Submit your Article

Padam Limbu, who lost his life during the protest against the naming of Koshi Province, has been declared martyr on Friday. A Cabinet meeting held this morning decided to declare Limbu as a martyr. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kiranti said that the government has also decided to provide compensation to his family. Limbu, who was injured following a clash with security personnel during the protest held in Biratnagar on March 19, breathed his last during the course of treatment on March 24.  

The code of conduct for the by-elections slated for April 23 will come into effect from Friday. According to the Election Commission, the code of conduct will remain in force in Chitwan, Bara and Tanahun districts from April 7 to till the completion of the elections. EC Spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Paudel said the EC is implementing the code of conduct by exercising the right granted to it by clause 22 of the Election Act, 2017 and clause 1 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2079 BS. The lower house by-elections are taking place in Chitwan constituency-2, Bara-2 and Tanahun-1. Federal government and government ministers, province government and province ministers, constitutional bodies and their officials, Nepal government or province government bodies and their officials, local executive and its members, employees of federal, province and local levels, security bodies, security personnel and employees are required to be abiding by the elections code of conduct. Likewise, government and semi-government offices and public organizations and their employees, political parties and their sister organizations, candidates and the their relatives, political parties and election representatives of candidates, people holding the public post, observation  committee officials and monitors, observation institutions and observers, media and its employees, journalists, private and non-government organizations and their officials and employees, schools, universities and their teachers and employees, voters, development partners, projects operated by the government and semi-government levels and their employees,  bodies and people engaged in voter education programs, private banks and finances, cooperatives, corporate and industries and their officials, employees and workers officials of goods and service providing sectors, their employees and workers should abide by the elections code of conduct.  

Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal called on Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Thursday. In the meeting held at the Beijing-based Foreign Ministry, they discussed bilateral relationship between Nepal and China, exchange of visits, development cooperation, trade, investment and tourism among others issues. Nepali Ambassador to China Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, Joint Secretary at the Foreign Ministry Lok Bahadur Thapa and senior officials at the Foreign Ministry of both the countries and high-ranking officials were present in the meeting. The 15th meeting of the Bilateral Diplomatic Consultation Mechanism between Nepal and China will be held on Friday. A Nepali team led by Foreign Secretary Paudyal had reached Beijing to take part in the meeting.

US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R. Thompson paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha. In the meeting held at the Ministry of Home Affairs today, the two discussed various matters relating to Nepal-US bilateral relations and the exchange of cooperation, according to Kamal Giri, press coordinator of DPM Shrestha. On the occasion, the Minister said that the incumbent government has focused on completing the remaining task of the peace process as per the spirit of the Comprehensive Peace Accord, and sought support from Nepal's friendly international donors towards this. Shrestha informed the US envoy Thompson that the related Bill was already presented in the parliament to ensure transitional justice. Ambassador Thompson said that the US wanted to see completion of the remaining task of the peace process in Nepal and pledged to take the lead to facilitate with diplomatic stakeholders for the same. To the concern expressed by the American envoy on the prospects of political instability affecting the development works, DPM Shrestha assured that it would not affect the development endeavors, stating that Nepal was still in the process of institutionalizing the federal democratic republic system. Furthermore, Thompson said that the US government would provide full support in strengthening democracy in Nepal. Since the Peace Corps' works were affected after COVID-19 pandemic, Ambassador Thompson requested with DPM Shrestha on easing off the issuance of visa for Peace Corp volunteers to which the latter committed to facilitate the matter in coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Thompson also expressed concerns surrounding American investment in Nepal and security of the American working in Nepal to which DPM Shrestha assured of full security for that.