Nepal News Roundup: January 2025

In the early hours of the morning, at 6:50 am, a powerful 7-magnitude earthquake struck Dinge Kanti, Tibet, located on the Nepal-China border. The tremors were strongly felt across most parts of Nepal 🇳🇵, from the eastern to central regions, as well as in the Tibetan region 🇨🇳. 🌋

According to the Department of Mines and Geology, the epicenter was confirmed to be in Dinge Kanti, a region that lies on the delicate fault line shared by both nations. The quake has sent shockwaves through communities, leaving people in fear and uncertainty. 💔🌪

Details of the damage and any casualties caused by the earthquake are yet to be confirmed. Local administration teams are actively working to gather information and assess the situation on the ground. Emergency services are on alert, and citizens are urged to stay safe. 🚨👷‍♀️👷‍♂️

Pokhareli band Kandara made its debut performance in London under the ‘Pahila Ghardesh Ani Paresh’ event, filling the iconic Indigo at the O2 with more than 2,500 spectators on Saturday. 🎤🎉 The concert, celebrating their 32nd anniversary, was described as historic and unforgettable by the band members. 🇳🇵

Vocalist Vivek Shrestha captivated the audience with a unique live performance featuring Nepali instrumentalists. His set included popular songs such as "This festival of life is a blessing from God" and "Hong Kong Pokhara," among others, creating an unforgettable atmosphere. 🎶💫

The event, organized by Mamaghar Entertainment, saw around 2,800 spectators enjoying the mesmerizing performance. Shrestha also used the opportunity to encourage Nepali nationals in Britain to return to Nepal, singing 'Dherai Cha Karnu Swadeshko Seva Nepali Bannlai.' 🌏💖

Shrestha expressed his excitement after the performance, saying, "It was my dream to perform in this hall where world music legends have performed. To sing among Nepali brothers and sisters here is still a dream for me." 🙏🎤

The band, with members like Sunil Thapa, Dev Lama, and Pankaj Jha, has announced an exciting global tour in celebration of its 32-year journey, starting with performances in Dubai, Qatar, Hong Kong, and later in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, Europe, and Japan. 🌐🎸

The Gorkha Municipality has officially unveiled the schedule for the 'Gorkha Visit Year 2025' at a press conference held on Sunday. Mayor Krishna Rana shared the exciting plans for this initiative, aiming to link religious, educational, and sports sectors with tourism. 🌍✨

In his address, Mayor Rana revealed that 56 religious and tourist sites within the city have been identified, and a comprehensive plan is in place to guide visitors. 🚶‍♂️🏰 As part of the effort, QR-coded street numbers will be installed from Aabukhaireni to Gorkha Bazaar, providing tourists with information about local attractions. 🏞️📱

In addition, an information center will be set up near the bus park to assist visitors. A nationwide 'Jau Hai Gorkha' program is also in the works, in collaboration with the Tourism Board, to promote hiking and trekking across all seven provinces. 🏕️🌄

With a tourism network being established across various districts, a conference of Nath Yogis is scheduled to take place, featuring Yogi Adityanath. The 'Gorkha where history lives' slogan will guide the year, and special concessions, including badges and stickers, will be available for tourists. 🎫💫

The municipality is also organizing a tourism fair and is committed to supporting and coordinating programs throughout the district during the visit year. 🏛️🎉

Most parts of the country are experiencing cloudy weather due to the partial effect of the western low-pressure system. 🌥️ The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology forecasts light rain in the hilly areas and snowfall in mountainous regions starting tomorrow, Monday. ❄️🌧️

Currently, the eastern parts of Karnali, Lumbini, Gandaki, Bagmati, and Madhes provinces are generally cloudy, while Koshi and Sudurpaschim provinces are partly cloudy. 🌤️ The weather is expected to remain cloudy with light snowfall in high hilly and mountainous areas, especially in Koshi and Gandaki provinces tonight. 🌨️

Tomorrow, the weather will be cloudier, with light rain expected in hilly areas of Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces. 🌧️ There may also be light snowfall in high mountainous regions. 🌨️ The western low-pressure system is expected to influence the weather on Monday and Tuesday, leading to increased cloudiness and rain. ⛅

