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Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has said he is ready to forgo his candidacy for any position if party leaders agree to hold the party’s general convention on schedule.

Speaking at the Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting that resumed on Tuesday, Thapa proposed holding the party’s regular convention in December-January. He also stated that he would accept the condition barring both general secretaries from contesting in the same convention if that helps move the process forward.

“If you say the two general secretaries cannot contest this time and that helps us take the party toward the convention, we are ready for that,” Thapa told fellow leaders. “Let’s make that a commitment to untie the knot.”

Thapa proposed holding the 15th general convention from Dec 31 to Jan 3, stressing that if it cannot be organized by then, the only alternative would be a special convention. “If we cannot complete it in Poush under any circumstance, then there’s no other option but a special convention,” he said, noting that the party’s statute mandates it.

Thapa argued that the Nepali Congress should not head into elections without holding its convention, as it provides a platform to connect with the public and elect new leadership. “We must go to the people with renewed legitimacy. The general convention is our bridge to the voters,” he said.

Thapa also admitted that the party, which once led political movements, is now facing protests from within. “We are being cornered in the streets by our own people. If we fail to answer the questions of our cadres and supporters now, the voters will deliver their verdict during the elections,” he warned.

Thapa questioned whether the public and party committees were still waiting for the Congress to act. “Are people eagerly waiting to vote for us? Are our committees just sitting idle?” he asked, adding that voters would not wait indefinitely for Congress to resolve its internal disputes.

He dismissed claims that the recent GenZ movement was entirely sponsored, saying such interpretations were unfair.

Meanwhile, Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka said efforts were underway to resolve all differences through consensus. “We are trying to create an environment where all agendas can be concluded through agreement,” he said, adding that informal meetings would continue in that regard.

However, the party remains divided over whether to hold the convention before or after the upcoming elections. The establishment faction, represented by Joint General Secretary Mahendra Yadav, has proposed holding the regular convention between 8-11 May 2026, while Thapa’s camp is for holding the convention in December.

The CWC meeting, which had been repeatedly postponed over disputes regarding the convention date, resumed at the party’s central office in Sanepa on Tuesday.

Dissenting leaders have already submitted signatures from 54 percent of convention representatives demanding a special convention if a regular one is not held before the vote.

At a separate gathering in Thapagaun, dissident leader Jagadishwar Narsingh KC accused the party’s central office in Sanepa of becoming “powerless” and claimed the party was being directed from Singapore, where party president Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Arzu Rana Deuba, are currently undergoing treatment. “The party is being run from Singapore. Sanepa is helpless,” KC said, alleging that Deuba would return before the elections to distribute tickets in his favor.

Christine L Mace, a black-and-white photographer based in New York City, presented her latest exhibition, Sacred City, at Mcube Gallery in Lalitpur. The showcase, which ran from Oct 26 to 30, marked her first international exhibition.

Sacred City explores authentic human experiences and the spiritual essence of daily life through natural, unposed photographs. Mace’s work centers on humanizing the “other” and capturing fleeting moments of genuine connection among people, spaces, and places.

Reflecting on the inspiration behind the series, Mace said, “After my surgery, I lost a lot of myself and realized there wasn’t much humanity left in the chaos of daily life. I began searching for a spiritual quest and wanted to document people who pray. Through Sacred City, I aim to highlight sacred and spiritual places in Nepal and across South Asia.”

She described her visit to Nepal as deeply moving: “I loved the experiences here and my work in this environment. Watching children play around temples and stupas as if they were playgrounds was wonderful—it showed how culture and daily life blend beautifully here.”

Mace draws inspiration from photographer Richard Sandler, known for capturing the soul of New York City through his street photography. In 2019, her photo series Dominoes in Havana won First Place in the Black and White Category at the 14th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards, cementing her place as a leading contemporary black-and-white photographer.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Paudel, who is currently in Qatar's Capital, Doha, in the course of attending the 'Second World Summit for Social Development'.

On the occasion, the two leaders discussed the implementation of Copenhagen commitments, social development, peace, social justice and attainment of shared goals of Sustainable Development, informed President's press advisor Kiran Pokharel.

President Paudel noted that Nepal would closely work with the United Nations towards attaining shared goals of social development, peace, social justice and sustainable development besides the implementation of the Copenhagen commitments.

The Head of the State shared that general election was announced for March 5 after dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR), and Nepal was effortful for conducting the election in a free and impartial manner.

He expressed the confidence that the upcoming election would give a political outlet to the country, and assure the pathway of good governance, development and prosperity.

The President also took the opportunity to call for support from the international community for adaptation and mitigation of adverse effects of climate change despite Nepal's negligible contributions to carbon emission.

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has floated a proposal to hold the party's 15th general convention in December.

During the Central Committee meeting held at the party office in Sanepa, Thapa proposed to hold the central general convention from December 31 to January 3.

He made the proposal as per Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. Prior to that , he said that an election committee for the general convention should be formed from the central committee meeting.

Along with the formation of the Statute Amendment Committee, he said that the new memberships should be distributed and renewed by November 26.

