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The Babarmahal area of Kathmandu got waterlogged after a major water supply pipe on the main road burst open.

The incident took place as the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) was conducting horizontal drilling to install underground power supply wires.

Head of Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Project Implementation Directorate, Tika Bahadur Chaudhary, said that a pipe in the major water supply system burst while 'horizontal drilling' was being conducted for underground electricity supply wire installation.

Though the water distribution valve was closed following the incident, the water has not stopped flowing, he said.

After the pipe burst leading to water logging, the Special Court in Babarmahal as well as surrounding government buildings were submerged along with some vehicles parked in the office premises.

The traffic along the section was also affected, leading to long traffic jam.

The Ministry of Health and Population is to provide free tests for noncommunicable diseases for a month. The service beginning tomorrow (February 13) will continue till the end of Fagun (March 13).

The campaign will be focused on increasing civic awareness on non-transmissible diseases and their prevention.  

According to Ministry Spokesperson Dr Prakash Budhathoki, people above 30 will be provided free tests for diabetes, hypertension and kidney-related issues with the measurements of body weight and height.

The nation's population above 50 is 14,090,000.  The services for them will be available in health institutions at the local levels.

Earlier on December 2, 2023, Minister for Health and Population, Pradeep Paudel, endorsed a directive for the month-long campaign on non-communicable diseases.

Similarly, the Ministry is preparing to launch a free screening test for cervical cancer in the month of Fagun (February-March).

Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak directed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Basanta Bahadur Kunwar to probe the recent incidents involving the manhandling of police personnel and take action against the culprits.

The instruction follows the increasing cases of physical assaults and mistreatment against the police personnel on duty in recent days.

Summoning IGP Kunwar and other high-ranking police officers at the Ministry of Home Affairs at Singha Durbar this morning, Minister Lekhak expressed his serious attention over the rising cases of manhandling of security personnel.

He, thus, asked the police organization to investigate the matter and bring the culprits to justice.

The Minister emphasized more active work on the part of the police organization to maintain peace and order, especially in the wake of such incidents.

Minister Lekhak said, "I have instructed IGP Basanta Bahadur Kunwar to take action against anyone involved in such incidents." Understanding the government's resolve to protect law enforcement personnel, he reaffirmed his commitment to take actions against anyone who disrupts peace and security in society or attack the employees who guard the society.

Nepal and India have agreed on modalities for constructing cross-border transmission lines.

The secretarial level meeting between relevant ministries of Nepal and India held in New Delhi, India on Tuesday, February 11, agreed on the modalities for the same.

The transmission line is vital for exporting 15,000 megawatts of electricity from Nepal to India and Bangladesh by 2035.

Nepal's Energy Secretary Suresh Acharya and India's Electricity Secretary Pankaj Agrwal signed the MoU. With this, the construction process for the cross-border transmission line will now move forward.

Earlier in November, 2024, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Deepak Khadka had discussed with Indian ministries regarding the same with the reference to power trade agreement between Nepal and India to export 10,000-megawatt electricity from Nepal to India within next 10 years.

The 12th meeting of the Joint Steering Committee (secretarial level) had subsequently convened on January 22 this year to take forward the construction process.

In the meeting, both parties had agreed to facilitate power trade between Nepal and India and expedite construction of cross-country transmission lines.

The Khachcha section along the Karnali corridor in Sarkegad Rural Municipality-1, Humla has remained disrupted by a dry landslide for the past four days.

According to Ratan Rawat of Tumchagaun of Sarkegad Rural Municipality-1, the dry landslip that had occurred on Sunday evening disrupted the road section, causing inconvenience to the locals. Locals have no way except to walk on foot.

Meanwhile, Balkuna-based temporary police post's Head Constable Raj Bahadur Bista said continuous efforts take place to remove the landslide debris and to resume vehicular traffic on the section. The rural municipality lies in the southern part of the district.

The internet has become an integral part of daily life, connecting people across the globe and offering a wealth of opportunities. Online security and harassment have grown, especially with the rise of social media use. As digital spaces continue to evolve, it’s important to consider how safe we truly feel while using these platforms. ApEx spoke to three female youths to  reflect on their experiences and the steps they take to safeguard themselves.  

Samira Kiju, 18

I generally feel safe using the internet, but at times, I also feel uneasy. While I haven’t personally experienced any threats, I’ve heard about others facing such issues. To protect myself, I always lock my profiles and avoid sharing personal information as much as possible, posting only a few pictures. I also refrain from sharing my location on social media. I don’t believe that the authorities provide enough protection, as many people face online harassment daily without receiving the support or security they need. This lack of protection puts many people in danger. When it comes to sharing personal details and photos, I only do so with close friends and family, and I keep it to a minimum. I’m not comfortable sharing too much online because photos can easily be misused. 

