Submit your Article

Vietnam and Thailand on Friday agreed to elevate their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s visit to Hanoi.

The two countries outlined a cooperation roadmap for 2025–2030, aiming to boost regional stability and development. They committed to enhancing connectivity and tourism, particularly between Vietnam and northeastern Thailand, according to Xinhua.

Eight cooperation agreements were signed in areas including trade, law enforcement, infrastructure, and semiconductor workforce training.

A person killed his daughter and nephew by attacking them with a sharp weapon in Chitwan on Friday.

Leela Raj Giri (42) of Bharatpur Metropolitan City also tried to kill himself after murdering his daughter and nephew.

Giri attacked his seven-year-old daughter Prabha Giri and five-year-old nephew while they were getting ready for school, said Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Govinda Puri. 

All of them were brought to Chitwan Medical College for treatment where the two children died during the course of treatment while the condition of Giri is serious, added Puri.

Giri is a former soldier and was reportedly suffering from mental illness, said Puri.

The film city under construction at Dangdunge Danda, Bhimeshwor Municipality-9, has been largely neglected, and it remains unclear when filming will begin at the government-built studio. Although construction began in 2011, less than 25 percent of the work has been completed.

Initially, the project was expected to cost Rs 12–13bn, with support from the Chinese government. However, a later government-led detailed study estimated the required investment at Rs 1.637bn. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report recommended allocating 3.52 percent of the total budget for tree plantation, conservation, and environmental monitoring to minimize the project’s ecological impact.

According to the report, 76.25 hectares of land would be required for the film city. This includes 64 hectares from Seti Devi Dadar Community Forest in Bhimeshwor Municipality-9, Dolakha, and 12 hectares from the Sindhupalchowk district. Although the full area is designated for indoor and outdoor filming, the main structures will occupy just 9.61 hectares. Back in 2011, when there were limited filming facilities in the country, locals of Dolakha had voluntarily offered 30–35 ropanis of land to support the initiative.

So far, three buildings—a cultural museum, an administrative block, and a guest house—have been constructed with a Rs 650m investment from the Bagmati Province government. While this initial infrastructure is in place, interest in the project has waned. Stakeholders argue that establishing a film city in such a scenic, high-altitude location could attract global filmmakers, bolster the national economy, and transform Dolakha into a prosperous hub for the Nepali film industry.

The proposed film city sits at an altitude between 2,800 and 3,400 meters. Located 105 kilometers east of Kathmandu, the area offers a favorable climate, abundant public land, minimal environmental damage, and enthusiastic local support—factors that stakeholders say make Dangdunge Danda an ideal site.

The location is home to over 50 species of flora and 14 types of ferns. Locals say that from Dangdunge Danda, one can view iconic landmarks such as Swayambhu and Phulchoki in Kathmandu, and mountain ranges including Rolwaling, Gaurishankar, Jugal, and Ganesh Himal. The site also overlooks about 60 percent of Sindhupalchok, Kavrepalanchok, Solukhumbu, Ramechhap, and Okhaldhunga districts.

The Government of Nepal had earlier introduced a public-private partnership model for the project. Under the Companies Act, the Film Development Board prepared a framework to invite investment from government, local, and foreign stakeholders. However, both the Ministry of Communications and the Film Development Board have been criticized for failing to move the project forward.

Madandas Shrestha, coordinator of the Film City Construction Committee, expressed concern that the infrastructure already built might go to waste. “It is unfortunate for the people of Dolakha that construction work has stalled. It is time for local stakeholders. This is not just a development project for Dolakha—it is a national pride project. It’s disheartening to see initiatives that could benefit the entire country being stalled,” he said.

Shrestha accused the Film Development Board of negligence and blamed the government for its lack of commitment. He believes there is growing government disinterest in completing the film city in Dolakha. However, he said if the land was given to the local government, Dolakha people could complete the project themselves.

The governments of Mauritius and China had previously expressed interest in supporting the project, as showcased at the International Investment Summit. “We don’t oppose the government’s plan to build a film city in Kavre. Let film cities be built across Nepal. Let development flourish. But the infrastructure already built should not be left to decay,” Shrestha added.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has said that the art, culture and tradition of the Muslim community have its own uniqueness in Nepal with multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural characteristics.

He expressed this view while extending best wishes to those who are leaving for Hajj pilgrimage this year to Mecca, during a welcoming ceremony organised at the President House, Shital Niwas this morning.

"In our country, which has diverse ethnicities, communities, languages, and cultures, it is essential for everyone to unite and work together for its preservation and enhancement, and through this, to strengthen national unity by increasing brotherhood, friendship, and goodwill among each other. I express my best wishes for the success of your Hajj journey with the belief that the pilgrimage will make a significant contribution to it," he said.

