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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Rabi Lamichhane has stressed that security agencies should act sternly to curb drug abuse and social offenses.

During his visit to the District Administration Office in Jhapa on Friday, he urged security bodies based in the district to demonstrate competence in their operations. He also wanted them to disregard any directives of unethical nature and not to consider the accused's political connection.

"Deliver in a way that assures changes to citizens," he urged.

Lamichhane also pledged accountability promotion during his term as the Home Minister.

Jhapa's Chief District Officer, Bandhu Prasad Bastola, briefed the Home Minister on the security situation in the district, highlighting the challenges and the efforts being made to address them.

At least one billion meals go to waste at household level across the world every day, that is to say, per person waste amounts 79 kg of food in average in a year, according to a recent report released by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

The Food Waste Index Report, 2024 released by UNEP on Wednesday stated that the food waste, including the edible ones, is equivalent to 1.3 meals every day for those suffering hunger globally.

The household food waste in Nepal stands 93 kg per capita annually as per report. The data stands at 55kg per capita annually in case of India while at 76 kg per capita per year in case of China.

"In 2022, the world wasted 1.05 billion tons of food. This amounts to one fifth (19 per cent) of food available to consumers being wasted, at the retail, food service, and household level. That is in addition to the 13 percent of the world’s food lost in the supply chain, as estimated by FAO, from post-harvest up to and excluding retail," the report mentioned.

Food waste: Market failure, environmental failure

The report has defined 'food waste' as 'food and the associated inedible parts removed from the human food supply chain.'  It has dubbed food waste as a market failure which results in the throwing away of more than USD one trillion US worth of food in a year.

Importantly, the report has extensive links of food waste to SDGs and climate actions. The food waste is also described as an environmental failure in the document. "Food waste generates an estimated 8–10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions (including from both loss and waste), and it takes up the equivalent of nearly 30 percent of the world’s agricultural land," it reminded.

The report has sought a special role from G20 countries to raise awareness about food waste at home and transfer knowledge on it to others. It read: "G20 countries can take a leading role in international cooperation and policy development to deliver SDG 12.3, can use their substantial influence on global consumer trends to promote awareness and education about food waste at home, and can share their expertise with countries just getting started in tackling this issue."

In this connection, the UNEP News wrote: “Food waste is a global tragedy. Millions will go hungry today as food is wasted across the world,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.

 “Not only is this a major development issue, but the impacts of such unnecessary waste are causing substantial costs to the climate and nature. The good news is we know if countries prioritize this issue, they can significantly reverse food loss and waste, reduce climate impacts and economic losses, and accelerate progress on global goals,” Andersen added.

Similarly, the document has shown south Asia having highest household food waste data points- with 31 estimates over seven countries, which it said equates to an estimate for all countries in the sub-region except Iran and Nepal.

The authors of the report are Hamish Forbes, Eloise Peacock, Nettie Abbot and Michael Jones (WRAP). Similar report was made public last time in 2021.

The UNEP has underlined the need of addressing food waste at individual and systemic levels by setting targets and channelizing efforts accordingly. International collaboration among countries- both developed and developing ones- has also been equally stressed for addressing this global challenge.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal claimed that the country's economy is not crisis-ridden like last year.

Addressing the 25th annual general assembly of the Federation of Contractors' Association of Nepal (FCAN) in Hetauda today, PM Dahal asserted that there has been a positive improvement in the economic indicators.

He, however, said the national economy was not completely free from stressors and called for an intensive discussion for that.

Stating that preparations were afoot to incorporate all sectors in the upcoming policies, programs and budget, Dahal shared that the government was effortful to clear the outstanding payment of the construction contractors.

On the occasion, PM Dahal honored construction contractors Dhruba Karki and Roshan Shrestha for their notable delivery in the construction sector.

Similarly, parliamentary Infrastructure Development Committee's President Deepak Bahadur Singh demanded clearance of over Rs 60 billion of outstanding amount to contractors, amending the Public Procurement Regulations to prevent brain drain of youths engaged in construction sector and completing compensation distribution among others works prior to calling tender.

Likewise, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chairperson Chandra Prasad Dhakal viewed that development works were adversely impeded due to the country's fragile economic and industrial situation and thus urged the PM to resolve the problems facing the construction contractors.

He said, "The government should understand that infrastructure development and development are the most important aspects for the development of the country. The projects could be delayed if there is delay in payment to the contractors. The contractors have not been able to pay bank's installment of banks, laborer’s wages and large amounts of taxes. They are in trouble."

Likewise, FCAN President Ravi Singh requested the government to be serious towards their problems.

Around 1,800 construction contractors from all 77 districts attended the program. 

Police have arrested a person in possession of a pistol from Kapan, Kathmandu on Friday.

