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The Nepali Congress (NC) is marking the 49th National Unity and Reconciliation Day across the country by organizing several programs today.

The NC has been observing the Poush 16 as the National Reconciliation Day, commemorating the day when the party founder BP Koirala and other veteran leaders returned to the country after ending a long political exile in India.

Nepal's first people-elected Prime Minister BP Koirala along with party senior leaders Ganesh Man Singh, Shailaja Acharya and Khum Bahadur Khadka among others had repatriated putting forth the principle of national unity and reconciliation on Poush 16, 2033 BS (December 30, 1976) so as to safeguard the sovereignty of the country.

BP Koirala had returned the country to protect its sovereignty from the then political interference in the South Asia, ignoring the prosecution order against him.

On the occasion, BP had noted the urgency of reconciliation between the people's power (political parties) and palace power (King) for the safeguarding of country's sovereignty.

The then Panchayati regime had arrested BP, Ganesh Man and other leaders from the airport and directly took them to the Sundarijal jail.

Earlier, the then King Mahendra had deposed the people-elected PM BP Koirala, his government and the parliament in 2017 BS to introduce the party-less Panchayati system.

It may be noted that BP Koirala, also a renowned name in the Nepali literature, had authored popular collection of fictions and political memoirs during his jail life in Sundairjal. 

Rara Lake, the largest water body in Nepal, known for its natural beauty, is facing growing encroachment due to an increase in vegetation around its shores.

This rapid spread of vegetation is affecting the lake's pristine environment and its ecological balance.

Nanda Singh Rokaya, a teacher from Murma in Chhayanath Municipality, believes that the growing vegetation around the lake is damaging its ecosystem.

He noted that the once-clear, radiant blue waters and the fresh atmosphere of the lake are now being overshadowed by the overgrowth of plants.

"The lake's water was much clearer when I was young. These days, it has started to smell as well," he said.

While the Rara National Park Office acknowledges the importance of cleaning the lake, a lack of sufficient resources and budget has hindered efforts to address the issue.

Despite this, the office remains committed to preserving the lake's beauty and essence. Mahesh Neupane, the Senior Conservation Officer at the park, mentioned that a cleanup campaign is planned for the western part of the lake, including Nijar and other areas.

The campaign is expected to be launched soon. Experts have recommended that the authorities take a strategic, planned approach to control the spread of vegetation, clean the lake area, and protect the region's biodiversity in a sustainable manner.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that making a 'beautiful, peaceful and prosperous' Nepal was the common motto of all Nepalis.

At a program organized by the CPN-UML to welcome different personalities in the UML today, PM Oli, also the Chairperson of the party, argued that although the interests of people vary based on their professions, their common goal is to build a prosperous Nepal.

Appreciating the choice of the new cadres entering the UML party, he said, "You have made the right choice. You should be a model for others." He viewed that all those entering the party had become a family having a common goal.

He opined that the party cadres and leaders alike should establish the fact that Nepal is a country of the talents.

The septuagenarian leader further motivated the new entrants, "Old records are to be broken, New records are to be set. We should protect ourselves from various treacherous activities that could instigate youths." He also urged the newcomers to lead a realistic and truthful lifestyle and focus on delivering the best results.

Party Chairperson Oli welcomed outgoing National President of Nepal Jaycees Rabin Pokharel and other youths including Bibha Basnet, Shivani Gautam, Gayatri BC among others.

Pokharel and Basnet admitted that they wanted to contribute to visionary party Chairperson Oli's nation-building resolution and thus joined the party.

The program was attended by UML Deputy General-Secretary Bishnu Prasad Rimal, organization department's Chief Kashinath Adhikari and leader Bhanu Bhakta Acharya among others. 

Former President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu on Saturday.

He is arriving in Kathmandu for his personal visit, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Krishna Prasad Dhakal said.

According to the ministry, necessary protocol and security arrangement would be provided for him as the former President.

He will have meetings and visits in his own way. The former President is also scheduled to visit Lumbini during his stay.

He is scheduled to return home on January 1 after completing his visit.

It may be noted that Nepal and Sri Lanka had established diplomatic relations on July 1, 1957.

Nepal opened an honorary consulate general in Colombo in 1975 and the Embassy of Nepal was established in Colombo in 1995.

Sri Lanka has a residential embassy in Kathmandu since 1993. Both Nepal and Sri Lanka are founding members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and members of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

The two countries share common views on many international issues at various forums, including the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the World Trade Organization.

Lumbini, the birthplace of Shakyamuni Buddha and a sacred destination for Buddhists around the world, attracts Buddhist pilgrims from Sri Lanka every year.

The Sri Lankan government is supporting Nepal's efforts to develop Lumbini as a source of world peace. Sri Lanka has also built a monastery and a rest house complex in Lumbini. ---

Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak gas said that the acquisition of citizenship in accordance with the Constitution and laws would be eased.

The Home Minister said this while receiving the report submitted by the Citizenship Problem Resolution Study Committee at the Ministry in Singha Durbar on Friday. "Those people eligible for the citizenship as per the Constitution and the related laws should get the citizenship.

