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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel has said that the Bill Related to Banks and Financial Institutions (First Amendment), 2080 and the Bill Related to Securities (First Amendment), 2081 should be endorsed from the Parliament at the earliest.

Speaking at the meeting of the Finance Committee under the House of Representatives, he urged the Finance Committee to conclude deliberations on the two bills at the earliest and forward them to the House of Representatives for the discussion.

"I hope that the discussion on the bill related to banks and financial institutions and securities along with the customs bill will be completed soon and the Committee's report on these bills will reach the House of Representatives by mid-April," he said.

The finance minister said that the effectiveness of the committee and the House has been criticized even from the people's level for the sluggishness in law-making.

"There have been criticisms that the law-making process has slowed down. The government's attention has been drawn to this. Considering the national needs, the law making process should be expedited in the case of priority ones," said Finance Minister Paudel.

Today's meeting of the Finance Committee discussed the amendments made to the 'Bill to Amend and Integrate Customs Related Laws, 2080 BS'.

Lawmakers have proposed amendments seeking to streamline the customs administration for trade facilitation, to remove procedural hassles during customs clearance, to cut the discretionary powers of the employees, and to prepare adequate infrastructure for quarantine and quality testing of goods.

The government has brought this bill citing it is necessary to amend the Customs Act to make the customs clearance process more technology-friendly and easy, and to render it compatible with the Kyoto Convention, to which Nepal is a state party.

Similarly, the government has brought this bill stating that the provisions related to customs should be addressed through the Customs Act and rules for trade facilitation.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 30. 36 points to close at 2,846.30 points on Tuesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 5. 31 points to close at 475. 27 points.

A total of 26,389,910-unit shares of 318 companies were traded for Rs 12. 94 billion.

Meanwhile, Guardian Micro Life Insurance Limited (GMLI) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Sindhu Bikash Bank Ltd (SINDU) was the top loser as its price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 72 trillion.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has said attention should be paid to ensure general people's equal access to health services as well as to increase quality of health services.

Addressing a program organized by Nepal Medical Association today, President Paudel shared that the nation, as per sentiments and aspirations of the Constitution, has put in investment in producing skilled and specialist doctors.

"I believe that doctors will take their profession from the viewpoint of service internalising the sentiments and aspirations of the Constitution," he mentioned. 

The President clarified that the federal democratic republic Constitution, gained from the struggle and sacrifice of the Nepali people, has guaranteed people's basic rights to health and education.

He shared that people from remote areas are still deprived of appropriate health services, stressing the need of providing health services of skilled doctors taking such situations seriously.

"Today on this special occasion, I request one and all to contribute in overall development of the health sector from respective areas," President Paudel mentioned, arguing producing skilled and specialist doctors in the country is the matter of happiness for all of us.

The President expressed the belief that the role of NMA would be further effective to achieve remarkable improvement in the health sector and ensure quality health services.

On the occasion, President Paudel honoured Dr Gauri Shankar Lal Das, Dr Mrigendra Raj Pandey, Dr Dinesh Nath Gangol, Dr DB Karki and Dr Saraswoti Padhya with 'Legend in Medicine' award.

A total of 103 crocodiles raised at the Gharial (Crocodile) Breeding Center in Kasara of Chitwan have been released in the Rapti River at different times since mid-July, 2024.  Of them, one is male and the remaining are females.

According to Chitwan National Park (CNP) information officer Abinash Thapa Magar, the reptiles released in the river were hatched in 2020. Last fiscal year, the CNP released 105 crocodiles in the river. The eggs of crocodiles are collected from the river bank to hatch them in artificial conditions at the Centre. The grown-up reptiles are left in the river.    

To date, since its establishment in 1978, a total of 2060 crocodiles have been released in various rivers in the country including in Rapti and Narayani. However, the survival rate of this animal is very low.

Thapa Magar said that during last year's survey, 152 animals were recorded in Rapti and 113 in Narayani. At present, the Center is home to 697 crocodiles.

Gharial is an endangered reptile and its existence has been restricted to Nepal and India lately. In the past, it would be found in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar. In 1940, its global number was around 10,000. In the next thirty years, its number had significantly dropped to be calculated at just two per cent of the previous population in 1970.  During the time of the establishment of the Center, less than 100 numbers of Gharial were estimated to exist across the country.

Increasing human encroachment on rivers, extraction of river-based products, and fishing are among the factors affecting the natural habitats of the animals. Similarly, during floods, these animals get swept away beyond the Nepal-India border, it is said.

Snacks are important because they fill you up between meals, nourish you, and give you energy to power through the day. But when you are in a rush, it’s easy to give into having fast food and biscuits when you feel hungry during the afternoons or early evenings. It’s neither healthy nor ideal to always eat out. There are some simple snacks you can whip up in minutes and carry in your bag to munch on throughout the day. If you put your mind to it, the list is endless but we are here to get you started.

