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Prime Minister Balendra Shah has assumed the responsibility of the Home Ministry as well. 

The Ministry had fallen vacant after Home Minister Sudhan Gurung resigned earlier today.

Home Minister Gurung submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Shah today and the Prime Minister will take charge of the ministry as of now, said Prime Minister's Press and Research Expert Deepa Dahal.

The National Statistics Office has published the provincial-level results of the Nepal Multidimensional Survey 2081/82 amid a program held in Janakpur today.

The survey has shown that particularly in the Madhes Province, the situation of child mortality, malnutrition, adolescent girls fertility rate, and out-of-school children is more worrying compared to the national average.

According to the survey report, in Madhes Province the neonatal mortality rate is 20 per thousand live births and the under-five child mortality rate is 33, which is above the national average.

Similarly, the level of malnutrition also appears serious, with 23.2 percent of children being underweight for their age and 31.1 percent being stunted. 

Challenges have also been observed in the education sector in Madhesh Province. Here, 9.2 percent of children in grades 1–5, 8.2 percent in grades 6–8, and 22.6 percent in grades 9–12 are out of school. 

The participation rate in early childhood education programmes is only 26.3 percent.

Also, inequality has been found in access to health services. In Madhesh Province, only 70.4 percent of women have had four prenatal check-ups as recommended, while the number of people with health insurance is very low - only 6.6 percent for women and 3.9 percent for men.

In terms of reproductive health, the total fertility rate in Madhesh is 2.4, which is higher than the national average of 1.9. The adolescent (15–19 years) fertility rate is also high, recorded at 71 per 1000.

However, some positive aspects have also been observed.

 In Madhes, 98.5 percent of households have access to electricity, while 94.7 percent have telephone facilities.

Similarly, 78.9 percent of households are using devices that use the internet. 

Although the percentage of people using improved drinking water sources is high (99 percent), the report shows that it is concerning that E. coli bacteria were found in 65 percent of the water.

The National Statistics Office has expressed confidence that the data obtained from this survey will make a significant contribution to policy-making, planning, and monitoring of sustainable development goals.

This survey was conducted with the support of UNICEF Nepal.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 2. 95 points to close at 2, 804. 17 points on Wednesday. 

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 0. 65 points to close at 471. 22 points.

A total of 17,588,854-unit shares of 342 companies were traded for Rs 1. 59 billion.

Meanwhile, Palpa Cement Industries Limited (PCIL) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 15. 00 percent.

Likewise,  Hotel Forest Inn Limited (HFIN) was the top loser as their price fell by 10. 75 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 78 trillion.

Home Minister Sudhan Gurung resigned from his post on Wednesday.

Gurung, who was appointed as Home Minister on March 27, resigned just after 26 days in office.

Gurung was under pressure from all sides to resign after being embroiled in the share-related controversy.

He submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Balen Shah on Wednesday, urging authorities to conduct a fair investigation into the matter.

Following his resignation, he stated that morality is greater than position for him.

“I have resigned from the post of Home Minister effective from today itself with the aim of ensuring  that there is an impartial investigation into the matters related to me, there should be no 'conflict of interest' and  impact on it," he wrote, announcing his resignation on the social site.

He said, "I, from my side, have fulfilled my moral responsibility. Now my appeal is --dear journalist friends, Nepali brothers, sisters and youths, if we truly want change, we all should stand on the path of truth, honesty and self- righteousness."

Nepali Congress (NC) President Gagan Thapa has said that all party leaders would be taken into confidence to make the party's upcoming 15th general convention a success. 

Talking to the media at Biratnagar Airport today, Thapa said he would talk to all party leaders for successfully holding the party's jamboree.

Despite being in the opposition bench in the House of Representatives (HoR), the NC has a great role to perform because the party is in the lead role in the provinces and local levels, Thapa added. 

Coordinator of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), Pushpa Kamal Dahal has stressed the need for unity among leftist forces to build an equitable society by ending all types of discrimination taking place in the society.

In a message of best wishes on the occasion of the 77th Anniversary of the Founding of Communist Party of Nepal, Coordinator Dahal argued that only communist movement could protect the rights of neglected and oppressed communities and national sovereignty.  

"The additional responsibilities of forwarding the revolution in favour of poor farmers and working people protecting the achievements of past movements is now upon the shoulders of communist parties," reads the message. 

He emphasized that alliance among all forces in favour of peace process and democratic republic is indispensable to protect and develop achievement gained from people's struggle.

Twelve houses were gutted in a fire that broke out at Bhairampur-5, Pratappur, Paschim Nawalparasi on Tuesday. The damage amounts to more than Rs 40 million.

According to Birdatta Panta, the Information Officer of the District Police Office, all houses have been reduced to ashes. 

The damage, including goods and cash at home, is estimated to be worth Rs 44. 48  million. 

Meanwhile, Pratappur Rural Municipality and Nepal Red Cross Society have distributed relief materials to the fire victims.

Member of Parliament from the constituency Bikram Khanal said that he is also active in providing relief materials to the victims.

The International Mother Earth Day is being observed in different countries of the world by organizing various events today, calling for collective efforts for the sustainable future.

Following the request of the United Nations, this Day has been celebrated every year on April 22 since 2009. This Day gives a message that collective efforts are needed to protect the Earth and maintain environmental balance. 

Oceans are being filled with plastics and turning more acidic rapidly. Millions of people are affected by extreme heat, wildfires, floods and landslides. As per the UN, the planet is losing around 10 million hectares of forest every year. 

Environment experts said a healthy ecosystem helps to protect people from diseases and the biological diversity makes it difficult for pathogens to spread rapidly. 

It is estimated that around one million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction. 

Climate change, man-made changes to nature, as well as activities that disrupt biodiversity such as deforestation, land-use change, intensified agriculture and livestock production or growing illegal wildlife trade, can accelerate the speed of destruction of the planet. Restoration of ecosystems is needed to improve this situation. 

Restoring our damaged ecosystems will help to end poverty, combat climate change and prevent mass extinction.