- Saturday, 28 February 2026
The Rising Nepal
NTB to operate paid shuttle bus service on election day
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is operating shuttle bus service for the tourists on the election day on 13 May, with the help of Tourist Police and Nepal Tourist Vehicle Association (NTVA) and Tourist Bus Association of Nepal (TBAN). Considering the inconvenience of air transport between the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and hotels in Kathmandu on the day of local level election which is going to be held across the country on Friday, the NTB ha arranged a paid shuttle bus service, it said in a statement. Tourists have to pay Rs. 300 to get the service. The facility is available for three routes.
CNI requests ambassador to attract Australian investors to Nepal
The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has urged the Australian Ambassador to Nepal, Felicity Volk, to facilitate the attraction of Australian investors to invest in the field of comparative advantage of Nepal. The Confederation urged to take initiatives to attract Australian investors in Nepal as there is potential for high returns on businesses related to green energy, mines and mineral industries, information technology and agro-processing.
Crucial Local Polls
Nepal is at the last preparatory stage of holding its local level elections slated for May 13, Friday. The silence period of 48 hours prior to the start of voting is in effect from Tuesday midnight. Political parties, cadres and candidates have conducted their election campaigns largely peacefully across the country. As many as 17,733,723 voters will exercise their adult franchise in this crucial democratic event. They will be in the polling stations to cast their votes to pick the candidates of their choice. They have this democratic opportunity to give mandate to their local level representatives for the coming five years.
Boosting Capital Expenditure
Nepal’s annual budget often hits a snag as the government continues to struggle to spend the capital outlay and promote capital formation. Despite public criticism and government’s commitment to address this issue, the cycle continues. Capital expenditure is essential to enhance the quality and quantity of public service delivery. Large amount of such expenditure is concentrated in the investment of infrastructure especially in the sector of transport, health, education, and research as well. Such expenditure has the potential to positively impact economic growth and development. At a macro-level, it intends to uplift the national economy in an effective manner.
Media Must Be Real Watchdog
According to the World Press Freedom Index of 180 nations released by Reporters without Borders on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, 3rd May, India ranks 150th position out of 180 countries. It has actually slid down 8 places from its ranking of 142nd in last year. The same report places Nepal in the 76th position and shows that Nepal has actually climbed 30 steps up the ladder from its position of 106th.
Ubiquitous Smartphones
As an electronic device that can be used for communication, management of work and study, delegation of tasks and provision of entertainment, smartphone is a far cry from landlines. From the alarm tunes in the morning to a ubiquitous scrolling in the social media during bedtime, smartphones have become an indelible part of human life. It is portable and can be carried in hand. It can connect to the internet and make use of countless apps. It is further a source of entertainment as one can watch videos and access social media which can be used to connect and communicate with the world.
Conference hall construction completes in Lumbini
Construction of a meeting hall and meditation centre for 5,000 people has been completed in Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. According to the Lumbini Development Trust, the completed meditation centre will be inaugurated on May 16, on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti. The meeting hall with state-of-the-art facilities has been constructed under the Lumbini Development Master Plan of National Pride. The hall, which was planned to be completed in three years, was delayed by one year due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Atletico edge past weakened Madrid
Atletico Madrid won a La Liga derby against Real Madrid for the first time in six years on Sunday as a 1-0 victory left Diego Simeone’s side on the cusp of securing Champions League qualification. Yannick Carrasco’s first-half penalty proved enough at the Wanda Metropolitano against a heavily weakened Real Madrid, who took the chance to rotate after their incredible Champions League comeback against Manchester City on Wednesday.
City move closer to EPL title
Manchester City took advantage of Liverpool’s stumble in the Premier League title race as the champions moved a step closer to retaining their crown with a 5-0 demolition of Newcastle on Sunday. Elsewhere on a dramatic day at both ends of the table, Arsenal beat relegation-threatened Leeds 2-1 to boost their bid for a top-four finish. Pep Guardiola’s side took control before half-time at the Etihad Stadium thanks to goals from Raheem Sterling and Aymeric Laporte. Rodri got City’s third after the break before Phil Foden and Sterling struck in stoppage time as they stormed back to the top of the table.
Foreign films flourish, local ones fail to earn
Nepali film industry has resumed its business after the end of third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in terms of collection there is no place to be satisfied. Although South Indian movies and Hollywood movies have been continuously luring local audience to the halls, Nepali movies have not been able to draw the crowd in the movie theatres.
