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Two persons have died of viral fever at Matesagu in Khaptad Chededaha Rural Municipality-2 of Bajura.

The deceased have been identified as Sauradevi Budha (49) and Kul Bahadur Shahi (62).

Budha died four days ago and Shahi on Sunday night.

Local Ganesh Bahadur Shahi said that both of them died due to viral fever.

Almost all the people in the village have fallen sick.

It has already been a week since the viral fever spread in the village.

Locals have lamented that no health workers have come to the village yet to provide medical treatment.

They said that the patients have the symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath.

Mahesh Chand, Acting Chief of the Health Office, Bajura, said that they are preparing to send a medical team to the village.

He said that two health workers have been sent to the village from Khaptad Chededaha Rural Municipality and preparations are underway to send a team along with medicines from the District Health Office.

Khaptad Chededaha Rural Municipality Chairman Dil Bahadur Raut said that a team of health workers has already been sent to the affected area.

Nepal and China have signed a 12-point agreement and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is on a week-long official visit to China, and his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat said.

According to the Secretariat, Nepali and Chinese officials signed the agreements on human resources, Hilasa Simikot road, road infrastructure with China, support for improving digital economy, agriculture, livestock and herbal medicines among other issues.

An agreement has also been reached to form a joint technical working group to study trade and payments between Nepal and China.

The gold is being traded at Rs 112, 200 per tola in the domestic market on Monday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 116, 250 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,430 per tola today.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang held a meeting on Monday.

During the meeting, they will discuss BRI implementation agreement, Nepal-China electricity trade, construction of projects BRI, investment in Nepal, expansion of border connecting roads, technology and construction of industrial parks among others.

There will also be proposals for Hilsa, Araniko Highway, transmission lines, and the agricultural sector in China.

While addressing a program in Beijing on Sunday, Prime Minister Dahal had said that work is being done on the cross-border economic zone, road corridor, rail, transmission lines between Nepal and China.

Prime Minister Dahal said that he had a discussion with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the issue of taking economic cooperation and partnership ahead.

The Prime Minister said that he and Chinese President Xi had a serious discussion on strengthening the cross-border connectivity.

Saying that Nepal has a huge trade deficit with China, Prime Minister Dahal underscored the need to increase the production capacity and improve the physical infrastructure.

Earlier this morning, the Prime Minister held a meeting with Chinese People of Congress Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Liji.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was accorded a guard of honor in Beijing on Monday.

A squad of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army gave a guard of honor to Prime Minister Dahal this morning.

Prime Minister Dahal’s Chinese counterpart Li Qiang was also present on the occasion.

The bilateral talks between Nepal and China have started after the program.

Nepali Congress Central Working Committee (CWC) members have strongly criticized the government’s performance in an ongoing CWC meeting. They have raised concerns about the government’s failure to effectively manage governance, combat corruption, and revive the struggling economy.

The CWC members have further warned that the current economic crisis has the potential to escalate social tensions and lead to law and order issues. They have also urged Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba to reconsider the support it is lending to the Dahal-led government.

Pradip Paudel: Several of our party leaders hold ministerial portfolios in this government, but I cannot tell a single good thing that they have accomplished. The economy is heading toward disaster. Around 33 percent of shop space in Kathmandu is closed. The prices of essential goods and food grains are soaring. The party president should tell the government to address these pressing issues. It is crucial for the Nepali Congress to have a meaningful presence in the government. 

Binod Chaudhary: Our Central Committee is too much focused on political matters while the economic and development issues are taking a back seat. The government should develop a clear road map to bring back the youths who are working abroad and to revive the stagnant development works and ailing industrial sector. We have to understand the current problems faced by the business sector. As the largest party, the Nepali Congress should come up with a 10-year plan to address the challenges facing the country.

Ram Janam Chaudhry: In the absence of job opportunities at home, our youths are leaving the country in droves. Meanwhile, the economy is on the verge of collapse. The party leadership should strongly urge the Ministry of Finance, which is led by NC leader Prakash Saran Mahat, to come up with a clear strategy to address the economic challenges.

