Trinetra Dainik

Yerevan [Armenia], Feb. 28 :(ANI): Armenian President ArmenSargsyan on Saturday rejected a prime ministerial order to sack the army's chief of General Staff. According to the Anadolu agency, Sargsyan refused to sign the order and returned the draft decree with objections. "The sole purpose of the President is to protect the country from threats against the constitutional order and security, to ensure stability in the country and the functioning of the armed forces," a presidency statement said. Earlier this week, OnikGasparyan, the chief of General Staff of the Armenian army, along with other senior commanders released a statement calling for Prime Minister NikolPashinyan to step down. Pashinyan blasted the military's call as a coup attempt and urged his supporters to take to the streets to resist. He later announced the dismissal of the chief of General Staff on Facebook, reported Anadolu Agency. The unrest between Armenia and Azerbaijan since last fall is widely see...

COPENHAGEN, Feb. 28 :(AFP) - Danish police said they arrested eight people in an anti-lockdown demonstration in Copenhagen late Saturday. Organised by a group calling itself "Men in Black", the rally of around 1,200 people in the Danish capital was the first since the government announced last week that it was extending many anti-coronavirus restrictions. Police said the rally remained largely peaceful, but eight people were arrested for allegedly using fireworks and for rowdy behaviour. Initially, around 600 people took part in the demonstration, but the crowd had swelled to around 1,200 by the end of the evening on the square in front of Copenhagen's town hall, police said. Denmark, which has been under a partial lockdown since late December, announced last Wednesday that it would ease some virus restrictions but keep the majority in place despite protests from the opposition. While Danes will once again be able to visit some shops and partake in small-scale sports and ...

YANGON, Feb. 28 : (AFP) - Myanmar security forces shot dead at least three protesters on Sunday as the country's military leaders stepped up the use of lethal force to quash opposition to their recent coup. The junta is battling to contain a massive street movement demanding it yield power and release ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained along with top political allies at the start of the month. Police and soldiers had already fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon on demonstrations in recent weeks in an effort to bring the civil disobedience campaign to heel, with live rounds used in some isolated cases. Large numbers were again mobilised on Sunday morning to scatter crowds in several parts of the country, after online calls for protesters to once again flood the streets. Three men were killed and at least 20 others injured when security forces moved on a rally in the southern coastal hub of Dawei, according to a volunteer medic and local media report...

YANGON, Myanmar, Feb. 28 : (AP) - Security forces in Myanmar made mass arrests and appeared to use lethal force on Sunday as they intensified their efforts to break up protests a month after the military staged a coup. There were reports of gunfire as police in Yangon, the biggest city, fired tear gas and water cannons while trying to clear the streets of demonstrators demanding that the elected government of Aung San SuuKyi be restored to power. Photos of shell casings from live ammunition used in assault rifles were posted on social media, adding to evidence that live rounds were fired. A violent crackdown also occurred in Dawei, a much smaller city in southeastern Myanmar, where local media reported at least three people were killed during a protest march. The fatalities could not immediately be independently confirmed. Confirming reports of protesters’ deaths has been difficult amid the chaos and general lack of official news. The Feb. 1 army takeover reversed years of slow progres...

ATHENS, Feb. 28 :(AFP) - The pandemic was a wakeup call that reminded ChristophorosXenos of what he misses most in London -- the Greek sun and pleasant Mediterranean way of life. The 36-year old risk manager left Greece in his early 20s for Britain, aiming to complete his studies, gain professional experience abroad and come back. This never happened, as the decade-long Greek crisis that followed killed thousands of jobs. But during the first coronavirus wave, Xenos took advantage of remote work to return to Greece for three months -- and homesickness hit him hard. "I worked for three months from Athens and the Greek islands and really enjoyed the weather, the quality of life, the return to the homeland," he told AFP. With thousands of employees like Xenos capable of working remotely, Greece sees an opportunity to bring back some of the minds the country lost during the past decade. "We want you back," Alex Patelis, chief economic adviser to Prime Minister KyriakosM...

DHAKA, Feb. 28 :(AFP) - Dozens were injured on Sunday as Bangladeshi police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at opposition activists to prevent new protests over the death of a writer in jail, police and a party official said. Live footage from local television station Channel 24 showed a road and footpath in front of the National Press Club -- a favourite protest site in the capital Dhaka -- turning into a battleground as police beat protesters with batons to disperse them. Clashes ensued as student activists from the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) hurled rocks and attacked officers with plastic pipes, prompting police to retaliate by "firing rubber bullets and tear gas", Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka police Sazzadur Rahman told AFP. "They did not take any permission (for the protests)," he added, defending the police's move to clear the protesters. BNP spokesman Rizvi Ahmed said about 30 student activists of the party including a senior lea...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 :(AFP) - The Covid-battered United States authorized Johnson & Johnson's vaccine for emergency use Saturday, offering a glimmer of hope as Britain said farewell to fundraising war veteran Captain Tom Moore who died of the virus earlier this month. US President Joe Biden hailed his country's announcement of its third available vaccine but said the nation's battle was far from over. "This is exciting news for all Americans, and an encouraging development in our efforts to bring an end to the crisis," Biden said in a statement, but warned Americans "cannot let our guard down now or assume that victory is inevitable." The single-shot J&J vaccine is highly effective at preventing severe Covid-19, including against newer variants, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said before giving it a green light. The news comes following passage in the House of Representatives of a vast $1.9 trillion package -- including $1,400 payouts t...