Prashanta Prangdewa Limbu (28) of Phungling, Taplejung was held today in the course of the 'hooliganism and illegal arms control' campaign run by District Police Range Kathmandu.

SP Nawaraj Adhikari of the District Police Range, Kathmandu said that Limbu has been apprehended on the charge of involving in hooliganism and creating fear and terror in the community in the Kapan area of late.

Police confiscated a crude pistol, two sharp knives, a hammer, two mobile phones and one iPhone from Limbu.

Adhikari said police are interrogating Limbu.

Doctors in Nepal have staged a demonstration against the Israeli attacks.

They staged a protest in front of the Lazimpat-based Israel Embassy for Nepal and social responsibility.

The doctors took out a peaceful rally from Maharajgunj-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital to the Embassy.

They staged a demonstration against Israel’s atrocities on health service providers, hospitals and health workers in Gaza strip of Palestine.

They demanded that the killing of innocent people and violent activities be stopped immediately.

The doctors also handed over a letter to the Israel government through the Nepal-based Israel Embassy.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has said that parliamentary diplomacy will be promoted effectively for world peace, harmony and to reduce the impact of climate change.

He said so while talking to reporters upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport after participating in the 148th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Speaker Ghimire said that Nepal has faced geographical and regional challenges.

He informed that there was a sideline discussion in the General Assembly regarding Nepal's participation in the non-aligned campaign and making its role effective.

A delegation led by Speaker Ghimire left for Geneva on March 21 to participate in the General Assembly held at the head office of the IPU from March 23 to 27.

In the General Assembly, Speaker Ghimire delivered a speech on behalf of the Federal Parliament on the topic of 'Parliamentary Diplomacy: Building Bridges for Peace and Understanding'.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that economic empowerment is the most important basis for women's empowerment.

The Prime Minister's Secretariat said that Prime Minister Dahal expressed this opinion while inaugurating the 7th International Women's Business Fair organized by the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs in Lalitpur district on Friday.

Prime Minister Dahal said, "Compared to the past, the condition of Nepali women is gradually getting stronger and better. Everyone's support is needed for women's empowerment. Therefore, in today's world, for women's empowerment, first of all, financial access must be widened." The prime minister also emphasized that the subject of empowerment is connected with power. “Empowerment is connected with power in today's world," he reiterated.

According to the PM, power is connected with economic conditions and there cannot be true empowerment without being financially empowered. He said the government has given it top priority.

The Prime Minister informed the event that tax exemption and concession programs have been conducted in the industries and businesses run by women and pledged to increase them further in the future as well.

PM Dahal said, "It is important to establish a women's entrepreneurship fund to realize the concept of supporting nation building by empowering Nepali women socially and economically through the development of women's entrepreneurship. The government has made tax breaks and other concessional arrangements to promote industries led by women entrepreneurs, which will be increased in the coming days.”

The Rajendra-Anjana Foundation has handed over educational and sports materials and scholarships worth Rs 5.1 million to 21 schools in various districts.

According to the foundation, it distributed scholarships as well as sports and educational materials to 21 community schools in four districts over the past 17 days. "The foundation believes in providing education to Dalit, helpless, and disadvantaged children residing in rural areas as a prerequisite for fundamental social change in the country. In line with this belief, we distributed scholarships as well as educational and sports materials at selected community schools in Parbat, Baglung, Syangja, and Chitwan after conducting necessary studies," it added.

Panchatej Jyoti Basic School, a primary school in a Chepang settlement in Chitwan, was one of the beneficiaries of the program. According to the foundation, its team visited the school premises and handed over the support.

"Furthermore, with the aim of establishing an alliance among 14 schools in the educational, cultural, and technical fields, the foundation organized a digital quiz contest in coordination with Huwās Campus in Parbat Municipality of Parbat," the foundation said in a statement. Shivalaya Secondary School in Galyang Municipality of Syangja, Nirmal Janasewa Secondary School in Paiyun Rural Municipality of Parbat, and Jana Kalyan Secondary School in Bihadi Rural Municipality of Parbat received first, second, and third prizes, while Janaseva Sanskrit School in Paiyun Rural Municipality of Parbat received a consolation prize.

The winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up received medals, certificates, and cash prizes of Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000, and Rs 10,000 respectively, while the school winning the consolation prize received Rs 6,000, according to the foundation.

Rajendra Prasad Shrestha, chairperson of the foundation, said the happiness seen on the faces of students during the foundation’s activities has injected a different kind of energy in him. "These activities are expected to significantly contribute to improving the overall educational level of students," he added.

According to Shrestha, the foundation aims to establish a hostel to improve the educational level of extremely poor, needy, helpless, marginalized, and Dalit students in rural areas; and a self-employment center to provide training for local women.

The foundation, which has been registered in both the US and Nepal, is a non-profit organization. It aims to provide support for education beyond nutritional support for children who are deprived of quality education due to economic constraints.