- Sunday, 21 December 2025
Kathmandu, Dec 20: Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has congratulated the newly elected Chairperson of CPN (UML), KP Sharma Oli, along with other office-bearers and central members.
Oli was elected the party Chairperson by the 11th national congress of the CPN (UML) recently held in Kathmandu. It is the third consecutive election of the septuagenarian leader to the party’s leadership post.
Towards this, former President Bhandari, who also served as a former Vice-Chairperson of the UML, delivered a congratulatory message and extended her best wishes to the party leadership and other elected ones. Furthermore, Bhandari commented that party’s selection of a new leadership through democratic competition itself reflects the UML’s organizational maturity and vibrant practice of the People’s Multiparty System.
She also extended her heartfelt thankfulness to all leaders and cadres who participated as well as contested in this national congress while remaining committed to ideology, integrity and procedure. ‘In democracy, competition is a natural and necessary process which will further strengthen and revitalize the party,” argued Bhandari.
Moreover, she also expressed her confidence that the newly elected leadership would take forward the party by further strengthening internal democracy, collective leadership and organizational unity under the guidance of the People’s Multiparty System.
—
10- Nepal–China joint security patrol begins
Mustang, Dec 20: A joint security patrol has begun in the Korala area along the Nepal–China border in Mustang which shares the border with Tibet, the autonomous region of China.
Despite the extreme cold, security personnel from both countries have regularized the joint patrol. Chief of the Armed Police Force (APF) 33 Number Company Headquarters, Jomsom, DSP Bheshraj Giri, said the patrol aims to prevent potential cross-border crimes, including smuggling, poaching, and other activities that could threaten border security.
He added that the joint patrol commenced on Friday will continue throughout the winter season. The patrolling is focused on the Korala border areas, covering border pillars with number 21, 22, 23, and 24 towards Dolpa.
Security personnel from the Korala-based APF Border Outpost (BOP) and their Chinese counterparts are participating in the patrol. The joint team consists of 10 APF personnel led by BOP In-charge APF Inspector Arun Bhandari and five security personnel from the Chinese side.
Along the Nepal–China border, border pillars numbered 18 to 23 lie towards Mustang, while pillars numbered 25 to 33 fall within Manang district. Border pillar number 14 serves as a transit point and is designated as a no-man’s land.
—
11- Nine male Gharials found in Rapti and Narayani rivers
Nawalpur (Nawalparasi), Dec 20: A total of nine male gharials (crocodiles) have been recorded in the Rapti and Narayani rivers flowing through Chitwan National Park (CNP).
Of them, seven were found in the Rapti River and remaining two in the Narayani River. Male gharials are considered rare, according to the park authorities.
According to CNP’s Information Officer and Conservation Officer Abinash Thapa Magar, a total of 366 crocodiles, including 231 in the Rapti River and 135 in the Narayani River were recorded during the direct census this year.
Last year, total number of crocodiles in both rivers stood at 352, with 206 in the Rapti and 146 in the Narayani. This year, the number has increased in the Rapti River but decreased in the Narayani River. Crocodiles reared at the Crocodile Breeding Centre in Kasara are regularly released into the rivers.
Officials said that the rise in the total crocodile population may be attributed to increased public awareness, community conservation efforts, and initiatives taken by Chitwan National Park.
—
12- Madhes province assembly: Yadav registers candidacy for Speaker
Mahendranagar (Dhanusha), Dec 20: Chief Whip of the Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, Ram Ashish Yadav today has registered his candidacy for the post of Speaker in the Madhes Province Assembly.
He filed the candidature for the post with support from seven political parties.
Secretary of the Province Assembly, Basu Prasad Koirala informed that Yadav’s candidacy was proposed by Birendra Singh of the Nepali Congress and seconded by Fakira Mahato of the Maoist Cerntre.
Yadav was elected the member in the province assembly from Dhanusha electoral constituency 2 (B).
—
13- Chinese language training to tourism entrepreneurs
Kathmandu, Dec 20: To mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China, a Chinese language training has been imparted to Nepal’s tourism entrepreneurs.
A total of 47 entrepreneurs who completed the six-month language training programme were awarded certificates amid a ceremony on last Friday.
The Nepal Tourism Board organized the training course in association with the Chinese Embassy in Nepal. On the occasion, Ram Krishna Lamichhane, Director General of the NTB, said that the training would enable Nepali entrepreneurs to easily deal with Chinese tourists and better promote their services.
He expressed his confidence that the proficiency of Chinese language among the Nepali tourism entrepreneurs would positively contribute to the country’s tourism industry. During the closing ceremony of training, Zhou Pan, Minister Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, highlighted various dimensions of China-Nepal relations.
He believed the training would aid in further strengthening cultural ties between the two countries.
