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Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has pledged to open the Consulate General of Nepal in the western region of the US, California, soon.

Prime Minister Oli, who is currently in New York to participate in the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, leading a Nepali delegation, made the commitment responding to the demand for the same by various organizations of the Nepali community.

There are around 100,000 Nepalis residing in the State. The Nepali Public Relations Committee, Nepali Association of Northern California and other organizations had called for the opening of a consulate office in San Francisco, California reasoning that it has been inconvenient for them to access the service by reaching New York or Washington DC, where the Consulate General of Nepal is currently located.

They have urged for the establishment of a consulate general office in the region as it would address the problems facing the Nepali community for the services, including passport renewal, to a great extent. 

Noting that he was positive to the demand, PM Oli assured that the government would take a decision in this regard soon. "We have already planned to open a Consulate General of Nepal in California soon", he said.

California State is a hub of science and technology as well as Silicon Valley, so Nepal and Nepalis can reap benefits from it, the demand paper stated.

The Committee also called on Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba to draw her attention to the same issue and extended an invitation to visit California.

The Nepali Diaspora representatives had also expressed their interest before the PM that Nepalis living abroad would also play a role for the country's prosperity and development. 

They also discussed with the PM about the issue of dual citizenship and its proper address through amendment to the constitutional provisions. Prime Minister Oli showed concern over disputes within the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA).

Prime Minister Oli urged all to work with the belief that a one-time Nepali would be a Nepali forever while hinting provision such as nullifying the abroad citizenship for exercising political rights in the country could be made,

In responding to queries from the participants in the political context, PM Oli said there would be no amendments to the constitution on issues such as democratic values, federalism, protection of republican system and sovereignty of the country.

He said that the constitution amendment issue would take the shape of consensus among the parties.

Meanwhile, different Nepali community organizations called on PM Oli and demanded the opening of Nepali Consulate General office in Texas. Likewise, Nepali community representatives based in Canada also urged the PM to take initiative for the establishment of the Canadian Embassy in Nepal.  

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged the Nepali youths living abroad to return home and create employment opportunities.

Prime Minister Oli, who is leading a Nepali delegation to the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, said this at the World Leaders Forum organized by Columbia University on Monday.

He clarified that the national aspiration of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali' has been put forward to eradicate poverty and ensure the right of all to live with dignity.

Speaking as the keynote speaker at a dialogue on 'Nepal's Journey of Democracy and Economic Development', he said there is only the data of students and youths who have gone abroad from Nepal but not that of returnees.

Noting that the government has brought out programs such as small-scale industries and 'startups' for employment opportunities, PM Oli urged the youths to unite in nation-building as he was clear that the country could not transform without the youth. 

"Nepal's economic situation is not very weak. On the contrary, I see a lot of potential for its prosperity, which we will be able to achieve within a short time if we work hard", he said, adding, "We are a rising democracy. We are also neighbors of economic powers like India and China. In that sense, Nepal is in a position to become a multi-dimensional economy for economic development".

Saying that he was leading a government with two major parliamentary parties that had played a decisive role in Nepal's democratic movement, PM Oli said he had a resolution to maintain good governance and transparency.

"We have no other intention but to make Nepalis prosperous and happy. We are fully committed to the journey of prosperity", the PM shared.

Addressing the 'Lead Free Future: Partnership Launch and Pledging Event' organized by USAID and UNICEF, PM Oli expressed solidarity with the lead-free campaign. He said that Nepal has already understood that the use of lead has affected the health of children.

He clarified that Nepal has been implementing the policy of freeing lead from its use with the understanding that it has affected the health of children and recently brought a bill related to food security in the parliament.

US President Joe Biden's wife Dr Jill Biden, the President of Dominica, the President of Malawi, among others, also spoke on the occasion.  

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, who arrived in New York to participate in the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), held a meeting with Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations in the Department of Operational Support Atul Khare.

In the meeting held on Monday, various aspects of the UN-Nepal relations and cooperation were discussed, the New York-based Nepali Mission said. 

The Department has been working in the field of management of security personnel of the UN missions deployed for peacekeeping.

According to the Mission, the meeting discussed the continuation of cooperation between Nepal and the UN and its contribution to the field of peace and security.

Miss Universe Nepal 2024 Sampada Ghimire is set to represent Nepal at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City. Ghimire, who is also a digital marketer, believes that everyone must dream and work for it. Shreya Shrestha of ApEx interviewed Ghimire about her journey and plans after winning the Miss Universe Nepal title.

