Submit your Article

Brazil former president, Fernando Collor, has been arrested early and ordered to begin serving a prison sentence stemming from his 2023 conviction for corruption, The Guardian reported.

Collor was convicted of receiving 20m reais ($3.5m) to facilitate contracts between BR Distribuidora, a fuel distributor formerly controlled by the state-owned oil company Petrobras, and construction firm UTC Engenharia for the construction of fuel distribution bases. In return, he offered political support for the appointment of executives at BR Distribuidora when it was still state-owned.

Collor, who led the country from 1990 to 1992, was sentenced to eight years and 10 months, to be served initially in prison, rather than under house arrest. He was arrested on Friday in the northeastern state of Alagoas, according to The Guardian.

Under the Brazilian legal system, cases concerning members of Congress, presidents and ministers go directly to the supreme court. He was not yet in prison because his lawyers were still lodging appeals.

Newly-appointed Minister for Education Raghuji Pant has called the Teachers’ Federation Nepal for talks.

He called the agitating Teachers’ Federation Nepal  for dialogue through a letter sent to the Federation on behalf of the government today.  

Minister Pant has urged the teachers to hold talks as soon as possible to find a solution collectively through continuous dialogue and discussion as in the past.

Stating that the draft of the School Education Bill has been prepared after proper discussion and consultation with the teachers' representatives, he said it was natural for the school teachers and employees to have concern and expectation that the said bill should be issued soon.

The Education Minister appealed for finding a solution through dialogue, stating that there are certain legislation-related and legal arrangements for the bill on school education to be presented in the Parliament, discussed and finally getting it approved.

He said that the Ministry was always making efforts to find an appropriate way to promote the rights of the teachers by creating an environment for passing the School Education Bill on time.

Teachers from across the country have been protesting in Kathmandu under the leadership of the Teachers’ Federation Nepal since April 2, demanding immediate enactment of School Education Bill.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba has said there was no truth in a rumor of change in the incumbent government. 

The rumor was spread by a group of people wanting the same, she mentioned.

Talking to media persons upon her arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport today after attending United Nations program organized at Bangkok of Thailand, Foreign Minister opined, "Now, there is no possibility of a change in government. It's only a rumor."

Responding to a query of media persons regarding the Bangkok visit of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, she made it clear that President Deuba had left for Bangkok for his regular health examination, not for a political meeting.

Minister Rana further said the NC President has a telephone conversation with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Thursday about the rumor.  

The Foreign Minister returned home today after chairing the 81st session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) for the United Nations held from April 21.

Similarly, she also chaired the special meeting of Least Developed, Landlocked Developing and Small Island Developing States in this connection.

On the occasion, she on behalf of Nepal expressed the view regarding the issue of shared welfare of these nations. 

The Foreign Minister also held meetings with executive secretary of ESCAP, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana as well as high representative of Least Developed, Landlocked Developing and Small Island Developing States, Rabab Fatima. 

CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said the courage, restraint and strong determination shown by the people to rise to the disaster of the Gorkha earthquake a decade ago on this day is incomparable.

In a message shared through his social media handle today commemorating the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake, Chairman Dahal, who is also the former Prime Minister, said that although some reconstruction works have been completed, the people are still facing various challenges in education, health, drinking water, roads, infrastructure and employment.

"When I was prime minister for the second time, I made efforts for the reconstruction in the earthquake-affected areas, including Barpak. Due to the support and cooperation of the local people, many works were carried out. Significant initiatives have been taken in the field of disaster management during my third term as the PM as well," Dahal said.

The Maoist Center Chair said the trust, suggestions and inspiration received from the people have made them more responsible and committed in the reconstruction drive.

"We have been able to face disasters unitedly in the past and we still believe that we can achieve the goal of development and prosperity with a common objective," he said in the message.

Today's meeting of the National Assembly has been postponed by passing a condolence motion.

