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As part of a series of events leading up to the Sagarmatha Sambaad, popularly known as the Everest Dialogue, Press Council Nepal organized a discussion program with media persons on Wednesday to gather suggestions on how the media can help ensure its success and attract international attention.

Scheduled for May 16 to 18, 2025, the Sambaad, on the theme ‘Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Human Life’, is a global dialogue initiated by the government to address key issues of global, regional and national importance.

Speaking at a program titled “Climate Change, Sagarmatha Sambaad, and the Role of Media” held at the Council’s meeting hall, Chairperson of Press Council Nepal Bal Krishna Basnet said that strategic suggestions would be collected from journalists who regularly report on environmental and climate issues. These suggestions would be submitted to the government to support the global outreach of the Sambaad.

Basnet expressed confidence that Nepal’s efforts could succeed if journalists effectively communicated the message. The Sambaad is being organized to address the causes and impacts of, and human responsibility related to climate change.

“The Council will act as a bridge to bring the government, media and journalists together to work on climate change issues,” he said. The problems of the Himalayas to sea-level rise are not just Nepal’s concerns, they are global issues and must be raised in the Sambaad, he added.

Senior journalists made presentations in the program. In their presentations, Editor of the Annapurna Express English Daily Kamal Dev Bhattarai, Ramesh Bhushal and Shriram Subedi stressed that Nepali media must be able to deliver issue-based information effectively to the public.

“Government should ramp up its efforts to make the program a global dialogue in a true sense,” Bhattarai said.

They suggested that the government should involve international media and journalists to elevate the Sagarmatha Sambaad to the global stage.

Responding to the media persons, Secretary of the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Rajendra Prasad Mishra, said that the issues and suggestions raised in the program would be forwarded to the Sambaad Secretariat for immediate action.

Urging journalists and media outlets to communicate dialogue-related content in a series, he said that the event is an opportunity to place Nepal prominently on the world map.

Shishir Shrestha, a Taekwondo athlete, coach, and National 1st Class Referee with over two decades of experience, has been appointed as a board member of the Australia Taekwondo Para Community.

Shrestha holds multiple certifications, including National 1st Class Referee, 1st Class International Coach, and 3rd Class International Master. He won a bronze medal in the Under-30 Men's Team Poomsae category at the 2024 Australian Open G2 World Taekwondo Championship and has also earned recognition at the South Asian Games and other international events.

In his new role, Shrestha is expected to contribute to the development of Para Taekwondo in Australia, with a focus on inclusion, athlete welfare, training standards, and leadership diversity. In a statement, Shrestha acknowledged the support of Grand Master Hassan, Master Carlos, and the Nepal Taekwondo Association. He also thanked his family, coaching team, and peers for their continued encouragement throughout his career.

The Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) organized the second edition of the AIDIA Distinguished Lecture series in Kathmandu on Friday.  

The event featured Elnur Mammadov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as the keynote speaker, addressing the theme "Foreign Policy of Azerbaijan: Challenges and Opportunities."

Addressing the program, Sunil KC, Founder of AIDIA, emphasized the importance of deepening bilateral ties between Nepal and Azerbaijan. He highlighted potential areas of cooperation in energy infrastructure, hydropower, and tourism.

Similarly, Anjan Shakya, Member of National Assembly and the Coordinator of the Nepal-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Working Group, spoke of the historic resilience shared by the two nations despite their geographical distance.

Elchin Huseynli, Non-Resident Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Nepal, reiterated Azerbaijan’s commitment to advancing relations with Nepal through a multi-pronged approach across political, economic, and cultural domains.

On the occasion, Elnur Mammadov outlined Azerbaijan’s current foreign policy priorities, focusing on three key tracks: finalizing a peace agreement, border delimitation, and reopening communication links

Highlighting Azerbaijan’s domestic green transition, the Deputy Minister shared the country’s target to generate 30–33% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2027.

Deputy Minister Mammadov is currently on an official visit to Nepal, accompanied by a high-level Azerbaijani delegation.

A Cabinet meeting called for 10 am on Friday has been postponed.

The Prime Minister’s Secretariat informed that the meeting summoned for 10 am today has been deferred.

The reason for the postponement has not been disclosed.

Meanwhile, President Ram Chandra is presenting the government’s policies and programs today.

A joint meeting of both Houses of federal Parliament has been called for 3 pm for the same.

A Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday had already passed the policies and programs.

The United Nations is considering a major structural overhaul aimed at improving efficiency and reducing costs, according to Reuters.

The proposals come amid significant funding cuts from the United States under President Donald Trump, which have strained key humanitarian programs.

The six-page document details ideas to divide the UN's various agencies into four main departments: peace and security, humanitarian affairs, sustainable development, and human rights. One plan would combine the World Food Programme, WHO, UNICEF, and the refugee agency into a single humanitarian organization. Other possibilities include incorporating UNAIDS into the WHO and reducing translation services at meetings, Reuters reported.

The document identifies long-standing organizational inefficiencies, such as overlapping mandates, unnecessary bureaucracy, and escalating expenses caused by mission expansion without defined exit strategy.

The National Examinations Board (NEB) has reiterated that the Grade 12 examinations will be held as scheduled from May 4 to 16.

NEB has objected to the unauthorized use of its logo on various social media in the context of the examinations and urged one and all not to follow the misleading information.

Earlier, the NEB had scheduled the Grade 12 exams from April 24. But the exams schedule had to be deferred due to the teachers' protests organized under the banner of Nepal Teachers’ Federation.

The Board stated that the Grade 12 exams will now be conducted at the designated examination centers as there has been an agreement with the Federation last time. The board has clarified that it does not have a Facebook page and the official information will be made public through the website.

Through the notice, the NEB has urged all the exam superintendents at the exam centers, teachers, employees and security agencies, parents, media persons and all stakeholders to complete all the remaining works of the exams and cooperate in conducting the examinations in a dignified manner on the scheduled date.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has initiated a diplomatic initiative to investigate the death of Prissa Sah of Birgunj who was studying at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha, India.

Sah was found dead in her room on Thursday evening.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba took to her social media, Facebook, to express grief over the incident in which Nepali student Prissa Sah, a student of KIIT in India, was found dead at her hostel room.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated diplomatic initiatives to investigate the truth behind the incident through the Government of India, senior officials of the Odisha Government and the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi on Thursday itself", Minister Rana wrote.

The Narayangadh-Butwal road section along the East-West Highway has been obstructed after the flood-fed rivulet swept away the diversion at Dumkibas .

According to the District Police Office, the highway has been completely disrupted with the flood in the Biyani Rivulet taking away the diversion this morning.

Information Officer at Nawalpur Police Office, Madhu Nepal said loaded and heavy vehicles have been stopped at Hongshi Gate and Arunkhola areas after the bridge collapsed.

However, passenger and light vehicles have been sent to their destinations via alternative routes.

Information Officer Nepal said that it will take time to bring back the obstructed road to operation.