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The light rainfall taking place in different parts of the country for the past few days is likely to continue until Saturday, according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.

The weather will improve gradually from Sunday after the low impact of the westerly wind.

Meteorologist at the Department Raju Pradhananga said the pre-monsoon remained active particularly in the eastern part of the country due to local wind, low-pressure wind remaining close to Nepal and the moisture-laden wind from the Bay of Bengal.

"Currently, the weather across the country is partly to generally cloudy. Rainfall is taking place in some hilly areas in Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces. Weather will improve from Sunday," he said. 

The Division said that chances of light rain or thunder and lightning are likely at a few places of the hilly region of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpashchim Provinces and some places of Terai.

Likewise, there are chances of light snowfall at a few places of the high hills and mountainous regions in the country.

The Tribhuvan University (TU) has formed a three-member high-level committee to probe into the missing answer sheets of two subjects of the bachelor's degree.

A meeting of the TU Executive Council held on Thursday decided to form the committee under the leadership of former TU Registrar Prof Dr Chandramani Poudel. The committee has been directed to submit the report within 30 days.

Issuing a press statement on Thursday, the TU said further decisions would be taken on the issue of missing answer sheets after receiving the report from the committee.

The answer sheets of Population Studies of the bachelor's degree first year with code number 422 under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Basis of Education (Code No. 412) of the Faculty of Education of the B. ED first year were missing after the examinations were held in May 2023.

The TU has issued a notice to conduct the examinations of the two subjects on April 1.

The TU has said that its serious attention was drawn to the news and editorial carried out by different media outlets by expressing concerns on the issue of missing answer sheets.

It has been more than a year since Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said concluding transitional justice is one of his key priorities. However, there has been no progress in resolving the disputes among parties regarding some contents of the transitional justice amendment bill pending in the Parliament. Parties have yet to reach a consensus on whether to categorize arbitrary killings or all killings except those resulting from clashes as serious human rights violations. Conflict victims argue that all extrajudicial killings, mental torture and physical torture should be labeled as serious violation of human rights.

While parties may differ on ways to approach these issues, it is not difficult to resolve them if there is political will and honesty among the major parties. Since the inception of the peace process in 2006, parties have used the transitional justice issue as a bargaining tool rather than making serious, sustained efforts to resolve it. Just before the recent change in the coalition government, parties told people they were in negotiation to reach consensus on contentious issues and claimed that they were close to an agreement. With the formation of the new coalition, however, parties have not touched on the issue. Previously, the CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN-UML were at loggerheads on contentious issues while the NC appeared flexible. Now, the Maoists and UML seem flexible to compromise, while the NC appears tough.

The international community is one of the major stakeholders in Nepal's transitional justice process. It has reservations about some provisions in the amendment bill. Similarly, the concerns of conflict victims must be addressed to avoid societal conflict in the future. Since it has been almost two decades since the Maoists joined the peace process, transitional justice should be accorded the highest priority. It should not be a bargaining tool for state power. As the head of the government, Dahal should make extra efforts to resolve the contentious issues. So far, it seems Dahal is seeking ways to avoid prosecuting even those involved in serious human rights violations. The issue of transitional justice can be settled easily if Maoist leaders accept the international standards and honor Supreme Court verdicts.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Thursday filed a graft case against 19 individuals including former Nepal Telecommunications Authority Chairman duo Purushottam Khanal and Digambar Jha for carrying out irregularities while procuring the Mobile Device Management System.

The anti-corruption watchdog filed the case against 19 people including Khanal, Jha, Director Ananda Raj Khanal, Deputy Director/Director Min Prasad Aryal, Assistant Director/Deputy Director Binod Chandra Shrestha and two companies.

According to CIAA spokesperson Narahari Ghimire, a case was filed at the Special Court against them for carrying out irregularities while purchasing the Mobile Device Management System.

The Commission has sought a fine of Rs around Rs 910 million from them.

Earlier, the then Chairman Khanal resigned from his post following controversies over the procurement of Mobile Device Management System.

The Health Department of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has submitted a 26-point suggestion letter to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population, Upendra Yadav, at the Ministry in Kathmandu today.

The suggestions are for the improvement of the health sector.

A team led by Dr Toshima Karki, member of the House of Representatives and head of the Health Department of the party, submitted the charter of suggestions to the minister.

The suggestions include making emergency healthcare services effective, making the health insurance program a high priority, reviewing treatment and healthcare fees, ensuring the management of medical and health human resources, and creating necessary posts as soon as possible.

The monitoring and regulation of healthcare providers should be intensified in a coordinated framework by making the regulatory bodies of the health sector more active in order to understand the condition of the equipment purchased in hospitals and health institutions, the RSP stated.

Presenting the suggestions, Dr Karki said, “We have a team of experts working in the health sector. We have done our homework on health issues. We are ready to cooperate and collaborate.”

While receiving the recommendation letter, Health Minister Yadav mentioned that there is a need for many reforms in the health sector. "The main thing is that common citizens should get quality and affordable health services in hospitals. There is a need for equipment and manpower," Health Minister Yadav said and expressed his commitment to follow the suggestions given, and ask for help when needed.

Finnish Ambassador to Nepal Riina-Riikka Heikka paid a courtesy call on Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens Bhagwati Chaudhary on Thursday.

During the meeting held at Minister Chaudhary’s office in Singh Durbar this afternoon, they discussed strengthening the relations between the two countries, cooperation on women, children, senior citizens and gender and sexual minorities among other issues.

On this occasion, Minister Chaudhary said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations on September 21, 1974, the relationship between the two countries has been harmonious, stating that Nepal attaches great importance to the relations based on friendship, amity and cooperation with Finland.

Minister Chaudhary expressed the belief that Finland's support will be fruitful for Nepal in the efforts to uplift the socio-economic status, especially the rural communities of Nepal, and thanked the Finnish government and people for extending their helping hands to Nepal during the difficult time of Covid-19.

Mentioning that Nepal is aiming to upgrade from underdeveloped country status in 2026 and become a middle-income country by 2030, Minister Chaudhary said that Nepal is striving to achieve the goals of sustainable development.

"I would like to thank Finland for advocating climate change together with Nepal in various multilateral forums," she said.

In the meeting, Ambassador Heikka said that to strengthen the bilateral relationship between Nepal and Finland, they will cooperate for bilateral development, according to the Secretariat of Minister Chaudhary.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 4.78 points to close at 2,035.64 points on Thursday.

The sensitive index, however, plunged by 0.36 points to close at 359. 09 points.

A total of 6,614,445-unit shares of 313 companies were traded for Rs 2. 65 billion.

Meanwhile, Himalaya Urja Bikas Company Limited (HURJA) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Unnati Sahakarya Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (USLB) and Dhaulagiri Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (DLBS) were the top losers as their price fell by 10.00 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 22 trillion.

National Assembly Vice-Chairperson Urmila Aryal resigned on Thursday.

She submitted the resignation to National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal.

Aryal was elected unopposed as the National Assembly Vice-Chairperson on January 17, 2023.

After Dahal was elected as the Chairman from the CPN (Maoist Center) in the ruling coalition, she tendered her resignation in consensus.

While forming a new coalition, an agreement was reached among the four parties that the Chairman of the National Assembly would be from the Maoist Center and the Vice-Chairperson of the CPN-UML.