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The cases of COVID-19 have again emerged in the Sudurpaschim Province. The infection rate was nil until sometime ago and last week, but eight cases have been detected this week.

Ganesh Saud, an Auxiliary Health Worker stationed at the Health Desk in Gauriphanta along the Nepal-India border, said that symptoms were observed in India-returnees. Through antigen tests, eight cases have been identified lately.

Four samples of the infected have been already sent to Kathmandu through the province-based lab to find out the disease variant.

Those showing symptoms of COVID-19 at the border have been advised to observe home- isolation and those having severe symptoms are being advised to visit hospitals.

According to Saud, the World Health Organization recently warned against the detection of a new variant of the disease. 

According to the provincial Health Emergency Operation Centre, Health Directorate, three COVID-19 cases have been traced in the past three days among the people returned to Nepal from Gauriphanta and Gaddachauki checkpoints in the province.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has pledged that there would be no budgetary constraint issues for the implementation of Budhigandaki Reservoir-based Project.

Speaking at a program entitled "The Prime Minister with People's Representatives and Stakeholders” organized by the Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality in Gorkha today, he said the budget resources for Budhigandaki, the project of national pride, has been ensured. 

"Now there is no confusion over the availability of the budget for the project.  The government, through the Cabinet meeting recently, decided to allocate five percent of revenue from the physical infrastructure sector to the project."

The 1,200-megawatt project will be implemented soon, according to the Prime Minister who believes that the project implementation will pave the way for economic development, prosperity and job opportunities in Gorkha in the future.

Dahal, who is also the House of Representatives (HoR) member from the Gorkha constituency-2, said he is committed to implementing words he gave before the Gorkha folks during the election campaign period. 

Discussions are in progress to revive the Gorakhkali Rubber Industry based in Deurali of Gorkha, according to the Prime Minister.

Pressing an idea for upgrading the Aanppipal Hospital in the district to a 50-bed health facility, he pledged to initiate towards that end.

Thousands of livestock farmers across the country are awaiting compensation from the government for the loss of their cattle due to lumpy skin disease.

The lumpy skin outbreak affected 1.53m cattle across the country in the fiscal year 2023/24. Of them, 65,441 cattle died. Although the outbreak, which peaked in the June-September period, has come under control now, many farmers have lost hope of receiving any compensation from government agencies.

Even officials of the Department of Livestock Services admit that the government has failed to compensate farmers for the loss of their livestock on time. They claim that although they have forwarded details of livestock loss to the finance ministry, it has not released funds.

Lumps on skin, lesions on mucous membranes, fever, loss of appetite, reduced milk production and discharge from eyes and nose are the common symptoms of lumpy skin disease.

Experts say that although the lumpy skin outbreak has come under control with the advent of the winter season, there is a risk of another outbreak once temperatures start rising. They say the government should, therefore, prepare strategies on time to combat the outbreak.

The department has estimated the loss incurred by the farmers due to the lumpy skin outbreak at Rs 75.52bn. Experts say this is the biggest loss that livestock farmers have faced so far.

Because of the lumpy skin outbreak, farmers have witnessed a slump in the production of milk and organic fertilizers. Experts say that since farmers are facing a shortage of animals to till the land and carry loads, and they need to use their hard-earned savings to buy new animals, it can affect the gross national income. The agriculture and livestock sector contribute about 23 percent to gross domestic production. The contribution of the livestock sector is around six percent.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a vector-borne viral disease affecting cattle. It causes huge economic losses to dairy farmers due to the drastic reduction in milk production. It first appeared in Bangladesh, China and India in 2019. Nepal recorded the first case of lumpy skin disease in Gandaki Province in June 2020.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 200 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 120, 700 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 120, 500 per tola on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 120, 100 per tola. It was traded at Rs 119, 900 per tola.

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 10 and is being traded at Rs 1,475 per tola today.  

Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Prakash Saud has said that approximately 100 Nepalis who are serving in the Russian army remain missing and some have been injured. Speaking at a programe in the Capital, the foreign minister said the ministry is receiving complaints from the family members of the missing.

Saud said approximately 200 Nepalis who went to Russia on student, working and visit visas have joined the Russian army. However, the number could be bigger given the growing number of complaints.

