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Hanan Goder, Ambassador of Israel to Nepal, has said that media remains a prime ingredient of the discourse for preserving democracies, democratic inclusion, and democratic life.

Speaking at a program organized to mark the sixth anniversary of Media Action Nepal(MAN), a research-based media rights advocacy group, the Envoy said that Israel is very proud of what it has achieved in the last 73 years in the bilateral relation, Ambassador Goder added. Appreciating Nepal’s independent and inclusive media, he lauded Nepal’s press freedom.  The 6th anniversary was celebrated in Kathmandu on December 21 with a dialogue program on the foundations of independent and inclusive media.

Speaking at the same program, Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Murari Prasad Kharel, said that the state was not seen as liberal in granting freedom of the press even though it was mentioned in the constitution.

Chairperson of the National Women Commission Kamala Parajuli, said that the media sector was the carrier of inclusive social and gender transformation and that it should disseminate news in a fair and independent manner.

Chief Commissioner of the National Information Commission (NIC) Mahendra Man Gurung pointed out that a handful of journalists are exercising their right to seek information. He said that the media houses had failed to ensure the freedom of the press and inclusion guaranteed by the constitution of Nepal.

Laxman Datt Pant, MAN Chairperson stated that the organization has conducted various programs for the benefit of more than ten journalists since its inception. It has provided training and fellowships to more than 700 journalists since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.

Senior director Bimal Paudel announced his new sequel-film ‘The PremPooja 2’ in debut with Actor Safal Paudel and Alija Shrestha.

According to director Paudel, the movie will be shot in Dhorpatan, Nepal and Belgium, by next month.

Publishing the poster of the film on Tuesday, Paudel said that the film will try to restart the entire Nepali film industry from the pandemic crisis. “We aim to break the hazards of Nepali Film with new story and taste”, Paudel said at the press meet ceremony.

Paudel has proved himself a successful director by making movies like Kisan, Janayudhya, Nagarik, Pokharaki Kali, etc.

Along with Safal and Alija, Rajani KC, Subas Gajurel, Babi Roja Dhakal, Sabita Karki, Laxman Nepal, Dinesh Kunwor, Manisha KC will also be a part of acting. Meanwhile, Dayaram Dahal and Hari Bhusal will lead the music and song. Binaya Gautam will be the chief-assistant director and Mahendra Thapa as the cinematographer.

‘B company’ will produce the film, in presentation with ‘Caravan Nepal.’ ‘PremPooja’ was a very popular Nepali film during the 90s.

AidData, a research lab at William & Mary’s Global Research Institute, has come up with an extensive new study on Chinese public diplomacy efforts in South Asia and Central Asia, ranging from financing and education to culture and social media that seek to win over foreign leaders and the public in what Beijing considers its “greater periphery.”‍

The Corridors of Power report, accompanied by an interactive dashboard, analyzes Beijing's efforts to cultivate and deepen economic, social, and network ties with 13 countries in South and Central Asia (SCA) over two decades, according to AidData.

These ties foster interdependence with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that have the potential to both empower and constrain SCA countries, while threatening to displace or diminish the influence of regional rivals such as Russia, India, and the United States, the new report says.

The report examines how the PRC has deployed $127 billion in financial diplomacy to sway popular opinion and leader behavior over an 18 year period. This state-directed financing includes both aid (i.e., grants and concessional loans) and debt (i.e., non-concessional loans approaching market rates) in four categories of assistance visible to foreign publics (infrastructure financing, humanitarian aid) and prized by foreign leaders (budget support, debt relief).

The new research finds that Beijing does not distribute attention equally—beyond national boundaries, the PRC clearly views some communities as more strategically important to advancing its interests than others. According to the authors, Beijing is employing three distinct subnational public diplomacy strategies, varying its engagement to best advance specific economic, security, and geopolitical goals.

China’s financial diplomacy is indeed highly concentrated: the report finds that Beijing focuses the lion’s share of its largesse to just 25 provinces (receiving 62 percent of financing) and 25 districts (receiving 41 percent of financing) in the region, the report reads.

While China is best known for the power of its purse, the authors argue that Beijing’s economic and soft power tools may be most formidable in exerting influence with countries when they are employed hand-in-hand. The report acknowledges that the more that SCA publics and elites build closer people-to-people ties with counterparts in China, the more they may turn to these social networks when it comes to sourcing goods, services, capital, and other economic partnerships. Read the full report here.

A Nepali restaurant in London has been recognized for their charitable work in the community by a former Premier League football club—Charlton Athletic FC.

Sujan Katuwal of Panas Gurkha in Lewisham, was presented with a signed Charlton Athletic shirt ahead of their match against Cambridge United.

The shirt was given to Katuwal after the restaurant gained notoriety for their incredible work in the local community since the start of the pandemic.

Led by Katuwal and his remarkable restaurant team, Panas donated and delivered over 100,000 free meals to local key workers during the pandemic.

“After the 12 months we’ve had and the work we’ve done in the local community—this is a lovely way to finish off the year”, he says. “We’re a local, community-focused restaurant so the recognition we’ve received from a club that’s very close to our hearts is special.”

The shirt was presented to Katuwal in front of thousands of Charlton fans by the club’s owner Thomas Sandgaard and the CEO of the Charlton Athletic Community Trust, Jason Morgan.

By way of appreciation, Katuwal presented Sandgaard with a Nepali craft scarf, topi and khukuri which was gratefully received by the Danish businessman.

The recognition summed up a special few weeks for the restaurant after they were awarded the Best Nepali Restaurant and the Community Heroes award at the 2021 Asian Food Awards.