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Mustang, one of the two districts “beyond the mountains”, witnessed the season’s first snowfall on Wednesday. The district has been witnessing snowfall since this morning. Farmers, tourists, traders and locals have been elated following the snowfall. This is the first unseasonal snowfall the district has witnessed in the current fiscal year. The snow has started blanketing the hills from lower Mustang to Upper Mustang. The weather is gloomy in Mustang at present. With the snowfall, locals and tourists have started playing and enjoying the first snowfall of this season. Civil Society leader of the Jomsom Chandra Bahadur Thakali said that this is the first snowfall of this season. The snowfall provided much-need relief to the farmers, he said. All the places of Lo Manthang, Loghekar Damodarkunda, Waragung Muktichhetra, Gharpojhang and Thasang have been witnessing snowfall.    

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 1, 000 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow bullion is being traded at Rs 101, 500 per tola today. The yellow metal was traded at Rs 102, 500 per tola on Tuesday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 101, 000 per tola. Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 40 and is being traded at Rs 1,225 per tola today.

Foreign Minister Qin Gang rejected claims that the Belt and Road Initiative has resulted in debt traps, saying that the initiative has evolved from vision into reality, boosted development in partner countries and delivered tangible benefits to their people, China Daily reported. Speaking at a news conference on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, Qin said the BRI, through a decade of efforts, have laid down a pathway toward common development and created an array of national landmarks, livelihood projects and milestones of cooperation. "China should be the last one to be accused of the so-called debt trap. Data show that multilateral financial institutions and commercial creditors account for over 80 percent of the sovereign debt of developing countries," he said. The unprecedented interest rate hikes by the US have led to massive capital outflows in many countries and worsened the debt problems of countries concerned, he added, according to China Daily. Beijing will continue to participate constructively in the resolution of international debts issues, he said, adding that China has been making efforts to help countries in distress and is the biggest contributor to the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative. "We call on other parties to act together and share the burden fairly. When parties sit together and talk things through, there will be more solutions than problems," he said. He added that Beijing will host the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation this year, and the nation will take this opportunity and work with all parties for more fruitful outcomes from Belt and Road cooperation.

