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The Langtang National Park (LNP) observed the 11th wildlife week by organizing various awareness programs. 

The programs aimed at keeping humans safe and wildlife conserved. Public awareness rally, lecture, discussion and jungle safari were held as part of the weeklong observation.  

Forest, wildlife, biodiversity, plant and human-wildlife conflict featured significantly in the events that witnessed participation of locals, 

people's representatives, conservation campaigners, organizations, park employees and Nepali armies devoted to wildlife protection. 

The locals were reminded that they need a permit from LNP to enter the forest. Humans need to foster positive behaviour towards wildlife. Measures of safety precautions while entering forest were also discussed during the awareness-raising. 

Senior Conservation Officer at LNP, Shyam Kumar Sah, said that they were for building a common campaign to conserve wild animals and plants and ensure safety to humans.

LNP covers the parts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Sindhupalchok districts. 

Ranger at LNP, Keshav Dhodari, said that activities to protect and promote biodiversity were going on.

Two persons died in a fire that broke out at Beltar Bazaar in Chaudandigadhi, Udayapur in the wee hours of Tuesday.

Rajan Chapagain, Chief at the District Police Office, Udayapur said that the deceased have been identified as Laxmi Narayan Khadka and Pawan Khadka.

The houses of Laxmi Narayan and Rabin Kumar Das were completely destroyed in the blaze that broke out at around 2: 30 am today.

A bookstore operating at Laxmi Narayan’s house was also reduced to ashes, police stated.

The fire was later taken under control with the help of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and City Police personnel backed by fire engines.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. 

A weather bulletin issued this morning predicted a heat wave in the Tarai belts of Sudurpaschim and Lumbini Provinces.

Even the valleys in Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces are likely to experience hotter weather later today. 

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said  that the country is witnessing a partial effect of westerly wind. The low pressure belt also has a minor effect on the national weather system, especially in the eastern region.

With this, it is likely to have generally cloudy weather in mountainous regions. 

Moderate rainfall and snowfall are expected in one or two places in the mountainous region in the country. It will, however, be partly cloudy in hilly belts and generally clear in Tarai.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has said that the system currently implemented to print driving licenses is more secure and practical in accordance with international standards.

Issuing a press release today, the Ministry has said that the new smart license has been prepared completely in accordance with the international standard ISO 7810 ID-1. 

Nepal has also adopted this based on a similar technology that has been used by developed countries for decades.

The government has chosen a new format with the conclusion that the smart chip technology used in the past has not been implemented effectively. "In order to minimize the risks created by relying on the assistance of foreign experts to read the chip, a highly secure code-encrypted, layered and copy-protected intelligent QR (IQR) technology has been adopted,” the statement said. 

This has institutionalized offline authentication and enabled traffic police or other regulatory bodies to instantly confirm the identity and authority of the driver by scanning the card at any location without access to the internet.

In terms of security, the new smart license includes 39 different security features divided into three levels, the ministry said. 

The ministry has also clarified that the entire production process is conducted in an end-to-end offline format, which makes the risk of data leakage or unauthorized access negligible. 

According to the Security Printing Center, in addition to driver's licenses, the foundation has been laid for the production of postage stamps, citizenship certificates, excise stickers, visa stickers and university certificates in the coming days.

Currently, the center prints the drivers' license within 24 hours of passing the trial for a driver's license and paying the fee. Similarly, all the old licenses that are yet to be printed will be printed by mid-Ashar. 

According to the center, 1.2 million old licenses will be printed by Baisakh 12 and an additional 1.7 million by mid-Ashar.