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  • Rain, snowfall forecast from Thursday

    Rain, snowfall forecast from Thursday

    KATHMANDU: The Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD) has predicted snowfall and rain from coming Thursday.

    According to a weather bulletin issued by the Division this morning, winter rain and snowfall will occur in most of the places of the country.

    The westerly wind is gradually approaching Nepal from the far-western side which will cause rain for three days starting Thursday. Once the westerly wind enters the country, it will cause rain in various parts of the country.

    The air pollution has increased in the country due to non-occurrence of rain and snowfall for a long time. Despite sporadic rainfall in some places of the western and far-western regions, rainfall has not occurred for the last five months.

    Currently, the weather is generally cloudy in many parts of the country including Terai. The fogs and clouds are gradually clearing off in the Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding areas.

    The temperature of the capital is recorded at 2.7 degree Celsius this morning and is expected to remain between 18 to 20 degree during the day today, according to MFD.

  • Fire still out of control in Manang

    Fire still out of control in Manang

    MANANG: The jungle in Naso rural municipality of the district continues to rage in forest fire since the past two days.

    However, efforts to douse it have not been successful. “We have used all resources available in the district but to no avail,” said ward no.8 chairperson Hupajung Gurung. The fire is now poised to enter the human settlements in Tachai. Strong winds are making the fire control work difficult while the village has been engulfed in smoke due to the forest fire.

    Chairperson of Tachai preservation area management committee Yaad Ghale said efforts are being made to bring the fire under control. However, local resident accused the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) authorities of turning a blind eye to the incident.

    The fire has reportedly gutted 2,000 hectare of jungle in the ACAP area. Some locals also blame the local administration for inactiveness. However, Chief District Officer of Manang Bishnu Adhikari said the local security agencies are working day and night to stop the fire from entering human settlements.

    Forest fire has been reported in different parts of the district, and hence has been difficult even with the mobilization of all available resources, he said.

  • WHO virus experts poised to start Wuhan fieldwork

    WHO virus experts poised to start Wuhan fieldwork

    Experts from the World Health Organization met Chinese officials Friday ahead of their first site visits in Wuhan for a coronavirus origins probe which will take in a food market presumed to be “ground zero” of the pandemic.

    The fieldwork was set to begin in earnest in the afternoon, after being hobbled by delays and amid fears over access and the strength of evidence a year after the virus emerged.

    The team will visit hospitals, as well as meeting scientists, first responders and some of the early patients to be hit by the then-unknown coronavirus that has gone on to kill more than two million people across the world and flatline the global economy.

    Crucially, “field visits will include the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Huanan market, Wuhan CDC laboratory”, the WHO said in a tweet late Thursday — three sites now indelibly linked with the virus.

    The Huanan market, which remains boarded up, is believed to have been the outbreak’s first major cluster.

    Meanwhile, the Wuhan Institute of Virology houses a virus testing facility which was weaponised by former US president Donald Trump, who until his final days in office pushed the unsubstantiated theory that the virus escaped from there.

    The mission’s exact itinerary remains unclear — tweets from the WHO and their experts are so far the main source of information.

    The highly politicised mission has been beset by delays with China refusing access until mid-January, while Washington has demanded a “robust and clear” investigation.

    China on Thursday warned the US against “political interference” during a trip which the WHO insists will be tethered tightly to the science behind how the virus jumped to humans.

    Beijing is desperate to take the air out of the blame game and instead train attention on its handling and recovery from the outbreak.

    In a tweet late Thursday, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he had had a “frank discussion” with China’s Health Minister Ma Xiaowei.”I asked that the international scientists get the support, access & data needed, and the chance to engage fully with their Chinese counterparts,” he said.

    The experts left a two-week quarantine on Thursday under the glare of the global media.China’s National Health Commission says 4,636 people have died in the country as a result of the virus.

    The nation’s GDP grew 2.3 percent in 2020, the only major economy to do so.In comparison, more than 400,000 Americans have died so far as the sickness rips through its population and economy, while the UK recorded its 100,000th fatality this week.

  • Martyrs’ Day: President pays tribute to martyrs

    Martyrs’ Day: President pays tribute to martyrs

    KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has said the programs organized in honor of the martyrs have played a significant role to make aware the new generation on the sacrifices made by the martyrs.

    President Bhandari said it while giving a message of best wishes on the occasion of the Martyrs’ Day today.

