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Asian Development Bank Country Director for Nepal Arnaud Cauchois paid a courtesy call on Minister for Health and Population and Water Supply Nisha Mehata at the Ministry of Water Supply on Monday.

Discussion was held on various issues including ongoing activities in the health and drinking water sector as well as further programs, said Spokesperson at the Health Ministry Dr Prakash Budhathoki. 

They also discussed positive aspects seen in the course of program implementation and future prospects, he added. 

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has said that the system currently implemented to print driving licenses is more secure and practical in accordance with international standards.

Issuing a press release today, the Ministry has said that the new smart license has been prepared completely in accordance with the international standard ISO 7810 ID-1. 

Nepal has also adopted this based on a similar technology that has been used by developed countries for decades.

The government has chosen a new format with the conclusion that the smart chip technology used in the past has not been implemented effectively. "In order to minimize the risks created by relying on the assistance of foreign experts to read the chip, a highly secure code-encrypted, layered and copy-protected intelligent QR (IQR) technology has been adopted,” the statement said. 

This has institutionalized offline authentication and enabled traffic police or other regulatory bodies to instantly confirm the identity and authority of the driver by scanning the card at any location without access to the internet.

In terms of security, the new smart license includes 39 different security features divided into three levels, the ministry said. 

The ministry has also clarified that the entire production process is conducted in an end-to-end offline format, which makes the risk of data leakage or unauthorized access negligible. 

According to the Security Printing Center, in addition to driver's licenses, the foundation has been laid for the production of postage stamps, citizenship certificates, excise stickers, visa stickers and university certificates in the coming days.

Currently, the center prints the drivers' license within 24 hours of passing the trial for a driver's license and paying the fee. Similarly, all the old licenses that are yet to be printed will be printed by mid-Ashar. 

According to the center, 1.2 million old licenses will be printed by Baisakh 12 and an additional 1.7 million by mid-Ashar.

The National Cyber Security Center has issued a cyber security advisory to alert the general public about the recent increase in ransomware attacks.

The advisory informs the public about the potential risks to computers, mobile phones and other devices, while urging all to take necessary precautions.

 ‘Ransomware’ is a malicious software which encrypts files and data on the user’s computer or mobile phone and blocks access. Then, the attacker demands a ransom to reopen those files or to reestablish access.

According to the advisory issued by the center, ransomware attacks often occur when opening suspicious email attachments such as PDF, Word, ZIP, etc., clicking on links to fake websites, downloading files from unsafe sources, and using pirated or cracked software. 

Not updating the system, lack of antivirus, and using an unsafe network or USB are also risk factors.

The advisory suggests people not to open email links or attachments from unknown sources, download software only from official platforms, and not use pirated software. 

In addition, the system should be updated regularly, antivirus should be used, and regular data backups should be maintained in both the cloud and offline modes.

Any suspicious incidents should be reported to the Cyber Bureau of the Nepal Police and the National Cyber Security Center. 

The advisory states that by taking basic precautions regarding cyber security one can keep their information systems and data safe from such threats.

Temperature has risen in most parts of the country for the past few days, causing extreme heat.  

Meanwhile, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has projected the possibility of a heat wave in Tarai districts.

As per the details published by the Department this afternoon, Kapilvastu has recorded a temperature of 41 degree Celsius and Banke 39 degree Celsius. 

Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Sudurpaschim Provinces are experiencing hot days while heat waves are likely in western Tarai of Sudurpaschim and Lumbini Provinces, added the Department. 

The Department has requested one and all to stay updated with the Department's bulletin and adopt necessary precautions. 

Meteorologist Sanjeev Adhikari shared that especially Tarai districts would experience extreme heat till Wednesday.  

However, there is a low chance of a heat wave in Koshi Province for the time being as the sky in the Province has remained cloudy.  

There is a high possibility of a heat wave at western part of Lumbini, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi as well as other Tarai areas.

The temperature has reached around 40 degree Celsius in Dipayal of Sudurpaschim this afternoon and this temperature is unusual, he mentioned. 

Senior Hydrologist at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Rajendra Sharma, urged to prepare and increase awareness on time as seasonal incidents like heat waves would increase along with climate change. 

"We have prepared a procedure for reduction of impacts of the heat wave and sent it to concerned inter-governmental bodies for its implementation as well as holding necessary discussion for effective implementation," he added. 

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has directed University Vice-chancellors to immediately implement the government's decision to remove the structures of political party-aligned student and employees' associations in universities and academic institutions in the health sector. 

During an interaction with the VCs at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers today, Prime Minister Shah, who also serves as the Chancellors of various public universities, said that no law would be an obstacle to removing the structures of student and employee organizations affiliated with political parties.

The Prime Minister was of the view that politics should not be allowed in institutions like hospitals, campuses and schools. If anyone really wants to indulge in politics they should separate themselves from their professional responsibilities and fully engage in politics.

During the discussion, the Vice-Chancellors said that students' political activities have slowed down after the GenZ movement and the March 5 elections, and initiatives are being taken to root out such organizations. 

Nepal Sanskrit University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Dhaneshwor Nepal, however, complained of having to endure threats when efforts were made to remove party-aligned students' organizations as per the instructions of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

In response, Prime Minister Shah instructed that if any security or other problems arise while dissolving any political student and employee organization, they should immediately inform the concerned ministry or his secretariat. 

During the discussion, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Sasmit Pokharel made it clear that what we are trying to abolish immediately is student organizations affiliated with political parties, not organizations like the independent student union that voice for the students.

During the discussion, Tribhuvan University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Deepak Aryal said that student and employee organizations have become inactive after the GenZ movement and the elections. 

Madhyampaschim University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Dhruv Kumar Gautam also said that the political activities of students and employees have been on the decline in his university recently.

Purbanchal University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Biju Kumar Thapaliya said that student groups are engaging in politics in its constituent campuses. 

Vice Chancellors of other universities and institutes, however, stated that students and employees in their institutions are away from political activities. They expressed the view that if universities and institutes present themselves strictly there will be no politics under any pretext.

The government's 100 point agenda on governance reform mentions the removal of party-affiliated student organization structures from schools and universities to address the problem of party interference in the education sector, failure to hear the real voice of students, and decline in educational quality. 

Newly appointed non-resident ambassadors from various countries to Nepal presented their letter of credence to President Ram Chandra Paudel. 

At separate ceremonies held at Sheetal Niwas, President Paudel received the credentials of four newly appointed non-resident ambassadors. 

Non-resident ambassadors submitting their credentials are Ambassador of Gambia to Nepal, Mustapha Jawara, Ambassador of Canada to Nepal, Christopher Cooter, Ambassador of Slovenia to Nepal, Tomaz Mencin and Ambassador of Algeria to Nepal, Abdenor Khelifi. 

High-level officials of the government were present on the occasion.

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An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 struck off the Sanriku coast in northeastern Japan on Monday afternoon, the country's weather agency said, Xinhua reported. 

A tsunami warning has been issued.

Home Minister Sudhan Gurung has said that he has already mentioned about the share worth Rs 2.5 million he owns in his property details submitted to the government. 

In his response to media reports about his property ownership, he said his property details are available in the official webpage of the Council of Ministers. 

The Secretariat of the Home Minister said, "All shares are not of the same nature. The Minister's property details clearly mention that he owns shares worth over Rs 20 million registered in the stock market.  The Secretariat further said that the investments in the Star Micro Insurance and Liberty Micro Life have been included in the same share group.  

The investment in the share market is not an offense, the Secretariat said, adding that all the transactions were carried out through the banking channels and they are recorded within the system.