The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, the Public Diplomacy Association, and Renmin University jointly inaugurated the ‘CIPCC 2026’ program in Beijing. The event brings together 98 journalists from 90 countries with the aim of strengthening cooperation among the Global South. Representing Nepal, journalist Ram Bahadur Rawal emphasized the importance of international media collaboration and intercultural understanding.
Kathmandu, May 21 — The ‘China International Press Communication Center (CIPCC) 2026’ program was officially launched on Thursday in Beijing, organized jointly by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Public Diplomacy Association, and Renmin University of China. The event hosts 98 journalists from 90 countries, focusing on exchanging experiences among media professionals and intensifying cooperation among Global South nations, according to organizers.
During the opening ceremony, senior Chinese officials, diplomats, scholars, and journalists from Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Eurasia, and Central and Eastern Europe addressed the audience. Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei, as the chief speaker, remarked that the participation of journalists from 90 countries exemplifies an excellent model of unity and collaboration among Global South countries.
Representing Nepal, journalist Ram Bahadur Rawal is among the participants. With nearly two decades of experience in mainstream media, Rawal has held leadership roles in newsrooms such as Nepal Khabar Dot Com, Galaxy Television, and Kantipur Television. He attended the China visit following his tenure as press advisor to the interim government’s Prime Minister, Sushila Karki.
The National Cooperative Authority has once again urged savings and credit cooperative organizations to complete their registration by July 16. This comes after the government removed the registration deadline through the amendment ordinance to the Cooperative Act 2074, prompting the authority to reopen the registration process. Currently, about 10,000 cooperatives have initiated their registration, accounting for only approximately 30 percent of those in operation.
The government’s ordinance grants the authority the discretion to decide the fate of cooperatives that have not registered. Following the amendment of the Cooperative Act 2074, which allows the authority to set deadlines for unregistered cooperatives, a renewed call for registration has been issued with a deadline of July 16.
The ordinance mandates prior approval from the authority for a cooperative to register. The authority implemented the “Registration and Documentation Standards for Savings and Credit Cooperatives, 2082” on January 24, 2026 (2082 Poush 10), which is now in effect. According to data showing there are approximately 32,000 cooperatives in total, the authority expects around 15,000 cooperatives to complete registration.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah has expressed his commitment to attend parliament at an appropriate time and respond to the lawmakers. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal informed that Prime Minister Balendra stated, “I will come to parliament at the appropriate time and answer the parliamentarians.”
Amid opposition parties’ protests in the House of Representatives, the Alternative Development Finance Mobilization Bill was passed. On May 21, Kathmandu, Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) committed to appearing before parliament and addressing the members when the time is right. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal conveyed this during a meeting of the House of Representatives’ Procedure Consultation Committee.
Opposition parties in the House of Representatives have been demanding the presence of Prime Minister Balen. Following obstruction of parliamentary proceedings due to his absence, Speaker Aryal visited Prime Minister Balen at Singha Durbar on Thursday. During that meeting, Prime Minister Balen assured Speaker Aryal and the committee members that “I will come to parliament at the proper time and respond to the parliamentarians,” the speaker relayed.
In the absence of the prime minister, opposition parties had begun chanting slogans in the House of Representatives. Despite the protests from opposition MPs, Speaker Aryal continued the proceedings. The Alternative Development Finance Mobilization Bill was passed amid these disruptions. Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle had proposed clause-wise discussion of the bill. The speaker presented the submitted amendment proposals for decision.
Despite the ongoing slogans, the bill was passed. While opposition members protested, the House also passed proposals to discuss the ‘House of Representatives Member Election (First Amendment) Bill,’ the ‘Voter List (First Amendment) Bill,’ and the ‘National Forensic Science Laboratory (Establishment and Operation) Bill.’ The next meeting of the House of Representatives has been scheduled for May 26.
The Kavha Women’s Volleyball Championship is set to commence in Kathmandu from Friday, featuring participation from eight teams. Nepal will face India in the opening match scheduled for Jestha 8. Nepal’s team captain Niruata Thagunna has expressed confidence in their strong preparation. Meanwhile, India’s captain Nandana, leading the defending champions, affirmed their commitment to retain the title, and Kazakhstan’s captain Nataliya has set her sights on winning the championship.