    She reminded that the present exercise of rights and freedoms are the result of the sacrifices the martyrs made in the past.

    She paid tributes to the martyrs Sukraj Sashtri, Dasharath Chand, Dharmabhakta Mathema, and Ganga Lal Shrestha, reminding that their struggle and sacrifice resulted in the freedom of citizens, the establishment of democracy, and protection of nationality.

    The country has been observing the day in memory of martyrs’ sacrifices which led to the abolishment of the autocratic Rana Regime.

  • COVID-19 vaccination: 120 vaccination centers at 62 hospitals throughout country

    COVID-19 vaccination: 120 vaccination centers at 62 hospitals throughout country

    KATHMANDU: Covishield, the vaccine against COVID-19, would be administered from 17 vaccination centers in Kathmandu Valley.

    Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is scheduled to inaugurate the vaccination amidst a virtual program at 10 am on Wednesday.

    Seventeen hospitals in the Valley have been designated as the vaccination centers, Dr. Jhalak Sharma Gautam, Director of the Child Health and Vaccination Section at the Department of Health Services, said.

    According to him, there will be 12 vaccination centers in Kathmandu, three vaccination centers in Lalitpur, and two vaccination centers in Bhaktapur.

    The vaccination centers in Kathmandu are the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, the Bir Hospital, the Shukraraj Tropical, and Communicable Disease Hospital, Nepal Medical College Jorpati, the Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, the Sahid Dharma Bhakta Organ Transplant Centre, the Armed Police Force (APF) Balambu Hospital and the Sahid Gangalal Hospital etc.

    Similarly, the designated vaccination centers in Lalitpur include Patan Academy of Health Sciences, KIST Medical College, and the Anandaban Hospital.

    Likewise, the designated vaccination centers in Bhaktapur are the Bhaktapur Hospital and the Korea Friendship Hospital.

    Director Gautam said an inspection has been carried out today at the hospitals designated as vaccination centers in the Kathmandu Valley.

    In the inauguration program, vaccines would be administered simultaneously at the 62 hospitals and more than 120 vaccination centers in all seven provinces.

    The Section has made preparation for administering vaccines through 300 vaccination centers in the 77 districts within January 31.

    One million doses of vaccines were brought to Nepal from India on January 21. The Indian government had provided the vaccines under the grant assistance.

    Dr Gautam said the vaccines have reached all the provinces. The Ministry of Health and Population will conclude the vaccination campaign within 10 days of the launching of the first phase of vaccination. Four hundred thirty thousand persons would be given the vaccines in the first phase.

    The government is making preparation to bring vaccines for the next phase of vaccination before the conclusion of the first-phase vaccination.

    The Covishield vaccine has been developed jointly by the Oxford University and the AstraZeneca pharmaceutical company. The vaccines have been manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.

    The District COVID-19 Vaccination Coordination Committee will monitor the vaccination in the respective districts.

    Two hundred sixty-nine thousand 789 people are infected with COVID-19 while 2,011 people have died due to the coronavirus infection so far in Nepal, the Ministry of Health has stated.

  • Three hundred eleven thousand people download ‘Nagarik App’

    Three hundred eleven thousand people download ‘Nagarik App’

    KATHMANDU: An increasing number of users are found attracted towards the ‘Nagarik App’. The app was launched by the government on January 15 around the slogan ‘Support of Communication and Information Technology, Government Services in the Hands (of Citizens).’

    Three hundred eleven thousand one hundred and fifty-three users have downloaded the app as of Wednesday, the national Information Technology Center said.

    Only 27 per cent among the users downloading the app have been verified so far.

    The Center officials shared that many complaints were received that there was no verification even after downloading the app. Along with users who have entered into the system after the verification many users have been complaining through telephone about this problem, Information Officer at the Center, Ramesh Prasad Pokharel, said.

    According to Pokharel, many complaints are related to Nepal Telecom and the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is said there is a problem in verification as the SIM card the user is using at present is not registered in his/her name or due to the mistake of the Telecom employees not registering the correct spelling of the user’s name while registering the SIM card.

    Similarly, many users complained that the particulars of their citizenship certificate were not matching.
    Although more than 300 thousand people have downloaded the app in six days, 225 thousand or 72 per cent users have not been able to verify.

    Pokharel acknowledged that although the users have been found attracted to the app which is in trial, problems have been faced in the functioning of the app due to various reasons.

