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The weather today is mainly clear in the hilly parts of the country including Lumbini and Gandaki. A few places in Lumbini and one or two places in the Sudurpaschim are receiving light to moderate rain.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has said that the weather this afternoon will be partly to mostly cloudy across the country. There is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning at some places in Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces and one or two places in the remaining provinces.

Tonight, the weather will be mostly clear in the hilly parts of the country with partly to mostly cloudy weather in the rest of the country. There is also a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning in some places of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces and one or two places in the rest of the provinces.

For the next 24 hours, the department has forecasted light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning in some places of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces and one or two places in the remaining provinces.

Meteorologist Saroj Pudasaini said the influence of Monsoon winds is present across the country with the low-pressure system formed in Bangladesh and West Bengal of India having a partial effect in the eastern and central parts of the country. The monsoon is, however, gradually fading away.

The national gathering of the provincial and district presidents of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) concluded in Bode of Madhyapurthimi on Saturday night with a decision to hold the elections for a new executive committee on December 13.

Following the meeting, FNJ general secretary Roshan Puri said the gathering decided to hold the elections for all the three levels of the Federation on December 13. The gathering decided to maintain the membership of the district chapters, where consensus has been reached over the membership dispute, and to accept the list added by the provincial chapters.

Any dispute over the membership will be resolved by forming a committee consisting of one representative each from the center and the province and the concerned chapter president. It has been decided to finalize the membership by the end of mid-November.

The national gathering of provincial and district FNJ presidents was held to address the dispute over the membership.

Former central president Dr Suresh Acharya, Dr Mahendra Bista, Taranath Dahal and other district and provincial presidents participated in the gathering presided over by Acting President Bala Adhikari.

I’m 24, and lately, I’ve been feeling stuck. Every time I open Instagram or scroll through TikTok, I get hit by a wave of inadequacy. I see people my age, even younger, traveling, getting promotions, starting businesses, and I can’t help but feel like I’m falling behind. Logically, I know everyone’s just posting their best moments, but I still compare myself to them. Their lives look perfect, while mine feels ordinary. I keep asking myself, “Why not me?” and “What am I doing wrong?” I’ve tried cutting back on social media, but it’s hard to stop. It feels like I’m constantly competing and losing. What should I do?

Answered by Kapil Sharma, counseling psychologist at BETTER MIND

You’re not alone—many people are facing this challenge. Social media can also make things harder. The reasons for this could be many, but one major factor might be the comparison trap. In a comparison trap, there is an inner desire or drive to evaluate yourself against others. It’s natural to compare your abilities and achievements with others. But when you idealize someone or compare yourself to an unrealistic standard, this can create an inferiority complex.

The second one is the fear of missing out. This means feeling like others are living a more fulfilling life while you’re stuck. When your friends are traveling, posting photos, celebrating milestones, and you feel like you’re stuck in your routine, it leads to feelings of inadequacy.

I would suggest being intentional about who you follow and what you watch on social media. If certain accounts make you feel jealous or lead to unhealthy comparisons, consider muting or unfollowing them. Instead, follow accounts that promote self-acceptance and body positivity. You can also manage your social media notifications, setting specific times when you’ll use and avoid using social media. Use awareness apps to track your social media usage.

Be mindful of what you consume on social media and limit your screen time. If it’s not benefiting you, try other activities. For example, if you watch TikTok for 30 minutes and feel drained, note this in a journal. Then next time, decide on an alternative activity. This helps prepare you for future situations. For example, if you’re working on an assignment but feel the urge to check your phone, ask yourself why you feel helpless or why you aren’t focusing on your own progress.

Just being aware of these issues is a big step. You’ll start noticing what’s not working for you and where you need to make changes. Practicing gratitude can also help—focusing on small things that make you happy and being grateful for them. If social media affects your emotional health, take note of where you feel controlled or helpless.

Social media management is not just a technical issue, it’s an emotional regulation issue. If it were purely technical, everyone would experience the same feelings. But it’s not just about the tools, it’s about emotion management. Instead of seeking external validation, focus on internal fulfillment and personal growth. If you’re struggling to regulate your behavior and emotion regarding social media usage, consider talking to a therapist to guide you through it.

More than Rs 30 million have been deposited to the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund on Friday itself. 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officers of various government and private financial institutions met Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at his office in Singha Durbar today and handed over the cheques as their institutional support to the fund.

Rs 15 million was provided by the Agriculture Development Bank, Rs 5.1 million from the Citizen Investment Fund, Rs 2.5 million from the SBI Bank, Rs 3.1 million from the Life Insurance Corporation, Rs 2.5 million from the Nepal Infrastructure Development Bank, Rs 1.5 million from the Oriental Insurance, and Rs. 5.1 million by the CIMEX INC (BYD).

On this occasion, Prime Minister Oli thanked the contributors and expressed hope that the support received in the fund would contribute to the distribution of relief to the flood survivors.

The Council of Ministers meeting last Monday had decided to initially deposit Rs one billion in the fund from the government side.

