- Monday, 25 August 2025
The Rising Nepal
Budget Priorities
The Federal Parliament has started deliberating the priorities and agenda of the upcoming budget as the country has taken a new political course following the local level elections. The main opposition CPN-UML has ended its nine-month-long obstruction in the House of Representatives (HoR), citing the critical economic situation of the country. But the UML has said it will continue to protest in the parliament in a different form. Whatever the reasons behind the UML’s decision to let House run without any obstacle, it is a positive move aimed at minimising unnecessary confrontation in the House, the highest seat of elected body. The UML had disrupted the ninth and 10th sessions of parliament, paralysing its business of framing vital legislations and discussing the issues of public concerns.
Civic Engagement At Local Level
The historic local poll has been held successfully in Nepal. And elected officials for the local government institutions — rural municipalities and municipalities -- will take office shortly. It is a big achievement in the institutionalisation of local democracy as adult citizens have expressed their choices more or less freely in selecting their representatives who in turn are mandated to govern for the upcoming five years according to the federal constitution of Nepal. It indicates that local democracy is set to take root in Nepal and federal governance is poised to entrench at the grassroots despite impediments, challenges and constraints that come on its way.
Creativity Counts In Advertising
Arjun Mohan BhattaraiCreativity is a product of the human mind that greatly impacts consumer psychology. It is the crux of advertising. Advertising reflects a country’s economic prosperity as it is useful to consumers, advertisers, media, creative people and government. It is a crucial tool to deliver the message about products and services. With the current capability of communication, media and advertising working together will have a huge positive impact on our society.Beneficial investmentIn the context of Nepal, advertising is seen as an expense for corporations. But it is, in fact, the most beneficial investment that can be made to advertise agencies. Whether taken as an investment or expense, advertising is essential to boost consumption among people.A customer can be viewed as divine. We must address their demand and needs unmistakably. The target audience is important for any advertiser. If we catch the eyes of the target audience, it allows the advertisement to reach its full potential audience. However, this depends on the product and service types as well. Consumable items, fast-moving consumer goods, electronics, clothes along with other products have their own features of consumption where advertisement always impacts the buying decision.The advertiser and advertising agency both have their own ideas to promote goods and services. In advertising, there are two important phrases to keep in mind. “What to say", decided by the advertiser, and "how to say", decided by the advertising agency. Knowing what to say is essential for advertisers to be able to communicate the intended message to the consumer otherwise, the consumer may not take away the intended message. Market research enhances creativity where we can brainstorm new ideas and methods. In most cases, market research is not a practical solution because of the high costs associated with it.Creativity matters because it sets an advertisement apart from the pack, to attract the consumer. An advertisement lacking creativity, uniqueness, as well as simplicity will have a hard time reaching the target audience, or any audience at all. In advertising, there are many factors we should consider such as interest, desire, and action but most of all creativity. Have a good strategy is also important which must be communicated to by the client to the agency so that strategy can be reflected on the advertisement.Most of the time a creative agency complains about being provided with a low budget but the counterpart advertiser questions the lacking agency while missing the real problem. Creativity requires investment. A brand is highlighted and recognised through creativity. In Nepal’s advertisement industry, there are many creative people who deserve high positions in this sector. With creative advertising, we can influence buyers or consumers who duly purchase products and services. They interact with the advertisement. If they see the advertisement, their mind is drawn to buy the product.Typically, about 90 per cent of advertisements lack creativity, while 10 per cent are fully original. But the Nepali advertisement industry is blamed for copying foreign advertisements. However, learning from successful advertisements, such as Indian ads, is not detrimental whatsoever. We cannot classify a certain group of people as creative or not. It depends on the scenario. Brainstorming is important as different ideas are mixed and blended there to come to a single idea. Creative ideas can be raised from discussions with all stakeholders. This is important for creativity to have an impact on sales. Creativity comes through visits, meetings, readings, excursions, interactions, sharing and the like. It is not necessary to sit long hours in the same positions to have a formal conversation. It is necessary to remind, influence and impress the brand through creativity to a point where the consumer mind is attracted and trapped. The role of creativity is measured in the sense of grabbing consumer attention. It also establishes the brand and its image. There are different parties involved in being creative such as agencies’ creative directors and camera operators. However, we cannot compare their roles that come first and last. The Advertising Association of Nepal has been organising creativity awards since 2003 in Nepal where Nepali advertising creative are awarded. Advertising, branding, market research and creativity play vital role to establish and promote goods and services. In Nepal, there are very few brands. However, those brands are not establishing their brand image among consumers. So, foreign brands are more competitive in the market. Ads in new mediaAdvertisers are motivated towards new media and digital media. The new media seems cheap and easy. In case of producing ads and creative for digital media, it seems easy and fast. But, creative and ads production for traditional media takes a long process. Even after the introduction of the clean feed policy two years ago, there is no initiative to make new ads from multinational brand for the Nepali market. Likewise, the government restricts the foreign ads dubbing into Nepali language in television channel. So, MNCs brand compels to make ads focusing the Nepali market through creative agencies. To sum up, creativity is important to enrich the brand image. It would be relevant to recall David Ogilvy, the father of advertising, saying: “If it does not sell, it is not creative.” (Bhattarai is executive director of Advertising Association of Nepal).