Salad and hummus

Cut thin slices or long sticks of cucumber, carrots, beetroot, and celery or choose a couple of the options if not all and put that separately in a container. Then in a blender mix boiled chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, water, garlic, and salt and give it a good blitz. You can use store bought tahini. Transfer the hummus into an air-tight container and store it in the fridge for upto five days. This is a great high protein snack to have on the go.

Cheese and cucumber sandwich

This is the most delicious and easy to assemble sandwich there is in the entire list of all possible sandwiches. Simply spread some mayonnaise or cream cheese on two slices of fresh bread. Layer thinly cut slices of cucumber and top it with thinly cut slices of cheese and it’s done. It’s the most refreshing and filling sandwich you will have. The good thing is you don’t even have to toast the bread.

Paneer and sweet corn salad

This is a high protein and filling snack that will tide you well till dinner time and even replace dinner if you have it late enough. Simple cut paneer into tiny cubes, mix with boiled sweet corn, chopped tomatoes and cucumber before adding some salt, pepper, and lemon juice to it. Give it all a good mix and transfer it into a container to take with you. If you have the time, you can stir-fry the paneer to add a little bit of a crunchy texture to your salad.

Fruit smoothie

If you don’t have a blender, we recommend you invest in a portable one. This one is a game changer. There isn’t any kind of smoothie or juice you can’t make in under two minutes when you have a portable blender at home. Our favorite is mixing thoroughly washed strawberries, chia seeds, and yogurt and blending it into a tasty smoothie. For one person, blend six to seven ripe strawberries with a cup of yogurt and a tablespoon of chia seeds.

Leftover roti pizza

If you have leftover rotis at home, you can easily turn this into a quick pizza in the oven or the microwave. Take a roti and put a layer to ketchup or if you have pasta sauce even that will work. Top it with chopped onions, tomatoes, and any other vegetable you have on hand. Sprinkle some salt and pepper or even red chili powder if you like spicy food and then top with grated cheese. Bake it in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes at 180 degree Celsius or in the microwave for about 20 minutes. 

The price of gold has increased by Rs 1,400 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 169, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 168, 100 per tola on Sunday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 25 and is being traded at Rs 1, 940 per tola today.

Yet again, the Melamchi Drinking Water pipe burst in the Kathmandu Valley this morning.

It has not been long since the neighboring Babarmahal area witnessed the same incident.

The blowout got the Thapathali area- from Thapathali Chowk to Norvic Hospital- waterlogged, disrupting the vehicular movement.

Chief Executive Director at Kathmandu Valley Drinking Water Ltd (KUKL), Ashok Kumar Paudel, informed that they were preparing to identify the reason behind the burst and repair the pipe soon.

"The resumption of water supply will be ensured soon after repairing the broken pipe," he said.

The houses and shops in the area are waterlogged after the incident.

Three weeks back, the public offices at Babarmahal had to be closed suddenly after a similar burst. Even the road was collapsed by the blowout. The water pipes were ruptured while digging for a trench to expand an electric wire underground.

Executive Chief Poudel further informed that KUKL would investigate the Thapathali incident by forming a committee.

Minister for Water Supply Pradeep Yadav and Minister of Jal Shakti of India, CR Patil, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) related to the development of Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

Minister Yadav and Minister Patil signed the important MoU related to the development of WASH on behalf of the Government of Nepal and the Government of India, respectively, at a special program organized in New Delhi, said Director General of the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management Er Ram Kumar Shrestha.

"The governments of Nepal and India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand cooperation in the areas of drinking water, sanitation and waste management. The MoU aims to develop drinking water sources, access to clean water, promote sanitation, waste management and strengthen the efforts of the Government of Nepal to that end,” Shrestha added.

The aim is to promote friendly cooperation between both India and Nepal and strengthen inter-governmental cooperation in the sanitation sector, acknowledge the efforts and concerns of the Government of Nepal on water security, ensure access to safe drinking water in Nepal and enable people's livelihood in a safe environment.

The MoU states that technology and training support will be provided to the Government of Nepal in underground water management, technology and information exchange, rainwater harvesting and measurement and technology partnership.

Nepal's Ambassador to India Shankar Prasad Sharma, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, Secretaries at the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India Ashok Meena and Devshree Mukharjee, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Nepal Dr Surendra Thapa, Secretary at the Ministry of Water Supply Er Pramila Devi Shakya Bajracharya, Joint Secretary Er Meena Shrestha, Director General of the Department of Water Supply and Sewage Management Er Ram Kumar Shrestha, among others, were present on the occasion.

Minister Yadav is scheduled to return home on Tuesday.