The President stated that this community has had a significant contribution to the formation of the Nepali state since ancient times.

"I believe that the relevant authorities will definitely pay attention to providing all kinds of facilities for the convenience of the people who are going on Hajj pilgrimage espousing sacred faith and belief. I would like to draw the attention of the stakeholders to the need to formulate timely policies, rules, and provisions to operate the pilgrimage in an organized manner," said President Paudel.

On that occasion, the President wished the pilgrims by handing them a scarf and a Nepali cap.

The Acting Chairperson of the Muslim Commission, Mohamuddin Miyan, said that it is a matter of pride that for the first time the President has personally bid farewell to the Hajj pilgrims.

India and Japan have notified the WTO of plans to impose retaliatory tariffs on US imports in response to increased steel and aluminum duties imposed by the Trump administration.

Both countries argue the US tariffs, in place since 2018 and expanded in March 2025, qualify as safeguard measures under WTO rules, entitling them to suspend equivalent trade concessions, Xinhua reported.

India claims that the tariffs affect $7.6bn of its exports and will equal $1.91bn in taxes with equivalent tariffs on US imports. Japan intends to take similar action, targeting US limits on auto imports.

The EU and UK have already filed comparable WTO notifications, according to Xinhua.

Honourable Ministers,
Esteemed Guests,
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning and Namaste!

It is both a deep honour and a heartfelt privilege to welcome you to the inaugural edition of the Sagarmatha Sambaad.

This is Nepal’s global dialogue initiative—
A platform for thoughtful reflection,
For principled engagement,
And for addressing the most urgent challenges of our time.

Today, the line between local and global has all but vanished.
What happens in one corner of the world echoes across the rest.

The fire that rage in one land darkens the skies of others
The melting of distant glaciers shifts the rains, floods the fields, and parches the plains far away.

The decisions of a few can shape the destiny of many.

It is within this deeply interconnected reality that the Sagarmatha Sambaad was born—

A space for honest dialogue.
For shared wisdom.
For collective action.

We have named it after Sagarmatha—the highest point on Earth.
And we hope this Sambaad— our dialogue— will rise just as high.

High in moral clarity.
Bold in intellectual courage.
Steady in our shared vision for a better world.

Today, the world stands before towering, metaphorical mountains.
Challenges loom—vast and urgent.

The recovery from the pandemic is still fragile.
The climate crisis is speeding up.
In many corners of the world, peace feels more distant than ever.

Trust in global institutions is weakening.
Inequalities—within countries and across borders—are growing deeper.
Multilateralism, once a guiding light, now sways under heavy storms.

And yet—
Amidst this uncertainty, we hold on to a simple, powerful belief:
The power of dialogue.

Nepal is not just a piece of geography.
It is a sacred land—where wisdom breathes through every stone and stream.
Here, the spirit of awakening was born.

This is the land of Lord Buddha.
From this soil, a light emerged—guiding humanity toward peace, compassion, and harmony.

It is a soil where sages meditated.
Where seekers found truth.
Where rishis offered the world a wealth of knowledge that still uplifts the human soul.

Nepal has always been a place of seekers.
Not of conquerors, but of contemplators.
Not of battles, but of dialogue.

Our tradition is rooted in listening—with respect.
In speaking—with sincerity.
And in seeking truth—together.

Sagarmatha Sambaad is born from that very spirit.
It is a gentle revival of our ancient ways.
A space where wisdom bows to humility.
Where many voices come together—with reverence.
Where we look for answers—not with ego, but with empathy.

We are reminded of an ancient truth:
"वादे वादे जायते तत्वबोधः"
—Through dialogue, truth shines.

Even in moments of deep division, it is not silence or shouting that helps us.
It is honest conversation.
It is listening.
It is speaking from the heart.

Sagarmatha Sambaad is our humble attempt to carry this sacred legacy forward.

Our first theme speaks to our soul:
"Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity."

As a Himalayan nation, this is not a distant issue.
It is our daily reality.
But it is not just ours.
It is the world’s.

Can humanity survive without its mountains?
Can we protect the future without protecting these ancient guardians?

Mountains may seem far away.
But their breath keeps half the world alive.
From the Arctic to the Andes, from the Alps to the Himalayas—
They are the Earth’s water towers.
They are our climate’s pulse.

And they are in danger.
Their fragility is our shared vulnerability.

From the lap of Sagarmatha, the world’s highest peak,
We send this message—laud and clear:

• To protect the mountains is to protect the planet.
• To protect the mountains is to protect our seas.
• To protect the mountains is to protect humanity itself.

