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Krishna Kumar’s third book ‘Smart Bhikhamanga’ was released on the occasion of Republic Day on Tuesday.

The book was released under the moderator author Ravi Shankar at the New York Writers Workshop under the Himalayan Literature Festival in Kathmandu Guest House.

In this literary event, Journalist-Author Professor S.S. Dogra's sixth book "Udachi Vam" written in Russian language was also launched.

On this occasion, Chief Guest Swami Ekartananda-President and Spiritual Head of Ramakrishna Ashram Nepal, Special Guest Er Sachchidanand Mishra-Managing Director of "Himalini" magazine, former MP of Nepal Haricharan Sah, prominent educationist-writer of England-Maria Clare, Dr (Prof.) Vimuns Paudel of Tribhuvan University, Nepali young entrepreneur Ravi Kumar and many invited litterateurs from several countries were also present.

Surendra Raj Pandey has been appointed as the chief minister of Gandaki Province.

Province Chief Dilli Raj Bhatta on Wednesday appointed Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Pandey as the chief minister in accordance with Article 168 (3) of the Constitution.

Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that the appointment and vote of confidence taken by Chief Minister Khagraj Adhikari was against the Constitution.

The court had ordered the Province Chief to appoint Pandey, a leader of the largest party in the Province Assembly, as the chief minister within 48 hours.

Province Chief Bhatta Bhatta later appointed Pandey as the chief minister.

Former Chief Minister Pandey had filed a writ petition at the apex court demanding that the vote of confidence sought by Adhikari be scrapped and he be appointed as the chief minister.

While seeking a vote of confidence, Adhikari had garnered 30 votes while 27 voted against him in the Province Assembly.

Nepal has stressed the need of building a robust health system, saying the role of the international community and aid agencies would be significant for the same.

Addressing the 77th World Health Assembly at Palais des Nations in Geneva on Tuesday, Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Yadav underscored the pivotal role of international instruments on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response and international health regulations to ensure a robust health system.

On the occasion, he highlighted the progress achieved by Nepal in health sectors over the last two decades particularly in life expectancy and maternal & child survival.

While expressing satisfaction over the successful immunization program, the health minister raised concern about inequality in healthcare services.

Minister Yadav conveyed Nepal’s commitment to cooperate with global, regional, and national agencies and actors to transform Nepal’s health system while appreciating the WHO, Director General Tedros and the staff members for the dedicated service to people around the world for last seventy-six years, according to a press release issued by Permanent Mission of Nepal in Geneva. The theme of this year’s Health Assembly is “All for Health, Health for all”.

Minister Yadav is in Geneva, leading a nine-member Nepali delegation comprising Ram Prasad Subedi, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations and other international Organizations in Geneva, Officials from the Ministry of Health and Population as well as the Permanent Mission of Nepal in Geneva.

The health minister was warmly welcomed by Ambassador Subedi upon arrival at Geneva International Airport.  He is scheduled to attend important events and hold bilateral meetings during his stay in Geneva.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 23. 81 points to close at 2,089.42 points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 4. 82 points to close at 374. 09 points.

A total of 10,738,169-unit shares of 314 companies were traded for Rs 4. 57 billion.

Meanwhile, Unilever Nepal Limited (UNL), Kalinchowk Darshan Limited (KDL), Upper Lohore Khola Hydropower Company Limited (ULHC) and Bhagawati Hydropower Development Company Limited (BGWT) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Buddha Bhumi Nepal Hydropower Company Limited (BNHC) was the top loser as its price fell by 9. 41 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 31 trillion.

Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) representatives from Nepal and India held a semi-formal discussion on Asia as a Knowledge Sharing Society in Kathmandu on Tuesday, aligning with AMIC's 30th Annual Conference theme taking place in September 2024.

The discussion was witnessed by 29 participants from various institutions, including colleges, media houses, researchers, scholars, and academicians.

Laxman Datt Pant, AMIC's representative in Nepal, presented an overview of AMIC and opportunities for research in communications and media.

Pant stated that AMIC is an excellent platform for showcasing knowledge in various fields of media and research. "With proper use of AMIC, media researchers can contribute to and benefit the research field with a far-reaching impact."

Similarly, Dr Chandrabhanu Pattanayak, an AMIC representative in India and a well-known media academician, researcher, and journal editor, discussed Asia's role in global knowledge and information exchange.

According to Pattanayak, there is a reverse paradigm in Asia versus the West.

"The West, on the one hand, emphasizes lingua franca, whereas the East or Asia emphasizes multilingualism, and, surprisingly, there have been no communication breaks or gaps between the countries," he stated.

Dr Aditya Shukla, an Indian academic, expressed his great pleasure at the opportunity to discuss such important issues. He said, “AMIC is doing tremendous work in the knowledge sharing field and establishing Asia as a knowledge hub. Particularly, the program on Asia as a knowledge sharing society was well organized and programs like such can explore the potential of Asia as a knowledge hub.”

He also stated, "If Asian countries come together and emphasize and share Asian knowledge on a high level. We can position our region as a knowledge hub. Because we are completely different from the West, and we have histories with various philosophies that have yet to be fully explored."

Shreeman Sharma, Research Uptake Manager at HERD International, suggested that AMIC should help in enhancing the capacity of researchers and institutions in Nepal. This is an appropriate time to prioritize Nepal's media and communication research needs, he added. 

The discussion was attended by Sanjogita Mishra, founder and director of the Institute of Knowledge Society, Chun Gurung, Journalism Faculty Lead at St. Xavier College,  Sweta Singh from All India Radio and DD India,  Yam Bahadur Dura, a faculty member at Madan Bhandari Memorial College, Dr. Shree Ram Khanal, Head of Journalism Department at Gramin Adarsha College, Umesh Pokhrel, a media researcher, Jhabindra Bhusal, Chief Officer at Press Council Nepal, Neha Sharma, an AMIC member, Shalik Ram Subedi from Nepal Television and a number of media scholars interested in research and media development.

