Rastriya Swatantra Samajwadi Party (RSWP) MP KP Khanal has announced a full scholarship program under the ‘MP Scholarship Program’ for 55 students from impoverished and disadvantaged families. Sharing a link to apply under the program titled ’55 Students, 55 Dreams,’ Khanal stated that this initiative aims to honor the hopes expressed by parents by reaching back to them through the scholarship.
On 2nd Jestha in Kathmandu, MP Khanal unveiled the scholarship plan specifically for students who have passed the SEE examination. The program targets talented students from poor and vulnerable families in his constituency, offering scholarships to 55 such individuals. Khanal emphasized that this effort is a way to fulfill the faith shown by guardians during the election period by extending support through this initiative.
Applicants interested in the full scholarship program “55 Students, 55 Dreams” are encouraged to fill out the application form via the shared link. They are also requested to select their nearest municipal center to their residential area. Further details will be provided through a video message by the organizers.
The House of Representatives has released the parliamentary calendar up to Ashad 15, but it does not include a direct question-and-answer session with the Prime Minister. According to Rule 56 of the House of Representatives Rules of Procedure, a direct question time with the Prime Minister is to be held during the first week of every month. However, according to Ekram Giri, Joint Secretary of the Federal Parliament Secretariat, this program is not included in the calendar due to increased discussions related to the budget. Kathmandu, Jestha 2.
Per the House Rules, there should be one session in Jestha and another in Ashad where the Prime Minister faces direct questions, but both months lack this session in the calendar. Ekram Giri stated, “Since there will be extensive discussions related to the budget, the direct question time with the Prime Minister has not been included in the calendar.”
According to the parliamentary calendar, from Jestha 4, the House of Representatives will begin discussions on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill (excluding tax proposals). Deliberations will continue on Jestha 5. On Jestha 6, answers to questions raised during the Appropriation Bill discussions (excluding tax proposals) will be provided. On Jestha 13, the Economic Survey for the fiscal year 2082/083 will be presented.
Since April 30, India has enforced a new SOP requiring mandatory lab testing for every consignment of Nepalese tea, effectively halting exports.
Nepal’s Ministry of Industry and the embassy in India have been engaging in continuous diplomatic efforts, but Indian authorities have not granted any exemptions.
Tea entrepreneurs have urged Prime Minister Balendra Shah for high-level political intervention to remove export obstacles.
May 16, Kathmandu – Tea exports from Nepal to India have completely come to a halt over the past two weeks.
This disruption began after the Indian Tea Board introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) effective from April 30, imposing stringent new regulations on tea imports into India.
Under the new directive, every truck and consignment of Nepalese tea entering India must undergo individual laboratory testing, placing significant strain on Nepal’s tea industry, including producers, entrepreneurs, and farmers.
Despite continuous diplomatic efforts by Nepal’s Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi, no resolution has yet been reached.
Entrepreneurs report that although the embassy has regularly communicated with officials from India’s Ministry of Commerce and the Indian Tea Board, appealing for removal of these restrictions, the Indian authorities continue to enforce the new regulations without exception.
With diplomatic and administrative efforts yielding no tangible results, uncertainty has grown within the Nepalese tea community.
Consequently, tea producers, businessmen, and farmers are calling for direct and high-level intervention from the Prime Minister to resolve the export hurdles.
Recalling past occasions when former Prime Ministers directly contacted their Indian counterparts to swiftly address such barriers, they emphasize the need for a similar level of political dialogue now to resolve the issue.
They argue that the current diplomatic attempts at lower levels are insufficient to resolve the problems created by the new Indian regulations and urge Prime Minister Balendra Shah to take immediate, decisive action to safeguard Nepal’s key agricultural export market.
Previously, one sample test report was valid for 15 days or up to 10 trucks, but India has discarded this provision.
Now, every individual truck must pay a testing fee of INR 11,120 (Indian Rupees) and await test results, which can take at least two weeks, creating a costly and cumbersome process.
Senior Vice President of the Nepal Tea Producers Association, Shivkumar Gupta, confirmed that this stringent policy has effectively halted exports for the past half month.
During this time, Indian buyers have only taken an extremely limited quantity of tea at their own risk, approximately 10-12 tons from the Terai region and 4-5 tons from the hills, transported via just two trucks.
“Although the tea season is just beginning and major business losses have not yet occurred, with recent rainfall the production is expected to increase sharply within the next 10 days,” Gupta said. “If exports remain blocked during that period, producers and farmers will face storage shortages and significant losses.”
Similarly, Kamal Mainali, President of the Nepal Tea Association, highlighted the increased risks that the new Indian regulation imposes on entrepreneurs.
He warned that delays of 15 days at the border risk degrading tea quality, while failure to pass lab tests requires destruction of the product.
