Submit your Article

A 102-point advisory has been issued to protect government websites, data and networks.

The National Cyber Security Center has issued a cyber security advisory to protect the information technology system of government offices and to shield them from potential cyber threats.

The advisory includes various security measures related to the use of government offices' websites, applications, servers, networks, desktops, laptops, mobile devices and social networks.

Center's Director Raj Kumar Maharjan said that the advisory has been issued after problems like cyber attacks on and information theft from website of the government offices were seen.

"Serious cyber problems are being created due to general ignorance or negligence. If we inform the users about this, we hope that the problem will be reduced. This advisory is not only for the employees of this government body, but for all citizens,” he said.

The Center has also written to all ministries, commissions and departments to determine the focal person to contact if there is a problem in the government website or application.

For website and network security, it has been advised to update the website regularly, conduct security tests and implement a business continuity plan by keeping regular 'backup' of data.

Similarly, instructions have been issued to update antiviruses, databases, application libraries and operating systems and to implement multifactor authentication.

The advisory has suggested using only licensed software for desktop, laptop and printer security, and automatically updating the system and bios, and to take measures to keep printers out of internet access.

For password management, it is recommended to keep password that cannot be easily inferred, to change it at least once in three months, and to use multifactor authentication to maintain privacy.

For internet browsing security, use of secure browsing methods, of updated browsers and sharing personal information only on unauthorized websites has been suggested.

The advisory warns against posting unauthorized content on social media and to use a limited amount of personal information in it and it has emphasized that attention should be paid to the updated operating system for the security of mobile devices, downloading the app only from reliable sources.

The Center has also urged to make arrangements for regular cyber security training to the concerned employees for effective implementation of these measures.

The Center has stated that cyber security can be strengthened by focusing on website updates, data backup, secure passwords, multi-factor authentication, network segmentation and antivirus updates, among others.

Center Director Maharjan said that these security measures are expected to protect the government system from cyber threats and increase citizen awarenes

Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR), Devraj Ghimire, has discussed with the major ruling party Nepali Congress and CPN-UML about the bill passed by the National Assembly and sent to the House of Representatives.

Today, Speaker Ghimire invited Congress chief whip Shyam Ghimire and UML chief whip Mahesh Kumar Bartaula to his office at Singh Durbar and asked for their views on the Constitutional Council Bill and the Order of Precedence Bill that is pending in the House of Representatives.

"The Speaker has asked for opinions on the constitutional council bill passed by the National Assembly and other bills stuck in the lower house, including the bill on the order of precedence, after discussing it in the party. Today's discussion has been concluded with the agreement to meet with the Speaker again on Monday," said Congress Chief Whip Shyam Ghimire.

UML chief whip Mahesh Bartaula said that all the bills under consideration in the Parliament will be moved forward in the winter session of the Parliament. The winter session of Parliament has been called for January 31.

Chief Whip Bartaula informed that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will address the Parliament on the first day of the winter session.

Speaker Ghimire has increased his activities as the date of the winter session of Parliament approaches.

Speaker Ghimire is having a discussion with the chief whip of the major opposition party CPN (Maoist Center) and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) today itself. 

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 20 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 160, 400 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 160, 600 per tola on Friday.

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 1, 865 per tola today.

 Security personnel of Nepal and China have conducted a joint monitoring of the northern border area in and around Humla.

The border crossing in Hilsa of Namkha Rural Municipality-5 was monitored on Saturday.

As per the decision of the security personnel of the two countries, the border and border posts in the in Hilsa were jointly monitored, said Armed Police Force (APF) Inspector Krishna Bahadur Ojha, who heads the APF Border Security Post in Hilsa.

The joint monitoring was conducted to prevent any untoward incident at the border crossing, to understand the condition of the border posts and to increase coordination among the security personnel.

The monitoring team included Chinese security personnel from China and the Armed Police Force and District Police from Nepal.

Meanwhile, Nepali security personnel have been patrolling from Hilsa towards Nara and Limi.

The Armed Police Force has been deployed in border security since its establishment in Hilsa transit point on the northern border in 2077 BS.

Deputy Superintendent of the Armed Police Force Devraj Rai said that although snowfall in northern Namkha during winter closes the movement in Yari and Hilsa the Armed Police Force has been deployed in border security all year round.

Pokhara Metropolitan City (PMC) has intensified preparations for observing the Pokhara Visit Year, 2025 in a grand manner.

