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Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has said the climate change and sustainability of trade are common global agenda, so they warrant collective action and address.

Inaugurating the 3rd annual conference on 'Climate Change and Sustainability of Trade in South Asia' organized jointly by the World Trade Organization and the Kathmandu University in the federal capital on Saturday, DPM Paudel reminded that Nepal is on the forefront of climate change vulnerability, resulting into adverse impacts on socio-economy and infrastructures.

Decentralization of production centres and diversification of supply chain could help reduce risk in trade infrastructures, according to him.

The DPM hoped the conference would be fruitful to whet the pressing issues of climate change in south Asia and build common perspectives among policy makers, researchers and private sector representatives so that they would take proper strategies for future.

Efforts made by Nepal despite its negligible role in climate change need to be made visible. The climate actions like mitigation and adaptation should be prioritized, he suggested.

Similarly, the Finance Minister pointed out the need for developing climate resilient infrastructures so that supply chain will not be disrupted. On the occasion, Registrar at the Kathmandu University, Dr Achyut Wagle, said the initiatives for sustainable economic development should be friendly to private sector. Just and balanced efforts in south Asia can promote trade, he said, adding that continuous actions are required to reduce impact of climate change.

In view of Joint Secretary at Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply, Devraj Joshi, Nepal could forward sustainable trade by addressing the problems facing trade and climate change.

Study and research in this sector would enrich policy and action plans, he believed. Representatives from nine countries including Nepal, India, Bangladesh, China, Turkey, and Indonesia attended the event.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Nepal, Kamal Thapa, today paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

During the meeting, the two exchanged views on contemporary political scenario, according to RPP Nepal's General Secretary Rajaram Bartaula.

Leader Thapa also extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to a reception to be organized by the party tomorrow, January 11, on the occasion of 'National Unification Day'. 

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has called for collective efforts to launch a campaign addressing drug abuse, suicidal tendencies, and road accidents.

During his address to a sports festival organized by the National Private and Boarding Schools Association of Nepal (N-PABSAN) Kanchanpur in Mahendrangar today, the minister said drug abuse, suicides, and road fatalities remain significant concerns in society and require collaborative efforts to mitigate.

He emphasized that adolescents are especially vulnerable to drug abuse, underscoring the importance of a school-level campaign to raise awareness about its consequences and help keep them away from it.

The minister also reminded stakeholders of the constitutional provisions for free and basic education, urging everyone to ensure the effective implementation of these provisions and to work toward improving the quality of education.

Regarding the federal bill on school education, Minister Lekhak informed that discussions are underway in Parliament.

He added the government will focus on making quality education more accessible and is committed to creating an environment that will facilitate the swift endorsement of the bill.

 The government has decided to extend the tenure of four Deputy Inspector Generals of the Armed Police Force—Kamal Giri, Ganesh Bahadur Thada Magar, Kul Bahadur Nembang and Shambhu Subedi by one year.

Spokesperson of the government and Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, today shared this while making public the decisions of Cabinet meeting held on January 7.

Similarly, the meeting also decided to assign Joint-Secretary Bishnu Prasad Sharma on deputation as the Executive Director of Special Structures Operation and Management Development Committee. 

Likewise, permission has been granted to Deputy Auditor General Bamdev Sharma Adhikari to participate in 'Workshop on Inhousing SAI-CSO Engagement on the ASOSAI Region' to be held in Manila of Philippines from February 10-12, added Minister Gurung.

The meeting also gave permission to the Minister of State for Forests and Environment to attend the program related to climate change to be organized in Rome of Italy from February 24-26.