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China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) organized a program in Dharmasthali, Tarakeshwor Municipality on Thursday to mark the first anniversary of the Sustainable Development Experimental Village.

The event coincided with the 69th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China.

On the occasion, agricultural equipment and materials were distributed to the trained vegetable farmers and beneficiary schools of the Smiling Children Program.

Since the project was launched in 2023, the CFRD implemented a series of integrated projects such as community water supply, educational support, child nutrition, and vegetable skills vocational training with a total investment of more than USD 776,861, from which thousands of people have benefitted.

After the "Smiling Children Program" was launched in 2022, the Foundation has provided around 730,000 meals to 3,315 students of 16 community schools.

The Vegetable Farmer Training Project of the Foundation has successfully completed off-season vegetable production training services and 70 trained farmers passed the skill test conducted by the Nepal government.

These achievements are the results of hard work and proof of the friendship between Nepal and China.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song, Tarakeshwor Municipality Mayor Krishna Hari Maharjan and Country Director of CFRD Nepal Office Zou Zhiqiang among others were present in the program.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Chen thanked all CFRD staff, leaders and employees of Tarakeshwar Municipality.

He said that the Sustainable Development Experimental Village saw remarkable success in vegetable cultivation and children's education due to the hard work and selfless dedication of the CFRD staff, leaders and employees of Tarkeshwor Municipality.

Two Indian nationals were held with a pistol at Maheshbari in Sakhuwanankarkatti Rural Municipality-5 of Siraha district.

Chief of the District Police Office, Siraha, Ramesh Pandit, said that Niraj Kumar Paswan (18) and Arun Shah (37) of Maduwani district of Bihar State of India were arrested during a security check on Thursday evening.

Pandit said they were heading to Lahan from Thadi in a public vehicle.

Nepal was recognized by the International Olympics Committee in 1963 and made its Olympic debut at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The Olympics serve as a platform for Nepal to showcase its sporting talent on a global stage. However, in these six decades, Nepal’s performance has been subpar, with the country yet to win an Olympic medal, reflecting the challenges faced by its athletes.

In the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024, six out of the seven Nepali players have already exited without any medals. Badminton player Prince Dahal, table tennis player Santoo Shrestha, shooter Sushmita Nepal, judoka Manita Shrestha Pradhan, and swimmers Duwana Lama and Alexander Shah have all lost their matches and exited from the competition. Santoshi Shrestha remains in Paris to compete in the marathon, scheduled for Aug 11. Let’s hope she can achieve something for the country.

Though Nepali players didn’t show significant performance in the 2024 Olympics, swimmer Shah set a new national record in the men’s 100 meters freestyle. He improved his own record of 52.17 seconds by completing the distance in 51.91 seconds.

However, our poor performances throughout these decades are not due to the players but rather the stakeholders. 

Nepal lacks world-class training facilities, which hampers the preparation of athletes. Talent identification programs and scouting are essential to find and nurture young athletes. Both government and private sector support are crucial for the development of sports in Nepal but to no avail. Moreover, there is no situation in Nepal where players can sustain themselves by just playing sports. Unless these issues are addressed, there is no way our sporting situation on the world stage will improve.

A significant increase in investment in sports infrastructure and training programs is essential. Such investments will provide athletes with the necessary facilities and resources to hone their skills and compete at an international level. With proper support and development, including access to world-class coaching and competitive opportunities, Nepal can aspire not only to participate but to achieve its dream of winning an Olympic medal in the future.

Despite these challenges, Nepali players are doing everything on their own. Nepal has potential in sports like taekwondo, boxing and athletics, where there has been some success in the Asian Games and other regional competitions. Grassroots development programs can help identify and train young talent, ensuring a steady pipeline of athletes. 

Yashaswi Pragya Pratisthan has made public the names of the shortlisted books of Yashaswi Book Award 2081 for the three categories; fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

The shortlisted books for the award are prepared by the selection committee of the Pratisthan where the books were published in 2080 B.S. were called for the award entry.

Out of the shortlisted books below, three jury members for each category shall judge the books further and the winning book for each category shall be declared later and felicitated with certificate and cash prize of Rs. 20,000 each.

The winning book author shall be awarded on the occasion of the third edition of Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival, on September 7 and 8, at Himalaya Hotel.

