Submit your Article

The price of gold has increased by Rs 1, 300 per tola in the domestic market on Friday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 96, 200 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 95, 400 on Thursday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 94, 900 per tola.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said that the activities of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal may pose threat to the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly. Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand has directed the security agencies to keep a close eye on the activities of the Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal, which has announced to boycott the elections slated for November 20. The Home Ministry has brought a special security plan into implementation to curb the possible threats to the elections. The Home Ministry has decided to keep a close eye on the activities of the 12 parties that may pose threats to the elections and make a security strategy as per the same, an official at the Home Ministry said. The Ministry said that the activities of the cadres of Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal, Dharmendra Bastola-led Nepal Communist Party Bahumat, Mohan Baidhya-led Nepal Communist Party Krantikari (Maoist), Ahuti-led Baigyanik Samajbadi Communist Party can be a security challenge for the elections. Saying that the activities of the Swadhin Madhesh Janaabhiyan, Shiva Sena Nepal, Shahi Yuva Shakti Nepal and criminal groups among others can be against the elections, the Home Ministry has directed the security agencies to keep an eye on them. The Home Ministry has taken unhealthy competition among the political parties and extorting businesspersons as the security threats for the elections. Here are the 12 security threats in elections

1. Tarai Madhes Janata Party
2. Nepal Communist Party Bahumat
3. Baigyanik Communist Samajbadi Party
4. Nepal Communist Party Krantikari Maoist
5. Communist Party of Nepal
6. Organizational groups
7. Criminal groups
8. Shahi Yuva Shakti Nepal
9. Shiva Sena Nepal
10. Swadhin Madhes Janaabhiyan
11. Movement of people from open border areas
12. Anarchic ethnic groups

The Nov 20 elections is a direct contest between two sides because all major parties are contesting by forming two distinct alliances, one led by the Congress and another by the UML. The members in the NC-led electoral alliance or the so-called democratic left alliance are the CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal and Rastriya Janamorcha. The UML, meanwhile, leads the second alliance, and its members are the Upendra Yadav-led Janata Samajbadi, the royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party and other smaller parties. Bhojraj Pokharel, former chief election commissioner, says political parties are yet to get a full maturity, which means the capability to avoid provocation, develop more understanding and engage in logic-based decision-making. Analysts say November 20 elections too won’t deliver a stable government, as more than two parties are set to form the next government. An agreement between either NC and Maoist or UML and Maoist to lead the government on equal terms could sow the seeds of instability.  Political analyst Bishnu Dahal says, as a single party getting the majority votes is slim, Nepal is on the course of yet another period of political instability. Nepal has conducted seven parliamentary elections since 1959. But the upcoming election will be a historic one, in that it is the first to be held after the completion of parliament’s term. But as far as historic significance goes, that’s about it. It’s estimated that Rs 24.11bn will be spent on the Nov 20 elections. The security forces have asked for Rs 16bn. The Ministry of Finance, however, has agreed to spend Rs 8.822bn on security. For the first-past-the-post election system of the House of Representatives and the Provincial Assembly, the ballot paper has the election symbol and other details printed in red on a white background. While in the proportional election system, the ballot paper has black color printed on a white background.

The Election Commission has come under public scrutiny for some of its questionable actions ahead of the November 20 vote.   First, the polling body issued a direction to shut down the ‘No, Not Again’ Facebook page, arguing that it was spreading misinformation and hate speech against political parties and their leaders. And then, it directed a news site to take down a news article. In both these instances, the commission was trying to curb freedom of speech and expression, the most valuable right in a democratic state, in the name of maintaining election ethics and conduct.   That the election governing body backed down—at Supreme Court’s intervention in the first incident and admission of error in the second—does not absolve it from its transgressions. Nor does Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Thapaliya’s show of contrition for those “flawed decisions” at a public event this past week.  These incidents reinforce the public suspicion that the EC and its officials are easily cajoled and influenced by political parties and their leaders. In the past, too, there have been cases of some election officials acting at the behest of political parties.   Voters cannot be assured of fair elections when the inviolability of the polling body comes into question. But the commission has time and again failed to prove that it is free of political allegiance.   In order to hold a successful vote, the commission also deploys thousands of temporary staff. And if EC’s actions are anything to go by, there is basis for voters to rest assured that those staff too are affiliated to parties and their candidates.   It is time the Election Commission got its act together. Senior officials at the commission should not be influenced by political parties. There is a doubt in the public sphere that they do the bidding of the parties. This is a valid observation since they are appointed on the basis of their political persuasions.  At a time when other key state institutions are becoming weak due to heavy politicization, the election body should be extra careful to safeguard its autonomy. If it loses its credibility, democracy will be in peril. The commission is there to protect our sacred right to vote in a free and fair manner. It should be bold and fearless in exercising its constitutional duties.  