“Selling is not allowed until the test report is received. If the tea fails testing, it must be returned to Nepal, but government regulations presently do not permit return shipments,” he explained. “Returning tea entails paying 40% customs and 13% VAT, resulting in significant financial losses for businessmen.”
Given that diplomatic and administrative measures alone have proved ineffective, Mainali has called for high-level political intervention.
“In the past, when such challenges arose, former Prime Ministers Girija Prasad Koirala and Pushpa Kamal Dahal directly called their Indian counterparts to remove the barriers,” he noted. “Prime Minister Balendra Shah should now undertake similar high-level efforts to ensure a long-term solution for the tea export issues.”
He also stressed the importance of seeking alternative markets, warning that recurring difficulties with India undermine Nepal’s tea industry.
“Our tea should not be limited to a single market like Vietnam or Kenya,” he added. “If India continues to create problems, the government should explore new markets such as Pakistan or Middle Eastern countries for Terai CTC tea, and Europe, the US, and Russia for orthodox tea from the hills.”
Director and spokesperson of the National Tea and Coffee Development Board, Deepak Khanal, said that a meeting was held two days ago involving the Commerce Ministry Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut, around 30 tea entrepreneurs from Ilam, Jhapa, and Kathmandu, and representatives from eight associations to address the export difficulties.
He said the Secretary was briefed about all the existing issues and expressed commitment to facilitate solutions.
“We are pursuing resolution efforts on technical, diplomatic, and political fronts,” Khanal said. “A key focus is advocating for India to recognize lab reports issued by Nepal’s Food Technology and Quality Control Department. If India accepts our official lab reports, the problem with India will be permanently resolved.”
According to statistics, Nepal exported 15,598,660 kilograms of tea in the fiscal year 2081/82 (2024), earning approximately NPR 459 crore (4.59 billion) in foreign exchange revenue.
The home team, which lost the first match of the ongoing series against Scotland, will gain confidence from this victory. Kathmandu, May 16 – Under pressure in the ICC World Cup Cricket League 2, the Nepali team achieved a remarkable win against the United States on Saturday. The Nepalese bowlers dominated the American batsmen, and in response, opener Kushal Bhurtel played the hero’s role. Bhurtel, who had been out of form recently and benched in previous matches, seized the opportunity today by scoring a century, amassing 120 runs.
At the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground, the USA won the toss and elected to bat first, posting 195 runs in 43.3 overs. Opener Smit Patel was the top scorer for the USA, contributing 84 runs. Although the American team looked poised to chase a target of 300 at one point with a score of 122 for 1, Nepal’s bowlers and fielders launched a courageous comeback, dismissing the entire US side for 195 runs by the 44th over. Vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airee took four wickets, Sompal Kami claimed two, while Sandeep Lamichhane and Gulshan Jha got one wicket each, along with two run-outs.
After restricting the USA to a modest total, Nepal’s opening batsmen, Kushal Bhurtel and Asif Sheikh, laid a solid foundation with a 145-run partnership. Bhurtel completed his century, while Asif contributed a half-century with 58 runs. Following Asif’s dismissal, Nischan Pandey joined Bhurtel and supported him until the end to secure the victory. Nepal reached the target in 36.4 overs of the 50-over match. Nepal will face Scotland again on Monday for the next game in the series.
The National Independent Party has scheduled its first general convention in Chitwan from July 21 to 23. Provisional committees have been formed at ward and municipal levels to facilitate the convention, which will be conducted in two phases. The convention will elect committees across six levels: central, provincial, district, electoral constituency, municipality, and ward.
Kathmandu, May 16 — The ruling National Independent Party (Raswapa) has set the date for its inaugural general convention to coincide with the party’s four-year anniversary. Founded on July 21, 2022, Raswapa plans to hold the convention from July 21 to 23, 2023. Previous attempts to organize the convention were postponed multiple times. The most recent postponement took place last February due to elections.
A recent extended meeting in Sauraha, Chitwan, decided that the convention would be held within six months following the elections. On May 14, the party’s central committee finalized the date and venue. Raswapa officially made Chitwan their convention site. Starting this Saturday, the party’s activities will focused on organizing the upcoming convention.
On May 16, gatherings are scheduled to form provisional committees in wards that have yet to establish them, followed by meetings on May 23 for municipalities without such committees. These sessions aim to establish provisional committees where they are missing. The schedule for holding ward and municipal conventions has been announced, dividing them into two phases based on whether the party structure is in place.
For wards where provisional committees are already established, ward conventions will be held on May 17. For municipalities with committees formed before April 8, the municipal conventions are scheduled for May 23. The second phase includes ward conventions by June 30 for committees formed by May 17 and municipal conventions on July 1 for those established by May 23. Raswapa has decided to fast-track the general convention process.