Kathmandu, Feb 28 (RSS): Speakers at a programme viewed that political parties used media to reach power. They said it during a programme on 'Cartoon Journalism and Freedom of Expression' organized by Cartoonist Club of Nepal here today. After the fulfillment of political parties' ambition to reach power, they launch initiative to create atmosphere curbing free speech, they argued, demanding unity against such political attitude. Creativity is dented once the freedom of expression is curbed, the speakers underscored. On the occasion, former Chairman of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Shiva Gaunle, said free press and critical cartoon should continuously watch every affair in the country. "Journalism and cartoon can not function like servant," he said, adding that once the media works as watchdog on irregularities, it should be an issue of public concern. Similarly, FNJ General Secretary Ramesh Bista argued that journalists need to...

Kathmandu, Feb 28 (RSS): Three more Nepalis have succumbed to coronavirus infection abroad last week, according to the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA). NRNA health committee press coordinator Chiran Sharma said that two Nepalis died in the UK and one in Portugal last week. With this, the number of Nepalis died in various 21 countries abroad reached 339 till Saturday evening. Similarly, Covid-19 was reported among 62,401 Nepalis in 53 countries so far. Among them, 60,124 Nepalis have recovered, shared coordinator Sharma, adding this puts the recovery rate among the Nepalis abroad at 96.3 per cent. Italy and Ukraine had reported first cases of Covid-19 among the Nepalis, according to NRNA. In Nepal, the Covid-19 caseload stands at 274,065. Among them, 270,325 have fully recovered taking the recovery rate at 98.6 per cent. Covid-19 fatalities have cross 2,500 in Nepal.

Bhadrapur, Feb 28 (RSS): Prime Minister KP Sahrma Oli arrived at his home district Jhapa today to participate in several programmes including the foundation stone laying ceremony of the China-Nepal Friendly Industrial Park. Upon his arrival at Bhadrapur Airport via the Yeti Airlines flight, he was welcomed by Province-1 Chief Somnath Adhikari Pyasi, Minister for Physical infrastructure and Transport Basanta Kumar Nembang, federal and province lawmakers and Nepal Communist Party central leaders. The Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate several development projects including other 31 bridges along the Madan Bhandari Highway. He will lay a foundation stone for the Nepal-China Friendship Industrial Park, according to Prime Minister's secretariat member Hom Bahadur Thapa. He is scheduled to fly back to Kathmandu from Bhadrapur this evening. ----

Kathmandu, Feb 28 (RSS): Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed sorrow over the demise of the leader of party and former member of parliament Dr Shankar Prasad Upreti. Dr Upreti passed away in Kathmandu last night at the age of 88. In his message of condolence today, President Deuba said with the passing away of Dr Upreti, he lost his old friend, the party lost a dedicated member and the society lost a stalwart philanthropist. Extending heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family, he paid tribute to the late leader. Upreti who was the National Assembly member for six years, representing the NC after 2046 political change in the country was jailed time again for protesting against the then party-less Panchayat regime. He had an active role in the country's democratic movements, and had begun his medical career in 2018 BS from Dhangadhi, Kailali. He also provided medical service from his private clinic at Sanisc...

Jhimruk, Feb 28 (RSS): A new mother in Pyuthan district lost her life in lack of timely medical intervention today. Anisha MC, 24, of Jhimruk Rural Municipality-7, died on the way while being rushed to Butwal this morning, informed Officiating Chief of Pyuthan District Hospital, Khim Pardhe. Anisha had undergone a surgery last Thursday. Another surgery was performed on her after she had health complications. The Hospital referred her to a hospital in Butwal. She was being brought to Butwal last night during which she breathed her last at Bhaluwa, shared Pardhe. The newborn has been doing well, and handed over to the family of the deceased. The dead body of the new mother has been brought to Pyuthan Hospital. -----