In Kathmandu, the minimum temperature has increased slightly today, recorded at 7.2°C, compared to 5.9°C on Saturday. 🌡️ This increase is due to clouds covering the sky during the night, making it feel less cold in the morning. 🏙️

The reconstruction of sections of the BP Highway damaged by landslides in the second week of Asoj is expected to cost around Rs 9.66 billion. 💸 According to a study conducted after the flood, significant funds will be spent on reconstruction from Bhakunde to Nepalthok. 🚧

The damaged 12-kilometer section from Chowkidanda to Kaldhunga, where eight kilometers were completely destroyed, will be rebuilt with three types of walls (RCC retaining, plum, and gabion). 🛠️👷‍♂️ Senior Divisional Engineer Suman Yogesh explained that the decision on whether to build bridges or walls will be finalized after further discussions. 🌉

The project awaits confirmation of resources from donor agencies and the Government of Nepal before moving forward with the reconstruction process. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has already conducted a study and discussions on the project. 🇯🇵🤝

The reconstruction is expected to take at least two years, with the aim to prevent disruptions to transport during the coming monsoon season. 🌧️🚙

Guardian Micro Life Insurance Limited is issuing primary shares (IPO) to the general public starting today, December 21. 📈💰 The company has received permission to issue 2.25 million shares worth 225 million rupees, representing 30% of its issued capital of 750 million rupees. Of this, 1.845 million shares worth 184 million rupees are available for the public. 📊

The company has also allocated 67,500 shares (3%) for employees and 112,500 shares (5%) for mutual funds. 🏢💼 Additionally, 225,000 shares worth 225 million rupees (10%) were issued to Nepalese workers abroad after obtaining labor approval from the Government of Nepal. 🌍👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Currently, 19 bills are being reviewed in 14 thematic committees of Nepal's Federal Parliament. Out of these, 15 are being considered in committees under the House of Representatives, while 4 are in the Legislative Committee of the National Assembly. 🏛️💼

The bills are being discussed across various committees, with the Finance Committee taking the lead, reviewing five important bills such as the Customs Bill, the Bank and Financial Institutions Bill, and the Secure Transactions Bill. 💰📊

The State Administration and Good Governance Committee is evaluating the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority Bill, the Construction-Oriented Materials Management and Regulation Bill, and the Federal Civil Service Bill. 🏢🛠️

The Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee is currently focused on the School Education Bill and the Shaheed Dashrath Chand Health Sciences University Bill. 📚🏥

The Infrastructure Development Committee is reviewing the Electricity Bill and the Water Resources Bill, while the Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee is discussing the Bill to amend some Nepal Acts. ⚡💧⚖️

In the Industry and Commerce, Labor and Consumer Welfare Committee, the Electronic Commerce Bill is under consideration. 🛒💻

The National Assembly's Legislative Management Committee is reviewing four important bills: the Bill to amend and consolidate the Media Council Act, the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Bill, the Tilganga Netra University Bill, and the Nepal Bar Council Act, 2050 BS. Two of these bills have already been passed, with the remaining two in their final stages of discussion. 🔋👓📜

The much-awaited Chitwan Festival, running from December 10 to January 15, is set to promote both agriculture and tourism in the region. This year's festival places a special emphasis on showcasing Chitwan's vibrant tourism industry, alongside its agricultural sector. 🌿🌍

In contrast to last year's focus on poultry, fish, dairy, mustard, bee products, and more, this year will see tourism take center stage. The event will feature seven special stalls, including a dome agricultural complex, an auto complex, a construction expo, cottage and small industries, and an expansive restaurant complex with 430 rooms. 🍽️🏨

One of the standout features of the festival will be an employment complex, set up in collaboration with Bharatpur Metropolitan City, to offer job opportunities to local youth. The festival will also provide safari trips to popular tourist spots in Chitwan, with accommodation available in homestays. 🐾🌄

Excitingly, a 'party bus' will be introduced, allowing visitors to explore tourist destinations while enjoying a variety of dishes served on board. Discounts for both domestic and foreign tourists are also available through partnerships with local tourism entrepreneurs. 🚌🍴🌟

