Bhaktapur, April 25: Grade 12 examinations are taking place all over the country starting tomorrow.
A total of 396,847 students including 196,914 female and 193,933 male students are attending the examinations that take place from 8:00 am to 11:00 am, Another, 100,650 students are appearing for the grade increment, according to Chairperson of the National Examinations Board, Dr. Mahashram Sharma,
Students from 5,542 schools across the country are taking part in the Grade 12 exam. The examinations which will be conducted from 8 to 11 am will concluded on May 8. A total of 1526 exam centers have been designated including one in Japan.
For the first time this year, the NEB has determined the examination centers of Kathmandu through a random selection process.
The work of delivering the materials required for the exams, including the answer sheets to the exam centers has been completed while the question papers will be sent online with a ‘time password’, added Sharma.
—
16- Presidents permits mobilizing NA in April 27 by-polls
Kathmandu, April 25: President Ramchandra Paduel has granted permission for mobilizing Nepali Army (NA) in the House of Representatives (HoR) and the Province Assembly (PA) by-elections scheduled to take place on April 27.
The Council of the Ministers on April 22 recommended the President to endorse the deployment of the NA to hold the by-elections in a free, impartial and reliable atmosphere, based on the recommendations of the National Security Council meeting held earlier the same day.
The President granted permission to the moblisation of the NA in the by-elections in accordance with Article 66 (2) of the Constitution.
—
17- 17th Nepal-China (Tibet) Trade Fair on April 29
Kathmandu, April 25: The 17th Nepal-China (Tibet) Economic and Trade Fair is going to be held in the federal capital on coming April 29.
The trade fair is held in every two years in one another country as per the agreement reached between the government of Nepal and the commerce department of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in 1990.
According to the Trade and Export Promotion Center, the main objective of the fair is to further expand the bilateral economic and trade relations between Nepal and China (Tibet).
Around 125 businesspersons including a five-member high-level delegation will participate in the fair. The official delegation will be led by Vice Chair of the Tibet Autonomous Region Government of China, Long Fukuan.
There will be 50 exhibition stalls on behalf of China (Tibet) in the fair, including herbs, agricultural products, modern agricultural tools, tea, electrical appliances, household appliances, carpets, beverages, handicrafts, incense, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, electric vehicles and beauty products.
Likewise, there will be 15 exhibition stalls on behalf of Nepal, including herbs, coffee, tea, handicrafts/carpentry, metalwork, carpet, pashmina and other products.
The fair will be open from 10 am to 6 pm and entry is free.
—
18- Heat wave afflicts Nepalgunj people
Khajura, April 25: Rising temperature coupled with heat wave has hit the people hard in Nepalgunj. The heat wave is occurring from midday to 5:00 pm for some days here.
The field office of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology in Nepalgunj has informed that the maximum temperature has increased here for few days. The Weather Forecasting Division said the heat wave would continue for five more days in Nepalgunj and vicinity.
The division has also requested for precaution.
People suffer from fatigue, weakness, thirst, headache, leg cramp, dizziness, muscle pain, nausea when the temperature rises.
Bheri Hospital physician Dr Paras Shrestha suggested everyone to stay at home, avoid outside work, wear thin cotton clothes, done cap in case of outside movement, increase liquid intake and contact health workers at severe case.
Those hit hard by the canicule are daily wage earners. The daily wage earners like rickshaw pullers are hit hard by the extreme weather, according to Nanda Lal Baisya, former chair of Nepalgunj chamber of commerce.
There is dismal presence of service seekers at public offices owing to the extreme weather, while number of sick ones has increased at Bheri Hospital.
—
19- Forest fires disrupt supplies causing drinking water scarcity in Myagdi
Myagdi, April 25: The forest fires in different local levels in Myagdi district in the past one and a half months have disrupted water supplies in more than 30 villages, after the fire destroyed the water supply pipes.
Villagers shared that water crisis is observed in Malika rural municipality, Mangala rural municipality, Annapurna rural municipality and Beni municipality after the massive wildfires.
The Division Forest Office, Myagdi, stated that almost 1,000 hectares of forests were destroyed after the fires in 112 forests in the district as of April 24.
The water crisis is severe at Upper Darbang village in Malika-6 after the fire in a community forest there. Likewise, the crops sowed and planted are drying up for lack of irrigation due to a long drought, and fires.
The locals have shared that the pipelines from the sources of water to the villages are cut off after the fires in several villages in Malika, Mangala, Beni and Annapurna.
