World Immunization Week from today

The World Immunization Week has kicked off today. 

Also today, the 'International Girls ICT Day' is being observed. 

Immunization Week and International Girls ICT Day are held every year on April 22 at the call of the United Nations. 

The purpose of World Immunization Week is to protect people of all ages from disease and promote the use of vaccines. 

According to the World Health Organization, 154 million lives have been saved by vaccination in the last 50 years. Measles vaccines account for 40 percent of the child's survival and 60 percent of the saved lives. 

Various vaccines make children and the elderly immune, and protect malaria, influenza, pregnant women from tetanus adolescent girls from HPV. 

Immunization Week is being celebrated this year with the slogan 'Immunization for All is Humanly Possible'. 

Stressing the need for equal opportunities for girls in the field of information technology, a discussion on digital development and innovative technologies in Kyrgyzstan and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania will be held today under the theme 'Girls in Information Technology for Inclusive Digital Transformation'. 

International Day of Diplomacy for Multilateralism and Peace is also observed today. This day has been celebrated since 2018. 

Reiterating their commitment to international peace and security, the heads of government and representatives of 144 countries of the world had proposed to celebrate the International Multilateralism Day. 

 

Former president Moon Jae-in indicted for bribery

Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been indicted for alleged bribery over his former son-in-law’s employment at a Thai airline.

The Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Office announced Thursday that Moon is accused of receiving illicit benefits between 2018 and 2020 through the son-in-law’s appointment and compensation from a company controlled by ex-lawmaker Lee Sang-jik, according to Reuters.

Prosecutors claim Moon’s son-in-law received 5.95m baht ($177,500) in salary and living expenses, which they allege was a bribe in exchange for Lee’s appointment as head of the SMEs and Startups Agency.

Lee is also indicted for bribery and breach of trust. Moon, Lee, and their legal teams have not responded to the charges, Reuters reported.

Moon served as president from 2017 to 2022.

Heat wave likely to occur in Terai belt of Lumbini Province

Currently the country is under the partial influence of local wind. 

The Hydrology and Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted that the temperature will rise in most parts of the country except the high hilly and mountainous regions. 

The temperature in the Kathmandu Valley has also been increasing continuously for the last few days. 

The maximum temperature is likely to remain between 31 and 33 degrees Celsius today. 

According to the Division, there is a possibility of extreme heat at many places of Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini and Sudurpaschim Provinces including Madhes province. 

There is a possibility of a heat wave in the Terai region of Lumbini Province. The weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly regions of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces and fair in the rest of the country. 

Light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is likely to occur at one or two places of the hilly regions of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces.

Light rain and snowfall is likely to occur at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces. 

Similarly, there is a chance of extreme heat at many places of Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini and Sudurpaschim Provinces including Madhes Province tonight. 

There is a possibility of a heat wave in the Tarai region of Lumbini Province . The weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly regions of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces and fair in the rest of the country. 

Light rain and snowfall is likely to occur at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali Province.

 

Twelve states sue Trump administration over tariff policy

A dozen states have filed a lawsuit in the Court of International Trade, challenging President Trump’s tariff policy as unconstitutional and economically harmful.

The lawsuit claims that Trump's administration utilized the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs without a valid national emergency, bypassing Congress, which has tariff-setting authority, according to CNN.

Plaintiff states include Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, and Vermont.

White House spokesperson Kush Desai justified the tariffs, claiming they were required to handle a "national economic emergency ", CNN reported.

The Justice Department has yet to respond.