Trinetra Dainik

Kathmandu, March 7 (RSS): The Supreme Court issued a verdict that 'Nepal Communist Party' (NCP) belongs to leader Rishi Kattel. Justices duo Bam Kumar Shrestha and Kumar Regmi delivered the decision this afternoon. The decision came in response to a writ petition filed by leader Kattel arguing that NCP led by KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' had similar name to the party he was leading. The complete details on the verdict are yet to come, C0-Spokesperson at SC, according to Devendra Dhakal. Chairman Kattel had argued in the writ petition that he had registered the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) at Election Commission in 2069BS, but then CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre) had registered the party in same name- Nepal Communist Party (NCP) after unification in 2075BS. Kattel had earlier complained at Election Commission why it gave recognition to the party led by Oli and Dahal though they registered the party in the same name. -----

Kathmandu, March 7 (RSS): Minister for Forest and Environment Prem Bahadur Ale defended himself and said he was defamed by misusing technology. Minister Ale was referring to those video clips doing rounds in social networking sites lately where he was projected as saying, "Tree gives carbon dioxide to human." Addressing the 21st annual general meeting of the Federation of Forest Based Industry and Trade (FenFIT) here today, Minister Ale clarified that remarks he had made at the Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN) few days ago were edited and disseminated to disrepute him. Urging the public not to trust that "edited" video clip, Ale asserted, "I had intended to say that the fallen tree would not give oxygen. Such trees only give carbon dioxide. But those who hate the incumbent government and me have...

BEIJING, March 7 : (AFP) - China's export growth jumped to the highest in over two decades, official data showed Sunday, with imports also surging in a sharp bounceback from the coronavirus outbreak that had brought activity to a near halt. Electronics and textile exports such as masks contributed to the spike in outbound shipments, as demand for work-from-home supplies and protective gear against the virus outbreak soared during the pandemic. Exports spiked 60.6 percent on-year in the January-February period, well above analysts' expectations, while imports rose 22.2 percent, official data showed Sunday. The latest figures stand in stark contrast to last year's fall of around 17 percent in exports and 4 percent drop in imports. The country struggled to contain the spread of Covid-19 early on, with consumers staying home and businesses seeing a slow return to operations. The customs administration said comparison to last year is also likely to have bolstered the latest figu...

SAN FRANCISCO, March 7 : (AFP) - Twitter boss Jack Dorsey is selling his first tweet at auction, with bidding Saturday reaching $2 million in a sign of the appetite for virtual objects authenticated through blockchain technology. "just setting up my twttr," Dorsey tweeted on March 21, 2006.  On Friday he posted a link to "Valuables @Cent," an online marketplace for tweets where, the site says, investors or collectors can "buy and sell tweets autographed by their creators."  The top bid Saturday for Dorsey's tweet -- $2 million -- came from Justin Sun, the founder of TRON, a platform for blockchain, the technology underlying cryptocurrencies. He also heads the BitTorrent streaming platform.  "The creator of a tweet decides if they would like to mint it on the blockchain, creating a 1-of-1 autographed version," Valuables explains.  Buying a tweet means purchasing "a digital certificate of the tweet, unique because it has been signed and ve...

SAO PAULO, March 7 : (Xinhua) -- Brazil has registered 1,555 new deaths from COVID-19, bringing the nationwide death toll to 264,325, the Ministry of Health reported on Saturday. It also reported 69,609 new cases of the novel coronavirus disease, raising the caseload to 10,938,836. The ministry said that Brazil ended a week with high numbers of new cases and deaths, as the South American country broke its record of daily deaths on Wednesday with 1,910 fatalities. As the country faces another wave of the pandemic, driven by the more contagious variant that was found in the state of Amazonas, many states have enacted curfews and banned non-essential business activities after reaching a critical level of capacity in hospital intensive care units. To take the strain off the health system, the state of Sao Paulo has asked for volunteer healthcare workers who can help at field hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients, while the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Bahia have requested an increasing n...

MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan, March 7 : (Xinhua) -- Eight policemen and five Taliban militants were killed during armed clashes in Afghanistan's northern Balkh province Saturday night, local police confirmed on Sunday. The clashes broke out after militants armed with guns and rocket launchers stormed security checkpoints in Shahrak-e-Turkmen locality, Nahri Shahi district, in the north of provincial capital Mazar-i-Sharif city, Adil Shah Adil from provincial police told Xinhua. There were also six police and seven militants wounded in the fighting, he said. The province has been the scene of heavy clashes between the Taliban militants and the government security forces in recent years.The militants of the Taliban outfit have claimed that the insurgent fighters killed 12 policemen in Balkh. Zabihullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, stated on his twitter account that Taliban seized an armored military vehicle and weapons from the checkpoints.  

New Delhi, March 7 : (PTI) The month-long second part of the Budget session of Parliament begins on Monday in the middle of a high octane campaign for assembly elections in four states and one UT. The main focus of the government in the second part of the session is to get the various demands for grants for the year 2021-22 passed along with the Finance Bill which carries various tax proposals. Besides these mandatory agendas, the government has listed various bills for passage in the session which concludes on April 8. Some of the bills listed by the government include the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Bill, Electricity (Amendment) Bill, Crypto currency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill. The part two of the session is taking place at a time when political parties have their focus on elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry. The elections would take ...