In the tournament, the host team Nepal is grouped in Pool ‘A’ alongside India, Kyrgyzstan, and the Maldives, while Pool ‘B’ includes Iran, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. All participating teams have reported thorough preparation and enthusiasm to deliver exceptional performances. At the pre-match conference held on Thursday, Nepal’s captain Niruata Thagunna highlighted their solid readiness and anticipated strong support from the home crowd.
This tournament marks Niruata Thagunna’s first time captaining Nepal. She emphasized the excellent blend of experienced and young players within the team. India’s captain Nandana acknowledged their limited preparation time but expressed confidence in competitive matches and committed to a focused effort to defend their title. Kazakhstan’s captain Nataliya also revealed that despite just two weeks of preparation, they aim to claim the championship.
The Department of Commerce, Supplies, and Consumer Protection has imposed a fine of NPR 205,000 on Bakers Creation Pvt. Ltd., located in Khusibazar, Kathmandu, for selling expired bakery products. According to the department, the offense was committed under Section 38(ङ) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2075, and the penalty was levied following Section 39(1)(ख) of the same Act, requiring the company to pay the fine immediately.
During an inspection conducted on Thursday, the bakery was found to be selling expired bakery items, prompting the department to issue an immediate cash fine. In the course of the inspection, the department also took action and issued directives to 15 other industries and firms. Additionally, Jai Shree Krishna Dairy Industry in Suryabinayak and Ghimire Namuna Dairy in Shankhamul were instructed to present themselves at the department with relevant business documents within three days. Meanwhile, the department issued general advisories to 13 other firms as a cautionary measure.
Former Finance Minister Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada has recommended not increasing the minimum income tax threshold in the upcoming budget. He presented this suggestion during a discussion with former finance ministers held by Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle for the formulation of the fiscal year 2078/84 budget. Dr. Khatiwada proposed maintaining the revenue growth target between 10 to 12 percent and advised against raising it up to 15 percent. He stated, “Even if revenue surpasses NPR 12 trillion, the likelihood of reaching NPR 13 trillion is low.”
Dr. Khatiwada suggested that the budget size should be around NPR 20.5 trillion, emphasizing that the revenue target should not be overly ambitious. He also recommended reducing excise duty and advised against implementing a two-tier Value Added Tax (VAT) structure. Highlighting the decline in agricultural contributions in the Madhesh region, he urged for proper attention to this issue.
He noted that there should be no problems regarding health insurance and stressed the necessity for subsidies in the agriculture sector. Referring to past discrepancies in national pride projects, he advised rectifying such mismanagement. He added, “Arresting only two or four individuals will not resolve the problem.” To improve the financial sector, he recommended continuous coordination with the central bank.
The CPN Koshi Province Assembly Parliamentary Party has assigned the responsibility of Deputy Leader to MP Baburam Gautam. Parliamentary party leader Indr Bahadur Angbo appointed Vidya Chamling as Chief Whip and Sapana Darji as Whip. Angbo stated that these appointments are aimed at strengthening and making the party’s role in the provincial assembly more effective. 7 Jestha, Biratnagar.
Gautam has previously served as the Speaker of the Koshi Provincial Assembly. On Thursday, parliamentary party leader Indr Bahadur Angbo gave the position of Chief Whip to Vidya Chamling and Whip to Sapana Darji. Vidya Chamling was elected as an MP from the then CPN Unified Socialist Party, while Gautam and Sapana Darji were elected from the CPN Maoist Centre.
Parliamentary party leader Indr Bahadur Angbo emphasized that these responsibilities have been assigned to further empower and enhance the party’s effectiveness in the provincial assembly.
Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal has deemed the behavior of Labour Culture Party MPs protesting with placards during the House of Representatives session as “undignified” and issued a warning to amend such conduct. The warning has sparked diverse opinions both in support and opposition.