    It is said problem in verification is due to information like the name, surname and date of birth etc. of the user in the citizenship certificate, passport or the voter identity card not matching with the data of the same maintained by the Ministry of Home Affairs or the user using the SIM card registered in another person’s name.

    The Center’s data shows that so far 31 thousand 676 users have verified their passport, 28 thousand users their voter identity card, 39 thousand 715 users their PAN number, 19 thousand 109 users have verified School Leaving Certificate (SLC) and 8,486 users higher education certificates through the app.

    The government launched the app with the goal of providing services through an integrated platform by digitalizing all kinds of services provided by the government.

    In the initial phase, the digital identity of a citizen is established in the app using the details of an individual retained by the Home Ministry, the Election Commission and the Department of Passport.

    The plan is also to add the National Identity Card in the app in the coming days. The Ministry of Home Affairs has said it has begun developing an online system for correcting the mistakes after a majority of the users of the app complained of mistakes in the information related to their citizenship certificate.

  • South Korea to provide anti-COVID-19 vaccine to Nepali free of cost

    South Korea to provide anti-COVID-19 vaccine to Nepali free of cost

    Kathmandu: The Government of South Korea is to administer anti-coronavirus vaccination to all domestic and foreign nationals residing in its country free of cost. At a press conference held on Monday, Chief of South Korea’s Department of Disease Control and Prevention Jeong Eun-kyeong informed that all domestic and foreign nationals residing in South Korea would be freely administered the vaccine against the COVID-19.

    Earlier, the Korean government had announced to freely provide vaccines only to its citizens. In the meantime, the government has made a new decision to administer anti-COVID vaccine to all foreigners residing in South Korea. With this decision coming to effect, over 50,000 Nepali presently living in South Korea will also entitle to get the vaccine free of cost.

    Frontline health workers and volunteers would be put on top priority while administering the vaccine that is to kick start from coming month. Next priority would be given to senior citizens, children, helpless and people living with disabilities, it was shared in the press conference. Lately, South Korea has also confirmed the detection and wider transmission of new variant of coronavirus. Some weeks ago as many as 1,000 cases of coronavirus were diagnosed everyday in the country. But this week the number of coronavirus infection cases was lowered to 400 a day.

  • 348 new cases take Nepal’s coronavirus tally to 2,67,992

    348 new cases take Nepal’s coronavirus tally to 2,67,992

    KATHMANDU: The country recorded a total of 348 new cases of coronavirus infection in the past 24 hours.

    According to the Ministry of Health and Population, the coronavirus tally reached 2,67,992 in the country as of Tuesday afternoon.

    Likewise, the Ministry shared that now the country has 3,764 reported active cases of the virus.

    In the past 24 hours, altogether 441 infected people got recovery from the virus infection. So far, 2,62,259 people recovered from the coronavirus infection in the country.

    Similarly, 4 persons succumbed to the virus across the country in the past 24 hours, hitting the total COVID-19 related deaths to 1,969.

  • Fresh mandate essential for peace and stability: President Bhandari

    Fresh mandate essential for peace and stability: President Bhandari

    KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has said that a fresh mandate is essential for peace, stability, and development.

    Receiving the annual report of the Election Commission, President Bhandari also said that the elections should be held on time.

    “President Bhandari said that a fresh mandate is essential for peace, stability, and development, it is imperative for holding polls on announced dates. Stating that the preparations being made by the Commission are positive, President expressed confidence that the Commission would be able to work seriously and resolutely for free, fair, credible, economical and fearless elections,” reads the statement by the Election Commission.

    On the occasion, Bhandari suggested that since the task of institutionalizing and strengthening democracy lies with the Election Commission, it should work towards ensuring maximum voter turnout and voting rights of all voters and making polling stations and centers voter-friendly.

    The commission on Monday submitted its annual report 076/77 BS to President Bhandari as per Article 294 of the constitution.

  • ECN presents its annual report to President

    ECN presents its annual report to President

    Kathmandu:  The Election Commission, Nepal (ECN) today submitted its annual report for the fiscal year, 2019/20 to President Bidya Devi Bhandari. Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya presented the report amid a function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in Sheetal Niwas. The occasion was attended by also election commissioners Narendra Dahal and Ishwori Prasad Paudyal and the ECN Secretary Dev Kumari Guragain.