Baglung, Feb 28 (RSS): Various social organizations set up by Nepali diaspora in different countries came together to provide monetary assistance- Rs 1.8 million to a cancer patient at Galkot Municipality-4 in Baglung district. A campaign was launched to raise fund for Durga Subedi, 47, who was unable to avail treatment for cancer given her financial constraint. Galkot Samaj Japan, Galkot Sports Club Japan, Galkot Nuwakot Samaj Japan, Baglung Samaj Japan, Kharuwa Samaj Japan among other organizations contributed in cash for Subedi, informed Niluwa Samaj Chamuwa, Japan's Chairperson Tham Bahadur Chhetri. Some Good Samaritan Nepalis abroad have supported for Subedi's cause, according to Chhetri. The amount has already been handed over to Subedi's family to take forward treatment process, it was shared. -----

- Birat Anupam  Itahari, February 28 (RSS):  Not many years ago, Jephale was an unfamiliar name for travelers in eastern Tarai. But community homestay is now drawing significantly large number of tourists to this northern hilly location of Morang district.  Located at Kerabari Rural Municipality-2 of Morang district, Jephale community homestay was inaugurated on 4 Jestha 2074 BS after its formal registration at Tourism Office of Kakarbhitta, Jhapa. Informal beginning was made during 2069 BS at the initiation of then District Development Committee.  Jephale now has eight government-certified homestays. This can accommodate around 70 guests on a day. Interestingly, local teachers run most of these homestays.  Six local teachers are among the eight local homestay operators. For example, Bhim Bahadur Thakuri, the teacher at the Panchayat Elementary School, is the homestay secretary and also a teacher. His fellow teachers at the same school namely Umadevi Shahi and S...

Kathmandu, Feb 28 (RSS): The United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) has recommended for Nepal’s graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category with preparatory period of five years. This means that the graduation of Nepal would be effective in 2026.  The CDP, in its triennial review held from 22 to 26 February 2021, made this recommendation as Nepal had met the criteria for graduation for three consecutive reviews.  Out of three indices which the CDP considers while deciding on the question of graduation – GNI per capita, Human Assets Index (HAI), and Economic and Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVI), Nepal met the thresholds for the latter two, thus being eligible for graduation, according to the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations, New York.   Due to the extraordinary challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and based on the request of the Government of Nepal, the normal preparatory period of three years has been extended to f...

Khotang, Feb 28 (RSS): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the local administration and local government to ensure justice to Tanka Prasad Acharya,77, a resident of Rupakot Majhuwagadhi municipality-1, who was socially boycotted for his disbelief in untouchability. Acharya was boycotted by his fellow society for taking part in a joint feast organised by the Province no. 1 government as part of its effort to build a society free of untouchability. The event had taken place two years ago. The NHRC provincial chapter in Khotang has communicated in writing to the District Administration Office and the concerned municipality to ensure that Acharya's rights are respected. The chapter has called for a comprehensive investigation into the incident and action against the guilty, said the chapter chief Shyam Babu Kafley. On Saturday, NHRC secretary Bed Bhattarai and a high-level team had met the survivor at his home before releasing a statement calling for justice to the Ac...

Damauli, Feb 28 (RSS): A youth died in a road accident near the Buldi bridge in Byas municipality-2 of Tanahu last night. The accident took place on the Prithivi highway. The deceased has been identified as Bibek Thapamagar,22, a resident of Malebagar in Byas-2, according to police. Pillion rider Rajani Gurung,20, was injured in the accident, DSP as the District Police Office, Yubaraj Timilsena said. Thapamagar reportedly lost control of his motorcycle and met with the accident on his way to Ghansikuwa from Damauli. He died during treatment at the Damauli hospital.

Kathmandu, Feb 28 (RSS):  The first general convention of National Dalit Journalists Association is to be held in Butwal, Rupandehi from coming March 12 to 13. The Association will elect a new leadership while discussing on the organization structure, journalism and inclusion among other issues, said Association Chair Binod Pahadi.       More than 2000 journalists affiliated with various media and from the Dalit community are members of the Association. The Association has branches in 60 of the 77 districts in the country. Representatives and delegates from all the seven provinces and 77 districts will take part in the convention.      The association was established in 2067 BS with the objective of promoting the professional rights and security of the journalists from the Dalit community.

    Kanchanpur, Feb 28 (RSS):    Modern agriculture tools and equipment were handed over to farmers involved in commercial sugarcane farming in Laljhadi rural municipality. The support in the form of grant was made under the Chief Minister Model Agro Village programme run by the Sudur Paschim provincial government.       The initiative is part of the Chief Minister Integrated Agriculture and Livestock Development Programme. The agro tools and equipment is expected to help the sugarcane farmers to increase productivity while lessening the labour cost, said chief of agriculture knowledge centre Dr Dil Bahadur Bista. Power tiller, mini-tiller, razor, rotavator and pump set for irrigation were distributed to the farmers.      In addition to this, developed seeds, insecticides, chemical fertilizers were also provided.     

