Day: April 18, 2024

Executive Chairperson of Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) Dharmendra Jha has expressed readiness to work in tandem with local governments. In a face-to-face talk with Bodebarsain municipality mayor Atesh Kumar Singh, RSS Chair Jha said RSS can collaborate with the local government. On the occasion, mayor Singh responded that the municipality was also ready to extend all possible support to the development of the news agency. He lauded the role the RSS has been playing to make the people informed. RSS role in regard to the implementation of federalism was commendable, mayor Singh said, adding he was also ready to collaborate with RSS. The national news agency has been manufacturing and disseminating news in different national languages in collaboration with different municipalities. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Kathmandu: Member of the House of Representatives (HoR) and entrepreneur Dr Sunil Sharma has provided two million rupees to Children's Hospital going to be constructed at the initiative of Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Dr Bhagwan Koirala. Parliamentarian Sharma today reached the under-construction Kathmandu Institute of Child Health (KIOCH) at Hepali Height in Kathmandu and provided financial support. On the occasion, Dr Sharma said he provided financial support to the under-construction hospital as a respect to Dr Koirala for his good cause. KIOCH has forwarded a plan to construct specialized children's hospitals in all seven provinces along with Kathmandu. Dr Koirala is the Chairperson of KIOCH. A hospital of KOICH is already in operation in Damak, Jhapa. KOICH would construct a 100-bed hospital in Kathmandu. KOICH Chairperson Dr Koirala shared that plans are afoot to construct 50-bed hospitals in all seven provinces after constructing one in Kathmandu. Source: National News Agency Nepal

The Tatopani Customs Office has collected more revenue than the target during the first nine months of the current fiscal year. The office collected Rs 8.56 billion in revenue against the target of Rs 5.59 billion, Customs Chief Dayananda KC said. According to KC, trade from the Tatopani Customs Point has increased after the resumption of the Nepal-China border. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Kathmandu: Newly appointed Auditor General Toyam Raya has taken oath of office and secrecy today. At a programme organised at the Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas, Chief Justice Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha, in presence of President Ramchandra Paudel, administered oath of office and secrecy to Raya. Vice-President, Prime Minister, ministers and heads of constitutional bodies were present on the occasion. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Damauli Hospital has operated 12-hour outpatient department (OPD) service from today. The hospital started OPD service from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm from today in view of increasing flow of patients. The 12-hour OPD service would be provided in other days except Saturday and public holiday. Chief of the Damauli Hospital, Dr Paribartan Baral said patients have no need to pay additional charge while receiving service even during expanded hours. He shared that treatment services would be provided to those covered in health insurance scheme through health insurance. He expected that with the expansion of OPD services, people from all classes would get treatment service in an easy manner as well as job holders and students would also be benefitted from it. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Chief Minister of Lumbini Province Jokh Bahadur Mahara has expanded his cabinet appointing four ministers from CPN (UML), one from Nagarik Unmukti Party and one independent province assembly member. The ministries of the newly-appointed ministers are not confirmed as yet. Bhumishwor Dhakal, Ratna Bahadur Khatri, Arjun Kumar KC and Dinesh Panthi from UML, Dharma Bahadur Chaudhary from Nagarik Unmukti Party and independent province assembly Khadga Basnet are appointed the ministers, according to a letter issued from the Chief Minister's Office. With the expansion of the cabinet, the Lumbini Province Government has now 10 ministers. Likewise, Chief Minister Mahara has assigned ministerial portfolios to Ministers Chet Narayan Acharya, Dipendra Kumar Pun Magar and Bhandarilal Ahir. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Kathmandu: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari has argued that the country's economy is improving gradually. Inaugurating the "Sustainable Accounting Practices" today in the capital organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal, Minister Bhandari said the slow growth in the economy of the past has now improved. Indicators of the economy have improved and now the economy should be made more dynamic through the development of trade, business and national industries, Minister Bhandari stated. According to Bhandari, new economic opportunities should be created by boosting the morale of industrialists and business communities for the making of a robust economy. "On the one hand, this provides a positive message on the economy, and on the other, it creates employment opportunities within the country," he observed. On the occasion, he urged the chartered accountants to maintain credibility and transparency in their profession. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Kathmandu: The Department of Health Services has launched the National Vitamin 'A' programme for children under five years from today. Vitamin 'A' Capsules are being administered to children from six months to 59 months of age and de-worming tablets to children from one year to five years in the two-day programme. Nutrition Section Head of the Department, Lila Bikram Thapa, said the Department has set a target of administering Vitamin 'A' capsules to around 3.2 million children while de-worming tablets to around 2.9 million children. Health volunteers would administer Vitamin 'A' and de-worming tablets to children in every ward, he mentioned. A total of 52,000 women health volunteers and 10,000 health workers are deputed for the two-day programme. The government administers Vitamin 'A' capsules and de-worming tablets to children free of cost in Baishakh and Kartik every year. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Kathmandu: President Ramchandra Paudel has nominated Dr Anjan Shakya as the member of the National Assembly based on the recommendation of the government. President Paudel nominated Shakya to the post in accordance with Article 86 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal, reads a press release issued today by the Office of the President. A cabinet meeting held on April 12 had recommended before the President to nominate Shakya to the vacant post of the NA member. Source: National News Agency Nepal

