- Wednesday, 29 July 2026
The Rising Nepal
Churiyamai Tunnel handed over to local committee
The responsibility for the conservation, operation and management of the historic Churiyamai Tunnel, regarded as the first tunnel in South Asia, has been formally handed over to th
26 years on, ex-Kamaiyas struggle for rehabilitation
Nearly 26 years after the government officially abolished the Kamaiya (bonded labour) system, thousands of freed Kamaiya families in Dang, Bardiya and other districts of western Nepal are still waiting for full rehabilitation, land ownership certificates, identity cards and the opportunity to secure dignified livelihoods.
Pakistan pressures Afghans to leave
Members of Afghan settlements in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border province hurriedly packed up belongings this week while others hid at home as police launched a "large-scale crackdown" on undocumented residents.
France and England battle for consolation after World Cup dreams collapse
Miami, July 18: France and England will bid a gloomy farewell to the World Cup tomorrow when they face each other in the dreaded third-place play-off in Miami.Both teams head to Florida still raw from semi-final defeats that have left both footballing nations licking wounds, which, in the eyes of many, were largely self-inflicted.France, the tournament’s outstanding team en route to the last four, were anonymous in the face of a tactical masterclass by Spain on Tuesday and slumped to a 2-0 defeat.England added another chapter to their long history of World Cup heartache on Wednesday when they surrendered the initiative and a lead to lose 2-1 to Argentina in Atlanta.France and England must now attempt to summon the remnants of their competitive will and physical reserves for a game that is widely disliked throughout football.“None of our players and none of the French players want to play this match,” England manager Thomas Tuchel said after his team’s agonising semi-final defeat.“They want to play the final. We gave everything to achieve that. Everyone plays to win the World Cup, but that’s how it is.“We have one less day of recovery than France, but we will do it with professionalism.”Sad footnote for Deschamps The match will mark a sad footnote to Didier Deschamps’ long reign as France coach.Deschamps, who, like Tuchel, has faced stinging criticism for the tactical decisions that marked his team’s semi-final defeat, is stepping down as manager after the tournament.The 57-year-old’s departure ends a successful 14-year spell in charge that included a World Cup triumph in 2018, defeat in the final in Qatar in 2022 and a run to the last four in the current tournament.“There’s a third-place finish to play for, so we’ll do everything we can to get it,” Deschamps said after France’s semi-final loss.“We’re not where we wanted or expected to be. The disappointment matches our ambitions, but we have to accept it. We have no other choice.”Yet while it will be scant consolation, the game might well prove pivotal for the World Cup’s Golden Boot race.France captain Kylian Mbappe is joint top scorer for the tournament alongside Argentina skipper Lionel Messi on eight goals, and will be looking to add to his tally against an unsettled English defence.England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham—who are on six goals apiece—could also enter the running with a big performance at the Hard Rock Stadium.Last dance for Kane? For England’s all-time record goalscorer Kane, the game may also mark the final World Cup appearance of his career.The Bayern Munich forward turns 33 this month and it is questionable whether he will be around for the 2030 finals.Kane declined to speculate on his international future following Wednesday’s defeat.“It’s too early to talk about that,” Kane told reporters.“I’m taking it year by year and the national team is my pride and joy. It’s what I love to do more than anything.... I never want to put a limit on these things.”The match is also an opportunity for Mbappe to move into top spot in the all-time World Cup scoring charts. The Real Madrid striker is currently on 20 goals, one behind Messi on 21.Much may depend on the strength of the lineups fielded by both teams.Tuchel is expected to rotate his starting side heavily after what has been a gruelling campaign.An energy-sapping last-16 trip to the thin air of Mexico City and the Estadio Azteca was followed by a brutally hot quarter-final win over Norway in Miami before the shattering defeat to Argentina.Tuchel is likely to give game time to players who have been on the fringes throughout the campaign, most likely meaning a World Cup debut for Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo and possibly a start for Kane’s understudy as striker, Ollie Watkins.Deschamps may be tempted to field veteran midfielder N’Golo Kante, one of the heroes of Les Bleus’ 2018 World Cup win, who has not seen a minute of action in the United States. (AFP)
Nepalis Wake Up To Political Alternative
A genuine political alternative seeks to free Nepalis from the prejudiced belief about the inequality of fate or their domination by inept ideas, institutions, laws, economy, technology and p
Using Digital Tools To Unlock Student Potential
A few weeks ago, I heard about a Grade 9 student whose behaviour had changed so much that even his parents no longer recognised him. The boy, whom I will call Ramesh, had alway
Murals Matters
City dwellers often adapt to profoundly unnatural aspects of their environment. Traffic noise, air pollution, concrete surfaces, and crowded streets become the backdrop of everyday life. We habi
Bagmati reduces ministries to eight
The Bagmati Provincial Government has reduced the number of ministries and assigned additional responsibilities to its ministers. With the beginning of the new Fisca
Guna Cinema reopened
Guna Cinema, located in Gwarko, Lalitpur, reopened on Friday with eight state-of-the-art screens. The cinema, which had remained closed for
Argentine superstition ramps up ahead of final
Angst-ridden Argentine football fans are putting their faith in good luck rituals ahead of Sunday's World Cup final against Spain. Lionel Messi's men are ju
Korala customs collects Rs. 9.9 B
The Nechung Customs Office in Nechung, Lomanthang Rural Municipality-4 in Upper Mustang, collected more than Rs. 9.92 billion in revenue during the fiscal year 2025/26.
Nepal launches first rail cargo from Kolkata port to Biratnagar
Nepal has launched its first rail cargo service from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar – capital city of Koshi province, marking the start of direct railway transportation of third-country imports to eastern Nepal through India under the Nepal-India Transit Treaty.
TikTok expands AI literacy campaign
TikTok announced a new set of initiatives to help people better identify and understand AI-generated content on the platform to ensure that they have a safe digital experience.
Reviving The Potential Underperformer
Tea, one of the most competitive products and potential exports of Nepal, has remained an underperformer for the past several decades. While the government and its agencies have remain
CCTV cameras to curb illegal activities in border
The Armed Police Force (APF) has stepped up the installation of CCTV cameras at sensitive side border crossings along the Nepal–India border in Banke district in an effort to strengthen surveillance and curb cross-border illegal activities.
