Janata Live

Health minister stresses increased investment in health

2020-05-19T04:42:00.002-07:00

KATHMANDU: Minister for Health and Population Bhanubhakta Dhakal has stressed the need for responsive and resilient health systems as well as sustained level of in-country production of medical services and goods.

Attending in a virtual meeting of the 73rd World Health Assembly, Minister Dhakal said Nepal expects a high-level coordination and cooperation from concerned stakeholders to make the country’s efforts efficient and holistic.

Stating that health is a major foundation for development, he said that the coronavirus pandemic has further provided the need for increased investment in health.

He said that the whole world is passing through a challenging time with risks and uncertainties and the upcoming days.

Minister Dhakal stated that Nepal has been responding to the COVID-19 outbreak with high-level political commitment by mobilizing multi-sectoral mechanisms.

The ongoing efforts to respond this epidemic, he argued, from the three tiers of government have been instrumental in the country.

Disney’s streaming chief appointed as TikTok CEO

2020-05-19T04:41:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO: Long-time Disney’s head of streaming Kevin Mayer is going to be the CEO of short-video making platform TikTok and chief operating officer of ByteDance which is the owner of TikTok.

Alex Zhu, the current President of TikTok, will transition to ByteDance VP of Product and Strategy, where he will focus on his primary passion overseeing strategy and product design, ByteDance said in a statement late Monday.

Mayer led Disney”s Direct-to-Consumer and International segment since its founding in 2018 and oversaw the successful launches of ESPN+ and Disney+ and the integration of Hulu.

During his career at Disney, Mayer was instrumental in facilitating a number of strategic acquisitions, including the acquisition of 21st Century Fox.

Mayer will now report directly to ByteDance Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Yiming Zhang, and will be charged with driving the global development of ByteDance, as well as overseeing corporate functions including corporate development, sales, marketing, public affairs, security, moderation, and legal.

In his role as COO, he will lead music, gaming, Helo, emerging businesses, and will serve as CEO of TikTok, leading the rapidly growing platform as it continues to build its global community of creators, users, and brands.

TikTok’s popularity has surged in Covid-19 times worldwide.

“As one of the world”s most accomplished entertainment executives, Mayer is incredibly well placed to take ByteDance”s portfolio of products to the next level. I look forward to working very closely with Mayer on our global development and the next chapter of the ByteDance story,” said Zhang.

Mayer said he is thrilled to have the opportunity to join the amazing team at ByteDance.

“I’ve been impressed watching the company build something incredibly rare in TikTok a creative, positive online global community and I”m excited to help lead the next phase of ByteDance”s journey as the company continues to expand its breadth of products across every region of the world,” he noted.

Founded in 2012, ByteDance has more than a dozen products, including TikTok, Helo, and Resso, as well as platforms specific to the China market, including Toutiao, Douyin, and Xigua.

Mayer’s role at Disney will be taken over by Rebecca Campbell, who has been named chairman of Disney”s direct-to-consumer efforts.

Disney also announced that Josh D”Amaro would become chairman of Disney”s parks, experiences, and products.

(with inputs from Agencies)

PM Oli directs to tighten lockdown

2020-05-12T05:34:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister KP Oli. (File photo/RSS)

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Oli has directed Cabinet ministers to implement the lockdown enforced to stem the spread of coronavirus strictly.

Mentioning that the number of infected people has increased, the prime minister said that the lockdown should not be eased in such a situation.

During a Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, PM Oli also expressed his dissatisfaction saying that the traffic jam has increased in Kathmandu during the lockdown.

According to a minister, the prime minister stressed that the lockdown should not be eased until the pandemic is brought under control.

The government had decided to let 42 different industries operate from last Friday. Similarly, one-third of the employees of government offices in Kathmandu Valley have been instructed to attend office.

It has resulted in traffic gridlock in Kathmandu mainly during rush hours.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the traffic jam during the lockdown, Prime Minister Oli directed to tighten the lockdown.

The government had first enforced the lockdown on March 24 for a week after the second coronavirus case was reported in Nepal.

The first lockdown had been extended until March 31, the second one was extended until April 7, the third until April 15, the fourth until April 27, the fifth one until May 7, and sixth one expiring on May 18.

Nepal has, so far, 191 confirmed cases, and 33 patients have been discharged after recovery as of Tuesday.