Kathmandu, March 7 (RSS): Two more Nepalis died of coronavirus abroad this week. According to the Health Committee of the Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), the victims are from the UK. As of Saturday evening, 341 Nepalis residing in several 21 countries died of the virus. The highest deaths are from the Saudi Arabia (88) followed by 86 in the UK and 50 in the UAE, said Covid-19 high level committee press coordinator of NRNA, Chiran Sharma. Likewise, till Saturday evening, 62,181 Nepalis were infected by the virus and among them, 60,628 have got recovery. The recovery rate is 96.3 percent. Sweden, Malaysia, the UAE and Portugal reported more infections on Nepali this week. Back at home, 3,010 people died of the virus and the recovery rate is 98.6 percent (270,077 out of 274,608 infected). The second phase of vaccination drive against the virus kicked off in the country today, targeting citizens above 65. So far in Nepal, 14 persons per 1,000 have receiv...

Khalanga, March 7 (RSS): The Karnali Technical School is in the long wait of renovation. The physical condition of the country's first technical school is in sorry state. The road inside the school is in the wretched condition. The structure lacks a proper fencing. The school established in 2030 BS with a view to developing Karnali as a hub for technical school has been facing an acute shortage of drinking water, forcing students and teachers to drink polluted water. The forty-year-old physical infrastructure awaits maintenance. Its roof leaks during rain. Locals are much worried to see the dilapidated school. So far, it got 26 chiefs but the fate of school never changed. Local Karna Bahadur Bhandari complained the maintenance and protection of school has not drawn the concern from anywhere. ''The school which stretches to 652 ropanis of land wears a deserted look and it is a shame for us,'' he said. School building walls are scrambled. T...

Chitwan, March 7 (RSS): Nepal Communist Party (Chanda-led) Secretariat Member Dharmendra Bastola has said joining government was not priority for the party now. Talking to media persons here today, leader Bastola said further details would be revealed gradually as the 3-point agreement was struck with the government. He however said his party was for extending cooperation to build such government that ensures scientific socialism by resolving the anomalies in parliamentary system. "It does not mean we don't join government. We help government to take the course of scientific socialism," he stressed, adding that unity among all political parties for country development was imperative at present. According to him, agreement is a preliminary thing. The political problems would be solved in a peaceful manner and party cadres released and ban on party lifted. "Government began releasing party leaders and cadres who were in detention," he said...

Kathmandu, March 7 (RSS): Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel has said the ministry would hold discussion with all concerned stakeholders in order to reduce the adverse impact of Covid-19 on national economy. "What the government can do from its side will be discussed to forge a common understanding on national economy. Government is ready for implementation of new decision," Minister Poudel vowed during the first annual general meeting of the Conference of Banking and Financial Institutions of Nepal in the capital city on Saturday. He informed that they were devoted to realizing the national ambition by reducing effects of coronavirus pandemic. The Finance Minister also argued that government was doing its work as per its strength. According to him, some respite was felt after the government had introduced some programmes in the budget and monetary policy for the current fiscal year as per the suggestions of the Confederation but such programmes were...

Kathmandu, March 7 (RSS): Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has been vaccinated against coronavirus under the second phase vaccination drive that kicked off today. PM Oli and his spouse Radhika Shakya took 'Covishield' at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital today. The nationwide vaccination drive of second phase kicked off with the PM getting himself shot against the virus. Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Health and Population Minister Hridayesh Tripathi and Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister Lekhraj Bhatta reached the TUTH to take vaccines. Talking to media after the vaccination, the PM urged one and all to contribute to making the campaign successful. He urged people to take vaccine without any doubt as it is safe. Meanwhile, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa visited the Balambu-based Armed Police Hospital to take the vaccine. The government targets to administer the anti-Covid-19 vaccines to 72 per...

Kathmandu, March 7 (RSS): The price of gold (both hallmark and worked) has increased by Rs 500 per tola in the Nepali market today, according to the Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association. The price of the precious yellow metal had seen steady plunge during last week. The Association has determined the price of hallmark gold (chapawal) at Rs 85,600 per tola and that of worked (tejabi) gold at Rs 85,650 per tola for today. On Friday, hallmark gold was being traded at Rs 85,100 per tola while the price of worked gold was Rs 85,150 per tola. Similarly, the price of silver has been steady for some time and it will be traded at Rs 1,250 per tola today, the Association added. -----

Kathmandu, March 7 (RSS): The second phase of the nationwide immunization against Corona Virus is beginning today.  Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is inaugurating the second phase of the immunization campaign by taking a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to Chief of the Child Health and Vaccination Unit under the Department of Health Service, Dr Jhalak Sharma Gautam. Prime Minister Oli will take the Covishield vaccine at the TU Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu.  The second phase of the immunization will cover the citizens above 65 years in the country. In the 15 mountain districts, people above 55 will be immunized.  The target is to administer the vaccine to around 1.6 million senior citizens, Dr Gautam said. A total of 6,000 vaccination centers have been set up across the country for the purpose.  The first phase of the campaign was organized from January 27 February 22, which targeted the frontline workers including health workers. A total of 429,00...

Bagmati, March 7 (RSS): A cycle tour has been organized from Makwanpurgadhi to Sindhuligadhi with the objective of promoting the preservation of the historical gadis or forts. The event is also aimed at promoting domestic tourism in Hetauda, the capital of Bagmati province. Chief Minister of Bagmati Dormani Poudel flagged off the cycle tour at Makwanpurgadhi on Saturday, by handing over cycle and national flag to world famous cyclist Puskar Shah.  The cycle tour has been organized by the Bagmati province Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Environment. A total of 122 cyclists including three women are taking part in the tour that began from Makwanpurgadhi with an overnight rest at Hariharpurgadhi of Sindhuli last night. The tour will end after the team reaches Sindhuligadhi today, said information officer of the Ministry Nawaraj Pudasaini. A total of Rs. 1.1 million is expected to be spent for the promotional cycle tour event that covers a distance of 131 kilometers from Makwanpur to...

