Author: Onu Akter

Former Indian diplomat Shyam Saran calls for an end to suspicion about India’s role in Nepal, stressing the importance of trust and mutual respect in India–Nepal diplomatic relations. Shyam Saran, former Indian Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to Nepal, has played a key role in shaping India–Nepal diplomatic relations over the past 25 years. In a recent visit to Kathmandu, he shared his views on peace, politics, and the way forward for both nations. Saran served as India’s Ambassador to Nepal from 2002 to 2004. He later helped support the 12-point agreement between Nepal’s political parties and Maoists, which led to…

Construction of the Mid-Hill Highway in Panchthar district has stopped after around 150 workers left the site due to unpaid wages. These workers had been working along a 51-kilometre stretch of the road under three separate contracts. They walked off the job two weeks ago after not receiving their pay for six months. The contracts were awarded to two joint venture companies—Roshan Shivashakti JV and Santoshi Shivashakti JV. Both are operated by the same contractor, Surendra Pathak. The workers say they are owed nearly Rs10 million in total. Due to the lack of payment, construction has come to a complete…

Nepal and the West Indies will face each other in a historic first-ever bilateral T20 International cricket series. The three-match series is scheduled to take place in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, from September 27 to September 30, 2025. This series offers both teams crucial preparation ahead of major tournaments. The West Indies aim to fine-tune their squad before the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Nepal will use the matches as their final warm-up before competing in the Asia/East Asia-Pacific Qualifier, where they hope to secure one of three T20 World Cup spots available through a nine-team tournament. Chris Dehring,…

IDEMIA Smart Identity has filed a formal complaint against Nepal’s Department of Passports after losing a major e-passport contract to two German firms. The department awarded Letters of Intent to Veridos GmbH and Muehlbauer ID Service GmbH for passport printing and system management on June 6, 2025. IDEMIA, which has supplied passports to Nepal since 2010, claims the decision was flawed due to administrative and technical non-compliance by the selected companies. The contract was divided into two packages. Muehlbauer ID Service received the first package for managing the eMRTDS system, valued at over Rs1.55 billion. Veridos GmbH won the second…

Bindu Bites, a food business founded by Nepali-American entrepreneur Bindu Marasini, is gaining popularity across Central Texas. Known for handmade momos and bold sauces, the business has become a favorite at farmers markets and food events, including TXST Market Days and the Austin Hot Sauce Festival. Bindu Marasini grew up in Nepal, where she learned to cook with her family. As a child, she helped her mother and relatives prepare traditional dumplings called momos. These early experiences sparked her lifelong passion for food. After moving to the United States, Marasini pursued a career in accounting and worked with Vital Farms…

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Devraj Ghimire, has urged the government to create strong and clear policies to protect and promote Nepal’s mother languages. He shared this message during the second International Mother Language Conference held in Lalitpur on Friday. The event was organized by the National Forum of Newar Journalists. Ghimire said journalism in mother languages is facing many challenges and must be protected to keep cultural identity alive. He noted that a document produced from the conference would help guide the country in language preservation and national unity. He praised efforts by institutions like Rastriya Samachar Samiti,…

Thousands of Nepali students dreaming of higher education in the United States are facing growing uncertainty due to strict visa restrictions. The US, once the top destination for Nepali students, has seen a drop in admissions as new policies delay or cancel student visa processing. Nepal ranks as the 10th largest country of origin for international students in the US. However, the number of Nepali students has fallen to 16,482. Although nearly 8,000 no-objection certificates were issued last year, many students have been left stranded due to the shifting policies under the Trump administration. The US State Department recently instructed…

Nepal has called on Israel and Iran to avoid further military escalation and instead use dialogue to ensure peace in the region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) issued a press statement on Friday urging both countries to adopt a peaceful and diplomatic path to resolve the growing tension. The appeal from Nepal came after Israel launched what it described as a preemptive strike on Iran. This move, led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, has escalated fears of broader conflict in the Middle East. “Nepal urges both sides to avoid escalation and adopt a…

The government of Nepal has appointed Sabina Maskey as the Officiating Managing Director of Nepal Telecom. This change comes after a corruption case was filed against the former Managing Director, Sangita Pahadi. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) submitted the case on Friday to the Special Court. The case names Pahadi, other officials, foreign nationals Long Yong and Hong Wei, and the Chinese company Asia Info Pvt. Ltd. Nepal Telecom spokesperson Rabindra Manandhar confirmed that Maskey has taken charge to help stabilize the company during this period. The case alleges misuse of authority and irregularities linked…

President Ramchandra Paudel said that schools play a major role in developing athletes. He spoke at the opening ceremony of the 15th President’s Running Shield Sports Tournament at Dasharath Stadium. He pointed out that education and sports together can help young people grow stronger and become active in nation-building. He explained that education provides knowledge and awareness, while sports teach discipline, energy, and teamwork. When these come together, they help children and youth grow in all areas. He said that villages and schools act as the foundation for producing athletes. That is why sports should be promoted more at the…