Govt for public-private dialogue for ICT sector

The government has expressed its desire to hold public-private dialogue for the development and growth of the information and communication technology sector in the country. Speaking at the 'First Industry – Government Dialogue: Bridging the gap for ICT growth' in the capital on Friday, Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel and Minister for Communication and Information Technology Parbat Gurung and Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission Prof. Dr. Pushpa Raj Kandel expressed their...

Nagdhunga tunnel work gains momentum

The construction of the much-awaited Nagdhunga tunnel connecting Sisnekhola in Dhading with Kispidi in Thankot has gained momentum of late. Works are being carried out in a full swing at Nagdhunga side to commence digging of the tunnel from December 25, said head of the project Naresh Man Shakya. Shakya said, “Though the digging was expected to commence from the first week of Mangsir, it was delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic and land compensation disputes,” adding, “Currently, steel portal...

I am not involved in financial matter: Dhakal

Minister for Health and Population Bhanubhakta Dhakal said on Friday that the government had focused on quick COVID-19 response as the situation was serious after the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country. Responding to the queries of the lawmakers at the Public Account Committee (PAC) meeting today, Minister Dhakal said that COVID-19 pandemic was unpredictable and the situation was uneasy for the countries across the globe, including Nepal. The committee had scheduled a meeting to discuss the health...

How to manage a violent elephant that is killing people?

A team of wildlife specialists are currently in Koshi Toppu Wildlife Reserve to rescue and treat a male wild elephant which the local people and Chief District Officer say should be killed. The reason is that the adult tusker has killed 22 people in the past two years. In in its latest attack, the elephant, named Koshi Makuna, killed a man on December 15. Pramod Yadav, 32, of Koshi Rural Municipality-6, was killed by the elephant when he was going to irrigate his wheat field. Now grown up aggressive,...

Landless people of 17 local levels to get land ownership documents

According to Devi Gyawali, commission’s Chairperson, the commission has been proactive in its attempt to address the problems facing the landless. Stating that the constitution has mentioned the rights of land to the Dalits, oppressed and landless people as a fundamental right, Gyawali said that no one should be deprived of exercising the rights guaranteed by the constitution. Chairperson Gyawali also urged the concerned bodies to extend their support to the commission.

Quarantine and isolation period for COVID-19 infected reduced to 10 days

The Policy, Planning and Monitoring Division at the Ministry had decided that all the infected persons except those fallen sick after showing symptoms of infection and seriously ill people would be kept in quarantine or isolation only for 10 days.

NC demands immediate withdrawal of constitutional council ordinance

A meeting of the NC Parliamentary Party Working Committee held on Friday drew the conclusion that the act of bringing constitutional council related ordinance without calling a parliament session was undemocratic.

1,029 COVID-19 recoveries, 782 new cases, 16 fatalities in last 24 hours

The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) on Friday confirmed 782 new cases of COVID-19, taking the national tally to 252,474.

Govt unveils first water resources policy

The government has formulated a water resources policy for the first time.Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barshaman Pun unveiled the ‘National Water Resources Policy-2077’ at a function organised at the Ministry on Thursday. The Council of Ministers had approved the policy on June 17, 2020.Although there were different policies relating to water supply, irrigation, electricity and management of water-induced disaster, there was no integrated policy.

Cold spell increases in Capital Valley

On Thursday, Kathmandu Valley recorded the lowest minimum temperature for this season. As the temperature plummeted to 2.3 degree Celsius, the denizens of the Valley felt severe cold in the early morning. According to Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), the minimum temperature in the Valley dropped to 2.3 degree Celsius on Thursday morning. Minimum temperature was 3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. The temperature in the Valley has been falling...

How safe is it to reopen schools in capital?

All schools across the country remained closed since the beginning of nationwide lockdown announced by the government in late March, to stop the spread of coronavirus. Re-opening schools in the time of global pandemic is risky, this is what the health experts have been repeatedly saying since then, fearing it can lead to rise in infections. Nine months later, some schools in the Kathmandu Valley have resumed in-person classes amidst the risk of COVID-19.

947 COVID-19 recoveries, 776 new infections, six fatalities in last 24 hours

The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) on Thursday confirmed 776 new cases of COVID-19, taking the national tally to 251,692.

NCP Chairmen PM Oli, Prachanda sit for talks

Chairman Prachanda reached Baluwatar to discuss the meeting of the constitutional council called by the PM at 5:00 pm today. Bishnu Sapkota, press advisor to Prachanda said that Prachanda was concerned about the meeting of the council called today despite the agreement reached on Wednesday to withhold the ordinance relating to the constitutional council issued on Tuesday.

Constitutional council meeting at 5:00 pm, Cabinet meeting at 6:00 pm today

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called the meeting of constitutional council for 5:00 pm today.

NCP meet decides to withdraw ordinance

The Standing Committee (SC) meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has decided to withdraw the ordinance issued on Tuesday to make the first amendment to the Constitution Council Act (Functions, Duties, Powers and Procedures). The SC meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence in Baluwatar on Wednesday decided to withdraw the ordinance which was issued by the President on Tuesday. According to the NCP Spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the SC meeting unanimously decided...

Govt spending improves, revenue suffers

Coronavirus pandemic has badly hit business and economy across the globe but Nepal's macroeconomic indicators of the first four months of the current fiscal year tell otherwise. While various sectors of the economy such as tourism, education, construction and industry are still contracted and struggling to bounce back with their efforts and government support, the government's expenditure, including the development budget mobilisation, has gone up in the first four months of FY 2020/21.

TRN marks 55th anniversary

As The Rising Nepal enters its 56th year of publication, the paper has been asked to diversify its content and improve its circulation. Executive Chairman of Gorkhapatra Corporation (GC), the publisher of The Rising Nepal (TRN), Krishna Murari Bhandary stressed on the need to take the paper to the reach of the masses. “As a mass media, it needs to be among the masses. It is now time to reflect on its distribution,” he said.

In time of COVID-19, walking on rooftops is safer

Four years ago, a health check-up revealed that Pratibha Awale had high cholesterol. This scared the 53-year-old resident of Jorpati, Kathmandu and on the advice of her friends, she took up morning walks. Since then, Awale had been getting up every day at the crack of dawn and walking for an hour to an hour and a half around her locality until March 24. With the imposition of the nationwide lockdown, she was no longer able to walk outside. So, she started walking on her terrace. “I felt that if...

NCP SC meeting decisions: ordinance, application for special session of Parliament to be withdrawn, next SC meet on Dec 20

"Today's Standing Committee meeting decided to hold its next meeting on Dec 20 and postpone the central committee meeting for Dec 25," informed NCP spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha after the meeting.

Standing Committee meeting of NCP starts at Baluwatar

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is also one of the two chairmen of the NCP, has also participated in the meeting, according to Surya Thapa, Prime Minister Oli's press advisor.