Food Crisis In Malawi
Despite producing abundant volumes of maize in the past years, fears of food insecurity persist in Malawi. Maize production is expected to decline in 2022 due to extreme weather conditions. In 2018, the country produced 3.4 million tons of maize; 3.3 million tons in 2019, 3.8 million tons in 2020 and 4.4 million tonnes in 2021. High yields in previous years were attributed to abundant rainfall and a successful government programme, according to the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) that distributes agricultural inputs.
Term of temporary police to end on May 20
Several incidents and unwanted activities had been reported from the temporary policemen recruited for the purpose of local level election. Among 100,000 temporary (myadi) policemen recruited by the government for a maximum of 40 days of working term, which is about to terminate from May 20 this week, 48 had been taken different departmental actions while some had been suspended before joining the job, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and Spokesperson for Nepal Police Headquarters Bishnu Bahadur KC told The Rising Nepal on Wednesday. Within these days, five temporary police died because of several reasons includin
Uganda take 2-0 lead
Uganda clinched a one-wicket victory over Nepal to take a 2-0 lead in the Women’s Twenty20 International Series at TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur on Tuesday. Put in to bat first, Nepal posted a medium score of 101 runs after losing seven wickets in 20 overs. The visitors, in reply, survived the late surge from Nepali bowlers, to achieve the victory with one ball and one wicket to spare. Rita Musamali hit three fences to contribute with a 34-ball 30 that led Uganda closer to a win. Janet Mbabazi added run-a-ball 16 and Franklin Najjumba collected 28-ball 19 for the visitors.
Arsenal lose again to damage top-4 bid
With his team's Champions League qualification ambitions in ruins, Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka felt it was time to deliver some home truths. "Disastrous" was how Xhaka summed up Arsenal's 2-0 loss to Newcastle on Monday that left Tottenham in charge of the race between the north London rivals for a top-four finish in the English Premier League. Then he went further. "If someone is not ready for this game or too nervous, stay on the bench, stay at home, don't come here," Xhaka said, appearing to turn on some of his own teammates. "We need people to have the (character) to come here and play."
Actress Surakshya Panta participating in Cannes
By A Staff Reporter Kathmandu, May 18: Actress Surakshya Panta is going to participate in the 75th annual Cannes Film Festival in France. A Belgian film The Eight Mountains acted by actress Suraksha Pant has been selected in the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival. She left for France on Tuesday. Taking to social media, she informed that she is participating in the festival because her movie The Eight Mountains is going to premiere in Cannes on Wednesday. The Belgian film that Suraksha has acted was also shot in Manang of Nepal. The film festival, which was halted two years ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has begun in France from Tuesday.“The Eight Mountains is the story of a friendship based on the award winning novel “The Eight Mountains” directed by Belgian film Director Felix Van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch. Felix is known for his movie “The Broken Circle Breakdown” being nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards,” mentioned actress Panta through social media. In Cannes, actress Panta will be participating in the ceremony including premiere, press meet and photo shoot.Meanwhile, this time the team of short film Lori from Nepal is also participating in Cannes. Lori is the first film from Nepal to be officially selected in the main competition. Directed by Avinash Vikram Shah, the film has made it to the top nine out of more than 3500 films from 140 countries. Nepal’s Lori will now compete with the films from China, South Korea, Costa Rica, USA, France, Ghana and Lithuania.The festival that began on Tuesday (May 17) will conclude on May 28.
Neena Gupta had to go for MRI after grilling shoot of TV show
Veteran actress Neena Gupta has delivered compelling performances in every medium of audio-visual content. Be it the 1982 Richard Attenborough directorial 'Gandhi', 'Woh Chokri' for which she bagged the National Award for Best Supporting Actress, her comeback vehicle 'Badhaai Ho' for the big screen, or the riveting drama 'Saans', the travel-based TV series 'Yatra', 'Kamzor Kadii Kaun' for TV or web series, the actress has always outperformed herself. However, she particularly recalled how tough it was for her to work in the licensed TV show 'Kamzor Kadii Kaun' inspired from the British original series 'Weakest Link'. So much so that it affected her health. In a recent conversation with IANS, the actress took a walk down the memory lane of her journey as an actress, working across the medium of entertainment and the second season of her hugely popular series 'Panchayat'.
