Submit your Article

World Vision International (WVI) Nepal launched the Annual Progress Report for Fiscal Year 2024 on Tuesday at Kathmandu. The event showcased the key findings and the practices done by WVI Nepal in core areas of work, health, education, child protection, livelihood, advocacy, gender equality, and disaster risk reduction—implemented in close collaboration with government bodies, civil society, and local partners. The progress report also shared the achievements of two studies–‘Keeping Children Safe Online–A Study on Online Safety among Children in Nepal’ and ‘Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices on Substance Use among Adolescents in Nepal’.

Speaking at the event, the Mayor of Kirtipur Municipality, Krishna Man Dangol said, “We aim to declare Kirtipur Municipality a child-friendly municipality by 2026, and we look forward to the collaboration of WVI Nepal in achieving this goal.” He also emphasized that there is no child labour in the municipality. Similarly, National Director of WVI Nepal Roslyn H. Gabriel said, “Keeping children safe is crucial to helping them reach their full potential. As risks to children continue to grow, World Vision remains committed to delivering impactful programs that protect and support the children and communities we serve.”

The KP Sharma Oli-led government has faced widespread criticism for removing Kulman Ghising from the top post of Nepal Electricity Authority.

The decision to remove Ghising from the post of Managing Directing of power utility is being criticized by the ruling party Nepali Congress as well.

Meanwhile, various organizations have staged demonstrations in Maitighar and New Baneshwor today in protest against the government decision to sack Ghising.

A Cabinet meeting held on Monday dismissed Ghising from his position and appointed Hitendra Dev Shakya to the post.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 55. 90 points to close at 2, 584.88 points on Tuesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 8. 12 points to close at 435. 30 points.

A total of 11,155,955-unit shares of 325 companies were traded for Rs 5. 18 billion.

Meanwhile, 9.5% NCC Debenture 2086 (NCCD86) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 4. 52 percent. Likewise, Narayani Development Bank Limited (NABBC) was the top loser as its price fell by 9. 97 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 28 trillion.

Hetauda Cement Industry, which has been closed for a long time, is going to resume production from the first week of April.

Acting General Manager of Hetauda Cement Industry, Engineer Nabin Kumar Karna, said that preparations are underway to start production after the maintenance of the machinery of the industry has been completed, raw materials needed for the industry are ensured and the employees agreed to work.

"It took some time to repair the machine as it was old and damaged. It is a machine installed at the time of the industry's establishment and it had to be replaced with a new machine. But due to financial problems, it was not possible immediately and we got the machine repaired,” he said.

According to him, cement can be produced using the repaired machine and there is some stock of raw materials required for the operation of the industry while it has been ensured that some more will be brought.

"At present, we have around 100 tons of coal in stock. More coal is coming from tomorrow, so there is not much of a problem with raw materials,” said Acting General Manager Karna.

He said that the electricity problem the industry was facing would also be solved. "Talks have been held with Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) for regular power supply to run the industry. NEA has committed to provide regular electricity," he added.

The industry management had stopped the production of cement from October 1, 2024 as it had to repair various equipment of the industry.

Due to the closure of the industry, the employees have not been able to get their salaries and allowances for the last three months.

The industry, which has a capacity to produce 16,000 sacks of cement per day, has been hit hard due to financial problems and other reasons.

The Hetauda Cement Industry was established at Lamsure of Hetauda in 1977 and it started production from 1987.

The construction of three 132kV substations in Amlekhgunj and Prasauni (Bara) and Birgunj (Parsa) is in its final stage to enhance the reliability and quality of electricity supply for industrial corridors and general consumers.

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Executive Director Kulman Ghising, after conducting an on-site inspection, directed project managers and contractors to expedite the substation and transmission line construction. Highlighting their importance in managing electricity demand in the Birgunj region and facilitating trade with India, he urged all stakeholders to be responsible and ensure timely completion.

The Amlekhgunj 132/66 kV substation is being developed to address power supply issues in the Pathlaiya-Simara-Birgunj industrial corridor and meet rising demand. Most of the main equipment has been installed, with operations expected to begin by the end of May.

Both circuits of the 66 kV line supplying electricity from Hetauda to the Simara-Birgunj industrial corridor have been looped in and out of the substation. Previously, the long, low-capacity 66 kV line caused voltage issues, which will now be resolved as the 132 kV transmission line becomes the primary power source. The substation is equipped with 132/66 kV, 200 MVA, and 66/11 kV, 20 MVA power transformers.