On this International Women’s Day 2023, ActionAid International Nepal has mobilized 5,519 women and girls to lead action against violence and secure justice. It has facilitated 121 cases of violence against women and girls through the legal process, and has empowered 448 local government representatives to improve labor-related systems and services. Our efforts have also resulted in capacitating 2030 women laborers on labor rights, leadership, advocacy, and campaign. To reduce the burden of care work on women, AAIN has established 27 alternative models such as Community Child Care Center, community mill, and community tap/well. We have also capacitated 1443 individuals on Unpaid Care Work to promote culture to recognize, respect, redistribute and reduce the burden of unpaid care work. Interview with Sujeeta Mathema, Executive Director, ActionAid International Nepal  Can you introduce ActionAid International Nepal and its mission? ActionAid International Nepal is a human rights-based organization dedicated to fighting poverty and promoting social justice. Established in 1982, we have been actively working to support communities on the ground and advocate for policy changes. Our focus areas include women's leadership, unpaid care work, organic farming, quality education, and youth and women leadership in emergencies. We have pioneered several approaches, such as promoting local partnerships, using participatory methods, employing a human rights-based approach, conducting social audits, and promoting feminist leadership. At ActionAid, we believe that change is necessary, and it should be transformative in nature for us to achieve sustainable development. We believe that this change should be led by the people themselves, and our role is to facilitate this process. We work with different categories of people, including women, children, Dalits, informal sector women laborers, and smallholder farmers. Our organization operates in 45 countries globally, and 13 districts of Nepal recognizing the power of people and the importance of community-led development. Can you explain how ActionAid International Nepal strengthens the Nepali community? What are the specific areas that your organization focuses on? At ActionAid International Nepal, we believe in taking an integrated approach to uplift and strengthen the Nepali community. Our Country Strategy Paper V identifies four key thematic areas that we prioritize: education, livelihood, disaster resilience, and women's and girls' rights. We recognize that no single area can address the challenges faced by those who are marginalized or oppressed. Based on our expertise, skills, knowledge, and financial resources, we focus on several key areas, including women's rights, disaster risk reduction, sustainable livelihoods, and quality education. We believe that promoting gender equality and empowering women is essential for creating a more equitable and just society. We also work to reduce the risk of disasters and support communities in becoming more resilient to the impact of natural calamities. Additionally, we promote sustainable livelihoods by supporting organic farming, small businesses, and community-led economic development initiatives. Finally, we prioritize quality education to ensure that children and youth have access to the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in life. Our program impact framework concentrates on the 4R approach, with a focus on promoting the rights of marginalized communities, ensuring their representation in decision-making processes, advocating for equitable redistribution of resources, and building their resilience to external shocks. The center area of our work is empowering girls and women, who are often the most vulnerable and marginalized members of communities. We believe that by prioritizing their needs and promoting gender equality, we can create a more just and equitable society for all. Can you elaborate on how ActionAid International Nepal is working to end violence against women and girls, which is one of its priority areas?  At ActionAid International Nepal, women and girls are at the center of our work, and we focus on promoting their safety, security, and dignity by creating a safe and violence-free environment. Unfortunately, in Nepal, deep-rooted patriarchal mindsets, cultural beliefs, and traditions perpetuate gender-based inequality and violence against women and girls. It is estimated that one in two women has experienced some form of violence in their lifetime in Nepal. To address this issue, we believe that women's collective action is crucial for challenging and transforming patriarchal power structures and ending violence against women and girls. Our approach involves empowering women and girls to raise their voices against discrimination and injustice through organizing and mobilizing. We also work to promote women and adolescent girls' leadership in stopping violence against women and girls and accessing justice. As a team, we at ActionAid International Nepal are actively engaged in agency building, collaborating with government, civil society organizations, and community members to promote social justice and empower communities. We are excited to announce the construction of our new agency building, which has been designed with sustainability in mind. The building will serve as a hub for our programs and activities and will provide a safe and accessible space for community members to engage in our work. By having a physical presence in the communities we serve, we aim to build stronger relationships and better understand their needs and priorities. We are committed to working together towards a more just and equitable society, and we look forward to welcoming community members to our new agency building. In addition, we engage with men and boys to foster feminist leadership, challenge patriarchal values and harmful traditional practices, and transform behaviors. We also collaborate with government bodies to strengthen prevention and response mechanisms to ensure quality referral pathway services and justice. Finally, we engage with various civic alliances, agencies, feminist leaders, and stakeholders to promote the culture of safety, security, and dignity of women and girls. Can you tell us how ActionAid's programs and activities complement the government's policies and priorities, especially in the area of eliminating violence against women and girls? Absolutely. At ActionAid, we work with a human rights-based approach that focuses on the rights of the people, which aligns with the government's priorities in ensuring fundamental rights as per the country's constitution. Our programs contribute to various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including gender equality (SDG-5) and promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development (SDG-16). We also engage with government authorities to strengthen local government systems and services that address pro-poor, gender-responsive issues and rights. In the specific area of eliminating violence against women and girls, we empower women and adolescent girls to raise their voices against discrimination and injustice. We also promote women and girls' led actions to stop violence and access to justice. We engage with men and boys in fostering feminist leadership and challenging patriarchal values and harmful traditional practices. Furthermore, we collaborate with various civic alliances, agencies, feminist leaders, and stakeholders to advance the culture of safety, security, and dignity for women and girls. Overall, our programs and activities are aligned with the SDGs and the government's 15th national plan, which aims to achieve a safe, civilized, and just society (Goal 6) and development and full utilization of human capital (Goal 2), among others. We also facilitate the development of gender-responsive public services and ensure gender-responsive budgeting and development programs and services. How will Nepal and AAIN work towards promoting the agenda of International Women's Day 2023? The theme for International Women's Day 2023 is "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality." At AAIN, we work with the most marginalized and disadvantaged women and digitalization is a crucial factor for their development and empowerment. However, the women and girls we work with often have lower literacy rates and less access to digital technology than their male counterparts. The affordability factor is also a major barrier for them to access digital technology. To address the gender digital divide, we have incorporated digitalization in our programs, especially in education, and are raising awareness among women and girls on how to use digital technology to prevent technology-facilitated gender-based violence and inequality. Our approach to promote gender digital inclusion is comprehensive and integrated. We work to increase digital awareness, access, availability, and affordability of women through informal education and skill development. We also promote programs that ensure market access of gender-sensitive digital devices and services. Additionally, we collaborate with concerned authorities to prevent technology-facilitated gender-based violence, which has been on the rise due to increased usage of mobile phones and other technological devices. Therefore, our priority is to promote digitalization in our programs, ensuring inclusion, addressing the gender digital divide, and intervening in possible risks of technology-generated violence. As we celebrate International Women's Day 2023, we will continue to work towards bridging the gender digital divide and promoting gender equality through innovation and technology. AAIN in 2022:

1. Livelihood: AAIN works to minimize violence against women and girls (VAWG) by creating economic opportunities and promoting sustainable livelihoods. By providing women with the skills and resources they need to earn a living, AAIN helps to reduce their vulnerability to violence and exploitation.
2. Policy level engagement: AAIN advocates for policy changes at the national and local levels to protect women's rights and promote gender equality. This includes engagement with the OCMC, gender desks, and referral mechanisms to ensure that women's voices are heard in the decision-making process.
3. Women leadership: AAIN supports women's political empowerment by promoting their participation in leadership roles at the community and national levels. By encouraging women to take an active role in politics, AAIN aims to increase their representation and influence in decision-making processes.
4. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): AAIN works with youth and women leaders to promote disaster preparedness and resilience in vulnerable communities. By empowering local leaders to take charge of disaster response and recovery efforts, AAIN helps to build stronger, more resilient communities.
5. Ending Chhaupadi: AAIN supports girls' initiatives to end the harmful practice of Chhaupadi, which involves isolating women and girls during menstruation. By raising awareness about the negative impacts of Chhaupadi, AAIN works to promote gender equality and improve the health and wellbeing of women and girls.
6. Adolescent girls challenging child marriage: AAIN supports adolescent girls in challenging child marriage in Parsa, where the practice is still prevalent. By providing girls with education and skills training, AAIN helps them to become empowered and independent, and to make their own choices about their lives and futures.
7. Breaking gender stereotypes: AAIN works to break down gender stereotypes and promote gender equality by highlighting women's achievements and challenging traditional gender roles. This includes supporting women's leadership and entrepreneurship, and addressing harmful gender norms and attitudes in communities across Nepal.

A meeting of eight political parties in the ruling coalition has directed their lawmakers to reach Kathmandu by Wednesday. The meeting held at the office of the Congress Parliamentary Party in Singhadurbar directed the lawmakers to reach Kathmandu by 11 am tomorrow, Janata Samajbadi Party leader Rajendra Shrestha said. House of Representatives, National Assembly and Province Assembly lawmakers have to reach Kathmandu by tomorrow. Talking to journalists after the meeting, Nepali Congress Vice-President Purna Bahadur Khadka said that the meeting focused on the presidential election and strengthening the alliance. The election has been scheduled for March 9. The eight parties have fielded Nepali Congress senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel as their common candidate while CPN-UML has made its leader Subash Chandra Nembang the presidential candidate.  

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 14.41 points to close at 1,952.66 points on Tuesday. Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 1.53 points to close at 370. 24 points. A total of 4,059,149 unit shares of 261 companies were traded for Rs 1. 20 billion. Meanwhile, Shuvam Power Limited was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. CYC Nepal Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the top loser as its price fell by 5.18 percent. At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 82 trillion.