He has proposed to carry out preliminary investigation till November 29, finalize the new membership and renewal issues by December 6, submit the updated list of active members to the Central Committee by December 10, and hold a ward convention from December 13.

Likewise, he has proposed to hold the regional session of the House of Representatives on January 20 and 21.

Leader Thapa has also proposed to hold the convention for the district with a single constituency and a central convention representative.

Similarly, the General Secretary has proposed to hold the convention of the Nepali Public Relations Committee by mid-December.

The 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit wrapped up in Gyeongju, highlighting South Korea’s notable achievements in diplomacy, economic leadership, technological innovation, and cultural influence.

After hosting APEC for the first time in two decades, South Korea promoted the theme “Connect, Innovate, prosper” by introducing a fresh cooperative framework that blends inclusive economic growth, technological advancement, and cultural engagement.

Approval to build nuclear-powered submarines

One of the most symbolic achievements was US President Donald Trump’s announcement granting South Korea approval to build nuclear-powered submarines.

The decision marks a turning point in strengthening the country’s maritime defense capability and consolidating its strategic autonomy in defense technology. With this approval, South Korea is now able to advance nuclear propulsion research and fuel supply negotiations—paving the way for a stronger role in the Indo-Pacific maritime security network.

Major NVIDIA AI chip supply agreement

NVIDIA signed a deal with the Korean government and leading firms like Samsung, SK Group, and Hyundai Motor to provide more than 260,000 next-generation Blackwell AI chips.

The deal is considered a key milestone in meeting demand for the government-led National AI Computing Center and the private-sector “AI Factory” initiative.

Experts described it as the largest GPU supply project ever concluded in Asia, expecting it to accelerate Korea’s rise as a global AI powerhouse.

The government stated that the deal secures stable access to high-performance computing resources across public and private sectors, establishing a solid foundation for South Korea’s goal of becoming one of the world’s top three AI leaders.

Diplomatic achievements

During the summit, South Korea recorded notable progress in diplomacy with three key partners—China, the United States, and Japan.

In the Korea–China summit, both sides agreed to resume working-level and exchange channels, officially signaling the restoration of bilateral cooperation in trade, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

The Korea–U.S. summit reaffirmed mutual commitment to strengthen cooperation in supply-chain stability, advanced technologies, and economic security. Both leaders agreed to expand the alliance beyond military domains to include economic and digital security dimensions.

Relations with Japan also entered a phase of recovery and forward-looking cooperation.

Seoul and Tokyo agreed to normalize practical cooperation in security, economy, and human exchanges, while reopening working-level talks to strengthen future-oriented relations.

These developments restored a balance in Northeast Asian diplomacy and reaffirmed Korea’s role as a stabilizing mediator in the region.

Structural reform and supply-chain resilience

In the economic sphere, APEC members adopted structural reform and supply-chain resilience as key pillars for regional growth.

South Korea played an active role in shaping these discussions, proposing digital transformation support for small and medium enterprises and trade resilience measures—many of which were reflected in the joint ministerial statement. The agreement is seen as a concrete step to prevent future global crises, such as pandemics or geopolitical disruptions, from paralyzing regional trade networks.

Expanding cultural diplomacy and K-Culture influence

South Korea also made notable strides in cultural diplomacy, showcasing the power of K-Culture through K-POP, film, drama, and beauty industries.

BTS member RM delivered a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit, emphasizing “the value of borderless cultural exchange and creativity,” which drew enthusiastic attention from delegates. The “K-Culture Showcase” event held during the summit received strong interest from visiting leaders and delegations, underscoring culture’s potential as a catalyst for innovation and mutual understanding across the Asia-Pacific region.

Vision for inclusive and sustainable cooperation

The APEC 2025 Gyeongju Declaration outlines a vision centered on digital innovation, clean energy, and demographic adaptation, aiming for inclusive and sustainable growth. Through this summit, South Korea presented an integrated cooperation model combining diplomacy, technology, and culture—reinforcing its strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Analysts praised the summit as a milestone that demonstrated Korea’s ability to exercise “smart power,” combining technological capacity, cultural influence, and diplomatic engagement. With the adoption of the Gyeongju Declaration, South Korea has positioned itself as a key driver in addressing the region’s challenges of digital transformation, demographic shifts, and climate adaptation.

The summit reaffirmed Korea’s readiness to translate its vision of “connection and innovation for shared prosperity” into concrete global leadership. (This article draws upon publicly available statements, official Korean government materials, and verified reports from Reuters, APEC, AP, Yonhap, and Asia News Network.)

President Ram Chandra Paudel on Monday reached Doha to attend the Second World Summit for Social Development.

The President is leading a 12-member Nepali delegation to the Summit at the invitation of the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

High-ranking officials of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar and Nepali Embassy in Qatar including Nepali Embassy, Ramesh Chandra Poudel, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, Lok Bahadur Thapa, welcomed President Paudel upon his arrival at Doha-based Hamad International Airport, according to President Paudel's Secretariat.