According to Secretary of Raswapa’s Election Committee, Bhuminanda Baral, the convention process will continue even if only 30 percent of wards in a municipality or 30 percent of municipalities in a district have conducted their respective conventions. “Once 30 percent of wards in a municipality have conducted their conventions, the municipal convention can proceed. Similarly, district conventions can be held without requiring 100 percent completion of all municipal conventions,” Baral explained. “Even if some municipal conventions are not held, district-level conventions may still take place. Holding the general convention is a mandatory requirement, which is why the fast-track plan has been adopted.”
In 1976, a surprising incident took place in Mexico City where Mario Vargas Llosa punched Gabriel García Márquez, causing a sensation in the Latin American literary community.
In 1976, an unusual event unfolded in Mexico.
Latin America’s renowned writer Gabriel García Márquez extended his hand in a friendly pugilistic challenge toward fellow author Mario Vargas Llosa. However, Vargas Llosa responded by punching Márquez in the face, saying, “You deserved this.” The punch left Márquez’s face bruised.
Márquez was unprepared for this unexpected reaction. The incident occurred at a movie theater in Mexico City.
This surprising event gained widespread attention not only in the Latin American literary world but also globally.
While disputes or quarrels among authors worldwide are common, this particular incident received extensive media coverage because Márquez’s facial injury was highly visible.
However, no one could uncover the exact reason why Vargas Llosa struck Márquez, as neither party disclosed clear motives.
Following this incident, their friendship broke down and communication ceased.
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Mario Vargas Llosa was born in 1936 in Arequipa, Peru. In 1971, he published a book titled García Márquez: Story of a Decider, which originated from his thesis at the University of Madrid. The two writers were friends at the time.
This work provided a serious critical analysis of Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude. Mario discussed how authors create alternative realities, assuming the role of ‘gods’ by ‘killing’ the real world to sustain the existence of their creations.
Interpreting the narrative as a rebellious act, he wrote that writers destroy reality to present a new, structured, and imaginary world.
The book, produced as a doctoral thesis, became symbolic of Latin American literature and the friendship and admiration between the two authors.
It offered a profound examination of Márquez’s magical realism style and his mythical, existential themes.
This surprising episode, where a distinguished fellow author was punched, remained a mystery to readers and literary critics alike.
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Mario and Márquez first met in 1967, the year One Hundred Years of Solitude was published.
Mario was highly impressed by the novel, leading to the growth of their friendship. They became neighbors in Barcelona between 1970 and 1974, which brought them closer.
Both came from similarly divided family backgrounds and were raised by grandmothers. They shared a common admiration for American author William Faulkner’s works.
Photo of Gabriel García Márquez after the punch incident.
Mario described One Hundred Years of Solitude saying, “I was amazed reading it. It was a fresh novel about Latin American nights that presented fictional facts without diminishing reality’s essence.”
He praised it as a masterpiece that expanded linguistic boundaries and captivated narrative enthusiasts.
In the late 1960s, Mario taught Márquez’s works in universities across Spain, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom, which aided him in publishing his doctoral thesis.
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Márquez was nine years older than Mario, though both were born in March. Márquez was born on March 6, 1927; Mario on March 28, 1936.
Both were involved in journalism. While Mario engaged in politics, Márquez was less involved politically, though he maintained a friendship with Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
Castro was a reader of Márquez, and U.S. President Bill Clinton once hosted Márquez for dinner at the White House. Clinton’s daughter Chelsea once cited Márquez as her favorite author.
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Márquez had earlier published novels such as In Evil Hour, Leaf Storm, and No One Writes to the Colonel, but it was the 1967 release of One Hundred Years of Solitude that catapulted him to global fame.
This magical realist novel has been translated into over 50 languages and sold more than 50 million copies worldwide.
Márquez never allowed this novel to be adapted into a film during his lifetime, though many of his other stories were made into movies.
To preserve readers’ imaginative engagement, he withheld permission for its cinematic adaptation, though his sons authorized it after his death.
Conversely, Mario Vargas Llosa gained recognition with his first novel The Time of the Hero published in 1963, a story about the Peruvian military establishment.
He wrote this while a teenager at the Leoncio Prado Military Academy and later published it after refining it in France.
The novel sparked major controversy, with military officials publicly burning a thousand copies in protest. Peruvian director Francisco Lombardi later adapted it into a film.
Mario considered One Hundred Years of Solitude his opposite in style and regarded Márquez’s weakest book as the 1975 The Autumn of the Patriarch.
