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The government has invited the agitating school teachers for talks.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has invited representatives of the Nepal Teachers Federation to the ministry for talks on Wednesday.

Ministry Spokesperson and Joint Secretary Shiva Kumar Sapkota issued a press statement today, calling on the agitating teachers for talks.. The time for the talks will be decided based on mutual consultation, adds the statement.

At the call of Nepal Teachers Federation, school teachers have been staging street protests demanding that the Bill designed to amend and integrate the School Education Laws, 2080, be passed into a law as soon as possible. 

The ministry had earlier invited the agitating teachers for discussions and consultations on April 3 and 4 to build a common understanding. However, the discussions could not take place after the teachers ignored the invitation.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the Constitution would be amended at an appropriate time by taking into account its enforcement so far and aiming at strengthening the present system. A political committee would be formed to forward the amendment process, he shared.

PM Oli informed that a political committee would be formed by the present coalition government of the NC and the UML, mandating the committee for study and recommendation which would be helpful to keep intact social harmony and national unity.

“We are aware that it would not be like opening the Pandora's Box, " he reiterated while addressing the Madhes Province Assembly today.

"The amendment of the Constitution would be carried out at a right time to contribute to development and good governance and strengthen the present system," he stressed, adding that the constitution amendment would not be for regression.

He further said some were advocating for restoration of monarchy and even spreading misleading information to the new generation, which has not tolerated how autocratic the monarchy was. 

"The new generation must be made aware. Present society can not tolerate feudal systems. We have the republic system now and it will continue in future," PM Oli underlined.

It is a matter of happiness that even the opposition party is for the present republic system, the PM said.

The Head of the Government further viewed it is the duty of all of us to strengthen the present federal democratic republic founded on people's struggles and sacrifice. "It is the supreme system, we need to protect it," he said, however admitting that there may be some weaknesses in it because it has not been long since we adopted the present system. We have no option but to correct the weaknesses and move forward.

The PM argued it is illogical to take an oath as a lawmaker under this constitution/system and stop being adherent to it. 

On a different note, Oli informed the lawmakers of the Madhes Province that unlike the rumour spread unnecessarily, Nepal has cordial relations with India and China. 

China said Tuesday it would “fight to the end” and take countermeasures against the United States to safeguard its own interests after President Donald Trump threatened an additional 50% tariff on Chinese imports, Associated Press reported.

The Commerce Ministry said the U.S.‘s imposition of “so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’” on China is “completely groundless and is a typical unilateral bullying practice.” 

China has taken retaliatory tariffs and the ministry hinted in its latest statement that more many be coming. 

“The countermeasures China has taken are aimed at safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, and maintaining the normal international trade order. They are completely legitimate,” the ministry said. “The U.S. threat to escalate tariffs on China is a mistake on top of a mistake and once again exposes the blackmailing nature of the US. China will never accept this. If the US insists on its own way, China will fight to the end," according to Associated Press.

The US Supreme Court has cleared the way for President Donald Trump to use a rarely-invoked wartime powers law to rapidly deport alleged gang members - for now, BBC reported.

A lower court had temporarily blocked the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador on 15 March, ruling that the actions under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act needed further scrutiny. 

Trump has alleged that the migrants were members of the Tren de Aragua gang "conducting irregular warfare" against the US and could therefore be removed under the Act.

While the administration is claiming the ruling as a win, the justices mandated that deportees must be given a chance to challenge their removal, according to BBC.

The US and Iran will hold "direct talks" over a possible nuclear deal on Saturday, says Donald Trump, BBC reported.

The meeting has also been confirmed by Iran's foreign minister who said the talks would be "indirect" but could be "as much an opportunity as it is a test".

The US president on Monday said discussions between Washington and Tehran would be at "very high level" and warned it would be a "very bad day for Iran" if no agreement was reached.

Last month, Trump raised the prospect of military action against Iran after its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei publicly rejected the offer of direct talks, according to BBC.

The health insurance coverage has reached 49 per cent of the population in Gandaki Province.

The total population of the Province is 2.46  million and 1.20  people have health insurance.

This information was shared at a program organized by the Health Insurance Board Gandaki Province Office in Pokhara on Monday on the occasion of the 9th Health Insurance Day.

On the occasion, Coordinator of Health Insurance Board Gandaki Province, Jiblal Kharel, said that the number of insured people in the province was increasing and efforts were being made to include more and more general public in the insurance scheme.

Stating that the health insurance program is progressing effectively globally, he said it has been improved in Nepal as well in tune with the time. He stated that there is a tendency to spread negative publicity towards health insurance in Nepal and pointed out the need to involve all citizens in health insurance by disseminating positive information.

Health Administrator at the Ministry of Health of Gandaki Province and member-secretary of the Gandaki Province Health Insurance Coordination Committee, Dr Ramesh KC, said that a health insurance program which has a history of 142 years in the world has been in operation in Nepal for the last nine years.

He stressed on the need to implement this program in a nascent stage in Nepal in an effective manner. Stating that there was a need for triangular coordination of beneficiaries, service provider hospitals and the Health Insurance Board, he underscored the need for enhancing quality along with the effectiveness of this insurance programme.

Rabindra Thakur of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Bidya Bastola of Western Regional Hospital, Shiva Pokharel of Drishti Eye Hospital, Om Thapa of Matri Shishu Hospital, Registration Officers Goma Devi Adhikari, Pramila Poudel, Tej Bahadur Darlami, Gautam Singh Dhami among others expressed their views on the current status and challenges of health insurance.

The Jana Aandolan Diwas (People's Movement Day) is being observed today by organizing various programs.. The Jana Aandolan Diwas commemorates the day when democracy was restored in the country. 

Democracy was reinstated on April 8, 1990, ending the 30-year-old party-less Panchayat system of governance. This was the day that marked the end of the Panchayat system which was established by King Mahendra on December 15, 1960.

The Nepali Congress and the United Left Front had jointly launched a movement to end the Panchayat system under the former's leadership. This movement culminated in the overthrow of the party-less system paving the way for a multi-party democracy in the country.

The People's Movement under the commandership of Nepali Congress leader Ganesh Man Singh lasted for 50 days. The movement against the Panchayat system was launched on February 18, 1990, coinciding with the 39th anniversary of the establishment of democracy in the country with the abolition of the 103 years of autocratic rule by the Ranas.

On April 8, 1990, the then King Birendra, in an address to the nation, announced the restoration of multi-party democracy in Nepal. Subsequently, the ban on political parties was lifted, and multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy reinstated.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Nepal has demanded formation of a high-level judicial commission to impartially investigate the March 28 Tinkune incident.

The meeting of the central working committee of the party presided over by party Chairperson Kamal Thapa  today urged for such a commission, according to a press statement released by party's General-Secretary Rajaram Bartaula.

Furthermore, the meeting decided to press for immediate release of Rastriya Prajatantra Party's Vice-Chairperson Rabindra Mishra and General-Secretary Dhawal Shumsher Rana with the government, reads the statement.

The party also called for unity among all nationalists and democrats to safeguard their ideologies.