Following the Speaker’s warning during the previous session, Labour Culture Party Chairman Hark Raj Rai (Hark Sampang) appeared again with placards in the House on Thursday, reiterating the demand that Prime Minister Balen Shah respond to the issues they raised in Parliament.
Speaking in the Parliament, Nepali Congress’s whip recalled how lawmakers from the National Independent Party protested in the past by wearing blue scarves. He questioned the Speaker’s role, urging that to uphold decorum, the Prime Minister be present in the House to respond — essentially calling for ‘ruling’ enforcement.
Experts and analysts are divided on the issue of Labour Culture Party MPs protesting with placards. A former Secretary of the Parliamentary Secretariat acknowledges MPs’ right to symbolic protest, while another emphasizes that Parliament should remain a forum for debate and ideological discussion.
On Thursday, Speaker Aryal met with Prime Minister Balendra Shah ‘Balen’ and drew his attention to the issues raised by opposition parties in Parliament.
The Speaker’s Secretariat stated that Aryal informed the parliamentary procedure consultation committee that he was facilitating dialogue among parties.
However, it remains unclear when Prime Minister Balen will come to Parliament to respond.
Despite discussions with the Speaker, the Prime Minister has not attended House sessions, prompting opposition MPs to surround the Speaker’s chair during Thursday’s second session.
Placard Protests and the Speaker’s Warning
Photo Credit: Nepal Photo Library
The newly formed Labour Culture Party, with seven MPs, entered Parliament for the first time following the last election. Its leader Hark Raj Rai regularly raises questions about government policies.
During Wednesday’s House session, Labour Culture Party MPs displayed placards and chanted slogans, demanding that the Prime Minister either answer their questions in Parliament or resign.
Following this, the Speaker publicly criticized the party chairman and MPs for “displaying placards and behaving discourteously,” calling their actions undignified.
The Speaker warned them to amend their behavior and subsequently allowed Rai to express his views in the House.
During his speech, Rai insisted that the Prime Minister must come to Parliament to answer the questions raised by MPs. He questioned why the parliamentary rule requiring ministers to respond within a week was not being enforced.
Despite the warning, Rai appeared again on Thursday with placards, and after showing them while standing, the Speaker allowed him to speak.
He urged the Speaker to ‘rule’ requiring government ministers to be present in the House in order to respond.
“The government must be accountable to the people. Parliament is where public questions are asked; what does it mean if the government does not attend? It is their duty to answer these questions. We strongly oppose any tendency to avoid questions,” he stated.
Nepali Congress Raises Questions Toward the Speaker
Photo Credit: RSS
During Thursday’s session, Nepali Congress whip Nishkal Rai questioned the Speaker’s decision and raised the National Independent Party’s prior protests as context, demanding that the government answer MPs’ queries.
Referencing the Speaker’s labeling of Labour Culture Party behavior as “undignified,” he said, “The current ruling party was in opposition yesterday, demanding government accountability while gathering with blue scarves. Then, the Speaker’s chair was held by an opposition member. We considered that parliamentary conduct dignified. So, how is the opposition’s placard carrying now undignified? We conclude that it is both incorrect and undignified.”
Congress MP Rai asserted that the Speaker must maintain the House’s decorum, and the government must assume its responsibility.
“When I possess a two-thirds majority, I do not recognize Parliament — the Prime Minister and government must be made accountable to the House. There should be no restriction on placard protests, whether those protests happened yesterday or today.”
On Thursday’s agenda, Law Minister Sobita Gautam was set to introduce three bills, but the session was briefly adjourned following opposition protests.
Despite continued opposition slogans, the Speaker resumed the second session.
What Powers Does the Speaker Hold?
Photo Credit: Nepal Photo Library
The rules of procedure for the House of Representatives (2079 BS) empower the Speaker to warn MPs who engage in unruly behavior to maintain order during sessions.
However, the rules do not clearly define “unruly behavior.” MPs who ignore warnings may be ordered by the Speaker to leave the meeting.