Can you share a bit about your family and educational background?

I come from a family of five—my mom, dad, brother, sister, and me. My brother just finished his SEE and is now in college, and my sister lives in Australia. My family has always been supportive and never hesitated to meet my needs. Before starting my professional career, I studied management. Later, I shifted my focus to internships and jobs that sparked my interest in practical, hands-on work. Now, I work in digital marketing.

How much did your family encourage you to compete in Miss Universe Nepal 2024?

In my case, I was the one who really wanted to compete. Unlike some parents who push their children into pageants, I was self-motivated. It’s been a dream of mine to compete in Miss Universe, and my family and friends have been my biggest cheerleaders. They’ve always supported my choices and encouraged me throughout the process.

Your career in digital marketing is quite different from pageantry. How did you get interested in modeling and pageants?

Interestingly, when I was 15, I had a strong desire to start modeling. I practiced a lot and was really inspired by the idea of walking the runway. But over time, that dream faded, and I shifted my focus to a career in digital marketing. However, I believe fate brought me back to pageantry. The passion I had for modeling reemerged, this time through pageantry, and I feel like there's a bigger purpose for me to fulfill through this platform.

What was your reaction when you were announced as the winner?

I had been preparing for two years, participating in other events but never winning. I didn’t have high expectations for the finale, but a part of me thought there was a chance. When my name was announced, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. It felt like I had finally achieved a goal I’d been working so hard for, even though I couldn’t fully express how thankful and happy I felt at that moment.

How is your preparation going for representing Nepal in Mexico?

The preparation has been going smoothly since I was crowned. We’ve been focusing on branding, photo shoots, interviews, and designing outfits. My team has been incredibly supportive, and we’re working hard to represent Nepal in the best possible way. I’m also receiving training for public speaking and runway walking.

What are your future plans? Will you continue modeling, or return to digital marketing?

I'm still figuring that out. I trust the process and the outcome, whether I continue in modeling or go back to digital marketing. I’ve always enjoyed traveling, even before I started modeling, and I hope to be an active, visible representative of Miss Universe Nepal. I’m also passionate about child literacy and plan to work in that area, using my experience to make a positive impact.

What advice would you give to young girls?

I encourage everyone to dare to dream big and keep believing in their dreams. Many people are afraid to dream or doubt themselves, as I once did. But don’t be afraid to dream, and when you do, work tirelessly toward your goals. Even if things don’t go as planned, you’ll learn valuable lessons that will help you succeed in the future.

World leaders on Monday adopted the potentially game-changing Pact for the Future by consensus, with a small group of just seven countries holding out, having failed to pass a last-minute amendment.  The centerpiece of the Summit of the Future is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine the multilateral system and steer humanity on a new course to meet existing commitments and solve long-term challenges.

The Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations was adopted by consensus, despite a last-minute proposal for an amendment by some countries, including Russia, Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Syria. The amendment sought to incorporate text calling for non-intervention in any issue of national sovereignty, and the primacy of intergovernmental deliberation, in effect, downplaying the role of the civil society or private sector interests. It was rejected after the 193-member Assembly decided not to act on the proposal.The pact’s five broad focus areas include sustainable development; international peace and security; science and technology; youth and future generations; and transforming global governance. This has become an urgent pivot, as multilateral financial institutions and even the United Nations itself have come up short seeking solutions to 21st century problems, the pact lays out.

By endorsing the Pact, UN Member States pledged, among other things, to:

• Turbocharge the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change, two landmark 2015 agreements that have seen halting progress and missed milestones
• Listen to young people and include them in decision-making, at the national and global levels
• Build stronger partnerships with civil society, the private sector, local and regional authorities
• Redouble efforts to build and sustain peaceful, inclusive and just societies and address the root causes of conflicts
• Protect all civilians in armed conflict
• Accelerate the implementation of our commitments on women, peace and security

The Global Digital Compact marks the first truly worldwide agreement on the international regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) and is founded on the idea that technology should benefit everyone. It outlines commitments to ensure that digital technologies contribute to sustainable development and human rights, while addressing risks like digital divides, cybersecurity, and misuse of technology.

The compact aims to bridge the digital divide and ensure AI technologies are used responsibly, fostering global cooperation on both AI capabilities and security threats. Governments are also obligated to form an impartial worldwide Scientific Panel on AI and start an international conversation about AI governance inside the UN.

