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The monsoon system now has influence in the eastern part of the country while the local wind and the low-pressure area developed around Bihar in India has influence in the rest of the country.

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the weather will be completely cloudy in Koshi and Madhes Provinces, generally cloudy in Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and partly cloudy in the rest of the country.

Light to moderate rain is taking place at a few places of Koshi, Bagmati and Karnali Provinces and at one or two places of Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces.

The weather will be partly to generally cloudy in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and partly cloudy in the rest of the country.

Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and at one or two places of Madhes and other parts of the country. There is also a possibility of heavy rainfall at one or two places in Koshi province.

Similarly, the weather will be generally cloudy in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and partly cloudy in the rest of the country tonight. Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and at one or two places of the rest of the country.

There are chances of heavy rainfall at one or two places in Koshi Province. Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and at one or two places of the rest of the country during the next 24 hours.

The Department has urged the people to remain cautious in view of the partial impact of heavy rainfall on daily life, agriculture, health, tourism, mountaineering, road and air transport in those areas and to avoid the risk or damage of flood, landslide and soil erosion.

The Armed Police Force (APF) battalion number 13 has painted and repaired all big and small 400 border pillars in Parsa.

The APF has carried out maintenance of 399 of the 489 border pillars including the main, auxiliary and minor pillars.

Battalion commander of the battalion Radheshyam Dhimal said that the task of painting and maintenance of the border pillar is underway in coordination with the concerned government agencies including the Survey Office.

"Out of the 21 main border pillars in Parsa, 19 have been painted and repaired so far", he said, adding, "We will carry forward the repair works in remaining two border pillars after completing necessary legal process", he added.

The police force has to paint and maintain 13 auxiliary border pillars, but so far 12 have been completed. Similarly, of the 455 small border pillars, 368 have been repaired so far while only 87 are yet to be painted and repaired.

A total of 90 border pillars including main, subsidiary and minor are yet to be repaired in Parsa.

The government has drafted a bill aimed at discontinuing long standing public welfare advertisements received by the media. The Media Council Bill, proposed by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, includes several provisions perceived as restricting media freedom, notably the cessation of public welfare advertisements. Currently, the bill is being reviewed by the Committee for Legislation Management of the National Assembly. Critics argue that this bill undermines the existing independent nature of the Press Council, replacing it with government-controlled oversight.

Under the existing Press Council, Section 10 includes a provision for the Audit Committee of Newspaper Circulation, which facilitates government advertisements worth over Rs 300 million to classified newspapers. This provision is slated for removal in the proposed bill. During discussions within the National Assembly committee, parliamentarians emphasized the importance of preserving state support for newspapers. They also criticized the recommendation committee, led by the Ministry Secretary, for potentially overstepping constitutional boundaries by influencing judicial appointments.

Jayantidevi Rai, a Member of Parliament and chairperson of the committee, stated that consultations with fellow MPs and experts are ongoing. Section 6 (2) of the Media Council Bill proposes forming a recommendation committee chaired by the Ministry Secretary, a detail that has faced significant criticism. Additionally, objections have been raised against a provision that would elevate the ministry's joint secretary to a senior position within the council.

Notably, the new bill excludes provisions for public welfare advertisements to the media. During consultations, experts including Dr. Suresh Acharya, Taranath Dahal, and Nirmala Sharma advised against rushing through legislation that could endanger press freedom.

Various journalist associations, including the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Press Chautari Nepal, Nepal Press Union, and Samajwadi Press Organization, have issued a statement warning of protests if the bill advances hastily.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal emphasized on coordination and cooperation between sides concerned to solve the problems and challenges in the field of medical education.

Addressing a meeting of the Medical Education Commission today, Prime Minister Dahal said cooperation between the three levels of government, educational institutions providing medical education and all stakeholders in the health sector is necessary to improve the quality of health services and medical education.

"The Commission needs to play an effective role in the quality improvement, development, expansion and regulation of the health sector. All other stakeholders should cooperate and collaborate for it ", he said.

He also lauded the works done by the commission, describing it as a positive and integral part of improving medical education and service delivery in the country.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 18. 76 points to close at 2,076. 49 points on Tuesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 3. 72 points to close at 367. 20 points.

A total of 9,544,734-unit shares of 318 companies were traded for Rs 4. 05 billion.

Meanwhile, Samaj Laghubittya Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SAMAJ) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Manakamana Smart Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (MKLB) and Kutheli Bukhari Small Hydropower Limited (KBSH) were the top losers as their price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 29 trillion.

President Ram Chandra Paudel's recent visit to Switzerland and the ongoing visit to the Federal Republic of Germany are expected to be instrumental in further consolidating and renewing Nepal's bilateral ties with these European nations.

Germany offered a huge welcome and hospitality to the President and his delegation, reflecting its goodwill towards Nepal. 

The President has been on an official visit to Germany since June 15, 2024 at the friendly invitation of his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The two held a bilateral meeting on Monday and Germany's President assured of much support to Nepal. 

The two Heads of State reportedly reviewed the bilateral relations being based on development support, trade, tourism, investment, and vocational training in a very cordial atmosphere. President Paudel encouraged Germany to support Nepal's agriculture, tourism, and water resources sectors, highlighting them as the development priorities of Nepal.

The President departed for Germany after completing his visit to Switzerland.

President Paudel also extended his invitation to his German counterpart for an official visit to Nepal. The year of Germany's unification coincided with the year of Nepal's restoration of democracy, he recalled.

