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Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State Samir Paul Kapur held a discussion with business leaders of Nepal on information technology on Monday.

Even the possibility of opportunities relating to US entrepreneurship Nepal's IT sector was dwelt on during the discussion.

Expansion and strengthening of digital infrastructures, use of artificial intelligence, partnership for US technology and cyber security were also discussed in the meeting.

The US leader also held talks with Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane on Monday itself.

Asian Development Bank Country Director for Nepal Arnaud Cauchois paid a courtesy call on Minister for Health and Population and Water Supply Nisha Mehata at the Ministry of Water Supply on Monday.

Discussion was held on various issues including ongoing activities in the health and drinking water sector as well as further programs, said Spokesperson at the Health Ministry Dr Prakash Budhathoki. 

They also discussed positive aspects seen in the course of program implementation and future prospects, he added. 

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has directed University Vice-chancellors to immediately implement the government's decision to remove the structures of political party-aligned student and employees' associations in universities and academic institutions in the health sector. 

During an interaction with the VCs at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers today, Prime Minister Shah, who also serves as the Chancellors of various public universities, said that no law would be an obstacle to removing the structures of student and employee organizations affiliated with political parties.

The Prime Minister was of the view that politics should not be allowed in institutions like hospitals, campuses and schools. If anyone really wants to indulge in politics they should separate themselves from their professional responsibilities and fully engage in politics.

During the discussion, the Vice-Chancellors said that students' political activities have slowed down after the GenZ movement and the March 5 elections, and initiatives are being taken to root out such organizations. 

Nepal Sanskrit University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Dhaneshwor Nepal, however, complained of having to endure threats when efforts were made to remove party-aligned students' organizations as per the instructions of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

In response, Prime Minister Shah instructed that if any security or other problems arise while dissolving any political student and employee organization, they should immediately inform the concerned ministry or his secretariat. 

During the discussion, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Sasmit Pokharel made it clear that what we are trying to abolish immediately is student organizations affiliated with political parties, not organizations like the independent student union that voice for the students.

During the discussion, Tribhuvan University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Deepak Aryal said that student and employee organizations have become inactive after the GenZ movement and the elections. 

Madhyampaschim University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Dhruv Kumar Gautam also said that the political activities of students and employees have been on the decline in his university recently.

Purbanchal University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Biju Kumar Thapaliya said that student groups are engaging in politics in its constituent campuses. 

Vice Chancellors of other universities and institutes, however, stated that students and employees in their institutions are away from political activities. They expressed the view that if universities and institutes present themselves strictly there will be no politics under any pretext.

The government's 100 point agenda on governance reform mentions the removal of party-affiliated student organization structures from schools and universities to address the problem of party interference in the education sector, failure to hear the real voice of students, and decline in educational quality. 

Newly appointed non-resident ambassadors from various countries to Nepal presented their letter of credence to President Ram Chandra Paudel. 

At separate ceremonies held at Sheetal Niwas, President Paudel received the credentials of four newly appointed non-resident ambassadors. 

Non-resident ambassadors submitting their credentials are Ambassador of Gambia to Nepal, Mustapha Jawara, Ambassador of Canada to Nepal, Christopher Cooter, Ambassador of Slovenia to Nepal, Tomaz Mencin and Ambassador of Algeria to Nepal, Abdenor Khelifi. 

High-level officials of the government were present on the occasion.

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