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Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota held a virtual meeting with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China Li Zhanshu on Friday.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged in-depth views on various aspects of Nepal-China relations and underscored the need to have frequent exchanges of high-level visits between the parliaments of two countries, read a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On the occasion, Speaker Sapkota and Chairman Li extended invitations to visit each other’s countries at mutually convenient time in future.

Senior officials of the Federal Parliament Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the Nepali side and Chairpersons of various committees of National People's Congress and Vice Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the Chinese side were also present during the virtual meeting.

Twenty-four new bridges are to be constructed over various streams and rivers on the Nagdhunga-Muglin stretch of the Prithvi Highway. 

The bridges will be of two-lane width. This section of the highway is in the process of expansion and improvement. There are 27 bridges along this section at present.

The Nagdhunga-Muglin Road Project informed that of the existing 27 bridges, three are new and wide enough, so there is no need of building new bridges at these locations. According to the Project, some of the old bridges would be repaired while others would be replaced by new ones. 

Project chief Kiran Karki said the construction of the bridges along with the road on this section would be completed within three years. He said the road is being expanded to three-lane at many places and to four-lane where it passes through town areas. 

This section of the highway from Nagdhunga Checkpoint to Malekhu, Chitwan covers three districts, namely Kathmandu, Dhading and Chitwan. The road will be nearly 10 to 11 meters wide at most of the places. 

It is the busiest road and the traffic is heavy most of the time on this section. The traffic congestion will be eased on this road once it is expanded and upgraded, and new bridges are constructed. RSS

President Bidya Devi Bhandari inaugurated the 8th national convention of Higher Institutions and Secondary School Association Nepal (HISSAN) on Friday.

The two-day national convention of the national level umbrella association of privately funded secondary schools and higher institutions in the country kicked off today.

The slogan for the 8th national convention is- 'Meaningful Partnership in Development of Education: HISSAN's Contribution and Responsibility'.

Addressing the inaugural function, President Bhandari urged the proprietors of schools to contribute for quality, accessible and research-oriented higher education.

On the occasion, the President wished for the success of the convention and she also launched HISSAN's souvenir publication.

According to HISSAN President Ramesh Kumar Silwal, the two-day event will feature discussions on the contribution of the private sector and strengthening Nepal's education.

There are over 1,977 privately funded secondary schools and higher institutions in the country where over 550,000 students are studying while over 200,000 teachers, administrative staff and principals have been employed, it was shared.

The participants in the two-day convention include representatives from 600 schools in 35 districts as well as 50 observers. RSS

The University of Central Lancashire in the UK honored the founder of National Innovation Center Dr Mahabir Pun.

Pun was honored in recognition of his contribution in research, studies and innovation at a program organized by Biz Education in the UK.

The sexagenarian scientist showed his works through video to the audiences participating in the event.

He shared that the Innovation Center set up with the support of people of Nepal and foreigners was working in over 20 sectors such as drone, biomedical, agriculture, education and health.

Earlier, he was known for work in applying wireless technologies to rural areas in the hilly region.

Nepal Education Council UK's office bearers Basanta Nepal, Ganesh Khadka and Krishna Khanal among others were present in the program. RSS

The Maiti Nepal has rescued around 500 women and children from the Nepalgunj border point. Maiti Nepal is an organization actively working in the prevention and control of women trafficking.  

Maiti Nepal, Nepalgunj coordinator Keshav Raj Koirala said that in the last one year they have rescued 499 women and children who were entering India through the Jamunaha transit at Nepalgunj and who were at risk of being trafficked.  

Similarly, 10 women have been rescued from India and Gulf countries during this period. Koirala said Maiti Nepal, Nepalgunj received applications to find and rescue 526 persons during the last one year and among them, 213 have been found. 

The Maiti Nepal's Nepalgunj coordinator informed that they have provided counseling in 18 incidents related to domestic violence. 

Maiti Nepal has set up an information and counseling center at the Jamunaha transit. It has been rescuing women and children at risk of trafficking, those women and children subjected to sexual and labour exploitation in various countries, including India, and providing accommodation, psycho-social counseling, legal assistance and health services.  

On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, Maiti Nepal held various public awareness raising programs in Nepalgunj. RSS

A team of the Armed Police Force (APF) on Thursday nabbed three persons for possessing a gun and its cartridge from Birgunj.

The arrestees have been identified as Prem Thakur (41) Rahul Thakur (16) and Ramji Thakur (55) of Parsagadhi Municipality-5.

SP Nepal Tej Prasad Pokharel said that they were nabbed with a long-range gun and its cartridge from Nahar Chowk area of Bindabasini Rural Municipality-3 of Birgunj.

Police said that they have also impounded a bike from the detainees. 

British rock band Pink Floyd will release a new song on Friday to raise money for humanitarian relief in Ukraine, featuring the vocals of a Ukrainian singer who quit an international tour to fight for his country and was wounded, Reuters reported.

The single "Hey Hey, Rise Up" - Pink Floyd's first original new music in almost 30 years - was recorded last week and highlights singing by Andriy Khlyvnyuk from Ukrainian band Boombox, which was taken from a social media post.

Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour said he learned that Khlyvnyuk - with whom he had previously performed - left a US tour with Boombox and returned to Ukraine to join the Territorial Defence Forces.

"Then I saw this incredible video on Instagram, where he stands in a square in Kyiv with this beautiful gold-domed church and sings in the silence of a city with no traffic or background noise because of the war," Gilmour said on Pink Floyd's website.

"It was a powerful moment that made me want to put it to music."

Gilmour said he spoke with Khlyvnyuk while he was in a hospital in Kyiv recovering from a mortar shrapnel injury, according to Reuters.

"I played him a little bit of the song down the phone line and he gave me his blessing. We both hope to do something together in person in the future," he said.

Gilmour said he had a Ukrainian daughter-in-law and grandchildren and he was feeling "the fury and the frustration" of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Moscow has said it is engaged in a special operation to degrade Ukraine's military capabilities and root out nationalists.

The track, which samples Khlyvnyuk singing a World War One protest song, also features Nick Mason, a founding member of Pink Floyd, as well as Gilmour and other musicians, Reuters reported.

Police have arrested a 43-year-old man for his alleged involvement in raping a 13-year-old girl in Syangja.

The arrestee has been identified as Yam Bahadur Kunwar.

Rajendra Prasad Adhikari, spokesperson at the District Police Office, Syangja, said that they apprehended Kunwar based on a complaint filed by the victim's family.

Police said that they are looking into the case.