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Classes have been suspended in 93 community schools in Solukhumbu district due to extreme cold. 

Seven local governments have announced winter holidays for the community schools in their area after it became difficult to run classes due to the excessive cold.

Prakanda Neupane, Information Officer of the Education Development and Coordination Unit, Solukhumbu, said the schools have been gradually closing down since last November.

There are 289 community schools in the district and of these, 93 have been closed for the winter holiday.

Out of the eight local levels in the district, all the local levels except Sotang Rural Municipality have given winter holidays.

Nawaraj Parajuli, an employee at the Weather Station at Salleri, said that the temperature has reached minus 20 degrees Celsius in the upper region of the district. The temperature has dropped to minus even in the Salleri region.

The Shree Swasthani Bratakatha, a popular month-long ritual of fasting and recitation of Swasthani script observed by the Hindus since Poush Shuklapurnima, kicked off today. The month-long festival is observed from the full moon day of one month to the next full moon day.

Going by the tradition, Nepalis, especially the Hindu women, observe the festival by worshiping Goddess Swasthani and observing fasting and reading out the holy story book-Swasthani -which mainly narrates the stories of those of Goddess Swasthani, God Shiva and other deities.

Devotees- married and unmarried alike- take a holy bath to begin with the ritual and wear clean clothes, trim nails and perform worship rituals in the morning thereafter reading out the stories and take austere meals in the afternoon throughout the month.

Devotees also observe fasting and involve in extensive worship during the period to appease Goddess Swasthani described in the Skanda Purana, a holy text, as the Goddess having four-handed with Chakra, Trident, Lotus and Sword in each hand, hindu scripts mentioned.

It is believed that the married women who observe the fast would be blessed with longevity for their spouses while unmarried ones are bestowed with suitable marriage partners. Women wear red clothes and bangles during the one-month period, as it is believed that red colour brings them good luck.

The rituals associated with the Swasthani Katha takes place on the bank of rivers in various Hindu shrines across the country including the Shalinadi situated in Shankhu, the north-east outskirt of the Kathmandu Valley.

Devotees from various parts have reached the banks of Shalinadi River, on the first day of the month-long festival today.

Muna Adhikari from Jhapa, currently residing in Dubai, is facing challenges with the renewal of her passport, which expires on Feb 5. She has been trying to fill out the application form online for over a month but without success. As a result, she had to hand over her passport to a typing center, paying 50 dirhams (Rs 1,850).  

However, even after two weeks, the typing center has been delaying the process with excuses. “Since the online system is unpredictable—sometimes available, sometimes not—I had no choice but to rely on the typing center to fill out the form,” said Adhikari, a university graduate. “The form hasn’t been submitted yet. There’s no clarity on when I’ll be called for the photo session or when the new passport will be issued.”  

Jeevan Shahi, originally from Surkhet and currently working in Fujairah, managed to renew his passport through a Dubai-based typing center by paying 375 dirhams. Although the renewal fee for a 34-page passport is 200 dirhams, he had to pay an additional 175 dirhams for service charges and courier fees. “Traveling back and forth incurs high transportation costs, so we’re forced to pay whatever the agents demand,” Shahi told ApEx. Many Nepali workers in the UAE are struggling with passport renewal issues.  

The Nepali Embassy in Abu Dhabi has claimed that it is prioritizing passport renewal services for workers. On Jan 5, the embassy organized a mobile camp 300 kilometers away from Abu Dhabi, where 335 passports were renewed, and 550 people received assistance with labor renewals, remittance, and other awareness programs.  

The embassy currently renews passports for only 200 applicants per day under a quota system. As a result, thousands of workers’ passports remain stuck at typing centers, awaiting online submission. Previously, the embassy used to renew over 350 passports daily. In a statement, the embassy mentioned prioritizing applicants with expired passports, expired visas, or those who lost their documents. However, workers continue to complain that the services are not worker-friendly.  

Mandira Basnet from Bhojpur, who lives in Abu Dhabi, alleged that she experienced harassment by embassy staff. She has requested that her grievances be reported to the embassy. Similarly, Suman Singh from Bara shared his experience of rude behavior from embassy employees.  

Til Bahadur Sunar, the Second Secretary at the Nepali Embassy, acknowledged the difficulty of providing seamless services due to a shortage of staff. He claimed that the embassy is currently operating at full capacity with its available manpower. He added that with the addition of two more staff members, the embassy could offer much smoother services.  

