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Senior Vice-chair of the CPN-UML, Ishwar Pokharel, has expressed disagreement over the nomination of representatives for the party’s 11th national congress.

According to Pokharel’s secretariat, the 108 national congress representatives nominated on Friday were based on a list proposed by party chair KP Sharma Oli, to which Pokharel has raised objections.

Rajesh Rai, who heads the publicity wing aligned with Pokharel, said the senior vice-chair had serious reservations about the nominations. Rai stated that during the Secretariat meeting held a day earlier, there was an understanding that the list of 108 representatives would be finalised jointly by Chair Oli and Senior Vice-Chair Pokharel. He added that discussions were scheduled for Friday morning in line with that agreement. However, Pokharel has said the list was published unilaterally, contrary to the earlier understanding.

Pokharel, who is also a contender for the party chair, had on Friday submitted a separate list of nominees from his group, Rai said, adding that it was agreed to seek consensus between the two lists.

“The list made public today is only the one tabled earlier by the party chair,” Rai said.

The inauguration ceremony of the 11th National Convention of the CPN-UML is set to begin shortly. The opening session is being held at Sallaghari in Bhaktapur, while the closed-door sessions will take place at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu.

Delegates and leaders from across the country have been arriving in Bhaktapur since early today. For the inauguration ceremony scheduled for midday at the open ground in Sallaghari, representatives of 16 political parties and six social organisations have been invited.

The convention venue at Sallaghari has begun filling up with participants. Strict security checks are being carried out before entry into the inauguration site.

A total of 2,262 delegates will take part in the 11th National Convention. As per the party statute, five percent of the delegates can be nominated, bringing in 108 nominated members. Including 309 central advisers, the total number of participants will reach 2,571.

The 11th National Convention of the CPN-UML is now getting underway, with a steady flow of delegates heading towards Sallaghari. Rallies comprising delegates from various sectors are marching towards the convention venue, while several participants have already arrived at the inauguration site. Party leaders are also reaching Sallaghari one after another.

Cultural programs are currently underway at the venue. Participants are being subjected to rigorous security screening before entering the inauguration area. A total of 20,000 chairs have been arranged at the open ground to accommodate those attending the ceremony.

The 11th National Congress of the CPN-UML is set to begin today, with party chairperson KP Sharma Oli scheduled to inaugurate the event this afternoon at the open ground in Sallahghari, Bhaktapur.

Party leaders and cadres arrived at the venue early in the morning. Security arrangements have been tightened, with police teams, including trained sniffer dogs, deployed at the inauguration site.

Parking arrangements have been made at Gaththaghar and Jagati for leaders and cadres attending the inaugural ceremony. According to the organizers, vehicles coming from the Kathmandu side will be parked at Gatthaghar, while those entering through the eastern route will be directed to Jagati. Parking facilities have been arranged at brick kilns, plotted lands, and other open spaces in the Jagati area.

Participants are expected to reach the Sallahghari venue in organized processions. The party has described the convention as a demonstration of the strength of a democratic political party. CPN-UML Politburo member Mahesh Basnet said efforts have been made to ensure that the processions proceed as much as possible through service lanes along the main roads.

CPN-UML Publicity and Publication Department chief Rajendra Gautam said all preparations for the convention have been completed and that around 300,000 participants from across the country are expected to attend the inaugural session. He added that more than 200 cultural tableaux reflecting Nepal’s unity and diversity will be displayed during the ceremony.

According to the party, a model of the Changunarayan Temple has been constructed on the stage, alongside an electronic lamp, which will be lit remotely by Chairperson Oli to inaugurate the convention. As this is the party’s 11th national convention, 11 party flags will be displayed, with 10 flags hoisted at the outset and one flag raised remotely. The closed session of the convention will be held at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu.

Participants at an interaction program titled “The Current Political Landscape: Reality and the Way Forward” have said that addressing the demands raised by the GenZ movement is essential to steer the country towards development. The participants noted that successive governments have failed to adequately address youth concerns related to good governance, transparency, and democratic practices, leading to growing frustration and disillusionment in society.

The interaction was jointly organized on Friday in Kathmandu by Youth Initiative, NGO Federation Nepal, and the Association of International NGOs in Nepal. The programme featured direct dialogue between youths and speakers including NGO Federation Nepal President Arjun Bhattarai, former minister Sumanā Shrestha, Monika Niraula, Pratigya Basyal, and journalist Hari Bahadur Thapa.

During the discussion, youths emphasized the need to ensure good governance, provide political space based on merit, and end nepotism. They also stressed the importance of sustaining anti-corruption campaigns and conducting elections in a transparent manner.

The program also discussed the perceived gap between rural and urban movements, challenges faced by traditional mainstream media in maintaining credibility in the digital age, and the need to reduce growing distrust between the state and young people. Participants further exchanged views on measures to address digital security risks.

WWF Nepal and the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) on Tuesday held an inception workshop for the Swachya Sagarmatha: Sustainable Waste Management for Clean Himalaya Project, bringing together government representatives, local authorities, development partners, and community organizations.