According to him, the ministry has already summoned the Russian ambassador and conveyed Nepal’s concern to Moscow. The government has also ordered the Nepali Embassy in Moscow to reach out to Russian authorities. 

Foreign Minister Saud also said that the government was in constant touch with Ukraine to free the Nepalis being held hostage by the Ukrainian army. The government has also requested the International Committee of Red Cross to help to rescue Nepalis in Ukraine.

To date, seven Nepalis have been confirmed dead and four are under captivity in Ukraine. According to the ministry, four Nepalis are under Ukraine’s captivity. They have been identified as Bibek Khatri, Sidhartha Dhakal, Bikas Rai and Pratik Pun. Nepal has communicated with the Ukraine government about the matter.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Nepal has told the Russian side to provide compensation to those who were killed in war with Ukraine and facilitate the process of repatriating the bodies.

In order to stop the recruitment process, Nepal has made the provision of no objection letter mandatory. The provision also applies to those flying to Russia from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain.

I’m a 15-year-old girl and I must admit that I’m very lazy. I put things off till the last minute and sometimes don’t even do important tasks. This makes me look bad at school and people don’t trust me when I say I will do something. I want to change but I have no motivation whatsoever. I just want to sleep or watch TV all the time. Please help.

Answered by Kapil Sharma, counseling psychologist, Nepal Institute of Mental Health 

In the journey of cultivating a positive mindset, it’s vital to integrate practices that foster self-compassion and understanding. When reflecting on your emotions, practice self-compassion by acknowledging that facing challenges is a universal part of life; it’s entirely okay to experience them. This approach helps create a space for acceptance and growth, recognizing that emotions, including those tied to demotivation, are natural aspects of the human experience.

As you move forward and seek healing through the process, extend the same kindness to yourself that you would offer to a friend facing similar challenges. Celebrate your strengths and acknowledge the progress you make, emphasizing the positive steps you take on your journey. This self-celebration contributes to building a nurturing environment, fostering resilience and self-love.

When exploring the causes of demotivation, maintain a gentle curiosity. Adopting this approach allows you to understand the factors at play without engaging in self-blame. By focusing on understanding rather than judgment, you pave the way for a constructive analysis that can lead to effective solutions.

Crafting a daily routine is an additional facet of fostering a positive mindset. In your routine, incorporate self-care activities such as mindfulness, exercise, or engaging in hobbies you enjoy. Prioritize your mental and emotional well-being, recognizing that a balanced routine contributes significantly to overall positivity and motivation.

By intertwining these practices of self-compassion, a celebration of progress, curiosity, and a mindful routine into your journey, you lay the groundwork for a positive mindset. Remember, each step you take in this direction contributes not only to personal growth but also to increased resilience and motivation in both academic and personal pursuits.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has announced to expand the scope of health insurance.

In an address to the nation on the occasion of the completion of one year of his government today, Prime Minister Dahal said the insurance scheme has not proceeded according to the spirit of the National Health Insurance Act introduced during his previous tenure in 2074.

But the current government will improve it to realize the constitutional right of citizens to health with a high priority, he said. For this, policy and procedural reforms for the effective implementation of insurance, capacity building of the insurance board, strong monitoring and evaluation mechanism, increasing the scope of insurance coverage and comprehensive improvement in the structure and quality of services, he informed that the government is taking care of the insurance.

The Prime Minister also expressed the commitment to increase the current ceiling in insurance coverage, while all the free health programs will be included in the health insurance in an integrated manner.

With a focus on health insurance, the health system will be developed according to the integrated health infrastructure development standards, he said.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the coming decade will be a decade of rapid development.

In an address to the nation on the occasion of the completion of one year of his government, Prime Minister Dahal said at least two shifts working model will be guaranteed in infrastructure development to be carried out in a 'barrack model'. "Development will be carried out in a way that the citizens can feel it."

Outlining the achievements of the previous year in the field of infrastructure development, the Prime Minister said 776.61 kilometers of black-topped roads were constructed along with 587.5 kilometers of gravel roads. Another 181.29 kilometers of new tracks have been opened.

Stating that the under-construction Narayangadh-Butwal or the Muglin-Pokhara road sections could be taken as an example, Dahal said negative comments are being made by the public because the projects are not completed on time, which not only lead to increased cost but also inflict a lot of suffering on the people.”