The visit is expected to contribute additionally to enhancing Nepal's diplomatic relations in the entire Europe.

Political analyst Dr Chandra Dev Bhatta said the Head of State's visit to Germany after a long gap should be considered an important one. "Of late, Nepal's official relations with Europe have not been consolidated as per the expectations and this high-level visit will help address this gap."

He advised that Nepal should take measures to promote its relations with Germany which is the world's third economic power and the most powerful nation in Europe.

"Nepal's presence in Germany and its relations with it have to be sustained as it is the world's third largest economy and a powerful European nation," he added.

In connection with this visit, President Paudel held bilateral talks on June 12 with President of the Swiss Confederation, Viola Amherd in Bern before this.

Foreign affairs expert Dinesh Bhattarai also opined that the high-level visit from Nepal after a long time will help further strengthen the climate of trust between the two countries. "Germany is Nepal's close friend. Nepal has special relations with the socialist leaders and party of Germany. Willy Brandt, the former German Chancellor and the leader of the Social Democratic Party and Nepal's popular leader BP Koirala were close friends," he added.

Stating that the visit of the Head of State in itself is meaningful and significant, former ambassador Bhattarai expressed the belief that this visit would contribute to expanding the areas of cooperation in future.

According to him, Nepal can take notable benefit from Germany through export of handicraft goods and carpet, among other goods as well as through tourism promotion.

This is the first time since 1986 that a Head of State from Nepal has made an official visit to Germany.

Dr Suresh Chandra Chalise, the foreign affairs expert to the President, expressed the belief that this visit taking place at the Head of State-level from Nepal after 38 years would contribute towards further strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries.

He stated that the President's visit to the world's third largest economy and Europe's influential country, Germany, would help in increasing investment and trade in Nepal.

Nepal and Germany established diplomatic relations on April 4, 1958. Since then, the ties between the two countries have progressed based on friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amrit Bahadur Rai said that the visits taking place at various levels between the two countries would assist in further deepening the mutual relations.

"We are confident that this visit at the Head of State level will contribute in bringing German investment and technology into Nepal. Germany has made a good deal of study and practices on adaptation to safeguard from the effects of climate change, and there are many things that Nepal can learn from this as well," he said.

Bhishma Raj Ojha/RSS

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has urged the developed countries to help address challenges faced by the countries which missed industrial revolutions.

PM Dahal made such an urge while inaugurating the 21st replenishment meeting of IDA (IDA21) that kicked off in the federal capital, Kathmandu this morning.

The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) has been a committed partner in South Asia for over six decades.

PM Dahal argued that assistance to the countries lagging behind industrial development was essential for achieving the global goal of peace and prosperity. The development pace could be intensified through the concessional financial aid, according to him.

"The aid can be mobilized for just access to resources, technology and investment. Inclusive economy can be promoted by ending existing financial gaps," he reminded, adding that initiatives of sustainable development warrants support.

The Head of the Government informed Nepal was in a short supply of financial resources to meet sustainable development goals (SDGs), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and sustainable infrastructures despite its efforts for inclusive economic development. The revenue constraint and trade loss are nagging problems, he reminded. Therefore, financial assistance in grants is required for Nepal to create jobs, spur economic activities and upgrade country status from LDC.

"Human capital, health, and quality education need financial resources. Quality enhancement of infrastructure and people's lifestyle are our priorities," PM Dahal said, "Digitalization, investment in productive sectors, promotion of entrepreneurship, skill development is also in focus."

The issue of food security triggered by climate change is equally worth mentioning. The achievements made so far must not be reversed. "Nepal has been advocating for climate justice along with compensation for loss and damages, for it is bearing the disproportionate effect of climate change," PM Dahal mentioned, making the participants aware of Nepal's efforts on hardships like earthquake, COVID-19 and global recession.

Moreover, Dahal believed that the IDA-21 meeting would be successful to forge a consensus among the donors and recipients on the documents of policy priorities and results for the coming three years, and make a high level resolution to address unprecedented challenges.

Nepal and other receiving countries want to see larger impacts of IDA, he reiterated.

PM's address features Nepal's potentials along with political stability like hydropower, tourism, agriculture and diligent youths. IDA is a significant development partner to Nepal. It had provided huge financial resources for the reconstruction after the 2015 Earthquake, he shared.

Senior Managing Director at World Bank, Axel van Trotsenburg, viewed the meeting will provide a guideline for mobilization of IDA resources in addition to making plans for the coming decade.

On the occasion, Managing Director at Dwarika Hotel, Sangita Shrestha, urged the development partners and policy makers to work actively for effective mobilization of financial resources that cater to sustainable development efforts.

The event attended by over 200 representatives from 61 countries including high level officials of the World Bank runs through June 21.

The Dumre-Besisahar road section has been obstructed due to a landslide triggered by incessant rain since last night.

A mudslide occurred at Dalal of Besisahar Municipality-1 blocked the road section since the morning today, said Thaneshwar Chapain, Information Officer at the District Police Office Lamjung.

Chapain said a team has been mobilized to remove the landslide debris from the road and open it for traffic. However, the work has been hampered due to continuous rain. Vehicles and passengers have been stranded due to the road blockage.

Passengers traveling to Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, among other destinations from Besisahar and vice-versa and those traveling on to Manang via Besisahar are stranded. Even an ambulance has been stuck there. The Dumre-Besisahar road is 42 kilometers.