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KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 18 Due to the ongoing pandemic, the head of the nation, head of the government and other wellknown public figures such as the former king have decided not to offer Tika to the public during this Dashain. It has been a long tradition for the state officials in the highest government ranks to offer Dashain Tika to the public during the country’s biggest festival of ‘Bada Dashain.’ This year’s Tika falls on October 26, next Monday. Bhesh Raj Adhikari, personal secretary of President Bidhya Devi Bhandari’s said, “We need to send the message that the festival in such hours should be confined within homes. Thus, we have planned not to offer Tika for the public.” Adhikari added no official decision in this regard was yet taken and they would issue a notice in a few days. The Prime Minister’s office is also mulling over a similar idea. PM KP Sharma Oli’s Press Advisor Ram Sharan Bajagain said they were hoping doing so would spread positive message. “Let the message be sp...

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 18 Health authorities today diagnosed an additional 2,942 cases of coronavirus infection across Nepal, including 1,698 in Kathmandu valley. With the recent additions, Nepal’s COVID caseload has reached 132,246, including 39,341 active cases, 92,166 recoveries and 739 deaths. As many as 21,093 active COVID cases are in Kathmandu valley alone. Of those testing positive for the respiratory contagion in the valley today, 1,469 are from Kathmandu, 130 from Lalitpur and 99 from Bhaktapur. With the recent additions, the valley’s virus caseload has reached 55,384. As per the health ministry’s data, 44,775 people have contracted COVID in Kathmandu, 6,220 in Lalitpur and 4,389 in Bhaktapur. Of the others testing positive for the disease today, 192 are from Rupandehi, 149 from Chitwan, 138 from Morang, 110 from Surkhet, 72 from Jhapa, 56 from Kailali, 55 from Nawalparasi (East), 43 from Makawanpur, 41 from Banke, 31 from Kaski, 30 each from Syangja and Kapilvastu, 29 from N...

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 18 The government has devised a new regulation to make face shields mandatory for passengers travelling in public vehicles. The regulation was introduced in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus. As Dashain, the country’s biggest festival, has begun, people travelling in public vehicles have increased. As per the regulation, the passengers need to buy face shields on their own. Face shields are nowadays easily available at pharmaceutical stores and at other shops. The Department of Transport Management after introducing the rule said it was necessary to maintain safe physical distance, which is also the demand of the new situation created by the pandemic. “A face shield is a must protective gear for those travelling in public vehicles,” Department’s Spokesperson Lok Nath Bhusal said, adding that the rule had been brought for safety of the passengers themselves and hoped the rule would be followed by all. The government after introducing nationwide lockdown o...

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 18 The government has decided not to bear test and treatment expenses of coronavirus patients. An individual will have to bear those costs from now onwards. Speaking at a press briefing today Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, said the cost of the test and treatment for coronavirus should be borne by the individual himself/herself. The decision will be effective from today and will be applicable at all government and non-government hospitals and laboratories. “The government however will bear the cost of those who are poor, helpless, single women, differently-able citizens, senior citizens, frontline health workers, sanitation staffers and security personnel. If they have insured themselves, the cost of the treatment will be deducted from their insurance amount,” said Gautam. For the rest, individuals themselves should bear the cost of test and treatment of the coronavirus infection. The Supreme Court had ordered the govern...

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 18 Lawmakers of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) — Bhim Rawal and Janardan Sharma — and Chief Whip of the Nepali Congress in the House of Representatives Bal Krishna Khand have opposed the distribution of Dashain allowance among federal lawmakers. Rawal today wrote a letter to the secretary general of the Parliament stating that a policy decision should not have been taken to provide Dashain allowance to people’s representatives, particularly members of Parliament, at a time when the country was facing grave economic crisis caused by the COVID pandemic. He said he would also write to him that he did not want his Dashain allowance. As per news reports quoting Parliament Secretariat employees, Dashain allowance would not be provided to lawmakers if they gave it in writing to the Parliament Secretariat that they didn’t intend to accept Dashain allowance. He said if the Dashain allowance had already been deposited in his bank account he was ready to write a che...

LONDON: Gareth Bale made his first appearance for  Tottenham  Hotspur  for more than seven years but Manuel Lanzini ruined his homecoming with a superb stoppage-time equaliser as West Ham United grabbed an unlikely 3-3 draw on Sunday. Welshman Bale, back in north London on loan from Real Madrid, came off the substitutes bench with 20 minutes remaining with  Tottenham  leading 3-0 after Son Heung-min’s goal in the first minute and a double by Harry Kane. The stage looked set for Bale to mark his return in style but instead it was West Ham who recovered from a shocking opening 16 minutes to earn a point. Fabian Balbuena’s 82nd minute header and Davinson Sanchez’s own goal had set up a nervy finale and then in the fourth minute of stoppage time Lanzini fired an unstoppable shot from outside the area to spark wild scenes of celebration from the visitors. Victory would have put  Tottenham  up into second place but they are in sixth place with West Ha...