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What led Mario to punch Márquez? A 2019 report by Silvana Paternostro for the Paris Review included interviews with key witnesses such as Márquez’s photographer friend Rodrigo Moya, Guillermo Angulo, Gregory Rabassa, Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza, and Jaime Abello Banfi.
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Inspired by this incident, Peruvian author Jaime Bayly wrote the novel The Genius.
Mario dismissed the novel at its release as “a bundle of lies!”
Bayly responded, “Yes, it is full of lies, but those lies are credible, as novels often are.” He emphasized that the novel was a fictional work blending invented events with historical facts.
At its opening, Bayly quoted from Mario’s own book The Real Life of Alejandro Mayta, noting: ‘The main lesson when reconstructing events is that all stories combine truth and falsehood.’
Bayly interviewed authors Jorge Edwards, Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza, Tomás Elva Martínez, and Álvaro Mutis to bring the novel closer to reality.
Márquez and Mario alongside their novel covers.
Bayly said, “When two talented individuals refuse to discuss a topic, it sparks literary curiosity. I view literature as a process of digging into the skeleton to study the object inside.”
This novel should be seen as a narrative process or more poignantly, the tragic end of a broken friendship between two literary giants. The literary world has largely interpreted it this way.
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During their close friendship, Mario and Márquez planned to collaborate on a novel about the war in the Amazon jungle between Peru and Colombia.
However, Mario felt Márquez’s knowledge on this subject was partial and insufficient for a realistic novel.
Thereafter, they kept in touch through letters, many of which are now preserved at Princeton University in the United States.
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In a 1990 interview with the Paris Review, Mario discussed the incident, mentioning that although he rarely spoke about it, he might consider writing a memoir later—but never did.
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In 2021, journalist Walker Kaplan published an in-depth report revealing the incident’s story. The report stated that Mario was traveling from Barcelona to El Callao, where he had begun a romantic relationship with an attractive woman, even though his wife Patricia was on the same ship.
According to Mario’s friend Guillermo, “Mario was charming in a way that captivated women.”
After the ship stopped in Chile, Patricia returned to Barcelona to collect her belongings, helped by Márquez and his wife Mercedes, who acted like genuine friends.
Márquez even accompanied Patricia to the airport and advised her about communicating with Mario. However, Patricia misunderstood this advice, which angered Mario.
Though Mario was involved with other women, he had not separated from Patricia. At one point, Patricia said to Mario in a taunting manner, ‘Was I insulted because I’m not beautiful? Those who look back at me are like Márquez.’
This statement reportedly pushed Mario to strike Márquez in Nepal, shouting, “This is the consequence of what you said to my wife!”
The punch was forceful enough to stagger Márquez, breaking his glasses and causing some bleeding.
The next day, Márquez and his wife visited photographer Rodrigo Moya to document the injury with photographs.
Rodrigo likened the experience to looking at a criminal arrested by the Mexican police. These photos were only made public after 2007.
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Despite these events, Mario wrote a special foreword for the 40th anniversary edition of Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude.
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In Márquez’s final decade, he attempted to meet Mario twice—once in Barcelona, once in Cartagena—but Mario never appeared, and they never reconciled.
Márquez faded from public view and passed away on April 17, 2014.
Afterward, Mario expressed, “The world lost a great writer whose works elevated and expanded the literature of our language. His novels will live on and continue to win the hearts of readers everywhere. I offer my condolences to his family.”
In 2025, on April 13, Mario Vargas Llosa died in Lima, Peru’s capital. The Gabo Foundation, named after Márquez, expressed sorrow and issued a condolence statement.
Although the punch incident gradually faded from headlines after their deaths, the episode persists as a notable topic within literary circles.
Following editorial review, the National Assembly is set to advance a proposal on Jestha 7 to approve eight ordinances, including those related to public procurement, dismissal of public officials, and the Constitutional Council. Opposition parties have already registered notices demanding the rejection of these ordinances, with CPN-UML calling for the dismissal of all eight. The National Assembly has indicated that only after ordinance approval can the government introduce replacement bills.
On Jestha 2, Kathmandu: The parliamentary calendar of the National Assembly includes the agenda to present these ordinances for approval on Jestha 7. During the parliamentary recess, the government introduced several ordinances: the second amendment to the Public Procurement Ordinance; a special provision ordinance concerning the dismissal of public officials; the first amendment to the Constitutional Council (duties, functions, rights, and procedures) Ordinance; the third amendment to the Money Laundering Prevention Ordinance; the first amendment to various Nepali Cooperative Acts; amendments related to the Health Science Institute; and revisions pertaining to university legislation.
All these ordinances have been tabled in both houses of the federal parliament, the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. Both chambers must decide whether to approve or reject them. According to Article 114 of the Constitution, sub-section 2 (ka), “After issuance, ordinances must be presented to both houses of the Federal Parliament, and if not approved by both, they shall become void.” Accordingly, the National Assembly is preparing to submit these ordinances for decision on Jestha 7.