Lightning is major killer, awareness can save lives
Lightning has been a major natural disaster behind one of the highest numbers of deaths annually across the country. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) data shows that a total of 202 cases of lightning were recorded across the country between April 14, 2021 and April 13, 2022. The 202 cases of lightning had killed 56 individuals, injured 177 persons and affected 293 families alongside damages worth a total of Rs. 21,581,830. Since April 14, 2022, the NDRRMA data shows that 10 individuals have already died in a total of 31 lightning incidents until 10 am on May 17. Similarly, 27 individuals have been injured and 49 families affected.
Vote count updates pouring in
Results of the local level election are pouring in from across the country. According to our Dhankuta correspondent, Chintan Tamang and Bhima Devi Khanal of CPN-UML have been elected as chairman and deputy chair in Dhankuta Municipality of Dhankuta respectively. Tamang defeated Nepali Congress candidate Dinesh Rai by 14 votes. Tamang garnered 7,666 votes against Rai’s 7,652 votes. Khanal received 7,196 votes. Her closest rival Ganesh Bahadur Bista of CPN (Maoist Centre) got 6,629 votes.
Tuin used for transporting food items to Humla
The Food Management and Trading Company Ltd (FMTC) has been transporting food items to different local levels of Humla district through tuin, traditional wire bridges used to cross river. According to the officials at FMTC, Humla, the lack of bridge over the Karnali River has led them to transport foods into Chankheli Rural Municipality and Sarkegard Rural Municipality.
NEPSE suffers major decline
The benchmark of the stock market, NEPSE, declined significantly on Tuesday, the first transaction day of the week. The NEPSE index has fallen below 2,300 points with a continuous decline of high points. The index decreased by 84.90 points (3.61 per cent) to close at 2,265.52 points on Tuesday. There was no transaction of shares on the public holidays of Sunday and Monday this week. The sensitive index which measures the performance of group ‘A’ companies declined by 15.28 points (3.37 per cent) to close at 438.69 points.
budget session of house begins
The budget session of the federal parliament began at the Parliament Building in New Baneshwor on Tuesday. On the first day of the 11th session, the main opposition CPN-UML announced that it ended the obstruction of the both Houses of the Federal Parliament. The UML has been continuously obstructing the parliament since September 8 last year citing that Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota did not take action against 14 of its lawmakers who split the party.
Connecting The Circuit Of Religious Tourism
Nepal and India are two close neighbours and enjoy multidimensional relations in social, cultural, economic and political spheres. This tie is not limited at the government and political level but also remains firm at the people’s level. In this multifaceted relation, the cultural relations are predominant, with common religious beliefs and values. Hinduism and Buddhism are two major religions that connect people of the two countries closely. Their religious ties are reflected in the form of a large number of people from both countries visiting each other’s countries for pilgrimage. Such mutual exchanges of pilgrimage do not only strengthen the cultural ties but also support economic wellbeing of the people of both the countries through tourism.At a time when tourism is emerging as one of the major industries in the global arena, the government of Nepal has also given due importance to this sector. While analysing on the basis of available factors, tourism is one of the major sectors of Nepal having high comparative advantages with respect to global competition. If the country can reap the benefits of its unique tourism resources including, natural beauty, lofty Himalayas, diverse culture, bio-diversity, climatic diversity and sacred places for world’s Hindu and Buddhist population, tourism could be an engine of economic growth and development. If we could take benefits of the cultural ties with India, there is immense potential of enhancing the country’s economy through tourism development. By attracting more cultural and religious tourists from India, Nepal can generate more revenue, create more jobs, expand trade and develop infrastructures. In addition to this, joint efforts to attract foreign tourists through transnational cultural and religious tourism promotion could contribute to the economic growth of both countries. As sacred places related to Hinduism and Buddhism are located in both countries, with historical connections, their combined efforts can make a significant leap in promoting religious tourism. To this effect, Lumbini visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to celebrate the 2566th Buddha Jayanti has been a milestone. Addressing a function, in Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his Indian counterpart Modi have announced to make joint efforts for the promotion of transnational Buddhist Circuit to attract more tourists in the region. Prime Minister Deuba has said that the Buddhist Circuit, connecting the notable places associated with Buddha’s life, namely Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar, would boost cultural tourism in both the countries. Indian PM Modi said that he was eager to develop the Buddhist circuit to expand international relations among Buddhists and contribute to the world peace. Modi said that Nepal and India should work together for the welfare of humanity with Buddha’s spirit. He shared that he had a different spiritual experience when he visited Nepal and its sacred places such as Pashupatinath, Muktinath, Janakpur and Lumbini. As India is making efforts to attract more Buddhist and Hindu visitors through the concept of Buddhist Circuit and Ramayan Circuit, Nepal should also join hands in the effort to attract more religious tourists from India and abroad. For this, development of sufficient tourism infrastructures and environmental protection is essential. As per our experience, having larger number of visitors alone is not beneficial to the country’s economy. We should also focus on extending the stay of tourists.
