality.
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08- Nepal-India common Chhath ghat constructed at Bagahi
Mahottari, Oct 24: A joint Nepal-India Chhath ghat has been constructed along the Bigahi River located on the border of Mahottari and Dhanusha.
An attractive ghat, about two kilometres long, has been constructed on the bank of the Bigahi River, for convenience of the devotees observing the Chhath festival on October 27.
Matihani Municipality Mayor Hari Prasad Mandal said that the Chhath ghat has been constructed for the residents of Wards 6, 7, and 8 of Matihani Municipality in Nepal, Tulasiyahi of Mukhiyapatti Musaharnia Rural Municipality–3 in Dhanusha, and for the locals in Madhawapur and Rampur areas in India.
He stated that although they live in separate countries, citizens of Nepal and India have been constructing a common Chhath ghat as they practice shared religion, culture, festivals, marital traditions and joys and sorrows.
“The no-man’s land has separated our two countries, but our costumes, language, culture and festivals are the same. There is a culture of celebrating cultural festivals together, and this ghat is an example of that,” said Mayor Mandal.
Citizens from Matihani and Tulasiyahi in Nepal and Madhawapur and Rampur in India have come together to decorate this shared ghat between Nepal and India.
Jit Narayan Majhi, the Chairman of Matihani, Ward 7, said that more than two thousand devotees from both countries are expected to perform the Chhath Arghya rituals at this ghat and over ten thousand devotees will be present to observe the festival.
During this festival, devoted to the worship of the Sun god and the goddess Shashti Devi (commonly called Chhathi Devi), the fasting devotees will offer ‘arghya’ to the setting sun on the evening of Kartik Shukla Shashthi which falls on October 27 and to the rising sun on the morning of Saptami on October 28, after bathing at this very ghat.
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09- CPN (Unified Socialist) to settle internal dispute through Central
Committee meeting
Kathmandu, Oct 24: The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) has called a Central Committee meeting in Kathmandu on October 29.
The Central Committee meeting has been called to discuss the proposal of party unification with various leftist forces.
Central Deputy Head of the Department of Publicity, Damodar Aryal, said that the meeting will be focused on swiftly concluding the ongoing unification talks with leftist, communist, and socialist parties. It will also hold discussions on the post-unity party’s ideological perspective, management of leaders’ positions, and other related matters.
“Ideological disputes and internal conflicts within the organisation are to be resolved at the central committee meeting. Most party leaders have suggested that before moving ahead with unification among some communists, homework should be done for polarisation among all leftists,” Aryal said.
The meeting is expected to direct the party for lobbying to hold the House of Representatives election on the stipulated date and to actively involve all party and mass organisation committees to play the required role in the election process to help conduct the election in a free, fair and fear-free environment.
The party central committee is also expected to assign responsibility to the party to promote dialogue and cooperation between democratic republican and constitution-supporting forces and with other parties to resolve the current crisis, protect the republic and the constitution, and create a reliable environment for elections.
The Unified Socialist’s Central Committee meeting is also taking place in the context of the CPN (UML) Chairperson KP Sharma Oli’s call to the Unified Socialist, which had prepared the groundwork for unity among the parties affiliated with the Socialist Front and other leftist forces, to join the UML.
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10- EC assessing applications for party registrations
Kathmandu, Oct 24: The Election Commission (EC) is currently assessing the documents of five new political parties that have applied for registration following the announcement of fresh elections to the House of Representatives.
According to the EC, the documents submitted by these parties are under consideration. While any party can apply for registration at any time, the Commission noted that the trend has increased notably after the formation of the incumbent interim government founded on the September 8-9 Gen Z movement and the announcement of new elections, suggesting the growing participation of youth in politics.
EC Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai stated that applications meeting the required criteria will be approved.
The Shram Sanskriti Party, led by the Mayor of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, Harka Sampang, applied for registration on September 23. Similarly, the Nepal Nagarik Party, headed by advocate Surendra Bhandari, applied on 25. The Gatisheel Loktantrik Party, led by Dinesh Raj Prasai with the proposed election symbol Jyoti (Light), filed its application on October 16. The Nepal Liberal Party, led by Gopilal Neupane with the proposed symbol Coin, and the Rastriya Gen Z Party, led by Hira Prasad Soti with the proposed symbol Crossed Khukuri, both submitted their applications on October 19.
The EC has stated that no other party suggesting a specific age group with the election symbol of Crossed Khukuri has yet claimed the registration. A decision regarding its allocation will be made in accordance with existing laws and practices.
Meanwhile, the applications of 10 political parties submitted before the announcement of the election have been disapproved for failing to meet the required documentation standards. Among these are Ujyalo Nepal and the Rastriya Pariwartan Party.
Prior to these new applications, 122 political parties had been registered with the EC. With the split of two existing parties, the total number has now reached 124.
According to the election schedule approved by the commission on October 6, the notice for party registration for election purposes will be published on November 14.
The Election Commission will provide a period of 10 days from November 17 to 26 for the parties to get registered for election purpose. Only those parties that register in this manner will be allowed to apply for registration as parties for the proportional electoral system.
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11 – PADT refutes reports of Home Minister’s entering Pashupatinath Temple with shoes
Kathmandu, Oct 24: The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has clarified that Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal did not enter the main premises of the Pashupatinath Temple wearing leather shoes.
The minister had made a private visit to the temple along with his family on October 22. According to PADT Acting Member Secretary Subhash Chandra Joshi, the Home Minister had not entered the prohibited areas with the shoes put on.