Let this Sambaad be not just a dialogue—but a determination.

A determination to listen.
To act.
And to walk together—towards a gentler, wiser, and more compassionate world.

Climate change is no longer a distant threat.
It is the greatest challenge of our time.
It touches everything—our planet, our people, our shared prosperity.

No nation is untouched.
No society is safe.
But the heaviest burden falls on those least responsible.

The poorest.
The most vulnerable.
The mountainous and the least developed.

Nepal stands among them.

We have done little to cause this crisis.
Yet, we face its harshest consequences.

Glaciers are melting.
Rains are uncertain.
Landslides sweep away homes.
Floods and droughts come without warning.
And still, we stand firm.

Our emissions are small—almost negligible.
But our contributions are meaningful.

Our Himalaya cool the region—nature’s own climate stabilizer.
Our forests cover nearly half our land—breathing in carbon, breathing out hope.
Our rivers flow from the high snows—quenching the thirst of millions.
Our protected areas are sanctuaries—guarding the planet’s rich biodiversity.

Nepal has pledged net-zero emissions by 2045.
Five years ahead of the global target.

We are advancing adaptation plans.
We are greening our economy.
We are weaving sustainability into our national vision.

Yet we cannot do it alone.
No country can.

Climate change is a global emergency.
It calls for a global response.

A response anchored in justice.
Rooted in responsibility.
Fuelled by solidarity.

Climate justice must lead the way.
Those who pollute the most— must do the most.
They must support the most vulnerable—with finance, with technology, with capacity.

And let us not forget the mountains.
Too often, they are ignored in global talks.
Yet, they regulate climate.
They store water.

They recharge the land
They cradle life.

When mountains fall, valleys suffer.
Rivers dry up.
Crops fail.
Oceans rise.
Lives unravel.

The Himalaya—our Third Pole—are warming faster than the global average.
Glaciers are vanishing.
Glacial lakes are swelling.
Millions downstream are at risk.

We need a bold, integrated vision.
A "mountains-to-oceans" approach.

We must give mountains the attention they deserve—
With special financing.
With tailored policies.

We must invest in clean energy.
Grow climate-resilient crops.
Uplift women and youth.
And protect those forced to move.

Let us strengthen risk assessments.
Build early warning systems.
Share data.
Work together across borders.

And most importantly—let us bridge ancient wisdom with modern innovation.

This is how we build resilience.
This is how we honour the Earth.
This is how we protect our shared future.

The mountains inspire us.
Not because they stand apart—
But because they rise above.

They offer perspective.
They teach us to think beyond ourselves.
In that spirit, our dialogue must rise too—

Above narrow interests.
Toward a higher, shared purpose.

Let us join hands.
Let us act with courage and care.
For a future that is just.
For a planet that is sustainable.

We need fresh resolve.
Bold ideas.
New investments.
And deep cooperation—across regions, across the world.

A green, resilient, and sustainable future is not a choice.
It is the only path forward.

Sagarmatha Sambaad is our humble offering.
A global platform to listen, to speak, and to understand.
A space to build trust.
To imagine a world where harmony with nature—
and equity among people—
is not a distant dream, but a living reality.

Together, let us climb—
Toward the summit of resilience.
Toward the peak of justice.
Toward a future built on shared hope.

We look forward to your wisdom.
To your voices.
To your vision—throughout this Sambaad.

May your time in Nepal be joyful and inspiring.
In the land of Sagarmatha.
In the land of Buddha.

Thank you.

The World Health Organization has declared a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea after detecting the virus in two healthy children during routine screening in Lae, a coastal city in the country's north east.

The country, previously polio-free since 2000, faces renewed risk with less than half the population immunized. The detected strain is genetically linked to one circulating in neighboring Indonesia, according to BBC.

Health authorities have launched an emergency vaccination campaign targeting 3.5m children under the age of 10. WHO, UNICEF, and the Australian government are supporting the rollout.

“Polio knows no borders. We must reach 100 percent coverage,” said WHO representative Dr. Sevil Huseynova, BBC reported.

Papua New Guinea’s health minister has pledged full immunization by year’s end amid rising concerns of cross-border spread.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Army General Oleg Salyukov as Deputy Secretary of the Security Council, the Kremlin announced Thursday.

Salyukov will be relieved of his current post as Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces, a position he has held since 2014, it said. He played a key role in military operations and oversaw Victory Day parades, including this year’s on May 9, as reported by Reuters.

Born in 1955 in Saratov, Salyukov brings decades of military experience to his new role.