PARIS, Feb 26, 2021 (AFP) - The Paris city hall suggested a three week lockdown to quell rising coronavirus cases in the French capital but faced swift accusations Friday that such a move was a political stunt with little effect. France has so far avoided a third lockdown to battle Covid-19 but, with case numbers starting to rise, the government of President Emmanuel Macron is beginning to impose restrictions on a local basis. Mayors do not have the power to impose lockdowns which must be approved by the government but Paris deputy mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said a three week measure would give "hope of everything reopening again" including cafes and cultural establishments. "You can't force yourself to live in a semi-prison for months. Now you have to make courageous decisions," he told France Info radio late on Thursday, adding the city hall would propose the measure to the government. However right-wing critics slammed the call, saying that the move by the city ...

 ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Feb 26,  (AFP) - Turkmenistan's authoritarian ruler has recognised a national dog breed with a state holiday, government media reported Friday, elevating the canine to the same status as the gas-rich country's beloved horses. The alabai shepherd dog has inspired presidential poetry and an ostentatious gold statue under the leadership of strongman Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a puppy for his 65th birthday in 2017. Now, thanks to Berdymukhamedov's decree, the dog will share a holiday on the last Sunday of April with the Akhal-Teke horse, an animal long heralded by state propaganda. The holiday will "increase the world fame of the Turkmen alabai", said the decree published in the Neutral Turkmenistan state newspaper. The newspaper said the alabai would also have its own national beauty contest for the first time this year. Historically prized by Turkmen pastoralists for its protective qualities, the ro...

WASHINGTON, Feb 26, (AFP) - A key US Senate official ruled Thursday that President Joe Biden's $15 per hour minimum wage measure cannot be included in the huge Covid relief bill as written, imperiling Democratic efforts to fulfill a progressive priority. The Senate parliamentarian told lawmakers that the minimum wage language is not eligible to be in the $1.9 trillion coronavirus package if Democrats seek to pass it through a filibuster-proof bill. The process, known as reconciliation, allows lawmakers to pass a budget-related bill with just a simple 51-vote majority in the 100-member chamber, rather than the 60 votes normally required for major legislation. Republicans in the evenly split Senate are largely opposed to the relief package, meaning Democrats would need to shelve the national minimum wage hike to $15 an hour from $7.25 if they want any chance at passing the Covid aid. "President Biden is disappointed in this outcome, as he proposed having the $15 minimum wage as ...

MILAN, Feb 26, (AFP) - G20 finance ministers and central bankers will gather for a video conference led by Italy Friday, hoping to align plans for relaunching the global economy after the coronavirus pandemic and to limit harm to the worst-off nations shut out of the race for vaccines. Beginning at 12:30 pm local time (1130 GMT), the meeting is the first in post for US President Joe Biden's new Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, expected to be far less confrontational than Donald Trump's representatives at past gatherings. "With the new American administration, it will certainly be easier to reach a deal" for increased aid to poorer nations, international economy professor Lucia Tajoli of Milan's Polytechnic business school said. Bu while "Joe Biden's approach to international cooperation is much more open... it won't be easy to gather funds given the economic crisis hitting many countries," she added. On Thursday, Washington urged wealthy G20 coun...

SEOUL, Feb 26, (AFP) - Eight Russian diplomats and family members -- the youngest of them a three-year-old girl -- have left North Korea on a hand-pushed rail trolley due to Pyongyang's coronavirus restrictions. Video posted on Russia's foreign ministry's verified Telegram account showed the scene as the trolley, laden with suitcases and women, was pushed across a border railway bridge by Third Secretary Vladislav Sorokin. The group waved and cheered as they made the final approach towards their homeland, the culmination of an expedition that began with a 32-hour train trip from Pyongyang, followed by a two-hour bus ride to the border. "It took a long and difficult journey to get home," the ministry said in the post late Thursday, then described how and why the group left on the trolley. "Finally, the most important part of the route -- walking on foot to the Russian side," it said. "To do this, you need to make a trolley in advance, put it on the r...

TOKYO, Feb 26, (AFP) - Tokyo's key Nikkei index tumbled nearly 4.0 percent at the close on Friday after a rout on Wall Street as rising bond yields in the United States and elsewhere stoked inflation fears. The Nikkei gave up 3.99 percent, or 1,202.26 points, to 28,966.01, marking its largest fall since June 2016. The broader Topix index dropped 3.21 percent, or 61.74 points, to 1,864.49. "Equities are starting to quiver on the outlook for higher rates with losses led by the tech sector," said Tapas Strickland, senior analyst at National Australia Bank. The dollar stayed relatively stable, changing hands at 106.18 yen in Asian trade, against 106.25 yen in New York but higher than 105.89 yen in Tokyo late Thursday. Sharp falls of Wall Street shares pressed investors in Tokyo to hit the sell button from early in the trading day, analysts said. The Dow dropped 1.8 percent to 31,402.01, retreating from an all-time high set Wednesday. "The market remained under pressure i...

