We will get rid of 'grey list' soon: Finance Minister
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has said the government would get rid of 'grey list' within in the set timeframe.
Finance Minister Paudel said it after the Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) included Nepal in the 'grey list'.
"We faced this situation for our failure to meet the criteria in the set time," he admitted, while expressing hope that Nepal would be able to get rid of the 'grey list' by forwarding effective activities to meet the criteria set in the Action Plan by the recent Paris meeting of FATF.
FATF is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. It sets international criteria that aim to prevent these illegal activities and the harms they cause.
22 people killed in fire incidents in one month
A total 478 incidents of fire occurred across the country from January 14-February 12 alone.
Spokesperson of the Nepal Police, Deputy Inspector General Dinesh Kumar Acharya, shared that 22 people lost their lives in these fire incidents.
Of them, 11 were men, 10 women and a child, he added. Similarly, 87 people, including 26 men, 54 women, four boys and three girls, were injured in fire incidents during the period.
A total of 3,503 security personnel were mobilized to douse the fire, said Acharya.
The highest number of fire incidents took place in Koshi province which stood at 129.
Similarly, 89 fire cases occurred in Madhes Province, 42 in Bagmati Province, 37 in Kathmandu Valley, 39 in Gandaki Province, 63 in Lumbini Province, 32 in Karnali Province and 47 in Sudurpaschim Province.
The fire damaged 68 houses and 66 huts in one month.
As per the details released by the Nepal Police Headquarters, property worth Rs 184.8 million was damaged in fire incidents.
British Ambassador to Nepal Fenn calls on Minister Khadka
The UK ambassador to Nepal, Rob Fenn, paid a courtesy call on Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, today.
They held the meeting in course of their participations in the event relating to the Nepal Renewable Energy Programme organised by the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre.
On the occasion, Energy Minister Khadka acknowledged the contribution of the UK to Nepal's renewable energy sector through the UK Aid.
He stated that Nepal and the UK have 209 years old relations.
He thanked the UK government for its support to the post-quake reconstruction efforts besides the promotion of renewable energy.
He said that the UK Aid-like programmes will help meet the electricity production target set by the Energy Development Roadmap, 2081 BS endorsed by the government recently.
He also utilised the moment to call on the UK government to consider the extension of the term of NREP by two years.
The program will be ending on March 31. Ambassador Fenn praised Nepal’s efforts in prioritizing the development of hydropower and renewable energy, noting that these actions have also supported India's clean energy mission.
He further said that discussions are ongoing in the Investment Committee to explore additional areas of collaboration to further enhance Nepal's energy sector.
Nepse surges by 3. 14 points on Thursday
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 3. 14 points to close at 2,743. 74 points on Thursday.
Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 1. 90 points to close at 457. 98 points.
A total of 15,637,006-unit shares of 309 companies were traded for Rs 8. 63 billion.
Meanwhile, Guardian Micro Life Insurance Limited (GMLI) was the top gainers today, with their price surging by 9. 99 percent.
Likewise, Barahi Hydropower Public Limited (BHPL) was the top loser as its price fell by 8. 35 percent.
At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 55 trillion.
Ordinances will be passed on consensus: Minister Bhandari
Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has said the ordinances issued by the government will be endorsed on a political consensus.
In his address to a press meet organized by the Press Chautari Kailali in Dhangadhi today, the Minister said the Parliament session is underway and the ordinances will be introduced in the House within the expected time and passed.
He further claimed that the private sector is encouraged with the issuance of ordinances as they are capable of creating an investment-friendly atmosphere.
According to the Minister, the government is confident of building an environment facilitating the tabling in and endorsement of the documents by the parliament.
1,081 incidents of human rights violation reported in Sudurpaschim Province
A total of 1,081 incidents of human rights violations and excesses have been reported in the Sudurpaschim Province in 2024.
The data was shared at a press conference on 'Nepal Human Rights Yearbook 2025 and the Situation of Human Rights in the Province' organized by the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) Sudurpaschim Province Office, Dhangadhi on Wednesday.
INSEC Province Coordinator Khadkaraj Joshi said that 1,999 people across the province were affected by human rights violations and atrocities in 2024.
According to him, in 2024, 11 cases of human rights violations, including one woman and 10 men, and 1,088 cases of excesses, including 1,094 women and 34 men, were reported in the province.
It was informed on the occasion that there were 11 victims from the state side, including two in cases of beating, six in cases of arrest, one in case of death in jail, one death in custody and one in case of inhuman treatment.
Similarly, nine people were killed due to beating and assaults using sharp-edged weapons, 11 were injured while 105 cases were related to child rights violations, three to caste discrimination, 947 to women's rights violations, two to inhuman treatment, eight to beating and three to cases of intimidation.
He said that the number of victims of human rights and intimidation has decreased in 2024 compared to 2023.
The number of victims decreased by 102 people in 2024 compared to 2023.
Hack-a-Thon 2025 concludes with innovative student solutions and exciting victories
Nepal’s first-ever inter-school hackathon, Hack-a-Thon, successfully concluded its final Demo Day at Rastriya Naachghar, Jamal.
The event showcased the culmination of months of hard work and innovation in the presence of over 500 students,
school representatives, sponsors, tech enthusiasts, and distinguished guests.
Out of 47 participating teams from 33 schools, the top seven finalists presented their groundbreaking projects, demonstrating exceptional innovation and problem-solving skills.
The competition celebrated the brightest young minds in Nepal, awarding the following prizes:
* Winner: Triyog High School (Rs. 1,00,000)
* First Runner-up: Aksharaa School (Rs. 75,000)
* Second Runner-up: Praramva World School (Rs. 50,000)
Organized by Adhyayan School and Leapfrog Technology, in collaboration with Code for Nepal
and Veda, Hack-a-Thon brought together 235 students to tackle real-world challenges in education, health, and society.
The program, which included orientation sessions, mentorship opportunities, and the final showcase, highlighted the immense potential of Nepal’s young
innovators.
Hack-a-Thon was more than just a competition; it was a platform for nurturing future tech leaders, fostering creativity, collaboration, and impact-driven innovation within the Nepali student community.
Government will move ahead overcoming inequality, poverty and corruption: PM
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the incumbent government would move ahead by removing the challenges of inequality, poverty and corruption prevailing in the society by making democracy transparent and more accountable.
Addressing a function organized on the occasion of the National Democracy Day-2081 at The Army Pavilion, Tundikhel today, he made it clear that the government's policy was to take the country towards prosperity by empowering the youth.
"Over the seventy-five years since the end of 104 years of autocratic rule, despite many ups and downs, we have begun moving from poverty to prosperity, from a developing to a developed nation, and from inequality to equality in the light of democracy," the PM said on the occasion.
According to him, democracy is the foundation for Nepal's graduation from least developed country status by 2026 and for improving economic indicators to ensure sustainable development.
"We are utilising every moment, possibility, and capacity towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Through this, we will succeed in fulfilling our national aspiration of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’," he added.
