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The Tamang community is celebrating Sonam Lhosar, New Year, by organizing various programs today.

According to the Manjushree calendar, the 2861st year starts from today. Sonam Lhosar festival is celebrated every year on the occasion of Magh Shukla Pratipada with various programs.

Sonam Lhosar is divided into 12 categories: rat, cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon (cloud), snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog and pig.

The festival is specially celebrated in different districts of Bagmati region where Tamang caste is predominant. The government has given a public holiday across the country on the occasion.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, emphasizing reforms in all social sectors including politics, asserted that the country cannot be run on 'stunts'.

PM Oli said so while inaugurating the first Young Lawyers Summit organized by the Nepal Bar Association and Young Lawyers Interest Committee here today marking the Martyrs' Day.

Oli, on the occasion, called for individuals to discharge their duties with integrity and loyalty towards people to elevate the country from chaos and poverty.

Noting the important role of political leadership and people's involvement to establish democracy in the country, he urged commitment from one and all to maintain peace and order, good-governance and prosperity.

He stressed on the need for lawmakers to frame legislations realizing that they are doing so representing the sovereign citizens while, he added, that the government should not consider itself as an 'absolute authority'.

"The Parliament should formulate judicious legislation and the relevant agencies should function accordingly. Besides exercising the principle of check and balance, the practice of upholding laws is of paramount importance in democracy," the Head of the Government argued.

Reiterating the incumbent government's commitment to build a well-governed, corruption-free and prosperous country with happy citizens, he called for active cooperation from lawyers for this vision.

Pledging to implement the conclusions and recommendations drawn by the conference, Oli reassured the incumbent government's support towards lawyers and youths. He also vowed to pay attention to formulation of laws and ensuring welfare and advancement of this sector.

He opined that the situation of young lawyers getting scant wages should be ended.

The inaugural of the conference featured addresses delivered by various international representatives and launch of the 'Young Lawyers Survey Report'.

Nepal faces the risk of being added to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) ‘gray list’—an informal designation for countries with strategic deficiencies in combating money laundering and terrorist financing. The warning comes as the FATF Plenary and Working Group meetings, scheduled for Feb 17-21 in Paris, France, are set to review Nepal’s progress in addressing these issues.  

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari acknowledged the risk, stating that Nepal is currently in the listing phase after completing its mutual evaluation period. “Even if we are listed, we have laid a strong foundation to exit the grey list,” Adhikari said, during Anti-money Laundering Day celebrations in Kathmandu. 

Officials say the FATF, an intergovernmental body that sets global standards for anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT), has expressed concerns over Nepal’s slow progress in key areas. Although Nepal has made legislative reforms, international observers have criticized the delays in investigations, prosecutions and enforcement of AML/CFT measures.  

Nepal’s mutual evaluation process, which began in June 2022, identified several gaps in the country’s AML/CFT framework. A team from the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), comprising experts from Australia, Bangladesh, Fiji, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka, had made 11 immediate recommendations for improvement. However, government officials admit that progress in implementing these reforms has been unsatisfactory.  

The government had prepared to amend over a dozen laws through an ordinance in Oct 2022. The proposed amendments targeted key legislation, including the Money Laundering Prevention Act, Cooperative Act, Tourism Act, Nepal Penal Code, and Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act. However, the President declined to issue the ordinance.  

It was only in February 2023 that Parliament passed the anti-money laundering bill, amending several laws to align with international standards. Despite these efforts, experts say challenges remain in addressing issues such as proxy ownership of assets, underreporting of property values and large cash transactions.  

Law Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Phanindra Gautam, Prime Minister’s Office said that while Nepal has completed the third round of mutual evaluation, the results have not been entirely satisfactory. “The current context does not reflect effective implementation,” he said.  

Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal acknowledged that Nepal has adequate laws, structures, and human resources to combat money laundering but stressed the lack of reporting, enforcement, and active implementation. “This has led to repeated questioning by international institutions,” he said.  

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel admitted that Nepal has not done enough to address money laundering risks. “Efforts have been made to avoid being pushed into a high-risk or monitored category, but we have not been as effective as required,” he said. Paudel emphasized the need for strict adherence to international commitments and the implementation of domestic programs.  

