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National Assembly (NA) Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina directed the government to respond to the House about the reason behind increasing the prices of petroleum products and daily essentials.  

In today's NA meeting, lawmakers of the main opposition party- CPN-UML- called on the government to make the people clear about the price hike and drew the attention of NA Chair Timilsina to issue directives to the government in this regard. 

Drawing the government's serious attention towards price hike, NA Chair Timilsina directed the concerned ministers to respond to this issue in the next meeting of the Upper House of the Federal Parliament. 

"Issues of public concern like price hike have been raised in the NA meeting. The NA members have raised this issue again in today's meeting. It is the responsibility of the government to answer the people over the issues raised through the House. I want to draw serious attention from the government towards it. I direct the concerned ministers to respond to this issue in the next meeting," he mentioned.

CPN-UML Chief Whip in the National Assembly Khimlal Bhattarai said that they would not allow the House to proceed with its business until the concerned ministers give clear answers.

Bhattarai demanded that the government bring a clear plan with a relief package in order to provide concessions to the people affected by the price hike. 

After UML's protest, NA Chair Timilsina announced postponement of today's meeting which had an agenda to hold discussions on different headings of the Appropriation Bill-2079. 

The next meeting of the NA has been scheduled at 1 pm on Wednesday.

Ambassador of Switzerland to Nepal Elisabeth von Capeller paid a courtesy call on Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal.

During the meeting held at the Ministry today, they discussed the various aspects of bilateral relations and cooperation. 

Recalling the Swiss government's significant support in Nepal's technical and vocational education, Minister Bhusal expected necessary technical and financial support of the Swiss government in the energy sector of Nepal in coming days. 

She further said that Nepal has been facing huge problems due to the impact of climate change. The Energy Minister pointed out the collaboration to mitigate the impacts of climate change, which has become the common problem of both countries. 

Minister Bhusal extended gratitude towards the Swiss government for its support in implementation of federalism and employment expansion. 

Similarly, Ambassador Capeller said there is a need of technical support rather than financial support in Nepal, assuring Swiss government's continuous technical support.

She shared, "We have knowledge and skill required for technical sectors like tunnels and turbines. We want to support Nepal."

The Swiss Ambassador further said the temperature of Switzerland is also increasing due to the impact of climate change. 

Joint Secretaries at the Energy Ministry, Madhu Prasad Bhetuwal and Baburam Bhandari and representatives of Foreign Ministry were present on the occasion.

Nepal faced a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Hong Kong in the final match of the ACC Women's T20 Championship in Malaysia on Tuesday.

The match was played at the Kinrara Oval Ground in Malaysia today.

Chasing the 110-run target posted by Nepal, Hong Kong achieved it in 15.5 overs at the loss of six wickets. For Hong Kong, Mariko Hill hit highest 45 runs while Captain Kary Chan 17. Similarly, Natasha Miles remained unbeaten on 28 runs. For Nepal, Sangita Rai took two wickets and Sita Magar one. Elected into bat after winning the toss, Nepal made 109 runs in allotted 20 overs at the loss of six wickets.

For the team, Nepal's Capitan Rubina Chhetri and Apsari Begam remained unbeaten on 32 and 22 respectively. Similarly, Bindu Rawal hit 23 while Sita Magar nine, Mamata Chaudhary seven, Kabita Joshi four and Kajal Shrestha one.

For Hong Kong, Betty Chan claimed two wickets and Maryam Bibi and Elysa Hubbard one.

Nepal has already entered semi-finals by defeating Bahrain by eight wickets in its third match on June 20. Categorised into Group 'B', it has got six points with three wins and a defeat including this. In earlier matches, Nepal defeated Bhutan by 50 runs, Kuwait by 25 runs and Bahrain by eight wickets. Two teams making it to finals will be selected to play in the 2022 Women's Asia Cup.

At least 73 people have lost their life so far to various disaster-related incidents this year. The highest number of casualties is from lightning.

Twenty-seven people have died after they were struck by thunderbolt. Similarly, 15 people have been killed in fire incidents, 10 from wildlife attacks, eight from landslide, eight from incidents caused by gusty winds, three from snakebite and two from flood.

The number of people injured due to the various incidents of disasters throughout the country from April 14, 2021 to June 19, 2022 is also high while the exact data on the losses caused to the physical properties is not yet available, it is stated.

This information was shared in an interaction programme on 'Role of Communication in Early Warning System' organised for journalists by the Disaster Preparedness Network- Nepal (DPNet-Nepal).

