- Sunday, 1 February 2026
Kathmandu, Feb 1: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has today filed charge sheet at the Special Court against eight high-ranking officers including the then General-Manager of Udayapur Cement Industry.
The charge sheet was filed against them for their involvement in embezzlement of huge quantity of clinker. According to the CIAA, the case was filed after it was confirmed that public property was misused and clinker was embezzled in a planned manner from fiscal year 2074/75 BS to Poush, 2077 BS.
The charge sheet was filed against the then General-Manager Surendra Kumar Poudel, officiating general-secretary Nawal Koshor Saha, Deputy General Manager Mahesh Prasad Kafle, Chief of Production Division, Sanjay Kumar Lal, Chief of Store Division, Mahesh Prasad Sah, Chief of Clinker Production Department, Rabi Chandra Poudel, Chief of Cement Production Department and Chief of Sales Department, Ram Bahadur GC.
According to the CIAA, a lawsuit has been filed demanding reimbursement of Rs 124 million 422 thousand 242 against the then General Manager Poudel and Rs 126 million 369 thousand 168 against Deputy General Manager Kafle for embezzlement.
Similarly, a case has been filed claiming compensation of Rs 465 million 274 thousand 426 against other individuals including Officiating General Manager Saha.
The press release issued by the Commission mentions that through mutual collusion and planned misconduct, the accused misused public property under their responsibility, causing serious financial damage to the industry.
The CIAA has filed charges against them under Section 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2002, demanding compensation, imprisonment, and fines.The Commission stated that its investigation was based on the annual stock records of clinker, physical test reports, audit reports of the Office of the Auditor General, and the investigation reports of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.
It is stated in the CIAA press release that according to those documents, there is an unnatural and significant difference between the stock shown on paper by the industry and the actual physical stock.
—
AI training for teachers in Bhanu Municipality
Tanahun, Feb 1: A training session focused on artificial intelligence (AI) has been held for educators working in various schools across Bhanu Municipality.
Ninety teachers took part in this initiative, which aimed to enhance their skills and elevate the educational standards in local schools. Dhurba Raj Paudel, the Education Officer for Bhanu Municipality, said that the training was conducted in groups of 30.
He remarked, “Integrating AI into education is a timely and essential move for teachers, equipping students to tackle future challenges and fostering their independence and skill development.”
Mayor Ananda Raj Tripathi emphasized the importance of such training, warning that without ongoing professional development, both students and schools risk falling behind.
“Education must evolve with technology, and teachers should spearhead this transformation,” he stated. “Proper utilization of technologies like AI can make school education more practical, relevant, and competitive.”
The training was facilitated by Assistant Professor Bishwa Raj Joshi from Bhaktapur Sanothimi Campus, who noted, “Today’s learners are immersed in a digital world, are tech-savvy, and seek innovative learning experiences, making traditional teaching methods inadequate.
—
08- Gold, silver prices decline
Kathmandu, Feb 1: The prices of gold and silver have decreased in the domestic market today.
According to the Federation of Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the gold price has declined by Rs 18,800 per tola (11.66 grammes) today as compared to Friday.
The Federation has set the price of gold at Rs 300,000 per tola today. It was traded at 318,800 per tola on Friday.
Similarly, the silver price has gone down by Rs 1,565 per tola to reach Rs 5,500. It was traded at Rs 7,065 per tola on Friday.
According to the international media, gold is being traded at 4,865 US dollar per ounce and silver at 85 US dollar per ounce.
—
09- FNCCI President Dhakal stresses on prioritizing economic matters
Kathmandu, Feb 1: President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Chandra Prasad Dhakal, highlighted that economic issues are not adequately prioritized in the political parties’ manifestos.
During a programme titled ‘Economic Agenda in Party Manifestos,’ organized by the Nepal Association of Financial Journalists (NAFIJ) here today, Dhakal raised concerns that political parties often focus on criticizing their opponents instead of presenting their own agendas.
The FNCCI, President pointed out that none of the manifestos released by the parties have emphasized private sector and economic issues. “Political parties should engage with the public through their agendas, yet topics such as the private sector and economic concerns have been overlooked,” he remarked.
