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Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Prakash Saud is preparing to fly to Russia for discussions on the death of Nepali nationals engaged in the ongoing war against Ukraine, the status of those missing in action and the repatriation of the youths still engaged in the war alongside the Russians. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in consultation with Moscow to set the date for the visit. Minister Saud is doing spadework for talks with his Russian counterpart regarding the death, injury and status of those Nepali recruits, who have gone missing while fighting for the Russian army. 

There are no bilateral provisions on recruitment in the Russian forces, but reports suggest that Nepalis are serving alongside the Russians and fighters from a number of other countries lured by certain ‘incentives’. 

Moscow has not responded to Nepal’s repeated requests for information about the Nepalis in the Russian army, though the government has said that hundreds of Nepalis have been serving the Russians, more than 100 have gone missing and 11 Nepalis have died in the war so far.

According to Saud, 115 families of the Nepali youths, who have joined the Russian army, have submitted a request at the ministry calling for their early repatriation. We have asked Russia to repatriate the Nepalis serving its army and compensate the families of those killed in action, he said. 

Despite repeated requests from Nepal, no response has come from Russia, which recently passed a law allowing foreigners to join its army with a promise to provide them citizenship once they fulfill set criteria. 

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal informed the Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives that India has signed an agreement to purchase 10, 000 megawatt of electricity from Nepal in 10 years.

Though India has agreed to procure electricity from Nepal, it has reservations pertaining to the purchase of power produced by the Chinese companies.

During the meeting of the parliamentary committee on Wednesday, Prime Minister Dahal said that attempts are being made to cajole India to buy electricity produced by the Chinese companies in Nepal.

The Prime Minister said that India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during his visit to Nepal a few days ago had signed a long-term power agreement.

“No agreement has been made to take the investment of India only. There is a provision that any country can produce electricity in Nepal. India has signed an agreement to purchase 10, 000 megawatt of electricity from Nepal in 10 years,” PM Dahal said, adding, “The Indian government, however, is reluctant to purchase electricity produced by Chinese companies in Nepal.”

Prime Minister Dahal said that attempts are being made to persuade India to buy the electricity from the hydropower projects invested by the Chinese company.

Two persons died when a jeep met with an accident at Barali Thumka in Bhimad Municipality-3 of Tanahun district on Wednesday.

Santosh Paudel, Chief at the District Traffic Police Office, Tanahun, said that the ill-fated jeep (Ga 1 Ja 6356) was heading towards Rampur from Pokhara when the incident occurred at around 9: 30 am today.

He said that the identity of the deceased has not been ascertained yet.

According to him, two persons died on the spot and nine others were injured in the accident.

Among the injured, four have been taken to Pokhara for treatment while five are undergoing treatment at the GP Koirala National Center For Respiratory Diseases in Tanahun.

It has been learnt that the jeep fell some 300 meters down the road.

Police said that they have arrested the jeep driver for investigation.

Nepali Ambassador to Switzerland Ram Prasad Subedi presented a letter of credence to Swiss President Viola Amherd amidst a special ceremony organized at the Federal Palace in Bern, Switzerland.

Upon arrival at the Palace, the Ambassador was accorded Guard of Honour.

Ambassador Subedi was granted an audience by the President Amherd where he conveyed greetings and best wishes from the President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to the Swiss President’s personal health and happiness as well as for the continued peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Switzerland, reads a statement issued by the Embassy of Nepal in Geneva on Tuesday.

While underscoring the excellent bilateral relations between Nepal and Switzerland, Ambassador Subedi expressed his commitment to work towards further strengthening bilateral ties and expanding the areas of cooperation. He further elaborated about the opportunities to work together in the areas of trade, tourism and investment. He also acknowledged the Swiss support through Swiss Development Cooperation in Nepal, including in the peace process.

President Amherd while echoing the similar sentiments stated that Nepal and Switzerland enjoy long standing friendly relations and reaffirmed the strong bonds of goodwill and friendship between the two peoples, and assured the Ambassador of full cooperation in the discharge of his duties, according to the statement.

Senior officials of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs as well as spouse Jyoti Rijal Subedi, Deputy Chief of Mission Paras Pandit and First Secretary Amar Rai were present on the occasion.

Later in the evening, Ambassador Subedi called on Alexandre Fasel, State Secretary of Swiss Confederation at the Federal Palace in Bern.

They discussed exploring the opportunities for working together for the meeting of high-level political leaders, holding regular meetings of bilateral consultation mechanisms, promoting economic cooperation and cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts.

The government has formed a committee to probe the issues of power tariff dues related to dedicated and trunk line services. Former Supreme Court Justice Girish Chandra Lal will lead the probe panel.

A Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday formed the committee under the headship of Supreme Court Justice Girish Chandra Lal.

The cabinet meeting has also directed the line agencies to ensure power supply in the industries whose power supply was cut off due to the long pending dues.

Similarly, the Council of Ministers appointed 25 persons in the National Development Council.

The appointees come from amongst the representatives of the District Coordination Committees (DDCs), local governments and other agencies.

Likewise, the government has decided to announce martyrs to different persons whose names were missed in the Nepal Gazette in the past and made corrections to the list of martyrs announced on different dates.

Furthermore, the cabinet approved the resignation tendered by Chairperson of Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) Purushottam Khanal.

The government has decided to appoint NTA Board of Directors Nabaraj Adhikari as the NTA Chairman until next decision as per the Rule 3 (A) of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority Regulations, according to the PM's secretariat.

A panel has been formed under the leadership of the Secretary at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology for the appointment of the new NTA Chair.

Families of security personnel who lost their lives in the course of the decade-long armed conflict in the country met with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today, urging him to address their legitimate concerns regarding transitional justice.

During the meeting, they expressed their support to proceed with the Transitional Justice Bill which is presently under consideration in the Parliament.

They said they are positive towards the Bill as it equally treats those killed by the State and rebel side during the conflict.

On behalf of the conflict-affected families of security personnel, Rita Karki expressed her hope that the incumbent government will profoundly feel the pains of the conflict-hit community and address their concerns regarding transitional justice.

In response, Prime Minister Dahal assured the families that the Bill does not differentiate between the families of those killed by the State and rebel sides during the conflict.

He pledged that there will be no discrimination on these grounds in the future as well.

The Prime Minister promised to revise the Bill to accommodate the interests of all affected families as much as possible.  

A breast-feeding room has been set up on the premises of Pashupatinath Temple.

Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sushila Sirpali Thakuri, inaugurated the breastfeeding room today. The facility, established by the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), has come into operation from today.

On the occasion, Minister of State Thakuri appreciated the establishment of the facility facilitating breastfeeding in a hygienic environment. She said operation of the breastfeeding room in the Pashupatinath Temple precincts will give a positive message to devotees coming from within the county and abroad.

PADT Executive Director Laxmi Pun said that breastfeeding mothers visiting the Temple with their infant children have now been freed of the compulsion of breastfeeding their child on the pavement, the office of security personnel and outdoors for lack of breastfeeding room.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has issued a directive not to collect the fees increased by the Ministry of Labor and Employment from the workers.

He made such a directive during a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Singha Durbar on Tuesday.

During the meeting with the minister, secretary and other government employees this afternoon, Prime Minister Dahal recalled that the Nepalis who have gone abroad in search of green pastures have made a significant contribution in the country’s economy.

He directed the concerned authority not to implement the decision of the Ministry to put extra financial burden on them.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister issued a directive to make arrangements to issue labor permits again from all the 753 local units.