- Thursday, 10 July 2025
'Do not comment on govt on the basis of speculation'
Minister for Home Affairs, Ramesh Lekhak, has urged everyone not to comment about government based on the speculation and imagination.
Lawmakers demand cross-border information sharing mechanism for disaster preparedness
The Members of the House of Representatives (HoR) have expressed grief over the loss of a significant number of lives and property from the devastating flood along the Nepal-China border in Rasuwa on Tuesday night. They urged the government to pursue diplomatic measures to address the growing risk of such disasters arising from transboundary situations.
Special Court granted ISO Certificate
The Special Court has been granted the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification in recognition to the court’s ability in advancing accountability, sustainability, and administrative reform within the judiciary.
Cloud cover hampers ascertaining causes of flood in Bhotekoshi
Hydrologist and Chief of Flood Forecasting Section of the Department, Binod Parajuli further said that a large accumulation of snow or ice might have temporarily the river's flow and later burst, suddenly surging the river.
Nation
Three students go missing from school in Kohalpur
Three students of Kohalpur Bageshwari English Medium School at Kohalpur Municipality - 3, Banke have been missing since they from school. Area Police Office Kohalpur's Chief Deputy Superintendent of Police, Laxmi Khanal, said that the information of Grade 8's 15-year-old Niraj Thapa, 13-year-old Pawan Nath Yogi and 12-year-old Robindra Khadka had not been in contact since July 6 Sunday) Afternoon, from school, has been received.
Special Court granted ISO Certificate
The Special Court has been granted the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification in recognition to the court’s ability in advancing accountability, sustainability, and administrative reform within the judiciary.
'Do not comment on govt on the basis of speculation'
Minister for Home Affairs, Ramesh Lekhak, has urged everyone not to comment about government based on the speculation and imagination.
Cloud cover hampers ascertaining causes of flood in Bhotekoshi
Hydrologist and Chief of Flood Forecasting Section of the Department, Binod Parajuli further said that a large accumulation of snow or ice might have temporarily the river's flow and later burst, suddenly surging the river.
World
More than 18,000 people in lockdown as wildfire rages in Catalonia
Spanish authorities ordered more than 18,000 residents of the northeastern Tarragona province to remain indoors on Tuesday and several dozen were evacuated as a wildfire raged out of control, consuming almost 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) of vegetation.
Business
Special Court granted ISO Certificate
The Special Court has been granted the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification in recognition to the court’s ability in advancing accountability, sustainability, and administrative reform within the judiciary.
NEA gets approval for Rs. 10 billion loan from government
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has received approval from the Ministry of Finance to take a short-term loan of Rs. 10 billion to cover the liabilities currently created in the NEA and manage liquidity as well.
Former CJ Shrestha to receive Hem Bahadur Malla Award
Former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha will be presented the Hem Bahadur Malla Award this year. As a corporate social responsibility, the
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Remittance inflow sees robust increase in FY's 1st 11 months
Nepal witnessed a robust increase in remittance inflows during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year 2024/25 with a year-on-year rise of 15.5 per cent.
Sports
PM Oli gives away sports awards to various winners of international competitions
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli Wednesday gave away various sports honors and awards to sportspersons, coaches and the managers for their wins for Nepal in various international competitions.
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Interview
Budget focused on giving impetus to economy: Finance Minister Poudel
Kathmandu, May 31: The government has presented its budget (income and expenditure) estimates for the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26 in the parliament. The government was expected to bring the budget with various reform plans to improve the overall economic situation of the country and achieve the expected pace of development. But an average and status quo budget was presented, which has raised questions about what role it can play in improving the economy. In this context, RSS correspondent Hemant Joshi talked to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel. The excerpts of the interview are as follows: What are the focus and priorities of the upcoming fiscal year's budget including the aspects of reforms?A realistic and disciplined budget has been presented in terms of resource and expenditure management. We have emphasized the optimal use of resources and also tried to be realistic in terms of internal revenue and external debt mobilization. The allocation for capital expenditure has been increased while funds going to the provincial and local levels through financial transfers have been increased. This budget has particularly emphasized on two to three things in the process of giving an impetus to the economy. It has set the path for favorable policy reforms for investment growth. It adopts a policy to attract domestic and foreign investment. It also set a favorable ground for production growth and job creation.Experts have described this as an average budget, did you not try to intervene or were not able to do?There is no question of blindly interfering in the name of reforms. The budget has already taken the necessary steps to determine and adopt the right policy. Various policy reforms have been made. A policy of using alternative development finance has been adopted. Improvements have been made in project management and procurement processes. Instead of waiting for the next fiscal year, we have made arrangements to start the procurement process from Jestha 16. We expect the policy of austerity and spending cuts to balance current expenditure. In terms of taxes, many suggestions were received about the kind of revenue policy to be adopted and we listened to all of them. But I think that the decision that has been made now regarding taxes has increased the trust of taxpayers over the state.What kind of political pressure did you face during preparation of this budget? Is your budget politically biased?All the comments and feedback on the budget are welcome. While preparing the budget, my focus was on making the budget realistic and disciplined. Budget preparation is not a matter of pressure but something that is done based on justification. I did not feel any kind of pressure. However, the budget cannot be separated from politics out rightly. The government's policies and programs should be followed and the budget is based accordingly. Therefore, one cannot say that it is a completely technical manner away from politics. But this budget has come within the limits of the fundamentals norms of a budget.The private sector seems excited over the budget but there are concerns that the general public was not given due consideration…We were in a situation where we had to prioritize the needs of the nation more than that of its people. The budget has been introduced keeping this in mind. We were guided more by the need to increase production and productivity, adding impetus to the economy, increasing the economic growth rate and making it sustainable than going for cheap popularity. The budget ensures that economic activities will expand, private sector investment will increase, employment opportunities will rise and infrastructure projects will be completed on time. I am also optimistic that the targeted economic growth will be achieved through this budget.How is the prioritization and selection of projects different from previous years?We have always been mindful of the fact that the federal government should present plans and programs that should be approved by the federal parliament. The budget was prepared with a focus on important federal responsibilities. Furthermore, the functions of the provinces and local levels do not fall within the scope of the federal government's budget. Hence, federal projects costing less than Rs. 30 million were not included in the budget. The message we have put out is that not only the federal government but the provinces and local levels should also come up with a balanced budget.Furthermore, implementing of the budget should begin immediately. In fact, we should start implementing the budget from today itself. Accordingly, we will immediately proceed with projects the contracts of which can be handed out within the current fiscal year. (RSS)
Our approach to responding to loss and damage is a country-led and bottom-up one: Diong
Ibrahima Cheikh Diong is the Executive Director of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD). Indira Aryal, a reporter with this daily, spoke with Mr Diong about the mandate and mission of the Fund, and how developing countries like Nepal can access it more easily. Excerpts:
Society
Pakistan Embassy launches book authored by Om Charan Amatya
The Embassy of Pakistan organized the launching ceremony of book on Pakistan’s Buddhist heritage in Nepali language, titled पाकिस्तानका बौध सम्पदाहरु (Pakistanka Boudha Sampadhaharu) authored by eminent scholar Om Charan Amatya.