The Budhirapti river area at Sauraha in Ratnanagar was cleaned up on Wednesday, as part of the 29th Wildlife Week. The initiative was carried out by the Baghmara Buffer Zone Community Forest Users' Group. The river was cleaned from Chitrasari Bridge to Dungaghat. Chitrasen Buffer Zone Community Forest Users group, Sauraha Lady Jaycees, Leo Club of Chitwan Sauraha, Mainaha Youth Club also provided a helping hand for cleaning up the river. Under the wildlife week, a program is being organised to raise awareness about forest, wildlife and environment protection today, and tomorrow, the last day of the event, a discussion will be held on possibilities and challenges in forest, wildlife and biological diversity conservation, and honor those who have contributed to the protection and conservation of forest and environment. A total of 26 organizations including local government, community forest users group, National Nature Conservation Fund, tourism related organizations of Sauraha are taking part the Wildlife Week. Source: National News Agency Nepal

People who hold public positions at the local level of Gorkha will now have to send their children to community schools. This will apply in five municipalities of the district, following a decision make by the municipal executives. Accordingly, the Bhimsen Thapa Rural Municipality, Ajirkot Rural Municipality, Gorkha Municipality, Dharche Rural Municipality and Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality have issued a notice directing all the public officials to send their children to public schools. Mayor of Gorkha Municipality Krishna Bahadur Ranamgar said that all public officials including people's representatives, employees, teachers, school management committee chair and members should send their children to public schools, while also working to improve the quality of education in the schools run by the government. Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality has decided to bring the decision into force starting this academic year. Chair of Bhimsen Thapa Rural Municipality, Lokprasad Banjara, expressed the belief that th is decision will help to make education in community schools qualitative and competitive. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Kathmandu: Finance Minister Barshaman Pun has said that underdeveloped and Himalayan nations like Nepal should be prioritized for access to compensation, biodiversity, and adaptation funds established to address the damages caused by climate change. He also urged developed countries to uphold their commitments and work earnestly to protect the world from the effects of climate change, while calling on the global community to recognize and address the challenges faced by developing countries, such as Nepal, which face significant risks from climate change. Speaking at the 12th ministerial meeting of the V-20 (a group of countries at risk due to the effects of climate change) in Washington, DC, USA on Wednesday, Minister Pun emphasized the need for global collective commitment to mitigate the risks associated with climate change, according to the Nepali Embassy in Washington DC. Pun highlighted the plight of the poor and marginalized populations in Nepal who are suffering from the effects of climate change. He also drew attention to the alarming impact of climate change on Nepal's environment, such as the rapid melting of snow in the Himalayas, decreased water flow in glaciers, and increased risk of glacial lake outburst floods. Other problems like irregular rainfall patterns, floods, landslides, and droughts are intensifying. Moreover, Minister Pun noted that natural disasters resulting from climate change threaten sustainable development efforts, human health, and livelihoods. Pun stressed the importance of developed nations providing financial assistance for climate adaptation programs in third-world countries like Nepal, which face high risks despite contributing minimally to climate change. Minister Pun's visit to the United States also included participation in the joint spring meeting of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund. The V-20 is a body advocating for reducing the risk of climate change and increasing financial support to manage the global economic transition resulting from climate change. Source: National News Agency Nepal