- Sunday, 16 August 2026
Kathmandu, Aug 16: Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal has said intellectual discourse and movement are essential to assure national transformation.
While inaugurating the first campus assembly of the Gramin Adasrha Multiple Campus here today, Minister Khanal said the role of academic sector is vital to guide the society and nation on a right track. “An intellectual movement gives an impetus to the transformation in the country,” he underscored.
On the occasion, former minister Rajendra Shrestha advised the government to create an atmosphere that accommodates youths within the country.
Campus Management Committee chair Rameshwor Bohara informed that the campus was focused on providing education that meets the needs of present time, with priority to practical learning.
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15- Coordination emphasized for disaster preparedness
Sudurpaschim, Aug 16: Sudurpaschim Province government has stressed effective coordination among province government, district authority and local government in addition to cooperation from security agencies for the effective disaster management.
In a meeting of the province disaster management council, Chief Minister Khagaraj Bhatta directed the subordinates including Ministry of Internal Affairs to augment government preparations and preparedness so that disaster management could be made effective.
He said possible risky areas should be identified and response forwarded accordingly. The Chief Minister underlined the need of putting in place necessary workforce, rescue materials, health services and other resources.
Early warning, constant monitoring and information collection warrant equal attention, according to him. In view of Chief Minister Bhatta, smooth cooperation among security agencies with allocation of clear duties plays instrumental role in sorting out related problems.
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16- UGC starts determining equivalence of foreign academic degrees
Kathmandu, Aug 16: With the University Grants Commission (UGC) getting responsibility of determining the equivalence of foreign academic degrees, it has, in the first phase, conducted equivalence of 30 graduates’ degree earned from abroad. Earlier, the Tribhuvan University (TU) was responsible for carrying out this work.
UGC’s newly appointed chair Prof Dr Khadga Bahadur KC informed he assumed the office on August 7 and the determination of equivalency began on August 10. A new working procedures of the UGC has also reached the endorsement phase.
However, due to absence of experts, it has hired human resources from the TU on deputation for the equivalence. Chair KC said that the new procedure would be finalized once the appointments on the posts of the UGC members are fulfilled.
The proposed procedures incorporate the provision about the formation of an Equivalence Determination Committee under the chairmanship of the UGC’s secretary. UGC opened online applications for equivalence on July 17. Earlier, the work of settling equivalence of higher education was being handled by the Curriculum Development Centre under the Office of the Rector of Tribhuvan University.
UGC was awarded the authority to determine the equality of academic degrees obtained from foreign universities or similar educational institutions by amending the ‘University Grants Commission Act, 2050’ through the ‘Act to Amend Some of Nepal Acts, 2082’.
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17- Mustang Province Hospital desperately awaits replacement of aging ambulance
Mustang, Aug 16: The only Province Hospital with 25 beds in Mustang is desperately awaiting replacement of an aging ambulance but to no avail.
The emergency vehicle has been used for 15 years, but it has become sheer problem in recent days to transport patients in the worn out vehicle.
Medical superintendent at the Hospital, Dr Samikshya Kandel, shared the plight that the ambulance has turned worthless, for it has stopped functioning. Using dysfunctional ambulance is utter risk, she added.
In case of referral to the patients who need urgent and better treatment, the emergency vehicle is not functional. The supply section of the Health Ministry in province government was repeatedly requested for the ambulance for two years but in vain, the doctor shared.
Moreover, even the local governments here have no reliable ambulances to rescue people for immediate treatment. An ambulance belonging to Gharapjhong Rural Municipality close to the hospital is grounded after it conked out.
Health coordinator at the rural municipality, Karna Bahadur Thakali, admitted that the ambulance in the local level was not operational at present. Although four of five local levels in Mustang have ambulances, half of those are not fit for use.
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18- Bollywood actress Pooja Chopra pays homage to Pashupatinath Temple
Kathmandu, Aug 16: Bollywood actress Pooja Chopra paid homage to the Pashupatinath Temple today.
On the occasion, she performed a special puja and other rituals dedicating to the Hindu lord Shiva, according to the Pashupati Area Development Trust. A total of 235 devotees, including Chopra, performed the special puja at the temple after obtaining receipts worth Rs 2,100 each.
Devotees thronged the Pashupatinath Temple since the early morning today, the last day of the Nepali month of Saun, which is traditionally considered a month dedicated to Lord Shiva. Besides, the public holiday also encouraged a large number of people to visit the famous shrine.
Chopra arrived in Nepal during the month of Saun to pay homage to the Pashupatinath. Last week, Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty also visited the temple, where she performed the special puja, rituals and paid homage to Lord Shiva.
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19- Former president of NC expresses full trust in court
Kathmandu, Aug 16: Former president of the Nepali Congress (NC) and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba reminded that he had the experience of getting justice from the judiciary and he has full trust in it this time too.
