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The World Radio Day is being observed by organizing several awareness-creating programs across the globe, today.

At the call of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, the day is being marked today by broadcasting radio programs to spread awareness about the problems arising from climate change and adaptation measures.

Proclaimed in 2011 by UNESCO Member States and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as International Day of the United Nations, February 13 became World Radio Day.

According to UNESCO, radio is beginning its second century of service as one of the most dependable and widely utilized forms of media in the world. 

Radio contributes to the achievement of its international objectives by supporting populations through climate disasters such as tropical storms and floods. It helps with the dissemination of fact-based information, listeners’ voices, and dedicated radio shows.

Radio is considered a powerful medium for democratic debate and mass communication. Radio is the most widely reached and the most listened globally.

At one time the role of radio in maintaining social diversity and unity, representing, listening and telling the stories of the voiceless was incomparable.

Radio, which has always been a friend of the commoners during disasters and in the rural areas, has also played a spectacular role in social change by providing information, entertainment and education.

Three students have died while 40 others were injured in a bus accident that took place along the Sankhu-Nagarkot road section in Kattike, Shankharapur Municipality-5, Kathmandu, on Wednesday.

The incident occurred this afternoon when the Sundarimai Yatayat bus (Ba 2 Kha 7958), hired by the SS Academy School based in in Chabahil, lost control reportedly due to a brake failure, said spokesperson of the District Police Range, Kathmandu, Superintendent of Police Apil Raj Bohara.

The bus was returning from Nagarkot to Sankhu after collecting the students who had gone on a school picnic.

Further investigation into the incident is underway, according to the police.

The government has decided to accept USD 2 million (around Rs 277 million) for the 'emergency flood rescue plan-2024' to be provided by the Asian Development Bank under the 'Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund'.

Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, shared it while informing about the Cabinet decisions made on February 10.

An approval in principle was given on preparedness on financial management for the construction of reservoir-based Dudhkoshi hydropower project of 670 MW.

The government also decided to scrap the work procedure on punishment and pardon, case on hold, and change-2071; endorse the memorandum of understanding on visa permit to those except diplomatic officials and service passport holders between Nepal and Ukraine; and approve the MoU on diplomatic study and cooperation in training to be signed by the Institute of Foreign Affairs, Nepal and the Diplomatic Academy, Oman.

A 15-bed basic hospital run by Athbiskot Municipality of Dailekh district would be handed over to Karnali Academy of Health Sciences for its management.

Also endorsed by the Cabinet is the Insurance Regulation, 2081 BS.

Acting Chief Secretary at Lumbini Province, Baburam Adhikari, has been promoted by the government to the post of gazetted special class officer under Nepal administration service.

Secretary at Finance Ministry Dr Ram Prasad Ghimire has been transferred to Office of the President, while Secretary at President's Office, Narayan Prasad Duwadi to the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, and Secretary at the CIAA Ghanshyam Upadhyay to the Finance Ministry.

A total of 17 joint secretaries (gazetted first class officers) have also been transferred by the government.

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.