Day: May 24, 2024

An international tea festival is to be organized in Ilam which is known by the moniker 'the tea capital' of Nepal. The event will be held from June 8 to 10 in Ilam Bazar. Mayor of Ilam municipality Kedar Thapa said the international tea festival is being organised to publicize the quality of Nepali tea to the world. He added that the event will have the participation of tea industrialists, tea farmers, entrepreneurs and international tea enthusiasts. "We are organising the international tea festival under the Municipality's leadership in a bid to address the complaints that the tea farmers and traders were compelled to sell their produce at lower price for lack of adequate publicity in spite of Nepal's tea considered as being organic and of high quality," Mayor Thapa said, adding that tea could be a major source of earning foreign currency if the export of Nepal-grown tea could be increased to foreign countries. According to him, the festival is organized with the objective of marketing of tea and encoura ging farmers towards tea cultivation. Mayor Thapa expressed that the festival will help in marketing Nepali tea in the international market. Source: National News Agency RSS

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Finance has laid emphasis on arranging non-cash incentives to increase remittance inflow through official channels. The committee made the recommendation at its 3rd meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Bhaban here on Thursday with committee chairman AHM Mustafa Kamal in the chair, said a press release. Committee member and Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, State Minister for Finance Waseqa Ayesha Khan, MA Mannan, AK Abdul Momen, Ahmed Firoz Kabir, Md Abul Kalam Azad and Runu Reza took part in the meeting. After a detailed discussion in the meeting, the committee recommended placing 'Payment and Settlement System Bill, 2024'in the national parliament with necessary amendments, additions, refinements and supplements. The committee also recommended the ministry to take necessary steps to increase the campaign to ensure low-interest loans and other benefits for expatriates provided by the government. Bangladesh Bank governor, finance divisio n secretary, Financial Institutions Division secretary, senior officials of ministry and parliament were present on the occasion. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping over the eight divisions and it may continue. "Mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping over Dhaka, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and it may continue," said a met office forecast for the next 24 hours begins from 9am today. The low-pressure area over Southwest Bay and adjoining West central Bay moved slightly northeastwards, intensified into a well-marked low and into a depression over East central Bay and adjoining West central Bay at 06.00 am of today. It is likely to intensify further, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) added. Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country. Country's maximum temperature on Thursday was recorded 38.5 degree Celsius jointly at Rangamati and Ishurdi and today's minimum temperature 24.5 degree Celsius was recorded at Maijdi court in Noakhali district. Maximum rainfall for the last twenty-four hours till 6am today was recorded 40 millimeters(mm) at the Maijdi Court. Day and night temperature may rise slightly over the country. Due to increase of moisture incursion the discomfort may persist. The sun sets at 06.39 pm today and rises at 05.12 am tomorrow in the capital. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Today's meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) has been postponed without taking up the day's agenda. The meeting, called for 11:00 am, was started around one and half hour's delay. Soon after the beginning of the meeting, the opposition parties including the Nepali Congress obstructed the session. Saying a meeting of taskforce of the Parliamentary Probe Committee was underway as per the demand of the opposition parties, Speaker Devraj Ghimire urged the opposition parties to felicitate to run the meeting. "Both ruling parties and opposition parties are equally accountable and responsible for make environment conducive for putting views by lawmakers and taking the meeting ahead. So I urge lawmakers of the opposition parties to move ahead with this responsibility," said Speaker Ghimire. Speaker Ghimire announced the postponement of the meeting after the opposition parties continued the obstruction. The next meeting has been scheduled at 11:00 am on May 26. Today's meeting had the agendas to read the letter regarding allocation of additional portfolios to some ministers received from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, nomination of the members chairing the meeting as per the Rule 10 of the House of Representatives Regulation, 2079. Similarly, Chairperson of the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee, Ammar Bahadur Thapa was scheduled to table the Committee's report-2080, related to Security printing Bill while lawmaker Prem Suwal was scheduled to present a proposal regarding rejection of 'Ordinance to Amend some Nepal Acts Related to Investment Felicitation-2024' in today's meeting. In the House session today, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari was scheduled to present a proposal seeking approval of the Ordinance to Amend Some Nepal Acts Related to Investment Facilitation, 2024. Similarly, Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Bhanubhakta Joshi was set to present a proposal on forwarding the 'Federal Civil Service Bill, 2023 to the related committee for the clause-by-clause discussion while Minister Bhandari was set to present a proposal on sending the Bill on E-commerce, 2023 to the thematic committee concerned for holding cluse-wise discussions on it. Likewise, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' was to present a proposal seeking that the House start deliberations on the Annual Policy and Programmes of the Government of Nepal for Fiscal Year 2024/25 included in the address made by President to the joint session of both houses of the Federal Parliament on May 14, 2024. Presentation of amendment proposals on the Annual Policy and Programmes of the Government of Nepal for the Fiscal Year 2024/25 received from the HoR lawmakers and the Prime Minister responding to the queries raised during the deliberations was one among the agendas of the HoR meeting. Also included in the agenda of the meeting today was putting to a decision the Annual Policy and Programmes of the Government of Nepal for Fiscal Year 2024/25 included in the address made by President to the joint session of both houses of the Federal Parliament on May 14, 2024. Source: National News Agency RSS