KOKOPO, Papua New Guinea, Feb 26,  (AFP) - Papua New Guinea reported on Friday its largest daily jump in Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began, with infections spreading to remote regions with poor health infrastructure. A total of 89 new cases were detected on Thursday, according to the country's coronavirus task force, taking the total to 1,228. "This is the highest number of cases reported in a single day since the beginning of the pandemic," said spokesman Dominic Kakas. While Papua New Guinea appears to have avoided the worst of the pandemic, there are concerns about clusters in several provinces and a lack of widespread testing. Only 50,000 Covid-19 tests have been carried out in the nation of some nine million since the pandemic began, and the World Health Organisation has said that "the number of confirmed cases tends to be higher in provinces which report doing more testing". The largest number of cases in the last year has been found in the capital...

BEIRUT, Feb 26, (AFP) - At least 17 pro-Iran fighters were killed in US strikes in Syria at the Iraq border overnight, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday. "The strikes destroyed three lorries carrying munitions... There were many casualties. Preliminary indications are that at least 17 fighters were killed, all members of Popular Mobilisation Forces," the director of the SOHR, Rami Abdul Rahman, told AFP, 

New Delhi [India], February 26 (ANI): As many as 16,577 new COVID-19 cases and 120 deaths were reported in India during the last 24 hours, informed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Friday. With this, the total coronavirus caseload in the country has gone up to 1,10,63,491, including 1,55,986 active cases and 1,07,50,680 discharges. The COVID-19 death toll reached 1,56,825 on Friday with additional 120 deaths. As per the Health Ministry, a total of 1,34,72,643 people in the country have been vaccinated against the virus. The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16, 2021. The vaccination of the frontline workers started on February 2. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) informed today that the total number of samples has reached 21,46,61,465 as of Thursday, including 8,31,807 samples tested yesterday. (ANI)

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The California authority reported Thursday that the United States' most populous state had 50,991 deaths from COVID-19, about one-tenth of the U.S. total from the pandemic. The latest data released by the state government showed that 1,114 deaths were reported during the previous 24 hours. As of Thursday, a total of 3,460,326 infections were confirmed. The grim figure in the state with 40 million residents came just days after the country recorded a half-million deaths. It took 10 months for the state to hit 25,000 deaths on New Year's Eve and less than two months for that number to double. While California has the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in the country, it is ranked 25th in the number of cases per capita because of its large population. In Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the country, more than 800 victims were added to the list of those who had died of COVID-19 on Wednesday night, underscoring the massive toll of the f...

New Delhi [India], February 26 (ANI): The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind will visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Friday. He is expected to stay there for a period of 4 days. "The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, will visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands from February 26 to March 1, 2021," read the press release by the President's Secretariat. The details of his visit are not yet known. "It is a matter of pride that the 1,32,000-seater Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Motera has become the world's largest cricket stadium," said President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday. Speaking at the inauguration of the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium and the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave in Ahmedabad, President Kovind also noted that the stadium also provides world-class facilities for various sporting activities. (ANI)

COLOMBO, Feb 26,  (AFP) - Sri Lanka on Friday ended forced cremations of people who have died of coronavirus, after visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan urged Colombo to respect the funeral rites of the island's minority Muslims. The government first banned burials in April over concerns -- which experts said were baseless -- by influential Buddhist monks that the practice could contaminate groundwater and spread the virus. The policy was decried by members of the South Asian nation's Muslim community who constitute 10 percent of the 21 million population. While health minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi did not give a reason in her announcement reversing the ban, official sources said Khan had raised the subject with both President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa during his trip earlier this week. Dozens of demonstrators had used Khan's visit as an opportunity to call attention to the Sri Lankan government's disregard for Islamic burial cust...

Karnali, Feb 26 (RSS): Speakers at a programme have stressed the need for providing grants to the political parties so that election would not be costly.  In the virtual programme organized by Nepal Law Society Kathmandu focusing Karnali Province, the speakers expressed concern over the elections getting costlier every time.   Former secretary at law ministry, Raju Mansing Malla, reminded that Rs 4. 92 billion per vote was spent in the local election, 2074. In the local level election in 2074, electoral expense was Rs 6.64 billion while candidates and their supporters spent Rs 5.9 billion and government expenditure was Rs 1.84 billion, he presented the data showing how costly the election was. Similarly, in the last election for province and federal levels, Rs 4.4 billion was spent per vote. The candidates and their supporters spent Rs 9.69 billion. "If such hefty amount was used for country's development, it would be a huge achievement for us," he added, arguing that ele...