Dhakal also voiced his worry that the political leadership and parties have failed to recognize the contributions of the private sector to the state. He asserted that without the state’s support and protection for the private sector, the economy cannot thrive.
—
10- HoR elections: Inundation in monsoon, water shortage during winter main concerns of Mahottari-2 voters
Mahottari, Feb 1: As the election of the House of Representatives member approaches, election activities have also started in Mahottari-2. In homes and neighbourhoods, voters here have started to express their dissatisfaction more than showing their problems to the candidates and party leaders who have been meeting with the voters in this constituency.
“Our settlement is facing problem of inundation each year because of the river, and during the monsoon, the flooding caused by the swollen river has been putting the settlement and our fields at risk,” said 55-year-old Suresh Sardar from Hatisarva Majra, Bhangaha-6.
He complained that they suffer every year because permanent embankments and levees for river control are not built. Although embankments were constructed in various places in the past to prevent erosion and flooding, the problem has not been addressed.
The citizens here have started making such complaints to the candidates who come to seek votes in the elections. The rampage of the Ratu River flowing through this area has affected residents of seven local levels in the district.
Marani Majhi Musahar from Bhagwatipur, Balwa-11 said that the problem remains the same as the long-term solution has not been implemented. “When the monsoon arrives, we fear whether the house will be swept away by the flood,” said Majhi.
Election activities have increased in the Mahottari-2 electoral constituency as the movement of candidates and party workers has grown. Communities affected by rivers, including Bighi, Ratu, Marha and Oksi, in this area of the eastern central region of the district, report that their main problems are flooding and water logging in the monsoon and water scarcity in winter.
The Mahottari 2 constituency includes Bhangaha Municipality wards 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8 in the central region, Balwa Municipality ward 11, Loharpatti Municipality ward 9 in the mid-eastern region, and Mahottari Rural Municipality ward 6, Aurahi Municipality wards 7, 8 and 9, Pipra ward 6 and Ekdara Rural Municipality ward 6 in the district.
Although the main occupation of the residents here is farming, due to the lack of proper irrigation facilities, the farmers have been dependent on rainfall for cultivation. They also live in constant fear of floods during the rainy season submerging or sweeping away their homes.
“We are always in trouble as there is no irrigation system in fields. We have never been able to properly harvest our food grains in rainy season due to flooding,” said Bhola Mahato, 45, of Mahottari rural municipality-6.
He argued that elections take place time and again but our sufferings remain as it is. The constituency always inundated and encroached during rainy season and faced water crisis in winter season. The people in this constituency sometime time suffer from scarcity of drinking water during winter season.
Ram Sagar Yadav of Loharpatti-1shared that the locals have wished that the government would make arrangement of irrigation facility, seeds and fertilizer on time, agricultural loan on low interest rate, concrete embankment to protect the farmland from flood.
Total 37 candidates including 15 political parties and 22 independent are contesting the March 5 election in the constituency.
Idris Momin, a candidate from CPN (United), said “People’s complaints have increased in lack of activities in a planned manner. The problems should be resolved through shared determination of all.”
Candidates from Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal, Nepali Communist Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party, Ujyalo Nepal Party, CPN (UML), Nepali Congress, Rastriya Swatantra Party, Janadesh Party Nepal, Rastra Nirman Dal, Janamat Party, Shram Sanskriti Party, Mongol National Organisation and CPN (United) as well as 22 independent candidates are in the election race in Mahottari-2.
Mahottari-2 has 107,594 voters. Chief District Officer, Indra Dev Yadav, shared that security arrangements have been strengthened in order to hold the election in impartial and fear-free environment.
—
11- 441 polling stations in Karnali Province are highly sensitive
Kakrebihar (Surkhet), Feb 1: Police have categorized 441 polling stations of 351 voting centres of 10 districts in Karnali Province as highly sensitive.
Out of 1437 polling stations in the province, Karnali Province Police Office has placed 301 polling stations on a general list and 651 on a sensitive list, said Office Spokesperson Ram Prakash Shah.
Shah mentioned that preparation was underway to mobilize 14,719 police personnel across the province for election security.Preparations are being made keeping in the mind the problems that may rises in conducting election as well as to bring ballot boxes due to poor road condition in some places of Karnali province, he added.
