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Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said Shankhadhar Sakhwa was the national luminary and an inspiring personality in our history.

Addressing a program organized in Lalitpur today on the occasion of Nepal Sambat New Year 1144, Prime Minister Dahal said, "We cannot stay without remembering Sakhwa while talking about social justice. We have already declared him as the national luminary.  Sakhwa set the record in the Nepali history by relieving the people of Nepal (referred to the then Kathmandu Valley) of debt and abolishing slavery."

Nepal Sambat is not only of a single community but the indigenous calendar of all the Nepalis, he further said, adding, he felt proud to make a decision from the cabinet of bringing Nepal Sambat calendar into use in government documents and works.

"I want to congratulate and extend wishes for the government's decision of bringing Nepal Sambat calendar into use in government documents. The cabinet meeting held yesterday (Monday) took the decision in this regard. It has taken our national sovereignty and self-respect along with freedom, equality and social justice to a new height. It has made all of us proud," PM Dahal said.

He further said the incumbent government has been carrying out activities with high-priority focusing its attention on social justice, good governance and prosperity.

PM Dahal extended best wishes on the occasion of Nepal Sambat New Year 1144, saying this day will give a new message.

Korala check point at Lo Manthang Rural Municipality in Mustang district has come into operation again from Monday after four years.

The check point was formally inaugurated in the presence of representatives of governments of Nepal and China.

On the occasion, member of House of Representatives Yogesh Gauchan Thakali, Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment of Gandaki Province, Dipendra Bahadur Thapa, Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City Dhan Raj Acharya, Chief District Officer of Mustang, Janak Raj Panta and people's representatives of Lo-Ghekar Damodar Kunda and Lo Manthang rural municipalities were present from the side of Nepal.

Likewise, officials of customs, border monitoring, public security bureau, commerce bureau, border control and dry port management committee were present from the Chinese side.

Chairperson of Lo Manthang Rural Municipality, Tasi Narbu Gurung, said China gifted 100,000 kilograms of food grains, clothes and daily essentials to the locals of Lo Manthang and Lo-Ghekar Damodar Kunda Rural Municipalities on the first day of resumption of check point.

Locals of both rural municipalities have started visiting China on the basis of identity cards, said CDO Panta. The check point was completely shut down from 2076 BS after the coronavirus pandemic.

'Departure and Entry Permits for Residents of Nepal-China Border Area Nepal- China' was distributed to around 1,000 people of Lo-Manthang and Lo-Ghekar Damodar Kund rural municipalities as preparation for operation of Korala check point.  

"Those who have an entry pass have the facility to travel to and from China at any time", he shared.

Panta mentioned that temporary infrastructures have been built on Nepal's side near Korala checkpoint and arrangement of regular presence of security personnel has also been made."

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed the belief that festivals including Tihar have an important role in preparing the ideological, political, economic and cultural basis of socialism while protecting and strengthening the changed political system.

In a message of best wishes today, PM Dahal extended hearty best wishes to all Nepali sisters and brothers within the country and abroad on the happy occasion of the auspicious Deepawali, the big festival of the Nepalis.

He stated that the federal democratic republic achieved from a big struggle and sacrifice has provided us with an extensive base to keep the country's independence and dignity high by strengthening internal nationality.

"Festivals including Tihar are also an important context reflecting Nepal's unique identity. This festival makes the family reunion, social harmony and unity, and national independence, strong. It deepens the contribution of birds and animals playing the role of production, labor, information and social sentinel, and their interaction with humans. Cultural activities including Deusi Bhailo that are held during these festivals make an important contribution to creating an environment of gaiety and fervor as well as to promoting culture," the PM observed.

Stating that Nepal has remained as a place of convergence of multi-ethnic, multilingual and multi-cultural features as well as of immense natural resources and civilization, PM Dahal said our diverse traditions, cultures and festivals are not only the common assets but also an important basis for culturally and emotionally tying the country and the people on a thread of unity.

"The national festivals celebrated by the diverse castes, indigenous nationalities and communities are founded on natural heritage and historicity. Incorporated in such festivals are ideals like respect to labor, social feeling and amity, social coexistence, collaboration at times of challenges that come in human life and overcoming such adversities on the basis of unity," stated the Prime Minister in his message of best wishes. 

With the decision to shut down the embassy, North Korean diplomats and employees have started leaving Nepal.

Seven persons including North Korean Ambassador to Nepal Jo Yong Man have left Nepal on Friday.

A few days ago, two other staffers of the embassy had left Nepal.

Those who left Nepal today are Ambassador Jo Yong Man, deputy chief of mission, defense attaché and counselor among others, a source at the Foreign Ministry said.

A team including the ambassador left for Beijing, the capital of China, by Himalaya Airlines on Friday morning.

They left for Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea via Beijing.

With the closure of the North Korean Embassy in Nepal, the Embassy in India will look after the Nepal affairs.

Earlier on Monday, Ambassador Jo Yong Man called on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and informed that Pyongyang has decided to close its embassy in Nepal.