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President Ram Chandra Paudel has appointed Nepali Ambassador to Thailand, Dhan Bahadur Oli, as non-resident ambassador to Lao People's Democratic Republic.

The appointment was made today on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers as per the Article 282 (1) of the Constitution of Nepal, according to the Office of the President. 

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has installed 'on-demand pedestrian crossings' (Pelican system) at 36 locations to prioritize pedestrian safety.

This system was first implemented in Babarmahal and has since been expanded to other locations in the current fiscal year.

According to Jagatman Shrestha, traffic management advisor at the KMC Office, although the system has been set up at 36 locations, it is currently operational at 13.

Technical work is going on to make the system functional at the remaining sites.

Areas such as Thamel, Maharajgunj, Naxal, Baluwatar, Gaushala, Exhibition Road, Bagbazar, and Tahachal are among those featuring this system.

For the current fiscal year, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City has allocated a budget of Rs 20 million for the implementation of this project.

The Pelican system works by displaying a green signal for pedestrians at the zebra crossing when they activate the button.

The green light lasts for 30 seconds, while the vehicles are shown a red signal.

After 30 seconds, the system can be activated again after a two-minute waiting period.

This system primarily targets pedestrian safety in areas near schools and hospitals, it is said. 

The World Health Organization South-East Asia Region has thanked Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population for contributing Rs 1.54m, approximately $11,000, to the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF), a unique funding mechanism to support member countries in the region to prepare for and respond to health emergencies.

“WHO thanks Nepal for its contribution to SEARHEF. Nepal has championed the regional health emergency fund at various forums. The country has been demonstrating great leadership in building capabilities and responding to emergencies, with many lessons for the region and the world to emulate,” said Saima Wazed, WHO regional director for South-East Asia, in a letter addressed to Health Minister Pradip Paudel.

Nepal’s contribution is a testament to its support, ownership and commitment to SEARHEF, which is transparently managed by WHO for member countries of the region.

Established in 2007 as part of lessons learnt after the Indian Ocean tsunami that hit multiple countries in the region, SEARHEF was set up with the aim to fund immediate health sector response during health emergencies, which is critical to save lives.

Till date, the SEARHEF has supported 49 emergencies across 10 countries with disbursements over $8m.

The scope of SEARHEF was expanded in 2016 to include emergency preparedness, with three countries using this funding mechanism to strengthen their health emergency operations centres and rapid response teams.

Prone to natural disasters, Nepal has utilized SEARHEF for responding to Koshi floods in 2008 and the earthquakes in 2015 and 2023. The funds were used for coordinating health response to provide life-saving services and minimize disabilities through deployment of medical teams; prevent and respond to impending outbreaks; and support continuity of essential health services through establishment of temporary healthcare facilities.

Recognizing the critical role played by SEARHEF in public health response in the region, at the annual governing body meeting of WHO South-East Asia Region in October 2024, the member countries agreed to increase the corpus of the fund from $1m to $3m.

Nepal is the fourth country, after Thailand, India and Timor-Leste, to contribute to the enhanced corpus of SEARHEF. The WHO regional director said the health organization stands committed to supporting member countries to build resilient health systems that are well prepared for responding to public health emergencies of any magnitude.

Two of the 11 workers who sustained burn injuries in a fire at an eatery in Kamalpokhari last Thursday have succumbed to their injuries.

The fire had started due to the explosion of a cooking gas cylinder.

Spokesperson at the District Police Range Kathmandu, Apil Raj Bohara, said the deceased are 18-year-old Rabin Rai of Hetauda and 25-year-old Bhim Bahadur Ghale of Udayapur.

Rai died last night while Ghale breathed his last this morning at the Kirtipur-based Burn Hospital.

The remaining injured ones are being treated at the same hospital. 

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 10. 98 points to close at 2, 677. 32 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 56 points to close at 450. 65 points.

A total of 14,443,765-unit shares of 322 companies were traded for Rs 6. 96 billion.

Meanwhile, Nyadi Hydropower Limited (NYADI) and Guardian Micro Life Insurance Limited (GMLI) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Bottlers Nepal (Balaju) Limited (BNL) and Upakar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (ULBSL) were the top losers as their price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 44 trillion.

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has said the party's general convention will be held before the 2084 BS periodic election.

Talking to media today, he said the party's general convention will take place every four years as stipulated by the party's statute.

The party is working on the finalization of the name list of party's active members within a couple of months, according to him.

He, however, said that the party membership issue and other factors are likely to affect the plan to hold the general convention by the end of 2025.

On a different note, Thapa stated that the ordinances issued by the government will be tabled in the House within a few days and will be endorsed following discussions.

The lawmaker also said that the Social Media Bill introduced by the government will not be endorsed without amendments. 

Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba has said that the construction of the six-lane Chisapani-Gaddachauki road section of the East-West Mahendra Highway will start soon.

Inaugurating the newly constructed administrative building of Lamkichuha Municipality in Kailali today, Minister Rana said that a survey is being conducted for the construction of six lanes from Chisapani in Kailali to Gaddachauki in Kanchanpur in view of the pressure of vehicles.

"Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim Province Kamal Bahadur Shah is taking the initiative to make the highway six-lane. The highway is currently being surveyed. Work on the construction of the six-lane road will begin soon," Minister Rana said.

The Minister expressed her confidence that the administrative building of Lamkichuha Municipality would facilitate the residents of the city to avail integrated services.

Foreign Minister Rana further argued that the government is serious about the overall development of the agricultural sector in the region, adding that she is excited to see the development construction at the local level.

Minister Rana today inaugurated the newly constructed party office of Nepali Congress Kailali Region No. 2 and Lamkichuha Municipal Committee as well. 

The Media Council Bill, 2081 BS has been presented in the National Assembly (NA).

Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung tabled the Bill in the session.

Prior to this, NA Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal apprised the House that no notice of protest has been received regarding the Bill.

The government had on January 28 registered the document in the NA, citing it aimed to further systematise the use of social sites, making them decent and secured.

Tabling the Bill, the Minister said the Bill is meant for making the operators and users of social site platforms responsible and accountable and promoting social goodwill, cultural tolerance and good governance through the appropriate and systematic use of social sites.

The Bill has proposed the provisions for license (with a two-year validity) for any companies, firms or institutions to operate digital platforms and renewal of the permission, granting the rights to authorities concerned to ban on the operation of such platforms and the remove the contents in violations of the terms and conditions.

It has proposed conditions for the users of social sites as well.

The Bill prohibiting cyber bullying, stalking and ID hacking, extortion or sextortion, dissemination of vulgar, fake or misleading contents, uploading or dissemination of deep fake videos and the use of accounts with anonymous or pseudonymous identity.

The Bill has wanted that the operation of social sites should not the jeopardize the country's peace and security, order, sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security, national unity, independence and should not feature contents that are against the interests of nation.

In case of the violations of these terms and conditions, the operation license may be scrapped.

It has disapproved the social media contents capable of hurting the dignity of others, trolling, hate speech and distortion of information.

Similarly, post, like, repost, live streaming, subscribe, comment, tag, hashtag or mention with wrong intention is liable to fine up to Rs 500 thousands to users of social sites.

The government claims that in case of the endorsement of Bill and its implementation as the Act will cause a rise in the information security and privacy of personal data, cyber security, and systematization of IT related enterprises and the rise in foreign investment in this sector.