—
12- ICC T20 World Cup Global Qualifiers: Ireland trounces Thailand
Kirtipur (Kathmandu), Feb 1: Ireland has defeated Thailand by 62 runs in the Super Six stage match held today under the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier.
In the match held at Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground, Ireland had won the toss and chose to bat first, scoring a moderate total of 121 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs.
Gabby Leuss contributed 25 runs while Amy Hunter and Orla Pendergast each contributed 24 runs for Ireland.
Thailand, batting with a required run rate of about six per over, managed to score only 59 runs, losing all wickets in 6.1 overs.
Captain Narumol Chaiwai scored 22 runs and Nannapat Koncharan made 15, while no other batter could score in double figures, and four batters were out for zero.
Ireland’s Arlene Kelly took four wickets and Lara MacBride took three wickets against Thailand. Ireland had already qualified for the World Cup before this.
—
13 – Film journalist Sitaula passes away
Kathmandu, Feb 1: Former president of the Film Journalists Association, Dinesh Sitoula, has passed away. He passed away today at Grande Hospital in Dhapasi.The Hospital announced today at a press conference that 45-year-old Sitoula has passed away.
Sitoula, who had gone to Achham along with senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Balendra Shah, was admitted to the hospital on Friday for treatment after he fell unconscious.
The Film Journalists Association stated that journalist Sitoula’s mortal body will be placed at the Film Development Board in Kapan for paying tribute.
—
14 – RAHS to provide cancer treatment
Deukhuri (Dang), Feb 1: An agreement has been reached in order to provide cancer treatment at the Rapti Academy of Health Sciences (RAHS).
At a programme organised here today, officiating Vice-Chancellor of the Academy, Prof Shyam Lamsal, and Executive Director at the BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Dr Shivaji Poudel, signed the agreement on the issue of exchanging necessary human resources by expanding cancer treatment service.
The agreement was signed in presence of officiating Dean of the Academy, Ramesh Kandel, and Hospital’s Deputy Director Dr Umesh Nepal.
Earlier, people were compelled to go to other places including Chitwan and Kathmandu for the treatment of cancer paying expensive cost in lack of such treatment in the district.
Officiating Vice-Chancellor Lamsal expressed the belief that people of previous Rapti zone and west Nepal would be benefitted after the implementation of the agreement.
Both–time and money would be saved after cancer victims get treatment in their locality, he added.
—
15 – Aha-Rara Cup Football Championship to kick off on February 10
Kaski, Feb 1: Preparations for the Aha-Rara Cup Football Championship have been completed. This information was provided at a press conference held here today. The competition will be held at Pokhara Stadium from February 10 to 21. The Championship is organised by Sahara Club of Pokhara.
Twelve teams, including four from abroad and eight domestic teams, will compete for the title.The Nepal Police Club, APF Nepal Club, Machchhindra Football Club, Jawalakhel Youth Club, Church Boys United, Manang–Marsyangdi Club, Planning Boys United, Sahara Club Pokhara and others will participate in the competition.
Similarly, according to Sahara Club president Keshav Bahadur Thapa, two teams including Thunderbolt United (Sikkim) from India, Aabha Football Club from Uzbekistan, and Gorkha International Football Club from Hong Kong will vie for the Championship title.
Thapa said that the Club has increased the prize money. The winning team of the competition will be awarded Rs 1 million 401 thousand and the runner-up team will be awarded Rs 701 thousand.
—
16- HoR Election: Election activities ramp up in Parbat’s rural regions
Parbat, Feb 1: With the House of Representatives election set for March 5 approaching, political parties and candidates are turning their attention to the villages. Candidates are actively engaging with voters, sharing their ideas, principles, and plans, and working to sway votes.
In the district, candidates from 13 different political parties are now in the electoral race. Arjun Prasad Joshi is running for election with the Nepali Congress (NC), while Padam Giri is representing CPN (UML). Manahari Sharma is the candidate for the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), and Sagar Bhusal is contesting from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).
The NC has launched its campaign from Pipaltari, the UML from Durlung, the Nepali Communist Party from Ramjadeurali, and the Rastriya Swatantra Party from Phalewas.Currently, candidates from all parties are visiting local neighborhoods and going door to door, meeting with voters.
