Pant warns against Nepal’s anti-misinformation measures
A prominent global advocate for media rights and Chairperson of Media Action Nepal, Laxman Datt Pant, has urged authorities to uphold independent journalism and critical voices in Nepal, emphasizing that dissent should not be stifled under the pretext of combating misinformation or disinformation.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Digital Rights Conference organized by the Digital Freedom Coalition in Kathmandu, Pant highlighted the need for respect for both online and offline criticism, urging the government to address governance shortcomings instead of silencing independent media or netizens.
Pant called on lawmakers to ensure that reforms in laws governing digital spaces and media are grounded in Nepal’s constitutional guarantees of fundamental rights and its commitments to international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
“Suppressing free expression in digital spaces without assessing actual harm contradicts the principles of a democratic state,” Pant remarked. He stressed the dual importance of producing factual information while respecting criticism aimed at enhancing governance and strengthening democratic checks and balances.
Pant further reminded that Nepal’s constitution prohibits pre-censorship of journalistic content, warning that any demands for journalists to take down news before publication violate fundamental rights. Pant's comments come amid growing concerns over increasing restrictions on digital space in Nepal.
By-elections: NWPP's Shahi elected as Tilgufa-4 Chair
Khadka Raj Shahi of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party has won the by-election held today for the post of Chair of Tilagufa Rural Municipality ward-4 of Kalikot.
Shahi secured 143 votes while his nearest rival CPN (Maoist Center)'s candidate Naishobha Shahi got115 votes, said chief returning officer Ananda Raj Pant.
Pant said that Ain Bahadur Shahi of CPN-UML got 78 votes, Pail Bahadur Shahi of Nepali Congress got 49 votes, Gogan Bahadur Shahi of Rastriya Prajatantra Party got 17 votes and Gagan Bam of Rastriya Swatantra Party got five votes in the by-election.
Out of a total of 609 voters, 411 (67.48 percent) votes were cast in the election.
Of them 217 women and 194 men took part in the election.
The by-election was held after Par Bahadur Shahi, who won as a Maoist centre candidate in the local elections held in 2079 BS, died in a landslide.
By-elections: Almost 62 percent turnout reported
Almost 62 percent of the voters cast their vote in the by-elections held at some local levels for 41 posts, the Election Commission (EC) said.
EC Spokesperson Nita Pokharel Aryal said that almost 62 percent of 226,799 voters cast their votes as per the report received so far.
The by-elections were held for 41 posts including a mayor, two deputy mayors, two rural municipality chairs, four rural municipality deputy chairs and 33 ward chairs of the local levels.
The EC said that the by-elections were completed peacefully in all the voting centres from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Meanwhile, the EC has issued directives to begin the counting of votes after the collection of the ballot boxes.
The Commission has also thanked the federal, province and local governments for the support, coordination and cooperation to successfully hold the elections.
By-elections conclude peacefully
The by-elections to 41 positions at different local levels held today concluded in a peaceful manner, the Election Commission (EC) said.
EC Spokesperson Nita Pokharel Aryal said that the election that started at 7:00 am continued until 5 pm and was held in a peaceful environment.
The by-elections were held for 41 posts including a mayor, two deputy mayors, two rural municipality chairs, four rural municipality deputy chairs and 33 ward chairs of the local levels.
In the by-elections, 376 candidates are vying including the independent and political party candidates.
PM Oli leaving for China tomorrow
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is leaving on an official visit to the People's Republic of China on Monday.
At the friendly invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, the Prime Minister is visiting China from December 2 to 5.
During the visit, Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
He will also hold bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Li and exchange views on matters of mutual interest, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Prime Minister will also hold a meeting with Chairperson of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress in China, Zhao Leji.
He will be a key note speaker at an event to be held in Peking University in Beijing.
Moreover, the Head of the Government is scheduled to address the Nepal-China Business Forum, which is being jointly hosted by the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, the China Council for Promotion of International Trade and the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The Prime Minister is being accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the Nepali delegation to be led by the Prime Minister will also include Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, PM's Chief Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, PM's Economic and Development Advisor Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada, members of parliament, high level government officials, representatives of private sector and media persons.
The Prime Minister and his delegation are scheduled to return Kathmandu on December 5.
One million foreign tourists visit Nepal in 11 months
In the past eleven months of 2024, the country registered the arrivals of over one million foreign tourists via flights.
According to the Nepal Tourism Board, one million 55, 533 tourists from outside the country visited Nepal between January and November 2024.
They arrived by flight. The data shows that it has been challenging to meet the target of welcoming 1,315,000 tourists this year.
The NTB expects that around 70,000 foreigners will arrive in Nepal in the remaining one month as tourists and the number will be around 111,5000.
However, in November alone, 114,000 tourists arrived in Nepal, and this figure is 5.40 percent more than the corresponding year in 2023.
NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane said the analysis of the data so far suggests that the tourist arrivals this year compared to the previous year are likely to go by around 10 percent.
In 2023, 1014,871 tourists visited Nepal. Earlier, the NTB hoped to witness the arrival of the highest number of tourists since 2019, the year before COVID-19 hit the tourism industry.
In 2029, the arrivals were tallied at 1,197,191. However, Nepal's tourism is above the recovery line than in the Asia Pacific sector.
According to the data of the past six months of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Nepal's tourism industry recovered 96 percent globally.
However, the target for tourist arrivals as projected in 2024 seems to be challenging to meet due to various reasons, he added.
Nepal-India military cooperation talks today
An official bilateral talks between the armies of Nepal and India is scheduled to take place today, focusing on enhancing mutual defense and strategic ties.
Chief of Army Staff of Nepal, Ashok Raj Sigdel and Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, who arrived here on Wednesday afternoon on a five-day official visit, will hold bilateral talks at the Nepal Army Headquarters, NA spokesperson Assistant General Gaurav Kumar KC said.
President Ramchandra Paudel is scheduled to confer the honorary rank of 'General of the Nepal Army' to the Indian Army Chief General on Thursday.
This is Dwivedi's first official visit to Nepal after he was appointed the Army Chief on last June 30.
He is scheduled to hold separate courtesy calls on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Defense Minister Manbir Rai on Friday.
Weather likely to remain fair across the country
The westerly wind has partial impacts across the country and the weather is partly cloudy in the hilly regions of the Koshi and Gandaki Provinces and fair in the rest of the country.
According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly region and fair in the rest of the country this afternoon.
Light rain is likely to occur at one or two places of the hilly regions of the Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and light snowfall at a few places of the high hilly and mountainous region.
Similarly, the weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly region and fair in the rest of the country tonight.
Light rain is likely to occur at one or two places of the hilly regions of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and light snowfall at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous regions in the next 24 hours.
Taking this into consideration, the Department has urged all concerned to remain cautious as the weather condition can partially affect agriculture, health, tourism, mountaineering, road and air transport.