Exchange of notes won’t work; take concrete steps to resolve Lipu Lekh issue with India, China: Prachanda

2020-05-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

KATHMANDU: Former Prime Minister and Chairman of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has emphasized the need to seek alternative measures to resolve the ongoing border disputes provided the diplomatic efforts with India bear no fruits.

He also said border issues with India and China need to be resolve once and for all.

Speaking at the meeting of State Affairs and Good Governance Committee under House of Representative, former Prime Minister Dahal reiterated the need of resolving border disputes with India through diplomatic channels and high-level political talks.

“Nepal should ponder on the move it has to take provided both the high level political talk and the diplomatic channels fail to bear the desired output,” Prachanda said.

He labeled the current dispute at Lipu Lekh as a trilateral issue.

“After India’s construction of road via Lipu Lekh to the Chinese border, China has also become a party in dispute,” he said adding, “This needs to be settled at a trilateral understanding.”

According to him, the dispute originated with India’s faulty map that had included Nepali land in it. “The construction of the road in the land that they have brought under dispute has aggravated the situation,” he added.

While most of the lawmakers at the committee demanded the issue to be taken to international court, Prachanda said that there is no need to take it to the international court yet.

He also shared that he has spoken to Prime Minister KP Oli about it. “I have spoken to PM Oli about the issue and suggested him to initiate actions to resolve the issue at political and diplomatic level,” he further added.

Dahal also concluded that as the issue has reached a serious mode, merely exchange of letters cannot resolve it, hence it needs a decisive action.

Govt has lost moral, political grounds to govern: Deuba

2020-05-08T08:56:00.001-07:00

KATHMANDU: President of the main opposition Nepali Congress Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the government has lost the moral and political grounds for ruling the country any more.

Speaking at the first meeting of the budget session, also a parliamentary leader of NC, former PM Deuba said that the activities of the government themselves prove that it has lost the moral ground to rule the country any more.

“The corruption in the health materials procurement, kidnapping of MPs, undemocratic ordinances and many cases like this indicate that the government has no moral and political grounds to rule the country” NC President Deuba said.

He said that despite the attempt to work together with the government, due to the ill-intent activities the efforts are made void the government and the ruling party.

Deuba also complained that the workers rendered jobless and the poor and marginalized people have not got the relief properly.

“Instead of arranging for the starving landless and jobless people, the government has formed the commission for the landless,” he spoke sarcastically of the government’s shift of priorities in the difficult time.

He demanded the government to provide relief to laborers, unemployed, students living in rent, tourism entrepreneurs, journalists, media house and industrial sectors.

He hailed the corruption in health materials and unavailability of the health kits until now as shameful and regrettable.

“The lack of transparency and the procurement at a higher price than the one in the market is inexcusable,” former PM Deuba added, “I demand the guilty be punished strictly.”

He criticized the government for the ill-intent and regressive ordinances the government had tried to introduce lately.

Govt sends PCR test kits to labs across country

2020-05-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

Minister for Health Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal receives kits donated by Swiss government. (Photo: RSS)

KATHMANDU: The government has sent test kits to the laboratories where coronavirus testing was hindered due to the lack of necessary kits. The kits assisted by the Swiss government were sent to the laboratories.

The Department of Health Services on Friday dispatched the kits to different laboratories across the country after the government received 30,000 kits donated by the Swiss government.

According to the Director-General of the Department of Health Services Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, 500 to 1,000 kits have been sent to the laboratories were testing has been hindered for the lack of kits.

“We have sent kits to all the Provinces today,” Shrestha told.

Director-General Shrestha said that 1,000 kits are being sent to Nepalgunj through a chopper of the Nepal Army, adding that there will be no shortage of kits in the laboratories for the next three days.

Use Of Medicinal Herbs To Boost Immunity System Of COVID-19 Patients

2020-05-08T08:27:00.003-07:00

Biratnagar, May 8: Patients of COVID-19 were given ayurvedic medicines in the Koshi Hospital, Biratnagar.

Ayurvedic medicines like Chyawanprash, Gilroy (Gurjo) and Ashwagandha were provided to the COVID-19 patients to increase their immunity system in fighting the disease.

"At first we prioritised in providing them with proper nutritious diet with minimum allopathic medicines," said Dr. Sangeeta Mishra, medical superintendent of the Koshi Hospital. "We then started providing allopathic supplements to the patients as per the need."

