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The Karnali police have launched the QR code system in a bid to facilitate people file police complaints.

With this, people no longer need to reach police offices far away from rural villages to lodge complaints as the police have pasted QR stickers at their homes. In some cases, it takes hours for people in rural areas to reach nearby police offices for registering complaints. 

Deputy Inspector General of Police Bhim Prasad Dhakal, the provincial police chief, inaugurated the QR code system amid a function here.

Now, Karnali residents can file a police complaint from their home through QR code, said civil society leader Rajendra Bikram Shah. 

Stating that the police have launched seven campaigns to build a safe Karnali, Dhakal said the QR system had come into operation with the aim of ensuring the safety of citizens and providing services in an easy manner.

"We have run this campaign to increase citizens' trust in security, be closer to them and provide convenient services to them. Complaints received through QR code will be classified into three types," he said.

Investigations will start immediately if the complaint is of a more urgent nature. Investigations will be launched within three days if the complaint is of an urgent nature, and within five days if it is of a general type, he said.

The legal process will be preceded by maintaining the confidentiality of the complainant, he added.

The west face of the main building of Singha Durbar which was damaged by the 2015 earthquake has been rebuilt.

With the completion of the rebuilding works, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has officially moved to his new office. The inauguration ceremony took place today.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister said the relocation symbolized not just a change in location, but also his resolution to move ahead innovatively.

The 120-year-old structure was reconstructed while preserving its original architecture.

"We have transitioned from backward to forwards. In the previous office setup, I often felt a bit congested and would not feel much refreshed," he said, adding that he found the new office chamber more spacious and refreshing and hoped that its atmosphere and surroundings will help him think more innovatively.

He also thanked the Urban Development Ministry and the team involved in the rebuilding process.

According to Urban Development Minister Sita Gurung, who was present on the occasion, now the project to retrofit the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has been completed. The project costs Rs 4.2 million.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 20.67 points to close at 1,850.33 points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 2.51 points to close at 354. 21 points.

A total of 4,213,285-unit shares of 294 companies were traded for Rs 1. 08 billion.

Meanwhile, Buddha Bhumi Nepal Hydropower Company Limited was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Sayapatri Hydropower Limited was the top loser as its price fell by 8.15 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 85 trillion. 

The Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) and the Institute for Development and Diplomacy (IDD) of ADA University of Azerbaijan have officially entered into a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on November 21, 2023.

This collaborative agreement marks a significant milestone in fostering cooperation and mutual development between the two institutions.

The MoU outlines a comprehensive framework for collaboration, covering a wide range of areas aimed at enhancing educational and diplomatic initiatives, reads a statement issued by the AIDIA.

ADA University was established under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan in 2006, with the goal of nurturing individuals who serve as adept problem solvers, fostering close collaboration, and ensuring effective communication within the global community. The IDD was established in 2022 to enhance and broaden the university's objectives, emphasizing intellectual development and strategic engagement on a global scale.

AIDIA is Kathmandu based independent, non-partisan, foreign policy think-tank that conducts research and analysis on domestic and international issues, and offers a platform for dialogue, debate and discussion.

The MoU was signed by Sunil KC, Founder of AIDIA, and Dr Fariz Ismailzade, Director at IDD, symbolizing a commitment to fostering international collaboration and promoting academic excellence.

This partnership reflects the shared vision of both institutions to contribute significantly to the fields of development and diplomacy.

The government has managed to spend around 20 percent of the budget allocated for 2023/24 in the first four months of the fiscal year.

According to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office (FCGO), the government has spent Rs 355.63bn out of Rs 1,751.31bn allocated in the current fiscal year.

The government has so far expended 23.75 percent of its recurrent budget, 9.93 percent of the capital budget, and 17.72 percent of its budget allocated for financial management.

Out of the total budget, Rs 1,141.78bn has been set aside for recurrent expenditure, Rs 302.07bn for capital expenditure, and Rs 307.45bn for financial management in the current fiscal year.

According to the FCGO, the government has spent Rs 271.17bn of its recurrent budget. Likewise, Rs 29.98bn of the capital budget has been spent so far, while it has spent Rs 54.46bn of the budget allocated for financial management.

The government uses funds allocated for financial management to service its domestic and foreign debt.

In the current fiscal year, the government has allocated more budget for financial management compared to the capital budget.

Looking at the government spending over the first four months, spending toward financial management is more than double of what the government has managed to spend toward capital spending. This means the government's spending toward servicing foreign and domestic debt is higher than what it is spending on development works.

The government's capital spending gains momentum in the fourth quarter as implementing agencies often initiate projects at the eleventh hour to avoid budget freeze. Spending taxpayers' money in this manner is incorrect because a substantial portion of these payments occurs without adherence to proper processes and legal mandates. This compromises the quality of work. Such spending is often done in collaboration among implementing agencies i.e. government offices, contractors and suppliers.

During the first four months of 2022/23, the government's total spending stood at Rs. 351bn. Recurrent expenditure, capital expenditure, and financial management expenditure amounted to Rs 281.39bn, Rs 26.30bn, and Rs 43.31bn, respectively, in the review period.

The government mobilized 20.08 percent of the revenue target set for the current fiscal year in the first four months of 2023/24. Out of Rs 1,422.54bn that the government is looking to raise in the current fiscal year, the government mobilized Rs 276.64bn in the first four months. Of the total revenue, Rs 254.30bn is from tax revenue, and Rs 22.33bn is from non-tax revenue.

Likewise, the government has managed to mobilize Rs 3.75bn as foreign grants in the four months of 2023/24. This is 5.42 percent of Rs 49.94bn that the government is looking to raise under foreign grants in the current fiscal year.

President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal held a meeting on Wednesday.

In the meeting held at the Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas, in Kathmandu, President Paudel drew the attention of the government towards expediting the relief distribution operation for the quake-affected ones in the Karnali Province, according to Kiran Pokharel, Press Advisor to the President.

On the occasion, they also discussed contemporary issues, added Press Advisor Pokharel.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 300 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 116, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 116, 200 per tola on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 115, 950 per tola. It was traded at Rs 115, 650 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,455 per tola today.

The District Administration Office, Kathmandu has issued a Prohibitory order in the areas around the President's Office, Sheetal Niwas, and Prime Minister's residence, Baluwatar.

Issuing the order last night, Kathmandu Chief District Officer, Jeetendra Basnet said the order has prohibited gatherings in groups of more than five persons for protests, procession, sit-in, gherao, hunger strike and assembly.

The order came into effect on November 21 and will remain in force for up to 30 days, Basnet further said.

The order prohibited gatherings in Sheetal Niwas up to Pabitra Workshop towards the east, up to the canal through Samakhushi towards the west, up to the South-East gate of the National Police Training Academy towards the north and up to mode leading to the Police Hospital in the south.

Likewise, the order has declared the areas from Pabitra Workshop Chowk to Nepal Rastra Bank Chowk towards Baluwatar and from Speaker residence up to 100 meters in the west-south of the road heading to Gairidhara as prohibited zone.

It is noted that gatherings in groups for sit-in and protests in the areas having residence and offices of distinguished persons may break peace and security and disrupt public service delivery, so these areas were declared as prohibited zones.

Earlier, the local administration has issued prohibitionary order in Maitaghar-Baneswor and Pulchowk area of Lalitpur.