 Waling, Feb 26 (RSS): Phedikhola Rural Municipality of Syanga district has decided to provide incentives to the farmers cultivating the land left untilled for two consecutive years. The rural municipality brought such scheme last fiscal year to involve the youths in agriculture, said Chairperson Ghanashyam Subedi.  Subedi further informed that a work procedure was brought to bring into the use the uncultivated land so that self-reliance on food would grow. Even the sale and distribution of surplus food would generate good income, he added. According to him, 1,734 ropanis of such land was tilled last year involving 334 farmers. It produced the goods worth more than Rs 60 million. The incentive will continue for the cultivation of land this year too. The farmer willing to till the uncultivated land needs to fill up a form from concerned ward office, and produce landownership certificate, contract if it is given or taken in lease, and recommendation letter of the concerned ward ...

Kathmandu, Feb 26 (RSS): The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has decided to prepare a municipal work procedure to monitor and curb the activities relating to human trafficking in the city area. The work procedure would be based on the regulation the government prepared earlier. It is for the implementation with the coordination at local levels. The government had brought the Act against Human Trafficking, 2064; Regulation, 2065; and Work Procedure, 2070. The top leadership for it is Secretary at federal level and Chief District Officer at respective district. Similarly, in the local level, there is chief of municipality/sub-metropolis/metropolis to implement the work procedure against human trafficking. During a meeting with the stakeholders on Thursday, KMC Deputy Mayor Hariprabha Khadgi Shrestha said as the form of human trafficking has changed over time, strong collaboration among various sides was essential. Even the social networking sites were used as medium to lure people for ...

Chitwan, Feb 26 (RSS): Nepali Congress leader Mohan Bahadur Basnet has said NC should not lead the government immediately because it is not a natural time but the situation created after the internal disputes plagued the Nepal Communist Party leading to government failure. At a programme organized by Nepal Democratic Sports Association here Thursday, leader Basnet said, "At present, NC should continue representing people, but not lead government." He further reminded that people had given mandate to the communist party to run government. NC should therefore wait for people's response, the leader stressed. According to him, time has come for NC to be corrected. NC needs to win more votes from people. He accused the communist party of disrespecting people's mandate. 

Morang, Feb 26 (RSS): The Itahari Office of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) arrested an officer with bribe. The team mobilized from Itahari Office arrested officer at Drug Administration Department of Biratnagar, Saroj Subedi, along with Rs 200,000- the bribe he took from a pharmacist. He was held from Ward No 3 of Biratnagar Sub-Metropolis, according to CIAA Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Risal. Subedi was held with CIAA's 'sting operation'. He had taken the bribe by assuring a pharmacy proprietor that a case relating to pharmacy would be sorted out.  Subedi had been working at Biratnagar Office of Drug Administration Department for one and half year 

Kathmandu, Feb 26 (RSS): Former Speaker Daman Nath Dhungana has said he had not expressed anything that could influence the court decision. He said it while responding to the Supreme Court on a contempt of court case filed against him. He furnished a written response at the SC on Thursday and argued that he had expressed free speech relating to the dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR), but not influenced or pressed the court on its decision making process. "The respected SC is the only independent and non-political entity with its own specificity and I want it to speak on its fundamental nature as well," he appealed in the response. Earlier, advocate Rajaram Ghimire had filed a contempt of court case against former Speaker Dhungana, accusing him of expressing views that could influence court decision regarding the HoR dissolution. A single bench of Justice Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma had issued an order seeking written response from former Speaker Dhungana on it. Dhung...

Dhanusha, Feb 25 (RSS): Former President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has said that the Supreme Court (SC) has given its verdict in line with spirit of the Constitution of Nepal.  Referring to the restoration of the House of Representatives (HoR), the former President said that the SC's verdict was right. He added that the verdict has pleased to all those who follow democracy and democratic norms. He also opined that the court and Election Commission should work by being impartial and neutral.  Former President Yadav came up with these views while addressing an event organized on the 99th birth anniversary of late leader Mahendra Narayan Nidhi here on Thursday.

Kathmandu, Feb 25 (RSS): The Nepali Congress (NC) will decide on the power equation after the parliament meeting that will take place after the restoration of House of Representatives and after gauging the next moves of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP). A meeting of NC office-bearers held at the personal residence of party President Sher Bahadur Deuba at Budhanilkantha on Thursday concluded to decide on the next course of actions in consideration of the circumstances that transpire after the meeting of the parliament.  NC assistant general-secretary Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat said that the meeting concluded that NC should not hurriedly lend support or endorse any political parties for the formation of new government.  Emerging from the meeting, Dr Mahat shared, "It is not clear how the Nepal Communist Party is going to move ahead. The Nepal Communist Party is still a single party. KP Sharma Oli is the parliamentary party leader of the NCP. It is not yet decided how their p...

