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Coordinator of the taskforce formed to prepare a concept paper on amendment of constitution Ashim Shah has urged everyone not to be swayed after the rumour that the constitution would be amended unilaterally. 

The government does not act one-sidedly but takes onboard diverse suggestions for amending the constitution, Shah made it clear. 

He said it during a consultation with legal experts and constitutionalists held at the Prime Minister's Office, Singh Durbar on Monday. 

Broader discussions will be held with all stakeholders including political parties to forward this significant task.

The taskforce was mandated to prepare a concept paper on amendment to the constitution in line with the 100-point action plan of the government. "Constitution amendment is a multi-stakeholder concern, so national consensus will be reached for it," he reiterated. 

Shah reminded that the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) had prioritized this issue in its commitment paper. Comprehensive discussions would be held with subject experts and their views included in the paper.

Taskforce member secretary Liladhar Subedi made a presentation on major issues identified for amendment.

Constitutionalists and senior advocates including Dr Bipin Adhikari, Purna Man Shakya, Radheshyam Adhikari,Govind Sharma 'Bandi', Shambhu Thapa, Mira Dhungana and Tikaram Bhattarai gave suggestions during the meeting held on Monday. 

There is little impact of westerly and local winds in the country's atmosphere at present. Even the low pressure system has a minor effect near the eastern belt of Nepal. 

It has resulted in cloudy weather in various parts of the country. The weather service has predicted partly cloudy weather in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and in the hilly and mountainous regions of Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces. 

The Weather Forecasting Division also forecasted a moderate rainfall coupled with thunder and lightning in one to two places of hilly and mountainous regions in Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces tonight. Few places of Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and most places of Koshi Province are likely to have a moderate rainfall in the night.

A taskforce formed by the government to prepare a concept paper on amendment of constitution held a meeting with experts on Monday. 

The taskforce coordinated by Ashim Shah, political advisor to the Prime Minister, discussed with legal and constitutional experts at the PM's Office, Singha Durbar.

Taskforce member secretary Leeladhar Subedi made a presentation on the issues warranting amendment to constitution such as form of governance, electoral system and franchise to Nepalis living abroad.  

Other issues featured for discussion were provision of directly elected president, appointment of judges based on competition, end of corruption in judiciary, effectiveness of federalism, reform in management, role of Chairman and Vice Chairman of National Assembly, accountability of local levels, non-political local government, fair and capable judiciary, restructuring of judicial council, number of constitutional bodies and appointments there.

In the discussion, constitutional expert Purna Man Shakya suggested taking into account the foundational structure of the constitution while initiating amendment to it.

Constitutional expert Dr Bipin Adhikari viewed the system as fully parliamentary. The Prime Minister should be given authority to dissolve Parliament. 

Another constitutional expert and former lawmaker Radheshyam Adhikari underlined the need of thorough discussions before amending the constitution because it is the major document, establishing links between citizens and government.  

Senior advocate Mira Dhungana said further clarity is needed on women rights. 

Senior advocate Tikaram Bhattarai argued that the amendment taskforce itself was not recognized by constitution, so it would be better to be a federal parliament member to coordinate the taskforce. According to senior advocate Shambhu Thapa, although the issues in the discussion were relevant, these required endorsement by the Parliament. 

Political meddling should be ended in the judiciary in view of advocate Govind Sharma.     

Taskforce coordinator Shah thanked the experts and said  that the suggestions given by them would be incorporated in the amendment paper.

Pakistani attacks on the east Afghan province of Kunar have killed at least seven people and injured 75, among whom are students and a professor at Kunar University, multiple sources have told the BBC.

According to the Taliban government, 30 of the injured are university students. 

Pakistan's information ministry denied attacking the university and residential areas, saying the reports were fake, according to BBC. 

At least four people were killed and dozens injured when two trains collided outside the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Monday, BBC reported. 

State media report that a stationary commuter train was hit from behind by a long-distance commuter train arriving on the same track. 

The final number of casualties is still to be confirmed and rescue efforts are under way to free a number of passengers trapped, officials said.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in the US at the start of a four-day state visit - the first since Queen Elizabeth II's visit in 2007, BBC reported. 

They arrived at Andrews military airbase in Maryland before being greeted at the White House by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

Security is extremely tight after the shooting incident in Washington DC at an event attended by the president on Saturday.

A California man has been charged with attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump in an incident that has sparked a White House security review, BBC reported. 

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was also charged with two firearms offences when he appeared in court in Washington DC on Monday. He did not enter a plea.

He was carrying a semi-automatic handgun, a pump-action shotgun and three knives as he charged past a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday, say prosecutors.

A concessional loan agreement has been signed between the Government of Nepal and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the implementation of the Digital Transformation Project. 

The agreement for a USD 40 million concessional loan was signed by Finance Secretary Dr Ghanashyam Upadhyay and ADB Country Director for Nepal Arnaud Cauchois during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance today. 

The project is the first in South Asia to be co-financed under the ADB-World Bank Mutual Reliance Framework, according to a press release issued by the Finance Ministry today. 

The project will strengthen the government's data hosting and cybersecurity infrastructure to enhance the security and resilience of the government digital system.

It will support key initiatives such as developing an integrated citizen service portal, improving the national social registry, establishing a secure government-wide data exchange platform for safe and efficient information sharing, and digitalizing about 11 high impact government services. 

The reforms supported by ADB and the World Bank will make key services easier to access, reduce waiting times and administrative barriers, and enhance transparency in government processes, helping build greater trust between citizens and public institutions.

The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. 

It aligns with Nepal’s Digital Nepal Framework 2.0, Sixteenth National Plan, e Governance Blueprint, and ADB’s country partnership strategy for Nepal, 2025–2029, which identifies digital transformation as a core crosscutting priority.

The World Bank will also provide USD 40 million as a concessional loan as the lead lender. 

The loan agreement has already been signed with the World Bank. 

The project's key programs include upgrading government digital platforms and shared services, strengthening cybersecurity preparedness, and developing institutional and human resource capacity to ensure the operation and sustainability of digital systems.