Former vice-chancellor of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Prof Dr Jeevraj Pokharel stressed the need of adopting indigenous technology for disaster risk reduction as the incidents of natural disasters have been escalating since some years.

He said the incidents of flood, landslide and fire can be minimized if we internalized the wise saying of Hindu philosopher Kautilya that ponds should be constructed while building cities and settlements. This would also help in the conservation of the biodiversity and reducing climate change impact.

Meteorologist and DP Net's technical advisor Dr Dharam Raj Uprety said although Nepal still has to take weather-related forecast from the Met Department of India, the short-term weather forecast of Nepal's own Department of Hydrology and Meteorology was reliable.

"It is necessary to take information related to preparedness and prior-warning about disaster to the community level to prevent damages as there is more possibility of disasters like flood, landslide, river erosion and inundation this year compared to the previous ones as the intensity of the monsoon is going to be more this year."

According to him, it would be difficult to minimize the disaster risk until adequate knowledge on disaster is disseminated to people, effective monitoring and efficient communication is put in place and the community's capacity is build.

Former Education Minister Dr Ganga Lal Tuladhar underscored the need of collective and coordinated efforts by the local, provincial and federal governments in disaster preparedness, mitigation and prevention. He stressed the need of reaching the weather forecasting information in the community level.

Dr Tuladhar, who is also the expert member of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management National Council, said that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) should be provided the required resources and fully empowered as an autonomous body. The Council is chaired by the Prime Minister.

DP Net-Nepal's acting chairperson Dr Raju Thapa emphasized the role of the journalists in disseminating information at the community level for the prevention and reduction of disaster risk.

The flooded Seti River has damaged motorable bridge linking two wards of Pokhara Metropolitan City, disrupting transportation.

The torrential rain pouring down since Saturday night has increased water level and has eroded the foundation of the bridge, said the Division Road Office, Pokhara, adding that as a result, people's mobility on the damaged bridge has been at risk. Structures of the bridge should be relocated to elsewhere, he said.

The river has damaged pillars of the bridge, said Pushpendra Pandey, ward chair of the metropolis-19.

The 72 meters long and 7 meters wide bridge was constructed five years ago by the road office.

Similarly, the swollen river eroded the road linking Bharawari and Kavre, disrupting transportation, said a local school teacher Santosh Acharya.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale has said that it is the need of the hour to preserve and protect religion and culture of the country.

All should come together to preserve religion, art and culture of their own, he said while laying the foundation stone for the construction of the Badikedar trail, a popular trail of Sudurpaschim Province amid a function here today.

"Country's ancient art, culture and religion are identity of us Nepali people. They should be preserved and protected. We can cash in on them as foreign tourists visit Nepal to observe them," he said.

He also expressed his concerns about encroachment by modernity in the country's folk culture, religion and art, thus bringing them at risk of disappearance.

The minister allocated Rs 90 million for the construction of the trail that would facilitate visit of pilgrims to Badikedar Tample, a religious tourism destination, located in the southern belt of Doti district in Sudurpaschim Province, said Dipendra Raj Siradi, executive officer of the Badikedar Area Tourism Development and Management Committee.

Under the project, resting places, steps and railings will be constructed, he said. Pilgrims from home and neighbouring India visit the temple for worshipping. One worshipping at the temple gets their wishes come true, according to a mythology.

CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said the State Partnership Program (SPP) would be rescinded.

Talking to journalists in Chitwan on Friday, Dahal said that the SPP would not be passed by issuing a 12-point interpretative declaration like Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

 "We endorsed the MCC only by issuing a 12-point interpretative declaration. But there will be no such practice in regard with the SPP. It will be repealed, instead,” the leader added.

Dahal claimed that both the MCC and the SPP were introduced during the then KP Sharma Oli-led government.

Responding to the queries of mediapersons, he clarified that there will be no change in the alliance immediately.

The Salt Trading Corporation Limited and Krishi Samagri Company Limited, Chitwan are going to distribute fertilizers to farmers in the district from June 20.

Corporation's Chief Buddi Binod Dahal said that the chemical fertilizers had already arrived in Corporation's goddown in Birgunj and a total of 290 tonnes of fertilizer will be distributed in Chitwan.

"It will be difficult to distribute fertilizers as per the demand due to limited supply," said Rajan Bagale, Chief of Distribution Center.

The district, having seven local levels, had demanded 17,680 metric tonnes of urea, 9,170 metric tonnes DAP and 3,908 metric tonnes of potassium last fiscal year.

Distribution of much-awaited fertilizers is likely to make farmers happy in the district as cultivation season is going to start soon.