The 2015 Gorkha Earthquake precipitated the collapse of numerous monuments. There was extensive national and international press coverage on the devastation of heritage sites. This raised the profile of the culture sector in the post-disaster response and recovery planning. It was the first time for a large-scale disaster that the culture sector was considered in the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA). This meant that there was dedicated funding for the restoration and reconstruction of historical monuments and buildings. It has been six-and-a-half years since the earthquake, and now with the challenge of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, it might be the right opportunity to contemplate on what has become of our culture sector. This is being reviewed here based on the following questions. Where does the value lie? There are a lot of aspects of culture that contradict changing perceptions of human and animal rights, which, therefore, need to be amended or possibly even discontinu...

KATHMANDU: Nepal Police Cyber Crime Bureau in Bhotahiti, Kathmandu, has started receiving complaints through email, avoiding the need to visit the police office. Anyone can now file complaints on cybercrime by sending an email at cyberbureau@ nepalpolice.gov.np. The email requires a copy of a valid identity card such as citizenship, driving licence or passport. The victim can provide the link of social media operated by perpetrators along with other details. Also, the Cyber Bureau has requested everybody to visit any police station nearby and file a case of cybercrime, which will then be taken care of by the bureau itself. Around 10 complaints have been recorded by the Cyber Bureau, in a day. The post Cyber crime complaint through email appeared first on The Himalayan Times . from The Himalayan Times https://ift.tt/37g8ltD

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 17 Police have arrested Nabin Basnet,19, owner of a Facebook page called ‘Balatkari Sangathan’ (rapist association) and inciting heinous crime such as rape. Nepal Police Cyber Crime Bureau in Bhotahiti, Kathmandu, had arrested Basnet, a permanent resident of Jindrak Rural Municipality in Pyuthan district, from Kawasoti of Nawalparasi district yesterday. The group, which had several hundred members, used to post lewd comments, hateful content against women and girls and promote rape culture. The page had received severe criticism from public after incidents of rape increased across the country recently. The cyber bureau had started tracing the source of the page at the direction of Police Headquarters, Naxal. Police sources said Basnet had, earlier, issued life threats to some people through Facebook. Senior Superintendent of Police Nabinda Aryal, acting chief of the bureau, said the arrested has been charged under the existing Electronic Transaction Act, the o...

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 17 The Pashupati Area Development Trust, in association with Kathmandu Metropolitan City, is set to construct one more electric crematorium building equipped with three high-tech machines. Once the new crematorium building is constructed the PADT will have two such facilities and five machines. Joint Secretary Rajeshwor Gyawali of KMC and PADT Member Secretary Pradeep Dhakal entered into an agreement to this effect on behalf of their respective offices, in the presence of KMC Mayor Bidhya Sundar Shakya on October 14. According to KMC, the new crematorium building will be constructed at Tilganga. The metropolis has allocated Rs 115 million for the installation of three electric cremation machines. Mayor Shakya said the metropolis was ready to provide additional amount in case of budget deficit. The PADT has already invited bids for the construction work as per the prescribed design. Evaluation of bidding documents submitted by interested and qualified bidders is ...

Bruno Fernandes made amends for a missed penalty with a late strike as Manchester United thrashed Newcastle United 4-1 on Saturday to collect their second Premier League win of the season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side got off to the worst possible start when the ball deflected off Luke Shaw for an own goal in the second minute, but United captain Harry Maguire put his side level from a corner in the 23rd minute. Goalkeepers Karl Darlow and David de Gea were in top form. Spaniard de Gea pulled off a brilliant reflex save to deny Allan Saint-Maximin, while Darlow also made a string of fine saves at the other end. The visitors should have gone ahead from the spot after Marcus Rashford was fouled, but again Darlow was up to the task, beating the spot kick from Fernandes away with his forearm. However, the Newcastle goalkeeper appeared to be troubled by an injury to his left groin and Fernandes made no mistake four minutes from time, finishing off a superb flowing counter attac...

DHANGADI, OCTOBER 17 A Raute girl reached Dhangadi in search of college to study law after she passed School Education Examination. Eighteen-year-old Debu Kumari Raut had passed SEE from Bhageshwor Secondary School of Dadeldhura this year. Raut said the laws made for conservation of Raute and other ethnic minorities have yet to be implemented. “I will advocate for Raute and other marginalised people after graduating from college,” she said. Debu said she came to Dhangadi for further study to become the first lady judge from the Raute community. She said Trinagar Higher Secondary School had admitted her to the faculty of law. Head teacher Bhupal Singh Khadka said the school would provide education to the Raute girl free of cost. Khadka said three other students along with Debu from marginalised communities were also admitted free of cost in the school. Kalawati Raute and Parbati Kumari Raute were admitted to the education faculty at the same school. He said they have been coordi...

