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Ambassador of Australia to Nepal, Felicity Volk, paid a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Paudel at the Rastrapati Bhawan, Shital Niwas today.

On the occasion, discussions were held on bilateral relations between Nepal and Australia and on matters of mutual interest and concern, the Office of the President said.

President Paudel expressed the confidence that Australia's cooperation for the social and economic development of Nepal-like land-locked countries will further increase in the coming days, not only in its capacity of the prosperous economy of South-East Asia and Pacific region, but as it also has importance presence in the global economic forum.

The government on Tuesday requested President Ram Chandra Paudel to call a session of the Federal Parliament on Feb 5, three months after the prorogation of the annual session of the parliament (Nov 2).

Per a constitutional provision, the President shall call a session of the parliament on the recommendation of the government.

Earlier, the parties had differences on whether to call the session after UML’s Madhya Pahadi Yatra Campaign (Mid-hills Journey) or after National Assembly elections (slated for Jan 25), leaving the government in a fix over the House session. 

If Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s promises on the government’s policies and programs and budget are anything to go by, the House session should already have convened, paving the way for pre-budget discussions on policies and programs in the parliament in mid-February.

On May 29 last year, Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat had announced in the House of Representatives that the principles and priorities of the budget-related Bill will be discussed in the parliament in mid-February, 2024.

For holding pre-budget discussions in the parliament, necessary laws should be drafted soon (mid-February to mid-March).

In addition, the government has been expressing commitment to introducing laws necessary for implementing the Constitution, which will be easier said than done. NA has found, in the course of a study, that the federal government must introduce 39 laws immediately for implementing the constitution.

It should be noted that provincial governments have been demanding what they call the ‘readjustment of the police force’ in line with the charter. Stakeholders with varying interests in Federal Civil Act and Education Act have also been piling pressure on the federal government to address their concerns.   

Citing the government’s promise to convene discussions on the budget in mid-February after introducing necessary laws, leaders of different political parties have been taking the government to task over delays in convening the parliament session.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Devraj Ghimire and Chair of the National Assembly Ganesh Prasad Timilsina have again requested President Ram Chandra Paudel to appoint general secretary of the Federal Parliament, stating that the absence of the office-holder for more than a month has been affecting the functioning of the parliament. 

The constitutional position has been lying vacant since Bharatraj Gautam tendered his resignation on Nov 10 last year.

Speaker Ghimire and NA Chair have tried to draw the president’s attention toward the matter through discussions with the latter’s legal advisor Baburam Kunwar.

Ghimire and Timilsina have recommended the appointment of Padma Prasad Pandey, secretary at the parliament, as the new general secretary.

Speaker Ghimire, after consultations with thematic committee chairs of the Parliament, told mediapersons: “I have already recommended the appointment of the general secretary and hope it will happen soon.” 

However, the Office of the President has not started the appointment process. The office has been arguing that it cannot initiate the appointment process as it is yet to accept Gautam’s resignation as HoR general secretary. 

President Paudel has also been facing charges of showing undue interest in the appointment.

Paudel, after consultations with Ghimire and NA chair Timilsina, had appointed Pandey as acting general secretary of the parliament on Nov 13 pending further arrangements.

But this appointment has not been without its share of controversies as Pandey faces charges of obtaining multiple citizenships. After receiving a complaint regarding the same, the parliamentary Public Affairs and Good Governance Committee has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to probe the matter and get it the facts. 

Irish Upper House Chairperson, Jerry Buttimer, has paid a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Paudel.

During the meeting held at the Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas, today, President Paudel said sustainable economic development is in the priority of the incumbent government and the Nepali people are confident that it would contribute to institutionalize democracy, inclusiveness and federalism.

President Paudel laid emphasis on the need of moving ahead cooperating on the matters of mutual interests in the bilateral, regional and multilateral areas in future by further strengthening the relations between Nepal and Ireland.

The newly appointed Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Md Golam Sarwar, paid a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Paudel in Sheetal Niwas on Wednesday.

During the meeting, President Paudel said that Nepal, as the founding member and the current Chair of SAARC, is fully committed to move forward the SAARC process in the spirit of unity and solidarity among the member countries.

The President also expressed his hope that the SAARC other member nations too will give an impetus to the SAARC by means of cooperation and understanding, the Office of the President stated in a media release.

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar paid a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Paudel on Thursday.

Jaishankar, who arrived in Kathmandu to take part in the seventh Nepal-India Joint Commission this morning, had reached sheetal Niwas to meet President Paudel.

According to an official at the President’s Office, issues of mutual interest and Nepal-India relations were discussed in the meeting.

He is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal this afternoon.

Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Kikuta Yutaka paid a courtesy call on President Ramchandra Paudel.

During the meeting held at Sheetal Niwas today, President Paudel mentioned that the Nepali people have appreciated Japan's unconditional respect for Nepal's sovereignty, geographical integrity and independence. 

He also thanked the Japanese government for its continuous support in the social and economic development sector of Nepal since long, according to the Office of the President.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister M. U. M. Ali Sabry paid a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Paudel at the latter’s office in Sheetal Niwas on Friday.

Issues related to bilateral relations, mutual interests and cooperation between Nepal and Sri Lanka  were discussed in the meeting, the President’s Office said.

President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed six justices for the Supreme Court.

President Paudel appointed them as SC justices on Wednesday after the Parliamentary Hearing Committee endorsed their names.

