Japanese ambassador pays courtesy call on Minister Dahal
Japan's ambassador to Nepal, Maeda Toru, today paid a courtesy call on Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal.
During the meeting held at the Minister's office in Singha Durbar, the Minister congratulated the newly-appointed ambassador Maeda for assuming the office.
He acknowledged Japan's grants, loan, multilateral assistance and technical support to Nepal for its infrastructure and human resources development, and in the conservation of environment as well as in the development of health, education and agriculture sectors.
"We acknowledge the support and cooperation from the Japanese government, citizens, non- government organisations and universities during the natural disasters including the 2015 earthquake," the Minister said, adding that bilateral relations and cooperation with Japan is always the top priority of Nepal.
He added that Nepal longed for taking benefits from Japan's experiences, knowledge, skills and technologies in their efforts for development in various sectors including infrastructure, industry, agriculture and hydropower.
On the occasion, the exchange of high-level visits between the two countries was recalled.
The Minister urged Japan's investors to explore opportunities in Nepal as well, pledging the security of their investment.
He highlighted that the year 2026 will mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Nepal and Japan, and in the same year, Nepal will graduate from the category of a least developed country to a middle-income developing nation.
Minister Dahal also expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for providing scholarships to Nepal’s government officials each year under the Japan Development Scheme (JDS). Additionally, Nepal has benefitted from Japan's Colombo Plan.
Online system launched to improve justice system
An online system has been launched to make the justice system more simple and convenient.
The online system that is used to send notice about the hearings assigned to offices of Chief Attorney in all seven provinces by the Supreme Court and take action on special nature of complaints by District Courts was launched today.
Launching the online system, Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut shared that the justice system must be reformed and for that improvement in technology was essential.
"The justice system will be reliable, trustworthy and transparent once the online system is launched. It will also help remove irregularities and aberrations," he argued. Digitalization in the justice system was the need of the hour, CJ Raut added.
The Supreme Court has been giving priority to the use of information technology with an objective of making judicial service easy, smooth and effective as well as to develop court as a paperless institution.
Thapa appointed Chair of Health Insurance Board
Chandra Bahadur Thapa Chhetri has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Health Insurance Board.
Minister for Health and Population Pradip Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly-appointed Chairperson Thapa at the Ministry today. He was the Board member for three years before this.
Newly appointed Chairman Thapa said that there is a plan to include all the citizens by reviewing and reforming the health insurance policy to improve health insurance.
He pledged to make the insurance claim payment process faster and transparent and to manage the insurance fund transparently and effectively, to take initiative for the approval of the permanent organization structure of the Health Insurance Board, to launch an awareness campaign about the importance of health insurance and to make the insurance programme effective by collaborating with the government, the private sector and international organizations.
Blatter, Platini cleared by Swiss court in FIFA corruption case
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and France football great Michel Platini were both cleared of corruption charges by a Swiss appeals court, two and a half years after they were first acquitted of the offences, Alzajeera reported.
The pair, once among the most prominent men in global football, were exonerated of fraud on Tuesday by the Swiss Criminal Court's Extraordinary Appeals Chamber in Muttenz, near Basel.
The hearing was held after Swiss federal prosecutors filed an appeal against the two men's 2022 acquittal in a lower court. Blatter and Platini had refuted the charges.