However, there should not be a situation in which ineligible people get the citizenship. We are explicit on these two things," he asserted.

Stating that the citizenship is a highly sensitive issue, Home Minister Lekhak said this topic should be considered seriously and in a responsible manner. "Citizenship should not be denied in the name of procedural hassles and the verdicts related to citizenship given by the Honourable Supreme Court from time to time should be respected.

Directives have been frequently issued in this connection. The government is moving ahead to resolve the problems seen in the acquisition of citizenship taking all these things into consideration," he added.

The Committee prepared its report with recommendations after studying the court verdicts, the existing legal provisions and the complications seen on the topic of citizenship distribution at various District Administration Offices.

Minister Lekhak said that the Ministry will minutely study the report and implement it. The report includes recommendations on various topics, including the topic of making issuance of citizenship to children born of mother holding the Nepali citizenship.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had formed the five-member Committee on August 16. Joint Secretary at the Ministry Dr Tok Raj Pandey was its convenor.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has said the role of media is significant to strengthen democracy.

Taking part in the "lawmakers-media dialogue" concluded in Nagarkot of Bhaktapur today, he said the practice of journalism within the democratic frame will contribute to promote democracy.

"An effective parliament is required to strengthen democracy and media and journalists are warranted to play a role of watchdog to ensure the presence of such parliament," the Speaker said.

He reminded the media of its first responsibility to disseminate credible and fact-based news. According to him, parliament needs constructive support from media to improve its performance.

Stating that at present the House is dedicating time to discuss about various bills, he said this information should be reached among the public.

Also speaking on the occasion, Deputy Speaker Indira Rana Magar requested journalists to be responsible while acting as parliamentary reporters.

Federal Parliament Secretariat Secretary-General Padma Prasad Pandey said interaction was fruitful for him to realise about issues that the Secretariat should address.

Journalists attending the event were of the view that political parties, legislators and the government should be responsible towards parliament.

Parliament Secretariat Secretary Dr Rojnath Pandey, senior journalists Hari Bahadur Thapa and Jagat Nepal presented papers on parliamentary reporting and practices. Journalists from the parliamentary reporting beat attended the two-day event. 

The Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project which witnessed a halt in production following the damage caused by the rains-induced flood and landslides in late September has partially resumed the production.

The 456-megawatt project remaining as the largest hydropower project among those in operation in the country has resumed production since Tuesday evening, according to the Project.

The partial (120-megawatts) power generation was restarted at 7:40 pm on Tuesday after 88 days of the closure. The disasters caused by incessant rains on September 27-28 damaged the project infrastructure significantly.

The power has been connected to the national grid. It is said the entire infrastructures damaged by the disasters have insurance coverage.

The Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Limited, the project promoter, has claimed the loss worth Rs 1.78 billion from the disasters.

The Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) and the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS)  on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance regional collaboration.

The MoU represents a shared commitment to strengthening connections between Central and South Asia through academic and diplomatic cooperation. This partnership aims to drive initiatives in academic research, joint publications, policy dialogues, and capacity-building programs. Both IAIS and AIDIA seek to establish meaningful platforms for dialogue, promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development across the region.

Sunil KC, Founder of AIDIA, and Shakhboz Akhmedov, Deputy Director of IAIS, signed the MoU.

During the meeting, AIDIA Founder KC engaged in in-depth discussions with Akhmedov and his team. They explored ways to strengthen ties between Nepal and Uzbekistan, emphasising the historical and strategic connections between Uzbekistan and South Asia. Their conversation underscored the critical importance of regional connectivity and cultural exchanges, highlighting Uzbekistan’s growing role as a central hub for regional diplomacy and its unique position as a bridge between Central and South Asia. Additionally, they discussed potential joint events and initiatives to address broader regional challenges, including trade and connectivity.

KC also met with Akram Umarov, First Vice-Rector of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED). Their meeting focused on identifying opportunities for collaboration between UWED and AIDIA, reinforcing the shared vision of fostering strong international partnerships to tackle regional issues effectively.

Furthermore, KC met with Sardor Mirzayusupovich Rustambaev, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to India, and explored areas of collaboration between Nepal and Uzbekistan to strengthen ties between the countries.

This MoU between IAIS and AIDIA is a testament to their dedication to building deeper relationships and fostering collaboration in the academic and diplomatic spheres. By aligning their efforts, these institutions aim to contribute meaningfully to the region’s growth and harmony.

AIDIA has been operating as an independent and non-partisan think-tank since 2014, studying the ever-evolving geopolitical and geoeconomic dynamics of the Himalayan region. Based in Kathmandu, it produces focused research and promotes dialogues on matters of geopolitics, foreign policy, aspects of global and domestic security, economics, trade, and energy.

Established on July 23, 2022, IAIS is an independent research institute within the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan. The institute focuses on interdisciplinary research addressing key challenges in international studies. Through publications, lectures, and conferences, IAIS engages policymakers, scholars, and the public, fostering awareness and dialogue on critical global issues.