Some voters are calling for an end to the rising irregularities and corruption in the country, alongside addressing local concerns, while others are voicing their demands to candidates, including road improvements, managing the monkey problem, irrigation, quality healthcare services, and tackling unemployment.
In all 61 wards across the seven municipalities of Parbat, road access has been enhanced with asphalt, and most ward roads have already been paved. Now, residents are requesting the construction of quality roads leading to neighborhoods and settlements as well.
In the rural areas, the most significant challenge remains the monkey menace, with locals urging for effective solutions. Although candidates’ election manifestos have consistently included plans to tackle the monkey issue, implementation has yet to occur. Candidates have noted that due to the absence of effective legislation on this matter, it is essential to develop a law and proceed accordingly in the future.
Nepali Congress candidate Joshi said that having transformed the party, he has now entered the electoral field to transform the district and the country as a whole. He said that he has filed his candidacy to work according to the needs and desires of the people, not with grand, impossible, or ambitious plans.
The UML candidate Giri stated that he has undertaken a lot of works for the development of the district in the previous two terms and has filed his candidacy again as there is still some work left to complete.
The candidate of the Nepali Communist Party, Sharma, emphasised the need to work in a planned manner for the overall development of Parbat. He added that he has a blueprint for plans including education, health, agriculture, animal husbandry, self-employment, infrastructure, industrialisation as well as monkey control.
Rastriya Swatantra Party’s candidate Bhusal highlighted the need to change policies and laws as an alternative to the current governance system in the country.
The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), CPN Maoist, National People’s Front, Ujyalo Nepal Party, Mongol National Party, People’s Party, National Republic Nepal, National People’s Liberation Party, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, among others, have also reported that they are conducting their election activities meticulously.
There are 125,466 voters in Parbat, who will be voting from 76 polling stations and 151 polling centres in the upcoming HoR election.
—
17 – RSP forms 51-member Election Execution Committee
Kathmandu, Feb 1: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has formed a 51-member Federal Election Execution Committee under coordination of its vice-chairperson, Dol Prasad Aryal, for the election to the House of Representatives scheduled for March 5.
According to General-Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti, the committee was formed as per the central committee’s decision in order to launch election-centric activities.
Shankar Shrestha is member-secretary of the committee. The party also appointed province coordination secretary on provincial basis as well as internal coordination sub-committee, administrative coordination sub-committee and communication coordination sub-committee.
—
18- NCP (Maoist) unveils election manifesto
Kathmandu, Feb 1: The Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) has unveiled its election manifesto, addressing critical issues such as the necessity for state economic policies aimed at enhancing the living conditions of impoverished citizens.
During a press conference held today, the manifesto was presented for the upcoming House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5, with General Secretary Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’ in attendance.
As the party engages in elections for the first time after transitioning to peaceful politics, it has vowed to eradicate capitalist, comprador, and imperialist practices and to bridge the divide between the affluent and the underprivileged.
On the occasion, party General Secretary Chand asserted that education and healthcare must be universally accessible, employment opportunities should be guaranteed, and the private sector should not impose arbitrary fees or operate without regulation.
He highlighted the importance of making agriculture self-sufficient, increasing investments in science and technology, and attracting youth to these sectors. The party is dedicated to fostering national prosperity through enhanced trade and investment, he asserted.
—
19 – Nepal expresses gratitude to UAE for pardoning 267 inmates
Kathmandu, Feb 1: Nepal has expressed its gratitude to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for granting pardon to 267 Nepali inmates there.
“The Government of Nepal conveys its sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the pardon so generously granted to the 267 Nepali inmates on the auspicious occasion of the 54th National Day (Eid Al Etihad) of the UAE,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release today.
The Government of Nepal highly values the friendly and humanitarian gesture of pardon as the manifestation of friendship, goodwill and cordiality in the existing bilateral relations between Nepal and the United Arab Emirates, it added.
According to the Ministry, the decision of the pardon was taken by the friendly government of the UAE in response to the repeated requests made by the Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi as per the instructions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The press release stated that the pardoned Nepali citizens, provided they have no other pending legal cases or restrictions, will be able to return to Nepal upon completion of the requisite legal procedures as stipulated by the prevailing laws of the UAE.
—