Chitwan, March 7 (RSS): A cub of a Cheetah was found dead on the East-West highway last night. The baby Cheetah is believed to have died after being hit by a vehicle along the highway in the Tikauli jungle. The cub was found dead some 300 meters east of the Tikauli check post, according to information officer at Division Forest Office, Chitwan, Bal Krishna Khanal. The female Cheetah of around eight months old was found dead with injuries hit by a vehicle. The dead cub has been brought to the forest office, while an investigation is being carried out into the incident, and to find the driver behind it, Khanal said.

Kathmandu, March 7 (RSS): The Human Rights and Peace Society has elected a new executive committee led by Govinda Khanal of Rupandehi. Khanal was elected the new Chair of the HURPES unanimously by the 23rd national council meeting of the society that concluded in Pokhara on Saturday. The two-day meeting also elected Sushil Basnet of Dang as the senior Vice-chair, Ratna Laxmi Shrestha and Krishna Bahadur Rawal as Vice-chairs, Ram Krishna Baral the General Secretary and Jagannath Pudasaini as the Treasurer, according to outgoing Chair Uttam Pudasaini. Likewise, Bikas Thapa was elected Secretary of Province 1, Amar Bahadur Gautam of Province 2, Babuhari Acharya of Bagmati province, Dhiraj Thapa of Gandaki province, Mina Dhala of Lumbuni province, Puspa Malla of Karnali province and Madan Bahadur the secretary of Sudur Paschim province. ---

Bharatpur, March 7 (RSS): The Narayagadh-Muglin road will remain closed for landslide prevention work for a week starting today. It will be closed for traffic from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm every day, until March 13. Issuing a notice, the Narayangadh-Muglin road project has said that the two-way traffic will be stopped on the road so as to complete the remaining work of landslide prevention at Charkilo of the road section. All vehicles except those related to essential and emergency service will be stopped, said Project Engineer Sabita Ranabhat said. Twenty-five percent of the work of landslide prevention on the road section is yet to be completed in the area affected due to the monsoon rains last year. Accordingly, vehicles coming from Narayangadh will be stopped at Jalbire and those from Muglin at Shanti bazaar. Travelers have been meanwhile urged to use alternative route during the period.

Kanchanpur, March 7 (RSS): Twenty-two people sitting in the written examinations for the post of police constable, on behalf of the real examinees, were arrested.  The imposter examinees were arrested by police from various examinations centres in Mahendranagar. The examination was conducted by the Public Service Commission, Dipayal Centre. The imposters had changed the photographs in the entrance card and also forged the signatures of the real examinees, DSP at the District Police Office, Kanchanpur Amar Bahadur Thapa Chettri said. Further, investigation into the incident is underway, police said. ---

Kathmandu, March 5 (RSS): The government is to administer the second dose of vaccine against COVID-19 to people, who have received the first dose, from April 20 to 28.Associate Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari shared this information in a discussion programme titled 'The science of COVID-19 Vaccine and Vaccination Campaign in Nepal', organised by the Ministry here today.  He said preparations have been made for administering the second dose during that period as the second dose vaccine has to be administered after eight weeks of receiving the first dose. The first dose of the Covishield vaccine was given to the health workers, security personnel and journalists working in the frontline as well as the staff of the diplomatic missions from January 27 to February 12. Around 429 thousand persons received the first dose of the vaccine, which comprises 1.4 per cent of the total population. He said the government has also forwarded the...

Kalikot, March 5 (RSS):   Folks in Kalikot are found happy with the three-point agreement forged between Government and the Netra Bikram Chand-led party. The adversely affected district Kalikot during a decade long Maoist insurgency now is found happy with the new political beginning by the Chand-led party. The district has lost 600 locals to the Maoist conflict. The talks team coordinator Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma is a permanent resident of the district who led the talks to fruitful conclusion brought the cheers on the faces of the folks in the district. However, the locals were in tension with continuity of the insurgency by the Chand-led party even after the end of the decade-long Maoist war in 2006. Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Oli faction district chair Nagendra Shahi shared that the locals were now pleased with the end of terror after the Chand-led party entered peaceful politics. Similarly, Chand-led party district secretary Mani Lal Aidi shared that they were ins...

Lumbini, March 5 (RSS): The Lumbini Buddhist University has established the Office of Dean at Devdaha today.With the government's decision of providing around 90 bighas land at Devdaha for the University, the University established the office.  The government had handed over the ownership of the land for the central structures of the University only few days ago. The office of the Dean of School of Development Studies and Applied Sciences under the University has been established at Devdaha. The University has made preparation to build new infrastructures along with Tapoban there.  Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel today inaugurated the Office of the Dean and carried out onsite visit of the construction site. On the occasion, Minister Poudel said that the Buddhist University should be made world renowned. The government would invest for the development of the University, he added. Similarly, lawmaker Chhabilal Bishwokarma opined that priority should be given in infra...

Kathmandu, March 5 (RSS):  The government and the Nepal Communist Party led by Netra Bikram Chand have signed an agreement reached on Thursday. Both sides signed the agreement on the witnesses of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and party general secretary Chand. Home Minister and government talks team coordinator Ram Bahadur Thapa and a member Dr Rajan Bhattarai signed on the agreement on behalf of the government and NCP's talks team coordinator Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarama and member Uday Chalaune signed it on behalf of the party, amidst a ceremony at the City Hall this afternoon. The bilateral meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence, Baluwatar Thursday ended with the three-point agreement which includes the launching of peaceful political activities by the party and the release of party cadres by the government. 