The Declaration on Future Generations focuses on securing the well-being of future generations, also highlighting the need to include their interests in decision-making processes.It also underlines the importance of protecting the environment, promoting intergenerational equity and ensuring that long-term consequences of today's actions are considered.

Speaking after the adoption, Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that the Pact for the Future and its annexes, “open pathways to new possibilities and opportunities.”

“People everywhere are hoping for a future of peace, dignity and prosperity. They are crying out for global action to solve the climate crisis, tackle inequality, and address new and emerging risks that threaten everyone,” he said. “They see the United Nations as essential to solving these challenges,” he continued, adding “the Summit of the Future sets a course for international cooperation that can meet their expectations … Now, let’s get to work.”

The adoption was the culmination of months of negotiations co-facilitated by Germany and Namibia. Speaking after the adoption, Philémon Yang, president of the 79th session of the General Assembly, urged nations to move forward together, in a spirit of solidarity and multilateral cooperation. “The path we choose must lead to a future where human dignity is respected and human rights are upheld. A future where peace transcends the mere absence of conflict and is grounded in justice, inclusion, and equity.”

Former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Chabilal Joshi, who was arrested in connection with the cooperative fraud case, was produced at the Kaski District Court for an extension of remand.  

Kaski police informed that Joshi was produced at the court to extend remand to carry out further investigation.

He was apprehended in Kathmandu shortly after Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak’s directive to immediately implement the report of the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee regarding the misappropriation of funds in cooperatives.

Joshi, identified as a former director of Gorkha Media Network Pvt Ltd, was named in the report of the inquiry committee led by Surya Thapa, which recommended action against four individuals, including Joshi.

ALSO READ: Ex-DIG held for ‘hand’ in coops fraud

The Parliamentary Special Committee to Investigate Cooperative Funds has pinpointed Joshi as a central figure in the fraudulent activities, alleging that he played a significant role in withdrawing funds from various cooperatives under the guise of loans.

The inquiry report reveals that Gorkha Media Network was established with half of its investment from GB Rai and Joshi.

Following previous business partnerships, Joshi reportedly reduced his 15 percent share, transferring it to Rabi Lamichhane.

He is accused of securing loans amounting to Rs 25m from the Supreme Cooperative of Butwal and Rs 10.86m from Sano Paila Cooperative in Birgunj to fund his investment in Gorkha Media.

Subsequently, Joshi is said to have distanced himself from Gorkha Media due to disagreements.

Bajura district will not face food shortage this year as the Food Management and Trading Company Limited (FMTCL), Bajura has adequate food stock at its depot in Martadi and Kolti. 

The Martadi branch has 4,000 quintals of rice in stock while the Kolti branch at Budhinanda Municipality in the north-east region has 2,300 quintals in stock, said Umesh Bhandari, Chief of the FMTCL branch office, Martadi.

According to him, unlike in the previous years, people will not have to buy costly food grains during the festival time this year.

"There used to be acute shortage of food grains in the district during the festivals due to the closure of the roads in the monsoon period. This year, the contractors hired for transporting the food grains have brought the food grains on time and the supply is as per the demand. So, there is less chance of food shortage this time," Bhandari explained.

Of the 4,000 quintals of rice stored at branch office Martadi includes 2,106 quintals of Aruwa coarse rice, 1,685 quintals of Aruwa Sona moderate grain rice and 225 quintals of Jira Masino or fine-grain rice.

Similarly, of the 2,300 quintals rice in stock at Kolti depot office includes 1,969 quintals Aruwa coarse rice, 202 quintals of Sona Mansuli rice and 151 quintals Jira Masino or fine-grain rice.

Meanwhile, the FMTCL has operated fair price shops at Martadi and Kolti from today in view of the approaching Dashain and Tihar festivals.

A discount of five rupees has been offered on one kg rice sold from the fair price shops, Bhandari said.

The number of patients with dengue and scrub typhus infection has surged at the Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku.

According to Hospital Director Dr Yubanidhi Basaula, the facility has seen an increase in cases over the past week, leading to challenges in managing adequate beds for patients. Currently, 55 patients with these infections are admitted, with an average of eight patients seeking treatment daily.

Since mid-August, the hospital has treated 195 cases of dengue, 13 of scrub typhus, and 71 snakebites.

Dr Basaula emphasized that these infections can be fatal if not medically intervened on time. 

Although the hospital is permitted to operate 100 beds, it is currently equipped with only 85.