Submit your Article

Nepali parliamentarian Yogesh Gauchan Thakali has been elected as the Chair of the Youth Committee of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD).

He was elected to the post during the 15th General Assembly of the Committee held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on April 27–28.

Thakali’s election to the post underscores Nepal’s growing leadership in international platforms dealing with population and development challenges.

Speaking after being elected to the post, Thakali reaffirmed his commitment to advancing youth voices, promoting inclusive policies, strengthening regional cooperation, and driving action on climate change.

Thakali has also been championing the climate crisis narrative, raising urgent climate issues across all platforms, and calling for sustainable and inclusive policies to safeguard the future of younger generations.

AFPPD is a regional network representing 30 National Committees comprising parliamentarians from across Asia-Pacific and Central Asia.

North Korea has confirmed it deployed troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Pyongyang claimed its soldiers helped “completely liberate” Russia’s Kursk border region under orders from Kim Jong Un, according to Reuters.

The announcement comes after Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov recently praised North Korean servicemen for their "heroism" on the battlefield. Western officials believe that approximately 1,000 of the 11,000 North Korean personnel deployed had been killed.

The United States condemned North Korea's engagement, claiming responsibility for prolonging the conflict. Meanwhile, Ukraine dismissed Russian assertions that it had fully regained control of the Kursk region, Reuters reported.

Reports of North Korean military cooperation emerged after Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a mutual defense treaty last year. Despite concerns about their preparedness, Ukrainian commanders acknowledged that North Korean troops pose significant obstacles on the front lines.

The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is being observed throughout the globe including in Nepal today. 

The theme of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2025 is – 'Revolutionizing health and safety: the role of AI and digitalization at work.' 

This Day has been marked at the call of the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 2003 to emphasize the prevention of accidents and diseases in the workplace. This campaign is a part of the ILO's international strategy to ensure occupational safety and health. 

One of the main pillars of the Global Strategy is advocacy and the World Day for Safety and Health at Work is a significant tool to raise awareness of how to make work safe and healthy and of the need to raise the political profile of occupational safety and health, the ILO said.

April 28  is also the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers organized worldwide by the trade union movement since 1996.

Occupational Safety and Health Day is used as an important tool to spread awareness about how to ensure workplace safety and health and to bring political priority to this topic.

This year's theme is relevant as in today's digital age, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools are changing the very definition of health and safety in the workplace. Robots are being used which are carrying out hazardous tasks such as heavy work, handling poisonous materials, and working in extreme temperatures.

Digital devices and sensors have the ability to detect threats, which has significantly improved security. However, it is important to adopt proper regulation and protective measures.

The Westerly and local wind coupled with the moisture-laden wind entering from the Bay of Bengal have their influence in the weather system of the country at present, the Meteorological Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said. 

The weather will be partly to generally cloudy throughout the country with the possibility of light to moderate precipitation accompanied by thunder and lightning at some places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and some places of the hilly region of Lumbini and Karnali Provinces and at a few places in the rest of the country today.

Light rain and snowfall are likely to occur at some places of the mountainous region of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces. According to the Division, there is a possibility of heavy rainfall at one or two places in Koshi Province.

Similarly, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy throughout the country tonight. Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and at one or two places of the hilly regions of the rest of the provinces.

Light rain and snowfall are likely to occur at a few places of the mountainous regions of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and heavy rainfall at one or two places of Koshi Province tonight.