In his address to the concluding session of the three-day national gathering of the anti-establishment faction of NC here today, leader Deuba said, “When I was in custody during the monarchy, I was granted justice by the judiciary with the dismissal of the then Shahi Commission. Now, the matter of party’s legitimacy is in the Supreme Court, and we are hopeful of justice again” he said.
“I had advised the party for not opting for the special general convention because it could split the party,” Deuba added.
On a different note, he said he is a Hindu follower and follows the Hindu customs, adding that none should be deprived of observing the Hinduism. “I have equal respect to the Buddhism, other religions and natural beliefs.”
The senior leader said he had a great support and goodwill from the party leaders and cadres and he will always remain indebted to such support. Deuba returned home on Thursday following treatment for five months abroad.
Party’s former general secretary and gathering coordinator Dr Shashanka Koirala said the gathering was organised to unite the party, providing an opportunity for a larger number of party cadres for the meeting.
Meanwhile, the gathering endorsed five reports. It also passed various proposals on the preparations for 15th general convention, freedom on following the Sanatan religion, and contemporary amendments to the constitution.
The event that had kicked off on Friday was addressed by party leaders Bimalendra Nidhi, Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, NP Saud, Ramesh Lekhak and Umakanta Chaudhary, who presented political, economic contemporary, legal, statute and organistional proposals.
The NC special general convention held on January 11-14 elected a new working committee under the leadership of then general secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa. The Deuba faction then had refused to participate in the special convention, arguing it was invalid. The faction went to filing a complaint to the Election Commission against Thapa’s leadership.
The dissident faction had knocked Supreme Court (SC) after Election Commission recognized the working committee of NC elected from the special general convention. SC, which had initially recognized EC’s decision, later nodded for review of party legitimacy case in response to dissidents’ appeal.
On August 6, SC had decided to conduct a review on the case over NC leadership legitimacy.
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20- Govt. committed to religious, natural heritages’ protection, Minister Paudel says
Mahottari, Aug 16: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadak Raj Paudel said that the government was committed to preserving the country’s religious and natural heritages.
After a visit to the Tuteshwornath Mahadev Mandir at Bardibas-5 in Mahottari district today, Minister Paudel said the federal government was firm for the protection of the nation’s religious, cultural and natural heritages along with their timely development.
On the occasion, Minister Paudel received a memo submitted by the representatives of Tuteshwornath Mahadev Mandir Protection Committee.
Receiving the memo, Minister Paudel said, “The government is committed to coordinating with the local communities for the protection and promotion of this religious site and the tourism development potentials.” House of Representatives (HoR) Members Tapeshwor Yadav and Pramod Kumar Mahato also joined the minister to visit the Hindu shrine.
Similarly, Minister Paudel also paid homage to Panchadhura Mai Mandir in Bardibas Municipality-4 in the district.
After visiting the religious sites in the district, Minister Paudel said those places carry immense potential for religious tourism.
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21- Rastriya Swatantra Party launches ‘Citizens, Policy and Leadership’ program
Kathmandu, Aug 16: The ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is launching ‘Citizens, Policy and Leadership’ program, starting Monday.
Recognizing the fact that the essence of democracy is elected leadership being constantly in touch with and accountable to the citizens, the RSP is going to hosting the program to develop a people-responsive, transparent and result-oriented political culture. Under the program, the members of the cabinet representing the party must visit the central party office at least once a month to hold a direct dialogue with the citizens and the party ranks.
RSP Parliamentary Party Whip Prakash Chandra Pariyar said that this program is being run to serve as a bridge to connect the voices of the grassroots directly to the level of state policy formulation and implementation. In the first phase of the program, a one-hour in the evening will be completely open to the general public, and the ministers present there will directly listen to the grievances, expectations and suggestions of the general public.
In the second phase, a joint meeting will be held between ministers, party central committee members and members of the House of Representatives, and based on the suggestions received from citizens in the first phase intensive discussions will be held on contemporary, multi-dimensional and policy-level issues of the country.
Whip Pariyar said that this initiative is expected to promote coordination between citizens, government (ministers), legislature (MPs) and organization (central committee), and help formulate a common strategy to effectively address citizens’ issues.
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22- NC faction conference ends with five-point conclusion
Lalitpur, Aug 16: The national conference organized by a faction of the Nepali Congress party ended with a five-point conclusion, including a decision to hold the 15th General Convention of the party.
The three-day conference was organized under the coordination of former Nepali Congress General Secretary Dr Shashank Koirala. The conference also concluded with another decision to remain active for the strengthening of nationality and democracy by holding dialogue with national and democratic forces.
It also committed to taking the nation forward with Sanatan Dharma as the national identity, keeping in mind the responsibility of protecting the Hindu, Buddhist, Kirat and Prakrit religions that have been practiced in Nepal since the beginning of time, ensuring religious tolerance, social harmony and the religious freedom of every individual and religious community to practice their own religion.
