Bara, Nepal — The Bara District Committee of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) has confirmed its final list of candidates for the federal midterm elections scheduled for Falgun 21.
The party has finalised candidates under both the first-past-the-post (direct) and proportional representation systems across all four House of Representatives constituencies in Bara district. Party officials said the selection process was guided by the cluster-based inclusion system.
According to the district committee,
Comrade Vibha Kumari Karki (Constituency No. 1) and
Comrade Kamala Kumari Rimal (Constituency No. 4)
have been confirmed as proportional representation candidates under the Khas Arya cluster.
The party said the candidate list has been formally approved by the central leadership and is now final. The NCP stated it is preparing to contest the midterm elections with a focus on organisational strength and inclusive representation.be confirmed after approval by the central leadership.
Mustang, — The Cold Horticulture Development Centre in Marpha, ward no. 2 of Gharapjhong Rural Municipality, Mustang, has started producing hybrid ‘M-9 rootstock’ apple saplings using high-density farming technology.
The saplings are being developed through tissue culture laboratory technology, marking the first time such hybrid apple rootstock plants have been produced in Nepal using this method.
According to Ashok Limbu, Bio-technology Officer at the centre, the initiative aims to test and develop M-9 rootstock saplings suitable for high-density apple farming. The centre plans to produce around 6,000 saplings this year on its land in Ghasa and Marpha.
He said that although similar attempts were made at other tissue culture laboratories in Nepal, they failed to achieve successful propagation and development compared to the Marpha centre.
The tissue culture laboratory was established at the centre in 2021, and over the past three years, continuous research and protocol development have been carried out to support hybrid apple production.
High-density apple farming has been expanding in Mustang since 2013 due to its ability to deliver higher yields in less time and on smaller land areas. Previously, hybrid apple saplings imported from Italy were distributed to farmers with government subsidies, but their high cost limited wider access.
The centre believes that domestic production of hybrid apple saplings will significantly reduce costs for farmers, as imported M-9 rootstock saplings can cost over NPR 1,000 per plant.
Currently, apple orchards cover 837 hectares in Mustang, of which 572 hectares are in production. In the last season, hybrid apples were cultivated on 62 hectares across five local units, producing around 250 metric tonnes.
Kathmandu, Nepal — Two factions of Nepal’s Janata Samajwadi movement have formally agreed to reunify, marking a significant political development ahead of the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives.
The unity agreement was signed on Monday between Upendra Yadav, chair of the Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal (JSP-N), and a faction led by Renu Yadav, co-chair of the Janata Samajwadi Party. Leaders from both sides confirmed that the deal includes full organisational integration.
The agreement follows an earlier unification announced on Sunday between the Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party and the Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, indicating broader consolidation efforts among Madhes-based political forces.
Leaders said the reunification aims to strengthen the protection and promotion of federalism and republicanism, achievements of the Madhes movement, while ensuring the political, social and constitutional rights of the Madhesi community.
According to Pradeep Yadav, a leader from the Renu Yadav faction, the majority of central committee members will merge back into the original party under the leadership of Upendra Yadav. He described the unity as “inevitable” given the changing political landscape.
“The decision reflects the aspirations and expectations of the Madhesi people,” he said, adding that the move was made with a focus on collective strength ahead of the national elections.
The reunification is expected to have a notable impact on Madhes-region politics and electoral alignments in the months ahead.
KATHMANDU: Nepal’s Communist Party (NCP) has decided to prioritize new faces in its proportional representation (PR) list for the upcoming elections, excluding anyone who has previously served as a Member of Parliament or as a minister.
The decision was taken by consensus among the party’s top leadership, according to party sources. Under the agreement, candidates who were earlier elected either through the first-past-the-post system or the proportional system will not be recommended for the PR list this time.
With Sunday marking the final deadline for submitting the closed proportional list, the party has resolved to forward only fresh candidates, describing the move as part of a broader effort towards internal reform and renewal.
Party leaders say the decision is aimed at promoting inclusiveness and opening space for new leadership within the party’s organizational structure.
Kathmandu, Dec 28, 2025 — The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra “Balen” Shah signed a seven-point political agreement on Sunday, consolidating their cooperation ahead of Nepal’s upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for March 2026.
The agreement was finalized after extended talks between RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane and Mayor Shah. It outlines leadership roles, party structure, and governance priorities. Under the deal, Shah is positioned to take a leading political role, while Lamichhane retains the party’s chairmanship.
The pact emphasizes anti-corruption measures, youth participation, and institutional reforms. Party officials described the agreement as a step toward strengthening alternative political forces and presenting a unified front against established parties.