At the National Assembly, the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party is absent. The 59-member assembly’s largest party is the Nepali Congress with 24 seats, followed by CPN with 17, CPN-UML with 10, JSP with 2, LOSPA with 1, National People’s Front with 1, and 2 members nominated by the President.
Opposition parties have submitted notices demanding the ordinances be rejected. CPN-UML filed a notice requesting the rejection of all eight ordinances. The Nepali Communist Party has demanded rejection of four ordinances, while the Nepali Congress has sought the rejection of two ordinances, specifically those related to the Constitutional Council and amendments to certain Nepali Acts. The CPN has demanded the rejection of ordinances concerning the Constitutional Council, certain Nepali Act amendments, dismissal of public officials, and university-related legislation.
To decide on these matters, the National Assembly’s parliamentary calendar is set to present the ordinances for resolution on Jestha 7. Only after approval by both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly will the government be allowed to introduce the ordinance replacement bills.
Scientists have found evidence that a mysterious asteroid is gradually breaking apart due to the extreme heat from the Sun. Analysis of millions of data points collected by automated all-sky camera networks in Canada, Japan, California, and Europe led to the identification of a new group composed of 282 meteoroids. This group is linked to an unidentified asteroid disintegrating close to the Sun.
Small rocky particles entering Earth’s atmosphere from space heat up intensely due to friction, creating bright streaks commonly known as “shooting stars,” referred to scientifically as meteoroids. Most meteoroids originate from comets composed of ice and dust, whereas asteroids are generally dry and rocky. When an asteroid becomes active due to intense solar heat, high-speed orbit, or collisions, it begins releasing dust and rock fragments into space. As these fragments disperse, they form meteoroid streams, and when Earth passes through these streams, meteor showers occur.
A recent study published in The Astrophysical Journal notes that the trajectories of these 282 meteoroids are extreme, orbiting five times closer to the Sun than Earth’s own orbit. Scientists believe that the asteroid’s surface has developed fissures because of the severe solar heat, allowing gases inside to escape. Consequently, the entire celestial body is slowly disintegrating into dust particles. This active behavior has led to the asteroid being called a “rock-comet.” Previously, such activity was only observed on the well-known asteroid 3200 Phaethon, which is responsible for the annual December Geminid meteor shower. However, the precise location and identification of the primary asteroid causing this shower have remained unknown.
These asteroids are difficult to observe with regular telescopes due to their proximity to the Sun and brightness. However, studying meteoroids makes it possible to detect hidden and potentially hazardous asteroids invisible to conventional telescopes. According to scientists, NASA’s “NEO Surveyor” mission, scheduled for launch in 2027, will significantly aid in unraveling this mystery. This spacecraft is designed specifically to travel close to the Sun and detect dark asteroids that pose potential threats to Earth. This discovery will not only advance understanding of the solar system’s evolution but also pave the way for successful planetary defense strategies against possible future cosmic collisions.
The beloved Jacaranda tree of the valley has adorned streetsides, parks, and office areas with vibrant colors. Its beauty has always been highly admired. Recently, jacaranda flowers have bloomed in Kathmandu’s Kamalpokhari, Ratnapark, Tudikhel, and Darbarmarg regions. The colorful display of jacaranda can also be seen along the Satdobato–Balkhu road area in Lalitpur. June 15, Kathmandu.
The valley’s streets are currently decorated with the vibrant blossoms of jacaranda trees. The purple hue adds even more charm to the spring season. The blue flowers blooming on roadside trees make the city even more scenic and captivating. Many people are notably taking photos and videos against the floral backdrop. Fallen flowers have also stained the ground with a beautiful bluish tint. Originally from Europe and Africa, jacaranda is believed to have spread across various countries in Asia.
Google is preparing to replace the 15-year-old Chromebook concept with a new category of laptops called ‘Googlebook,’ which integrates features of the Android operating system and Chrome OS into an artificial intelligence-powered platform. This device is not merely an operating system but an ‘intelligence system’ fueled by Gemini AI, designed to intuitively simplify everyday user tasks.
The standout features of Googlebook are Gemini Intelligence and the Magic Pointer, which are most apparent in the laptop’s cursor. Developed in collaboration with Google’s DeepMind team, the Magic Pointer transforms the mouse cursor into an AI agent. A slight cursor movement activates Gemini AI. For example, when a user hovers the cursor over a date in an email, the system will automatically offer to schedule a meeting in the calendar. Similarly, selecting photos of a room and a new sofa on screen will instantly visualize how the sofa would look in that room virtually.