Kathmandu, March 5 (RSS): Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens Julie Kumari Mahato has asserted on the strict implementation of laws to minimise the violence against women (VAW).  During  an inaugural ceremony of a national interaction on ' Indigenous Women and Covid-19' organised by the National Indigenous Women's Federation on the occasion of 11th International Women's Day here today, the Minister said there were several laws against the violence against women, but to combat the crime had been challenging as the effective implementation of such laws was awaited.  ''Nepal's constitution and other laws have many provisions for combating the violence against women but we are disappointed due to the lack of effective implementation and our attention must to be shifted to the implementation aspect,'' she asserted. According to her, VAW cases will go down if women's access to education and economic activities is increased.  She brie...

Kathmandu, March 5 (RSS): The government has begun the process of releasing the Netra Bikram Chand-led Group leaders and cadres with the withdrawal of a ban against the group activities. The development follows the signing a three-point agreement between the two sides.  According to Nepal Police Headquarters, for those already entering the court proceedings may require the decision of the Council of Ministers for the release, but those remaining under the administration offices and those in under interrogation will be freed after going through certain procedures.    Though we are yet to be updated about the number released today, it is confirmed that the release has begun. Dharmendra Bastola who was arrested from Kathmandu a week was released from Kavrepalanchwok today. According to the police, presently 144 group leaders/cadres are in police custody.   The arrest has begun in March 2019 and over this course above 2,082 people were taken under control for ...

Kaski, March 5 (RSS): A COVID-19 vaccine storage house is going to be constructed in Pokhara. Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Prithvi Subba Gurung laid the foundation stone for the facility going to be constructed at the premises of Gandaki Province Health Training Centre at Pokhara Metropolitan City-12 today.   The vaccine cold storage house is to be constructed at a cost of Rs 7.735 million (excluding VAT) of Federal Project Implementation Unit, Kaski.  Director at the Provincial Health Management Centre, Khim Bahadur Khadka, said that KP Construction, Kathmandu, has got responsibility to construct the vaccine storage house within April 30.  Vaccines available to four million people could be stored at the cold storage facility.  A plan has been set to use the storage house to store other vaccines once coronavirus pandemic comes to an end. On the occasion, Chief Minister Gurung said that the state has invested a huge amount for the management of healt...

Bara, March 5 (RSS):  Nepali Congress leader Prakash Man Singh has opined that the NC should remain in opposition rather joining government.  In a brief press meet at the Simara Airport today, leader Singh, who is also former DPM, argued that NC should not hurry in joining government as guiding the nation remaining in opposition would be a better option to his party.  He also stressed on making the party intact by overcoming intra- party factions. On another note, he argued that he could contest to the post of party President as per the wish of the cadres as he had a great contribution in the party. 

WASHINGTON, March 5, (AFP) - The United States recorded fewer than 40,000 new daily cases of Covid-19 for the first time in five months on Thursday, a piece of promising news as countries across the globe struggle to hold off another infection surge before inoculations become widespread. With frustration over restrictions having long weighed on populations worldwide, leaders were seeking to balance demands for easing rules while not unleashing another explosion in cases. In the United States, the world's hardest-hit country, the number of daily cases peaked at nearly 300,000 in early January following the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's holidays. With cases declining and vaccines rolling out, several US states have begun jettisoning mask-wearing rules -- much to the chagrin of President Joe Biden, who called the move "Neanderthal thinking." While his administration says its promise to vaccinate 100 million people in its first 100 days is ahead of schedule, Eu...

   ANKARA, March  (Xinhua) -- Nine soldiers were killed on Thursday when a military helicopter crashed in eastern Turkey, the Turkish Defense Ministry said.    "Nine heroic soldiers fell as martyrs and four were injured in the accident," the ministry said in a statement.    The contact with the Cougar-type military helicopter, which took off from the eastern province of Bingol to the Tatvan town at 1:55 p.m. local time (1055 GMT), was cut off at 2:25 p.m., the ministry said.    As a result of the searches, it was determined that the helicopter was damaged by accident, said the statement.    The injured soldiers were being evacuated to hospitals, it added.    Local NTV broadcaster reported that one general was among the killed in the crash. The search and rescue teams were working in adverse weather conditions, including snow and fog, the NTV reported.    The Tatvan town in the Bitlis province of Turkey is an area...

KABUL, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Eight Taliban militants were killed and four others wounded when Afghan army commandos launched an operation on outskirts of Kunduz city, capital of the Asian country's Kunduz province on Thursday night, the Defense Ministry confirmed on Friday.    The ministry said in a statement that the security forces also destroyed three militants' control and command centers, including a command center of Taliban key commander Qari Dawood during the raid in Buz Qandahari area.    Three explosive materials depots, one vehicle, four motorcycles, four watch towers, 146 landmines, home-made Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and 23 Taliban flags were destroyed together with big amounts of weapons and ammunition, according to the statement The province has been the scene of heavy clashes in recent years.The militant group has not made comments on the report so far.  

MINSK, March 5, (AFP) - Belarus said on Friday it had requested the extradition of exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who was forced from the country during a crackdown on critics of leader Alexander Lukashenko. Tikhanovskaya, who challenged Lukashenko in last year's presidential vote that the opposition said was rigged, sought refuge in EU member Lithuania as the crackdown intensified on anti-government demonstrations in her home country. The Belarus General Prosecutor's Office said on Friday it had requested that Lithuania extradite her "to face prosecution for crimes against the governing order, public safety and the state". Investigators said this week that Tikhanovskaya, who stood in the August vote in place of her jailed husband, had planned with associates to instigate riots and capture government buildings in the second city Gomel. Tikhanovskaya has dismissed the claims. Journalists and rights defenders are facing a slew of legal cases, which h...

