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Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has asserted that it is the responsibility of each State to respect the voting rights of the citizens.

Inaugurating the 12th Conference of the Forum of Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBOSA) today, the Prime Minister said the elections is the means of demonstrating people's aspirations and mandate.

"In South Asia, we share many common challenges. From ensuring voting rights and addressing diaspora issues to fostering fair competition and coexistence among political parties, our experiences often run parallel. From movements for independence to struggles for comprehensive democracy, the leaders of South Asia have made unparalleled sacrifices for the cause; we have earned the high esteem of our people. However, weaknesses in post-movement management and ineffective service delivery, amidst the high expectations of our citizens, have allowed autocratic and regressive forces to challenge our democracies time and again."

Ensuring universal suffrage, and conducting free, fearless, accountable, and transparent elections where governance is determined by the people’s choice, is the only solution to such manipulation against honest and innocent citizens, he added.

According to the Prime Minister, each citizen shall have the opportunity to exercise the right to vote no matter where they are.  Our efforts will be for enabling an atmosphere towards that end, he said, adding that it is warranted to work collectively to simplify the election procedures as per the aspirations of the citizens residing at home and abroad among opportunities and challenges induced by migration, climate change and social media.   

"Climate change, as we all understand, is far more than an environmental issue; it touches every facet of our societies. From rising sea levels and melting Himalayan glaciers to unpredictable weather patterns and natural disasters, the impacts of climate change threaten our ability to ensure that every citizen can exercise their right to vote. As leaders in election management, we must confront these challenges head-on and develop strategies that protect the integrity of our electoral processes, even in the face of such adversity," Prime Minister Oli said.

He added that "migration, too, presents its own set of unique challenges. The movement of people across borders and within our own countries has profound implications for electoral rolls, voter identification, and the right to vote. In a region where countries serve as both sources and destinations of migration, we share the burden of addressing issues such as managing large numbers of foreign arrivals while also accommodating our citizens abroad. With often insufficient infrastructure, we face significant challenges in ensuring that no citizen is disenfranchised due to their circumstances. We must explore ways to include our diaspora in the democratic process, ensuring their right to have a voice in the future of their homeland."

Social media and artificial intelligence are revolutionizing the way we engage with voters and conduct elections. While these tools offer unparalleled opportunities for outreach and participation, they also bring risks—risks of misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and manipulation that can erode trust in our democratic institutions. As we embrace these technologies, we must do so with caution and a steadfast commitment to upholding the highest standards of transparency and accountability, according to the government head.

The Prime Minister informed the gathering that climate change, migration, the rise of social media, and the role of artificial intelligence will be discussed by relating to the election management.

He expressed his hope that the Conference will undoubtedly contribute to advancing the FEMBOSA charter, reinforcing our collective efforts to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections across the region. "Together, let us ensure that the outcomes of this gathering resonate far beyond these walls, fostering a future where every election truly reflects the will of the people."

During the opening session, Forum Chairperson Dasho Sonam Topgay, the Chief Election Commissioner of Bhutan, handed the Forum leadership to Chief Election Commissioner of Nepal, Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya.

The two-day event is attended by Chief Election Commissioners and representatives from the South Asian nations including Nepal, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. The 11th Conference of FEMBOSA was organized virtually two years ago under the chair of Bhutan.

One more person has died from dengue infection in Chitwan.

The deceased has been identified as a 41-year-old man from Chanauli of Bharatpur Metropolitan city-20.

He died during the course of treatment at the Bharatpur Hospital on Tuesday.

He had a fever when he visited the hospital for treatment on Friday and was admitted to the hospital with a ventilator support, according to Dr Kalyan Sapkota, a senior physician at Bharatpur Hospital.

He said the man had a severe case of dengue and died from multi-organ failure followed by excessive internal bleeding.

On Saturday, a 63-year-old man from Bharatpur-2 succumbed to the dengue fever at Chitwan Medical College.

The Nepal Eye Hospital, Tripureswor has continued collaboration with local governments for the elimination of blindness.

In this connection, the hospital and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City-12 signed an agreement.

Hospital's Chief Executive Officer Dharma Raj Gosain and Ward Chair of Kathmandu-12 Bal Krishna Maharjan signed the agreement on Tuesday.

According to Executive Director Gosain, cataract selection camp will be organized in Kathmandu-12, eye check-up and treatment program in public schools and primary training program on eye treatment for women health volunteers working in the ward.