The device also offers an easy, natural-language-based widget creation feature, allowing users to type simple descriptions to generate customized widgets. Gemini aggregates information from apps like Internet, Gmail, and Calendar into a unified dashboard. For instance, when planning a trip, Gemini can create an attractive desktop widget that combines hotel bookings, flight details, and a countdown to the travel day.
Built on Android technology, Googlebook aims to bridge the gap between phones and laptops. When working on the laptop and feeling hungry, users can order food through phone delivery apps directly on the laptop screen. The ‘Quick Access’ feature enables users to view, search, and use files stored on their phones directly through the laptop’s file browser without transferring them.
For this new laptop category, Google has partnered with globally recognized companies including Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. Googlebooks will be marketed with premium materials and outstanding craftsmanship. A unique ‘Globar’ light on the laptop’s outer cover glows attractively when AI is active and serves not only a visual role but also facilitates AI interaction. Detailed information about this technology and the first Googlebook laptops is expected to be available on the market by the end of this year.
Based on a review of available data, Nepal took a pioneering step in climate finance management by implementing the Climate Budget Tagging (CBT) system as early as 2012. However, the CBT system has not been effectively implemented at the local government level, resulting in weak monitoring and reporting of climate finance. To secure additional financial support from international sources, Nepal needs to ensure robust monitoring and transparency in climate finance.
Nepal is recognized globally for its forward-looking climate policies. It has consistently raised a strong voice on climate finance platforms worldwide, advocating for international climate funds to enhance community resilience and strengthen adaptive capacities.
Among the top 10 countries vulnerable to climate risks, Nepal was the first to apply the CBT system in 2012. This system was designed to classify and monitor public expenditures related to climate change. The Ministry of Finance has led its implementation, applying the system at the project level rather than just at activity level. National-level projects are categorized based on their contribution to climate action as direct, indirect, or neutral, and further classified into adaptation, mitigation, or mixed benefit categories. To strengthen climate finance management and monitoring, the Ministry of Finance also approved the Climate Change Financing Framework (CCFF) in 2017.
Nepal’s Climate Change Policy, National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) have reinforced the country’s commitment to bolstering climate resilience and low-carbon development. The government has promoted the Local Adaptation Plan of Action (LAPA) framework to ensure planning at the local level, and has committed to channeling 80 percent of total climate finance to local governments. On paper, these policies, systems, and structures appear impressive and align with global best practices and institutional vision. However, the reality is quite different. Discussions with local government officials reveal a consensus: although the CBT system exists, its practical use is very limited.
In many areas, officials lack sufficient awareness or have not received necessary training to implement the system effectively. Institutional efforts to integrate CBT within local planning and budgeting processes are minimal. This does not mean that climate-related activities are absent; municipalities regularly allocate budgets for sectors such as energy, agriculture, forestry, and natural resource management. However, these expenditures are not systematically tagged, monitored, or reported as climate finance. Consequently, significant climate-related investments remain invisible within formal systems. For instance, an initial analysis of CBT format budgets in Devchuli and Gaindakot municipalities showed that approximately 10 to 15 percent of the annual budget could be attributed to climate-related activities, but without formal tagging, these figures are excluded from official reports.
Local officials themselves acknowledge this gap. One municipal officer stated, “The work is happening; only now have we realized that these activities are related to climate. However, these have not been formally recorded as climate interventions.” The official added, “We develop annual plans through participatory processes, but to my knowledge, climate tagging has not been applied.” Amid the global expansion of climate finance, Nepal faces the risk of missing out on resources—not due to lack of available funds, but because mechanisms to demonstrate effective use have not been fully operationalized. This points to a lack of awareness among many local-level staff about climate finance systems and a deficiency in technical capacity to build, report, and monitor climate budgets.
According to officials in planning divisions, incorporating CBT into local plans is possible with appropriate training before the planning process begins. Why is this monitoring critical? While it may initially seem a technical issue, its implications are profound. Without effective monitoring, Nepal cannot clearly demonstrate how much it is investing in climate actions or measure the effectiveness of these investments. Most importantly, opportunities to attract additional climate finance from international sources may be compromised. Globally, climate finance operates on principles of transparency, performance, and accountability. Major funds like the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Global Environment Facility (GEF), and Adaptation Fund expect measurable results, not just commitments, from countries like Nepal. Failure to clearly display how climate funds are utilized risks losing these opportunities.
Access and Equity: Who Benefits from Climate Finance? Nepal’s climate policies consistently prioritize poor families, women, marginalized communities, and citizens living in climate-vulnerable areas. However, without clear expenditure records, it is difficult to verify whether these communities truly benefit. The main question remains: does climate finance reach the communities most at risk? Current circumstances suggest that well-connected or influential communities may receive more resources, while vulnerable remote areas might be neglected. The absence of a clear monitoring and prioritization system risks relegating equity goals to policy rhetoric rather than real practice. The failure to apply CBT within planning processes reinforces this imbalance.