AHMEDABAD, India, March 5, 2021 (AFP) - England's Ben Stokes claimed two key wickets -- including skipper Virat Kohli -- as India struggled to 153 for six at tea on the second day of the fourth and final Test on Friday. India trail by 52 runs in reply to England's 205. Rishabh Pant was batting on 36 with Washington Sundar on one. Fast bowler James Anderson and spinner Jack Leach also took two wickets each. Stokes got Rohit Sharma, who resumed the day on eight, caught behind for 49. Stokes earlier took Kohli's prized scalp -- a day after an on-field confrontation with the India captain -- as a rising delivery induced an edge to wicketkeeper Ben Foakes in the first session. Anderson, who has bowled 11 maidens in 17 overs, struck in the last over before lunch with the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane who was caught in the slips by Stokes. Leach, who trapped Cheteshwar Pujara for 17 after India resumed on 24-1, struck again in the afternoon to send back Ravichandran Ashwin for 13. On...

KABUL, March 5 (Xinhua) -- At least 90 people were killed in direct clashes and terrorist attacks in Afghanistan over the past 24 hours, an independent war monitoring group said Friday.    "Over the past 24 hours, our team has documented 90 deaths, including eight civilians, five Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) members, and 77 Taliban militants," Reduction in Violence (RiV) confirmed on its twitter account.    The group said 33 people including 31 Taliban and two civilians were also injured during the same period.    The deaths and injuries took place following eight security incidents in five provinces of the Asian country's 34 provinces. 

SEOUL, March 5 (Xinhua) -- South Korea reported 398 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Thursday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 91,638.    The daily caseload fell below 400 in three days, but it stayed in the 300s and 400s since mid-February.    The daily number of infections hovered above 100 since Nov. 8 owing to small cluster infections in Seoul and its surrounding Gyeonggi province as well as imported cases.    Of the new cases, 129 were Seoul residents and 168 were people residing in Gyeonggi province.    Seventeen cases were imported from overseas, lifting the combined figure to 7,146.    Eight more deaths were confirmed, leaving the death toll at 1,627. The total fatality rate stood at 1.78 percent.    A total of 398 more patients were discharged from quarantine after making full recovery, pulling up the combined number to 82,560. The total recovery rate was 90.09 percent. The cou...

ROME, March 5, (AFP) - Pope Francis left Rome on Friday for a historic trip to Iraq, his first abroad since the coronavirus pandemic began, according to an AFP reporter aboard his plane. The Vatican has planned a packed three-day programme for the 84-year-old pope, which is intended to bring comfort to Iraq's devastated Christian communities and will mark the high point in his continued outreach to Muslims with a meeting with reclusive Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani.

NEW DELHI, March 5 (Xinhua) -- India's COVID-19 tally rose to 11,173,761 on Friday as 16,838 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, said the latest data from the federal health ministry.    According to the official data, the death toll mounted to 157,548 as 113 COVID-19 patients died since Thursday morning.    There are still 176,319 active cases in the country, while 10,839,894 people have been discharged so far from hospitals after medical treatment.    The phase 2 of the ongoing COVID-19 vaccine drive began in the country on Monday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine - Covaxin, manufactured by Bharat Biotech company.    The phase 2 of the vaccination drive would inoculate those above the age of 60 and those over 45 with comorbidities. 

SHANGHAI, March 5 (Xinhua) -- A Shanghai proton therapy center is expected to take the lead in providing treatment for Chinese children with cancer in about two years.    The center will be jointly established by the Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai Fosun Healthcare (Group) Co., Ltd. and the U.S.-based Mevion Medical Systems, Inc., under an agreement signed this week.    About 22,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year in China. Surgery and chemotherapy are the main treatments.    Proton therapy is a new type of radiation therapy that uses high-energy beams to treat tumors. It can deliver cancer-killing power concentrated on tumors with minimal harm to surrounding healthy tissue, causing fewer side effects on brain and spine growth in children compared with traditional treatments, said Dong Kuiran, a senior oncologist at the children's hospital.    "There are many proton therapy centers under construction in China, but m...

Kathmandu, March 5 (RSS): A 16-member team comprising a member of royal family of Bahrain is arriving here to climb Mt Everest. The team includes the Prince of Bahrain, Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Issuing a press release, Nepali Embassy in Bahrain, informed that it has been confirmed that the team will leave for Nepal on March 15 for the same. Some members of the team met with Nepali Ambassador to Bahrain, Padam Sundas, at the Embassy on Thursday and informed about this. The team comprising 13 Bahrainis working at Bahrain Royal Guard (Defense Force) and three British nationals would stay in Nepal for 79 days. The team is arriving here on a special flight. According to the Embassy, Seven Summit Trekkers Pvt Ltd in Nepal has been making other necessary arrangements for climbing Mt Everest. The team had successfully climbed Lobuche Peak and Mt Manaslu in 2020. ---

Doti, March 5 (RSS): At least 884 households will be affected by Seti Hydroelectricity Project to be constructed at Bogtan Phudsil Rural Municipality. This information was given out in a press meet organized by the Ministry of Energy and Irrigation, Electricity Development Department in Phudsil. The estimated cost for the 308-megawatt-project is 91 billion rupees. According to environment consultant Dr Jyoti Prasad Gajurel, the project will mostly affect Bogatan of Doti district where 656 households would be affected. Similarly, 228 households would be affected by the project in Achham district. The height of the project dam would be of 400 meters. ---

Phungling, March 5 (RSS): Standing Committee member of Nepal Communist Party Dahal-Nepal group, Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai, has said that efforts are underway to unite the NCP. At a press meet organised by press organisation, Taplejung, today, leader Bhattarai argued that high-level leaders should sacrifice for the unification of the NCP. He shared, "There is still possibility of party unification. All organisations are in favour of unity. Talks are underway with all." Leader Bhattarai stressed that sacrifice is the first formula for the unification, arguing that the resignation of the Prime Minister is the first basis for NCP unification. "NCP can be united again if Prachanda Nepal handover the leadership to second generation rather than involving to become prime minister", added Bhattarai. On the occasion, leader Bhattarai expressed commitment to provide Rs 100,000 from his side for the construction of the building of...