A meeting of Chapainawabganj District Legal Aid Committee was held with associate employees at its office here on Thursday afternoon. Chairman of the committee and also the Senior District and Sessions Judge Md. Adeeb Ali presided over the meeting while Chief judicial Magistrate Kumar Shipon Modok and Senior Judicial Magistrate Md. Humayun Kabir also spoke, among others. Md. Adeeb Ali said the Legal Aid Committee is providing free legal assistance to the poor and vulnerable women litigants. He also asked the associate employees to make proper arrangements so that the poor aspirants of justice can come to the committee and get assistance. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Rabi Lamichhane, has opined that the activities against the public aspirations and organizational spirit of police will not be accepted at any cost. Addressing the convocation ceremony of Nepal Police, Police Inspector Basic Training 1-182, here today, DPM Lamichhane directed the police officials to follow the rule of law, supremacy of constitution and government's policy and programme. Minister Lamichhane drew attention to the organization's commitment to peace and security promotion, crime control and public service delivery to provide citizen-friendly services. He argued that the newly inducted police officials should bear the responsibility of the organization to meet the public aspirations in service delivery, corruption and crime control and keep the organization intact and effective. Inspector General of Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar directed the officials to use the technology for carrying out factual and evidence-based investigations in accordance with the laws and scientific way by analyzing the collected evidences and to adhere to the international standards of human rights. On the occasion, awards were given to police inspectors Pawan Kumar Pariyar, Sagun Khadka, Ayush Dhungana and Gokul Kumar Dhanuk for their outstanding performance in various categories during the training session. Source: National News Agency RSS