Ranjita Dahal, the Deputy Chief of Mission, stated that the embassy is making efforts to streamline the passport renewal process. However, she defended the current quota system as appropriate. Beyond mobile camps, there seems to be no concrete plan from the embassy to address the widespread difficulties faced by workers in renewing their passports.  

Bikas Shahi, President of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) UAE, stressed the urgent need to resolve the passport renewal issues. He pointed out that most workers cannot fill out the forms themselves and expressed readiness to assist the embassy in simplifying the form-filling process. 

The Nepal-India Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) has made a detailed review of all areas of bilateral trade and economic relations. The IGC is a bilateral mechanism aimed at strengthening trade and business relations between the two countries.

The meeting of the IGC related to trade, transit and cooperation to control unauthorized trade was held in Kathmandu on January 10 and 11.

The agenda included review of transit treaty and trade treaty including electrification of Raxaul-Birgunj railway line, proposed amendments to existing agreements, coordination of norms and gradual development of trade infrastructure. The two sides also reviewed issues related to mutual market access, IPR and taxes.

In the meeting, the Indian side informed that Nepal's request for supply of 200,000 metric tonnes of wheat has been approved.

The Nepali side thanked the Indian side for its continued support in ensuring the supply of essential commodities to Nepal.

At the request of the Nepali side, the Indian side has agreed that in the case of cargo-in-transit in Kakarbhitta (Nepal)-Banglabandh (Bangladesh) via Phulbari (India) route, the maximum axle weight of 18.5 tonnes for two-axle vehicles and 28 tonnes for three-axle vehicles can also be applied in the case of Nepali vehicles as per the prevailing regulations of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Responding to the request of the Nepali side, the Indian side informed that Sal (Shorea robusta) seeds and squash have been included in India's plant quarantine order.

Requests for inclusion of Jatamsi-root extract, Fragrant Kokila Berry extract, Fragrant Rhizome extract and Timur Berry extract in the list of processed products have also been accepted.

At the request of the Indian side, the Nepali side said that it was positive to review the documents related to reclassification of products such as 'IPAQE 28' in its technical system.

The Indian side briefed about the problems seen in the export of milk to Nepal. The Nepali side has agreed to positively consider the Indian side's request for milk products, including mohi (whey), cheese, which are not produced in sufficient quantities in Nepal.

The meeting welcomed the bilateral initiatives aimed at strengthening uninterrupted inter-country connectivity between India and Nepal through construction of new integrated check posts and railway links, among others.

The two sides expressed their commitment to advance bilateral connectivity, reflecting the shared vision of prosperous bilateral trade.

The two sides have agreed to form a joint working group to discuss the online approval with Nepal and the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA).

Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Govinda Bahadur Karki led the Nepali delegation to the meeting.

Similarly, the Indian delegation was led by Sunil Barthwal, Commerce Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce of India in the meeting attended by senior officials from the Embassy of India in Kathmandu and various ministries.

A joint secretary-level inter-governmental sub-committee (IGSC) meeting on trade, transit and cooperation to control unauthorized trade was held in Kathmandu from January 12 and 13, 2024.

Nepal’s rising tennis star, 13-year-old Shivali Gurung, has secured a sponsorship package worth Rs 2m for 2025, led by Bhat Bhateni Supermarket, Nepal’s largest retail chain. Currently ranked #12 in the Asian Tennis Federation’s U14 Girls’ category, Gurung is on track to break into the top 10 this year, representing Nepal on the global stage.  

The sponsorship, contributed by prominent brands and organizations such as Trust Nepal Overseas, Transweld Nepal, Dirk & Brown, Tipco, Infinity, Pepe Pizza, and Bhat Bhateni Holding, will fund her training, travel, and participation in international tournaments. Key contributors include Trust Nepal Overseas and Transweld Nepal, each pledging Rs 500,000 annually, and Bhat Bhateni Supermarket providing Rs 180,000 alongside goods worth Rs 100,000 through its holding company.  

Kalyan Gurung, Director of Bhat Bhateni Supermarket, emphasized the importance of investing in young talent, stating, “At Bhat Bhateni, we are committed to youth development and creating future athletes who will represent Nepal on the global stage. Supporting Shivali is part of our vision to inspire and nurture talent.” Similarly, Rabin Gurung, Chairperson of Trust Nepal Overseas, hailed Shivali’s dedication, adding, “Her talent embodies Nepal’s excellence, and we are excited to be part of her journey.”  

Expressing her gratitude, she said, “This sponsorship is a life-changing opportunity. I am thankful to all my sponsors for their generous support, which allows me to fully focus on my game and chase my dream of becoming Asia’s top U14 player. I hope to make Nepal proud.”  