Chief of Drinking Water, Water Resource and Irrigation Division Office in Myagdi, Jhalak Mohan Ojha, said the pipelines of drinking water supplies and irrigation have suffered severely across the district after the wildfires.
A fire at Jyamrukkot in Beni Municipality destroyed the pipeline planted in one kilometer distance, which has caused scarcity of drinking water and irrigation facilities in the area, a local resident Dil Bahadur Ghimire shared. The locals have to spare hours to fetch water after pipeline disruption.
Myagdi district has suffered badly due to forest fires taking place almost every year in a large scale.
Chief District Officer of Myagdi district, Laxman Dhakal, said that a meeting of the District Disaster Management Committee convened recently has decided to demand budget for the reconstruction of the drinking water and irrigation projects in the affected sites.
—
20- Karnali Chief Minister Kandel wins vote of confidence
Karnali, April 25: The Chief Minister of Karnali Province, Yamlal Kandel, has won a vote of confidence from the Karnali Province Assembly on Thursday.
Of the total 40 province assembly members, 35 members were present in the voting process, of which 23 seconded Kandel’s request for the vote of confidence.
Likewise, 12 province assembly members voted against Kandel’s proposal while a province assembly member chose to remain neutral.
After the voting in the Karnali Province Assembly, Speaker of Karnali Province Assembly Nanda Gurung said Kandel’s proposal for the vote of confidence tabled as per Article 168 (4) of the Constitution was passed with a majority.
In the Karnali Province Assembly, Nepali Congress has 14 seats, CPN (Maoist Centre) has 13 and 10 are with the CPN (UML).
Likewise, CPN (Unified Socialist) and RPP have one each province assembly member in Karnali Province. Also, an independent province assembly member is there.
The next meeting of the Karnali Province Assembly is summoned for April 29.
—
21- Govt urged to pay heed to agriculture, energy, IT in new budget
Kathmandu, April 25: At a time when the Finance Minister has viewed time was for taking bold decisions in view of the high expectation of youths on government, the economic experts suggested Minister Barsha Man Pun to not make forthcoming budget ambitious and huge.
They urged him to pay heed to agriculture, tourism, energy and IT in the budget. Allocation of budget to only well prepared projects is imperative, the experts underlined.
According to them, job creation is an equal urgency.
They furnished such suggestions to the Finance Minister during a consultation organized in the wake of next year budget on Thursday.
On the occasion Finance Minister Pun viewed private sector need not be disheartened at all. Government would make important decisions to boost private sectors’ morale and take them into confidence.
He however admitted that stringent policies had to be adopted due to economic pressure, while private sector was for relaxed policy, which again needs proper balance. “Especially youths have hoped much from government at a time when the economy is under pressure. Time has come for bold decision,” he reminded.
Those furnishing suggestions were Chief of Department of Economics at TU, Dr Resham Thapa, former chief Dr Ram Prasad Gyawali, economist and CPN (Unified Socialist) leader Dr Bijay Paudel, former finance secretary Krishna Ghimire, economist at World Bank headquarters, Govind Timilsina, former rector at TU, Prof Dr Shiva Bhushal.
The Finance Minister assured that change in ministers would not change in policy. Best practices of previous governments would be continued, he added.
—
22- Damage assessment and relief coordination underway in Matihani
Kathmandu, April 25: A team has been mobilized to assess the damage caused by the fire that took place in Jaralhawa Tole of Matihani Municipality-6 on Wednesday.
The team under the leadership of joint secretary at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Gogan Bahadur Hamal, will assess the damage as well as make suggestions about the work to be done in the future for the relief and rehabilitation of the fire victims. The team will also provide necessary support to the District Disaster Management Committee.
A total of 100 houses were burnt to ashes in the fire that broke out in Jaralhawa village on Wednesday. A total of 455 people were affected by the incident.
Under Secretary at the NDRRMA, Gomadevi Chemjong, shared that food and emergency relief materials have been provided to the affected families from the local level, local administration and various organizations.
—
23- Transformation areas are identified: PM Dahal
Kathmandu, April 25: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said areas for constructive transformation were identified for the implementation of development plans.
The PM informed that 13 areas of transformation were identified for the implementation from coming fiscal year.
Addressing the concluding meeting of the National Development Council on Thursday, PM Dahal viewed traditional style would not work to achieve development results.