7 Chepangs including a woman in fray
By Murari Adhikari Dhading, May 10: Seven people coming from the marginalised Chepang community in Dhading district are contesting the upcoming local polls for the post of the chairperson of their respective wards. One woman and six men from the community are running from various political parties for a chance to chair their wards. All seven claim their candidacy is for the upliftment of the Chepang community of the district.Rajendra Chepang has filed his candidacy for the chairman of Ward No. 9 of Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality from the Nepali Congress (NC) party. Around 42 per cent of the ward’s residents are Chepangs. “This Chepang population has so far only been used as a vote bank,” Rajendra said. “That is why we have now stepped forward to take charge of our fate,” he added. Rajendra said that he was entering the electoral field with a five-year strategy for the development of the ward and the community.Bikas Chepang is also standing for the position of ward chair of Benighat Rorang Ward No. 10 from the NC. He said that Chepangs needed to reach leadership positions to take the community forward. “Chepangs have always been left behind due to a lack of awareness and financial disadvantages,” he said. “Thus, I have taken this step into politics to develop and promote Chepang art, culture and civilisation.”In Benighat Rorang-8, two Chepangs are competing against each other. Aakash Chepang and Bhim Bahadur Chepang are standing from the CPN (UML) and the NC in the ward where 60 per cent of the residents are Chepangs. Both of them promise to work for their community and fulfil the needs of the locals if they win.In Gajuri Rural Municipality Ward 4 too, two Chepangs Surendra Praja from Congress and Harka Bahadur Chepang from the Unified Socialist are standing against each other. Praja was elected the chairman of the ward in 2017 and is now seeking a second term. Meanwhile, Harka Bahadur said that Chepangs needed to reach leading positions to end their backwardness.In Gajuri-3, Shobha Chepang is standing from the CPN (Unified Socialist). She said her candidacy stemmed from a lack of food, shelter, education, health, security and employment which has been plaguing the residents of the rural municipality for years. “I believe that I can change the ward residents’ lives by modernising agriculture,” she said.
578,000 ballot papers arrive in Sunsari
A total of 578, 000 ballot papers have arrived in Sunsari for the local poll of May 13. The District Election Office informed that election materials including ballot papers, ink, stamp pads, lacquer and candles arrived in the district, and it will dispatch the materials to all polling stations of the district soon.
Major parties field only 35 women candidates in Sudurpaschim
The major political parties have fielded only 35 women candidates (around five per cent of the total) despite the demand for 50 per cent participation of women in 734 wards of the Sudurpaschim Province for the upcoming local level election. A total of 35 women candidates from four major parties have been fielded for the post of ward chairperson in 734 wards of the nine districts in the province. Of them, 13 women candidates are from Nepali Congress (NC), 11 from CPN-UML, eight from CPN (Maoist Centre) and six from Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal have been nominated for the post of ward chairperson in Sudurpashchim Province.
Bird flu leaves Chitwan farmers panicked
Farmers in Chitwan, known as the capital of poultry farming, are now in panic due to bird flu. The disease, which has been spreading for some time, has destroyed hundreds of thousands of chickens and emptied hundreds of chicken coops. The bird flu that broke out in Rapti Municipality in East Chitwan in January has now spread across the district.
Election campaign drives up fuel consumption by 40%
Kathmandu, May 10: Consumption of petroleum products has increased significantly with the expansion in election activities across the country.According to Binitmani Upadhyay, spokesperson for Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), consumption of diesel and petrol has gone up by about 40 per cent for the last one week due to the increasing election campaigns of the political parties.All the political parties and candidates are busy canvassing for the local level election which is being held on May 13 this year."Demand for petroleum products has been rising for the last one week which is natural as large numbers of vehicles, including motorcycles, are being used in election campaigns across the country," he told The Rising Nepal.Under normal circumstances, about 5,500 kiloliters of diesel is consumed on a daily basis in the country, but now daily consumption of fuel has increased to about 7,500 kiloliters.Under normal circumstances, about 5,500 kiloliters of diesel is consumed on a daily basis in the country, but now daily consumption of fuel has increased to about 7,500 kiloliters.Similarly, the demand for petrol, which is 2,500 kiloliters daily in a normal period, has also reached 3,500 kiloliters.He said that the demand for petroleum products would be high for at least a week and it would return to normal after holding the victory celebrations.Upadhyay said that the Corporation, which has been incurring huge losses in the sale and distribution of petroleum products, would face additional financial burden after the rise in fuel consumption.The government has already directed the government offices to reduce fuel consumption by 20 per cent and decided to give public holiday on Sunday to reduce the consumption of petroleum products. The government had taken the decision citing that growing import of petroleum products has hit foreign currency reserves.NOC increasing fuel stockThe NOC has started stocking petroleum products in all depots for local elections. The Corporation has stated that fuel will be in 'stock' to prevent shortage of petroleum products for during the election."Considering present surge in fuel consumption and the provision to seal the border for 72 hours for election, we are stocking fuel in all the depots to prevent the possible shortage of fuel in the market,” said UpadhyayPetroleum products are currently being imported from IOC every day. It is also coming from Raxaul-Amalekhgunj pipeline.“Many vehicles are used during elections. If there is a shortage of fuel at that time, there may arise more problems. Due to this, pre-preparation has already started,” said Upadhyay. "As the border will be closed for 72 hours before and during the election, the stock has started to increase from last week." "The Corporation now has 80 per cent stock of petroleum products. At present, the Corporation has 6,500 kiloliters of petrol in its stock and 35,000 kiloliters of diesel,” he said. He said that there would not be a problem in the supply of petrol and diesel in the market as there will be sufficient stock to meet demand for a few days.He, however, said that diesel will be imported regularly from the pipeline even though the border is closed.He said that the problem of gas in the market has been solved as about 2,000 tonnes of gas is being imported daily.NOC requests government to manage fundsHe said that the NOC has been asking the government to arrange funds to pay installments to IOC for the import of petroleum products."We have to pay around Rs. 25 billion to IOC now for the payment of imported petroleum products. But we have not collected that amount from the sale of fuel as the NOC is selling petroleum products bearing losses," he said.He said that the government should arrange insufficient amount to pay the installment at the earliest.He said that the Corporation has started informing the general public about the fortnightly losses and prices of fuel through digital display at the central office of the Corporation, Teku.
