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The Nepali film ‘Lori’ (Melancholy of My Mother’s Lullabies) has won the Special Mention Award in the short film category at the 75th Cannes Film Festival.

Directed by Abinash Bikram Shah, the movie has become the first Nepali film to be officially screened at Cannes Film Festival and won the award.

Shah himself has written script and dialogues while Ujjwal Kumar Bastakoti is the cinematographer.

Finance Minister Janardan Sharma presented a budget of Rs 1, 793. 83 billion for the fiscal year 2022/23 on Sunday.

Finance Minister Janardan Sharma presented the budget at the Federal Parliament today.

Out of the total budget, the government has allocated Rs 753 billion or 42 percent for recurrent expenditure, Rs 380. 38 billion or 21. 2 percent for capital expenditure and Rs 230. 22 billion or 112.8 percent financial provision.

Similarly, the government has allocated Rs 429. 83 or 24 percent for grants to sub-national governments.

The government will take Rs 1, 240. 11 or 69.1 percent from revenue and Rs 55. 46 billion or 3.1 percent from foreign grants to bear the source of estimated expenses.

Likewise, the government will take a total loan of Rs 498. 46 billion—Rs 242. 26 billion or 13.5 percent from foreign loans and Rs 256 billion or 14.3 percent from domestic loans.

The government has allocated Rs 1.40 billion for transitional justice.

Presenting the budget for the fiscal year, 2022/ 23 at the federal parliament, Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said that the government has allocated Rs 1.40 billion for transitional justice.

Media Action Nepal (MAN), a member of the Media Freedom Coalition- Consultative Network (MFC-CN), has been selected as the Council member of the South and Southeast Asian University Network Sub-committee of Journalism and Communication.

Recognizing MAN's active and influential role in promoting ethical, independent and credible journalism in Nepal and South Asia, the Council, the highest decision-making body of the sub-committee, on May 27 has decided to include MAN as one of the Council members.

The sub-committee established by the School of Journalism and Communication of Yunnan University, China and comprised of university media departments and research based media organizations of South and South-East Asia regions, aims to promote cooperation among members in the field of journalism and communication.

The sub-committee is expected to enhance the development of journalism and communication in universities in China, South Asia and Southeast Asia, and build an international platform for disciplinary cooperation and common development.

Thanking the Sub-committee for selecting MAN as the Council member, Laxman Datt Pant, MAN Chairperson said, "We look forward to contributing with our insights and expertise to strengthen cooperation among members in the journalism and communication disciplines and to promote joint projects among members including training, exchanges and research."

In addition to encouraging joint application of scientific research projects and building joint laboratories, this network aims to establish an information and resource sharing platform between members and open up cooperation channels.

The government is to provide an old-age allowance under the Social Security Program from 68 years of age from the new fiscal year.

Presenting the budget at the federal parliament on Sunday, Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said that the old-age allowance will be provided from 68 years of age from the next fiscal year.

Earlier, the government had been providing the allowance from 70 years of age.

The elderly citizens have been receiving Rs 4, 000 per month under the Social Security Program.

The government is going to review the diplomatic mission.

Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said that the budget has been allocated to review the diplomatic mission on the basis of necessity.

In the budget, the government said that virtual embassy services will be provided in the places where there is no embassy.

Similarly, the government has planned to make the electronic passport service easier and to make the consular more effective.

The government is going to provide national identity cards to all the citizens within two years.

Presenting the budget at the Parliament on Sunday, Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said that the government will provide national identity cards to three million more people in the fiscal year.

The government has increased the salary of civil servants.

Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said that the salary of the civil servants has been increased by 15 percent.

This will come into effect from July next fiscal year.

He said that the government has also given continuity to the dearness allowance.