“The 16th periodic plan has finely identified the major agenda and challenges before Nepal’s development process,” he argued, adding that these agenda and challenges would be gradually addressed via policy and programmes and budget as well.
The PM further argued the periodic plans must implement the transformation areas in order to achieve the ambition of ‘good governance, social justice and prosperity’.
The Head of the government also stated that the 16th periodic plan had incorporated estimate of necessary resources along with the strategies required to implement the plans.
He underlined the need of collective responsibility, congruity among policy, policy, programmes and budget, and robust coordination and cooperation among three tiers of governments.
The Prime Minister sought assistance from all sides including private sectors and development agencies to enforce the 16th plan effectively. Optimum use of available resources by maintaining fiscal discipline is equally imperative, Dahal reminded.
—
24- Fake Bhutanese Refugee case: Supreme Court order to keep accused in custody
Kathmandu, April 25: The Supreme Court has stayed the order to the Patan High Court to keep seven persons including CPN (UML) leader Top Bahadur Rayamazhi and former secretary Teknarayan Pandey in custody as accused in fake Bhutanese refugees scam.
The bench of Justices Kumar Regmi and Tek Prasad Dhungana today denied the petition of the accused including Dr. Indrajit Rai, the advisor of then Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, the main accused in the Bhutanese refugee case, Keshav Prasad Dulal, Sanu Bhandari, Sagar Rai and Sandesh Sharma to be released on bail.
Rayamajhi and others had appealed to the Supreme Court against the orders given by District Court Kathmandu and High Court Patan earlier to send them to prison for investigation.
The Court has however ordered to release Nepali Congress leader Angtawa Sherpa on bail.
Similarly, the court overturned the High Court Patan order to keep Jima Sherpeni, Tenji Puti Sherpeni, Pemwa Sherpa, Jima Sherpa, Lamdopa Sherpa and Soni Sherpa in custody. Likewise, Govind Kumar Chaudhary has also been asked to be released on bail.
The Apex Court has also ordered to release Shamsher Miyan, the then Chair of the Central Haj Committee, on a general date.
—
25- Govt. to review laws to address cooperatives’ problem
Kathmandu, April 25: The government is going to review the legal system to address the problems seen in the financial cooperatives’. The government will also assist in the process of addressing the concerns of the depositors of the financial cooperatives.
Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Government Spokesperson and Rekha Sharma shared that the cabinet meeting held today at the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers took a decision regarding this. The meeting also decided to appoint Sudarshan Dev Bhatt, judge of Patan High Court, as the chairperson of the appeals committee while also overseeing work at the same court.
Similarly, the government has instructed the relevant agencies to take serious action to reduce the damage caused by incidents of fires and wildfires taking place in various places across the country, and bring the fire under control.
—
26- Matihani fire victims to get relief materials soon
Jaleshwor, April 25: The district authority has decided to distribute relief materials to the fire victims of Jaralhawahatta Tole from Matihani municipality-6 in Mahottari district.
A total of 100 households suffering loss of property from fire would be provided Rs 20,000 each. A huge fire had gutted the settlement on Wednesday.
An emergency meeting of district disaster management committee held on Thursday took a decision to provide monetary assistance to the fire victims from the disaster management fund, according to Shiva Ram Gelal, Chief District Officer.
The local level, Nepal Police and Nepal Red Cross Society would present details on loss of property to the district committee, which would help allocate relief materials including monetary assistance.
Various organizations active in the country and abroad and business houses, civil society and their associations would be requested for assistance, the meeting decided.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority and Madhes Province government would also be requested for the management of shelters to the fire victims.
Special arrangements would be made for the children, pregnant women, senior ones and sick people.
—
27- Life imprisonment to four including former lawmaker Alam on Rautahat murder incident
Garuda (Rautahat), April 25: The District Court Rautahat has issued a verdict awarding life imprisonment to four persons, including former lawmaker Mohamad Aftab Alam.
District judge Matrika Prasad Acharya handed down life imprisonment to Alam, his brother Mahatav, Badri Sahani and Sheikh Sheraj after finding them guilty in a case relating to bomb explosion and murder.
However, another one implicated in the case, Mukti Shah has been acquitted.
The bomb was exploded at Rajpurfardawa village of Rautahat on the run up to the election of then Constituent Assembly in 2064BS.
Similarly, the case of six others absconding after the incident and accused of involvement in the crime has been put on hold.
A case was filed in 2019 accusing 11 persons, including former lawmaker Alam of explosion and murder. Hearing on the case had concluded on Monday.
—