Kathmandu, Feb 25 (RSS): Police here arrested three fugitives charged with smuggling rhino horn from Kathmandu.  The arrested have been identified as Puran Reuli aka Rajendra Chettri, 31, of Sharada Municipality-5 in Salyan district, Aita Tamang aka Ashish Lama, 48, of Jyamire of Deupur Rural Municplaity-10 in Kavrepalanchwok and  Gyan Bahadur Ruma aka Jwala, 36, of Naukunda Rural Municipality-3 in Rasuwa district.  A team of police personnel deployed from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) had arrested Reule from Dhapasi in Kathmandu while Tamang and Rumba were held from Sitapaila in Kathmandu on Thursday, police said. They were charged of killing a rhino in Chitwan National Park (CNP) and involved in smuggling of rhino horn. Police have also seized a vehicle (Na 2 Cha 1458) used by the alleged smugglers to smuggle the rhino horn. CIB's SP Ganga Panta said that the arrested ones have been sent to CNP office at Kasara in Chitwan for further actions.  ...

Bhaktapur, Feb 25 (RSS): Nepali Congress (NC) leader Prakash Man Singh has argued that his party won't hastily join the government this time. Inaugurating a business venture in Madhyapur Thimi Municipality-3 on Thursday, leader Singh expressed the doubt that NC will plunge into difficulty if the party joined the government since the parliamentary party of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) was still active and the party has not officially spit.  NC should not decide to join the government, he argued, adding NC should think only if the communists approached the NC after their failure to run the government.

Kathmandu, Feb 25 (RSS): Nepali Congress vice-president Bimalendra Nidhi has said that his party will play a responsible role in the Parliament. Inaugurating the newly-constructed building of Mahendra Narayan Nidhi Memorial Hospital and unveiling the late leader's statue here Thursday, the NC leader stated that NC's role will be for democracy, constitution and people.  "Both the conflicting sides of the Nepal Communist Party are looking for NC's support for the formation of new government after the restoration of House from the Supreme Court. NC will take appropriate decision from the Parliament itself," according to Nidhi.  Likewise, NC leader and former minister Ananda Prasad Dhungana said that late Nidhi was a personality with deep trust on changes brought about by peace and non-violence means. Also speaking at the programme, NC central committee member Gagan Kumar Thapa asked the hospital's officials to ensure quality health care service in low c...

Kathmandu, Feb 25 (RSS): The Supreme Court (SC) is scheduled to give its verdict on March 4 regarding the disputes on the Nepal Communist Party.   Earlier, a writ petition was filed by NCP Chairman Rishi Kattel claiming the party's official name stating that other similar names registered were not the official NCP.     Kattel had lodged a complaint against the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) led by KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ saying their party reproduced his party’s name two years ago. A division bench of SC Justices Bam Kumar Shrestha and Kumar Regmi today decided to give its final verdict on March 4 after completion of hearing.

Kathmandu, Feb 25 (RSS): A total of 112 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the country in the past 24 hours.  According to the Ministry of Health and Population, the new cases were reported from the 3,411 PCR tests conducted during this period. With the new cases, the total COVID-19 caseload has reached 273,872 in the country.  Likewise, 48 persons infected with coronavirus infection have been recovered in the last 24 hours. With this, the recovery number has totaled at 270,223 which puts the recovery rate at 98.7 per cent in Nepal, the Ministry said in a press briefing today.  Similarly, a total of 2,767 COVID-19 infected persons have lost their lives so far. There was no fatality reported in the last 24 hours, the Ministry said. ---

Lamjung, Feb 25 (RSS): Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Padma Kumari Aryal has pledged to implement the Israeli agriculture technology to aid the government's goal of commercialization and modernization of the agriculture sector in Nepal.  Inspecting an under-construction building for the commercial farming and livestock training centre of Shree Jung Battalion of Nepali Army at Beshisahar in Lamjung on Thursday, Minister Aryal asserted that country would only prosper through commercialization of agriculture Aryal argued that the country could move in the path of prosperity if we would adopt and emulate the Israeli agriculture technology in our agriculture sector. "Through the modernization, commercialization and mechanization of the agriculture sector of agriculture, the government could realize the motto- 'Prosper Nepal, Happy Nepali'." The Minister shared that her Ministry was going to implement Israeli farming technology by setting up ...

Kathmandu, Feb 25 (RSS): President Bidya Devi Bhandari has conferred the Hem Bahadur Malla Award for 2075 BS on senior pulmonologist Dr Gaurishanker Lal Das amid a ceremony today.  At a the ceremony organized at the Office of President in Shital Niwas, President Bhandari feted 96-year-old Das in recognition to his unparalleled services and contributions to the medical and social sectors of the country. The Award, instituted by the Salt Trading Corporation in 2059 BS in the memory of its first General Manager Hem Bahadur Malla, carries a purse of Rs 200,000. President Bhandari also honoured Das with a letter of commendation. 

