UN eyes major overhaul amid funding crisis
The United Nations is considering a major structural overhaul aimed at improving efficiency and reducing costs, according to Reuters.
The proposals come amid significant funding cuts from the United States under President Donald Trump, which have strained key humanitarian programs.
The six-page document details ideas to divide the UN's various agencies into four main departments: peace and security, humanitarian affairs, sustainable development, and human rights. One plan would combine the World Food Programme, WHO, UNICEF, and the refugee agency into a single humanitarian organization. Other possibilities include incorporating UNAIDS into the WHO and reducing translation services at meetings, Reuters reported.
The document identifies long-standing organizational inefficiencies, such as overlapping mandates, unnecessary bureaucracy, and escalating expenses caused by mission expansion without defined exit strategy.
Grade 12 exams will be held as scheduled: NEB
The National Examinations Board (NEB) has reiterated that the Grade 12 examinations will be held as scheduled from May 4 to 16.
NEB has objected to the unauthorized use of its logo on various social media in the context of the examinations and urged one and all not to follow the misleading information.
Earlier, the NEB had scheduled the Grade 12 exams from April 24. But the exams schedule had to be deferred due to the teachers' protests organized under the banner of Nepal Teachers’ Federation.
The Board stated that the Grade 12 exams will now be conducted at the designated examination centers as there has been an agreement with the Federation last time. The board has clarified that it does not have a Facebook page and the official information will be made public through the website.
Through the notice, the NEB has urged all the exam superintendents at the exam centers, teachers, employees and security agencies, parents, media persons and all stakeholders to complete all the remaining works of the exams and cooperate in conducting the examinations in a dignified manner on the scheduled date.
Government takes diplomatic initiative for investigation into death of Nepali girl in KIIT
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has initiated a diplomatic initiative to investigate the death of Prissa Sah of Birgunj who was studying at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha, India.
Sah was found dead in her room on Thursday evening.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba took to her social media, Facebook, to express grief over the incident in which Nepali student Prissa Sah, a student of KIIT in India, was found dead at her hostel room.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated diplomatic initiatives to investigate the truth behind the incident through the Government of India, senior officials of the Odisha Government and the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi on Thursday itself", Minister Rana wrote.
East-West Highway obstructed
The Narayangadh-Butwal road section along the East-West Highway has been obstructed after the flood-fed rivulet swept away the diversion at Dumkibas .
According to the District Police Office, the highway has been completely disrupted with the flood in the Biyani Rivulet taking away the diversion this morning.
Information Officer at Nawalpur Police Office, Madhu Nepal said loaded and heavy vehicles have been stopped at Hongshi Gate and Arunkhola areas after the bridge collapsed.
However, passenger and light vehicles have been sent to their destinations via alternative routes.
Information Officer Nepal said that it will take time to bring back the obstructed road to operation.
