- Thursday, 16 April 2026
Kathmandu, April 16: The Government of Nepal has extended its appreciation and gratitude to the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for granting pardon to 128 Nepali inmates. The UAE government recently granted pardon to 128 Nepali inmates there on the auspicious occasion of the Holy Month of Ramadan.
In a press statement on Wednesday, the Ministry stated it highly values this gesture of pardon on the basis of humanitarian ground as a demonstration of cordiality in the bilateral relations between Nepal and the United Arab Emirates.
“The decision of pardon was taken following the request of the Government of Nepal made through the Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi, UAE,” according to the Ministry.
Likewise, the Ministry has confirmed that Nepali national Amrit Jha, who was arrested in Iran during the West Asia conflict, was freed on Wednesday. Jha was held by the Iranian Army from the Strait of Hormuz nearly a month ago.
According to Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal, Jha is in contact with Nepal’s Honorary Counsel General in Iran and the Embassy of Nepal in Qatar.
Nepal’s diplomatic team is working to bring Jha out from there, Minister Khanal confirmed.
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05- Passports delivered at service buyers’ doorsteps in Myagdi
Myagdi, April 16: The government officials have delivered passports to service buyers at their doorsteps in Myagdi district.
The District Administration Office sent the passports to the service seekers at their doorsteps by the officials of the District Post Office in Beni Municipality, Myagdi.
The Chief District Officer of Myagdi, Rabindra Acharya, said that the decision comes in line with the government’s decision to provide passports at citizens’ doorsteps. In the governance reform programme unveiled by the government earlier, the provision is included in point 27 of the 100-point reform agenda.
“We began this job from Wednesday as per the government policy to provide public service at home. We will continue this job of delivering passports at home through the Post Office,” according to CDO Acharya.
On Wednesday, Krisha Thapa Chhetri, Saraswati Ghimire Thapa, Kiyan Thapa Chhetri and Karishma Thapa Chhetri of Beni Municipality were given their passports at their doorsteps.
The service buyers are elated after getting public services at their doorsteps. Saraswati Ghimire Thapa said, “This has been a great relief. Our trust towards the government has increased.”
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06- PM Shah to hold discussions with Chief Ministers of all provinces
Kathmandu, April 16: Prime Minister Balendra Shah is scheduled to hold discussions with Chief Ministers of all seven provinces today.
According to Prime Minister Shah’s Secretariat, PM Shah is holding consultations with the Chief Ministers for the first time after assuming office where significant and extensive discussions would be held on the issues related to federal and province governments.
The meeting is scheduled at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Singha Durbar, at 2:00 pm. The meeting is considered as an important initiative making the federal-province coordination more effective.
Various issues including accelerating development constriction activities, ensuring proper allocation of means and resources and resolving various administrative and financial problems facing by provinces would be discussed in the meeting, added the Secretariat.
Similarly, the issue of further strengthening the collaboration between the federation and province in order to effectively implement the projects of national priority would be main agenda of the discussion.
It is expected that efforts would be made to build shared partnership on the issue of country’s present economic condition, infrastructure development, improvement in service delivery and maintain good governance in today’s meeting.
This meeting has been taken as the important step for making federalism implementation further effective and directly benefiting the people.
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07- Siraha farmers bracing for resilience through climate-friendly agriculture
Sudip Raut/RSS
Siraha, April 16: Pramod Kumar Mandal, a farmer from Laxmipur Patari Rural Municipality-4 in the district of Siraha, was worried until some years ago if his land plots remain uncultivated due to a longstanding drought, unseasonal rain and recede in the underground water level.
Mandal, who had to rely on rainwater for farming, was a victim of heavy rain at times and then scanty rain. Now, Mandal is not worried of the erratic climatic conditions, as he has opted for climate-friendly agriculture by doing away with the traditional ways of farming.
Mandal shared that he had to struggle and toil hard to manage the costs of fertilizer and seeds due to the severe drought in the past but now he has grown massive vegetables and crops through mulching technology and drip irrigation system. “Not only the income has increased but also I feel a great relief after shifting the style of farming,” Mandal shared.
The Mandal family is earning through the vegetable farming.
Mandal’s family has done better in vegetable farming by preparing fertilizer on his own and by reducing chemical fertilizers adding that the latter reduces the cultivability of the soil.
The Mandal family has made almost Rs 120,000 in the past six months by growing cauliflower, tomatoes, mushroom and other green vegetables. He has constructed a tunnel and has installed a solar facility to irrigate the vegetables.
Likewise, Anita Mahato of Dhangadhimai Municipality-10 has earned more than Rs 100,000 from vegetable production in a season. Recently, Anita’s husband has joined her by quitting his job abroad.
Jageshwor shared, “There is no problem of electricity and fuel expenses are saved. There is no worry about water as long as there is sunny weather. The farming inside the tunnel has protected crops from hailstone and extreme temperature. This has not only increased the income of the family, but also fostered self-reliance.”
The National Farmer’s Group Federation, in Lahan Nepal, has been supporting through climate-friendly village project to affiliate in modern and climate resilient systems.