Kathmandu, March 5 (RSS): Bullion price is on a declining trend in the last few days. The price of gold slumped by Rs 900 per tola (11.66 grammes) today also. Chhapawal (hallmark) gold traded at Rs 85 thousand 600 per tola in the domestic market today. Its price was determined at Rs 86 thousand 500 on Thursday. Similarly, the price of tejabi (worked) gold has been determined at Rs 85 thousand 150 per tola today as against Rs 86 thousand 50 on Thursday. The price of silver has decreased by Rs 35 per tola today. Silver price, which was Rs 1,285 per tola on Thursday, has been determined at Rs 1,250 today, the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Associations stated. ---

Kathmandu, March 5 (RSS): The Nepali Congress parliamentary party is meeting today to discuss the contemporary issues. The meeting is scheduled to take place at 1:00pm at Lhotse hall of Federal Parliament building today. The NC whip Pushpa Bhusal shared that the meeting will prepare the modality to effectively be present in the House meeting as the opposition party. She further shared that the meeting will discuss the latest political development after the restoration of the House of Representatives (HoR). ---

Nawalpur, March 5 (RSS): General Secretary of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Netra Bikram Chand 'Biplav' has been public after the government lifted ban on his party. He became public from Daldale of Nawalpur district early this morning. Chand was living underground life since the government banned the group he led two years back. On Thursday, the government and Chand-led group had sealed a 3-point agreement in federal capital, Kathmandu. After becoming public, Chand has met with the families of martyrs at Devchuli Municipality of Nawalpur.  He is learnt to have arrived at Daldale of Devchuli Municipality from hilly area of the district at 3:00am. Police have informed that he now left for Kathmandu with police security.  Chanda and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli are scheduled to make public the details on 3-point agreement from a same forum in Kathmandu this afternoon.

- Birat Anupam Itahari, March 5 (RSS): Whenever one talks about community college in Nepal, people imagine it a neglected educational destination. There is general impression that private colleges surpass the community college. But, there are some community colleges performing well from competitive entrance exams to multiple subject choice and remarkable success in result. The Janata Multiple Campus (JMC), a community college in Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City, stands untrue to general impression for its performance in academic programmes from Plus Two to Master's Level.  Newly introduced course, Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) has added new dimension to JMC of late. For the first batch of 2074 BS, 226 students had applied for entrance exams of BASW, but only 110 students were selected to join the class. In the second batch, the students' number was intentionally reduced to 71. Likewise, in the third batch of 2076 BS, the students count 60. Now, for the incoming fifth batc...

Bagmati, March 5 (RSS): A playground near Kyampadanda of Hetauda bazaar is being developed into a mini stadium. Construction of an athletics track in 400 meter with eight lanes began for it. Hetauda Sub-Metropolis has provided Rs 1.1 million budget for it in the current fiscal year. Although District Athletics Association, Makwanpur had begun works on track at Huprachaur, it was botched up later. Chairman at Ward No 5 of Hetauda Sub-Metropolis, Rajesh Baniya, hoped that the construction of athletics track would be materialized soon at Kyampadanda. As per plan, the foundation for the parapet would be completed and the upper layer constructed next year. Mayor at Hetauda Sub-Metropolis, Hari Bahadur Mahat, said they would allocate more budgets for the mini stadium next year. It has now provided Rs 2 million for the construction of concrete parapet. Currently, Piple Youth Club is busy in leveling the ground. Kyampachaur earlier used for the space occupied by trainee driver is now demarcate...

Mahottari, March 5 (RSS): Youth leader of Nepali Congress Gagan Kumar Thapa has said the national politics would get new direction after next elections. Leader Thapa said it during a programme organized by Bardibas Municipal Committee of the party on Thursday. NC needs to focus next election of House of Representatives rather than joining the new government to be made in the wake of dispute plaguing the NCP. He further said NC should lead the national politics after the next election to HoR. On the occasion, another leader of the party Dila Sangraula accused the NCP of disrespecting people's mandate. With the Supreme Court's order, the constitutional crisis has ended, she reminded.

Surkhet, March 5 (RSS):  Chief of Karnali Province Govinda Prasad Kalauni has said the State must not delay augmenting investment for the development in Karnali Province. He suggested the Municipal Development Fund to prioritize investment for Karnali development. He said it during a seminar organized by the Fund here. Management of able human resources is equally important in addition to resources at local levels of Karnali Province, Kalauni underscored. On the occasion, Executive Director at the Fund, Krishna Prasad Sapkota, shared the information that Fund had the strategy to collaborate with all municipalities within coming four years. The municipalities suffering backwardness would be given special priority, he added. Clarity in policy level is essential to invest in the projects which are beneficial in terms of economic and commercial viewpoints.  The local levels could mobilize both loan and grants in a balanced manner. Chairman of Nepal Municipalities' Association, Ash...

Kailali, March 5 (RSS): Central member of the Nepali Congress Ramesh Lekhak has said NC took positively the talks held between government and Biplav-led group. At a press meet organized by Nepal Press Union in Dhangadhi on Thursday, central member Lekhak however said the result of the talk should be in line with the spirit of federal republic and parliamentary system being based on pluralistic and competitive multi-party system.  "If the talk results against such norms, NC does not accept it," he warned, adding that NC has the stand that every problem could be resolved through dialogue. The country can not move ahead with the politics of murder, violence and terrorism, he underscored. 