The President appointed Saranga Shrestha, Abdul Aziz Musalman, Mahesh Sharma Paudel, Tek Prasad Dhungana, Sunil Kumar Pokharel and Bal Krishna Dhakal as SC justices at the recommendation of the Judicial Council as per Article 129 (2) of the Constitution.

Earlier this morning, the Parliamentary Hearing Committee endorsed six nominees for Supreme Court justices.

Pokharel and Dhakal are advocates while Shrestha, Musalman, Paudel and Dhungana are High Court judges.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal held a meeting with President Ram Chandra Paudel on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Dahal had reached Sheetal Niwas this morning to meet President Paudel.

During the meeting, they discussed the contemporary political situation of the country, the President’s Secretariat said.

President Paudel has continuously been showing interest in the works of the government.

On the occasion, President Paudel also showed concern about the National Assembly election.

The tenure of the 20 National Assembly members including a female member nominated by the President is expiring soon.

There is a provision to nominate one female member at the recommendation of the Cabinet.

The government has fixed January 25 as the date of the election for 19 seats.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has said that the Bibaha Panchami festival celebrated in the Mithila region since ancient times carried cultural and historical significance. The President has also expressed his belief that this festival would promote national unity and help strengthen the spirit of harmony, tolerance and fraternity in the country.

In a message of best wishes today on the occasion, President Paudel has also wished that the ancient cultural festival of Bibaha Panchami inspires everyone to further strengthen the spirit of national unity while maintaining solidarity among the country's social and cultural diversity. He has expressed his belief that the festival would motivate all Nepalis to move forward to build a civilized and disciplined society by protecting and promoting our folk and indigenous culture.

President Paudel has extended his best wishes to all Nepali sisters and brothers on the occasion of the Bibaha panchami, which is celebrated to commemorate the special day of the auspicious marriage of Lord Shri Ram and Goddess Janaki.

President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal held a meeting on Wednesday.

In the meeting held at the Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas, in Kathmandu, President Paudel drew the attention of the government towards expediting the relief distribution operation for the quake-affected ones in the Karnali Province, according to Kiran Pokharel, Press Advisor to the President.

On the occasion, they also discussed contemporary issues, added Press Advisor Pokharel.

President Ram Chandra Paudel received tika from his younger sisters Sharada Pandit and Chanda Ojha on the occasion of Bhai Tika festival today.

He received tika from his two younger sisters at the auspicious hour of 10.51 am at the President House, Sheetal Niwas, said the President's Private Secretariat.

The Nepal Calendar Determination Committee had fixed 10.51 am today as the auspicious time for receiving the Bhai Tika.

As per the time-honored tradition, sisters put the seven-colored tika on the forehead of their brothers and garland them while the brothers also do the same to their sisters on the occasion of Bhai Tika, the last day of the five-day Yamapanchak or Tihar festival.

President Ram Chandra Paudel today visited the earthquake-affected Jajarkot district on Tuesday.

The Head-of-the-State made a visit to the Jajarkot Hospital to take health updates of the people injured in the disaster.

During the President's visit, the survivors appealed to him for adequate medical care for the injured, and the security of food and shelter for the affected. 

The President assured that the needs of the affected would be addressed and he would discuss the matter with the government, according to the President's press advisor Kiran Pokhrel.

"Immediate and long-term needs of all of you will be assessed and addressed. Don’t worry. I will talk to the government," Pokhrel quoted the President as saying.

On the occasion, Jajarkot's Chief District Officer Suresh Sunar apprised the President of the loss due to the earthquake and the hospital doctors briefed him of the situation of the injured.

The President reached Jajarkot today from Surkhet to take stock of the post-quake situations there.

At least 157 people had died when an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale hit Jajarkot district at 11:47 pm on Friday.

According to Pokherel, the President will visit the district headquarters Khalanga, Ramidanda, the epicenter of the earthquake, Nalgadh and Aathbiskoth of Rukum West to take stock of the progress in the rescue and relief efforts.

He is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka, Chief of the Army Staff and Karnali Province lawmakers.

It may be noted that the President canceled his Europe trip scheduled to take place from tomorrow, November 8, citing that it was inappropriate to leave the country in the wake of the devastating earthquake.

President Ram Chandra Paudel is leaving for earthquake hit districts, Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim, today.

President's press advisor Kiran Pokharel informed that President Paudel would visit the quake affected districts to take stock of the situation of disaster survivors.

In the wake of the earthquake that occurred last Friday, President Paudel also postponed his scheduled visit to Europe from November 8.

President Ram Chandra Paudel's visit to France, Italy and Germany scheduled for this Wednesday has been postponed.

President's press advisor Kiran Pokharel informed through a press release today that the Head-of-the-State postponed the scheduled visit with the conclusion that it would not be appropriate to leave the country when a natural disaster like a devastating earthquake has occurred.

It is stated that President Paudel will visit the earthquake-hit region tomorrow to take stock of the situation of the affected people.

An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale with its epicenter in Jajarkot struck the district in Karnali Province the night of November 3, causing huge loss of life and property in Jajarkot and Rukum West.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers had approved the President's visit to the three European countries on November 2.

Pokharel, the press advisor to the President, said the President postponed the visit saying that it would not be suitable to leave the country in the aftermath of the natural disaster, although the visit was very important for Nepal and the Nepali people.

The President was scheduled to leave for Paris, France in connection with attending the 'One Polar Planet Summit' and the 'Paris Pact for People and Planet' conferences under the Peace Forum Programme taking place there from November 9 to 11, at the invitation of French President Immanuel Macron.