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Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Kikuta Yutaka hosted a reception at his official residence in Tahachal on Wednesday to celebrate the 63rd auspicious birthday of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito. Around 400 guests including Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun, National Assembly Vice-Chairperson Urmila Aryal, former prime ministers, former ministers, ambassadors and Heads of International Organizations in Nepal, members of the Federal Parliament and government officials among others attended the program, read a statement issued by the Embassy of Japan in Nepal. Ambassador Kikuta welcomed all the guests mentioning his pleasure at finally being able to host the reception after three years. It is the fifth year of the “Reiwa (beautiful harmony)” Era in Japan, which started in 2019. In October, 2019, former President Bidya Devi Bhandari had attended the Ceremonies of the Accession to the Throne of the Emperor. The Ambassador also said that the high-level exchanges stalled by COVID-19, had resumed with the visit of Takei Shunsuke, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, to Nepal last November. On the occasion, the Foreign Minister's Commendation for Fiscal Year 2022 was presented to Japanese Universities Alumni Association, Nepal (JUAAN). The year 2022 marked the 120th anniversary since the first eight Nepali students were dispatched to Japan and this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of JUAAN. The Commendation was awarded in recognition of JUAAN’s contribution to the long history of educational exchanges between Japan and Nepal. Dr Prabin Shrestha, the President of JUAAN delivered a thank-you speech in the program.

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party has decided not to vote in the vice-presidential election. A Central Work Execution Committee meeting of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party held on Wednesday has decided not to vote in the upcoming vice-presidential election. Party spokesperson Mohan Kumar Shrestha said that the party has decided to stay neutral in the vice-presidential election. Saying that the government’s decision to increase the price and reduce subsidy given to farmers on the purchase of chemical fertilizers is inhuman and unfair, the party has demanded that the government roll back its decision at the earliest, he said. The party has drawn the attention of the government to establish a chemical fertilizer factory in the country for a long-term solution of the recurring problem of chemical fertilizer.  

The Cabinet will be expanded soon after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal seeks a vote of confidence. After the Central Execution Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress, party spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat said that the Prime Minister will seek a vote of confidence on March 20 or 21. “No discussions have been held about joining the government. The Cabinet will be expanded after the Prime Minister takes a vote of confidence. Prime Minister Dahal is preparing to seek a vote of confidence on March 20 or 21,” he said. The Prime Minister is seeking a vote of confidence after the CPN-UML and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party withdrew support extended to the Dahal-led government with the formation of a new alliance under the leadership of the Nepali Congress. Though the Rastriya Swatantra Party has left the government, it has continued its support to Prime Minister Dahal.  

The Nepali Congress has decided to vote in favor of Janata Samajbadi Party’s Ram Sahaya Yadav in the vice-presidential election. The Central Execution Committee of the Nepali Congress held on Wednesday decided to support Yadav in the vice-presidential election, party spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat said. According to him, the meeting has decided to direct the party lawmakers to vote in favor of Yadav. The meeting also congratulated President Ram Chandra Paudel.