Already an accomplished athlete, Gurung has won the U18 Nepal Championship, reached the ITF World Tennis Tour J30 finals, and delivered stellar performances in international tournaments across Asia.

Senior correspondent for Annapurna Post, Mamata Thapa, was honored with the ‘Thaha Journalism Award 2081’ on the occasion of the 91st birth anniversary of Thaha philosophy pioneer Rupchandra Bista and Thaha Day. The award, which includes a cash prize of Rs 10,000, was presented at a ceremony held on Friday in Thaha Municipality, Makwanpur.

Thaha Municipality Mayor Bishnu Bahadur Bista presented the award to Thapa in recognition of her exceptional contributions to the field of journalism. The organizing team, Farak Soch, highlighted Thapa’s long-standing commitment to independent journalism, which has significantly contributed to the development of both Thaha Municipality and the broader journalism sector. The organizers stated that the Thaha Journalism Award acknowledges the role of journalism in upholding citizens’ right to information, aligning with the core values of the Thaha movement.

On the same occasion, elderly individuals who have contributed to various sectors within the municipality were honored. During the event, Mayor Bista emphasized the urgent need to tackle corruption for the transformation and prosperity of the nation. “To make the celebration of Rupchandra Bista's birth anniversary meaningful, we must eradicate corruption from its roots. Bista himself was a staunch opponent of corruption,” he said.

Mayor Bista also announced a budget allocation of Rs 500,000 to promote Thaha philosophy among younger generations. He stated that a committee would be formed to effectively disseminate and promote the principles of Thaha philosophy.

Nepal, especially Kathmandu, has been frequently flooded this year. Over 200 people died due to the flood in Kathmandu. The reason for the flood is considered “land encroachment,” and many people believe that the rivers are regaining their lost areas. But is it the only reason? Is the loss of 200 people the only destruction that this flood would cause?

Various studies show that plastic wastes in rivers in urban areas increase the risk of flooding as it blocks the flow of water. Rivers have been considered the major transporter of plastic wastes in the ocean that eventually damages the water ecosystem. This deposition is increased by flood as water entering into the cities carries all the plastic waste with its flow causing unwanted plastic deposition in land areas and also into the ocean. 

As we can see plastic does not only pollute the land areas, the major effects of plastics occur on river ecosystems and the health of fish by causing intestinal blockage, reproductive problems, and general body weakening, which hampers the ecological balance due to their vulnerability to predators. 

Furthermore, the degradation of larger plastic items into Microplastics creates more danger, as tiny particles can be ingested by a wide range of living organisms, thus disturbing the food chain. Humans have huge impacts on their health, causing various damages in response to consuming unhealthy fish. 

These could cause inflammation, cancer, organ dysfunction, neurotoxicity, and even reproductive and developmental toxicity. The rivers of Nepal are highly polluted by plastics, which have become one of the most pervasive pollutants.

According to the World Bank estimates, Nepal generates approximately 4,900 tons of solid waste each year, and 13 percent of it is plastic waste. 

Besides that, around 20 percent of the produced waste is not disposed of properly. Plastic bags used daily in Kathmandu range from approximately 4,700,000 to 4,800,000 pieces. Plastic waste constitutes 16 percent of the urban waste in Nepal, which amounts to 2.7 tons of daily production of plastic garbage. And guess what? Conditions were not like these a few decades back. Many rivers of Kathmandu, such as Bagmatai and Vishnumati, had a continuous flow of clean and translucent water during the 70s and 80s.

However, on the contrary, the study carried out by Nepal River Conservation Trust shows that from 15 km to 160 km, the water is not suitable for the Bagmati aquatic life, irrigation, or drinking. The suitable pH range is of 6.5 to 8.5, but it exceeded with more than 9 pH levels showing chemical constituents such as high concentrations of ammonia, nitrate, total dissolved solid, phosphate iron, and other hazardous chemicals taking it to the dead pool for aquatic water systems. 

If that is the case, do Nepali law and executive bodies address these problems? 

Various laws of Nepal such as the Waste Management National Policy 2079, the Environment Protection Act 2076, the Solid Waste Management Act 2068, Plastic Bag Reduction and Regulation Directive 2011, etc., along with numerous river cleaning initiatives. From the analysis of different legal frameworks of Nepal, it appears that these above-mentioned laws address the pollutants and hazardous waste at the border labels but fail to take account of plastic waste in a very scientific and practical manner. The implementation programs and campaigns operated seem like “social-media content” rather than actual cleaning and mitigation of the problem. 

