<p>An agreement has been reached between the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) and three bankers' associations regarding the distribution of the grant amount the government is providing for construction of private houses damaged by earthquake.<br><br>The bankers associations that reached an agreement with the NRS include Nepal Bankers Association, the Development Bankers Association and the Financial Institutions Association, which represent the A, B and C class banks and financial institutions respectively.<br><br>As per the 21-point agreement, the NRA will send the name list of the beneficiaries endorsed by the Authority's executive committee to the designated banks and financial institutions by electronic means while the banks and financial institutions shall open collective bank accounts in the name of the beneficiaries. &nbsp;<br><br>NRA spokesman Ram Prasad Thapaliya said arrangement has been made for providing free transaction service on the transactions carried out through the minimum 50 accounts in the beneficiaries' names by the bank branches located at the district headquarters and minimum 20 accounts in the beneficiaries' names by the bank branches located in places outside the district headquarters in a day.</p><p>He added that as per the agreement a provision has been made by which the concerned bank would be paid an allowance of Rs 225 per beneficiary while distributing the first installment grant amount to the beneficiaries exceeding the number of minimum transactions mentioned above.&nbsp; <br><br></p>

<p>Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel has stressed the need for freeing community schools of politics, reasoning that political interference in community schools would mar the image of school.<br>&nbsp;<br>At a program in Bhaktapur today, he pointed out the need for improving tainted image of school by barring politics to happen in school premises. <br><br>The minister also informed that the ministry has made preparations for the formation of Open University and medical education commission. And the education bill will also be passed soon by parliament, he added. <br><br></p>

<p><br>Minister for Home Affairs, Shakti Bahadur Basnet, has said the government is preparing to introduce an internal security policy.<br><br>At a seminar entitled 'Effective Implementation of National Security Policy' organized by Former Police Council Nepal (FoPCON), Minister Basnet stressed on need for not only drafting the security policy but its effective implementation<br><br></p>

<p>Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai has stressed on the unity among the political parties and people to institutionalize the republicanism as such unity was seen during the establishment of republic.</p><p>Speaking in an 'awareness-raising song conference' jointly organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Radio Nepal on the occasion of the Republic Day 2073 BS in the capital today, Minister said institutionalizing the republican system is a common duty of all. <br><br>He opined for leading the country on the way to prosperity as the constitution has ensured the rights of all people. In another context, Minister Rai said such cognizance songs help to change the society for the betterment of the people.</p><p>Similarly, Radio Nepal officiating director&nbsp; Dhanendra&nbsp; Bimal Kshetri said that&nbsp; our country is enriched in&nbsp; arts and&nbsp; cultures adding such cognizance songs help people to understand the contemporary issues and aware the people.</p><p>Radio Nepal annually organizes such song conference adding that this programme is the continuation of the same, said chief at the program division of the Radio Nepal Dr Navraj Lamsal.<br><br></p>

<p>Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Kamal Thapa expressed his remarks on political development in Nepal, Nepal’s foreign policy and Nepal-Israel relations at a talk programme organized by the Israel Council on Foreign Relations in Jerusalem yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release today.</p><p>Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs said that Nepal and Israel enjoy a long history of cordial relationship with each other which has been growing further ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 1 June 1960, a time when Nepal had just put her feet on the path of expanding diplomatic ties with members of the global community. <br><br>The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal also appreciated the valuable cooperation extended by Israel to Nepal over the years especially in the areas of agriculture, education, training and research. <br><br>In the afternoon, addressing the economic round table organized by the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, Mr. Thapa said that there is an overwhelming consensus in Nepal that economic agenda should now be on top and foreign investment is vital<br><br>Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Thapa, Foreign Secretary Mr. Shanker Das Bairagi and other members of&nbsp; the Nepalese delegation left Israel for Turkey yesterday afternoon to participate in the High-Level Midterm Review of the Istanbul Program of Action to be held in Antalya, Turkey between 27 and 29 May 2016. <br><br></p>

<p>A meeting of ruling and the main opposition parties has been called by speaker Onsari Gharti on issue of finalizing the parliament regulations.<br><br>However, both sides remained rigid in their stance over the numbers as the ruling CPN (UML) and CPN-Maoist (Centre) are strongly advocating for a 15-member public hearing special&nbsp; committee while the opposition Nepali Congress is pushing for 75 members. &nbsp;<br><br>The Maoist (Centre) chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal following the meeting shared that they agreed to reach to the agreement after tomorrow's budget.&nbsp; </p><p>NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi informed that the parties agreed on NC's proposal of finalizing the regulation through consensus rather voting process.</p><p>Similarly, UML chief whip Bhanubhakta Dhakal said that they agreed to finalize the parliament work regulation consensus after the budget presentation. <br><br></p>

<p><br>The Nepali Congress has condemned the abduction of Kedia organization's executive director Suresh Kumar Kedia by an unidentified gang last evening.</p><p>The assailants had also thrashed Kedia's driver. <br>NC central office chief secretary Krishna Prasad Poudel today issued a press statement condemning the incident. &nbsp;<br><br>The party has urged the government to maintain peace and security of the people and take action against the culprits not to let repeat such incidents in future. <br><br></p>