Looking ahead, Nepal faces a growing dilemma. As global climate funds increasingly focus on results-based financing, transparency, and accountability, the country must demonstrate its capacity to manage these resources effectively. Nepal currently finds itself caught between having robust policies and institutional structures for climate finance monitoring and the challenge of practical implementation. During this time of global climate finance expansion, Nepal risks missing out on funds—not because money is unavailable, but because mechanisms to showcase its utilization are not fully functional. Without the ability to demonstrate how local governments invest in climate actions and the outcomes achieved, leveraging international resources becomes difficult.
Meanwhile, Nepal faces another governance challenge in climate finance: a widening gap between growing adaptation needs and domestic financial capacity. The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2021/2050 deemphasizes climate resilience as a national priority, yet approximately 90 percent of its financial requirements depend on external sources. Major funding mechanisms include the GCF, Adaptation Fund, GEF, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other international frameworks. Accessing these funds requires climate budget monitoring, transparent reporting, and impact evidence. Institutional and technical capacity deficits, especially at provincial and local levels, hamper these efforts.
Improving governance, establishing effective data systems, enhancing local capacity, and strengthening institutional coordination can progressively reduce the gap between climate finance needs and implementation. Closing this gap requires reinforcing climate finance governance, institutional capacity, and accountability mechanisms at all levels. The most critical step is institutionalizing climate budget tagging within local planning and budgeting processes. Climate-related investments should be tagged not only at the project level but activity level as well, enabling accurate measurement of contributions to adaptation and mitigation. This will help local governments clearly trace where climate finance is being spent and what outcomes it achieves. Capacity building is equally essential. Regular training, technical guidance, and deployment of climate-focused personnel at local and provincial levels can make planning more effective.
In addition, the development of a robust Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system is crucial. Global climate funds require proof of how investments reduce risks and increase resilience. Strengthening data systems, impact assessments, and record-keeping processes is imperative. Coordination and ownership among federal, provincial, and local governments are also critical. Currently, responsibilities related to climate finance are dispersed across various agencies, leading to duplication and weak reporting. Clear roles and regular integration of climate finance into development planning can enhance system effectiveness.
In conclusion, Nepal has established a strong policy framework for climate finance. The next challenge is to implement it effectively on the ground. Ultimately, climate finance is not merely an issue of policy or budgeting—it represents assistance aimed at reaching the communities most in need. If systems remain confined to paper only, so will the commitment to climate finance. However, if these systems are effectively institutionalized, they can serve as powerful tools to build community resilience. Through improved governance, data systems, local capacity enhancement, and institutional coordination, Nepal can progressively bridge the gap between climate finance needs and implementation. The author is a researcher specializing in climate change and environmental issues in Nepal under Forest Action Nepal.
Taiwan, a small island nation located on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean, has been at the center of geopolitical tensions between the United States and the People’s Republic of China for over five decades. From the landmark 1972 agreement between U.S. President Richard Nixon and Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong to the May 2026 summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Taiwan has consistently emerged as one of the most challenging issues in diplomatic discussions between the two powers.
In the late 1960s, ideological rifts between China and the Soviet Union intensified. A violent military clash in 1969 prompted the U.S. to engage China in diplomatic talks. The Taiwan issue dates back to 1949, when Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist government sought refuge on the island. The U.S. had long recognized Taiwan as a legitimate government. Mao Zedong had stated that the Taiwan issue could be deferred for a century, but the threat from the Soviet Union demanded immediate attention.
Nixon’s historic visit to China in 1972 ended the silence of the Cold War era. Following this visit, Taiwan lost its seat at the United Nations, and Beijing assumed the permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council as China’s official representative. Taiwan’s importance increased further during Trump’s presidency, as relations with Taiwan were strengthened to an unprecedented degree. Taiwan boosted its defense budget and began adopting “asymmetric warfare” tactics.
At the May 2026 summit between Trump and Xi, Taiwan was declared the “most important issue in U.S.-China relations.” President Xi warned that failure to carefully manage the Taiwan issue could lead to broader conflict. For the U.S., Taiwan’s security represents not only the defense of democracy but also a matter of economic and military dominance. Taiwan is widely recognized as a critical geopolitical “flashpoint.”
