- Thursday, 4 December 2025
The Rising Nepal
Defend Press Freedom
The Press Freedom Day was celebrated globally amidst a variety of programmes on May 3. This year the Press Freedom Day carried the theme of journalism under digital siege, which sheds lights on the challenges posed by the internet journalism. In advanced countries, journalists have come under surveillance and digitally-mediated attacks, with negative repercussions on the credibility of digital media and press freedom. Modern technology has opened new scope and scale of journalism profession but at the same time there is the risk of the abuse of media freedom. People with vested interests can manipulate the constitutionally guaranteed media rights to meet their parochial objectives. The Press Freedom Day is a moment to reflect on the cardinal values of journalism and the contribution of journalists to disseminate correct information to the public and enhance transparency and accountability in the society.
EC’s Push For Electoral Reform
The Election Commission (EC) has sprung into action during these days to enforce regulatory arrangements for discreet, disciplined and decent polls at the local level. The election body has actually done its bit to introduce life into some of the existing provisions of the Electoral Offences and Punishment Act, Local Elections Act, Political Parties Act, and Electoral Code of Conduct to activate and apply them in minimum to assure that local electoral process is free from clear and manifest anomalies and unfair practices.
Strengthen Healthcare Financing
Health is a fundamental right of people as per the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. The Constitution of Nepal, 2015 also ensures fundamental health rights, emergency health services, and equal access to health services for all. Therefore, providing primary health facilities to people and protecting their health rights are an essential obligation of the state. However, looking at the present healthcare coverage and the burden of health expenses on people, Nepal is encountering a difficult situation at present. Nepal's health budget is considerably lower than the global average of 10 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). Referring to the budget for the fiscal year 2021/22, there is a significant reduction of budget in hospitals and academics, which may be due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Uganda Sees Inflation As External Shock
Prices of basic commodities are rising fast. Uganda is one of many developing countries affected by this global trend. The main reasons are the Ukraine war and supply-chain disruption due to COVID-19. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, the price of cooking oil increased by 21 per cent between December 2021 and February 2022, and the annual rise was 77.6 per cent. In February, a laundry-soap bar cost 20 per cent more than in December and almost 50 per cent more than one year earlier. The petrol price rose by 15.3 per cent in three months and by 34 per cent in 12 months.
Macron’s Re-election And Challenges
To understand Europe, you have to be either genius or French”, said American diplomat Madeleine Albright. This sums up the centrality of France in European affairs and so was reflected in the recently held French presidential election. When French people were voting in the second round of the presidential election on April 24, concerns and speculations were rife more in Brussels, London, Berlin and Washington than Paris. The election results that gave Emmanuel Macron second term in the Elysee Palace defeating firebrand Marine Le Pen was a greater relief for European leaders than Macron himself.
‘Policy consistency key to avert economic risks’
Former Finance Minister, Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada, said that inconsistency in policy has led the country to the present economic pressures. "There should be policy consistency in all economic aspects since we have built-in risks in our economy," he said while speaking at a talk on 'Current economic situation of Nepal: Challenges and opportunities' organised by Nepal Youth Chamber (NYC) – a sister organisation of Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) in the capital on Tuesday. Stating that there was no harmony and cooperation among the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Nepal Rastra Bank and other concerned agencies, Dr. Khatiwada said that the coordination among them in creating economic policies is the key to progress.
ISPs to be provided foreign exchange
The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT) Wednesday decided to recommend for foreign exchange to the Internet Service Provider (ISP) companies. The ISPs on April 30 had warned that the internet could be shut down across the country from this week. The warning had come on the pretext that they were unable to pay their bills to the upstream providers in India that were supplying the internet service to Nepali ISPs as the MoCIT ceased recommending for the foreign exchange needed for the payment.
An anthology greater than the sum of its verses
There are poems that come from the bottom of the heart, from an avalanche of emotions that the writer does not wish to hold back; and there are poems that come from the mind, crafted deliberately, rather intellectually, to make a specific point or evoke a certain image. And then, there’s ‘An Archive’ which is both.
'Govt will never infringe on press freedom'
Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Govinda Prasad Sharma (Koirala) has said that the government is committed to preserving freedom of expression and will neither introduce nor enact any laws aimed at stifling press freedom. “The present government strongly believes in the freedom of the press and does not seek to restrict it,” Sharma said on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on Tuesday. “The media should be made accountable, not controlled.” Minister Sharma made these remarks at the roundtable discussion organised by Media Action Nepal (MAN) in association with the Nepal Chapter of the World Communicators’ Council (WCC) and the Online TV Journalists Association.
Electoral activities heat up in Biratnagar
Electoral activities have heated up in Biratnagar Metropolitan City, the only metropolitan city of Province 1. The election atmosphere in Biratnagar is at the height of discussion after Nagesh Koirala, vice-president of the Nepali Congress (NC) Morang, won the ticket for the top post from the coalition leaving behind other three popular leaders. Koirala's rivalry for the post of mayor and a political leap has attracted a lot of attention in the metropolitan. The race of influential NC leader Dr. Nagesh, considered close to Shekhar Koirala, has been linked with Koirala's political prestige.
PM to address election rallies from today
Prime Minister and Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba is touring the country for a week beginning from Wednesday to address election rallies of the Nepali Congress. According to a decision of the Nepali Congress Local Level Election Central Mobilisation Committee, PM Deuba and other NC leaders will address 10 rallies in total from Biratnagar in the east to Dadeldhura in the west in a week from May 4 to May 10. In a statement issued by Chief Secretary of Nepali Congress Central Office Krishna Prasad Paudel on Tuesday, PM Deuba will address a rally in Biratnagar on Wednesday. Senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel, general secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma and other leaders will also address the rally in Biratnagar.
66 candidacies withdrawn in Mahottari
Out of 15 municipalities in Mahottari district, 66 candidates in 14 municipalities have withdrawn their candidacies. The election schedule has been changed due to dispute in Samsi Rural municipality. In the district, 18 from Bardibas Municipality, nine from Jaleshwor Municipality, seven from Ramgopalpur Municipality, six from Sonama Rural Municipality, five each from
Fall armyworms damage crops
Assault of fall armyworms have increased in different areas of the district. Farmers are worried after fall armyworm insects destroyed maize and potato leaves and buds. Potatoes and maize planted in Chichila, Silichong, Makalu and Sabhapokhari rural villages of the district have been damaged. Farmers have become upset after the insects ate all the leaves of the grown maize seedlings and fruiting potatoes.
Candidates' pledge: From free septic tank cleaning to tax waiver
Candidates from different political parties in Siddharthnagar Municipality, Bhairahawa, have brought agendas ranging from cleaning septic tanks to tax exemptions to attract voters. Candidates are competing to present the agenda in the upcoming election to be held on May 13. They are also active in meetings to create an attractive agenda. A total of 15 candidates have registered their candidacies in the municipality. Most of them made big declarations and promises such as providing free education, health, agriculture, sanitation and drinking water. But no one seems to have a concrete plan for how to do it.
Parties asked to follow code in election expenses
The Election Commission (EC) has drawn the attention of all the political parties and candidates to abide by the provisions of the existing laws and election code of conduct while spending in their election campaigns. Issuing a statement on Tuesday, the EC has drawn the attention of the political parties and candidates to comply with the provisions of Election Commission Act, 2017, Election (Offenses and Punishment) Act, 2017 and Election Code of Conduct, 2022 while spending in elections.
