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Nepal’s first AI-powered integrated digital ecosystem, “Global Diary,” has officially come into operation.

This platform aims to connect citizens, businesses, community and government agencies on a single secure and reliable digital platform.

Developed in Nepal, the platform was introduced at a press conference in Kathmandu today.

Designed to serve the general public, entrepreneurs and government institutions, the Global Diary aims to create a unified digital space that improves service delivery, promotes business and increases public engagement, said the officials of the Global Diary.

The newly launched platform enables businesses to enhance its digital presence at a website-level standard, reduce marketing expenses and communicate directly to customers, reads the press statement handed out during the press meet. 

By allowing direct interaction between the service providers and consumers, it helps lower advertising and operating expenses significantly, benefiting both parties, it is stated. 

Speaking at the program, Dr Binod Aatreya, former Executive Director of the Nepal Rastra Bank, shared that the platform combines features similar to social media to connect people with opportunities, trade and services. 

Likewise, Shekhar Aryal, Chairperson of the Global Diary touted the platform as a national pride and claimed that it can expand Nepal’s digital reach internationally. 

He called on consumers, businesses, media and government bodies to rope themselves in the platform, emphasizing its potentials in driving the country's digital growth and economic prosperity.

Shedding light on the newly launched platform, Bhagawandas Agrahari,  Founder and CEO of the Global Diary, mentioned that the platform is more than a social network, e-commerce site or job portal. 

According to him, the platform is a complete digital eco-system. Powered by advanced AI, it helps users find verified service providers, access reviews, receive job recommendations and ensure data privacy while preventing fraudulent activities.

A meeting of the National Assembly (NA) today passed the Film Bill, 2081 BS. 

In the meeting, Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, on behalf of Prime Minister and Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Sushila Karki, tabled the bill, seeking its endorsement. 

NA Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal announced that the document was passed unanimously by the meeting.

The NA shall meet again at 12: 15 on Friday. 

Meanwhile, airing their views during a zero hour of the session, NA members wanted the government to ensure the conduct of the elections to the House of Representatives in a free, fair and impartial atmosphere. 

They urged the government to be serious about the possible security challenges for the elections. 

They also apprised the government of the cases of artificial shortage in the market and supplies of goods on black-market. 

The lawmakers also extended their tributes to the Tamakoshi bus accident that occurred in Ramechhap on Tuesday morning, resulting in 12 deaths and demanded proper compensation to the bereaved families and the free treatment for the injured.  They demanded the guarantee of road safety, too. 

Krishna Bahadur Rokaya, Padam Bahadur Pariyar, Bishnudevi Pudasaini, Ghanshyam Rijal, Renu Chand and Shree Krishna Shrestha were among those putting their views in the meeting.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said that activities are underway to control corruption as it was the responsibility of the government.

Addressing the special program organized on the occasion of the 35th Establishment Day of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) here today, Prime Minister Karki mentioned that the government was active round the clock in order to maintain good governance by reducing and controlling corruption.

She also requested all to take the Gen Z movement organized on September 8 and 9 putting forth the demand of promotion of good governance and corruption control as the serious lesson.

The Prime Minister clarified that the incumbent government formed at the foundation of Gen Z movement has been forwarding overall governance reform activities including corruption control and making people feel about citizen-friendly administration with priority.

Sharing that the government has adopted austerity in public spending by halting the decisions that make unnecessary burden on the state treasury, PM Karki argued that the tendency of taking unwanted benefits and misusing state's resources has been discouraged. 

She opined that the government was sensitive to making essential services that are directly connected with citizens simple, smooth and affordable. 

Mentioning that the activity of preparing a 'roadmap of good governance' for the next government has reached the final phase, the Prime Minister underlined, "We have prepared a roadmap to build a sustainable base of good governance. We believe that the next government will work in this accordance."  

The role of the CIAA is significant to promote good governance and prevent corruption, she underscored, adding the government is in favour of making state's structures more professional and independent to make anti-corruption activities.

Stressing the need of adopting zero tolerance to corruption, Prime Minister Karki viewed that activities to prepare a second national policy as per United Nations Convention against Corruption have reached final-stage.

Prime Minister Karki made it clear that the government is centered on creating an election atmosphere so as to prevent the nation from seeing the possibility of an escalated crisis in the aftermath of Gen Z movement and to maintain peace and order in the country. 

The government going to be formed after the election is expected to take further measures to promote and establish good governance as per the spirit of Gen Z. 

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 0.04 points to close at 2, 662. 09 points on Tuesday. . 

The sensitive index, however, increased by 0. 81 points to close at 455. 20 points.

A total of 22,282,050-unit shares of 329 companies were traded for Rs 1. 52 billion.

Meanwhile, Ridi Power Company Limited (RIDI) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 9. 67 percent.

Likewise,  Super Mai Hydropower Limited (SMH) was the top loser as their price fell by 6. 39 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 46 trillion.

More than 15 million ballot papers have been printed so far for the first-past-the-post (FPTP) category of the House of Representatives (HoR) elections scheduled for March 5. 

The printed ballot papers are for 175 electoral constituencies of 53 districts, according to the Election Commission. 

The EC said that the printed ballots papers are for Dolpa, Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Humla, Jajarkot, Dailekh, Rukum West, Salyan, Surkhet, Bajura, Achham, Bajhang, Doti, Dadeldhura, Darchula, Baitadi, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Panchthar, Ilam, Tehrathum, Bhojpur, Okhaldhunga, Sunsari, Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha, Solukhumbu, Khotang, Dhankuta, Baglung, Gulmi, Jhapa, Gorakha, Myagdi, Parbat, Bardghat Susta East (Nawalparasi), Morang, Udaypur, Mustang, Lamjung, Syangja and  Bardiya among others. 

