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The two-day extended meeting of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) concluded in Sauraha on Saturday night with a decision to draw the attention of the parties and the government to prepare the basis for making the March 5 elections to the House of Representatives free, fair and fearless.

The meeting has also called on all political parties to actively participate in the election process to further strengthen democratic practices. All party structures, members and well-wishers have been urged to engage in public opinion formation so that the outcome of the announced election is in the supreme interest of the country and the people and in favor of the party.

A statement issued by RSP spokesperson Manish Jha has also demanded an impartial investigation into the incidents that took place during the Gen-Z protests and action against those found guilty.

Since polarization is inevitable for the establishment of a strong alternative political force in the country, the meeting has made a special request to the Central Committee to emphasize dialogue, consensus, and cooperation with like-minded transformative forces.

The meeting discussed the latest overall situation in the country, political developments, the announced election of members of the House of Representatives, issues of people's livelihood, and the internal life of the party and the current workload.

A total of 512 delegates invited from across the country took part in the extended meeting where Acting president DP Aryal presented a political report, Vice president Dr Swarnim Wagle presented the concept of the election manifesto, general secretary Kabindra Burlakoti presented an organizational report, joint general secretary Bipin Kumar Acharya presented a candidate selection outline, and secretariat member Deepak Bohara presented a report on the signature campaign.

 Central member Dr Toshima Karki, secretary of the central organization department Shankar Shrestha, and Chitwan, Jhapa, and Rupandehi district committees submitted written suggestions in the extended meeting.

The Third Trans-Himalaya Communication and Social Development Conference concluded at the Camera Building, CDJMC on Saturday, highlighting stronger and reliable information exchange across the region.

Inaugurating the two-day conference, Prof. Deepak Aryal, PhD underscored the importance of trustworthy information in combating misinformation.

While concluding the event, Prof. Kedar Prasad Rijal, PhD, emphasized the importance of greater cooperation among Trans-Himalayan societies despite their diverse cultural contexts.

Scholars from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, China, the United States, Japan, and Nepal participated in six sessions, including the main forum, where they discussed building a shared future in the digital era and strengthening cross-cultural communication.

The conference also reiterated the importance of reliable information in promoting awareness of climate change mitigation and early warning systems.

Similarly, participants expressed concern over the ethical and responsible use of social media in the evolving communication ecosystem.

Prof. Khadga KC, Rector of Tribhuvan University, along with Prof. Han Hong, Prof. Chen Changfeng, Prof. Manukonda Rabindranath, and Prof. Taibur Rahman, spoke on diverse issues related to global and cross-cultural communication in the region.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Kundan Aryal from the Central Department of Journalism and Mass Communication said that Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, though distinct, have long coexisted and profoundly influenced one another in Chinese and Nepali cultures over the centuries, thereby enhancing people-to-people cross-cultural communication.

Kamal Dev Bhattarai, Editor of Annapurna Express, remarked that social media use in Nepal largely follows traditional patterns of new media engagement.

Professor Han Hong, Director of the Center for Trans-Himalayan Communication, said that Conferences like this are crucial for promoting knowledge exchange and strengthening community ties.

“We are committed to organizing similar programs in the coming years to build on this positive impact,” said Hang Hong.

The conference was jointly organized by the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China and Tribhuvan University, in collaboration with Kangba TV (China) and Himalaya TV (Nepal).

A person died after a vehicle carrying vegetables hit a group of pedestrians at Tanakpur in Ghodaghodi Municipality, Kailali on Sunday.

The deceased has been identified as Shankar Dagaura (55) of Bardagoriya Rural Municipality-6.

He was riding a bicycle when the vehicle ((Lu2Cha 2358) hit him early this morning, DSP Ramesh Awasthi, Chief of the Area Police Office, Sukhad, said.

Seriously injured Dagaura was declared dead upon arrival at Ghodaghodi Hospital. Three other people were injured in the accident.

The injured have been identified as Padam Bahadur Shahi (54) of Sadepani, Ghodaghodi-2, Harka Bahadur Dagoura (45) of Tulsipur, Kota, Bardagoriya Rural Municipality-6, and Krishna Dagoura (25) of Bardagoriya-6. They are undergoing treatment at Ghodaghodi Hospital.

Shahi has been referred to Dhangadhi for further treatment.

Police have arrested jeep driver Santosh Ghartimagar (23) of Triveni Rural Municipality-4, Rolpa, for investigation, the Area Police Office said.

A pedestrian died after being hit by a passenger bus at Master Chowk, Hetauda Sub-metropolitan City-9, Makwanpur, along the East-West Highway on Saturday.

The deceased has been identified as Ram Bahadur Bohara (37) of Devdaha Municipality-8, Rupandehi.

The bus (Ba Pra 03-001 Kha 2656) was heading towards Kathmandu from Janakpur when the incident occurred last night.

Seriously injured in the accident, he was taken to the Hetauda Hospital but the doctors pronounced him dead on arrival, Deputy Superintendent of Police Pushkar Bogati, spokesperson at the District Police Office, Makwanpur said.

Police have taken the bus driver, Sujay Kumar Singh (33) of Ramgopalpur Municipality-6, Mahottari under control for investigation.