—
14- Advancing Saptagandaki Multipurpose Proejct stressed
Kathmandu, Dec 20: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Kulman Ghising has emphasized advancing the construction of
the 225 MW Saptakoshi multipurpose hydropower project with a reservoir to address erosion in the lower banks of the Narayani River and promote overall development in Chitwan and Nawalparasi districts.
Speaking at a programme organized today by the Chitwan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Narayanghat, he stated the Saptakoshi hydropower project should be built in a way that it would not submerge the religiously significant Devghat area.
He further stressed that benefits should be derived from reservoir projects in the upper plains, such as Budhigandaki and Tanahun. “To control erosion and flooding from rivers in the long term, reservoir projects should be constructed in the upper plains as part of an integrated river basin management plan. Collecting rainwater in the wet season and regulated water in the winter from reservoir projects on tributaries of the Narayani River, including Seti, Budhigandaki and Kaligandaki, can help control floods and provide benefits for agriculture and water transport”, his personal secretariat quoted Minister Ghising as saying.
It may be noted that a feasibility study for the Saptakoshi Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project on the Narayani River flowing through the borders of Chitwan, Tanahun and Nawalparasi, was conducted in 1985 with the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The dam of the project will be constructed about one kilometre down from Devghat, the confluence of the Trishuli and Kaligandaki rivers. The study indicated that Devghat could be submerged if the project was constructed.
By creating a reservoir at Devghat, electricity could be generated and irrigation facilities could be provided to hundreds of hectares in Chitwan and Nawalparasi, it is stated.
—
15- RSP Vice President Wagle insists on successful conduct of March 5 elections
Myagdi, Dec 20: Vice President of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Swarnim Wagle, has said that the successful conduct of the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5, 2026, is necessary to end the country’s political dilemma.
Addressing a party programme here today, Wagle said the election would serve as a takeoff point for a political way forward.
“The more political confusion prevails in the country, the weaker the ecosystem of governance become,” he said. “The election should be conducted successfully to address public sentiments for change and to find a way out of the existing political confusion.”
—
16- Tender of contractors failing to timely deliver will be terminated: Minister Ghising
Chitwan, Dec 20: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Kulman Ghising, who also holds the portfolio of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and Urban Development, said that the government will terminate the contracts of construction companies failing to deliver on time.
Addressing an interaction programme organised by the Chitwan Chamber of Commerce and Industry here today, the Minister said that there are over three thousand road and bridge contracts, and in some cases, the contractors remain unidentified.
He clarified that in such situations, the government is left with no option but to either ensure the work or terminate the contracts. Talking about the upcoming election scheduled for March 5, 2026, the Minister said that the government to be formed after the election should bring in new faces with new visions capable of leading the country towards prosperity and bringing substantive transformation to the nation.
—
17- Election, comfortable option to steer nation to new direction: Dahal
Kathmandu, Dec 20: Coordinator of Nepali Communist Party (NCP), Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said there is no alternative to timely conduct the elections to prevent the nation from falling into a crisis.
During his address to the NCP’s Bagmati province-level unification assembly here today, Dahal said aspirations of citizens and political parties, for the election, however, are being thwarted.
“Election is a comfortable option of the time to take the country towards a new direction. Citizens have been prepared for the election. Let’s not allow anyone to thwart the aspirations for seeing the timely conduct of the election.”
As he added, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that election is held in an impartial atmosphere by overcoming the rumour of the possibility of the reinstatement of the House of Representatives.
Highlighting that the election is a national need, leader Dahal urged all political parties to gear up for the election. Some forces have dreamt of the reinstatement of the House of Representatives and the previous government, he said, adding that such possibility is not likely, according to coordinator Dahal.
He claims that their party is only the guardian of the Gen Z groups as the party had the history of fighting against corruption, for the liberation and identities of the oppressed community and for their rights.
—
18- Groups affected by Tanahu Hydropower Project voice for compensation
Damauli (Tanahun), Dec 20: Locals of Belbas in Byas Municipality–13, who are affected by the Tanahu Hydropower Project, have demanded compensation. They have claimed that Belbas is at risk due to the project and therefore should be fairly compensated.
They said that they will be affected by the under-construction 140-megawatt project based in Jhaptutar of Rishing Rural Municipality–1. Meghnath Acharya, a member of the concern committee, said that the Belbas settlement will be submerged due to the Tanahun Hydropower Project. The detailed study report of the Asian Development Bank has also suggested the risk of inundation in Belbas once the project is implemented.
The embankment built to protect the project office has caused the diversion of the Seti River toward Belbas, putting the settlement at high risk, it is said. The locals have demanded proper compensation, citing that they may need to move to a safer location in the future to avoid the risk.
The committee drew the government’s attention to the issue during the visit to Tanahun by Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Kulman Ghising a few days ago.
According to committee coordinator Yam Bahadur Ale, a total of 170 households will be affected by the project. —
