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Santosh Shah was crowned winner of BBC’s MasterChef: The Professionals Rematch special in scenes that aired tonight after he lost out on the title in 2020. 

The 34-year-old chef, who was dubbed the ‘people’s champion’ in last year’s series, wowed judges Marcus Wareing, Monica Galetti, and Gregg Wallace with his Nepalese cuisine, according to the news report.

Santosh stepped back into the kitchen along with fellow finalists Philli Armitage-Mattin and Bart van der Lee, who appeared on last year’s series, and Jamie Park, who reached the final in 2017.

Speaking to media he said, “I was so delighted to be invited back into the MasterChef kitchen to cook again, and had so much fun being reunited with Bart, Philli, and Jamie from the 2017 series.” 

CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has said that America’s grant under Millennium Challenge Corporation(MCC) could be endorsed by Parliament only after amending some clauses.

In a political document presented in the party's 8th General Convention that began on December 26, Prachanda has said that it cannot be endorsed without amendment. According to a member, Prachanda told his party cadres that MCC would be amended to serve the national interest.

The ruling coalition is sharply divided over MCC. Speaking at the inaugural session of the Maoist convention, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba defended MCC stating that there are not any provisions that would hurt national interests. Parties plan to table MCC in Parliament after the Maoist party concludes its convention. The Maoist jamboree, however, is likely to endorse Prachanda’s position on MCC. America, however, said that the MCC compact cannot be amended. 

The 8th General Convention of CPN (Maoist Center) has begun in Kathmandu, on December 26. The four-day convention will conclude by electing new leadership.

Top leaders of major parties including Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba were invited as guests of the inaugural session of the convention. Addressing the inaugural session of the Maoist convention, Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Deuba said the American grant Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is in national interests so it should be endorsed by Parliament. CPN (Maoist Center) Pushpa Kamal Dahal is likely to be re-elected as party chair from the convention. 

Speaking at the inaugural session, CPN(Maoist Center) Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda convention will take measures to revive the strength of the party. 

The Standing Committee of the party has proposed a 15-member office-bearer which is likely to be endorsed by convention. This is the first time the Maoist Centre has provisioned senior vice-chair and general secretary posts.As many as 1,631 delegates are attending the convention.  

Hanan Goder, Ambassador of Israel to Nepal, has said that media remains a prime ingredient of the discourse for preserving democracies, democratic inclusion, and democratic life.

Speaking at a program organized to mark the sixth anniversary of Media Action Nepal(MAN), a research-based media rights advocacy group, the Envoy said that Israel is very proud of what it has achieved in the last 73 years in the bilateral relation, Ambassador Goder added. Appreciating Nepal’s independent and inclusive media, he lauded Nepal’s press freedom.  The 6th anniversary was celebrated in Kathmandu on December 21 with a dialogue program on the foundations of independent and inclusive media.

Speaking at the same program, Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Murari Prasad Kharel, said that the state was not seen as liberal in granting freedom of the press even though it was mentioned in the constitution.

Chairperson of the National Women Commission Kamala Parajuli, said that the media sector was the carrier of inclusive social and gender transformation and that it should disseminate news in a fair and independent manner.

Chief Commissioner of the National Information Commission (NIC) Mahendra Man Gurung pointed out that a handful of journalists are exercising their right to seek information. He said that the media houses had failed to ensure the freedom of the press and inclusion guaranteed by the constitution of Nepal.

Laxman Datt Pant, MAN Chairperson stated that the organization has conducted various programs for the benefit of more than ten journalists since its inception. It has provided training and fellowships to more than 700 journalists since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.