Chitwan, March 4 (RSS): Joint General-Secretary of the Nepali Congress, Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, has said that decision of Netra Bikram Chand-led group to follow the peaceful path after giving up the arms was positive. Talking to media persons here today, leader Mahat argued that the agreement signed between the government and Chand-led group was positive. He shared, "It is good to join the mainstream politics and the peaceful path. We do not yet know what is in the agreement." On a different note, leader Mahat clarified that the NC would go in government under its leadership if need be, saying the NC would make its concept clear once the Parliament meeting takes place. He added, "The NC will go in government under its leadership if a situation surfaces where a government cannot be formed without NC's presence." The NC leader Mahat, however, clarified that they will go in government only if there would be necessity of the NC. He opined t...

Damauli, March 4 (RSS): Chairperson of the Land-related Problems Resolution Commission, Devi Prasad Gyawali has said it was their overall responsibility to address the land-related problems. Addressing the interaction programme on right to housing organised by the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) here today, he said the Commission shall address all the land-related problems once and for all since the land-related problems are a national problem. "The government has formulated Act and made the Commission all-powerful correcting the lacunas in the formation of the Commission in the past. The Commission will not be dissolved even if the present government is changed," he said. Chair Gyawali said no one will be landless now as the right to land and shelter has been included under the fundamental right enshrined in the constitution itself. He said the Commission will provide land plots to the genuine landless, dalit, landless squatters and the needy as ...

Khalanga, March 4 (RSS): The demand for agro produce including the Jumli Marsi rice and the organic beans is increasing in the international market. In this connection, agro-products worth more than 600 thousand have been exported first time from Jumla district to Japan. Proprietor of Organics and Super Foods, Raj Shahi said his firm exported three tonnes of the Kali Marsi variety rice grains and beans. "One tonne Marsi rice and black lentil, two tonnes of beans and 10 kilogrammes dried apple chips has been exported to Japan at the coordination of Bhuwan Shrestha, the proprietor of Purna Trading based in Tokyo," Shahi said. According to the locals of Jumla, this is the first time food products grown in Karnali have been exported to the overseas market. They hope that the country's name would be publicized in the international market with the export of the Jumli Marsi and beans. Meanwhile, preparations have reached the final stage for exporting 20 ...

Kathmandu, March 4 (RSS): Gold price today has dropped Rs 1,000 per tola (11.66 grammes). Price of Chhapawal (hallmark) gold has been determined at Rs 86,500 per tola today against Rs 87,500 on Wednesday. Likewise, price of Tejabi (worked) gold has been set at Rs 86,050 per tola as against Rs 87,050 on Wednesday, according to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association. Similarly, price of silver has been determined at Rs 1,285 per tola against Rs 1,315 on Wednesday, said the Federation. ---

  Kathmandu, March 4 (RSS): The weather will remain partly to generally cloudy with the occurrence of light rainfall at some places of the hilly region of the country today due to the influence of the Westerly. Meteorologist Raju Pradhananga said that the impact of the westerly wind system would remain till Saturday. The sky in the hilly region of Province no 1 is now partly to generally cloudy while the weather in the hilly regions of the remaining provinces is now partly cloudy. The hilly areas of the country would remain partly to generally cloudy towards the afternoon and there is possibility of light rainfall at one or two places of the hilly region. The weather would remain partly to generally cloudy in the hilly region of the country while it will be generally fair in the remaining places on Friday. As per the weather update shared by the Meteorological Forecasting Division, today's minimum temperature of Kathmandu Valley is 8.0 degrees Celsius an...

Chitwan, March 4 (RSS): Nepali Congress senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel has said the Nepali Congress could support the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Dahal-Nepal Group to form a government. Speaking in a news conference organised by Nepal Press Union Chitwan here today, he said the Congress should take the country out of the political crisis by supporting other parties. "NC can help other parties form and run the government while remaining in its poise. The Congress' role would be even more pertinent in this. We can be positive on this topic and discussions will be held in this connection," the party senior leader said. Stating it was not easy for the party president Sher Bahadur Deuba to run the government in the present situation, he said he was not trying to stop Deuba from becoming the Prime Minister but what he wanted to stress on was to come to a conclusion after consultations as to what would be good for democracy and the system. "The pres...

  Kathmandu, March 4 (RSS): A three-point agreement has been signed between the government and the Netra Bikram Chand-led group in order to resolve all political matters through the medium of talks. Issuing a joint press release today, coordinator of government talks team, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, and coordinator of talks team of Chand-led group, Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma, today informed in this regard. With the agreement, the Chand-led group would run all its activities peacefully and the ban imposed by the government on its activities has been lifted. The press release mentioned about the lifting of the ban imposed upon activities of Chand-led group, releasing its all detainees and withdrawing the case. Details of the agreement would be made public on Friday (at 2pm) amid a special function, according to the deal. Prime Ministe...

Baitadi, March 4 (RSS): Border points of Tallo Swarad of the district have remained closed for the past 11 months. Mobility of the people has been troubled with the closure of the border points – the definite areas through which people move across the Mahakali River by boats.  The points of Tallo Swarad have been shut since April 2020 in an effort to prevent and control coroanvirus infection.  The Nagarjunghat and Kusmadghat points of Shivanath rural municipality, Balarghat, Doyaghat, Rolghat, Dimnbarghat, Panchesworghat, Binayakghat and Dharamghat points have closed since last year.  Due to the closure of the points, people here are compelled to go India through Jhulaghat entry point by spending two days. In addition, people have to buy daily essential goods in a higher price due to closure of the entry points, said Birendra Mahata, a local.  The supply of goods was made possible from India when the points were open. The shutdown of the points have discontinued the ...

