BINOD SUBEDI

Encroachment on elephant corridors and shrinking forest habitats are intensifying human-elephant conflict in Koshi Province, claiming lives, killing elephants and damaging homes and crops.

Nepal’s first podway is set to be constructed in Biratnagar, with the first seven-kilometer section planned from Rani border point to Biratnagar Bus Park as a pilot project.

Three camps have emerged around Thapa, former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba and leader Dr Shekhar Koirala. Two have announced separate convention schedules, while Shekhar’s camp has remained neutral. 

Karki received 57 votes during Monday’s vote. Members of the CPN-UML and Nepali Communist Party supported the chief minister. The UML has 40 members in the Koshi Provincial Assembly, while the Nepali Communist Party has 17.

The NCP has been allocated four ministries in the Koshi government. Four ministers and one state minister are expected to take the oath.

The report shows that although the province has managed to reduce the annual amount of arrears over the past two years, clearing the accumulated backlog remains a major challenge as new arrears continue to be added each year.

The decision was reached during talks between Oli and Karki, according to UML lawmaker Rewati Raman Bhandari.

The meeting, attended by office bearers of the UML Koshi Province Committee and provincial assembly members, was convened to resolve the party's internal dispute over the province's leadership. However, despite hours of discussion, leaders failed to break the deadlock.

A fatal clash between two communities in Sunsari over a DJ row and a lingering flag dispute has sparked protests across Tarai districts, while questions mount over the police response and failure to defuse tensions in time.

The province is currently led by UML Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki, who is set to step down. The UML is preparing to nominate Til Kumar Menyangbo, the deputy leader of its Koshi Provincial Assembly parliamentary party, as the next chief minister.