A point of conclusion also includes working to make necessary amendments to the current constitution as per the people’s expectations. A committee led by central member NP Saud was also formed to propose necessary amendments in the party statute.
Former Prime Minister and outgoing President Sher Bahadur Deuba, conference coordinator Dr Shashank Koirala and other leaders addressed the closing ceremony of the conference.
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23- Geological study to be held of landslide-hit areas of west Nepal
Kathmandu, Aug 16: The government is planning to carry out a geological study of the landslide-affected areas of the western region of the country.
A meeting of the Monsoon Response Command Post of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) held Sunday decided to conduct a preliminary geological study of the landslide-hit areas at Thawang and Sunchhahari rural municipalities in Rolpa, Triveni municipality in Bajura and Bheri municipality in Jajarkot district.
The command post has also decided to deploy a study team in the field within three days under the leadership of NDRRMA, including representatives from the concerned agencies. The team will have the participation from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.
Likewise, the Monsoon Response Command Post has directed the concerned agencies to effectively advance the search, rescue, relief and rehabilitation works as the monsoon-induced disasters have caused havoc in different districts, according to the NDRRMA.
The NDRRMA has expressed its serious concern to the loss caused due to the landslides in some districts, and has urged to immediately expedite the rescue and relief operations targeting the affected households.
Today’s meeting of the command post has asked the concerned district administration offices, district disaster management committee and local levels to ensure treatment to the injured ones for free and provide relief materials to the affected households based on a rapid assessment of the disasters.
Similarly, the NDRRMA has directed for the construction of temporary housing for those affected from the disasters and initiate processes for retrofitting of the private houses and provide grant for the reconstruction and rehabilitation at the earliest possible time.
The NDRRMA has also urged the people to exercise high alertness during the monsoon season as the risk of landslide has increased due to torrential rain in the hilly and mountainous regions in the country.
Furthermore, the local residents have been advised to avoid non-essential travel as the risks of inundation, flooding, flash flood and debris flows remain high in different parts of the country.
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24- Indian CoAS arrives on a four-day official visit
Kathmandu, Aug 16: Chief of the Army Staff, Indian Army, General Dhiraj Seth arrived in Kathmandu today on a four-day official visit at the invitation of CoAS of Nepali Army, General Ashok Raj Sigdel.
The five-member delegation led by General Seth was welcomed at the Tribhuvan International Airport by Vice Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Pradeep Jung KC.
According to NA Directorate of Public Relations and Information, General Seth is scheduled to be conferred the rank of Honorary General of the Nepali Army by President Ramchandra Paudel at a special ceremony to be held on Monday.
The Nepali Army believes the exchanges of such high-level visits contribute to the continuation of the long-standing traditions to strengthen the relations between the two Armies, adds a press release issued by the DPRI here this evening.
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25- NC Prez Thapa warns against privatizing legacy of leaders like BP, Ganeshman
Kathmandu, Aug 16: Nepali Congress (NC) President Gagan Kumar Thapa cautioned that the legacy of leaders such as BP Koirala and Ganeshman Singh should not be ”privatized” or confined to their families, stressing that their political contributions belong to the wider democratic movement.
Addressing a programme organised to launch NC leader Dharma Gautam’s book – ‘BP ra Bidrohaka Ti Din‘ (BP and Those Days of Revolt), here on Sunday, party president Thapa observed that BP Koirala’s ‘Melmilap ko Niti’ (policy of national reconciliation) remains highly relevant and continues to draw public discussion.
Thapa highlighted the importance of documenting historical events through credible sources rather than relying on personal recollections.
He argued that claims about what BP said in private conversations often lack official verification unless supported by books, documents or other historical records. Thapa, thus, emphasized publication of book by personalities having historic background as writer Dharma Gautan for authenticity.
Stating that the NC is a national force, the party president assured that identity of a national force cannot be taken away by anyone. Regarding a recent gathering of the party’s establishment faction, Thapa urged the journalists to wait until coming Monday for an official press conference to be organized at the party’s central office.
During the unveiling of the book, writer and NC leader Gautam mentioned that he wrote the book to show that the leaders of the past were not only worthy of criticism but also deserving of appreciation.
According to him, the book focuses on issues related to BP Koirala, country’s first democratically elected Prime Minister. He further illuminated that the book discusses BP Koirala’s political philosophy, including his formula that adding democracy to communism results in socialism, while removing democracy from socialism results in communism.
It also examines the differences between BP Koirala’s ideas and Madan Bhandari’s concept of ‘People’s Multiparty Democracy’ as well as BP’s broader political thought and philosophy. “We have agreed to add a contribution from the family to the proceeds from the book’s sales and use the funds to help equip the community health post in our village in Ilam district and Maheshwara Basic School there with modern facilities,” he informed.