In addition, the Speaker holds authority to expel MPs with decorum, suspend participation for up to three days in the House or committees, or impose other disciplinary actions.
The Speaker may penalize those who disrespect the chair, deliberately disrupt proceedings, or engage in rude behavior by suspending them from meetings for durations ranging from one to fifteen days.
Former Parliamentary Secretary Som Bahadur Thapa, reflecting on the practice of MPs showing placards in Parliament, noted there is no precedent for it and insisted that questions must be asked and answered respectfully.
He stated, “Parliament is a place to respectfully question government policies, programs, and plans. Displaying placards inside is not appropriate. There are other methods of protest, but such actions aren’t conventionally accepted.”
He emphasized the importance of mutual respect during discussions, clarifying, “Even if respect is absent, it is still deemed discourteous. Many words are not parliamentary, and acts of physical violence or vandalism—such as broken chairs or damage during budget presentation—are unacceptable.”
Thapa further advised that parliamentary discipline is crucial; its absence risks eroding public trust in the institution and representatives. Thus, the Speaker must caution MPs against such conduct and has the power to exclude those misbehaving for certain days. Beyond showing placards, permission rests solely with the Speaker. Consequently, the Labour Culture Party is unlikely to push limits excessively.
At What Point Did Placard Protests Become Undignified Behavior?
Photo Credit: PMO
Toyanath Bhattarai, former Deputy Secretary at the Parliamentary Secretariat with nearly two decades of service, explained that although the Speaker has the authority to maintain order, the rules do not clearly define what constitutes “undignified behavior.”
“Placards can effectively draw attention, but one must consider their content. Placard display is a form of communication, and no explicit rule prohibits it,” he stated.
He added, “Regarding public morality and conduct, external matters should be judged as undignified only when inappropriate. Those speaking in Parliament must prioritize public issues. When such matters are at hand, it is not proper to deem them rude. The rules are ambiguous on this.”
Bhattarai suggested that in such situations, the Speaker and MPs should seek solutions through dialogue, and if necessary, involve the Committee on Parliamentary Procedures for consensus.
He emphasized that parliamentary practices guide conduct, citing examples where meetings were postponed because ministers were absent. Often, ministries and ministers are reminded to attend and respond after failing to do so.
Although Prime Minister Balendra Shah occasionally attends the House since his appointment, he has not addressed any session to date.
He has faced criticism for leaving the chamber during the President’s presentation of government policies and for not personally answering questions raised during debates.
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The Congo national football team has canceled its three-day World Cup preparation training camp due to the Ebola outbreak. Congo has arranged a schedule of practice matches to be held in Belgium, Spain, and Chile. The international football governing body FIFA is coordinating with the DRC Football Federation to ensure the team follows all medical and safety protocols.
On May 21, Kathmandu. Due to the spread of the Ebola outbreak, the Congo national football team has called off its three-day training camp ahead of the World Cup. Congo has scheduled friendly matches against Denmark on June 3 in Liège, Belgium, and against Chile on June 9 in the southern region of Spain. The team had planned a farewell assembly in Kinshasa as part of its preparation before traveling to Belgium and Spain for the matches; subsequently, two friendly games against Denmark will be played in Liège, Spain, and Chile.
Another friendly match is planned for June 11 in Houston, United States. Public farewell events for fans in Kinshasa have also been postponed due to the outbreak. FIFA issued a statement expressing its vigilance and ongoing monitoring of the Ebola situation. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
The Constitution of Nepal 2072 guarantees women’s reproductive rights as fundamental rights. The government has expanded safe abortion services across all 77 districts of the country. However, due to social pressure and lack of access to these services, unsafe abortions remain widespread. A few years ago, while attending to patients in the hospital’s outpatient department, a 28-year-old woman came for her fourth pregnancy check-up. After all examinations, she requested a video X-ray to determine the sex of her child because she already had three sons and faced family pressure that the fourth child should also be a boy. I repeatedly explained to her that revealing the sex in this way is illegal and sex selection is prohibited. However, she said, “If it cannot be done here, I can go to another hospital or clinic, pay money to find out whether the child is a boy or girl, and then get an abortion done there. If that’s not possible either, I will go to India.”