She said that the hospital had been providing mixture of three herbal medicines to the patients for the last few days.

Ministry of Social development had suggested medical consultants to use Ayurvedic medicine in treatment of COVID-19 infected patients.

Aymen Miya, 72, and Israel Miya, 60, who were infected with COVID-19 in Bhulke, Udayapur Triyuga Municipality-3, have already defeated the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2 with intake of medicinal herbs. They were discharged from hospital on Friday after recovery.

"We were worried that the elderly patients were at high risk, as old-aged people have defeated the virus, our confidence has been boosted up," said Dr. Mishra.

Private Schools Say They Are Unable To Pay Teachers

2020-05-08T08:25:00.001-07:00

Kathmandu, May 8: Organisations of the private school have said that the private schools would not be able to pay their teaching and non-teaching staff members unless the government provides a suitable alternative to them in the current situation.

They claimed that they were facing problems in managing the school as the government instructed them not to charge any fee to the guardians.

Many private schools have not paid the salaries to their teachers and other employees from mid-March citing the government instruction not to charge any fee to the school children after the closure of schools due to coronavirus fear and lockdown.

Tika Puri, chairman of Private and Boarding School Association Nepal (PABSON), said their member schools were paying teaching and non-teaching staff and rent of the school buildings from the fees they collect from the students.

“Now when the government prohibited schools from collecting fees, they are really facing problems,” he added.

Puri further said they were also not planning to charge fees of online classes, but they were seeking some relief package from the government for the management of the schools.

According to Puri, about 200,000 teaching and non-teaching staff members are associated with private schools across the country. Likewise, 70 per cent private schools are running in rented buildings.

Rituraj Sapkota, chairperson of National Private and Boarding Schools Association Nepal (NPABSON), said though private schools were not asking fees with the guardians now, but they were worrying about the management of their schools without charging fees to the students.

“Some sacrifice from all guardians, school management and teachers could be the best way to manage schools in the present crucial situation,” Sapkota said.

He said the government had to play the role of a mediator for the management of the private schools. The NPABSON has been planning to have a dialogue with the government on the issue, he added.

Recently, the government had instructed the private schools not to charge any fee to the students during the lockdown. It has also asked the private schools not to charge fee of the online classes, which many schools are running now.-By risingnepaldaily

All lawmakers being tested for COVID-19 today (with photos)

2020-05-07T09:46:00.003-07:00

Speaker of House of Representatives Agni Sapkota undergoing COVID-19 test at federal parliament building earlier today.

KATHMANDU, May 7: Just a day before the budget session of the federal parliament begins, sample tests of all the lawmakers of both the houses for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are being carried out on Thursday.

The lawmakers are being tested for the disease via the PCR method. For this, swab samples of the upper house – the National Assembly - are being collected from 10 am while the samples of the MPs of the House of Representatives are being collected from 11 am.

National Assembly chairperson Ganesh Timalsina undergoing COVID-19 test at federal parliament building.

Collection of the samples is taking place at the New Baneshwar-based federal parliament premises.

According to Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, chairperson of the upper house, testing each lawmaker for the disease is mandatory as they have arrived in Kathmandu from various parts of the country. “At the same time, their presence in the house is also important as this is the time of formulation of plans and policies of the government and endorsing the annual budget,” he added.

Lawmaker Prem Suwal undergoing COVID-19 test.

All the lawmakers will go through the COVID-19 test according to the suggestions received from experts although the earlier plan was to test the lawmakers belonging to the affected districts only.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health and Population was asked to launch a testing campaign for COVID-19 along with other health tests.

Lawmaker Rajendra Mahato undergoing COVID-19 test.

It is said that seating arrangement has been done with proper distancing. Similarly, the lawmakers should wear a face mask upon arriving in the meeting hall. Temperature will also be tested before their entry into the hall.
Earlier on Sunday, President Bidya Devi Bhandari summoned the budget session of the federal parliament from Friday at the recommendation of the cabinet.

Male with Coronavirus recurrence admitted to Patan hospital

2020-05-06T08:42:00.001-07:00

KATHMANDU: A SunCity Apartments dweller formerly discharged from hospital after recovery of Coronavirus is readmitted to Patan hospital after finding him Coronavirus positive again.