He gushed that his family members had also supported his decisions towards this end. Reviewing the book, senior journalist Harihar Birahi, called for documenting of political history by leaders like Dharma Gautam, to benefit the new generation.
“Such efforts,” he noted, “would benefit future generations while also helping uncover and preserve important facts about the country’s political history.”
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26- Jajarkot landslide: Army rescues 300 people
Kathmandu, Aug 16: The Nepal Army has rescued more than 300 people affected by a landslide in the Risang area of Bheri Municipality-2, Jajarkot.
A team deployed from the Bhawani Dal Battalion to search and rescue the landslide survivors in collaboration with other security agencies and locals rescued them today and sent them to a safe location, according to the Nepal Army Directorate of Public Relations and Information.
The army team also rescued eight people injured in the landslide and retrieved bodies of four people who died in the landslide, the directorate said.
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27- Tiger that entered human settlement taken under control
Chitwan, Aug 16: A tiger that and entered Dubichaur area of Rapti Municipality-1 from the Chitwan National Park has been brought under control.
The park mobilized a technical team to taken the wild animal into control today morning. The tiger was seen in the settlement area since Friday night. According to Abinash Thapa Magar, the park’s information officer, the technical team succeeded in administering a dart (an anesthetic) to the tiger in the third attempt, thereby taking it under control. The tiger will be taken to Sauraha for a health check-up.
The tiger had reportedly attacked and injured a person in ward no. 1 of Rapti Municipality this morning. Sixty-year-old local Thakur Adhikari sustained minor injuries to his thigh and is being treated at Bharatpur Hospital.
Meanwhile, the tiger also attacked a cow in the cowshed of local Dila Kumari Tamang, causing minor injuries, shared Chandra Bhushan Yadav, Information Officer and Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office. A few days ago, another together had been taken control after it left the park’s enclosure.
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28- Nepal ‘A’ cricket team off to Australia
Kathmandu, Aug 16: The Nepal ‘A’ cricket team participating in the ‘Top End T-20 Series’ to be held in Australia was bid farewell by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) here today.
Anil Kumar Shah will captain the team including Kushal Bhurtel, Lokesh Bam, Mayan Yadav, Tritaraj Das, Kushal Malla, Rashid Khan, Pawan Sarraf, Deepak Dumre, Shahab Alam, Bipin Khatri, Rijan Dhakal, Narayan Joshi, Akash Chand and Yubaraj Khatri.
CAN Vice President Roshan Kumar Singh, member Birendra Bahadur Chand and others bid farewell to the team.
The tournament is be held in Darwin of Australia and hosted by Northern Territory Cricket. Nepal will play 6 matches in the league stage, which will start from coming August 20.
Nepal will face Northern Territory (NT) Strike in the first match of the tournament. This is the second time that Nepal is playing the Top End T-20 series.
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29- NC directs party members to work for rescue operations
Kathmandu, Aug. 16: Nepali Congress (NC) has directed its entire party members to get together for rescue, relief and rehabilitation in this hour of monsoon-induced disasters.
The party’s central working committee meeting presided over by President Gagan Kumar Thapa has expressed sorrow and paid tribute to those who died in landslide occurred at Risang of Bheri Municipality-2 in Jajarkot district on Saturday night.
Likewise, the NC has expressed deep sympathies to the bereaved families. The NC has wished for the speedy recovery of those injured ones and has asked the government to ensure treatment facilities to the injured people in the disasters.
Similarly, the NC has stated that several households were rendered homeless in Kalikot and other hilly districts due to the monsoon-induced disasters, and has asked the government and stakeholders to ensure prompt rescue, relief and rehabilitation works as well as relocate those affected households in the safer zones.
The central working committee meeting of the NC is ongoing and will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, the central office’s Acting Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Dulal said.
On Saturday, 12 leaders including treasurer Umesh Shrestha, joint general secretaries Yogendra Chaudhary and Uday Shumsher Rana, central committee members Arjun Narsingh KC, Mahendra Yadav, Jivan Pariyar, Arjun Prasad Joshi, Dr Chandra Kant Bhandari, Tara Man Gurung, Ang Gelu Sherpa, Madhu Acharya and Prem Bahadur Khadka expressed their views.
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30- Minister Lamsal airlifted to Dhangadhi
Baitadi, Aug 16: Minister for Infrastructure Development, Sunil Lamsal, was airlifted to Dhangadhi in Kailali.
Baitadi Chief District Officer Meena Aryal shared that Minister Lamsal was taken to Dhangadhi by a Nepali Army helicopter after he developed health problems here. Minister Lamsal’s team had been here since Friday to inspect the condition of highways and infrastructure development works in various districts of Sudur Paschim. He was scheduled to return from Darchula and visit various areas of Baitadi and Bajhang.
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