If Nepal is gray-listed, it could face significant economic repercussions, including reduced foreign investment, higher transaction costs, and reputational damage.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 1, 400 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 160, 600 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 159, 200 per tola on Tuesday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 20 and is being traded at Rs 1, 855 per tola today.

The floods and landslides that struck in September 2024 have left a trail of devastation at Nabughat in Manthali Municipality, Ramechhap district, destroying farmland, vegetation, and the livelihoods of countless families. Among the hardest hit is Neeta Majhi, whose 15 ropani fields were completely washed away by the Sunkoshi flood. Neeta, who lives with her seven-member family, including four school-going children and elderly in-laws, now faces an uncertain future. With no food or income, she is forced to borrow money to buy rice and other essentials, leaving her anxious and overwhelmed. “I don’t know where to go or what to do to feed my family,” she says, her voice filled with despair.

Neeta’s plight is shared by approximately 50 families in the Jhurupp Majhi settlement, located in the southeastern corner of Manthali Municipality-6. The flood has left the community in ruins, with fields buried under sand and crops destroyed. “September 28 was a black day for Nabughat,” says Badri Bahadur Majhi, a local resident. “The flood buried everyone’s fields and crops. Now, all that remains is a vast expanse of sand. We can’t even tell where our land used to be.” Standing amidst the sandbanks, Badri gestures helplessly, trying to identify the boundaries of his lost farmland. “This is where my land used to lie,” he says, pointing to the heaps of sand around him. “But now, it’s all gone.”

The Sunkoshi flood has left behind deep ditches and towering sand dunes, rendering the once-fertile land unusable. Chakra Bahadur Majhi, another local, explains the challenges of reclaiming the land. “If we can clear the sand and prepare the land, we might be able to cultivate it again,” he says. However, the task is daunting. Unlike other areas where the Koshi River has receded, leaving behind cultivable land, Nabughat’s fields remain buried under layers of sand and debris. The community’s hopes are pinned on restoring the land to its former productivity, but progress has been slow.

Last year, locals successfully grew watermelons on the advice of agricultural technicians, and this year, they hope to do the same. “We’ll plant watermelons again,” says Chakra. “What else can we do? We just hope the land will be ready in time.” The community believes that beneath the nearly 500 ropanis of sand lies the fertile soil of their former farmland. In hopes of reclaiming it, they have appealed to Manthali Municipality for assistance. The municipality has allocated Rs 600,000 for sand removal and land restoration, but Ward Chairman Ashok Tamang admits it is insufficient. “The budget isn’t enough to clear the sand and restore the land,” he says. “We’re waiting for additional funds to start the work.”

The flood has also destroyed the irrigation infrastructure, compounding the challenges faced by the community. Wells, pipes, and cement-lined canals have been washed away, while electricity poles lie half-buried or broken. “First, we need to reclaim the land, then we can focus on rebuilding the irrigation system,” says Kale Majhi, a local elder and former public representative. “This is a disaster. The Koshi, which had never reached Nabughat before, has now devastated our village.” Kale, who has witnessed decades of change in the region, is deeply concerned about the future. “We’ve never faced anything like this,” he says. “The flood has taken everything from us.”

Four months after the flood, the community feels abandoned. “No one has come to help us,” laments Kale Majhi. Whenever outsiders visit the village, he hopes for relief, but so far, the community has received little support. “All we’ve gotten is a sack of rice,” he says. The lack of assistance has left the people of Nabughat feeling forgotten and hopeless. “We’ve lost our land, our crops, and our livelihoods,” says Neeta Majhi. “We don’t know how we’ll survive.”

The road to recovery is long and uncertain for the people of Nabughat. While the community remains resilient, the challenges they face are immense. Reclaiming the land, rebuilding infrastructure, and restoring livelihoods will require significant resources and support. For now, the Majhi community clings to hope, determined to rebuild their lives despite the odds. “We’ve faced hardships before, but this is the hardest,” says Badri Bahadur Majhi. “We’ll keep fighting, but we can’t do it alone. We need help.”