Similarly, a 29-year-old woman was preparing to deliver a child by caesarean section. She had previously given birth to two daughters through surgery. When giving birth to her third child, she wondered whether it was appropriate to use a permanent contraceptive method and consulted her husband and family. However, her socially respected husband and father-in-law said, “If a son is born, that’s fine. If a daughter is born, then you must have another child. Do not use contraception.” Such incidents are frequently experienced by doctors and health workers.
Before blaming women for unsafe abortions, it is essential to consider the condition of our society and its social aspects. According to global recognition of reproductive rights and safe abortion, women have full autonomy to decide whether or not to conceive, and whether or not to carry a pregnancy to term. Despite the expansion of safe abortion services in Nepal, many challenges remain to effectively prevent unsafe abortions.
The Ministry of Information and Communications has announced an open competition for the Chairperson position of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority. A total of 32 candidates have applied for the post, including Rohit Rauniyar, Nagendra Kumar Das, and Rakesh Tamrakar. For the member positions, applications have been received from 4 candidates for the legal member, 9 for the accounting member, 5 for the market management member, and 15 for the administrative and technical member roles.
As of 7 Jestha, Kathmandu: 32 individuals have applied to become the Chairperson of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority. The Ministry of Information and Communications reported that this figure resulted after calling for an open competition. Among the applicants are names such as Rohit Rauniyar, Nagendra Kumar Das, Rakesh Tamrakar, Saroj Kumar Sharma, Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, and Subhash Sah.
Other applicants include Sushil Prasad Sah, Anil Kumar Jha, Narendra Man Singh Maharjan, Amalendu Narayan Singh, Navin Jisi, Mahendra Prasad Pandey, Dr. Shailendra Giri, Buddhi Prasad Acharya, Arjun Ghimire, Janadan Bhatt, Ananta Man Singh, Madhusudan Dahal, Dipak Raj Luintel, Shrikrishna Subedi, Sanaullah Khan, Dr. Bhojraj Ghimire, Sunil Kumar Mishra, Ambar Sthapit, Pankaj Kumar Das, Krishna Ram Dhunju, Dipak Raj Upreti, Madhav Adhikari, Navin Kumar Karn, Dipesh Shivakoti, and Dr. Rajib Subba.
For the legal member position, 4 candidates have applied: Amrit Kumar Rupakheti, Binod Acharya, Shrikrishna Subedi, and Asgarul Haq. Nine candidates have applied for the accounting member role. Five candidates have submitted applications for the market management member position, and 15 candidates have applied for the administrative and technical member posts.
Indira Ranamagar, a ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (Raswapa) MP, has demanded that the government immediately reverse its decision to dissolve the National Child Rights Council. She emphasized the need to consider sensitive issues such as child rights protection and children’s entitlements, urging the government not to implement the decision without due consideration. MP Ranamagar called for consultation with stakeholders and reconsideration, stressing that children are the most vulnerable group. 7 Jestha, Kathmandu.
Speaking at the House of Representatives meeting on Thursday, she noted it has been conveyed that the previous government had made the decision to dissolve the council. She emphasized the necessity for the current government to reconsider it. “It has been heard that the previous government decided to dissolve the National Child Rights Council. I earnestly appeal to the Government of Nepal to halt the immediate implementation of this decision until there is a clear alternative framework and effective system in place, given the sensitive nature of child rights protection and children’s entitlements,” she said.
She also expressed dissatisfaction with the government dissolving the council without establishing alternative arrangements for safeguarding children’s rights, interests, and protection. “Furthermore, I urge the government to engage in extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders for reconsideration. In my view, children constitute the most vulnerable group. I do not consider a poor person vulnerable, but rather those who are innocent and weak should be recognized as such,” she added.
A man was arrested by local police in Texas, USA, after attempting to drive a Tesla Cybertruck in a pond. The driver reportedly tried to activate the Cybertruck’s ‘Wade Mode’ to operate the vehicle in the water.