The fund is getting enriched from other organizations and individuals.

Recent natural disasters triggered by incessant rains have caused damages worth Rs 25 billion to road infrastructure. It is estimated that around Rs 3 billion will be required for the temporary restoration of damaged roads and bridges, while full reconstruction could cost between Rs 20-25 billion.

At a meeting of the Infrastructure Development Committee, House of Representatives today, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Dahal reported on the losses incurred due to flooding and landslides that occurred on September 27-28. He added that efforts are underway to restore disrupted roadways and highways temporarily.

The disasters affected 34 highways at 805 locations, with landslide debris cleared from 774 points so far. Traffic has resumed on 29 highways, and ongoing measures aim to reopen transport services at 31 locations across five major highways.

Minister Dahal stated that in some areas, merely removing landslide debris is insufficient to reopen the service; support walls, Hume pipes, and temporary Bailey bridges are also needed.

The Larcha-Kodari section of the Araniko Highway is particularly affected, with the Liping Bridge and the Larcha-based Bailey Bridge swept away by floodwaters.  It has been planned to fix the problems temporarily by using Hume pipes, and penstock pipes, and constructing a makeshift bridge at Liping.

As the government said, it plans to take all available alternatives to restore the traffic temporarily. 

 At the Dolalghat-Rakdhum section of the Pushpa Lal (Mid Hill) Highway, an 80-kilometer stretch has been affected by landslides at various locations. The roadway has been washed out and works are on to clear the landslides from both sides.  It has been planned to clear the way to facilitate vehicles to enter Kathmandu from Bardibas via the Dolalghat route.  

The 13-kilometer section at Ghapeli-Baguwa of Kanti Highway has been affected. Similarly, the left-right approach to the Bagmati Bridge has been disturbed. The Minister assures of the temporary repair of the bridge as much as possible to regularize the vehicular movement.

Along the Mechi highway, activities to remove landslide debris of Ramitedanda of eight kilometers of Ramite Phidim are underway. Vehicular movement would be operated by constructing a temporary diversion at Hewa khola.

Similarly, 17-meter long Bailey bridge would be constructed at Liping along Araniko highway as well as 45-meter long Bailey bridge at Larcha along Araniko highway, 50-meter long bailey bridge at Sunkoshi Khairenitar along BP highway are to be installed.

Likewise, necessary efforts have been started to install a 50-meter Bailey bridge in the Sunkoshi-Khurkot section. Flood has swept away 110-meter-long bridge at Sunkoshi Phoksingtar along Sagarmatha highway and the ministry has started necessary initiatives to construct the bridge. 

A 15-meter long Bagmati bridge along Kanti highway was washed away by flood and preparation was underway to bring the bridge into operation by constructing approach road. 

Similarly, a 35-meter-long bridge at Ratekhola of Ilam was swept away and necessary initiatives were underway for the construction of the bridge there. 

The Ministry has clarified that the federal government has made effective coordination with province and local levels for repair and maintenance of damaged roads.

In today's meeting of the Infrastructures Development Committee under the House of Representatives, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal, shared that the Ministry and Transport Management Division have taken various initiatives to manage and resume transport service by holding discussion with different sides as landslide and flood have caused have damaged highways and bridges.

Minister Dahal further said a letter has been sent to the Home Ministry with a request to immediately rescue and provide relief materials to passengers and transport workers stranded due to the disaster.

The number of people leaving Kathmandu for their hometown to celebrate Dashain is increasing day by day.

Nowadays, New Bus Park, Gongabu, is getting crowded due to the sheer number of people going home for Dashain and buying bus tickets in advance.

With the start of the biggest festival of Nepalis, people, who are living in Kathmandu Valley due to various purposes, have started returning home to celebrate Dashain with family members and relatives.

Chief of Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, Deputy Inspector General of Police Bharat Bahadur Bohara said a total 126,435 people left Kathmandu Valley from September 30 to October 3 morning in vehicles—buses, trucks, and motorcycles.

Similarly, Spokesperson of District Police Range, Kathmandu, Nabaraj Adhikari told RSS that the crowd of people returning home has increased at New Bus Park after schools have started closing for the holidays with the beginning of Dashain festival.

He further said they have increased the number of security personnel at New Bus Park keeping the growing crowd of people there in mind, stating that a help desk has been established in order to make passengers travel more smoothly.

Likewise, crowds of people returning home and pressure of vehicles has increased at New Bus Park, Kalanki and Koteshwor areas, shared Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office.

Kathmandu is experiencing significant traffic congestion at its entry and exit points due to an influx of passengers and vehicles during the Dashain festival. Driver Ramit Oli, who operates on the Kathmandu-Dhangadhi route for Sudurpaschim Travel, said there is a significant rise in the number of people leaving the city for their hometowns as the festival began.

Road conditions have deteriorated due to rain-related disasters, yet vehicles remain packed as demand rises. By Thursday afternoon, a total of 820 motor vehicles, including buses, microbuses, trucks, private cars, and motorcycles, had departed from Kathmandu. According to Superintendent of Police Nawaraj Adhikari from the District Police Range Kathmandu, 13,503 passengers left the city with those vehicles.

