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The Humla District Hospital has witnessed a rise in the number of patients.

The people suffering from common cold have crowded the hospital of late.

Doctor Sunil Pujara informed that they could not manage beds for the increasing number of patients. There are only 15 beds in the hospital.

Last Sunday, as many as 150 persons were provided service. Most of them were suffering from common cold, fever, diarrhea, pneumonia and gastritis. The hospital provided service to nearly 90 patients despite resource constraints on Monday.

Dr Pujara informed that the average daily arrival of patients is 50. But the number surged in recent days, thereby exposing the limitation of the facility.

The people from Thehe, Jodam, Dandaphaya, Dharapori, Buraunse, Bargau, Yanchu, Maja, Chhipra and among other villages visit the district hospital.

Although the number of people visiting the hospital has surged, there is no shortage of medicine, the Dr added.

Police have made public today four people arrested on the charge of presenting fake academic certificates at the US Embassy in Nepal for proceeding with an entry to the USA under the Electronic Diversity Visa (EDV).

The arrested are Goma Pandey of Mahalaxmi Municipality-8 in Lalitpur, Anil Kumar Mahato of Lalbandi-10 in Sarlahi, Gopal Prasad Ghimire of Arjundhara Municipality-8 in Jhapa, and Subash Dhakal (43) of Khandbari Municipality-9 in Sankhuwasabha.   The accused were temporarily residing in Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.

According to Kathmandu Valley Crime Division, Teku's Information Officer and Superintendent of Police, Kaji Kumar Acharya, the four were charged with producing fake documents of SEE and +2 education and presenting them to the Embassy.

They were detained from near the Embassy and have been sent to the District Police Range, Bhadrakali, Kathmandu for further action, it has been said.

While Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML have argued that the decision of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) to extend no-construction zone along riverbanks by an additional 20 meters will displace people, Mayor Balendra Shah aka Balen has stated that houses along riverbanks will not be demolished under the new guidelines.

Also, Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal has also called for a review of the Supreme Court’s decision. Speaking to officials of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce on Sunday, he emphasized the need to revisit the Court’s ruling. “Some aspects of the ruling are difficult to implement, and the government is working on that matter,” he added.

In a post on his social media page on Sunday, Mayor Shah said that the government would need to provide compensation if houses falling within the guidelines were to be demolished. “Be assured that no house falling under the new guidelines will be demolished,” Shah wrote. “If demolition becomes necessary, the government must provide compensation.”

The decision, however, has faced obstacles, with both ruling parties Nepali Congress and CPN-UML urging the KMC to reconsider the decision.

The CPN-UML Kathmandu District Committee submitted a seven-point memorandum to Mayor Shah, demanding the scrapping of the decision. UML has argued that the decision affects hundreds of thousands of people living on the riverbanks and warned of severe consequences if the decision is not reversed.

The Kathmandu District Committee of the NC has also opposed the decision. Issuing a joint statement, NC Kathmandu District Committee President Nilkaji Shakya and leader Srijana Singh claimed that the KMC’s decision puts numerous religious and historical sites, including Pashupatinath, Guhyeshwari, Teku, Pachali Ghat and Shobha Bhagwati temples, at risk. The party said that the decision not only causes distress in the economic, physical, cultural and social lives of people living in the metropolis, but also infringes upon the fundamental right to housing as guaranteed by the Constitution.

In a post on his social media page on July 31, KMC Mayor Balen Shah said the metropolis has decided to prohibit construction within an additional 20 meters from riverbanks in the Kathmandu Valley, doubling the buffer from riverbanks to 40 meters. Shah said the decision was based on a Supreme Court verdict.

The opposition to Balen’s decision is not limited to external political parties. Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol has also expressed her disagreement with the manner in which the notice was issued. During the 35th Municipal Executive meeting, Dangol criticized the mayor for causing panic among the citizens.

Meanwhile, the government has formed a committee under Padma Kumar Mainali, joint-secretary at the Ministry of Urban Development, to study the issue, giving it until September 10 to submit its report. 

The committee will study all aspects of the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the prohibition on construction within an additional 20 meters from the banks of the Bagmati river and its tributaries in the valley.

The demarcation of riverbanks in the valley dates back to 2008 when the then cabinet had decided to prohibit construction within 20 meters of the banks of Bagmati, Bishnumati and Manohara rivers and within 4-20 meters of rivulets. The Supreme Court order on 18 Dec 2022, extended this to 40 meters.

Two persons died after being swept away by a swollen river in Rukum West on Sunday.