According to Tesla, the ‘Wade Mode’ can only be used in water up to 81.5 centimeters deep and protects the vehicle from submersion. The Tesla Cybertruck is an electric pickup truck constructed with bulletproof steel. Its base price is approximately 70,000 US dollars.
The arrested driver was operating the vehicle within a restricted area of the pond and was also accused by police of interfering with water safety equipment.
Nisarga Batika School has announced it will organize the ‘1st Nisarga Warriors Basketball League Championship 2026’ from May 23 to June 21. Eight schools will participate in the tournament, with each team competing in a round-robin league format. All matches will be conducted at the Machhaget courts following the official FIBA rules, and the champion will be determined based on the points accumulated during the league phase.
The school stated that this historic inter-school basketball competition aims to provide Kathmandu’s youth with structured and high-level competitive play opportunities. All games of the championship will take place at Nisarga’s Machhaget basketball court and the high school basketball court. The eight participating school teams will face each other in a round-robin league system.
The winner will be decided based on the results from the league phase. All matches will adhere strictly to FIBA’s official rules and standards to ensure fairness and uphold the sport’s integrity. For student-athletes, this championship offers an excellent platform to showcase their talents, refine their skills, and gain real competitive experience.
“Through this championship, we hope our young players learn to compete with discipline, develop leadership skills, and grow by learning from both victories and losses,” said a representative from Nisarga Batika School. The primary objective of the Nisarga Warriors Basketball League Championship is to invest in the future of Nepal’s basketball scene and cultivate a culture that encourages young athletes to take the sport seriously by providing them with high-quality opportunities.
Following Chief Justice Suryakant’s controversial ‘cockroach’ remark, a digital satirical movement named the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ has emerged in India. Within just three days, this movement has garnered over 100,000 members, beginning to influence the nation’s political parties. Founder Abhijit Deepke describes it as a collective outburst against unemployment and exam paper leaks. The oral comments made by Chief Justice Suryakant last week during a Supreme Court hearing triggered a massive stir online, unexpectedly giving birth to a new form of resistance.
The online campaign, named the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP), launched with the belief that “there is some truth behind every joke,” has quickly become a focus of discussion. Originating from satire, sarcasm, and social media trends, the campaign’s fascinating and unusual start contrasts with its rapid success and the potential impact it could have on the future political landscape.
The CJP’s inception dates back to May 15, 2026, during a Supreme Court hearing involving a notorious fake law degree case. Chief Justice Suryakant’s verbal remark during the hearing, in which he described unemployed youth infiltrating the system like cockroaches — by becoming Members of Parliament, media personnel, and RTI activists — quickly spread across social media. Within hours, the video went viral on X and Instagram. Millions of users, especially young people, perceived this as an insult directed at all unemployed youth and expressed widespread outrage.
On May 16, Chief Justice Suryakant issued a clarification, accusing segments of the media of misrepresenting his comment and clarifying that his criticism was specifically aimed at those entering the legal profession with fake degrees. However, the outrage that had already spread online was impossible to contain. This intense dissatisfaction and anger led to the emergence of the digital front called the ‘Cockroach Janata Party.’
The credit for starting this movement goes to 30-year-old Abhijit Deepke, a resident of Aurangabad (now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), Maharashtra. Professionally, he is a political communication strategist. After completing his journalism degree in Pune, he pursued a postgraduate degree in Public Relations at Boston University, USA.
On May 16, the day after the Chief Justice’s remarks, Abhijit shared a Google Form link on the X platform for anyone wanting to join the Cockroach Janata Party. He described the platform as a new space for the unemployed, lazy, ever-online, and those capable of satirical professional commentary — the ‘cockroaches.’ This post fueled a social media firestorm, and within a few hours, more than 15,000 people signed up via the form. The campaign’s momentum surged so rapidly that membership crossed 100,000 in just three days. By May 20, more than 100,000 formal memberships had been recorded.
Initially started as a digital satire, this unusual online movement has grown so powerful and widespread that even the established political parties in the country have been compelled to take its impact seriously.