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree Thursday on the seizure of U.S. properties in response to the potential confiscation of Russian assets by the United States. According to the decree, the Russian Central Bank and Russian entities will have the right to seek legal redress in court in case of the unlawful seizure of properties by the United States. A special commission of the Russian government will identify U.S. assets or properties, including movable and immovable U.S. properties in Russia, securities, shares in Russian enterprises, and property rights, which can be used to compensate for losses incurred. The government has been given four months to introduce amendments to Russian legislation to facilitate the implementation of the decree. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: A meeting of the taskforce formed to finalize the terms of reference of the parliamentary probe committee on the issues of cooperative fund embezzlement is ongoing at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. The committee members also held discussions on Thursday to finalize the ToR but the meeting ended inconclusively. The main opposition Nepali Congress has been obstructing the meeting of both houses demanding the formation of a parliamentary committee for conducting an impartial investigation, citing the involvement of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane and asking to name Lamichhane in the probe panel. An understanding was reached on May 18 between the ruling parties and the opposition NC to form the probe committee. Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Padam Giri, CPN (UML) Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula, NC leaders Gyanendra Bahadur Karki and Jeevan Pariyar and Shishir Khanal of the Rastriya Swatantra Party are in the taskforce. Source: Nat ional News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: President Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' held a meeting this morning at President House, Shital Niwas. According to the President's Secretariat, President Paudel expressed his concerns about the disruptions in the parliamentary meetings. On the occasion, PM Dahal said that he was working to end the ongoing House deadlock. Source: National News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: CPN (UML) Standing Committee member Dr Rajan Bhattarai has said that only harmonious relations with neighbouring countries can lead the nation on the way to prosperity. Speaking in an event organized by party's Foreign Affairs Department here Friday on 'Foreign Policy Issues in the Changing Context', Department Chief Dr Bhattarai emphasized that there should be continuous dialogue focusing on economic diplomacy to establish good relations with immediate neighbours India and China. He said that UML's policy is to eliminate foreign interference in the country and not to be under the influence and pressure of any powers. Dr Bhattarai emphasized that the unequal treaties with India should be amended. He also said that BRI should be implemented with China and Nepal should get the maximum benefit from it. Dr Anjan Shakya, a member of the National Assembly, said that UML's foreign policy is clear in the changing context. Source: National News Agency RSS

A total of 374 small-scale industries have been closed in 10 months of the current fiscal year 2023/24 in Makawanpur district due to economic crisis. According to the Office of the Cottage and Small Industries, Makawanpur, 167 enterprises towards industry and 207 towards commerce were closed during the period. Similarly, 283 industries were closed in the district in fiscal year 2022/23. Office Chief Ram Prasad Bhusal said the number of industries closing their services has increased in lack of loan from banks and financial institutions, and also shortage of capital. A total of 614 new industries-323 towards industry and 291 towards commerce have been registered at the office in 10 months of the current fiscal year. The office had collected Rs 26.32 million revenue from different headings including registration and renewal of the industries during the period, added Bhusal. Source: National News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said that police persons should fulfill their duty towards the state by carrying out their responsibilities in an efficient way. Addressing the convocation ceremony of Nepal Police, Police Inspector Basic Training 1-182, here today, PM Dahal expressed his confidence that the police force is capable of and successful to face all kinds of challenges that might be encountered in the working area. "I am confident that you will be successful in making your work performance result-oriented, negotiating the obstacles that might come in course of crime control and investigations through the skills acquired from the training. I have the confidence that you will fulfill the responsibilities of your position adeptly without being deviated in the line of duty," he said. Prime Minister Dahal on the occasion reminded that Nepal Police is an organisation established to maintain law and order in society and protecting the human rights, effectively controlling cr ime and conducting investigation being guided by the main concept of the rule of law. According to him, training institutes have an important role in producing capable and professional police workforce that can face up to the challenges of the 21st century. Stating that newer and newer challenges are being faced along with the rapid development of science and technology, PM Dahal stressed on the need of becoming accountable to the citizens, sensitive to human rights, fair and impartial, professional and committed to the principle of the rule of law. He emphasized that the Training Centre should be sensitive to producing skilled and capable human resources who can efficiently fulfill the responsibilities given by the state as far as possible for taking the relations between citizen and the police to a new height. Reiterating that the police organization's effectiveness is directly affected by the capability and efficiency of the police force that have to be mobilized in large numbers for maintaining law and order, the Prime Minister said capable and adept human resources and timely and professional training are inevitable for the police organization. He shared on the occasion that the course content of the training has to be revised in order to make it more standard and practical, adding new structures are being constructed at Panauti of Kavre for adopting modern training methods and standards. The PM made it clear that the Government of Nepal is committed to facilitating in the construction of these structures and having them constructed through diplomatic initiatives, placing the national security and interest at centre. Source: National News Agency RSS