Field Supervisor of Laxmipur Patari of the organization, Umesh Nandan Chaudhary, mentioned that the project run with financial and technical support of ‘Care Nepal’ has been carrying out activities from running school for farmers to providing agriculture tools.
He added that the farmers were taught about soil conservation farming techniques. Out of six wards of the municipality, women farmer group were formed, improved ovens as well as climate friendly seeds were distributed in five wards.
Similarly, senior programme officer of the project, Ishwor Thapa, viewed that this programme has been launched in four municipalities—Dhangadhimai municipality, Laxmipur Patari, Bhagawanpur and Sakhuwanankarkatti of Siraha as well as Rupani and Agnisair Krishnaswaran rural municipalities of Saptari.
Activities are underway with an objective of developing climate resilient farmer community in these six local levels, he opined.
“The project’s main objective is to reduce the emission of the greenhouse gas and to enhance the capacity of the women by reducing their work load,” Thapa said, adding that in this province, they were working with a cost-sharing model of 70 percent from institutions and 30 percent from local farmers to develop a climate-resilient farming community. This model also fosters a sense of ownership among farmers.
According to him, so far 93 ground water irrigation systems (borings) have been installed in these municipalities to benefit 518 households and 500 women’s groups are active in this.
Works are being carried out here in a planned way also for marketing the produce. The farmers group has made initiatives for managing suitable market and price for the agricultural produce at Laxmipur Patari of Siraha, entrusting to Manakidevi Moch and Gitadevi Mandal the responsibility of selling the vegetables.
“Consumers have been able to buy organic vegetables with confidence. When it comes to vegetables from a certain place, everyone now recognises them as not grown using chemical fertilisers or pesticides,” said Thapa, Senior Programme Officer of the project.
According to him, climate-friendly agricultural systems mainly focus on three things: proper water management, improving soil health and the use of adapted seeds.
Thapa says, “Adopting this system reduces production costs by 30 to 40 percent and helps stabilise production even in adverse weather conditions.”
As the importance of climate-friendly agriculture increases, the government has also given it special priority. The recently issued ‘100 Action Agenda for Governance Reform’ by the government also includes the issue of increasing carbon content in the soil.
It is said that increasing carbon content in soil reduces nutrient leaching, retains moisture for a long time after irrigation, and enhances root expansion.
Sah said that this not only improves aeration in the soil but also increases the number of microorganisms, maintaining the balance of the food chain in the ecological system, which ultimately enhances the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil and helps mitigate the effects of climate change.
For local farmers who have been facing problems such as drought and pest infestations, the ‘climate-friendly agriculture’ method has proven to be a ‘blessing’. However, these technologies have not reached all farmers. The success of leading farmers is encouraging other farmers to move in this direction as well.
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08- Nepal expresses gratitude to UAE for pardoning 128 Nepali inmates on Ramadan
Kathmandu, April 16: The Government of Nepal has extended its sincere appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for granting pardon to 128 Nepali inmates on the auspicious occasion of the Holy Month of Ramadan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated through a press release on 15 April that Nepal highly values this kind gesture of pardon on the basis of humanitarian ground as a demonstration of cordiality in the bilateral relations between Nepal and the UAE.
The decision of pardon was taken following the request of the Government of Nepal made through the Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi, UAE, it is stated.
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09- Forty-six Nepalis rescued from Cambodia
Kathmandu, April 16: The Nepali Embassy in Bangkok has rescued 46 Nepalis from Cambodia. All the rescued individuals have returned home.
After receiving information that they were being used for illegal work after reaching Cambodia through various means, they were rescued with the help of the Cambodian government and were sent back home, the Embassy said.
According to the Embassy, 101 Nepalis had travelled to Cambodia in 2021, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven in 2022, two thousand nine hundred and forty in 2023, six thousand four hundred and four in 2024, and 9,676 in 2025 hoping for attractive employment opportunities.
The Embassy has also requested one and all not to go to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand without obtaining labour permit.
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10- Nepali Missions in various countries mark Int’l Wellness Day
Kathmandu, April 16: Nepali Missions in different countries globally marked the International Wellness Day by organizing various programmes.
Issuing separate press release today, Nepali Embassies in Dhaka, Colombo, Tokyo, Ottawa and Seoul and Consulate General in Guangzhou of China stated that they observed the International Wellness Day with various events.
A video message issued by Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal about the significance of Wellness Day was played in the programmes.
Nepali Embassy in Tokyo had organised an expo where Nepali products—shilajit, organic tea, himalayan bath salt, singing bowl were put on display.
The UN General Assembly had proclaimed April 15 as International Wellness Day with an objective of promoting awareness and action for holistic well-being, recognizing the importance of health, happiness and well-being for every person.
The United Nations had, at the initiative of Nepal on March 10, 2026 endorsed the resolution, declaring to observe April 15 each year as the International Wellness Day. The goal of this day is to inspire everyone to adopt affordable, accessible and inclusive wellness practice.
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