These ballot papers have already been packed and packed boxes number 13,321.  The printing has been continuous since the morning of January 30.

Currently, 1,000 boxes of ballot papers are being packed daily, while printing ranges between 1.3 million and 1.5 million ballot papers per day.

It is said that the EC requires printing over 20 million (total 20,323,000) ballot papers for the HoR direct election. 

The printing of ballot papers has been underway at the Janak Education Materials Centre, Sanothimi since January 6. In the first phase, over a million (total 1,098,200) sample ballot papers were printed and distributed to various districts.

Meanwhile, under the proportional representation of the electoral system, over 20 million (total 20,830,000) ballot papers have been printed, packed and verified. They are now ready for dispatch.

Overnight Russian air strikes have killed at least four people, including three young children in Ukraine's north-eastern Kharkiv region, local officials have said, BBC reported. 

Regional head Oleh Synegubov said two boys, both aged two, a one-year-old girl and a 34-year-old man died after a drone hit their house in the town of Bohodukhiv.

A 35-year-old pregnant woman and another woman, 73, were injured in the strike on the town, Synegubov said, according to BBC. 

President Ram ChandraPaudel has shared that abuse of authority is not a minor mistake, it is a serious challenge upon the state's legitimacy and social justice.

Addressing a special program organized today on the occasion of the 35th Establishment Day of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), President Paudel said that the CIAA should pay attention to maintain good governance by fulfilling the assigned responsibilities.

He expressed the view that state's authorized bodies should work making people assure that no one could be exempted from legal accountability in the pretext of power and position. 

President Paudel argued, "Abuse of authority is not only the violation of law, but also a serious blow on citizen's trust, faith and future. It damages the bridge of trust between the state and citizens." 

"When public power is used for personal interest, the state's trust on citizens as well as citizens' trust towards the state becomes weak. It creates mistrust towards the rule of law, weakens faith in the law and undermines fundamental values of democracy," he underlined. 

The President mentioned that corruption could be rooted out if hunger of power, position and property wealth is controlled.

It is possible to combat and prevent corruption if good conduct, integrity, impartiality, transparency, and fearlessness are embraced as a way of life, the President said, adding that he wished to see greater effectiveness in policy, methods, technology, and attitudinal reforms, as well as the development of discipline and good conduct as a system.

Stating that accessible and efficient service delivery for citizens and the proper functioning of the Constitution through good governance are the desired goals of the Constitution, the Head of State said that voices have repeatedly been raised urging the authorities concerned to fulfill these aspirations. 

He made it clear that the recent youth movement was a demonstration of such expressions and desires, and called on everyone not to ignore these voices.

The President asserted that the fight against corruption is not the responsibility of any single institution; rather, it is a shared responsibility of all state apparatuses, political leadership, the bureaucracy, and civil society. According to the President, the fight against corruption will achieve its goals only through the joint commitment and coordinated actions of all these bodies.

“The struggle against the abuse of authority is ultimately a struggle for justice, equality, and good governance. Through this struggle, we can restore citizens’ trust in the system, strengthen democracy, and hand over a clean, competent, and reliable state to future generations.”

Strong political will is the first condition for combating corruption, the Head of State said, adding that he believes positive changes in the work culture of political officials will also guide the administrative sector toward greater accountability and integrity.

The government has projected the country's economic growth rate to be limited to 3.5 percent. 

This projection was made in the mid-year review of the current fiscal year's budget. 

The annual growth rate of the gross domestic product (GDP) for the current year was estimated to be six percent.

However, due to the decrease in rice production, area and productivity, slowdown in the construction sector, and decline in real estate and land transactions, among other reasons, a new projection has been published in the mid-year review, indicating that the economic growth rate will shrink to 3.5 percent.

Last fiscal year's total GDP growth rate is estimated to be 4.6 percent.

As per the mid-year evaluation report of the budget, the preliminary estimate shows that the GDP at basic prices increased by three percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. The revised estimate suggests that the GDP at basic prices increased by 2.9 percent in the same period of the previous fiscal year.

It is estimated that the total value addition of the agricultural sector in the first quarter of the current fiscal year will expand by 1.36 percent compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year.

Particularly, based on the expectation of a decrease in rice production and an increase in livestock, vegetable, and fruit production, the growth rate of the value addition to the agricultural sector is expected to be relatively low.

In the current fiscal year, the production of food crops such as maize, millet, and buckwheat is expected to increase. In the previous fiscal year, the production of food crops like paddy, wheat, and maize is estimated to have increased by 2.67 percent and the production of cash crops by 2.01 percent.

The total value addition of the industrial sector is expected to increase by 5.44 percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year compared to the same period of the previous year. The expansion of activities in the energy and construction sectors in the current fiscal year is expected to have a positive impact on the overall industrial sector.

In the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the total value addition of the production-based industries is expected to grow by 1.52 percent. During the same period, the total value addition of the service sector is expected to increase by 3.03 percent compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year.

It is estimated that the expansion in wholesale and retail trade, financial intermediation, general administration and defence, tourism activities, and personal services will have a positive impact on the overall service sector in the current fiscal year.

According to the mid-year budget review report, the average inflation for the first six months of the current fiscal year is 1.7 percent. In the same period last year, inflation was 4.97 percent.