The legal framework has not filled the gap as it lacks the proper measures to clean the ongoing and past plastic collection in the rivers and banks. Different countries have gone from polluted rivers to clean water by applying various legal frameworks. For the protection of the Rhine River, an agreement among several European countries had been made. The EU has set some benchmarks when in 2019, it introduced the Single-Use Plastics Directive 2019 is mandatory for all its member states who are now legally bound to do away with harmful, single plastic bags.

Besides, the Dutch Waste Management Act has inclusions to manage plastic waste and prevent it from entering water bodies. Always in the Netherlands, there are river clean-up campaigns in the Netherlands that systematically remove plastics and other waste from the Rhine. Advanced technologies have been employed, such as the ‘Great Bubble Barrier’ creating a curtain of air bubbles across rivers to push plastic waste to the surface for easier collection in the Rhine River. These techniques can be very well applied in Nepal once proper infrastructural development is made.

Japan has been using drones and surveillance systems to find and target areas with higher plastic waste concentrations, monitoring it further, which could be a smart way of removing the existing plastic waste from the rivers. Another thing in which Japan sets itself ahead of many countries is the psychological understanding of its citizens who consider themselves responsible for the waste thrown, acquiring the second highest plastic management Index. Japan has a high collection rate of 93 percent and a recycling rate of 85.8 percent for plastic waste as per 2019 report. 

In its 2019 strategy, Japan has mentioned circular economy as plastic waste management, a strategy which focuses on three milestones: Charging fees to reduce single-use plastics, enforcing waste segregation for efficient recycling and promoting sustainable alternatives like paper and bio plastics.

India has begun strategizing with the placement of barriers along the river to catch the floating plastics in the Sabarmati River. This appears to work in catching the instant plastic waste that has been floating from one river to another. Nepal can take insight to foster the effectiveness of the different campaigns to improve the aquatic ecosystem. 

Countries like Rwanda and most European nations have put a complete ban on single-use plastic and use of a circular economy for the better management of plastic waste. Measures taken in foreign countries might not be the solution but they can be an effective road map towards the solutions. 

The Green Shift Nepal Project, a four year project being implemented in Nepal also offers opportunities to support plastic waste enterprises and up cycling enterprises, with a grant amount of Rs 12m. Moreover, Bagmati UNESCO Club also organized a policy hackathon ‘Nepal Plastic Policy Hackathon 2024’. It has been initiated with the aim of promoting a circular economy and achieving net-zero carbon emission in Nepal. All these initiatives are already serving as stepping stones toward environmental sustainability and the management of plastic waste. 

We can commute together to get to the clean river where we would be able to swim, just as it was in the 70s and 80s. And would you believe if I told you these wastes can help us economically? 

We can make it by a waste-to-energy approach that can reduce the waste while generating energy. These wastes can be formed into electricity, heat, or biogas which can be used to power homes, industries, or waste treatment plants by using various technologies. Through recycling programs, locals can get job opportunities and it would be cost-effective as recyclable products are reused. Also, we cannot underestimate revenue generation via tourist attraction in plastic and pollution free water resources. Kathmandu can enhance its beauty with clean water resources that would complement its heritages, temples and people.

The flood caused due to blockage of water flow due to a lump of waste is deducted reducing the risk of flood. The flowing waters carry plastic and Microplastic towards the sea that can hamper the other water resources ecosystem that causes various diseases. 

Not only this, fish, humans and other animals can also get saved from the harmful Microplastics. 

Why do we finally get serious at implementing our current provisions and then undertake even bolder steps to foster good health, healthy environment, and a little contribution in cleaning seas? 

Deepshikha Pandey

BA LLB, IInd Semester 

National Law College

The report of the Office of the Attorney General for the fiscal year 2080/81 BS has been submitted to President Ram Chandra Paudel today.

Attorney General Ramesh Badal submitted the report to the President at a program held today at the Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas.

On that occasion, President Paudel said that the investigation, prosecution, pleading, advocacy and defense of government cases should be more scientific, effective and factual, and if the success rate of the case can be increased, the rule of law, and especially, the criminal justice administration will be effective.

"Rather than increasing the success rate of the case, I think it is more important whether the victim gets justice or not. Therefore, the responsibility of the Attorney General is not only to punish the offender but also to ensure that the victim gets justice with compensation," President Paudel said on the occasion.

The President also expressed his belief that the Attorney General's Office will pay special attention to whether the Constitution of Nepal has been effectively implemented to protect the rights of victims in the context of the fundamental rights of the Constitution of Nepal.

On that occasion, Attorney General Badal presented the summary of the report.