In Dolpa's Tripurasundari Municipality-4, a fire broke out in the community forest, resulting in the death of one child. The District Hospital in Dolpa provided treatment to the deceased, identified as 10-year-old Sulesh Budha, according to Chief District Officer Tulsi Prasad Dahal. Preparations are underway to send the other two children for further treatment to Kathmandu, as informed by Chief District Officer Dahal. The incident occurred on Saturday morning when the children went to collect wild mushrooms near the village. Despite efforts to rescue them and rush them to the district hospital in the evening, the injured child could not be saved, said Dr. Akhanda Upadhyay. https://www.nepalviews.com/2024/04/12/267255/

Nepalese Government Halts Immediate Purchase and Sale of Ncell Shares The Minister for Information and Communications, Rekha Sharma, has revealed that the immediate purchase and sale of Ncell shares have been temporarily halted. This decision came after it was discovered during a State Affairs Committee investigation that the purchase and sale of shares had taken place without prior approval. The information was disclosed in a cabinet meeting. Minister Sharma stated, "When Ncell Asia purchased and sold 80% of the shares abroad, it was understood that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda was abroad. Upon the Prime Minister's return to Nepal, it was revealed that the purchase and sale of shares had taken place without obtaining prior approval, leading to the decision to halt the purchase and sale in the cabinet meeting." Regarding how the purchase and sale of shares abroad align with Nepalese law, the Tankamani Sharma-led probe committee, formed to study the issue, informed that work on amending the Telecommunications Act has begun. Minister Sharma mentioned that there has been no information from Ncell's side to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. https://www.ratopati.com/story/401334/rekha

Koshi Province Chief Minister Kedar Karki Aims to Extend Insurance Coverage to All Residents Koshi Province Chief Minister Kedar Karki announced plans to provide comprehensive insurance coverage to all residents during an event organized by the Nepal Insurance Board at the Chief Minister's office. Emphasizing the need for accessible and easy services in education, health, and disaster management, Karki expressed the intention to collaborate with insurance companies to enhance relief efforts beyond the government's current provision of a maximum of NPR 50,000. The Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Agriculture, and Cooperatives, Dr. Lekhraj Dahal, highlighted the challenges faced in the insurance claim process for livestock and crops, urging the Insurance Board to address the complexities arising from recent developments in this sector. Ramesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, suggested improvements in the insurance of infrastructure projects, especially those affected by landslides and floods. Surya Prasad Silwal, Chairman of the Insurance Board, acknowledged the efforts made to expand insurance coverage up to rural areas under the Financial Sector Development Strategy of Nepal. He also mentioned the establishment of a high-level study team to conduct in-depth research on government and private property insurance, aiming to further advance the preparedness of the Insurance Board. The report stated that there are currently 37 insurance companies in Nepal, comprising 14 life insurance, 14 non-life insurance, two reinsurance, and seven microinsurance companies. The Insurance Board remains committed to enhancing insurance services and addressing challenges faced by policyholders, farmers, and individuals in securing adequate compensation. https://gorkhapatraonline.com/news/89700

Former Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand Released on Bail by Patan High Court: The High Court in Patan has ordered the release of Bal Krishna Khand, a leader of the Nepali Congress and former Home Minister. The court granted bail of 30 lakhs in the case related to fake Bhutanese citizenship for Khand, who was accused of sheltering fake Bhutanese refugees. The decision was made by Justice Krishna Ram Koirala. Various prominent lawyers, including former Attorney General Khamba Bahadur Khati and senior advocates such as Surendra Mahato, Krishna Prasad Sapkota, Mahadev Yadav, Harihar Dahal, and others, participated in the hearing. The government was represented by its attorneys Mahesh Khatri and Shankar Khatri. This comes after a previous attempt to release Khand was unsuccessful.

**News Report: Unfortunate Shooting Incident in Viratnagar** In a regrettable incident in Viratnagar, a young man has been subjected to a gunshot in the vicinity of the Nepal-India border. The victim, identified as 27-year-old Niradosh Sangraula from Ward 8 of Viratnagar Municipality in Morang, is currently receiving medical treatment at Koshi Hospital, as confirmed by the local police. The incident occurred on Sunday evening in Viratnagar-16, just ten kilometers from the Indian border. Sangraula was reportedly shot in the left thigh by an unidentified group, near the railway station. While initial reports suggest that Sangraula was in the area to purchase groceries, further investigations are being carried out by the Morang District Police Office to uncover additional details surrounding the incident, as stated by Ranjankumar Dahal, the spokesperson and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) for the district. According to Sangraula, the shooting took place during a dispute with a group of six youths located near the railway station. The incident unfolded as tensions escalated during the altercation. Medical Officer Dr. Tulsi Goit of Koshi Hospital mentioned that the injury sustained by Sangraula appears to be consistent with a gunshot wound, as observed in the X-ray examination conducted at Koshi Hospital. The investigation is ongoing to gather more information about the circumstances leading to the unfortunate event.

LORI SONG NUNU GARA SANU BABA/RADHIKA SITAULA DAHAL/KIRAN KANDEL/RUPAM CHAUCHARI

Nepal Refuses To Join China’s Security Alliance Dahal told the Nepali paper Kantipur in an exclusive interview in New York last week that he would not enter into any security-related agreements with China during his visit to Beijing. China wanted to insert something related to the GSI ( Global Security Initiative ) and the GCI ( Global Civilizational Initiative ) in the joint communique, but Nepalese officials stalled it, Kathmandu Post said.