Rajiv Dhungana: The Nepali Congress is a significant part of this government. So it is essential to conduct a thorough evaluation of the government's performance. While the government has opened some corruption cases, people have not witnessed a decrease in corruption. In fact, corruption has increased under the current government. The law and order situation continues to deteriorate, and businesspeople face a host of challenges.

Bhim Parajuli: This government should take immediate action to address the economic crisis. The role of Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha is not satisfactory. He has taken a selective approach to controlling corruption, targeting only Nepali Congress leaders. Our party leadership has not adequately prepared for the political crisis unfolding in Koshi province.

Laxmi Pariyar: The ongoing economic crisis would lead to an increase in crime in society. Are there any initiatives from the government in order to address the crisis that the country is facing today? What is the government’s road map to end the current crisis? Small businesses are facing a lot of challenges. The Nepali Congress is leading the Finance Ministry, but it has done nothing to address the economic challenges.   

Shiva Humagain: There are problems both in the government as well as in the party. But there seems to be a distinct lack of discipline within our party. This became apparent when our leader Bal Krishna Khand was arrested without substantial proof, and a group of our leaders met Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha to thank him. As far as this government is concerned, it has failed to comprehend that the people are extremely frustrated. The cost of living is increasing and the economy is hurting, but the government seems to have no plans to address these challenges.      

Shankar Bhandari: The Nepali Congress should stand in favor of federalism and Hinduism. In the previous Mahasamiti meeting, we had submitted a memorandum demanding for the reinstatement of Hindu state, but the party had not acted on it. The upcoming Mahasamiti meeting should take up this agenda because there have been systematic efforts to attack the Hindu agenda. The party should also consider scrapping the federal structure, which has not only become a huge economic burden but also a threat to our national security. Supporting secularism and Hinduism may be the compulsion of some leaders, but it is fatal for the party as well as the country.

Shyam Ghimire: The Nepali Congress, as a largest party, should be able to provide a clear road map to the government as well as society in general. Currently, the people are deeply frustrated with the political and economic crises. Many of them blame us for these problems.

Jivan Bahadur Shahi: We are yet to prepare the legal as well as institutional mechanisms for effective implementation of federalism. There is a lack of clarity on the party's position on federalism and other issues. If the party does not like federalism, let’s get rid of it. If not, let’s take the initiative to formulate the laws required for federalism to function smoothly. 

Ramesh Lekhak: The main opposition, CPN-UML, is not playing a constructive role in Parliament. This has created a lot of problems. The UML is obstructing the House even on tiny issues and as a result, Parliament is not performing its duties effectively. The Nepali Congress should take the necessary steps to address this situation.

Surendra Raj Pandey: There has been an all-round attack on federalism. Our party does not have a clear position on federalism and secularism. Our ruling political parties are not serious about formulating laws to implement federalism. Do we want to keep federalism or do we want to dismantle it? As the largest party, the Nepali Congress should come up with a clear position.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that he was excited from the meeting and discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping held on Saturday.

Prime Minister Dahal said so this evening while addressing a reception organized by the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing.

The talks remained very fruitful and it would contribute to further deepening the bilateral relations, the PM expressed his confidence.

“The China visit this time has become unique and remarkable achievements have been made. I have realized that a further environment of confidence has been created for the country from the talks,” he added.

Likewise, the PM said that the visit has added a new chapter in the centuries-old Nepal-China relations adding that the discussions were also held on the areas of investment in new sectors for the development assistance in Nepal.

During his speech at the reception, the PM said that his government has taken the policy to collaborate also with the private sector.

The PM further said that his visit was focused on making different dimensions of Nepal-China relations more robust and ensure cooperation and understanding in the areas of agriculture, tourism, health, education and others in future.

Earlier, the PM had addressed the Nepal-China Business Summit on the theme “Facilitating Investments in Nepal: An Interaction with Chinese Business Enterprises” in Beijing urging the investors from China to invest in Nepal and reap benefits.

Ex-King Gyanendra Shah has reached Bhaktapur to offer prayers at the Taleju Bhawani Temple on Sunday. He received a warm welcome from the locals of Bhaktapur.

A large crowd of supporters had gathered at the Durbar Square to welcome him.

While welcoming the former king, they also chanted slogans in his favor.

The deposed king Shah also visited the Durbar Square.