Despite a reduction in the area dedicated to rice cultivation, Nepal has experienced remarkable growth in rice production this year. Favorable rainfall, the adoption of improved seed varieties, and easier access to fertilizers have played key roles in boosting both production and productivity. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, rice production has surged by 231,242 tons, reaching a total of 5,955,476 tons—marking a 4.04% increase compared to the previous year. 🌱🌾

This year, productivity has risen from 3.98 tons per hectare to 4.19 tons per hectare, signaling a positive trend. However, despite this growth, Nepal still faces a rice shortage of approximately 800,000 tons annually. 📉🍚

While provinces like Koshi, Madhesh, Lumbini, and the Far West have witnessed gains in both production and productivity, other regions, including Bagmati, Gandaki, and Karnali, have seen reductions in cultivation area. Nonetheless, productivity has improved in these regions. 🚜📊

Koshi, for instance, has seen an increase in rice production from 1,435,678 tons to 1,466,518 tons, while Lumbini's productivity has grown from 4.33 tons per hectare to 4.55 tons per hectare. 🌾🌍

Despite these positive changes, Nepal still faces significant challenges in meeting its rice demands, highlighting the ongoing need for strategic agricultural policies. 🇳🇵💡

The Nepalese government has drafted a law that mandates all companies, firms, or organizations operating social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, WhatsApp, Viber, YouTube, and LinkedIn to obtain a mandatory license within three months of the law coming into effect. This regulation aims to bring more accountability and order to the use of social media in Nepal. ⚖️

The draft, titled 'Bill to Make Provisions Regarding the Operation, Use, and Regulation of Social Media', is currently being reviewed by the Council of Ministers. It proposes fines and punishments for both platforms and users who fail to comply. Social media companies would also be required to renew their licenses every two years and maintain contact points in Nepal to avoid revocation. 📅🔄

The bill also outlines provisions to regulate content and user behavior, including the removal of offensive content and fines for those spreading hate speech, cyberbullying, or defamation. 🚫🗣️

Despite its intentions, the bill has faced criticism from political leaders and experts who argue that it could stifle freedom of expression and is too control-oriented. 🗣️⚖️

The Armed Police Force of Nepal is offering more than 1,000 job opportunities, ranging from Inspector to Leatherworker. Positions include roles for 68 Inspectors, 83 Assistant Inspectors, and 941 Personnel, as well as various specialized positions such as Cooks, Bookkeepers, Hairdressers, and Leatherworkers. 👮‍♂️🍳🧳

Important Dates: Application Period: Poush 24 to Magh 24 | Contact Date for Applicants: Falgun 6

Where to Apply: Inspector Applicants should visit the Armed Police Force Headquarters, Halchowk, Kathmandu. Assistant Inspector and Personnel Applicants should contact respective offices where the exam will take place. Other positions apply at Armed Police Force Headquarters, Halchowk.

This is a great opportunity for those seeking to join Nepal's Armed Police Force and serve their country. 🛡️🇳🇵

Nepal's health insurance program, once seen as a beacon of affordable healthcare, is now under scrutiny as hospitals stop providing insurance-based treatments due to delayed payments from the Health Insurance Board. Major institutions, including Teaching Hospital, Shahid Gangalal National Heart Center, and Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center, are among those affected. 💔🏥

Key Issues: Hospitals have stopped treating admitted patients under insurance. Only OPD and emergency services are operational. Token systems for OPD have been abolished, reducing patient flow. Bir Hospital continues to treat insured patients but is overwhelmed, with 45% of its daily 3,000 patients coming through health insurance.

Health Insurance Board Challenges: No payments made to service providers since last Chaitra. Hospitals demand an increase in the benefit package, citing unsustainable costs. Only 62% of the 8.6 million insured citizens renewed their insurance this year. The board has a grant of Rs 7.5 billion but faces fund shortages, collecting only Rs 3 billion annually. Discussions with the Ministry of Health and Finance are ongoing. 🔄

The health insurance scheme holds promise for transforming Nepal's healthcare system. However, reforms and efficient implementation are crucial to delivering relief to citizens. 🩺🇳🇵