Local Rama river swept away Sarjan Pun (50) of Musikot-4 and Nirmala KC Thapa (32) of Musikot-5 while they were on the way to Kanewang from Sankha village on a motorcycle (Ra 6 Pa 2961).

According to Inspector Bakhat Bahadur Shahi, Information Officer at the District Police Office,Rukum, police were informed about the incident only this morning.

The body of the woman was retrieved some 300 meters downstream while that of the man was found some 20 meters downstream and trapped in the motorcycle.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 100 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 152, 200 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 152, 100 per tola on Sunday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 5 and is being traded at Rs 1,755 per tola.

Newly appointed Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Ashok Raj Sigdel was conferred insignia on Monday.

President Ram Chandra Paudel conferred the insignia on Sigdel amidst a program organized in Sheetal Niwas this morning.

President Paudel also administered the oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed Nepal Army Chief Sigdel.

There is a constitutional provision that the President is the supreme commander of the Nepal Army.

President Paudel on August 28 appointed Sigdel to the post, effective September 9.

Vice President Ramsahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Chief Justice Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha, Speaker Devraj Ghimire and National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Dahal among others were present on the occasion.

The third edition of the Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival concluded on Sunday at Hotel Himalaya in Lalitpur. The two-day event, themed “Nepal: The Gateway to Asian Art, Culture, and Literature,” featured over 50 sessions and ended on a high note, with the announcement that the fourth edition will be held on 13-14 Sept 2025.

During the event, legendary poet Dr. Bhuwan Dhungana was honored with the Yashaswi Sahitya Samman and Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri, Sanjeev Sanyal, and Achyuta Samanta were honored with the Yashaswi Samman. Additionally, the Yashaswi Book Award 2081 was presented to six books across five categories. 

The awardees include Devvrat for his poetry collection ‘Aswasthamako Nidharbata Bagmati Bagchha’; Muna Chaudhary for her fiction ‘Laar’; and Momila Joshi for her non-fiction work ‘Prashnaharu Ta Baki Nai Rahanchhan’, an award she shares with Arun Gupta for ‘Sanskriti Chintan’. Additionally, Rohini Rana’s ‘The Nepal Cook Book’ (English) and Yagyaraj Upadhyay’s research work ‘Kali-Karnaliko Lok Sahitya Tatha Sanskriti’ were also recognized. Each recipient received a prize of Rs 20,000 along with the award.

The festival brought together over 300 writers from Nepal, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and other South Asian nations, fostering a rich exchange of literary and cultural traditions. “It was a grand celebration of literature, art, music, and culture, further strengthening Nepal’s role as a central hub for Asian cultural dialogues,” says the organization.

At the Festival, during the session titled ‘Life Dedicated to Nepalese Films,’ Rajesh Hamal, in conversation with Rupesh Shrestha, dismissed the notion that the Nepali film industry is stuck. “The Nepali movie industry is in its own moment, and when something is in the moment, there will, of course, be challenges ahead,” he said. “Some people may like the journey, others may not, but the industry is moving forward.”

Reflecting on his career, Hamal shared that when he first entered the film industry, very few movies were being made. “That period was crucial for expanding the industry, as it was necessary to grow the market to ensure sustainability,” he said, adding that his contribution to this expansion is one of his greatest achievements.

In the session titled “Nepal: The Gateway to Asian Art, Culture, and Literature,” the panelists included Dr Abhi Subedi, Uday Prakash, and Rohini Rana, with Chandra Dev Bhatta as the moderator. Dr Subedi highlighted that the people of this land have performed miracles in architecture since the Lichchhavi period, noting that “the architecture back then was inspired by faith and religion.” Meanwhile, Rohini Rana emphasized that food is also an essential part of art and culture.

During the session titled ‘Rethinking Development and Diplomacy in the Digital Age’, former Indian ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae, emphasized the importance of credibility in diplomacy. He noted that people play a central role in influencing government decisions, pointing to recent events in Bangladesh and the 2006 people’s movement in Nepal. “People are at the center of everything. Public diplomacy has played a huge role in India-Nepal relations, not always positively. It can work both ways,” Rae remarked.

Reflecting on his tenure as ambassador during a challenging period, Rae recalled, “I was in Nepal during the constitution-writing process and the protests in Tarai.” He also mentioned his book, ‘Kathmandu Dilemma: Resetting India-Nepal Ties’, which he wrote to address misconceptions about India’s role in Nepal.

