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Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli discussed the demands and agitation of teachers with concerned ministers and secretaries today.

At a meeting convened at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar, Prime Minister Oli emphasized resolving the problems relating to teachers through talks by carrying out more homework.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak and Minister for Education, Science and Technology Bidhya Bhandari, according to the Prime Minister's Secretariat were present in the meeting. 

Chief Secretary Ekanarayan Aryal and secretaries of the ministries concerned were also in the meeting, said the Secretariat. 

During the meeting, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology briefed the attendees of the meeting about the demands raised in the ongoing agitation in Kathmandu at the call of the Nepal Teachers' Federation, added the Secretariat. 

The meeting also discussed current economic conditions, the process of formulating the School Education Act as well as the demands that the government could immediately address among others.

Other issues that figured in the meeting was ensuring quality education, as per the Secretariat.

Two persons are reportedly missing in an avalanche that occurred between the camp II and III of the Annapurna Peak. 

They have been identified as Rima Sherpa and Nima Tashi Sherpa from Solukhumbu, according to Seven Summit Trekking Agency's proprietor Ningma Sherpa.  They have been missing since this morning. 

It is said other Sherpas on the base camp are searching for them and a rescue helicopter from Kathmandu has been sent here.  According to the Department of Tourism, 30 males and 12 females of four expedition teams have been granted a permit to climb the Annapurna in this spring season.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that it would be an utter dishonesty to breach constitutional norms even after taking oath as per the same Constitution.

Addressing the inaugural session of the first series of 'Himalayan Dialogue' organized by Foreign Affairs Media today, PM Oli said Nepal was lagging behind in development due to the past feudalistic rule and they were making all-out efforts to carry forward the journey of development and good governance amidst the widespread expectations of the people after the political change.

Referring to the monarchists, Prime Minister Oli said that defeated feudal practices could not be restored again.  He argued that if such practices were continued it would further prolong the transition period.  Prime Minister Oli further opined to entertain only legitimate demands. "No one should suffer on the streets." 

On another note, PM Oli said that teachers don't have to sit on the streets for protest.

"We will properly address their demands through dialogue," he added. Prime Minister Oli said that Nepal is going to fulfill some of its responsibilities including international relations while protecting its independence, self-respect and national interest. 

He said that the mountains of Nepal do the work of blocking the hot air of the Bay of Bengal and the mountains are working to prevent the sea from becoming too hot and to protect this region and the rest of the world from desertification.

"Our country is geographically, naturally and culturally diverse. Unity in diversity is essential. Without unity, the achievements we want cannot be achieved," he said, adding, "Diversity should not be a curse but an asset." 

When national and international problems arise, Nepal should work together to solve them properly.

He stressed that we should be able to contribute to the security and humanitarian welfare of the world keeping in mind the national interest in a world where the ideals are weak and self-interest is dominating.

Stating that one should not cover up one's weaknesses in the name of geopolitics, he stressed the need to advance national interest with geopolitical awareness. "It is not necessary to abandon just national interests and ideas with international accountability. 

There should be no politics in the name of friendship with any neighbour. We don't belong to anyone's strategic alliance. We are in favour of peace," PM Oli said. 

In the first series of The Himalayan Dialogue, leaders of various political parties and experts from the diplomatic field will discuss Nepal's foreign policy in two sessions, according to Gopal Khanal, chairman of Foreign Affairs Media.

Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Dahal has said that operation of vehicles not meeting the standards will be stopped, coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

In a discussion with transport entrepreneurs and workers at the Ministry today, he said coordination would also be established with the Home Ministry as it was not possible for the Department of Roads and Transport alone to stop the operation of vehicles flouting the rules and standards.

Likewise, alternative routes and diversion management will also be given priority to prevent obstruction of vehicles at construction sites, he added.

Stating that the repair of BP Highway connecting Kathmandu and eastern Nepal has been expedited, Minister Dahal said that the repair of Kanti Lokpath (highway), which is used as an alternative road, has also been taken up with priority.

Similarly, Secretary at the Ministry Keshav Kumar Sharma said that more coordination would be made with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Traffic Police and the federal government to streamline the operation of transport.