As per the pratisthan, the shortlist for the remaining two categories, English and Research shall be announced in a few days. The shortlist for the fiction, non-fiction and poetry are as follows:

1. Fiction: Antar by Ramesh Sayan, Bhrikuti by Govinda Prasad Kusum, Pipala by Bimal Nepal, Charaiwati by Jiwan Jiwanta, Amrikane Kashi by Sarala Gautam, Laar by Muna Chaudhary, Khokpa by D.R., Bora by Akhanda Bhandari and Ishwarko Anuhar by Divya Giri.

2. Non-fiction: Galli Sansar by Roshan Sherchan, Jogiyana by Kumar Nagarkoti, Nuntel by Jiwan Kshetri, Bhuktaman by Dhirendra Sinal, Bakapatra by Narendra Jung Peter, Sanskriti Chintan by Arun Gupto, Mukam Ranamaidain by Mohan Mainali, Samwedanako Samayog by Gyanu Adhikari and Prashna haruta baaki nai rahanchann by Momila.

3. Poetry: Lahana ra Pir by Avaya Shrestha, Baagi streeko Aatmakatha by Sumina, Ashwathamako Nidharbata Bagmati Bagchha by Devbrat, Pahirobhitrako Gham by Sushila Khadka Hasina and Mahakash by Muna Dhital Aryal

The CPN-UML has appointed new province in-charges in all the seven provinces.

A Secretariat meeting held on Thursday decided to appoint new in-charges in all the seven provinces, General Secretary Shankar Pokharel informed.

According to him, Sherdhan Rai has been appointed as the in-charge of Koshi Province, Lilanath Shrestha as in-charge of Madesh Province and Rajan Bhattarai as in-charge of Bagmati Province.

Similarly, Kiran Gurung has been appointed as the in-charge of Gandaki Province, Padma Aryal as in-charge of Lumbini Province, Gorakh Bahadur Bogati as in-charge of Karnali Province and Lekhraj Bhatta as in-charge of Sudurpaschim Province, Pokharal informed.

Earlier, Aryal was the in-charge of Lumbini Province and Bhatta as in-charge of Sudurpaschim Province.

New in-charges were appointed in the remaining provinces.

The meeting nominated 17 central members.

Guru Baral has been nominated as the Vice Chairman of the CPN-UML.

A Secretariat meeting held on Thursday nominated Standing Committee member Baral for the vacant post of Vice Chairman, General Secretary Shankar Pokharal informed.

Similarly, the meeting has nominated two persons as the Standing Committee members.

Mukunda Neupane and Lilanath Shrestha of Madhes Province have been chosen  as Standing Committee members.

Likewise, the UML has nominated 17 people as central members.

The meeting nominated Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula among 17 as the central members.

CPN (Maoist Center) Deputy General Secretary Janardan Sharma has expressed the conviction that the originality and uniqueness of Nepal's peace process will be established globally.

Speaking after the three major political parties reached an agreement on the bill related to transitional justice today, he said an important agreement has been sealed today after 17 years, eight months and 11 days since the Comprehensive Peace Accord was signed.

Tasks like Constitution making and integration of the army have already been accomplished during this period.

"Justice to the conflict survivors, reparation and reconciliation were delayed. Today, an important agreement has been reached," he said.

The Maoist Center Deputy General Secretary said that they have been successful in facilitating agreement on the bill and fulfilling the responsibility assigned to Home Minister Lekhak, UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula and himself, taking the advice, suggestion and with the cooperation of stakeholders and the experts, in the context of agreement on amendment to the TRC bill in line with the Supreme Court's order becoming elusive.  

He expressed the confidence that this will pave the way for promptly completing the remaining works of the peace process.

Deputy General Secretary Sharma has thanked all those who extended support in this connection by providing suggestions or by asking questions, and to the party Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal for assigning the important responsibility.

The three major political parties forged an agreement on the bill related to transitional justice today.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 5. 29 points to close at 2,755.62 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 3. 29 points to close at 492. 75 points.

A total of 51,321,629-unit shares of 332 companies were traded for Rs 21. 71 billion.

Meanwhile, Hydorelectricity Investment and Development Company Ltd (HIDCL), Nepal Hydro Developers Ltd. (NHDL), Shuvam Power Limited (SPL), City Hotel Limited (CITY) and Kutheli Bukhari Small Hydropower Limited (KBSH) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Peoples Hydropower Company Limited (PHCL) was the top loser with its price dropped by 9. 13 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 37 trillion.