In another session titled ‘Writing as Aspiration’, Rae stressed the importance of self-research on regional history and heritage. “What is written about us in the West need not align with our own narratives. It is up to us to research and write about our history,” he said.

In the session titled ‘The Art of Storytelling in Film’, Sujit Bidari, director of ‘Ainaa Jhyal Ko Putali’, shared his experiences and offered advice to aspiring filmmakers. “You have to revise the same film a thousand times. You can’t judge what’s happening at the moment. It’s impossible to remain objective after watching repeatedly,” he explained. “So much energy, budget, and time have been spent. If you can’t make a judgment even at that point, what will your state of mind be?” Bidari emphasized that to become a filmmaker, the more content you consume, the more creative ideas you generate. He noted, “The more you reflect and look inward, the more creative content you uncover. Detachment from oneself is the first condition. Once you’re detached, you start seeing stories everywhere.”

In the session titled ‘Voices of Tomorrow: Emerging Literary Talents of South Asia’, panelists included Badri Narayan, Ranjan Adiga, Sumit Sharma Sameer, and Mahendra P Joshi, with Prof. Kamala Kanta Dash moderating. Ranjan Adiga addressed common misconceptions about younger generations: “I won’t generalize today’s generation, but there are variations in all generations. The idea that Gen Z isn’t reading much is a myth.” He added, “While attention spans may have decreased, platforms like social media and Netflix have actually helped this generation engage with literature, art, and culture. Literature has always struggled to find an audience, but that’s not new.”

Sumit Sharma Sameer emphasized that today’s generation still enjoys movies and books, but only those that stand out. “Writers and producers must ensure they are creating exceptional works. The same old methods might not attract audiences like they used to.”

Badri Narayan noted that while education and social concerns are evolving, writers still hold importance and credibility. Mahendra P. Joshi highlighted the significance of marketing to capture the attention of younger readers. “Writers should understand what the new generation likes,” he said. “Writing about the US for a young American audience might not resonate, so in my book ‘Rockin’ Rollin’ Rolpa: Know America, Explore Nepal’, I focused on Rolpa, Nepal. The story follows a 24-year-old from rural Rolpa on his travels, connecting rural Nepal with America, and it struck a chord with the audience.”

On the second and final day of the festival, around 30 sessions were held, including ‘Diaspora and The Craft of Writing and Literature’, ‘Mythilak Nari in Cultural Communication’, ‘Charting the Future if Civilizational Dialogue’, ‘Child Psychology in Children Literature’, ‘Gorkha Identity: Opportunities and Blues Panelists’, ‘Beauty with Brains and Social Responsibility’, ‘Gajapati: The King without Kingdom’, and ‘How does literature empower women’ among others.

On the first day, 27 sessions took place, including ‘Laws for Women: Differences Between the Constitution and Treatment’, ‘To the Moon and Back’, ‘Bridging Heritage: Cultural Synergies’, ‘Media, Literature, and Social Responsibility’, ‘Bridging Worlds: The Art of Publishing and Translation’, ‘The Role and Future of Literature in the Age of AI’, ‘Recent Developments in Literature Translations from Nepal’, ‘How Significant are Literature Festivals?’, and ‘Nepal Bhasa Script and Literature: Past and Present’, among others.

According to Ranjana Niraula, Director and Founding Member of KLF-Kathmandu, “The Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival celebrated the longstanding cultural ties between Nepal, India, and South Asia, while offering a platform for deep discussions on the evolution of global cultures.”

Rashmi Ranjan Parida added that the festival serves as a common platform for cultural exchange between Nepal and India. He remarked, “It’s hard to pinpoint when Nepal and India’s shared journey began, and it continues today.”

The 79th United Nations General Assembly begins in New York tomorrow.

The UNGA is taking place this year from 10th to 30th September under the theme 'Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations'.

Although the General Assembly starts tomorrow, the high-level general discussion will be held from September 24. According to the UNGA agenda, the discussion will be held until September 28 and will conclude on September 30.

As per agenda shared, the head of the Nepali delegation, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, will address the General Assembly on September 26.

Heads of state and government of the world will participate in the General Assembly in various stages of discussion focusing on the complex situation of the war that has emerged globally and its impact on the world, post-COVID inflation and poverty, climate change and the sustainable development goals.

According to the New York-based Nepali Mission, Nepal will also give high priority to participation in high-level political forums and discussions with its development partners in the sideline meetings.

Nepal has also given high priority to work according to its commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

As a result, Nepal will inform the global community about its achievements in the SDGss so far in the 'Summit of the Future 2024', which is taking place in New York from September 22 to 23.