Stating that the Ministry was serious about the problems being faced by the vehicles and passengers due to the ongoing construction of Daunne road, he said arrangements have been made for the passage of goods carrying vehicles and passenger vehicles at separate times.

He expressed commitment that the transport service on the section would be made easier soon as its construction has been given first priority.

Federation of Transport Entrepreneurs President Bijay Swar, Senior Vice President Saroj Sitaula, General Secretary Degnath Gautam, representatives of various trade unions and others were present on the occasion.

Director General of the Department of Roads Ram Hari Pokharel and Deputy Director General were also in the meeting.

The CPN (Maoist Center) has urged the government to immediately issue the School Education Act based on the agreement reached with the Nepal Teachers' Federation in the past.

Issuing a press release today, CPN (Maoist Center) Vice Chair and Spokesperson Agni Prasad Sapkota urged the government to create an environment by issuing the Act through a special session of Parliament or other means so as to facilitate the agitating teachers to fulfill their teaching responsibilities.

Pointing out that qualitative reforms in the education sector are the need of the hour, the Maoist Center has said that the job security of teachers working at the school level for long is an essential condition by creating a motivational environment for them.

Although the Constitution guarantees the right of the common man to receive education, the educational sector cannot be restructured in accordance with the spirit of federalism until a necessary legal and policy framework is put in place.

The CPN (Maoist Center) has drawn the attention of the government to issue the Acts related to the civil service, education, health and police and to emphasize on their implementation.

Stating that the government led by the CPN (Maoist Center) had formulated the School Education Bill and registered it in the Parliament amid various difficulties, the Maoist Center has accused the government of playing with the profession and future of teachers and students by not passing the Bill as soon as possible.

Spokesperson Sapkota said, "It is contradictory to ignore the legitimate demands of the agitating teachers for 10 months after the formation of the government and to argue that the bill will be passed in the budget session after the teachers' agitation intensified."

Expressing solidarity with the demands of the teachers, the Maoist Center has called upon the general public to stand by the teachers.

US President Donald Trump and his advisers have defended sweeping tariffs on imports and vowed to stay the course, despite market turmoil and calls to avoid a trade war, BBC reported.

In a series of television interviews, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent played down recent stock market falls and Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary, insisted reciprocal tariffs would be implemented as planned.

Bessent said there was "no reason" to expect a recession as a result of the turmoil. "This is an adjustment process," he said.

Meanwhile, another top adviser, Kevin Hassett, said more than 50 countries have contacted Trump to try to negotiate a deal, according to BBC.

The state-owned health institutions in Madhes Province have faced a shortage of medicines as the Health Supplies Centre failed to proceed with procurement on time.

It is said that frequent changes in the Director at the Health Supplies Centre under the Ministry of Health and Population of the Madhes Province and the subsequent disputes resulted in the delay in drug purchase.     

Officials have shared that patients from economically poor backgrounds have suffered for lack of drugs. 

Currently, the provincial hospitals in the districts of Madhes Province have provided services to patients by purchasing drugs from the hospitals' internal resources. However, the hospital authorities have shared that they have not been able to provide the drugs for free as promised by the government. 

Likewise, the laboratories established in 136 local levels by the Province Public Health Laboratory have faced challenges in running their services as they are running out of testing kits.

The Chief Minister of Madhes Province, Satish Kumar Singh, said that processes have been forwarded for the supplies of drugs and hoped that supplies will be ensured sooner. 

The government has promised to provide 98 types of drugs for free but currently, only half of the drugs are being given to the patients currently.

Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Paudel arrived in New York to take part in the 58th session of the Commission on Population and Development in the UN Headquarters in New York, USA.

Nepal's Chief of the UN Mission in New York, Lok Bahadur Thapa, and other diplomats from the Mission welcomed Minister Paudel on his arrival in New York.

Minister Paudel is attending the high-level meeting of the Commission on Population and Development (DPD) to take place on Monday and Tuesday.

According to the UN, the event is being held in New York from April 7 to 11 with focus on 'Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages," aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 3.