Participants inquired about and expressed interest in AMIC's work, as well as suggestions for how it can broaden its scope to help elevate the Asian perspective in Nepal through its rigorous work. They also discussed how Nepalese scholars can join the AMIC to contribute to and disseminate Asian knowledge throughout the world.

Nepal has expressed its solidarity with the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) and called on the international community for its effective implementation.

In her address to the ongoing Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) on behalf of the Group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal stressed the need for the effective implementation of the Action.

According to Nepal's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, the Conference underway in Antigua and Barbuda, reviewed progress in the advancements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the SIDS.

Addressing the Conference as the Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Secretary Lamsal offered gratitude to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, congratulated the SIDS for adopting Antigua and Barbuda Action for SIDS (ABAS), expressed LDCs’ solidarity with them, and called the international community for the effective implementation of ABAS, according to the press note issued by the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN.

Several Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers, and High-level dignitaries addressed the General Debate.

Lamsal attended the Official Opening Ceremony of SIDS4 convened under the theme of “Charting the Course Toward Resilient Prosperity” on May 27.

Following the Opening Segment, the Foreign Secretary held a meeting with the Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States, Rabab Fatima. The discussions were focused on various issues of the Nepal-UN partnership, including the implementation of the Doha Program of Action, Nepal’s graduation and smooth transition, and the upcoming Third International Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3).

On the margins of the Conference, the Foreign Secretary met with Igor Zhovkva, Head of the Ukrainian delegation, and Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.

In the meeting, matters related to Nepal-Ukraine relations and multilateral cooperation were discussed. She also had a bilateral meeting with Minna-Liina Lind, the Vice-Minister and Head of the Estonian Delegation.

They discussed Nepal-Estonia relations and cooperation under the UN frameworks. 

A total of 4,035 Nepali migrant workers have died from the fiscal year 2077-78 BS (2020-21) to 2079-80 BS (2022-23). 

According to data from the Foreign Employment Board, 870 Nepali migrant workers also suffered injuries or fell ill during this period.

Over the past three years, there has been a concerning rise in the number of deaths and illnesses among Nepali migrant workers. The percentages of these incidents were 18.50% in the fiscal year 2077-78, 31.95% in 2078-79 BS, and 49.54% in 2079-80 BS. Despite the falling deaths, the cases of mutilations and illness have soared over these years.

The challenges faced by Nepali migrant workers include adverse weather conditions in destination countries, increased workloads, liquor consumption, conflicts with colleagues, familial pressures, lack of awareness of local laws, technical errors in handling and the operation of machinery, traffic accidents, workplace incidents, burns, suffocation, drowning, and illnesses, as highlighted in the report.

In the last fiscal year, out of 1,250 fatalities, 27.96% occurred in Malaysia, followed by 26.36% in Saudi Arabia, 17.98% in the United Arab Emirates, 17.32% in Qatar, 6.04% in Kuwait, and 4.43% in other nations. It is alarming that these fatalities occurred despite the completion of medical tests before departure.

The report urges the government to investigate the root causes of these deaths, implement awareness programs, and provide psychosocial counseling services among others for Nepali migrant workers.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has urged one and all to make more efforts to keep mountains free from pollution and protect them.

Prime Minister Dahal pointed out the need to engage in the protection of mountains by making collaboration and coordination among all bodies concerned.

At a program organized on the occasion of the 71st International Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) Day here today, he requested all to support the government's 'Save Mountain, Save Humanity' campaign.

Stating that with the rise in temperature due to global effects of climate change, mountains including Sagarmatha face its consequences, the Prime Minister said there are challenges to mitigate the impacts of climate change and implement proper measures for waste management in the mountains.

"There is a need for collaboration and coordination to make mountains pollution-free. The government has adopted a policy of holding dialogue in national and international forums for the same", he stressed.

" Snow melting, increasing the risk of glacial lakes bursting and increasing air pollution along with temperature rise have been making negative impacts on the human life, civilization, development, lifestyle and health of the people living at low-lying areas of mountains", he added.

Prime Minister Dahal shared, "Nepal has been advocating for climate justice in national and international arenas, keeping activities to protect mountainous regions and reducing impacts of climate change there in high priority."

The Prime Minister expressed his hope that the day will inspire all of us to promote tourist arrivals, preserve the mountains, address the issues of garbage disposal in the mountains, take measures to mitigate the impact of climate change there and launch further programs for climate change adaptation, according to the Prime Minister's private secretariat. 

"Sagarmatha stands as a unique emblem of Nepal's identity and beauty. This also serves as a hub for biological diversities and it carries historic and cultural identities of the mountain people and the community," the Prime minister said, adding that the mountain region is a host to environmental facilities, clean water, and clean air to the world, significantly contributing to biodiversity, temperature control and balance, ecological system and the continuity of the human lifecycle.”

Highlighting Nepal's multifaceted identity on the global stage, the Prime Minister said that natural, cultural, and historical heritages like Sagarmatha and Lumbini are sources of pride for the entire world.

The expedition journey that significantly started with the ascent to Sagarmatha has now been worldwide, he said, adding that the attraction of mountain climbing in Nepal, home to multiple peaks above 8,000 meters, is increasing.

He also said the government is working on related plans, policies, and programs to ensure the safety of mountain climbers and promote their dignity as its prime concern.   The government expects to welcome 1.6 million tourists to the country in the upcoming fiscal year, he added.

He also paid tributes to all those who lost their valuable lives during Everest expeditions, extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved.