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Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called a Cabinet meeting on Monday.

The Prime Minister’s Secretariat informed that the meeting has been called at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar at 6 pm.

Though the meeting is regular, a decision can be made on some issues, a minister said.

The federal, provincial and local levels are to establish coordination in the implementation of the National Urban Policy 2081 BS and the Solid Waste Management National Policy 2079 BS.

A meeting of the Urban Development Committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Urban Development Minister, Prakash Man Singh, on Sunday took the decision to this effect.

Ministers from all the seven provincial governments, mayors of municipalities and chairpersons of the rural municipalities, the chairperson of the Kathmandu Valley Mayors' Forum, and heads of the departments under the Ministry of Urban Development were present in the meeting.

The meeting discussed the Bill Related to the High-powered Bagmati Civilization Conservation and Development Committee, the Bill Prepared for Amending the Town Development Fund Act, 2053 BS, the Bill Designed to Amend and Consolidate the Laws Related to Urban Development.

DPM and Urban Development Minister Singh on the occasion underscored on deepening the coordination and interrelations among the three tiers of the government to strengthen federalism.

This is the second meeting of the Urban Development Committee. Its first meeting was held on February 28, 2024.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 500 per tola in the domestic market on Monday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 170, 800 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 170, 300 per tola on Sunday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 1, 985 per tola today.

Snowfall occurred in Dhorpatan for the first time this year.

After a long spell of drought, snowfall along with rain took place here since Sunday evening. Coldness has increased in the region following the snowfall.

The farmers turned euphoric with the hope that the crops will go better after the snowfall.

Ranger at Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Binod BK informed that Dhorpatan Valley and surrounding areas have turned whitish due to snowfall.

Though the weather was worsening since last Friday, the snow with rain occurred only on Sunday evening, BK said.

Prem Bahadur Gharti Magar, a local of Dhorpatan municipality-9, said that it has become difficult to feed horses and mules due to snowfall.

Gharti also said that the snowfall along with rain will improve the crops.

He said, "There was drought for a long time which caused plants to dry up”. 

Oh, dear, I’m in pain,
This dream I chase—should I gain?
The path is rough, the road unkind,
I’m tired, weak—I’m losing my shine.

No, fragile strength, we’ve come too far,
We can’t just wish upon a star
Dreams need work, they take their time,
Hold on tight, this climb is fine

But, oh! The pain—I feel it deep,
Every stumble makes me weep
I throb, I break, I bruise, I bend
Can’t we just stop? Must this extend?

I know it hurts, I truly do,
But my, I stand right next to you
If you say stop, I’ll take your lead,
But dreams won’t grow unless we bleed.

Oh, you’re too strong, yet soft inside,
You melt for tears, you run, you hide
You say you’re tough, but I can see—
You feel too much, just like me.

I wish I didn’t—I really try,
But every tear, I can’t deny
I push, I fight, but when you ache,
I lose my strength, I start to break.

Then promise me, through all the pain,
We’ll stand as one, through loss and gain​​​​​​​
I promise, Heart, we’ll see this through,
I’ll stay with you, if you want me to.

Shreya Shrestha

BA 2ndYear

Bagiswori College, Bhaktapur​​​​​​​

Pearson has opened a new Pearson VUE Test Centre Select (PVTC Select) in Chitwan, expanding access to the Pearson Test of English (PTE) in Nepal. The move aims to support aspiring students and professionals seeking international education and employment opportunities, says the institution. “The newly launched 10-seat testing facility, operated by ACE Testing Hub, is equipped with enhanced identity verification and surveillance technology, ensuring a secure and reliable testing experience. PVTC Selects operate in over 100 countries, providing standardized testing services worldwide.”

Nepal has a growing demand for international education, with 19 percent of its tertiary-level students studying abroad in 2021. In the fiscal year 2023/24 alone, over 112,000 Nepali students obtained No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to pursue education in 66 countries, including Japan, Canada, Australia, the UK, and the USA. Additionally, approximately 494,000 Nepali citizens migrated abroad for employment in 2023.

“The new Pearson VUE Test Centre Select in Chitwan represents our commitment to enhancing connectivity and support for test-takers in Nepal,” said Prabhul Ravindran, Regional Director, South Asia, English Language Learning, Pearson. “This expansion aligns with our mission to provide accessible and reliable testing services to meet the growing needs of the Nepali community.”vPearson aims to strengthen its presence as a leading English assessment provider in Nepal. “We are proud to extend our world-class test centres to offer a convenient and secure PTE testing experience,” said Gary Gates, Managing Director, Pearson VUE. “Our goal is to support more aspiring candidates in achieving their academic and professional ambitions.”

PTE is recognized by over 3,500 global universities and the governments of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK for visa applications. It is also accepted by leading professional organizations in fields such as nursing, accounting, and engineering. Test-takers can use their PTE results to apply for prestigious scholarships, including the Australian government’s Australia Awards, New Zealand’s Secondary School Scholarships (NZSS), the UK’s Chevening Scholarships, and the Fulbright Scholarships in the US.  

“With more than 475 secure test centres worldwide, PTE delivers results within 48 hours, utilizing AI-driven assessment technology for fairness and accuracy. Last year, over 1m test-takers relied on PTE to advance their education and career prospects globally,” as per the institution. 

The Social Media Regulation Bill, recently tabled in Parliament has sparked debate over digital rights in Nepal. While the government justifies that the bills are necessary to combat misinformation, cybercrime and threats to national security, its provisions raise serious concerns about free speech, privacy, and the right to anonymity. Today online platforms serve as a pivotal space for political discourse, activism, and journalism making these issues even more pressing.

Understanding the right to anonymity

Anonymity, the condition of being anonymous, in cyberspace protects an individual's identity, especially when talking over sensitive topics, engaging in political discourse, or whistleblowing against government misconduct. In modern democracies the right to anonymity is a fundamental ground of digital privacy and freedom of expression, allowing individuals to communicate, express opinions and access information without fear of undue surveillance or retaliation.

This concept is directly linked with the constitutional fundamental rights enshrined in Article 17 (freedom of expression) and Article 28 (the right to privacy). International human rights instruments, such as Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers

How the Social Media Bill violates the right to anonymity

Nepal’s recent social media regulation bill introduces provisions that potentially infringe upon this right, raising significant concerns .The bill proposes compulsory identity verification for users on social media and digital platforms, section 27(2) states that operating a fake or anonymous account to spread misinformation could result in three months of imprisonment or a fine of up to NPR 50,000.This requirement forces individuals to disclose their personal details, eliminating the ability to remain anonymous online. Section 27(3) increases the punishment to five years in prison and NPR 1.5 million in fines if the anonymous account is deemed to harm national sovereignty, unity, or public harmony, the ambiguity in the bill regarding terms like “misinformation” and “threats to public order” grants authorities’ arbitrary power, opens the door for misuse and creates a climate of fear and self-censorship.

This contradicts global legal precedents, including the position of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, which underscores that anonymity is essential for democratic participation. Similarly, the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) has consistently upheld the importance of privacy and anonymity as fundamental to the right to freedom of expression. In General Comment No. 34, the Committee emphasized that any restrictions on freedom of expression must be necessary and proportionate and should not undermine the right itself. Policies that facilitate extensive surveillance without adequate safeguards risk violating these principles.

Nepal’s Cyber Security Bill takes a deterrent approach rather than a protective one, infringing upon fundamental rights, including the right to anonymity. While cybersecurity regulations are necessary to tackle cybercrimes, they should not come at the cost of individual freedoms. The bill requires revisions to ensure that security measures are balanced with privacy rights, transparency, and accountability. Instead of compulsory identity disclosures, the government should focus on data protection laws, encryption rights, and judicial oversight to prevent the misuse of cyber laws for political or authoritarian control.   

Pratikshya Aganja 

Kathmandu School of Law

The first national conference of vice-chairs from local youth councils across Nepal has concluded with a seven-point memorandum advocating for a multi-stakeholder approach to youth empowerment and meaningful participation in decision-making processes. Jointly organized by the Government of Nepal, the National Youth Council, and Yuwalaya, the three-day conference brought together executive vice-chairs from 30 formally established local youth councils.

According to the National Youth Policy 2015, individuals aged 16 to 40 years are classified as youth, making up 42.56 percent of Nepal’s total population, or approximately 12.4m people. The memorandum calls for the establishment and effective operation of youth councils in all 753 local levels, ensuring inclusivity, leveraging demographic dividends, and providing free access to technical and vocational education. It also urges local, provincial, and federal governments, along with national and international stakeholders, to prioritize youth empowerment.

A key demand highlighted in the memorandum is ensuring youth representation in government bodies. It calls for mandatory 40 percent youth participation in committee structures of all political parties and the allocation of youth-targeted budgets and programs to enhance participation at the local level. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for research-based studies to develop and implement effective youth programs.

Dharma Raj Rimal, President of Yuwalaya, emphasized the importance of youth-centric policy-making and implementation. “This conference has made a multi-stakeholder call to prioritize youth voices in policies and programs,” he stated.