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has estimated that the country needs to invest as much as $4bn by 2030 to transform the existing transmission infrastructure. In a presentation at a program last week, NEA Managing Director Kul Man Ghising said an investment of $3.95bn will be required to complete the NEA’s plan of transforming the existing transmission infrastructure which has remained poor and unreliable. According to him, it will require $2.51bn for the planned and ongoing transmission line projects within the Kathmandu Valley and outside. An additional $1.44bn will be required for constructing the substations. NEA is currently developing and has planned to develop 400kV, 220kV, 132kV, and 66kV transmission lines and substations. Even though load shedding in the country officially ended in May 2019, the reliability of the power supply has been a major concern for industrial and general consumers. The NEA leadership has time and again insisted that the next major focus would be to improve the transmission and distribution infrastructure of power supply. NEA has been forced to cut power industries based in the Birgunj area because of failure to supply power there due to poor transmission infrastructure. Nepal has been importing electricity from India during the dry season but it has not been able to deliver the imported power from India to Birgunj where industries are facing daily power cuts. One of the main reasons behind the failure to deliver the imported power to the area is poor transmission infrastructure. “Existing transmission line cannot carry much power,” said an NEA official. “So, we have failed to deliver power from Dhalkebar to Birgunj.” Nepal has been importing power through the 400kV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur Cross Border Transmission Line from the Indian market. While domestic transmission infrastructure has remained poor, the cross-border transmission infrastructure between Nepal and India is also not efficient. For example, the 132kV Raxaul-Parwanipur Cross Border Transmission Line can transmit only 80MW of electricity. The 33kV Raxual-Birgunj Transmission Line Project can carry only 12MW electricity. “We have requested the Bihar State government for the supply of additional 90MW of electricity through improvement in cross border power lines,” said the NEA official. Considering the poor state of cross-border power lines, Nepal and India agreed to upgrade these transmission lines. There are a dozen cross-border power lines between Nepal and India. Except for Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur, the capacity of other power lines range between 33kV to 132kV, according to the NEA. So improving domestic and cross-border electricity lines between Nepal and India has emerged as a major priority for the government-owned power utility to ensure the reliability of the power supply. NEA officials say improving the quality of power supply is important to promote the use of electric vehicles and electric cooktops in the country as well.

It's been over three and half decades since the government began construction of the Babai Irrigation Project, one of the national pride projects, which has achieved only 65 percent of the physical progress so far. The development of the Babai Irrigation Project commenced in the fiscal year 1988/89 and the completion deadline has been set to FY 2025/26. Given the current pace of the construction, it is unlikely that the project would be completed in the next three and half years. The project has to complete 35.76 percent of the remaining work by that time to meet the construction deadline. However, project officials say that there is a challenge in completing the remaining work during that period. The physical progress of the project in mid-July was 62.23 percent. And, only 2.01 percent of additional physical progress has been achieved in the first six months of this fiscal year. The project officials admit this progress is not satisfactory. In order to complete the construction of the project within the specified deadline, physical progress should be made at the rate of 3 percent quarterly, 6 percent semi-annually and 12 percent annually. However, the report of the project has confirmed that work has not been done accordingly. Now, project officials say there is no option but to extend the deadline. Although the construction started in FY 1988/89, the funding was inadequate at the beginning. Later, in FY 2012/13, Babai Irrigation was given the status of a 'national pride project', and after this, a larger budget was allocated for the project. However, the construction of the project was again affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the delay by the contractor. Ramakrishna Ghorasaini, Information Officer of the project, said that it is difficult to complete the construction within the stipulated timeframe. "While the construction of the project was going smoothly, the pandemic stalled the works for almost two years," he said, adding, "Last year, the contractors did not work citing the rise in the price of construction materials." The project was launched by the government with the aim of providing irrigation facilities to around 36,000 hectares of arable land in the Bardia district. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs18.96bn, which will be invested by the government. So far, Rs11.63bn has been spent on the project. Initially, the estimated cost of the project was Rs2bn which has gone up with the delay in the construction with each passing year.