A male who had come to Nepal from the UK on Mar 18 and had undergone treatment in a hospital in Kathmandu has again been admitted in Patan Hospital on Wednesday after he tested for Coronavirus positive again.

The male and his mother had returned home after spending 10 days in the hospital.

The PCR test conducted on Tuesday showed the male Coronavirus positive again.

Govt mulling over increasing disputed MPs Development Fund

2020-05-06T08:38:00.001-07:00

KATHMANDU: Despite the looming economic crisis caused by COVID-19 pandemic, the government is still mulling over increasing the most disputed ‘Samsad Bikash Kosh’ (MPs development Fund) re-termed as the Level Development Partnership Program fund.

The country is in lockdown for more than six weeks and the Wednesday’s meeting of the Council of Ministers has decided to extend the lockdown till May 18.

Almost all economic activities have come to a standstill. The global crisis is sure to impact adversely on the remittance.

The unemployment rate is going to be the worst ever as the industries are shut down and many of them are likely to collapse provided they don’t get package to pay to the staffs.

Revenue generation is the worst ever as all payers are in crisis.

However, the government, under the pressure of its member of parliament is said to be working on increasing the widely ‘misused’ fund provided to the member of parliaments. The National Planning Commission has worked out to allocate budget.

According to the NPC sources, if increment turns impossible, it is working on continuation of the budget provided to the Member of Parliament.

Every MP gets 60 million rupees per year under the Samsad Vikash Fund, now called Local Infrastructure Development Partnership Program.

“Provided it is criticized much, the clauses saying ‘the fund can be used for health sector will be added,” an official at NPC said, “that will make people happy again. The protest will be calmed down.”

Earlier, the unspent budget of the most disputed LIDDP Fund was decided to be deposited in the national fund established to curb and control coronavirus pandemic.

Many parliamentarians including most from the main opposition party have been protesting against it whereas most of the MPs of ruling Nepal Communist Party had defended the fund and demanded its continuation.

NCP MP Ram Narayan Bidari, in last year’s session criticized it saying it made the MPs more corrupt.

Alternative treatment emphasized for COVID-19 prevention: Minister Dhakal

2020-05-05T08:47:00.003-07:00

KATHMANDU: Minister for Health and Population Bhanubhakta Dhakal has asserted that alternative remedy will be emphasized besides modern and allopathic treatment to prevent and control the COVID-19 in the country.

Receiving monetary assistance worth Rs 300,000 from Sowa Rigpa Association Nepal here today, Minister Dhakal shared that the government has issued directives to resort to Ayurveda as well as an alternative remedy for prevention of infections like COVID-19.

Stating that the government was receiving significant support in its fight against the deadly infection, Minister Dhakal expressed his confidence that such support would go a long way in battling the infection.

Association’s President Amchi Dr. Tenzing Dharke Gurung said that his Association was ready to provide medicine and conduct mobile health camps to help prevent and control the infections.

121 thousand metric tonnes rice in stock

2020-05-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

KATHMANDU: The Food Management and Trading Company Limited and the private sectors together have 121 thousand metric tonnes of rice in stock.

As per data about the food stock provided by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, a total of 121 thousand six metric tonnes of the rice grain is in stock. This includes the 8,436 metric tonnes with the Company and the rest with the private sector industries.

An associate spokesperson at the Ministry, Urmila KC, said the Company has three thousand 566 metric tonnes rice, 610 quintals buckwheat, and 534 quintals beans in stock in 23 districts in the remote areas.

Similarly, the big rice mills and farmers in various places of the country have 61,054 metric tonnes paddy in stock.

The Ministry’s associate spokesperson claimed that there was no shortage of rice since there is enough rice in stock in the country. The data showed that the private sector traders have 16,081 metric tonnes lentils, pea, and gram in stock.

Similarly, 486 metric tonnes of palm oil, 1919 metric tonnes Palmolive, 846 metric tonnes sunflower oil and 1,616 metric tonnes soybean oil was in stock with private sector oil industries. Six thousand 346 metric tonnes are said to be in the process of import. Seventy thousand 866 metric tonnes of oil is said to be in stock at Kolkata.

Meanwhile, the Company and Salt Trading Corporation Limited have sold 30,826.36 metric tonnes of rice in 29 remote districts during the lockdown.