After the April 2015 earthquake in Nepal, India committed $250m in grant assistance for post-earthquake reconstruction in Nepal, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu said on Monday. “The grant was allocated in four different sectors—Housing ($100m), Education ($50m), Health ($50m) and Cultural Heritage ($50m). A JPMC (Joint Project Monitoring Committee) mechanism was set up in Aug 2017 to monitor the progress of these projects,” the statement added.

India and Nepal held the fifth meeting of the JPMC on post-earthquake reconstruction projects on Monday in Kathmandu. The Indian delegation was led by Munu Mahawar, Additional Secretary (North), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and the Nepalese delegation was led by Padma Kumar Mainalee, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Government of Nepal.

The meeting was also attended by several other representatives of the Governments of India and Nepal, consultants and other stakeholders engaged in implementation of the projects.

The meeting carried out a comprehensive review of the progress of the Government of India assisted post-earthquake reconstruction projects in housing, education, health and cultural heritage sectors in Nepal. It acknowledged the successful completion of the projects agreed under the housing sector in 2021 and the education sector in 2024.

According to the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, in health and cultural heritage sectors, both sides expressed satisfaction on the progress achieved and agreed to expedite the early completion of projects under these sectors.

Since the last JPMC meeting in Oct 2023, Government of India has handed over 26 projects in the education sector including Tribhuvan University Central Library in Kathmandu, 32 projects in the health sector and three projects in the cultural heritage sector, amounting to Rs 3.35bn.

In addition, 43 projects in the health sector and nine projects in the cultural heritage sector amounting to Rs 1.73bn have been completed during this period, as per the Embassy of India Kathmandu.

Both sides appreciated the positive socio-economic impact of the reconstruction projects, particularly in employment generation and extension of health and education facilities in remote areas.

AS (North) also visited the Gusthal Mahavihar reconstruction project, a cultural heritage site located in Guita Tole, Lalitpur Metropolitan City-8. During the visit, he reviewed the project’s progress and engaged with members of the user community.

Both sides agreed to hold the next meeting of the JPMC on a mutually convenient date.

The Martyrs Day is being celebrated by organizing various programs across the country today.

The Day is observed in memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country and people.

At different times of history, many people fought for liberty, freedoms and democracy and got martyrdom in Nepal. In commemoration and tribute to them, week-long programs are being organized every year.

In 2012BS, then Kathmandu Municipality began coordinating the programs organized in honor of the martyrs. It has continued till date.

In response to the demand of democracy, civic rights and liberty, Shukra Raj Shastri was executed by then autocratic Rana regime at Pachali, Kathmandu on Magh 10, 1997; Dharma Bhakta Mathema at Siphal, Kathmandu on Magh 13 and Ganga Lal Shrestha and Dasharath Chanda at Shova Bhagawati, Kathmandu on Magh 15 the same year.

Meanwhile, President Ram Chandra Paudel said that true condolences to the martyrs would be to move forward towards meeting the aspiration for sustainable peace, good governance, development and prosperity by means of the federal democratic republican governance system achieved from the sacrifice of the great martyrs.

The President expressed the belief that the Martyrs Day would give further inspiration for sincerely fulfilling the role we all have to play from our side to materialize the aspirations of the martyrs while highly regarding their sacrifices.

"On the occasion of the Martyrs Day, 2081 BS, I extend my heartfelt tribute to all the known and unknown martyrs, including the great martyrs Shukraraj Shastri, Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Dashrath Chand, Gangalal Shrestha, who gave their valuable life for establishing civic freedom and democracy, and for protection of nationality," he said.

President Paudel noted that the Martyrs Day is a day of special remembrance of the great martyrs who sacrificed their life for the country.

"Sacrificing one's precious life for the welfare of the people and the nation is martyrdom. May this Day inspire and encourage all the political parties, the general public and all concerned to dedicate their heart, words and deeds to realize the aspirations of the martyrs who have attained martyrdom for the independence of the Nation and the Nepali people," the President said in his message.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has extended hearty best wishes to President Xi Jinping and the people of the People's Republic of China on the occasion of the Chinese New Year 2025.

"May the Year of the Snake—symbolizing wisdom, resilience and renewal—deepen Nepal and China’s enduring friendship, inspiring greater cooperation for shared progress, prosperity and harmony," PM Oli posted on the social network site X today.