As of noon today, 544 vehicles entered Kathmandu, carrying 6,554 passengers. The number of people traveling in reserved and private vehicles, which are not accounted for in police records, is also said to be increasingly high.

Bus counters have already accepted advance ticket bookings until October 9, making it extremely challenging for travelers to secure a ticket. Lalit Magar from Rolpa said he arrived at the New Buspark in Gongabu in the early morning but was struggling to find a bus ticket to go home.

Nepal ranks as the world’s highest remittance-receiving country, according to the World Bank, with remittance inflows playing a vital role in sustaining household expenses. The ‘Nepal Development Update: International Migration and its Impact on Nepal’, published Wednesday, highlights that remittances contribute over a quarter of Nepal’s GDP, the highest ratio globally. This figure is nearly three times that of Pakistan, South Asia’s second-largest remittance recipient, where remittances account for 7.8 percent of GDP.

The report notes that remittance growth has strengthened Nepal’s foreign exchange reserves, with official remittance inflows recently reaching a nine-year high. It further emphasizes that remittances have significantly reduced poverty, cutting it by over 30 percent between 2011 and 2023.

David Sislen, the World Bank’s National Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, praised Nepal’s reliance on foreign workers’ remittances. He stressed the importance of improving remittance management, fostering a robust domestic economy, and creating conditions that allow Nepalis to thrive both at home and abroad.

During a panel discussion titled ‘Making the Most of International Migration in Nepal’, Nepal Rastra Bank’s Deputy Governor, Dr Neelam Dhungana, discussed plans to increase remittance utilization, including encouraging formal remittance channels and offering a one percent additional interest rate for fixed deposit remittance accounts. Dr Dhungana also highlighted efforts to channel remittances into productive sectors.

Economic growth projected at 5.1 percent for 2024

Nepal’s economic growth is expected to rise, with the World Bank projecting a 5.1 percent growth rate for the fiscal year 2024, up from 3.9 percent in 2023. The increase is attributed to higher tourist arrivals, expanded hydropower production, and a boost in rice production. The report anticipates that Nepal’s economy will grow by 5.5 percent in 2025, largely driven by the private sector, thanks to a flexible monetary policy and relaxed regulatory provisions.

While the growth forecast does not factor in the impact of recent floods and landslides, the World Bank expects the construction, manufacturing, and wholesale and retail trade sectors to benefit from Nepal Rastra Bank’s policies. A projected 30 percent increase in tourism arrivals in 2024 is also set to stimulate growth in the service, transport, housing, and food sectors.

Hydropower production is forecasted to rise by 450 megawatts, while rice production is expected to grow by 4.3 percent, providing additional economic support. Sislen underscored the importance of maintaining this growth pace, calling for improvements in infrastructure, governance, human capital, and the private sector.

Inflation forecast

The World Bank forecasts inflation to hover around five percent in 2025 and 4.5 percent in 2026, following rates of 7.7 percent in 2023 and 5.4 percent in 2024. Private sector consumption is expected to rise by 1.8 percent in the 2024/25 fiscal year, with government sector consumption projected to increase by 5.8 percent. The current account surplus is expected to remain at 2.6 percent of GDP, and government revenue is predicted to grow by 20 percent.

Risks in the financial system

The report also highlights several risks to Nepal’s financial system, including high levels of non-performing loans that limit private sector credit growth, policy discontinuity that may hinder investment, and delays in capital expenditure implementation affecting infrastructure development. Additionally, regional instability and trade disruptions could negatively impact tourism and domestic demand.

The report also warns that economic shocks in Gulf countries and Malaysia, which host many Nepali migrant workers, could reduce remittance inflows, impacting household consumption, poverty alleviation, and human capital development. Migration from Nepal remains costly and unequal, with a challenging process for many.

Despite these risks, Vice-president of the National Planning Commission, Dr Shivraj Adhikari, remains optimistic. He emphasized Nepal’s gradual economic improvement, pointing to capital expenditure increases and budgetary process reforms as key steps towards macroeconomic stability. “The domestic product will increase, and more jobs will be created,” he stated.

National Assembly Chair Narayan Dahal called on President Ram Chandra Paudel at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Shital Niwas today.

On the occasion, the upper house chairman informed the Head of State about his participation in the 149th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Chair Dahal is leaving for Switzerland on October 11, leading a Nepali delegation to the IPU Assembly to be held there from October 13-17.

The General Debate of the IPU Assembly will focus on the overall theme "Harnessing science, technology and innovation (STI) for a more peaceful and sustainable future" and provide a platform for delegates to deliberate, exchange views and galvanize parliamentary action.

The Assembly will adopt resolutions on the emergency item and on the subject item taken up by the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights entitled "The impact of artificial intelligence on democracy, human rights and the rule of law". The Assembly is expected to conclude with the adoption of an outcome document on the overall theme of the General Debate, the IPU has stated on its website.