The Corporation has sold and distributes 65,653 kilograms salt, 45 thousand 611 liters cooking oil, 526 thousand 285 kilograms rice, 93 thousand 230 kilograms lentils, and 63 thousand 640 kilograms flattened rice.

Likewise, it distributed 875 thousand 558 kilograms foodstuff, 17 thousand 400 kilograms sugar, seven sacks wheat flour, 63 thousand 82 soap bars, 100 kilograms tea, 550 kilograms masyura as relief assistance to the needy people.

Karl Marx The Greatest Philosopher Of The Millennium: NCP Chair Prachanda

2020-05-05T08:33:00.001-07:00

Kathmandu, May 5: Chairman of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has expressed best wishes on the 202nd birth anniversary of Karl Marx, a great leader of the proletariat class.

Saying that Karl Marx is the greatest philosopher of the millennium, Prachanda stated that Marx’s philosophy and principle are widely accepted not only by the proletariat class but also by the capitalist world.

In his statement, Prachanda has paid high tribute to Marx by recalling him as a champion of liberation for the proletariat class and oppressed class all over the world.

Chairman Prachanda has also made it clear on the need of development of ideologies for defense of Marxism, its application and development.

Adding that the working class people were at the receiving end due to the pandemic coronavirus, Dahal has asked all stakeholders to resolve the problems they facing.

Furthermore, the NCP Chairman has also wished for the good health and progress of all proletariats all over the world on the occasion of birth anniversary of Karl Marx.RSS

10 things you should not ignore during lockdown

2020-05-04T08:16:00.001-07:00

KATHMANDU: Staying home for a long time due to lockdown could bring some problems in the body.

Similarly, COVID-19 appears to affect brain function in some people, according to a study published in the journal JAMA.

The study, based on patients with COVID-19 in the Chinese city of Wuhan, found coronavirus harms the brain and nervous system of half of the severely ill patients.

The symptoms typically take the form of headaches, stumbling, slurred speech, nerve pain and seizures, noted the researchers.

What’s more, the study suggests that these symptoms could indicate patients at a higher risk

Here are many key symptoms that should never be ignored and which your doctor would always want to know about it .

Chest pain
Don’t ignore any chest pain or discomfort that suddenly hits you while at rest or during walking or exercising. The sensation of squeezing, crushing, or pressure on the chest could indicate many things – from “harmless” stress and indigestion to something as serious as an impending heart attack or angina. Angina is a recurring chest pain that usually signals coronary artery disease.

Weight loss
Sudden or unexplained weight loss should always be investigated. Whereas weight gain is rarely a sign of sinister problems, unexpected weight loss can sometimes be the first sign of serious illness somewhere in the body.

Easy bruising
If simple knocks or bumps cause severe bruising then a blood test may be needed to check all is well. Although the skin and blood vessels become more fragile with age – and many elderly people bruise very easily as a result – if there is significant bruising (especially if the gums bleed too) for no obvious reason then this should be investigated.

Trouble swallowing
Simple acid reflux into the gullet can cause this but any difficulty in swallowing food – especially bread or meat – that develops over any length of time may not be due to a harmless or benign problem. If there is difficulty swallowing liquids then a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible.

Rectal bleeding
Bleeding from the back passage should never be ignored as being due to ‘piles’. Although hemorrhoids remain the commonest cause of such bleeding, never assume this is the case without getting it confirmed by your doctor. ’(This the reason behind the old medical adage taught to generations of medical students – ‘If you don’t put your finger in it you’ll put your foot in it’.)

A change in bowel habit
Although we all have days when our bowels are not as regular as usual, any prolonged change from normal lasting more than a fortnight should be assessed. This could be unexplained diarrhea, a feeling that the bowels have not emptied properly in some way, the sensation of wanting to go to the toilet again immediately or becoming constipated unexpectedly.

Blood in the urine
Known as haematuria, this is sometimes due to water infections but can be a sign of bladder growths. It does not matter if there is no pain with the bleeding, always take a water sample to your doctor and get it checked.

Headaches
Everyone gets headaches at some time and the usual cause is tiredness, stress or poor posture. Headaches that refuse to go with painkillers, or are chronic or are associated with nausea, vomiting or blurred vision, or that wake you up from sleep should never be ignored.

Unusual vaginal bleeding
Any woman who has unexpected bleeding after the menopause, or has bleeding after intercourse should be examined. There are many possible benign causes for this problem but also a number of worrying ones and if in doubt always get checked out.

