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Of the total 717 jailbirds in Chitwan prison, 111 are found to have suffered from different diseases.

The officials at the prison office shared that more than half of the patients are suffering from high blood pressure.

Kamal Prasad Acharya, chief of the prison, said that the number of patients in Chitwan jail is on the rise. This is also due to the arrival of the jailbirds from other districts for treatment.

The inmates from Nawalparasi, Dhading, Gorkha, Makawanpur and other neighboring countries are taken here for their medical treatment, Acharya shared.

Currently, 26 diabetes patients and four people living with HIV are doing their time in Chitwan jail.

Likewise, there are three thyroid patients, four heart patients, for epilepsy patients and five mental patients.

The Chitwan prison is overcrowded as well since more than 200 inmates are housed than the jail's capacity.

The jail administration also shared that the officials have faced difficulties for the treatment of the jailbirds for lack of sufficient budget. "We are taking support from donors for the treatment of jailbirds for lack of budget to purchase medicines," Acharya shared.

COP28 has concluded with an agreement that signals the ‘beginning of the end’ for the fossil fuel era by laying the ground for a swift, just and equitable transition supported by substantial emissions reductions and increased financial commitments.

Despite this progress, the absence of a concrete deadline for phasing out fossil fuels remains a notable shortcoming, particularly in meeting the crucial 1.5-degree temperature rise limit. While celebrations echo in the Western world, the outcome has left least developed and developing countries dissatisfied.The most celebrated outcome for countries like Nepal is the operationalization of loss and damage funds. But pledges made by big countries to the fund are disappointingly low at $700m.

 Studies show developing nations require a minimum of $400bn annually to effectively address loss and damage due to climate change. Furthermore, the operational details of the fund and its beneficiaries remain unclear. Nevertheless, Nepal achieved success in highlighting the agendas of mountainous regions and issues related to the least developed countries during COP28. 

High-level rhetoric does not automatically translate into action. We have struggled to attract sufficient funds from international sources in the past. For instance, due to a lack of sufficient homework and preparations, Nepal received very minimal support from the Green Investment Fund. While Nepal is technically eligible for loss and damage funds, the responsibility lies with the country to conduct thorough groundwork and preparations. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal has returned home after attending the COP28. However, he has not held any meeting with agencies concerned to undertake the necessary preparations.

The Prime Minister is just engaged in a publicity stunt saying that Nepal has been loud and clear this time without specifying what that means. The global community is well aware of the severe impacts of climate change in Nepal. It is a brutal reality that Nepal is not alone in facing these challenges. Securing climate finance is a competitive process and it is contingent on a nation’s capacity. As far as documentation is concerned, Nepal has done a commendable job. 

The Ministry of Forests and Environment has done adequate study about the multifaceted impacts of climate change. However, Nepal lags behind in enhancing capacity for negotiations and research. While the ministry is the nodal agency for handling such issues, there is a lack of coordination among government bodies. PM Dahal should, therefore, form a high-powered mechanism dedicated to climate-related issues. The PM’s efforts to advocate for Nepal’s agenda will be judged by tangible actions, not mere words.

Former Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand has been released on bail.

Khand, who was apprehended in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam, was released after posting a bail of Rs 3 million set by the Patan High Court.

A single bench of Judge Krishna Ram Koirala on Thursday issued an order to release Khand on bail.

After the Kathmandu District Court issued an order to send 16 individuals including former Home Minister Khand to the prison in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam, they filed an appeal at the high court on August 1, 2023.

Hearing the same petition, the Patan High Court on December 1 issued an order to keep the then Home Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, former minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Indrajit Rai, security advisor of the then Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, Angtawa Sherpa, Keshav Dulal, Sanu Bhandari, Sagar Rai, Govinda Kumar Chaudhary aka Bikram and Sandesh Sharma in custody.

Similarly, the court issued an order to release Teknath Rijal on a bail of Rs 1.5 million, Sandeep Rayamajhi on a bail of Rs 3 million and Narendra KC on a bail of Rs 1 million.

The high court also issued an order to release Hari Bhakta Maharjan, Laxmi Maharjan, Shumsher Miya, Ashish Budhathoki, Tek Gurung, Ram Sharan KC and Keshav Tuladhar on bail.