In the camp, free surgery will be provided to the patients selected for cataract surgery at the Nepal Eye Hospital and free glasses will be distributed to the students with low vision.

The hospital has already collaborated with Kathmandu-11, Lalitpur Metropolitan City-18 and Chandragiri Municipality-7.

According to Executive Director Gosain, the hospital had provided outpatient services to 175,000 people, 12,000 surgical services and mobile camps for eye treatment last year.

The hospital has been operating community eye treatment centers at Simra in Bara, Bhachchek in Gorkha and three places in Kathmandu Valley.

Power leakage has been reduced to one percent in Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City.

Electricity leakage has decreased by 5.67 percent in the fiscal year 2023/24 with the strengthening of Nepal Electricity Authority's system, including hooking control, improvement in customer billing, long-pending meter change and improvement in electricity meter reading.

Chief of NEA's Hetauda Distribution Center Shivaram Yadav informed that electricity leakage in Hetauda area has come down to one percent in the fiscal year 2023/24 as compared to 6.67 percent in the last fiscal year.

According to the Office, Rs 229,379 was collected during the fiscal year 2023/24 BS while taking action against the consumers leaking electricity during the campaign.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has said that providing quality services to citizens is the government's top priority.

Speaking at the inauguration of a newly-constructed building for the Nepal Police's Provincial Office in Mahendranagar today, he expressed his belief that the new facility will enhance the police's ability to serve the public more effectively.

During the ceremony, the Home Minister acknowledged that the Nepal Police is bound to function amidst limited resources and called for improved competency in investigations to meet contemporary demands. He highlighted the growing challenge of cybercrime, which has, as he said, caused additional responsibilities for the police.

Minister Lekhak also said that the Nepali Congress-CPN-UML coalition government was formed on the basis of the seven-point agreement between the two major political parties. He asserted that this collaboration aims to address key national issues, referencing historical instances where the Congress and UML have worked together on significant matters, such as drafting the interim constitution and advancing the peace process.

The Minister urged one and all to have confidence in the implementation of the seven-point agreement.

Inspector General of Nepal Police, Basanta Bahadur Kunwar, stated that delivering quality service to citizens remains a priority for the Nepal Police. He added that the police are currently focusing on infrastructure development to support this goal. He said that effective crime investigation relies heavily on infrastructure, legal frameworks, and the society's cooperation.

The Nepal Police had awarded the construction contract for the new building to Ashish Construction on December 15, 2022 at a cost of Rs 132.6 million.

Paris Paralympics historic medal winner taekwondo player Palesa Goverdhan returned home on Wednesday.

She had won a bronze medal in the women's K44 under 57 kg weight category of the taekwondo competition in the Paralympics held in Paris, France.

National Sports Council Member Secretary Tankalal Ghising among others welcomed Nepali team including Goverdhan at the Tribhuvan International Airport this morning.

She is the first Nepali player to win a medal at an Olympic level.

Goverdhan won the bronze medal for Nepal by defeating Marija Micev of Serbia 15-8.

Collaborating with RP Foundation, Kathmandu University (KU) has introduced a pioneering program, ‘Bachelor in Heritage Conservation (BHC)’, under its School of Engineering, Department of Architecture. This new program is the first of its kind in all of Asia, focusing on the preservation and protection of cultural heritage. The BHC program offers an in-depth exploration of the reasons and methods behind heritage conservation, emphasizing its significance in shaping civilizations, says the Foundation. “Given Nepal’s rich cultural heritage, including ten UNESCO World Heritage sites and 15 sites nominated for the status, the course aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect and preserve these invaluable assets.”

Classes for the BHC program will be conducted in the culturally rich areas of Panauti, Dhulikhel, and Bhaktapur, offering students hands-on experience in heritage conservation. The application deadline for the inaugural intake is set for Sept 16.

Qatari ambassador to Nepal Mishaal Bin Mohamed Ali Al-Ansari today paid a courtesy call on Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey.

In the meeting held at the Ministry, the two exchanged views on possible measures for promoting the bilateral interests, culture, and tourism sector, discussing the civil aviation issues as well.

According to the Ministry, the meeting also touched on the issue of adopting strategies implemented by Qatar Airways known as the world's best airline by the Nepal Airlines. 

Representatives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present in the meeting.