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The installation of free WiFi service at New Bus Park, Gongabu has elated the people leaving the Kathmandu Valley for different parts of the country by bus.

Chandra KC, who arrived at New Bus Park to purchase a ticket for his travel to Gulmi, said, "The free WiFi service won the customers' heart and eased transport. Such service needs expansion in other places outside the Kathmandu Valley."

Similarly, Bhup Prasad Bhusal was happy to find internet connection available free of cost for the first time at New Bus Park. He was seeking service for travelling to Dang district. Bhusal also had a similar recommendation as that of KC so that even those outside the federal capital could enjoy easy services for travel.

The government has done a wonderful job by ensuring free WiFi, for it has facilitated customers tremendously, an employee at ticket counter, Bachchu Ram Bhatta, observed.

Dipak Dhakal, originally from Dhading district, also appreciated the government's work that cheered service seekers.

A bus entrepreneur Ramesh Bhatta, however, said sustainability of such service is more important than launch.

Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jagdish Kharel, had signed the first decision upon his assumption of office on September 22 on expansion of free internet in significant public places. The free internet connectivity was materialized as per the Minister's decision. He had inaugurated the service on November 5.

With this facility in place, the customers can purchase bus tickets using digital gadgets. They are provided with the free internet for 90 minutes at a time.

Some 700 to 800 public buses are operated from New Bus Park every day. Among these, 400 are large buses, 150 micro buses and over 200 local buses. The local buses are operated in the Kathmandu Valley.

 It is said nearly 12,000 to 15,000 people come and go from the New Bus Park each day.

The Turture–Chambas stretch of the Dumre–Besisahar road in Bhanu Municipality, Tanahun has been closed for six hours each day beginning today. 

The closure, which will continue from November 9 to November 21, is required for the ongoing road widening works up to the Dhukurdhi area.

Administrative Officer Bikash Shrestha stated that the decision aims to reduce potential accident risks and ensure smooth progress of construction, as requested by the Dumre–Besisahar–Chame Road Project.

Traffic will be halted daily from 6:30–9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. and 2:00–4:00 p.m. 

During these periods, travelers can use the Turture–Bimalnagar via Palungtar–Khatritar route as an alternative, he added. 

The ‘Global Hunger Index–2025’ report has been unveiled in Karnali. 

Binod Kumar Shah, the Minister for Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives of the Karnali Province, released the report. 

During the event held in Surkhet Birendranagar, organized by Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LIBIRD) with support from Welthungerhilfe, Minister Shah emphasized that the report serves as a guide for identifying areas where Nepal, particularly Karnali, requires enhancements. 

He noted that the Karnali government has developed several initiatives, including the Food Sovereignty Act, Organic Agriculture Act, Agricultural Business Promotion Act, agricultural strategy, and a draft of the Pollination Strategy, all aimed at bolstering the Zero Hunger campaign. 

Minister Shah remarked, “Karnali has limited arable land. Nevertheless, the government is striving to cultivate high-value products from the limited land available.” 

He referenced a public report, indicating that the insights provided would aid the Karnali provincial government in formulating policies, which would be especially beneficial for agricultural workers and farmers. 

He stressed that the subjects outlined in this report should be mandatory study material for local government representatives, provincial secretaries, and agricultural specialists. 

Laxman Khatri, the program head of LIBIRD, pointed out that for the past seven years, LIBIRD has been releasing the Hunger Index report in Nepal, highlighting that while stunting remains a challenge, there have been positive trends in reducing wasting and child mortality rates. 

He asserted that if multi-dimensional nutrition-related initiatives are executed in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals, hunger could potentially be eradicated.

“All three tiers of government must prioritize this effort,” he stated, “We are implementing agriculture and nutrition programmes in Karnali and Sudurpaschim to enhance food security.”

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has prohibited the burning of waste and plastic materials within the metropolis.

The Environment Department of KMC has stated that this prohibition aims to mitigate the detrimental effects of air pollution on both the environment and public health.

As temperatures drop, the practice of burning waste, plastic, and other materials in open places have escalated. Department Head Sarita Rai said that incineration of these waste materials has harmful consequences for the environment and public health, which is the rationale behind the enforcement of this ban.

She further noted that any individual found in violation of this regulation will be fined Rs 10,000 for each offense. "Each year, during the winter months, the levels of air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley rise considerably. A substantial portion of this pollution is attributed to the open burning of plastic materials," remarked Department Chief Rai.

"This measure has been enacted to alleviate the negative impacts on public health and the environment." Air pollution adversely affects vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, individuals with respiratory conditions such as asthma, those with cardiovascular issues, and persons suffering from chronic illnesses.

Along with it, KMC has undertaken initiatives to diminish smoke emissions resulting from the open burning of plastic materials to safeguard the health of all city inhabitants and the environment.

Rai emphasized, "Should anyone ignore the ban issued by KMC, appropriate actions will be taken in accordance with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Environment and Natural Resources Conservation Act, 2077 BS, and the Fiscal Act, 2082 BS.