Submit your Article

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has floated a proposal to make Nepal a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Addressing the SCO Plus meeting held in Tianjin, China on Monday, he said that Nepal is now eager to become a full member of the organization.

Saying that the SCO should be made more united, integrated and flexible, Prime Minister Oli recalled that Nepal has been participating as a dialogue partner since 2016.

“We want SCO to be more united, integrated and flexible which can face growing geopolitical, economic and environmental challenges.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Oli underscored the need to revive multilateralism.

“No country can remain secured alone, no people can be prosperous by dividing themselves,” the Prime Minister said. That is why multilateralism is the need of the hour.”

Expressing concern over the climate crisis, Prime Minister Oli said that the melting of ice in the mountains is putting the lives of billions of people at risk.

On a different note, he stated that terrorism, cyber attacks, pandemics and environmental crises are common problems.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit today.

In  his address, he spoke on national interests, bilateral, and international issues. 

The summit, which began on Sunday at the Tianjin Meijian Conference Centre in Tianjin, China, is attended by heads of state and government, including Prime Minister Oli.

Prime Minister Oli is on a five-day visit to China starting from August 30, at the friendly invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

The bilateral meetings between Prime Minister Oli and various heads of state and government are underway.

The Chitwan National Park is preparing to gift two elephant calves born at the Elephant Breeding and Training Center in Khorsor, a part of Chitwan National Park, to Qatar. 

The calves named Rudrakali, aged seven, and Khagendra Prasad, aged six, will be sent within the next two months, according to Dr Hari Bhandra Acharya, Spokesperson for the Department of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.

They will be transported via a chartered cargo flight from Bhairahawa Airport.

The Chitwan National Park (CNP) is currently constructing an enclosure to facilitate the safe transfer of the pachyderm to the airport.

According to the Center’s chief, Manipuran Chaudhary, both calves share the same father, a wild male elephant, named Ronaldo. 

Khagendra Prasad's mother is Koshi Kali, while Rudrakali's mother is Puja Kali.

The elephants are being sent as diplomatic gifts to Qatar. 

Nepal occasionally gifts animals such as one-horned rhinoceroses and elephants to friendly nations in an effort to strengthen bilateral relations and present the country's biodiversity to the global stage.

The Elephant Breeding and Training Center was established some four decades back in 2044 BS and has recorded the birth of 68 elephant calves to date. This marks the first time elephant calves born at the Centre being gifted abroad.

Since 1985, Nepal has given birth to a total of 26 rhinoceroses, 10 ghyarial crocodiles, one wolf, and two leopards.

During the then President Bidya Devi Bhandari's visit to Qatar in October-November 2018, Nepal had promised to gift elephants to Qatar.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's economic and development advisor Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada has made it clear that no agreement was made on the issues relating to Nepal's support to China's Global Security Initiative (GSI) during the bilateral meeting held between PM Oli and Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

Dr Khatiwada said that the Nepal government is committed to its Constitution and non-aligned foreign policy, so Nepal can not be a part of any country's security strategy.

PM Oli had held a meeting with Chinese President Xi in the course of his visit to China for attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Plus Summit in Tianjin on August 30.

In response to a question relating to China's statement which hinted that Nepal supported China's GSI, Dr Khatiwada said, "PM Oli's visit is chiefly for the participation in SCO Summit. Generally, in the sidelines of such a conference, no agreement and memorandum of understanding is made. It is not done either. Therefore, it is false to make publicity that Nepal supported GSI while no agreement was made on it."       

However, discussion was held on how both sides could forward the effective enforcement of Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI) Framework Agreement, he said, expressing concern over baseless rumour made viral on social networks. He urged everyone to spread the facts and understand sensitivity and veracity of news.

Dr Khatiwada further shared that other issues that featured during the bilateral discussion were strengthening of connectivity between Nepal and China, industrial and infrastructural development,  collaboration on health sector,  agriculture, investment, tourism, science and IT, sports, disaster management, people-to-people connection and Nepal's socioeconomic transformation. 

Pathum Nissanka scored his seventh one-day international century with 122 from 136 balls as Sri Lanka defeated hosts Zimbabwe by five wickets to clinch the two-game series at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday, Reuters reported.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first, restricting Zimbabwe to 277 for seven in their 50 overs. Opener Ben Curran top scored for the hosts with 79 from 95 balls. 

Sri Lanka chased down their target thanks to Nissanka's ton and 71 from 61 balls by captain Charith Asalanka as they completed the win with three deliveries remaining in the innings, according to Reuters.

The CPN UML has intensified preparations for its second statute convention.

The general convention to dwell on party statute is slated for September 5-7 at Godawari, Lalitpur.

Standing committee member and Publicity Department Chief Rajendra Gautam said that some of the tasks like stage management and gathering of representatives are going on smoothly.

He shared that as many as 2,349 persons, including 2, 033 representatives will be attending the conclave. Those, who were representatives to the 10th general convention of the party, are the present representatives. However, some of them have died, while some quit the party, and some others faced disciplinary action and got removed from membership list. 

As the party rule does not allow fulfilling the vacant posts, there would not be any new representatives, Gautam explained.

Similarly, Secretary at UML Central Office, Dr Bhishma Adhikari, informed that all representatives were invited to the convention via SMS on Sunday.

The party has fixed the slogan for the conclave as 'Decisive national power is our resolution: Prosperous Nepal, happy Nepali is our destination'.

 Three major documents- political, organizational and statute reports- are being printed for the discussion in the event.

The reports of the Election Commission, Discipline Commission, Account Commission and Advisory Council are also in print. 

However, the identity cards for the representatives have already been printed. The identity card can be accessed online as well.

Those entering the Sunrise Hall, venue for the convention at Godawari, need to get their cards scanned on QR code at entry point.

Welcome gate is being prepared by the members of sister organizations and local committees of the party at Satdobato, Lalitpur.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka thumped unseeded Spaniard Cristina Bucsa 6-1, 6-4 on Aug 31 to seal her return to the US Open quarter-finals, ramping up her bid for a first Grand Slam title in 2025 after defeats in two major finals. 

The world No. 1, beaten in both the Australian and French Open finals, enjoyed her most comfortable win in New York in 2025 as she inched closer to becoming the first woman since Serena Williams (2012-2014) to win consecutive US Open titles.

"I was super happy with the straight-sets win. The second set was a little tricky, but I'm glad that I was able to close it without dropping my serve," Sabalenka told reporters.

Czech Marketa Vondrousova booked her place in the U.S. Open quarter-finals by beating ninth seed Elena Rybakina 6-4 5-7 6-2 in a clash of former major winner on Sunday, Reuters reported.

Vondrousova, who has fallen to number 60 in the world, returns to the last eight at Flushing Meadows for the second time following her 2023 run.

"After everything I've been through it's good to be standing here again," Vondrousova said.

"It's a long way to go but its been an amazing week so far I'm incredibly happy to be here."

Vondrousova edged a tight opening set under the lights at Arthur Ashe stadium, punishing an erratic Rybakina who landed under 50% of her first serves, according to Reuters.