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Twelve days after a devastating earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, more than 46,000 people have died and more than 84,000 buildings have either been severely damaged, need urgent demolition, or collapsed, according to officials, Aljazeera reported. As Turkey attempts to manage its worst modern disaster, concerns are growing over the victims of the tragedy in Syria, with the World Food Programme (WFP) pressuring authorities in the northwest to stop blocking access to the area as it seeks to help hundreds of thousands of people ravaged by earthquakes. The death toll in Turkey stands at 40,642 from the quake while neighbouring Syria has reported more than 5,800 deaths, a figure that has not changed for several days.

Pokhara International Airport will be equipped with the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) system in a week. Preparations for the operation of the IFR system at the newly opened international airport in Pokhara have been completed, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said. CAAN spokesperson Jagannath Niraula said that the implementation of IFR in Pokhara international airport will come into effect from coming February 23. As a result, many airline companies have shown interest in carrying out regular international flights to and from Pokhara. The Korean Air, Biz Air, Himalaya and the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation and others have shown interest to start their services to the airport. The IFR system is a fully mechanical operating system and compared to Visual Flight Rules (VFR) it is relatively safe and comfortable despite taking more time, the CAAN has said. The airport came into operation from January 1, 2023 with only domestic services currently being provided by Buddha, Yeti, Shree, Sourya, Guna and other domestic airlines.

Team NEPO, a youth-led non-profit organization, has established a library in the Rasuwa prison office through its flagship project “Pustak Pariyojana” on Friday along with two-days free health camp for inmates. The Team NEPO said that it established the library in prisons of Nepal to promote rehabilitation, reintegration and reading culture for inmates, ensuring their right to education and information followed by imperceptible reintegration into the society once out of prison. The event was chaired by Chief District Officer Prakash Chandra Adhikari. Dr. Nigam Paudel, Founder President of Team NEPO, DSP Subash Budhathoki, Inspector Bishnu Pradeep Bashyal and Jailor Hariram Neupane were also present in the program. Addressing the inmates and the organization representatives, CDO Prakash Chandra Adhikari congratulated and thanked Team NEPO for their effort towards establishing prisons as correctional centers and requested inmates to invest their time in reading the books. Jailor Hariram Neupane said that he was extremely happy and excited to receive the books and thanked the team for their generous and thoughtful contribution. Dr Nigam Paudel, Founder President of Team NEPO handed over 500 books of various genres ranging from fictional/non-fictional to self-help, motivational, autobiographies and skill development books, journals and magazines. Nabin Khanal, Treasurer of Team NEPO, handed over 100 notebooks and pens to Jailor Hariram Neupane. Dr Paudel highlighted, "Books in prison bring positive changes in people's lives and the reading habit is beneficial for our mental health.” Addressing the prisoners, he appealed to make maximum use of those books, as well as encouraged them to write down their experiences, positive and negative feelings, difficulties and stresses while spending time in prison. stating that the notebooks were provided to the prisoners in order to journal their everyday life in prison, he thanked the supporting partners Ethics from Diverse Perspective and Global Hub for Educational Network. Earlier, libraries were set up in Arghakhanchi, Syangja, Tanahun, Achham, Chitwan and Dang prisons under the campaign. Pustak Pariyojana in Rasuwa benefits 72 inmates (64 males and 8 females). Meanwhile, Sarina Subedi, Program Coordinator of Team NEPO handed over 100 sanitary pads for female inmates inaugurating two-days free health camp on 17th and 18th February. She handed over the sanitary pads in collaboration with District Ayurveda Health Center, Rasuwa, Prison Office Rasuwa supported by Dekha Herbals. The health camp offered general health checkup, blood pressure and blood glucose screening and provided free prescribed medicines, said Dr Paudel. The camp served 72 inmates along with security personnel and other staff of the Rasuwa Prison Office.  

The 73^rd National Democracy Day is being marked by organizing various programs across the country on Sunday. A special program was held at the Army Pavilion, in Tundikhel, this morning. President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Chief of Army Staff Parshuram Sharma among high ranking officials of the government attended the program. Every year, Falgun 7 of the Nepali calendar is observed as the National Democracy Day. In 2007 BS, on this day, democracy was established in the country ending the Rana regime.