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A report of the understanding reached at the task force for finalizing the transitional justice in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) signed between the Government of Nepal and the then rebelling CPN (Maoist) has been handed over to the top leaders of the three major political parties, including Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

The task force submitted the report to Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chair Oli, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, amidst a program at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar today.

Members of the task force – Home Minister and Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak, UML Chief Whip Mahesh Kumar Bartaula and Maoist Center leader Janardan Sharma – presented the report to the top leaders.

The task force had on August 1 forged an agreement on topics as interpretation of the conflict-era incidents, and relief, compensation, reparation and justice to the victims which had remained contentious for long.

PM Oli, NC president Deuba, UML general-secretary Shankar Pokhrel, PM's chief political advisor Bishnu Rimal, Attorney General Ramesh Badal, Government Chief Secretary Liladevi Gadtaula, among other officials were present in the program.

The main political parties had reached a four-point agreement on settling the topic of transitional justice which was being seen with much interest nationally as well as internationally.

As per the agreement, intentional or arbitrary killing will be included under the definition of murder; the families of the security persons who lost lives in the conflict would be provided relief, compensation and reparation, while a similar scheme is planned for the combatants who were termed disqualified ones.

Similarly, in case the victim side does not consent to the conflict era case, it would be recommended to the Attorney General. Such cases would now be adjudicated based on the existing principle of criminal justice, but in line with transitional justice.

The task force has stated that the agreement was made based on the principles of transitional justice and national and international standards where victims' concerns are kept in center. Also paid heed is the decisions made by the Supreme Court. It is an agreement in which the whole country wins, rather than someone winning and some other side losing.

As per the agreement, the victims and perpetrators would be brought together and assimilated in a way that it would prevent future conflict. The victims would be ensured justice and the perpetrator brought to book, he added.

The agreement among the major political parties on this significant backlog of peace process has been taken as a measure to alleviate the conflict-era wounds. It has been 17 years since the signing of the CPA, the big parties became able to strike a deal to fully settle the peace process.

Irrespective of the formation of two transitional justice mechanisms and officials put in place for multiple times since CPA, they were unable to give impetus to the finalization of the peace process owing to political differences earlier.

The first-ever South Asia Regional Media Workshop to Prevent Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) will be held in Kathmandu on Aug 7.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), AMR is a top global public health threat, with the South Asia region being particularly vulnerable. 

Kalpana Acharya, Editor-in-Chief of Health TV Online and Organizing Chairperson of the workshop, emphasized the role of media in raising awareness about AMR. She highlighted that Nepal was chosen to host the workshop to leverage the media’s crucial role in effective communication.

Shobha Shukla, Managing Editor of CNS India and Chairperson of the Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA), stressed the need for a shared understanding of AMR among journalists. 

The workshop will host over 200 journalists from South Asia, both virtually and in person. The event will feature participation from the Regional Director of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office and high-ranking officials from various sectors. 

It is organized by Health TV Online, with co-hosts including the Ministry of Health and Population Government of Nepal, GAMA, Outreach Media Pvt Ltd, CNS, Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC), Health Aawaj, and the Asia Pacific Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media).

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 1,400 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 146, 300 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 147, 700 per tola on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 1,710 per tola today.

A virtual meeting was hosted in the presence of ambassadors, acting ambassadors, consulates general, labor counselors and labor attache of the Nepali missions in the Middle East Asia.

Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, who reached Oman's capital Muscat to attend the first meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between Nepal and Oman, chaired the meeting on Tuesday.

According to the Nepali Embassy in Muscat, online demand letter verification, rescue of domestic women workers and laborers, compensation, management of dead bodies, problems related to workers and solutions, trade, investment, tourism and employment promotion, management of resources in Nepali missions were widely discussed in the meeting.

On the occasion, Secretary Lamsal directed the attendees to make service delivery simple, transparent and effective by adopting the online process of demand letter verification as per the government's policy of implementing digital good governance.

Noting that everyone should play a meaningful role in making foreign employment systematic and dignified by resolving the problems of the workers, she directed them to actively work for the promotion of economic diplomacy.  

Vehicular movement along the Mugling-Malekhu road section has been obstructed due to a landslide on Wednesday.

Nirala Bhandari, Police Inspector at the Area Police Office Muglin, said the road has been obstructed due to a landslide at Nagdikhola in Ichchhakamana-4 of Chitwan along the Prithvi Highway this morning.

Inspector Bhandari said efforts are underway to clear the landslide debris.

He said that it would take some time to clear the debris as there is a huge landslide on the road.

A 10-bed dengue ward has been set up at the GP Koirala National Respiratory Treatment Center in Shuklagandaki Municipality, Tanahun.

Hospital's Executive Director Dr Ram Kumar Shrestha said a separate ward has been set up at the hospital as the number of dengue patients has increased.

Last year, dengue had spread as an epidemic here. So far, 385 people have been tested for dengue at the hospital, of which 96 have tested positive, he said.

Of those who tested positive for dengue, 24 have returned home after treatment. Meanwhile, the number of patients coming to Damauli Hospital for dengue test has also increased.

Hospital chief Dr Parivartan Baral said 25 out of 223 patients tested positive for the virus.

The monsoon wind has nationwide influence and the monsoon low-pressure line is located towards the north from its place, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said, forecasting it will result in generally cloudy weather throughout the country.

The Department has also forecast rainfall across the country. Light to moderate rainfall is taking place at some places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Karnali, Sudurpaschim, Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces.

According to the Department, it will be generally cloudy throughout the country this afternoon. Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at many places of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces and at a few places of Madhes Province.

Heavy rainfall is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces.

Stating that torrential rain is likely to occur at one or two places of Koshi, Sudurpaschim, Lumbini and Karnali Provinces, the Department has urged all concerned to remain alert.

Likewise, the Department has forecast partly to generally cloudy weather across the country tonight. Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini and Sudurpaschim Provinces and at a few places of the rest of the provinces. Heavy rainfall is likely to occur at one or two places of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini and Sudurpaschim provinces.

The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder and lightning at most places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces during the next 24 hours.

Heavy rainfall is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpashchim Provinces.

In view of possible torrential rain in one or two places of the Sudurpaschim Province, the Department has urged the people to remain cautious to the risks posed by the landslide and flood in the areas.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Forecasting Division has recorded 73 mm rainfall in Kathmandu in the last 24 hours. According to the Department, Dharan received the highest rainfall of 104 mm, Okhaldhunga 85 mm, Biratnagar 80 mm, Janakpur 74 mm, Jiri 46 mm, Pokhara 30 mm, Bhairahawa 26 mm, Pokhara and Simara 21 mm. 

German Ambassador to Nepal Thomas Prinz paid a courtesy call on Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba on Tuesday.

During the meeting, matters related to various aspects of Nepal-Germany relations along with mutual interests and reciprocal cooperation were discussed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.