President Paudel is scheduled to address the Plenary Meetings and the High-Level Roundtable of the Summit on November 4.

The President is scheduled to hold meetings with the UN Secretary General and the Amir of Qatar, it has been said.

 On the sidelines of the Summit, the President will also meet some world leaders attending the event.

It is said that the Summit would make a shared commitment on cooperation and assistance for social development. The Summit is also expected to hold intensive discussions on development inequalities in the world, demographic imbalances and the impacts of technology on the society.

The First World Summit for Social Development was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1995.

President Paudel is accompanied by his spouse Sabita Paudel, Kiran Kumar Pokhrel, media expert to the President, Secretary of the President's Office, and other senior officials of the Government of Nepal.

The President and the delegation will return to Kathmandu on November 6.

The new sugarcane crop has sprouted in the fields, but farmers are still waiting for the subsidy payment for the previous harvest. According to Shyambabu Ray, coordinator of the Central Sugarcane Struggle Committee, the government has yet to address the demands of sugarcane farmers who staged a protest in Kathmandu a month ago. The aggrieved farmers complain that even the government led by Sushila Karki has shown little seriousness in responding to their concerns.

Naresh Singh Kushwaha, a farmer leader from Mahottari, said that the delay in receiving the subsidy has spoiled the Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath festivals for many farmers. Before Dashain, the protesting farmers had met with the newly appointed Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Madan Pariyar, urging him to release the pending subsidy for last year’s sugarcane. Although Minister Pariyar had assured them that the payment would be made soon, Ray told ApEx that the government has not released the funds even after the major festivals have passed.

“Last year’s sugarcane subsidy remains unpaid. Even though the new government has promised to release it, there’s no sign of when that will actually happen,” Ray said.

According to the committee, sugarcane farmers are still owed Rs 755m in subsidies for the fiscal year 2024/25. Last year, a total of 21.572m quintals of sugarcane were sold to 13 sugar mills across the country. The government had announced a subsidy of Rs 70 per quintal for sugarcane cultivation, meaning farmers should have received Rs 1.515bn in total.

However, the then KP Sharma Oli government reduced the subsidy by half, citing a budget deficit, and decided to provide only Rs 35 per quintal. In response, farmers launched a Kathmandu-centric protest. Following the agitation, the Ministry of Finance released Rs 754m—covering the reduced amount—but farmers continue to demand the full Rs 70 per quintal promised earlier.

Mahashankar Thing, a central member of the Sugarcane Producers Federation, said the government has not shown any seriousness toward their demands. He noted that the government has been allocating funds for sugarcane subsidies under the national budget since 2008.

“We are not asking for handouts,” Thing said. “We are only demanding the rightful value of our labor, in exchange for the VAT that the government has already exempted on agricultural products.”

Ministers for Economic Affairs from all seven provinces have jointly called on the federal government to increase fiscal equalization grants in line with the growth of the federal budget and to make the grant distribution process more transparent, predictable, and stable throughout the fiscal year.

Issuing a ‘Hetauda Declaration’ after a national workshop on “Strengthening Fiscal Federalism and Future Directions” in Hetauda, they emphasized that fiscal federalism—the cornerstone of Nepal’s federal structure—cannot function effectively unless provinces receive timely and adequate financial transfers from the federal government. They said that inconsistencies in grant allocation and mid-year cuts have hampered provincial planning and implementation of development projects.

The declaration was signed by Minister for Economic Affairs of Koshi Province Ram Bahadur Magar; Chief Minister and Minister for Economic Affairs of Madhesh Province Jitendra Sonal; Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning of Bagmati Province Prabhat Tamang; Minister for Economic Affairs of Gandaki Province Dr. Takaraj Gurung; Minister for Economic Affairs of Lumbini Province Dhanendra Karki; Minister for Economic Affairs of Karnali Province Rajiv Bikram Shah; and Minister for Economic Affairs of Sudurpaschim Province Bahadur Singh Thapa.

“The federal government’s annual budget has grown steadily, but fiscal equalization grants to provinces have not kept pace,” the ministers said. “We urge the federal government to increase the grant proportionally, ensure transparency in allocation, and refrain from reducing any form of grants during the fiscal year.”

The gathering discussed the financial challenges faced by provinces, including delayed budget disbursement, limited revenue authority, and frequent changes in grant formulas. The provincial economic affair ministers added that unpredictable grant flows were disrupting essential service delivery, delaying capital expenditure, and weakening local fiscal discipline.

The ministers also raised concerns about the lack of clarity in intergovernmental fiscal transfers and the need for better coordination between federal, provincial, and local governments. They stressed that fiscal equalization grants should be distributed based on clear, evidence-based criteria that reflect population size, development needs, and geographic disparities.

The meeting also called for reforming the existing fiscal transfer system to strengthen fiscal autonomy at the subnational levels. The ministers urged the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission (NNRFC) to play a more active role in ensuring equitable resource distribution and monitoring compliance with constitutional principles of fiscal federalism.

The joint gathering concluded with a commitment from all seven provinces to present a unified stance on fiscal decentralization in future discussions with the federal government.