Anzing Tamang, 20
I generally feel safe while using social media, as I haven’t experienced any significant threats personally. However, I take extra precautions to ensure my online security, such as using complex passwords that are difficult to guess. I believe it’s important not to log into others’ devices or share passwords. I also don’t believe enough protection is taken to prevent online threats or exploitation. While I’m comfortable sharing photos on social media, I avoid sharing personal details, as these platforms are not secure enough for that kind of information. It’s essential to be cautious and use social media carefully. 

Asmita Shrestha, 21

I’ve heard of many cases of online harassment, but I haven’t personally experienced it. I use social media mainly for entertainment, like watching and sharing reels, but I avoid posting personal photos, sharing details, or giving out my passwords because it doesn’t feel safe. In my opinion, full safety is not yet guaranteed in Nepal when it comes to social media.

US Congressman Suhas Subramaniam has officially recognized Annapurna Media Network-USA (AMN-USA) with a formal acknowledgment letter.   The letter highlights Annapurna Media Network’s significant impact, stating: “Annapurna Media Network is a prominent and influential media organization in Nepal. The network has not only become renowned and respected within Nepal but also globally recognized for its commitment to delivering authentic news, cultural representation, and entertainment.”

Calling it a great honor, the recognition further praises the network’s contributions: “I commend Annapurna Media Network and AMN-USA for their efforts and dedication to excellence in media. Their work uplifts the Nepali diaspora and enriches the cultural fabric of our global community. Thank you for joining me in recognizing this extraordinary achievement and supporting the ongoing mission of AMN-USA.”

Issuing the statement, Subramaniam added that the network has not only become renowned and respected within Nepal but also globally recognized to a broader audience with its demonstration of commitment which also reflects the deep cultural relationship between Nepal and the US.

The Ministry of Finance has acknowledged that budget expenditure has not met its target and has decided to reprioritize spending for the remaining period of the fiscal year. This decision follows a review of the first six months of the 2024/25 budget to ensure more effective implementation.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel, while assessing the mid-term budget, stated that reprioritization is necessary to meet budgetary targets. He noted that budget execution in the first half of the fiscal year has been mixed.

The government now estimates an increase in expenditure for current, capital, and financial arrangements in the remaining months of the fiscal year. According to the Ministry of Finance, outstanding liabilities from past projects must be managed, and current expenditure should be increased within resource constraints while ensuring capital expenditure remains within desired limits. Budget reprioritization will focus on managing funds for current programs that must be utilized within the next six months by reallocating savings from other areas.

The government had to settle arrears by covering payment obligations from the previous fiscal year. To prevent a recurrence, the Ministry of Finance has decided to control the practice of shifting liabilities by avoiding excess spending in the remaining six months and deferring payments to the next fiscal year.

To curb rising current expenditure, the government has resolved not to create new organizational structures or positions in government offices, regulatory bodies, and public corporations. Expenditure standards have been set to promote fiscal prudence. Additionally, given resource constraints, 25 percent of the allocated budget for current expenditure—excluding mandatory liabilities—has been withheld.

Projects that have not yet entered the implementation phase will be postponed for the rest of the fiscal year. The government will not initiate new projects or programs without proper preparations. Instead, funds will be redirected to legally mandated liabilities, national pride projects, unfinished initiatives, and other priority programs. To optimize resources, low-priority projects with unspent budgets will be deprioritized in favor of more urgent projects.

The government also plans to reduce the number of projects and prioritize them based on necessity. Unnecessary budget sub-headings will be consolidated to an appropriate size, and small, low-cost projects of a similar nature will be merged under a single budget category. Additionally, the procurement law will be reviewed to make the system more competitive, transparent, and development-friendly. A project bank, based on specific criteria, will be established for future project allocation and prioritization.

Under Nepal’s federal governance system, Article 60 of the Constitution mandates financial transfers between the federal, provincial, and local levels to ensure the effective mobilization of financial and natural resources. These transfers are aimed at enhancing cooperation, coexistence, and coordination among the three levels of government.

For the fiscal year 2024/25, the government has allocated Rs 48.8bn to provincial and local levels as equalization, conditional, special, and complementary grants, based on recommendations from the National Natural Resources and Finance Commission. This represents a 2.2 percent increase from the previous fiscal year.