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President Bidya Devi Bhandari has wished happiness, peace and prosperity to all Nepali brothers and sisters living at home and abroad on the occasion of the 15th Republic Day.

In a message of best wishes today, President Bhandari said that Republic Day would encourage all to move on the path of achieving prosperity along with social justice by further strengthening national unity.

The press release reads, "I extend best wishes with the expectation that this historical day will encourage all to move ahead towards the path of social justice by further strengthening country's territorial integrity, national sovereignty and unity."

President Bhandari said that it was real responsibility of the republic to take forward Nepal as a developed nation with strong and self-dependent economy by bringing meaningful and positive change in people's lives.

"We have been celebrating Jestha 15 as Republic Day every year to commemorate the historical day of the declaration of Federal Republic in Nepal. The new system was established with people's participation where every citizen is equal,' reads the statement.

In the message, President Bhandari further stated that she was confident that the Republic Day would further inspire all of us to build socialism-oriented economic system by implementing the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution - education, health, food security, drinking water, environment protection in practice."

Expressing respect to the senior leaders of political parties who led the political movements at different times for political change in the country, she appreciated the contribution of political activists, civil society leaders and common people in different democratic movements.

President Bhandari also paid heartfelt tribute to the martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the establishment of Democratic Republic.

Russia's ambassador in Britain has told the BBC he does not believe his country will use tactical nuclear weapons in the war against Ukraine, BBC reported.

Andrei Kelin said that according to Russian military rules, such weapons are not used in conflicts like this one. 

Russia has very strict provision for their use, he said, mainly when the state's existence is threatened.

"It has nothing to do with the current operation," he told Sunday Morning.

When Vladimir Putin put his nuclear forces on high alert in late February, soon after the invasion, it was widely perceived as a warning.

Mr Putin blamed the development on aggression by the West and Nato. But the UK's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace branded it an attempt to distract people from "what's going wrong in Ukraine", saying Russia was behind schedule on its invasion after just a few days, and trying to "remind the world" it had a deterrent, according to BBC.

Tactical nuclear weapons are those which can be used at relatively short distances, as opposed to "strategic" nuclear weapons which can be launched over much longer distances and raise the spectre of all-out nuclear war.

But the term still includes many types of weapon, including smaller bombs and missiles used on a battlefield. Russia is thought to have about 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons

In a sometimes terse exchange with the BBC's Clive Myrie, the ambassador also denied Russian forces were shelling civilians and said allegations of war crimes in the town of Bucha were a "fabrication". 

Asked the question, "Why is Russia conducting this war in this way, committing war crimes?" Mr Kelin replied: "The mayor of Bucha in his initial statement has confirmed that Russian troops has left, everything is clean and calm, the town in a normal state. 

"Nothing is happening, no bodies are on the street. But next, after it has been done - but anyway..." 

Myrie then pressed him: "So this is all made up, Sir? This is all a fabrication? All this evidence is a fabrication?"

"In our view it is a fabrication. It is used just to interrupt negotiations," the ambassador replied, BBC reported.

Russia has made such allegations before, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier claiming that footage of bodies in Bucha was "staged" after the Russians withdrew.

This was contradicted by numerous eyewitness accounts from residents, who told the BBC that Russian troops had summarily executed their loved ones. 

"He was just a peaceful man, a family man, a welder, who struggled with a spine fracture and was disabled all his life," one man said of his murdered son-in-law.

Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand said that the government has started preparations to enact necessary laws on rape and sexual violence.

Speaking at a program organized to mark the 22nd anniversary of the National Human Rights Commission in Lalitpur on Friday, Minister Khand said that the government has staged homework to formulate necessary laws to bring the culprits of rape, sexual violence and domestic violence among others to justice.

He said that the government is committed to creating a human rights-friendly environment.

Minister Khand further said that the government has adopted a zero tolerance policy for human rights violations.

On a different note, he said that the National Human Rights Commission and Civil Society have done a praiseworthy work in the campaign aginst human trafficking.

The National Assembly has endorsed the policies and programs of the government for the fiscal year 2022/ 23 on Friday.

The government is going to make public the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2022/23 through a joint assembly at 3 pm on Saturday.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has presented the policies and programs of the government on May 24.

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