-CB Adhikari Kathmandu, Feb 25 (RSS): Popular chef Santosh Sah has made Nepal proud through his hard work and perseveration. Recently Sah finished first runner-up in the BBC Television competitive cooking show, MasterChef: The Professionals, which has helped Nepal known to the world.  Following this achievement, Sah known as 'king of cooking' has garnered popularity not only in Nepal but also across the world. Congratulatory messages were pouring in for him.  Sah has heightened image of Nepal to the world by providing the country's indigenous dishes to the globe. "There is no difficulty to get success in the world. Just hard work is needed. I have made a plan to promote Nepal's typical dishes across the world," shared an elated Sah, who today landed in Nepal following this achievement.  He was talking to media-persons at Tribhuvan International Airport shortly after landing here from the UK. Operating a restaurant each in the UK and Nepal is his rece...

Kathmandu, Feb 25 (RSS): The Resident Ambassadors of Nepal to the United Kingdom and South Africa, Lok Darshan Regmi and Dr Nirmal Kumar Bishwokarma respectively took oath of office and secrecy in the witness of President Bidya Devi Bhandari.  They took the oath before the President at a special ceremony organised at the Rashtrapati Bhawan Shital Niwas today.  Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and high-ranking government officials were present on the occasion, the Office of the President said.

Bagmati, Feb 25 (RSS): Chief Minister of Bagmati province, Dormani Poudel, has said that at least one technical school would be operated in every local level.  Laying the foundation stone for the reconstruction of 21-room building of Mahendra Secondary School, Padam Pokhari, in Hetauda, Chief Minister Poudel expressed the view that schools would be developed as the place of producing capable human resources if the education producing human resources   capable to compete in labour market is emphasized.   He stressed that school should impart skill along with knowledge, adding that technical education should be diversified. CM Poudel shared that priority should be given to education depending on location rather than teaching the same subject everywhere in the name of technical education.   He further said that the provincial government would support the school giving emphasis in technical education.  An agreement has been signed to recon...

-Purna Bahadur Karki  Pokhara, Feb 25 (RSS): Pokhara, one of the main tourism hubs of the country, has been witnessing increasing number of domestic tourists.  Number of domestic tourists has gone up all of sudden in Pokhara, which had not welcomed tourists for long due to coronavirus.   Although there is no remarkable number of foreign tourists in Pokhara, an increasing number of domestic tourists have been attracted to Pokhara in recent months, said tourism entrepreneurs. Similarly, number of tourists at Pokhara bazaar and surrounding rural tourism sites has also increased.  People, who were forced to limit themselves inside the houses for long due to coronavirus pandemic, have now started allocating their time for visiting different touristic sites after the number of coronavirus infected people started decreasing in the country.  Likewise, movement of domestic tourists has increased in Pokhara as they have been choosing Pokhara as their destin...

Ilam, Feb 25 (RSS): Death of chicken in bulk in the district has worried farmers. One thousand two hundred chickens died on Sunday and Monday alone incurring losses worth over Rs 450,000, said a poultry trader Binod Pokharel. The chickens in question have shown illness, he said. The chickens died due to the Newcastle disease, said the Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Expert Centre, Ilam.  However, the farmers have claimed that their chicken died even after administering them vaccines against the disease. "I got my chickens vaccinated against the disease. But it did not work and they died," said Dinesh Mahat, President of the Poultry Entrepreneur's Association. Livestock technician Prakash Luitel informed that a large number of chickens in Ilam Municipality have died after falling ill. "Poultry farms in the area have been emptied as a result," he said.  Following this, the service center collected and sent samples of the chickens to the laborato...

Gandaki, Feb 25 (RSS): Nepal has clinched the second place in the EURORDIS Photo Award-2021. The EURORDIS Photo Award is an opportunity to visually express what it means to live with a rare disease and to share your story with the rare disease community and beyond. Pokhara's Khim Kaji Lamichhane has come out second in the international photo contest. He secured the second position in the final competition held last evening in Brussels of Belgium.  Hundreds of people from more than 30 different countries around the world submitted a photo for this year's contest, each reflecting the drive of people living with a rare disease worldwide. Two thousand and seventy three photos taken by more than 400 photojournalists from around the world were included in the contest. Slovakia came out first and Iceland second in the photo competition. Lamichhane had sent a photo with the caption, 'My son Animesh, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, got a fracture in his femur and my wife took him...

Lahan, Feb 25 (RSS): Students of Janata Secondary School at Laxmipur Patari rural municipality-5 of Siraha district have padlocked the school, demanding to provide salary to teachers.  Teaching learning activities have been affected due to the lockout. The students locked their own school and ward office, citing teachers are facing problems as they have not got salary for the past one year.  Ansu Yadav, 10th grader at the school, shared that they padlocked the school in support of the teachers saying four teachers working there in private sources have not got salary from April, 2020.    Though the school resumed after lockdown, the teaching learning activities have been affected after teachers stopped teaching them, said students. The students have warned of padlocking the office of the rural municipality if their teachers do not get salary immediately. The students have padlocked the school for the past three days.  A teacher under private source, Shi...