The three-year project aims to strengthen sustainable waste management systems, including the handling of electronic waste, across Sagarmatha National Park and its buffer zone. The initiative will be implemented by WWF Nepal in partnership with SPCC, the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, the Sagarmatha National Park Office, the Buffer Zone Management Committee, and local waste management groups. It is funded by the Thomas L Kempner Jr Foundation and aligns with the rural municipality’s Environmental Pollution Control and Sustainable Waste Management Plan 2023.

The workshop discussed project priorities and explored approaches for long-term, community-based waste management solutions in the Khumbu region. With tourist arrivals increasing from about 20,000 in 1998 to more than 50,000 in 2023, waste management has emerged as a growing environmental challenge in the area.

Participants from federal ministries, conservation agencies, local government bodies, the private sector, and the media attended the event. Discussions focused on project design, community capacity building, waste segregation, recycling practices, and coordination to establish systems for collecting, processing, and transporting waste, including electronic waste.

The Nepal GoodWeave Foundation has elected a new working committee under the leadership of Ubaraj Bhandari during its 30th annual general meeting and 15th convention held in Kathmandu.

According to the organization, the newly elected committee includes Balram Gurung as vice-chairperson, Kiran Thapa as general secretary, and Kalpana Timilsina as treasurer. Committee members are Atmaram Chapagain, Shirjana GC, Chitra Bahadur Basnet, Chitra Bahadur Basnet, Anju Shrestha and Amir Bhattarai.

Senior advocate and founding chairperson of the Nepal GoodWeave Foundation, Binod Bahadur Karki, presented certificates to the newly elected committee members. Karki said the organization, which was launched as the Rugmark Foundation by Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, has rescued, educated and reunited more than 5,000 child workers from Nepal’s carpet industry.

The organization stated that it will continue its efforts to eliminate child labour from the carpet industry and promote child rights. It has been implementing programmes focused on the rescue, education, training and rehabilitation of children engaged in carpet-related labour.

A documentary titled “Dreams Revived” was also screened at the program. The film depicts the experiences of children rescued from carpet weaving and later supported through education and housing. Individuals and organizations contributing to the foundation’s work were also honoured.

The Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC) was officially inaugurated in Kathmandu on Friday.

Korean Ambassador to Nepal Park Tae-young, Song Mi-sun, CEO of HanaTour, officials from Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and representatives of local business communities were present in the inauguration ceremony held at the OneSky Building in Lalitpur.

The Center was opened to significantly enhance the convenience and accessibility of the Republic of Korea visa application process for residents of Nepal.

In response to the rapid surge in visa applications driven by increased bilateral exchange between Korea and Nepal, the KVAC, operated by HanaTour, has been entrusted with the crucial task of facilitating visa applications.

Song emphasized: “HanaTour brings 30 years of global experience in operating travel and visa services, along with proven expertise from managing visa centers in nations such as China, Vietnam, and the Philippines. We are committed to deploying stable and highly sophisticated services in Nepal to offer optimal convenience for all applicants planning their visit to Korea.”

Strategically located in Lalitpur, the Center has enhanced accessibility by extending visa application hours—previously limited to mornings—until 4 pm on weekdays, while telephone consultation services will be available until 9 pm.

In addition, diverse payment options and region-specific customized services are expected to greatly simplify the application process. Designed with a spacious layout, the Center also provides applicant computer workstations and a VIP room, offering improved convenience for all visitors.

A KVAC representative highlighted the center’s commitment to standardized yet localized service delivery: “Building upon a foundation of standardized services, we will operate the Korea Visa Application Center tailored to the characteristics of each region.

Through the implementation of a pre-reservation system and the operation of a centralized call center, visa applicants will now have easier and more convenient access to accurate information regarding Republic of Korea visas and the real-time status of their applications.”

The representative further added: “We anticipate that the provision of courteous and highly reliable services will positively contribute to the vitalization of both economic exchange and private-sector diplomacy between Nepal and the Republic of Korea.”

The center currently offers value-added services such as SMS tracking and courier services, with plans to progressively expand customer convenience services in line with future demand. This inauguration marks a critical milestone, establishing a stable infrastructure to effectively manage the growing demand for Korean visas in Nepal.

The representative further added: "We anticipate that the provision of courteous and highly reliable services will positively contribute to the vitalization of both economic exchange and private-sector diplomacy between Nepal and the Republic of Korea."

The Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NICCI) and the University of Nepal (UoN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday to establish a strategic partnership aimed at developing skilled manpower by bridging the gap between academia and industry.

NICCI Director General Keshab Man Singh and University of Nepal Registrar Dr Suresh Acharya on behalf of their respective institutions signed the MoU.

Both organizations will collaborate to link academic knowledge with industry needs, build capacity, and work together in areas including training, workshops, conferences, and summits under this agreement.

Prof. Dr Bindu Lohani, Chancellor of the University of Nepal, said that the university is developing a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) model for financial (non-academic) operations and embraces an Industry–Government–Academia (IGA) approach.

He further said that the university is moving toward an interdisciplinary curriculum model, where the first-year curriculum emphasizes breadth of knowledge, followed by subject-specific depth. “Our courses are designed to equip students with the skills that the country urgently needs today,” he added.

The MoU aims to create a dynamic interface between academic knowledge and industry practices, enabling students to gain practical skills, foster innovation, and promote entrepreneurship through collaborative efforts.