By reinstating their experienced opening pair, Nepal showcased the strength of the Kushal–Asif duo in the match against the United States. In the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, Nepal successfully chased down a target of 196 runs in just 37 overs to secure a remarkable victory over the USA team. Kushal Bhurtel played a stellar innings, scoring an unbeaten century off 120 balls, while Asif Sheikh contributed 58 runs before being dismissed. Dipendra Singh Airee added pressure on the USA bowling with figures of 4 wickets in 7 overs and 3 balls. (2 Jestha, Kathmandu)
On Saturday, Nepal delivered an excellent performance to defeat the United States in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2. Facing a strong American side, Nepal displayed resilience and strength. The top-order batting played a crucial role in Nepal’s victory, rekindling confidence and hope after a prolonged period of underperformance. Additionally, Nepal is also providing opportunities to new players.
In the recently completed Nepal–Oman–UAE series, Asif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel opened the innings in the first two matches but had poor starts. Following this, the opening pair was rearranged; against UAE, Vinod Bhandari and Arjun Kumal opened and lost the first wicket after 25 runs. In the subsequent match, Vinod and Asif opened. In the current series, Vinod and Asif started as openers against Scotland, but without success.
In the second game against the USA, Nepal returned to their former opening duo of Kushal and Asif. Together, they compiled a 145-run partnership that laid the foundation for victory. Kushal delivered an extraordinary unbeaten century, while Asif scored 58 before dismissal. Nepal chased down the USA’s target of 196 runs in just 37 overs at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground. Kushal struck 13 fours and 4 sixes in his 120-ball unbeaten 120.
Kushal Bhurtel commented, “The top order had not been giving us good starts. Today, Asif and I gave a solid opening, and I’m happier about the century than anything else.” His partnership with Asif is the second-highest ODI opening stand for Nepal. Asif scored 58 runs off 72 balls, while debutant Isan Pande remained unbeaten on 20 from 30 balls.
Bowling first after winning the toss at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground, the USA lost their first wicket at 22 runs. From 122–1, they added only 73 more runs while losing 9 wickets. Dipendra Singh Airee was the standout bowler for Nepal, taking 4 wickets for 24 runs in 7 overs and 3 balls. Saurav Sompal took 2 wickets, while Sandeep Lamichhane and Gulsan Jha each claimed one wicket.
At the upcoming high-level talks in Beijing between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Taiwan is paying close attention. Despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations between the US and Taiwan, strong unofficial ties prompt Taiwanese leadership to carefully analyze this visit and Trump’s recent remarks. In an interview with Fox News, President Trump clarified that the US does not seek war. He stated that as long as the current status quo is maintained, China is likely to be satisfied, and no one should unilaterally declare independence based solely on the assumption of American support. Trump emphasized, “I don’t want to see anyone become independent. You know, we’d have to travel 9,500 miles for a war—I am not looking for that kind of situation. I want them to keep the peace, and for China to remain calm as well. We don’t want war, and if the current situation continues, I believe China will be satisfied. But I don’t want anyone to say, ‘America is backing us, so let’s declare independence.’”
Responding to Trump’s remarks, Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Chen Ming-chin, stated on Saturday that Taiwan requires further clarity to fully understand the implications of those comments. He added that US law permits arms sales to Taiwan, and the arms agreements between Taiwan and the US have consistently served as a cornerstone for regional peace and stability. According to Reuters, President Lai’s spokesperson also reaffirmed that US arms sales are part of America’s security commitment to Taiwan and help bolster shared resistance against regional aggression. Taiwan’s Foreign Minister, Joseph Wu (Lin Chia-lung), informed that his team is closely monitoring the US-China summit and maintaining strong communication with the US and other allied nations.
The Taiwanese officials highlighted that Taiwan has always been a guardian of peace and stability in the region, accusing China’s aggressive military actions and authoritarian repression of increasing regional threats. The majority of Taiwanese citizens prefer maintaining the current status quo in their relationship with China. Previously, China reacted strongly to perceived softening in America’s stance on Taiwan’s independence. In February 2025, China expressed sharp objections after the US Department of State removed its longstanding pledge opposing Taiwanese independence from its official website.
2 Jestha, Kathmandu – An account officer from the National Vigilance Center in Kathmandu has passed away after fainting while traveling to Badimalika in Bajura district. According to the Bajura District Police Office, the deceased is 56-year-old account officer Bishwaraj Panthi, who was stationed in Bhairahawa.
The police reported that a four-member team, including Panthi, had traveled to Bajura for a pilgrimage to Badimalika. On their way through the forested area of Khare within Badimalika Municipality-8, Panthi fainted. He was rescued and taken to Martadi District Hospital at 5:45 am on Friday. Upon arrival at 5:50 am, medical personnel declared him dead.
Along with Panthi, Deputy Secretary Shivahari Nyaupane, Section Officer Jeevan Ghimire, and Accountant Umesh Sharma—all colleagues at the National Vigilance Center—had accompanied the group on the Badimalika pilgrimage, according to police information.