Asterdio is a software outsourcing company established in 2016. It serves as a technology and design partner, with a workforce of more than seventy specialists, for its client companies. The company provides a full spectrum of solutions for developing custom software, including web and mobile development, product design, DevOps services, quality assurance, and branding and identity design. For years, Asterdio has been helping clients in need of PHP and JavaScript development, which makes it a real powerhouse when it comes to these technologies. “We believe in the power of design,” says Binit Sharma, CEO of Asterdio. “In order to fulfill our client's goals, we foster a welcoming environment where professionals have access to the tools needed to create the finest digital experiences.” Sharma studied IT in Malaysia and worked at a few start-ups there before returning to Nepal in 2014. “I worked for a couple of businesses here as well, but I was never satisfied,” he says. “I've always been passionate about new technology and product design. So I started Asterdio six years ago. ” Sharma founded Asterdio concurrently with his first startup, Basobaas, a digital marketplace for real estate. Asterdio has two operational models. The first is project outsourcing, and the second is human resources. Project outsourcing is managing the entire project for a specified period of time, delivering the finished product after usually starting from zero. The second is outsourcing human resources, like frontend engineer and quality assurance engineer, to its clients. Although the company is based in Nepal, the majority of its clients are based abroad. Sharma says though Asterdio mostly works with international clients, which generates a significant number of remittances, managing them is challenging due to a lack of adequate government rules.  “There are several challenges, mostly arising due to political instability and a lack of regulations and policies in the industry.’’  In the global technology market, Sharma says Nepal is almost insignificant for outsourcing.  “This is due to our lack of experience in the field. International clients often choose India, Vietnam, or China to outsource their operations,” he says. “The other issue is the migration of young people to foreign countries.”  Asterdio got into its stride during the covid lockdown. The company was among the few companies capable of implementing work-from-home policies.  “As a tech business that mostly deals with foreign clients, we already had work-from-home policies. So implementing them during the lockdown wasn't particularly difficult,” says Sharma. “In fact, we got two of our most important clients during the lockdown.” Sharma says one should do adequate research in order to start a business, and it can be a product for Nepal or abroad.  “A balance should be maintained between the product's quality and how the company markets itself,” he says. “A person who wants to start a successful business in Nepal needs to be persistent and must not give up easily.”

England thrashed India by 10 wickets to seal their spot in the final of 2022 men’s T20 World Cup final, The Indian Express Reported. Despite setting up a defendable total the England opening batters made quick work of the Indian bowlers winning the match by 10 wickets. The opening pair of Buttler of Hales stitches an incredible unbeaten stand of 170 to see England through to the final of the T20WorldCup to face Pakistan. Earlier, the fifties from Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya helped India recover from a wobbly start and post 168/5. Put in to bat, India had a slow start and lost opener KL Rahul (5) early but Kohli held the innings together to slam his fourth fifty of the tournament, according to The Indian Express. But it was Pandya’s blazing knock that propelled India’s total.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 23. 52 points to close at 1,893.70 points on Thursday. Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 4. 17 points to close at 372. 37 points. A total of 3,114,689 unit shares of 226 companies were traded for Rs 1. 11 billion. Meanwhile, Mandakini Hydropower Limited was the top gainer today with its price surging by 3. 92 percent. Likewise, Upper Hewakhola Hydropower Company Limited was the top loser with its price dropped by 6. 91 percent. At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 72 trillion.

Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Li Qun is arriving in Nepal on Friday. He is coming to Nepal to visit cultural heritage sites that are being reconstructed with the help of China after the earthquake. Tourism Minister Jeevaram Shrestha’s personal secretary Bhimsen Rajbahak confirmed the Chinese minister’s visit to Nepal. “He is coming to Nepal tomorrow. He will inspect the heritage sites being reconstructed at the investment of China. The tourism minister is scheduled to welcome him at the airport,” he said. The Chinese minister’s visit on the eve of the elections to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly has been taken meaningfully. A source at the Minister of Foreign Affairs said that his visit should not be seen politically. “He is coming to Nepal to inspect the infrastructures constructed with the help of the Chinese government. Let’s not see his visit in a political way,” the source said. During his visit to Nepal, the Chinese minister will visit the nine-storey palace of Hanumandhoka in Basantapur. Tourism Minister Shrestha will welcome him at the palace. Similarly, he is scheduled to visit Pashupatinath Temple, Krishna Mandir in Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.