The weather will remain partly cloudy in the hilly areas of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces today. It will remain mainly fair in the rest of the provinces, says the Weather Forecasting Division.

There is a possibility of light rain and snowfall at one or two places of the mountainous regions of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces.

The meteorological analysis by the Division states that currently there is no significant effect of the weather system across the country.

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal hosted a Korean Food Festival at the Ambassador's residence in Kathmandu on Saturday.

Nepali returnees from Korea and Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Alumni participated and shared the memories of Korea through Korean food.

In his congratulatory remarks, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nepal Taeyoung Park described the event as a valuable opportunity for returnee workers and GKS alumni to reconnect through Korean cuisine and share unforgettable memories of Korea with loved ones, reads a statement issued by the Korean Embassy in Kathmandu. 

Ambassador Park expressed his gratitude to the participants and highlighted the growing influence of Korean culture in Nepal through K-Pop, K-dramas and K-Food. He emphasized that strengthening cultural ties between Korea and Nepal aims to provide an opportunity to relive their memories of Korea and share Korean food culture with friends and family in Nepal.

This event is part of the Korean government's ongoing Korea returnee worker's reintegration program, following the K-Food Entrepreneurship Training Program, organized in Kathmandu in August this year.

The Korean government pledged continued support for a sustainable start-up ecosystem for Nepali youth, aiming to create jobs and strengthen Nepal’s economy.

The event was attended by approximately 35 participants including Embassy staff.

Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Nepal Udo Eugen Volz and Marianne Beck-Volz graciously hosted a reception at the ambassador’s residence in Gyaneshwor on Friday to commemorate the 35th Anniversary of the Day of German Unity and 67 years of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Germany.

Vice President Ram Sahay Yadav graced the occasion as the special guest.

In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Volz stated, “Today, as we celebrate 35 years of German Unity, we also mark 67 years of bilateral relations between Nepal and Germany. Germany has stood by Nepal through challenging times — during the civil war, the 2015 earthquake, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the current democratic renewal. We appreciate the commitment to reinforce democratic values like accountability and service delivery to the people of Nepal,” reads a statement issued by the German Embassy in Kathmandu.

This year also commemorates 51 years of GIZ’s presence in Nepal, 62 years since the establishment of KfW, and 18 years of PTB's engagement in the country.

As key institutions under the German Development Cooperation, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has been providing impactful technical assistance to Nepal, while Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW) has supported the country through financial cooperation across diverse sectors.

Likewise, the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) — Germany’s national metrology institute — has been contributing to strengthening Nepal’s quality infrastructure by supporting standards, metrology, testing, and accreditation systems that promote fair trade and enhance industrial competitiveness.

Government bodies, political leaders, diplomats, business people, journalists, and intellectuals, reflecting the enduring partnership and shared values between Nepal and Germany, attended the event.

Third Trans-Himalayan Forum on Communication and Social Development kicked off in Kathmandu.

The event was jointly organized by the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), Kangba TV (China), Tribhuvan University, and Himalaya Television (Nepal).

Held under the theme “Peripheral Digital Communication and Regional Public Governance, the forum aims to address shared challenges through digital innovation and cross-border collaboration.

Amid complex and shifting global dynamics, strengthening trust and cooperation among Trans-Himalayan nations has become more critical.

Countries linked by shared geography and culture face common challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, water security, and sustainable development. The forum aims to leverage digital tools and academic dialogue to promote practical solutions and strengthen regional stability.

The event brought together over 150 scholars and practitioners from nine countries, including China, Nepal, the US, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Japan, with more than 60 academic papers submitted.

The event’s timing, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of China–Nepal and the 75th anniversary of China–India diplomatic relations, stressed on its broader historical and regional relevance.

During the program, Professor Manukonda Rabindranath of Jawaharlal Nehru University (India) discussed AI-driven fact-checking tools, while Bhutan’s Dawa Penjor introduced the “Gelephu Mindfulness City” model. Professor Chen Changfeng of Tsinghua University examined how algorithms are reshaping societal cognition.

Women’s empowerment emerged as a key theme, with India’s Deepika Pant highlighting the resilience of Pahari women amid social and environmental transformations. Kangba TV host Qimi Wengmu emphasized the media’s vital role in amplifying women’s voices and promoting intercultural understanding.

Meanwhile, experts emphasized the need for deeper integration.

Professor Taibur Rahman (University of Dhaka) illustrated synergies among Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, and Nepal through case studies. Japanese photojournalist Hiroyuki Torii demonstrated visual storytelling’s power in bridging cultures, while Pakistan’s Professor Abida Ashraf advocated for enhanced media industry cooperation .

The Vice-Chancellor of Tribhuvan University emphasized the importance of evidence-based academic exchanges in the context of ongoing geopolitical shifts.

Professor Ding Huang, Dean of UESTC’s School of Public Administration, noted, “This forum serves as a digital bridge to share knowledge and tackle common challenges”.

Professor Han Hong, Director of the Center for Trans-Himalayan Communication Research, proposed a “Seven-Point Initiative” to consolidate consensus during the sessions.