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Ambassador Dr Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal, President of the International Relations and Global Diplomacy Dialogue (IRGDD), together with co-founder Bimal Dhakal, held a meeting with Munu Mahawar, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India in Kathmandu on Monday.

The meeting also highlighted the scope for future collaborations between IRGDD and Indian institutions in areas of diplomacy, economic growth, technology, youth engagement, and people-to-people exchanges, underscoring the spirit of friendship that has long defined Nepal–India relations.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has said that all sides must fulfill the commitments made in the Paris Agreement relating to climate change and the measures to contain global temperature rise.

Inaugurating the conference of parliamentarians from Hindu Kush region today, President Paudel urged all countries- developed and developing, poor and industrial- to adhere to the Paris Agreement to contain temperature rise to 1.5 Degree Celsius since pre-industrial age.

He expressed worry over the rise of temperature above average range in the Hindu Kush Himalaya in recent years, which is further exacerbated by the fast snow melt, causing floods and erosion downstream. 

"Climate change, loss of biodiversity and air pollution are not limited to scientific reports, but become harsh realities of our lives," President Paudel lamented, adding that the conference is a historic opportunity to shape a roadmap for a common and sustainable future. 

The Head of the State further reminded, "It is also the moment to make a firm commitment towards the future of geography, mountain, forest, rivers and environment of the Hindu Kush Himalaya." 

More than two billion people are sustained by the water emanated from mountains of this region, but growing adversity downstream is a severe challenge, he said.

Paudel further shared that this region is rich in biodiversity. 

The protection of biodiversity helps enrich the eco system, otherwise causing serious impacts on food, culture and economy, he argued. 

The President also expressed gratitude to the member countries of Hindu Kush region for their continued efforts to face climate change, control air pollution and protect biodiversity. 

Nepal has also made significant initiatives like early warning relating to disaster caused by climate change, collaboration on hydropower development and use, promotion of solar power, and participatory community forest conservation, he explained in his address. 

Also featured in his statement were expansion of reserve area, monitoring of wildlife, improvement in public transport, promotion of electric vehicles and curb on industrial emission.

However, adequate efforts for climate adaptation and resilience were yet to be in place with effective policy.

The President expected that such an event would institutionalize parliamentary dialogue and foster sustainable cooperation to tackle common challenges.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the government was making all the best possible efforts for the safe and speedy release of Bipin Joshi, a Nepali student in Israel who was taken hostage by the extremist Hamas group.

In a Facebook post today, the PM stated that the government was taking all best possible efforts for Joshi's release adding that it was the responsibility of the government.

According to the PM, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Nepal's diplomatic missions in the Gulf countries is holding continuous talks to ensure a safe and speedy release of Joshi.

Likewise, the PM has also mentioned that the government was with the family of Joshi.

"With the coordination of our embassy in Israel, Joshi's mother Padma and sister Pushpa met with President of Israel Isaac Herzog and Chairman of the Israeli Parliament Amir Ohana for the initiatives to release Bipin," the PM has mentioned in his post. 

Likewise, PM Oli has recalled his telephone conversations that happened a couple of months ago with the presidents of Türkiye and Egypt for the release of Joshi.

Similarly, PM Oli has thanked all Nepalis, locals, journalists, security forces and social activists for their efforts for the safe and speedy release of Bipin Joshi.

Visiting Foreign Secretary of India Vikram Misri extended an invitation to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli for the India visit.

Misri, who arrived in Kathmandu on a two-day visit today, paid a courtesy call on PM Oli at the latter's office in Singh Durbar this morning and handed over the invitation letter, PM's Chief Advisor Bishnu Rimal said.

During the meeting, they discussed the issues spanning from the exchange of high level visits to the bilateral relations and mutual interests. 

However, both sides have not formally announced the date for the visit yet. 

The schedule of the visit would be made public based on mutual understanding of the diplomatic channels between the two countries.