<p>Discussions on the budget for fiscal year 2073/74 BS have begun in the Legislature-Parliament from today. <br><br>Speaking at the meeting, former Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said that the budget was issued violating fiscal discipline. He added that internal revenue cannot bear the development expenditure. <br><br>Mahat also said that economic crisis may occur as the development expenditure in the budget is less than the general expenditure. It might trigger a price hike, he argued.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br>Adding the social security allowance is positive but it needs effective mechanism for its implementation, Mahat said. &nbsp;<br><br>On the other hand, former Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari said that the budget has allocated adequate funds for completing the post-quake reconstruction by three years and increasing the budget in the energy sector is positive side of the budget.</p><p>He added that linking road networks in each village, doubling the social security allowance and budget for local bodies were guided by the ' welfare state' concept. &nbsp;<br>He also suggested forming a monitoring committee under chairmanship of Prime Minister to implement the budget effectively. <br><br>Likewise, Dhani Ram Poudel of the UCPN (Maoist) believed that the budget, the first of its kind after the promulgation of the constitution, will serve as a milestone in the implementation of the constitution. <br><br>He also noted that the budget fails to increase the size of budgetary allocation for the April 25 earthquake survivors, while suggesting strengthening bureaucracy to enforce it. &nbsp;<br>Similarly, Dilnath Giri of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal criticised the budget for failing to release the budget to make barren land arable. <br><br>The next meeting has been scheduled for 11:00 am tomorrow.<br><br></p>

<p>Visiting delegation of Chinese journalists' federation has said the Nepal government's decision to provide 50 percent discount on journalists' treatment and insurance to them was a positive move and was new to the team. <br><br>During the meeting with Minister for Information and Communications, Sherdhan Rai, the team leader Gao Shangang said China has not made any such provision. <br><br>On the occasion, Minister Rai said the government is making efforts to categorize journalists so as to make them accountable to the public. <br><br>"The new constitution has fully ensured the full press freedom and right to information, a national policy on mass communications is being formulated and the establishment of training academy for the capacity building of the journalists initiated for, he shared. Moreover, the Minister said government was ready for the exchanging assistance between Nepal and China for journalists' capacity building. <br><br>According to the Chinese delegation, the journalists there are empowered to make accountable to Chinese society and people, and write as per country's policy and need, and party welfare.<br><br></p>

<p>The first meeting of Nepal-Switzerland Bilateral Consultation Mechanism which concluded in Kathmandu yesterday reviewed the overall state of bilateral relations between the two countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release today.<br><br>The two sides exchanged views on matters of common concern, including the latest developments in their respective countries, regional cooperation, cooperation within the UN framework, and global issues such as climate change, migration, and human rights. <br><br>Particularly, the discussions were focused on Nepal’s ongoing post-earthquake reconstruction strategies as well as longer-term development priorities and possible Swiss cooperation to Nepal in these areas, the press release reads. <br><br>The Nepalese side appreciated and thanked the Swiss Government for its solidarity and support to Nepal’s democratization process. It also appreciated the prompt and generous Swiss support to Nepal in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of 2015, and the significant pledge and commitment expressed by Switzerland in the ongoing reconstruction phase. <br><br>On the occasion, the Swiss side welcomed the promulgation of the new constitution as an important milestone on the way to concluding the peace process, and expressed readiness to work with the Government of Nepal in further strengthening the bilateral relations for the benefit of both the countries and peoples. The Swiss side reiterated its commitment that the Swiss development cooperation will continue in Nepal.<br><br></p>

<p>Meahwhile, the government has announced a public holiday tomorrow for the election taking place for the authorized trade union of the civil servants.</p><p>The public holiday is however applicable only for the civil servants, according to a statement issued today by the Home Ministry. <br><br></p>

<p>A total of 76 people have so far lost their lives in the incidents of fire taken place across the country since last winter while the death toll from lightning strikes in the same period remains 28.<br><br>Minister for Home Affairs Shakti Bahadur Basnet informed this to the Legislature-Parliament meeting today.<br><br>He briefed the House about the abduction of Birgunj-based industrialist Suresh Kumar Kedia and his safe release. He said the police administration has been directed to remain in high-alert so as not to let such incident(s) happen again. <br><br>Meanwhile, the Madhes-centric parties agitating over the some provisions in the new constitution continued to boycott the House meeting today, too.&nbsp; <br><br></p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said a golden age has started in the energy development sector in Nepal.<br><br>The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the Nepal Power Investment Summit, 2016 in Kathmandu today. The summit is organised jointly by the Ministry of Energy, the Investment Board and the Energy Development Council.<br><br>He said the development of the energy sector is the primary condition as the country has entered into a new phase of development.<br><br>Stating that efforts were on to making Nepal an investment hub, he urged the investors and the entrepreneurs to invest with open heart. <br><br>He said the meaningful cooperation and support of all sectors concerned is needed for the development of the energy sector.<br><br>On the occasion, National Planning Commission (NPC) Vice Chairman Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada stated that the government has made policy reforms and prepared investment-friendly environment for the development of the energy sector.<br><br>More than 125 investors from 25 countries interested in investing in Nepal are participating in the conference that will last until Wednesday. <br><br>Participants from America, Great Britain, India, China, the Czech Republic, Bhutan among other countries will address the conference expressing their views on the prospects of investment in the energy sector in Nepal. <br><br>The recommendations of the conference would be presented to the government. The foreign investors and entrepreneurs would also be taken on a tour of different hydroelectricity projects as well as places with investment potentials.<br><br></p>

<p>The Global Civil Society Dialogue is taking place in Lalitpur from tomorrow or June 1 with the objective of seeking a ground to implement the United Nations commitments to ending all sorts of hunger from the world by 2030 AD. <br><br>The data shows that 3.1 million children die from malnutrition across the world every year and in the world today about 795 million remain undernourished. <br><br>A three-day event is being hosted by Civil Academy, Rural Reconstruction Nepal, Civil Society Alliance for Nutrition Nepal, NGO Federation of Nepal and Right to Food Nepal. <br><br>As many as 150 people from various countries including Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Cambodia, Tajikistan, Indonesia, Philippines,&nbsp; South&nbsp; Korea, Japan,&nbsp; Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and some countries of South America, Africa and Europe are taking part in the event. This was informed at a news conference here today. <br><br></p>