The government has promoted Joint Secretary Sewa Lamsal to the post of Secretary.

A Cabinet meeting held on Thursday decided to promote Lamsal to the vacant post of Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Lamsal is the first woman to become Foreign Secretary.

Police have arrested a man who tried to attack CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli in Dhankuta on Thursday.

The suspect has been identified as Mahesh Rai of Leguwa.

Rai attempted to punch former Prime Minister Oli who was on his way to Dhankuta from Bhojpur this afternoon.

Leader Oli was protected by his bodyguard and party cadres.

UML Chair Oli is taking part in the Madhyapahadi Lokmarga-centered Sankalpa Yatra.

The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has scrapped the license of three internet service providers.

The license of the United Telecom Limited, Putalisadak, Kathmandu, Max Net Solution Pvt. Ltd., Koteshwor, Kathmandu and Chitwan Network Pvt. Ltd. was annulled for not getting their companies renewed timely, said the NTA Director and spokesperson Santosh Paudel. The companies did not apply on time for getting their licenses renewed, he said.

The NTA has also asked other companies of the same kind to timely make the payments and submit required details within 30 days for getting their licenses renewed. It has also warned of action as per existing laws in case of not following the directive.

The country recorded the remittance inflow worth Rs 477.96 billion in a period of four months.

According to a report on the current macroeconomic and financial situation of Nepal based on the data ending in mid-November, remittance inflows increased by 26.4 percent to touch Rs 477.96 billion. There was an increase of 20.4 percent in the remittances flows in the corresponding period of the previous year.

In the US Dollar terms, remittance inflows increased 23.1 percent against 10.8 percent in the corresponding year to touch 3.60 billion in the review period. 

The central bank published the report today.

Similarly, in the review period, the number of Nepali workers, both institutional and individual, taking first-time approval for foreign employment stands at 137,475 and taking approval for renew entry stands at 68,841.

Last year, such numbers were 196,735 and 87,428 respectively. Net transfer increased 24.9 percent to Rs.521.40 billion in the review period. Such a transfer had increased 20.2 percent in the same period of the last fiscal year.

Following the Nepal Rastra Bank’s (NRB) recent decision to relax its stringent policy on share mortgage loans, the stock market is showing early signs of a positive trend.

In its first quarter review of monetary policy released on Friday, the central monetary authority reduced the risk weight of realty and shared mortgage loans from 150 percent to 125 percent. This provision alone will increase the bank’s capacity to extend an additional Rs 40-50bn toward the sector, market analysts say.

This policy shift appears to have had an immediate impact, as the next trading session on Sunday witnessed an early closure due to the activation of a positive circuit breaker—a development not seen in more than two years.  Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) gained 111.2 points, or six percent,  in just nine minutes of trading. Stocks worth Rs Rs 482.4m changed hands during those minutes. Although the market witnessed some correction the next day, losing 15.4 points, daily turnover hit a five-month high of Rs 4.82bn. On Wednesday, the benchmark index posted a nominal gain of 2.6 points while daily turnover reached Rs 3.90bn.

The monetary policy review has injected a renewed sense of optimism among investors who had experienced a prolonged downturn, marked by a continuous decline in the benchmark Nepse index over the last 28 months. Investor confidence had waned, prompting calls for the central bank to reassess its policies. The recent positive market atmosphere is now seen as a potential morale booster for investors.

Simultaneously, the central bank’s reduction in the policy rate will contribute to a decline in overall interest rates in the coming days. The correlation between interest rates and stock market performance is well-established. With banks expected to announce a decline in interest rates, the stock market is expected to witness a further boost in the coming months.

Investors say that the central bank’s policies play a pivotal role in shaping market dynamics, as factors such as interest rates, monetary policy, inflation, and more directly affect the market. Additionally, external elements such as political events, financial reports of listed companies, and the psychology of investors collectively contribute to the overall market sentiment.

The observed decrease in interest rates, coupled with the relaxation of stringent policies by the central bank, has led to a notable increase in investor sentiment—a positive sign for the capital market. The surge in daily turnover further indicates the return of institutional investors who had exited the market during the bearish phase. Recent trading sessions have recorded an average daily turnover of more than Rs 4bn, showcasing a revitalized interest in the market. These developments signify a potential turning point for the Nepali investors.