Political analysts note that this alliance could significantly influence the 2026 elections, particularly among urban and young voters. Full details on the implementation of the seven-point framework are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Myagdi, December 29 — Residents of Machhim in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality–7, Myagdi district, have expressed optimism after a long-awaited study resumed for the exploration and possible extraction of copper from the Tamakhani mine, which has remained closed for nearly five decades.
MS Dongyi Minerals Pvt. Ltd., a company that has obtained approval from the Department of Mines and Geology, has restarted geological surveys and feasibility studies at the Machhim copper mine. The mine, located on nearby slopes, comprises six identified copper sites that have been inactive for around 50 years.
Ward Chairperson Ashok Khatri said a team of geologists has arrived to assess the copper reserves. To facilitate the study, an access road has been constructed linking the mine site with the main road connecting Machhim to the rural municipality headquarters at Muna.
According to Khatri, extraction activities will proceed to the next phase only after exploration and feasibility assessments are completed.
Local leader Chandra Bahadur Chhantyal said residents are pleased with the renewed attention to the mine, which once played a central role in the community’s livelihood. He noted that copper was extracted using traditional techniques until 1971. The mine was shut down due to outdated technology and a tax burden that exceeded income at the time.
The Chhantyal community, traditionally known for mining, has a long history in the area. Evidence of copper veins, tunnels, and mineral seepage remains visible. Copper extracted from the mine was historically used to produce household utensils such as water pots, measuring containers, and cups—some of which are still preserved in local homes.
Residents have urged authorities and the company to ensure environmental safety, disaster risk mitigation, and employment priority for locals. The company is also conducting feasibility studies at the Okharbot copper mine in Malika Rural Municipality. According to the Department of Mines and Geology, Myagdi district hosts a variety of mineral resources, including copper, iron, quartz, limestone, slate, marble, and natural hot springs. Copper remains the most abundant mineral in the district, with deposits found across multiple rural municipalities.
KATHMANDU: Nepal’s state-owned power utility says electricity supply will be temporarily disrupted in parts of the capital on Sunday due to scheduled maintenance work.
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) said power will be cut under the Panipokhari and Hospital feeders between 11:00am and 1:00pm, affecting areas including Lazimpat, Panipokhari, Maharajgunj and the vicinity of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.
The authority added that electricity will also remain suspended in and around the President’s Residence, the Nepal Police Central Investigation Bureau, and the Nepal Police Hospital, according to the Maharajgunj Distribution Centre.
The outage is part of work to connect underground cables under the Kathmandu Valley Central and Northern Distribution System Strengthening Project, aimed at improving the reliability of power supply in the city.
NEA said electricity may be restored earlier than scheduled if the work is completed ahead of time.
Kathmandu — Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said that universities must be developed as centres of academic debate and research, free from partisan political influence.
Addressing the 51st convocation ceremony of Tribhuvan University, Prime Minister Karki, who also serves as the Chancellor of the university, stressed the need for increased investment in education for the country’s long-term development.
She noted that political interference in academic administration has negatively affected Nepal’s higher education system and said there is a growing need to review the provision that appoints the Prime Minister as the university chancellor. According to her, serious consultations and preparatory work are currently underway on this issue.
Describing convocation as not an end but the beginning of a new academic and social responsibility, Prime Minister Karki expressed confidence that graduates would be capable of addressing challenges such as rapid technological change, climate change, employment competition and social inequality.
KATHMANDU: The condition of Rabilaxmi Chitrakar, the wife of former prime minister Jhala Nath Khanal, is reported to be improving after she was seriously injured in a fire incident during the Gen Z movement.
On Wednesday, NCP Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Joint Coordinator Madhav Kumar Nepal visited Khanal’s residence in Dallu to inquire about her health and extend wishes for her recovery.
Chitrakar returned home last week following treatment in India. Former prime minister Khanal said her condition is stable and that medical care is continuing, according to Prachanda’s private secretariat.
A peaceful motorcycle rally was organised in Gokarneshwar, Kathmandu, on the occasion of Christmas, one of the most important festivals observed by Christians.
The rally, organised by the Gokarneshwar Christian Society, began early on Poush 9 from Sundarijal, passed through Jorpati, and concluded at Jakadol Park.
Organisers said the programme was held to highlight the presence of a significant Christian community in the area and to spread the message of peace, unity and joy associated with the birth of Jesus Christ.
More than 300 participants from various congregations joined the rally, which concluded peacefully.
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