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Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that public service delivery has been affected due to the large number of government holidays, while calling for a review of it. Speaking at a meeting of the Democracy Day Main Celebration Committee at the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers today, Prime Minister Dahal said, "Our official holidays have become too many. This has affected public service delivery. We have also discussed in the Council of Ministers that this needs to be reviewed.” Meanwhile, the meeting today decided to celebrate Democracy Day with a variety of programs on February 19. The main ceremony organizing committee has been formed under the coordination of the Prime Minister. The National Democracy Day is celebrated in commemoration of the historic day when a popular uprising brought an end to the autocratic Rana regime, paving the way for establishment of democracy in the country on Falgun 7, 2007 B.S.  

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed deep grief over the death of dozens of people in the earthquake in Turkey. On behalf of the Nepal government and Nepali people, PM Dahal paid tribute to the departed ones and expressed condolences to the bereaved families, according to the PM's secretariat. The earthquake measuring 7.8 in Richter scale hit South-east Turkey bordering Syria at 4:17 am local time, according to international media.  

The CPN-UML has decided to hold its Central Committee meeting on February 12. The UML is holding the Central Committee meeting for the first time after the November 20 elections to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly. Central member and Deputy Chief of Central Publicity Department of the party Bishnu Rijal said that the Central Committee will review the election and discuss strengthening the party organization and contemporary political issues.  

Jhapa is the largest tea producing district of Nepal. Thousands of farmers and laborers are on tea farming. But, the government has been turning deaf ear to address the challenges facing the sector, local tea producers accused. General Secretary of the Nepal Tea Producers Association Shiva Kumar Gupta said the government has not been providing chemical fertilizers for tea farming since 2021. Nepal has been annually earning millions of foreign currency by exporting tea. He said that the tea producers have been compelled to import chemical fertilizers through illegal ways. Those involved in tea production vented their ire at the government for showing apathy towards providing chemical fertilizers for tea farming. The tea producers have been asking for government facilitation in accessing chemical fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers such as Urea, DAP, Potassium and Ammonia Sulfate are required for tea estate. Gupta said the government used to distribute fertilizers before 2020. Since then, tea farmers have not received chemical fertilizers on quota, he added. Tea producers also urged the National Tea and Coffee Development Board to take initiatives for addressing the issues related to chemical fertilizers. They also asked the agencies, including Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Agriculture Inputs Company and Salt Trading to play a coordinating role in addressing the gaps. Gupta said that fertilizers can be provided to small tea producers by registering cooperative dealers and to the big tea companies by stipulating quota through federal or provincial governments. Tea farming is being carried out in an area of 10,500 hectares of land in the district. It annually needs 1,500 metric tons of chemical fertilizers, said Chief of National Tea and Coffee Development Board, Regional Office, Birtamodh, Indra Adhikari. The government was not paying any heed to their demand for chemical fertilizers, commented Joint-Secretary of Tea Producers' Association Binaya Kumar Goyal.  

The CPN (Unified Socialist) has decided to hold its national general convention in March 2024. A Central Committee meeting of the party held on Saturday and Sunday set the date for national conclave, informed party's spokesperson Jagannath Khatiwada. Likewise, the party has decided to focus its role for peace and stability in the country and chart out a plan of action to consolidate the party organization, he said. "The party meeting has decided to hold the national general convention by mid-March next year (2024) and prepare a plan of action within mid-June this year for party organizational expansion. We would move ahead accordingly", the spokesperson added.  

South Asian journalists reporting on climate change and environmental issues have formed a regional forum to highlight the growing climate crisis and the need for increased climate actions in the region. The South Asian Climate Change Journalist's Forum (SACCJF) elected an 18 members Executive Committee representing all SAARC countries last Sunday after rounds of consultations among the member countries. The forum has also finalized its constitution and working procedures. According to the forum, Asish Gupta (India) and Karamot Ullah Biplob (Bangladesh) were elected the President and Executive President respectively. The forum has elected three Vice Presidents, namely, Mahinda Pathirana (Sri Lanka), Shree Ram Subedi (Nepal) and Mohammad Rabnewaz Chowdhury (Pakistan). Also, Asaduzzaman Samrat (Bangladesh) was elected to the post of Secretary General, Bhishma Raj Ojha (Nepal) and Rae Munavvar (Maldives) to the post of Assistant Secretary-General and Masum Billah (Bangladesh) has been elected as the Treasurer of the Forum. The executive members of the forum include, C K Nayak, Kuntak Chatterjee, Sunit kumar Bhuyan (all from India), Rinzin Wangchuk (Bhutan), Imran Y. Choudhry, K J Faiza Gillani (Pakistan), Kelum Bandara (Sri Lanka), Pragati Dhakal (Nepal) and Rafiqul Islam Sabuj (Bangladesh). The South Asian Climate Change Journalists’ Forum made its debut with journalists from South Asia at the World Climate Conference (COP 27) held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt in November last year. The forum will organize its general assembly later this year. SAARC member countries will have their national chapters to be represented to the regional body. The organization has begun its process to get recognition from SAARC, the forum said in a statement.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Devraj Ghimire has pointed out the need to make the role of the Parliament accountable and effective. Hence, the parliamentarians should play a responsible role in uplifting the dignity of the Parliament, he said. Inaugurating an orientation on 'Parliamentary Procedures and Practices' organized by the Federal Parliament Secretariat today for the members of the House of Representatives, he said that there have been some reports that some of the past parliamentary practices were not responsive to the people and hence it is necessary to make the parliamentary role effective. Mentioning that the government has a role in making the Parliament effective, he said that the government should also coordinate with the opposition parties in this regard. Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan said the parliamentary responsibilities can be fulfilled only with efficient adoption of the parliamentary rules and procedures. The conduct and ideas presented here should be dignified and in accordance with the parliamentary norms. Deputy Speaker Indira Rana said that the role of the Deputy Speaker in the Parliament should be made effective, as people saw it only as a secondary role. She also said that the people's representatives should become accountable towards the people through the parliamentary procedures.

The Nepali Congress (NC) has decided to sit for talks with other political parties in view of the election of the Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly (NA). A meeting of the Executive Committee of the NC held today agreed to hold discussions and consultations with the parties in the opposition alliance and others in the ruling alliance as well in regard with the election, according to NC Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak. The meeting that took place at Deuba’s Dhumbarahi-based residence decided to hold talks with the parties in the opposition alliance: the CPN (Unified Socialist), Loktantrik Samajbadi Party and the Rastriya Janamorcha. The election of the Vice-Chair of the upper house has been scheduled for February 6. The NC is holding its Parliamentary Party meeting at 1:00 pm on February 9 at the Lhotse Hall of the Parliament building in New Baneshwor. In addition to this, the party is internally preparing for the election of the President scheduled for March 9.