World Children’s Day being observed today
The World Children’s Day 2025 is being observed across the globe, including Nepal today under the theme "My day, my rights."
The theme focuses on amplifying children's voices and the importance of their rights while another prominent theme "For Every Child, Every Right," emphasizes that every child deserves affection, care, and the opportunity to grow.
At the call of the United Nations, the Day is celebrated annually on November 20. Also known as Universal Children’s Day, this was the date in 1959 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.
On the same day in 1989, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since 1990, the Day has also marked the anniversary of the day the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Meanwhile, UNICEF, the UN's specialized agency working for children and their rights, has appealed to all to amplify children’s voices and stand up for the rights of every child. Children and young people are powerful agents of change, bringing new ideas and perspectives that can help shape a better world for all of us.
In his World Children's Day message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted that the future is defined by how we care for the next generation, but acknowledged that children's rights are under attack from poverty, conflict, and climate change.
He urged that, on this day, we should listen to children and amplify their voices as they advocate for their rights, emphasizing that it is our responsibility to build a safe and equal world for every child.
Weather to remain mainly fair today
The weather today will remain partly cloudy in the hilly and mountainous regions and mainly fair in the remaining areas of the country.
Light rain and snowfall are possible at one or two places of the hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces, according to the Weather Forecasting Division.
The meteorological analysis by the Division states that there is currently no significant effect of the weather system across the country.
Nepal to receive additional USD 50 million grants for MCC projects
The Government of Nepal and Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) under the US Government have announced an additional grant of USD 50 million (around Rs 7 billion) for the MCC Nepal Compact.
With this announcement, the total amount available for Nepal under the Compact has reached USD 747 million (around Rs 106 billion), of which 550 million dollars will be provided by the US Government and the remaining 197 million dollars by the Government of Nepal.
This additional funding is expected to help deliver the Compact’s core objectives: completing priority electricity transmission infrastructure, strengthening Nepal’s power system, and enabling increased regional power trade.
By improving grid reliability and market access, the Compact is expected to support international connectivity and promote American excellence and best practices in energy infrastructure. The Compact also expands opportunities for US companies and technology to enter Nepal’s market, the US Embassy in Kathmandu stated.
This financial aid from the US government reflects the sustainable partnership between the United States and Nepal.
It may be noted that for decades, the two countries have established partnership in the efforts to advance economic growth, energy security, and mutual prosperity.
According to the US Embassy in Kathmandu, the MCC Nepal Compact continues that history through grant-based, debt-free assistance focused on high-impact infrastructure, it is said.
Government issues 12-point directive to further regulate casinos
The government has issued a 12-point directive with the aim of bringing casinos under further legal regulation.
The Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has emphasized that all casinos currently in operation fully comply with the Anti-Money Laundering Act and all its provisions.
The Department has sought full compliance with the directives issued to casino operators and the Directives Related to Preventing Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Activities. It has also reminded that trading in foreign currency without obtaining permission from Nepal Rastra Bank is not allowed.
Details in accordance with the Casino Regulations, 2082, and the directives issued by the Department of Tourism to casino operators regarding the prevention of money laundering and financing of terrorist activities must be regularly submitted to the Department.
The guidelines state that casino bettor's customer identification system and biometric details must be updated as prescribed and made available to the Department upon its request, and all activities at the casino premises must be recorded on CCTV, with the recordings kept secure for at least six months.
It is prohibited to operate a casino by making agreements with third parties or by any other means, and it is completely forbidden to operate a casino at any other location except in the authorised premises.
Before paying the amount won by a punter from the casino, the profit tax should be promptly deducted from the amount won by such a gamer in accordance with the prevailing law.
After deducting the profit tax, the licensed company must immediately send the details of the certificate of such tax deduction obtained for the player to the concerned Inland Revenue Office and also provide this information to the Department.
Similarly, any casino betting based on the internet or through online means has been prohibited. Sufficient security must be guaranteed both inside and outside casino and hotel premises.
Likewise, the guideline states that immediate legal action will be taken if deficiencies are found during the monitoring of risk of casinos in accordance with the Expounding of Immediate Reformative Activities for Nepal's Exit from Grey List, 2082.