PMC had declared Pokhara city the tourism hub of Nepal last year.

The Visit Year is expected to spur economic activities by creating new jobs and promoting art and cultures in the city.

It is also aimed at conservation of nature. The tourism entrepreneurs have been positive towards the Visit Year 2025, thinking that it would be an opportunity to reap benefits.

Mayor Dhanraj Acharya informed that they were planning to hold a special function at the end of this month or early next month to forward the tourism activities under the yearlong observance.

The Pokhara Visit Year is included in PMC's policy and programs.

According to Acharya, the local level was at work to make the Visit Year successful. "Pokhara Visit Year, 2025 would a milestone for promotion of tourism in Pokhara city and vicinity. We've forwarded preparation accordingly," he added.

He shared that PMC has prioritized collaboration at multiple layers- local, national and international- to make the yearlong campaign successful.

"Cooperation and coordination from all sides is essential to boost tourism in Pokhara," he stressed, adding that neighbouring country China had declared 2025 as Nepal Visit Year, which would play a significant role in bolstering Nepal's activities in tourism sector.

Similarly, chief of tourism and urban development division at PMC, Bimal Ranjan Karki, said under the Pokhara Visit Year, 2025, plans were afoot for conducting regular flights to various countries from the Pokhara International Airport, diversification of tourist activities by expanding tourism to rural level and fostering eco-tourism, and involving locals in tourism.

Similarly, national and international publicity of Pokhara tourism via digital media are also planned by the local level.

PMC has set an ambitious goal of bringing in 1.5 million tourists this year.

However, former vice chairman of urban planning commission at PMC and tourism strategist, Ram Chandra Lamichhane, said only announcement would not suffice, but essential homework and active engagement to make the campaign a success.

For the realization of Visit Year, infrastructure development, clear strategy and strong willpower are imperative, he underlined.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said Nepal has already made advancements in terms of development works and infrastructure.

In his virtual address to the foundation stone laying ceremony of Butwal-Gorusinge road section up-gradation and today, PM Oli said the government would speed up the construction of tunnel, administrative and hospital buildings and other development works.

He also announced that the Butwal-Gorusinge road section would be expanded within the next three years.

The successful breaking of the Siddhababa tunnel way today was a great achievement, he said, stressing that the country's development should be undertaken on our own with high determination and courage.

He, however, clarified that cooperation from foreign aid agencies can also be received for such works.

Prime Minister Oli urged all to move ahead towards building the nation in unison, ignoring the forces attempting to spread division and confusion in the name of religion, caste and several other names.

Deputy Prime Ministers Prakash Man Singh and Bishnu Prasad Poudel among others had addressed the programme. 

Minister for Health and Population, Pradip Paudel, has urged girls aged 10-14 to receive the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which helps protect against cervical cancer.

In a video message released on Friday, the Minister highlighted the increasing risk of cervical cancer in Nepal and stressed that vaccination is a key preventive measure.

"The nationwide vaccination campaign will target girls from grade six to 10, and the Department of Health Services will also ensure access to the vaccine for out-of-school girls aged 10-14," said Minister Paudel in his message.

He also called for the enthusiastic participation of all relevant stakeholders, including women community health volunteers and representatives from the health and education sectors, to help make the campaign a success.

Minister Paudel urged girls from the target age group to get vaccinated at their respective schools or nearby centers.

The government is set to launch the HPV vaccination drive from February 4-18, aiming to vaccinate 1.68 million girls.

The government has expressed grief over the death of 12 people including seven Nepalis in a rail accident occurred in Jalgaon near the Pardhade railroad station in Maharashtra.

The accident occurred on January 22.

Issuing a press statement today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended condolences to the families of those killed in the accident and wished for a speedy recovery for the injured.

The Ministry confirmed the demise of Nepali citizens Kamala Nabin Bhandari, Lachhiram Pasi, Himu Nandaram Bishwakarma, Nandaram Padhma Bishwakarma, Maisara Kami Bishwakarma, Jokla Kami and Radheshyam Radh Nepali.

Out of the four injured Nepalis, three are receiving treatment at a local health facility and one is in critical condition at Godawari Hospital, Jalgaon.

The Ministry stated that officials are coordinating with the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi and concerned Indian agencies through the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu to repatriate the bodies of the deceased Nepalis and provide necessary medical treatment to the injured passengers.