Taplejung, March 4 (RSS): Loss amounting to Rs 400 million has been reported in the fire incident that took place at Dovan Bazaar of Taplejung.  A taskforce formed under the coordination of Chief Administrative Officer of Meringden rural municipality, Dambar Angdambe, for the collection of official details of the loss has disclosed that the inferno caused the loss amounting to Rs 398.77 million.  The fire had completely destroyed houses along with nearby shops, cardamom store and other physical structures. Angdambe said that the Nepal Telecom had faced the biggest loss of Rs 10 million when its tower and other structure were completely destroyed.  It took a long time to assess details of loss triggered by the fire incident, Angdambe added.  The taskforce entrusted with the responsibility for gathering details of loss after the fire incident came up with their assessment last night. The fire that took place on Tuesday had destroyed 49 houses. 

Nawalpur, March 4 (RSS): Various stakeholders have highlighted a crucial role of youths in checking wildlife hunting and poaching.  Speakers said this at a programme organized at Devchuli municipality of Nawalpur to mark the World Wildlife Day with the 'Forest and Livelihood: Sustaining People and Planet".  They called for youths to be proactive for the prevention and control of wildlife poaching and smuggling.  On the occasion, Chairperson of Siswar Buffer Zone Users' Committee, Netra Bahadur Pandey said sustainable livelihood can be ensured with the proper use of forest and bio-diversity. He stressed the need to conserve wildlife as the ornament of the country.  Likewise, chairperson of Community-based Wildlife Poaching and Smuggling Control Youth Awareness Campaign, Dhundiraj KC said those involved in wildlife smuggling are in the age below 40.  According to the data received from Chitwan National Park's Crime Investigation Section, 90 percent people arrested...

-Khagaraj Gautam Galkot, March 4 (RSS):    Incidents of divorce have increased in Baglung district over the years. The data of the cases maintained at District Court Baglung and verdicts revealed an increasing trend of divorce of late. The enforcement of the new Civil Code in 2018 has eased the complicated nature of divorce. Lately the code has specified a provision that any side either man or woman can register a divorce case. According to the court, the trend of divorce cases registered from both man and woman sides has increased due to loose legal provisions to that effect. A total of 116 divorce cases were registered at the District Court Baglung in the seven months of current fiscal year 2077/78 BS, informed registrar Surya Prasad Bhandari. The court has registered a higher number of divorce cases at once due to closure of the court after COVID-19 outbreak, he said. In the previous year 2076/77, 1a total of 86 cases of divorce were registered in the court. The court has c...

Kathmandu, March 4 (RSS): The Bagmati cleanup mega campaign scheduled for coming March 6 and 13 is to be focused in the Pashupati area with a view to providing clean environment to religious visitors on the occasion of Mahashivaratri. A meeting of the Bagmati cleanup mega campaign on Wednesday took the decision to focus its 408th and 409th weekly programme in Pashupati. Cleanup campaigner Kishor Singh Shahi told RSS that the sanitation campaign will be placed at Pashupati area on two Saturdays, one before and another after the Mahashivarattri, in view of big inflow of revelers from home and abroad on the occasion. Both the cleanup programme will begin from Suryaghat of Pashupati area to the Aryaghat dam. Former chief secretary of the Nepal government Leelamani Poudyal was also present in the meeting. 

WASHINGTON, March 2 : (AFP) - Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, were vaccinated against the coronavirus in January before leaving the White House, an advisor to the former president said on Monday. "President Trump and the first lady were vaccinated at the White House in January," the advisor said without providing any further details. Joe Biden, who took over as president on January 20, was vaccinated publicly against the coronavirus on December 21 but the Trumps' vaccinations had not been revealed previously. Trump, in a speech on Sunday, his first since leaving the White House, said everyone should get vaccinated against Covid-19, which has left more than 500,000 people dead in the United States. Some of Trump's supporters have expressed skepticism about being vaccinated. Trump came down with Covid-19 in early October and was hospitalized for several days in a suburb of Washington.RSS

BEIJING, March 2 : (AFP) - More than 200 billionaires were created in China last year as booming stock markets and a flood of new listings offset the ravages of the virus pandemic, according to a global tally released Tuesday. The size of China's exclusive billionaire's club has almost doubled in the past five years as the world's number two economy continued to outpace most others, and its ability to mostly avoid the worst of the coronavirus meant it was one of the few to expand in 2020. And the Hurun Global Rich List showed 259 people breaking into the billion-dollar bracket -- more than the rest of the world combined -- taking China total to 1,058, the first country to break the 1,000 mark. In comparison, second best performer the United States saw 70 new billionaires created, taking its total to 696. Leading the Chinese pack was Zhong Shanshan of bottled water giant Nongfu, who entered the list for the first time with an $85 billion fortune, putting him number one in As...

VANCOUVER, March 2 : (AFP) - Chinese Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou was back in a Canadian court Monday to fight a final round against extradition to the United States, her lawyers challenging the crux of the case -- that she allegedly hid business dealings in Iran. The daughter of Huawei founder and chief executive Ren Zhengfei faces charges in the United States of bank fraud and conspiracy over the commercial activities of a former Huawei subsidiary alleged to have violated US sanctions against Iran. Meng, 49, is accused of having lied to the HSBC investment bank about Huawei's relationship with subsidiary Skycom, putting the bank at risk of violating US sanctions against Iran as it continued to clear US dollar transactions for Huawei. If convicted, she could face more than 30 years in a US prison. Meng and Huawei both deny the charges. Huawei is the world's largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer. As the case enters its final months, Meng's defence ...