A 2.8 km 132 kV underground transmission line is under construction to connect Prasauni and Birgunj substations. The underground transmission line is expected to be completed within a month, while installation of equipment and civil works at the substations are ongoing.

Upon completion, the Birgunj area will have 132 kV and 66 kV power sources, ensuring a stable and high-quality electricity supply. Currently, power is supplied to Kalaiya (Bara) from the Birgunj substation, but once the Prasauni substation is operational, supply will be redirected there, reducing the load on Birgunj.

The NEA is expanding high-capacity transmission and distribution infrastructure to support existing and future industries in Simara, Nijgadh, Birgunj, Parwanipur, Pokhariya, and Prasauni within the Bara-Parsa Industrial Corridor. A new 132 kV transmission line from Parwanipur to Pokhariya and the Pokhariya substation is also under construction to meet growing industrial electricity demands.

Additionally, a 400 kV substation is being built in Nijgadh (Bara) under the Hetauda-Dhalkebar-Inruwa 400 kV transmission line project, with an extension to Pokhariya via Ramouli. The proposed 65 km transmission line will include three 400 kV substations in Nijgadh, Ramouli, and Pokhariya. The Nijgadh-Ramouli-Pokhariya transmission line survey has been completed, and land compensation for the Ramouli substation has been finalized.

The Nijgadh substation will be funded through a concessional loan from the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank), while the 38 km Nijgadh-Ramouli transmission line and Ramouli substation will be financed by the Asian Development Bank. Furthermore, the Aurahi-Simra 132 kV transmission line is being developed to serve the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Simra, Dumarwana, and surrounding areas.

The final round of qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup 2027, set to be held in Saudi Arabia, begins today. Teams outside Asia's top 18 rankings will compete for the tournament's final six slots.This is the third and last round of Asian Cup qualifications, with 24 teams split into six groups of four.
Nepal is also competing at this stage, starting its qualification campaign today against Malaysia.
The Group F match between Nepal and Malaysia will begin at 7:45 PM Nepal time at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia.​​​​​​​
Malaysia is regarded as a stronger team than Nepal, as it ranks far better in the FIFA rankings—132nd, versus 175th. Furthermore, Nepal has never defeated Malaysia in previous matches.Nepal, on the other hand, enters the match with confidence after winning its last two games, whereas Malaysia has only lost two of its last eleven games.
 

The number of Nepalis, who have died due to various reasons in Saudi Arabia, has reached 136.

According to Nepali Embassy in Saudi Arabia, they died from mid-July to March 24.

Out of 136 bodies of Nepalis who lost their lives owing to various reasons, 121 have been sent to Nepal. The Embassy said that legal procedures are underway to send the remaining bodies.

The Embassy said that many died due to natural causes, though the causes may be numerous.

Nepali Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr Naresh Bikram Dhakal expressed grief over the untimely deaths of Nepalis who had reached Saudi Arabia for foreign employment.

He informed that the process has been taken ahead to repatriate the remaining bodies by holding discussions with concerned bodies.

The monitoring of the rare wildlife species, the snow leopard, has begun in Upper Mustang. The monitoring assisted by camera trapping method at three locations of Mustang is expected to present the existing status of the animal and its number.

The rising cases of human-snow leopard conflict here have prompted the monitoring.

Annapurna Conservation Area Project Office Chief, Umesh Paudel, said 12 cameras have been fitted in the area around Baragung Muktikshetra-3, above the Thurlungphant of Lomanthang and above the Lomanthang market.

The initiative aims to determine further measures for protecting the animal by managing human-animal conflict. There are concerns over inconveniences caused by the annuals to locals including the losses of their livestock 

The snow leopard known as the Queen of Himalayas, has a significant contribution to the ecosystem, carrying the religious, cultural and biological values here.

It is said there has been an urgent need to protect the animal and the traditional livestock farming here simultaneously with the implementation of new measures for the management of snow leopard. "The locals have been practicing livestock farming for centuries, and now is the time to implement new programs for sustainable management of animals, keeping the farming safe and undamaged," he said.

Prior to this, the ACAP had been monitoring the status of the animal at various locations in the district with the help of 31 cameras.

It is said that the lifestyle of the animal has changed due to the impact of climate change. The reports are that the snow leopards come down to the lower altitude areas following its prey, mainly Naur (The Himalayan Blue Sheep), that has started shifting down in the absence of alpine grassland in the highlands as a result of climate change.