The meeting was postponed after it unanimously passed the condolence motion on the demise of former minister and a member of House of Representatives, Deepak Bohora. National Assembly Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal presented the condolence motion in the meeting.

Earlier, a minute's silence was observed paying tribute to late Bohora. Senior leader of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Bohora, was elected to the House of Representatives from Rupandehi-3. 

Born on Chaitra 18, 2007 BS, Bohora died on Chaitra 19, 2081 at the age of 74. The NA will meet next at 1:15 pm on Sunday.

Welcoming the NA members in the first meeting of the 18th session of the NA, Chair Dahal read out the letter sent by the President regarding commencement of the session.

Himali Sambaad (Himalayan Dailogue) organized at Khalanga of Jumla as preparation of 'Sagarmatha Sambaad' concluded by issuing a 13-point declaration. 

The two-day Himali Sambaad was organized from April 22 with the coordination of Secretariat of the Sagarmatha Sambaad as well as support and collaboration of development partners including Save the Children, Youth Alliance for Environment (YAE), Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Centre.

The event gave various suggestions on the issue of raising the voice of Karnali children and marginalized groups.

Chairperson of YAE, Sanot Adhikari, shared that issues like sharing experience of children, youths and Himalayan community affected by marginalization, and advocacy for Child-sensitive climate solutions were highlighted.

The declaration would be handed over to three-tier governments, Sagarmatha Sambaad Secretariat and global community and their attention would be drawn.

A total of 150 people including children, indigenous and marginalized community, women, girls from Himalaya region of Karnali Province, civil society working in Himalayan region, different organisations, development partners, United Nations organization, government representatives, policy makers, representatives of province and federal governments had participated in the event. 

The declaration demanded to seek solutions to address the impacts of climate change on children, youths and community in Himalayan region by holding discussions with priority in Sagarmatha Sambaad. 

YAE Program Coordinator Anju Pokharel mentioned that the Himali Sambaad has suggested a request to make arrangement of special sessions in Sagarmatha Sambaad in order to raise the experience and voice of the children. 

Similarly, it was requested to implement policy and programs to impart climate related education and spread awareness among all communities as well as keeping the experience of the marginalized community and socially excluded community in priority in order to address the climate crisis. 

President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed Minister for Education, Science and Technology Raghuji Pant. 

He administered the oath of office to Minister Panta at a special ceremony held at the Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas today. 

Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Speaker Devaraj Ghimire, National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal, ministers, lawmakers and chiefs of constitutional bodies were present on the occasion.

The appointment was made as per the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli. 

Earlier, Education Minister Bidhya Bhattarai had resigned from her post on April 21 citing health reasons. 

Newly appointed Education Minister Pant is a member of the House of Representatives elected through the proportional electoral system. 

The World Immunization Week has kicked off today. 

Also today, the 'International Girls ICT Day' is being observed. 

Immunization Week and International Girls ICT Day are held every year on April 22 at the call of the United Nations. 

The purpose of World Immunization Week is to protect people of all ages from disease and promote the use of vaccines. 

According to the World Health Organization, 154 million lives have been saved by vaccination in the last 50 years. Measles vaccines account for 40 percent of the child's survival and 60 percent of the saved lives. 

Various vaccines make children and the elderly immune, and protect malaria, influenza, pregnant women from tetanus adolescent girls from HPV. 

Immunization Week is being celebrated this year with the slogan 'Immunization for All is Humanly Possible'. 

Stressing the need for equal opportunities for girls in the field of information technology, a discussion on digital development and innovative technologies in Kyrgyzstan and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania will be held today under the theme 'Girls in Information Technology for Inclusive Digital Transformation'. 

International Day of Diplomacy for Multilateralism and Peace is also observed today. This day has been celebrated since 2018. 

Reiterating their commitment to international peace and security, the heads of government and representatives of 144 countries of the world had proposed to celebrate the International Multilateralism Day.