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Australian Ambassador to Nepal Felicity Volk paid a courtesy call on Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal at the latter’s office in Singha Durbar on Monday.

During the meeting, the duo discussed matters of bilateral interest and concerns of both the countries, it has been learnt. 

On the occasion, Minister Bhusal stressed the need for further strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries. 

She underscored the need to increase mutual cooperation between the two countries to deal with ongoing global COVID-19 and climate change challenges.  

Praising the ambassador’s role in further strengthening the Nepal-Australia partnership, the minister thanked the Government of Australia for its help in Nepal’s economic and social development. 

In response, Ambassador Volk ensured that the Government of Australia would continue its assistance for the enhancement of Nepal’s economic and humanitarian capacity. 

The ambassador also said that the Australian government was interested in providing its support and cooperation in hydropower, renewable energy and the promotion of electric vehicles in Nepal. 

Australian Ambassador to Nepal Felicity Volk paid a courtesy call on Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal at the latter’s office in Singha Durbar on Monday.

During the meeting, the duo discussed matters of bilateral interest and concerns of both the countries, it has been learnt.

On the occasion, Minister Bhusal stressed the need for further strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries.

She underscored the need to increase mutual cooperation between the two countries to deal with ongoing global COVID-19 and climate change challenges. 

Praising the ambassador’s role in further strengthening the Nepal-Australia partnership, the minister thanked the Government of Australia for its help in Nepal’s economic and social development.

In response, Ambassador Volk ensured that the Government of Australia would continue its assistances for the enhancement of Nepal’s economic and humanitarian capacity.

The ambassador also said that the Australian government was interested in providing its support and cooperation in hydropower, renewable energy and the promotion of electric vehicles in Nepal.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal held a meeting at the former's official residence in Baluwatar on Monday morning.

It has been learnt that the duo discussed Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) during the meeting.

Ruling coalition partners have not reached an agreement to endorse the MCC from the Parliament yet.

A Nepali Congress leader said that the task force has been trying to forge consensus on the issue.

According to a source, Dahal and CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal among other leaders have agreed in principle to move ahead by ratifying the MCC.

A court in army-ruled Myanmar will start an election fraud trial of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 14, a source familiar with the proceedings said on Monday, after she was accused of influencing the 2020 vote to win a second term in office, Reuters reported.

Suu Kyi faces trial in more than a dozen cases and so far has been sentenced to a combined six years in detention by a court in the capital Naypyitaw, in legal proceedings derided by the international community as a sham.

She has denied the military's accusations of fraud in a 2020 poll swept by her National League for Democracy (NLD) party.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Suu Kyi, 76, is accused of influencing the election commission during the ballot. Former president and ally Win Myint and Min Thu, a former cabinet member, face the same charges, said the source, who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue.

The trio have been charged under section 130-A of the penal code and face up to three years in jail and a fine if found guilty. It adds to a slew of cases against Suu Kyi that carry combined maximum prison terms of more than a century. L4N2UB1FJ

A spokesperson for the junta did not answer a call seeking comment. The military government has previously said Suu Kyi would be afforded due process by an independent court.

The military said it took power because its complaints of fraud by the NLD, which won the 2020 election in a landslide, were being ignored by the election commission. The NLD says it won fairly.

Suu Kyi was arrested in the hours before the Feb. 1 coup last year and the junta's critics say the charges against her are designed to ensure she can never return to politics.

The trials are taking place behind closed doors and defence lawyers, previously the only source of information on the proceedings, are currently the subjects of a gag order.