SC halts removal of five Madhes MPs

The Supreme Court has issued an order preventing the removal of five lawmakers from the Madhes Province Assembly.

A single bench of Justice Nityananda Pandey directed Madhes Province Speaker Ram Chandra Mandal not to relieve the five members of their positions for the time being.

NPL: Karnali Yaks set 167-run target against Chitwan Rhinos

Karnali Yaks set a target of 167 runs against Chitwan Rhinos in the second match of the second edition of Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Tuesday.

In the match held at the Tribhuvan International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Karnali, having lost the toss and invited to bat first, scored a total of 166 runs for the loss of three wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

Opener Priyank Panchal gave the highest contribution of 90 runs for Karnali. He missed scoring a century by 10 runs.

Playing in the NPL for the first time, Panchal scored the highest 90 runs with the help of seven fours and six sixes off 48 balls. He has become the second player in this edition to score a half-century.

Similarly, for Karnali, Max O'Dowd scored 20 runs hitting one four off 30 balls. Mark Watt scored 16 with a four off 21 balls, Pawan Sarraf remained unbeaten on 27, and Najibullah Zadran remained unbeaten on four runs.

Currently, Chitwan Rhinos are batting in response against Karnali Yaks.

 

Government yet to recover Rs 275 billion in tax arrears

The government still has to recover Rs 275 billion from 30,912 taxpayers till fiscal year 2081/82 BS.

As per the annual progress report of the Inland Revenue Department made public on Monday, the highest amount of dues of Rs 219 billion in income tax arrears should be collected from 193,620 taxpayers.

Similarly, Rs 48.70 billion dues remain to be collected in VAT arrears from 137,253 taxpayers while Rs 4.9 billion dues are yet to be collected from 364 taxpayers under Excise Duty as well as Rs 3.15 billion dues from 1,770 taxpayers under other categories.

The annual target progress set by the Inland Revenue Department in the last fiscal year to raise dues was minimal.

"Only Rs 8.71 billion remaining amount of income tax was collected against the target of collecting Rs 22.76 billion in the last fiscal year. Only 38.29 percent of progress was achieved as compared to the target," reads the annual report.

Similarly, the Department had set a target of raising Rs 16.33 billion dues in VAT arrears, but only 63.28 percent (Rs 10.33 billion) was collected. Towards income tax in arrears adjustment in the last fiscal year, Rs 21.39 billion dues were collected against the target of Rs 27.38 billion.

Likewise, a target had been set to collect 18.17 billion in VAT arrears, 122.63 billion target progress was achieved as compared to previous fiscal year.

The Department had collected Rs 22.29 billion in the last fiscal year.

UML Organization Dept directs concerned body to select general convention reps by Nov 29

A meeting of the Central Organization Department of the CPN-UML was held at the party office in Chyasal, Lalitpur on Tuesday.

The meeting held under the chairmanship of Department Chief Kashinath Adhikari discussed the issue of selecting party representatives for the general convention, informed Madhav Dhungel, Secretary of the Organization Department.

According to him, the meeting, which was attended by party Vice President Bishnu Poudel and General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, discussed issues pertaining to the delegates for the upcoming 11th General Convention.

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The meeting decided that the election for the selection of representatives must be completed by November 29, whether through a unanimous or voting process, and the details must be sent to the party central office by December 1, Dhungel said.

He said that the members of the Organization Department have been given the responsibility to coordinate for the same.

The 11th General Convention of the UML is being held in Kathmandu from December 13.

 

 

 

Animal Quarantine Office established in Pokhara

The Federal Government has established the Animal Quarantine Office in Pokhara.

The Livestock Service Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development set up the Office at Lamapatan in Pokhara Metropolitan City-15, Pokhara.

Ministry's Joint Secretary Pashupati Dhungana and Department's Director General Dr Ram Nandan Tiwari jointly inaugurated the animal quarantine facility on Monday amid an event. 

Two permanent check posts have been managed under this Office.

Chief of the Animal Quarantine Office, Pokhara, Dr Kiran Pandey said that the check posts are in the Pokhara International Airport and Korola Border Point along the Nepal-China border in Mustang district.

The quarantine office is tasked to regulate the imports of animal products and reduce the risk of infections that could transmit through the animal products, according to Chief of Pokhara Office Pandey.

Likewise, the establishment of the quarantine facility in Pokhara is expected to play a crucial role in promoting national and international trading of animal products.

During the inaugural event, officials from the federal, province and local levels were present.

Top taxpayers feted on National Tax Day

The government felicitated top taxpayers from a wide range of sectors on the occasion of National Tax Day 2025 on Monday. At an event organized by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) in Kathmandu, Minister for Finance Rameshore Prasad Khanal presented certificates of felicitation to individuals, firms, and institutions that made the largest tax payments in fiscal year 2024/25.

At the top of the individual income taxpayer list was Raj Bahadur Shah, who, the IRD said, contributed the highest personal income tax. Similarly, Nepal Telecommunications Authority topped the list of government institutions, while Third Eye International was declared the highest-paying entity in the sole proprietorship category. 