He took a family photo in front of a door at the Nairitya Kon (southwest corner) outside the main temple. The same photo was later circulated on social media with false claims, PADT stated.
The Home Minister had taken the photo in front of the door that was opened during the tenure of Basanta Chaudhary as the PADT Member Secretary in 2059 BS.
The PADT further said that Home Minister Aryal took the family photo on the pavement along the route from Aryaghat toward Guhyeshwari. The PADT Acting Secretary and a priest also appeared in the photo, which was falsely circulated on social media.
On Wednesday, the Home Minister paid homage at the Pashupatinath, Mrigasthali-based Gorakhnath, and Guhyeshwari temples.
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12 – Nepali Army assures of timely completion of Fast Track within
estimated budget
Kathmandu, Oct 24: The Nepali Army has said that the construction of the Kathmandu-Tarai/ Madhesh Fast Track (Expressway) will be completed within the deadline and without exceeding the estimated cost.
The 70.977-kilometre project has so far achieved 43.6 percent physical progress and 44.72 percent financial progress, according to Project Director Dharmendra Kumar Jha. The project, a national pride project, is being implemented by the Nepali Army.
Under the Expressway project, more than 87 bridges are yet to be constructed, some of which will include special structural features and reach up to 82 meters in height.
The Army has stated that the deadline for completing the project is by mid-April, 2027, with a preliminary estimated cost of Rs 213 billion.
Out of the seven tunnels planned, breakthroughs have already been achieved in two. According to Jha, the Nepali Army is making every effort to complete the project within the set deadline.
This is the shortest route connecting the Kathmandu Valley to the central Tarai.
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13 – Gen Z demonstration at Maitighar calls for organising Gen Z
Conference
Kathmandu, Oct 24: A Gen Z group held a sit-in at Maitighar today, demanding the organization of a Gen Z central conference in Kathmandu and district-level conferences across the country.
They urged the government to create an enabling environment for this initiative. According to the participants, today’s gathering was meant to demonstrate unity among themselves, emphasizing that they do not tolerate any groupism or divisions within the Gen Z community.
They stated that the incumbent government was born from the sacrifices of martyrs and is expected to protect the hopes, spirit, and the future of the younger generations. Terming the government as their guardian, they added that it should act transparently, highlighting the need for unity and collaboration within the Gen Z community, especially at a time when the nation is facing a crisis.
Addressing the demonstration, participant Madan Karki urged the Gen Z community not to be divided by political identities or groupism. Karki, who was also injured during the recent Gen Z demonstration held on September 8–9, echoed the need for government support to further promote unity among them.
Participants carried placards reading, “Address Gen Z Demands,” “Don’t Forget the Blood of Martyrs”, “Country’s Wound, Our Responsibility”, “Our Responsibility to Address the Dreams of Martyrs,” and “Let’s Not Stay Silent While the Nation Hurts, Let’s Unite,” among others. They also took part in the demonstration with national flags draped over their shoulders.
It is reported that today’s sit-in was organized to create pressure on the government to address the demands of the Gen Z movement.
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14- Six people dead in separate incidents in last 24 hours
Kathmandu, Oct 24: Six people have died in separate incidents in various districts of the country in the last 24 hours.
A report from Bhajani in Kailali district said three people, including twin sisters, drowned in a canal at Pathraiya Gujaruwa of Janaki rural municipality-5 in Kailali.
According to the police, they drowned while bathing in the Kulariya Canal under the Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Project. The deceased have been identified as twins Nisha Bajgai and Manushi Bajgai of Tikapur municipality-1, and Sulochana Timilsaina of Janaki rural municipality-5.
The twins were fifth graders at Janajagriti Secondary School, Sitapur, Tikapur, while the third one was a fourth grader at Saraswoti Secondary School, Durgauli, Janaki rural municipality-1.
Area Police Office, Tikapur’s Chief Deputy Superintendent of Police, Prakash Dangi, said Nisha and Manushi had been a relative’s home when they went to the canal. The bodies have been kept at Tikapur Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
In Baitadi district, a person has died in a motorcycle accident. The spokesperson of the District Police Office Baitadi, Police Inspector Baldev Badu, said that the deceased is approximately 58-year-old Prem Singh Bisht from Sukeli, Patan Municipality-6.
According to him, Bisht, who had said he would go to Siude from home around 4 pm on Thursday, was found dead today. Badu added that Bisht’s family had urged the Patan Area Police Office to search for him when he did not return home until late on Thursday.
Accordingly, while searching, Bisht’s body was found about a hundred metres down from Annadi Mod, Patan Municipality-4, below the Dasharath Chand Highway.
Inspector Badu stated that the Su Pa Pra 01-011 Pa 7151 numbered motorcycle driven by Bisht was also found fallen off the road.
In Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East), a youth was beaten to death by a group participating in a cultural Deusi Bhailo program at Dumakatta of Binayi rural municipality-4 in Nawalparasi (Bardghat Susta East).
Police confirmed the death of Santa Bahadur Thada, 44, of the same locality. Severely injured in the assault, Thada was pronounced dead upon arrival at the local medical hall.
Police have arrested Rinku Gurung, 19, Dharan Paija Magar, 20, and another 17-year-old boy of Binayi Tribeni rural municipality-4 for their alleged involvement in the beating. Police are further investigating the case, said Dumkibas Police Inspector Thaman Singh Rana.
In Jhapa, a woman died of electric shock in Birtamod municipality-10. Talamai Mardi, 55, suffered the shocks while trying to repair an electric cable at her home. Further investigation into the case is underway, said Area Police Office, Anarmani. —