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 17 At a time when the country’s economy is facing the devastating impact of COVID-19, federal lawmakers received Dashain allowance equal to one month’s salary. Spokesperson for the Parliament Secretariat Rojnath Pandey said lawmakers received festival allowance as per the government’s decision of 17 September 2019. A federal lawmaker draws a monthly salary of Rs 64,070. The government also decided to provide festival allowance to members of office bearers’ private secretariat and also lawmakers’ private aides who have served for six months. Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha said it was improper of lawmakers to accept Dashain allowance when people were dying of hunger and a large number of work force had lost jobs and businesses had closed in the face of the pandemic. Shrestha said he had announced he was giving up his pay and perks for one year, keeping in mind the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the economy. “ I cannot expect all ...

MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling condemned  Arsenal  to their second defeat of the season as he fired his side to a 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday. Sterling slotted home in the 23rd minute after a Phil Foden shot was parried out by visiting keeper Bernd Leno, at the end of a flowing City counter-attack. The England forward was skippering the City team in the absence of their injured Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. “They were a difficult team to break down, really well drilled and made it difficult for us. In the end we deserved the win. We kept it tight and compact and deserved the win,” said Sterling. Arsenal  manager Mikel Arteta, who took over at the London club after working under Pep Guardiola at City, had clearly prepared his side well tactically and they looked solid, despite losing defender Rob Holding to injury during the warm-up. Arsenal  created several openings in the first half but twice City keep...

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population has requested hospitals across the country to ensure that health workers and employees involved in treatment of coronavirus patients stay in quarantine or isolation only if they have symptoms or have tested positive for the coronavirus infection. Earlier, hospitals were directed to make two groups of health workers and staffers. The two teams used to work on alternative weeks. The post New guidelines for health workers appeared first on The Himalayan Times . from The Himalayan Times https://ift.tt/3lVESJy

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 16 The National Human Rights Commission has ruled that police personnel killed Gopal Tamang of Sindhupalchowk and Ajay Tamang of Nuwakot while they were in their custody. A woman trying to comfort Chameli Khadka, the mother of Nishan Khadka, who was killed by his abductors, in Bhaktapur, on Monday, August 6, 2018. Photo: Balkrishna Thapa Chhetri/THT Nepal Police had claimed that Gopal and Ajay Tamang, accused of kidnapping and murdering 11-year-old boy Nishan Khadka, were killed in an encounter. The alleged kidnappers were killed in Surya Binayak forest in Bhaktapur district on 6 August 2018, the same day when the boy was found buried in a pit dug for laying the foundation of an under-construction house belonging to local Shyam Lavat at Nagadesh Tole, Madhyapur Thimi. Police had concluded that the boy was strangled using a handkerchief. READ MORE: Punish cops involved in encounter’ Killed kidnappers’ kin seek NHRC probe Eleven-year-old kidnapped boy found ...

KATHMANDU: The National Human Rights Commission refused to review its decision regarding the alleged extra-judicial killing of Sarlahi in-charge of Netra Bikram Chand-led Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Kumar Paudel . The NHRC had concluded on October 21 that police unnecessarily used force to kill Paudel after taking him in custody. It had asked the government to take action against officials involved in the killing. Paudel was killed in Lalbandi, Sarlahi, in police action on 20 June 2019. Police had fired nine shots at Paudel. Although police claimed that Paudel was killed in an encounter and they had to open fire in self-defence, the NHRC said its investigation found no evidence to support the police claim. The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers had requested the NHRC to review its decisions relating to Paudel. The NHRC said there was no fact, basis or reason for reviewing its decision. READ ALSO:  NHRC probing CPN leader’s killing in Sarlahi Cops involve...

KATHMANDU: The NHRC has ruled that the murders of six youths in Soti of Rukum district on May 23 were committed due to deeply-rooted caste discrimination and the government should have zero tolerance against such incidents. The rights body asked all the three tiers of the government to carry out promotional programmes to eradicate caste discrimination. It urged the government to provide Rs 100,000 to the families of each of the six victims. The rights body also urged the government to conduct a thorough investigation into the deaths of four children – Noritram Dangi, Bimala KC, Bijaya KC and Gaurav Nepali of Triveni Rural Municipality in Rolpa district. They were killed on April 29 when a bomb left by unknown persons exploded. The rights body recommended compensation of Rs 100,000 for the families of each of the four victims. READ ALSO:  District court sends 23 to custody for their involvement in Soti incident The post Compensation recommended in murder of six youths in Ruk...

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 17 The post In Picture: Harvest on World Food Day appeared first on The Himalayan Times . from The Himalayan Times https://ift.tt/37kzOdX

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 16 Nepali Congress COVID-19 Monitoring Committee today issued a press release saying that the government had failed miserably in its efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee led by Joint General Secretary Prakash Sharan Mahat submitted its report to party President Sher Bahadur Deuba today. Stating that the government was directionless even when human and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic were deepening, the NC demanded that special session of the Parliament be convened to discuss the issue. The committee urged the government to arrange adequate number of isolation beds, ICUs and ventilators to treat COV- ID-19 patients. It also asked the government to stop black marketing of urgent medicines. The NC urged the government to ramp up PCR testing, arrange isolation beds for those who cannot isolate themselves in their houses and provide affordable care to all COVID-19 patients. Stating that movement of a large number of people during Das...