In the export-focused segments, Dabur Nepal Pvt Ltd paid the highest tax in goods exports, while Verisk Nepal Pvt Ltd was the highest taxpayers in IT-related service exports. Poshan Breeder Farm Pvt Ltd was honored for paying the most taxes in the agriculture sector, while Nepal Investment Mega Bank was the top taxpayer in the banking and financial sector and Nobel Medical College and Teaching Hospital in the health and education institutions sector.

Soaltee Hotel Ltd was honored in the tourism category, while Bhat-Bhateni Super Store once again emerged as the largest income tax contributor in retail trading. Among mid-sized companies recording Rs 500m to Rs 1bn annual transactions, CDS and Clearing Ltd received the top honor.

The energy sector distinction went to Bhotekoshi Power Company Ltd, while IME Ltd topped the remittance segment. Nepal Telecom was recognized separately for having consistently cleared the highest amount of value-added tax on time from 2019/20 through 2024/25. In the special-industry category, the award was presented to Unilever Nepal Ltd. 

Similarly, the Baglung Tax Office was declared the year’s best-performing tax office. Addressing the ceremony, Min Bahadur Gurung, Chairperson of Bhat-Bhateni Superstore expressed dissatisfaction over accusation of involvement in fake VAT billing. He also recounted the heavy damage sustained during the GenZ protests, when 12 Bhatbhateni outlets were burned and several others vandalized or looted. 

“Bhat-Bhateni was targeted during the protests because of rumors that we promised to build an office for a political party. We have supported various political groups over the years,” Gurung said. ““Whatever we gave, we gave from what remained after paying taxes.”

According to the IRD, the annual recognition aims to strengthen trust in the tax system and promote greater compliance among taxpayers.

Gold price drops by Rs 3, 800 per tola on Tuesday

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 3, 800 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 239, 500 per tola today.  It was traded at Rs 243, 300 per tola on Monday.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 3, 090 per tola.

 

Nepal calls for climate justice at COP30

Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development of Nepal Dr Madan Prasad Pariyar today attended the Thirtieth Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), being held in Belém, Brazil, from 10–21 November 2025, renewing its call for stronger global climate justice efforts.

The Ministerial segment of COP30 officially began this morning with remarks from Vice President of Brazil Geraldo Alckmin, the President of COP30 André Corrêa do Lago, ministers, and senior UN officials.

In his address, Minister Pariyar highlighted Nepal’s major climate challenges—ranging from retreating glaciers and severe drought to unseasonal floods and impacts on agriculture, reads a statement issued by the Nepali Embassy in Brazil.

He outlined Nepal’s ambitious NDC3.0, which charts a trajectory toward zero emissions by 2045. “As one of the world’s most nature-connected nations, our forest cover now exceeds 46 percent."

Calling on developed countries to fulfill past commitments on climate finance, the minister added that it is the duty of every country to submit ambitious NDCs, fulfill treaty obligations, and honor the ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate justice.

He emphasized that all parties, including emerging economies, must engage constructively to keep the 1.5-degree goal within reach.

Minister Pariyar also pressed for the urgent need to integrate a dedicated mountain agenda into UNFCCC processes, referring to the Sagarmatha Sambaad held in Kathmandu in May this year, according to the statement.

Prior to his statement, Minister Pariyar interacted with stakeholders—both present in Belém and online—on progress made so far and the way forward. Participants were briefed on Nepal’s engagements in various agenda areas, including climate finance, adaptation, Loss and Damage, transparency, Global Stocktake, gender, and mountains.

Apart from his intervention at the plenary, Minister Pariyar also attended important side events and engaged at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

Attending an event organized by the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative aimed at achieving a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels this morning, the minister outlined Nepal’s plans to scale up clean-energy practices, including the increasing adoption of EVs and electric ovens.

Also today, he joined the Ministerial Meeting of LDCs, which marked the handover of the presidency of the LDC Group on climate change.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Pariyar appreciated the contributions of Malawi as the outgoing Chair in advancing the Group’s priorities, while pledging Nepal’s solidarity and support to the incoming presidency of Timor-Leste, the statement further reads.

Later in the afternoon, he joined ministers from member countries of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) to amplify collective efforts to protect climate and biodiversity by safeguarding big cats. As a founding member of IBCA, Nepal reiterated its firm commitment to advancing the Alliance’s goals.

As part of his bilateral engagements, he met yesterday with Ibrahim Cheikh Diong, Executive Director of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage. The two sides exchanged views on opportunities for Nepal to access financing from the Loss and Damage Fund for suitable national projects. Minister Pariyar is scheduled to meet Bhupender Yadav, India’s Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, on the sidelines tomorrow.

Nepal will host a side event entitled “Sagarmatha to Belém: Advancing Climate Action”, with the objective of reviewing progress made since the adoption of the Sagarmatha Call for Action and developing strategies to advance the mountain agenda within the UNFCCC processes, according to the statement.

Ministers and senior officials from mountainous countries, along with UN officials, will be attending the event.

He is also scheduled to participate in the Ministerial event “Melting Point and the 1.5°C Goal: Global Impacts of Cryosphere Loss and Pathways to Return from Overshoot”, organized by the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative.

The Minister, who arrived in Belém on November 15, is scheduled to return home on November 19.