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Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today visited the Kirtipur-based Tribhuvan University (TU) Cricket Ground to witness a match between Nepal and the United Arab Emirates under the ICC World Cup League II. The Prime Minister's presence aims to boost up the morale of the Nepali cricketers. Nepal and the UAE are playing the final match under the League today.  On the occasion, the Prime Minister wished for the success of the Nepali team, according to the Prime Minister's Secretariat. A large number of spectators have gathered in the TU ground to watch the match. They have painted the color of Nepal's flag on their face and carry the Nepali flags. PM Dahal was accompanied by the Bharatpur Metropolis Mayor Renu Dahal and member secretary of the National Sports Council Tanka Lal Ghising among others. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba offered best wishes of a win to the Nepali cricket team via social media. "We are hopeful that our team will play with high morale and will make a new history in the country's cricket. Best wishes of a win to the Nepali team," he said. Similarly, former PM and CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli also extended greetings to the team. "Since some days ago, I had been waiting for today's day. Best wishes of a win for the Nepali team. The state is with you. I am with you."

Bagmati Province Chief Minister Shalikram Jamarkattel is seeking a vote of confidence on March 22. Province Assembly Secretariat Chief Secretary Krishna Hari Khadka said that Chief Minister jamarkattel, who fell into minority after the Rastriya Prajatantra Party withdrew the support, is scheduled to seek a vote of confidence in the Province Assembly meeting on March 22. With the change in the political equation at the center, three ministers representing the Rastriya Prajatantra Party in the Cabinet in the Bagmati Province resigned a few weeks ago. The incumbent government fell into minority after the Rastriya Prajatantra Party withdrew support extended to the government. Earlier on January 10, the Cabinet was formed with Shalikram Jamarkattel as the Chief Minister, Jagannath Thapaliya as the Economic Affairs and Planning Minister and Uddhav Thapa as the Energy, Water Resource and Irrigation Minister from the joint alliance of the CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party. The current Cabinet includes only the ministers of the CPN (Maoist Center) and the CPN-UML.    

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.