Jaundice
Yellow discoloration of the eyes and skin is never normal and must always be assessed. This can be due to a number of problems ranging from the relatively harmless to the serious, including viral infections of the liver, cirrhosis, and tumors.

However, the bottom line remains the same – if you are worried about a particular health problem, talk to your doctor. Never, ever ignore danger symptoms. If you are not sure whether a symptom could be serious or not always ask, however anxious you may be about the coronavirus at this time. It may not only be the most important question you ever raise in your life, but might just save it.

(with inputs from Life Spectator)

Singer Madonna tests positive for coronavirus antibodies

2020-05-04T08:09:00.001-07:00

NEW YORK: American singer Madonna has said that she has tested positive for the Covid-19 antibodies.

She shared the news in the 14th edition of her Quarantine Diary on Instagram on Sunday.

Madonna took to Instagram saying: “Took a test the other day and I found out that I have the antibodies. So tomorrow, I am just going to go for a long drive in the car, and I’m gonna roll down the window and I’m gonna breathe in the Covid-19 air. Yup. I hope the sun is shining.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), US says antibody tests are particularly used to determine whether a person has been exposed to Covid-19 by finding proteins that a body produces to fight the virus or not.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Cybercrime complaint lodged against four including ex-PM Bhattarai

2020-05-04T07:55:00.004-07:00

Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai. (File photo/RSS)

KATHMANDU: A complaint has been registered against four persons including former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai under the Electronic Transaction Act for cybercrime.

The District Attorney Office has registered the complaint as per Section 47, Section 53, 54, 58 (a), 74 of the Electronic Transactions Act, 2063 BS.

According to Information Officer Numraj Khanal, the complaint was lodged by Sanjeev Kumar Jha on behalf of the National Youth Association of Nepal and Narayan Gharti on behalf of All Nepal National Free Student Union (ANNFSU).

The complaint has been lodged against ex-PM Bhattarai, Hisila Yami Bhattarai, Biswadeep Pandey and Angkaji Sherpa. Complaints have also been lodged with the National Human Rights Commission.

The complaint was filed against them for ‘making baseless accusations’ against Nepal Communist Party (NCP) lawmakers Mahesh Basnet, Kisan Shrestha and former Inspector General of Police Sarbendra Khanal for abduction.

Earlier, the attorney office and the Metropolitan Police Range had refused to lodge the complaint.

The attorney office has also registered a complaint against NCP lawmakers Basnet and Shrestha and ex-IGP Khanal.

NC Demands Expansion Of COVID-19 Testing Coverage

2020-05-04T07:43:00.002-07:00

Kathmandu,May 4: The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has demanded the government expand the coverage of coronavirus testing.

Party parliamentary chief whip Balkrishna Khand today had a telephone conversation with Minister for Health and Population Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal and drew his attention to expand the testing coverage on a vast scale in the wake of detection of 15 cases in a single day in Nepalgunj, Banke.

During the telephone talks, the NC chief whip called for the need to intensify precautionary measures, ensure management of essential medical equipment and mobilise additional medical workforce in the risk zones.

He urged the government to immediately carry out tracing and testing of the people who came to contact with the infected and focus more on the prevention of further infection risk.

Khand urged the government to launch a search and identify those who had come in contact with an infected person at Kotahimai rural municipality-1, Marchawar in Rupandehi district. The infected man had come home from India.

He also asked the government to intensify test for the infection and manage medical appliances required for the test, stating that these appliances are in short.

In response, Minister Dhakal said required medical appliances would be supplied to the areas.RSS

Nepal reports 10 more COVID-19 cases, tally reaches 69

2020-05-03T06:05:00.002-07:00

KATHMANDU: Nepal has confirmed 10 more new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, taking the total of infections to 69.

Speaking at a regular press briefing, Dr Bikash Devkota, Spokesperson at Ministry of Health and Population said that a 36-year-old person from Chhapkaiya of Birgunj Municipality-3, and nine persons in Nepalgunj have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The 36-year-old’s swab was found to be have been infected during a test at the Teku-based National Public Health Laboratory in Kathmandu.

Now, he has been kept in the Narayani Hospital, Birgunj.

Likewise, nine people, including five male and four female, aged between seven to 58 years, have been found to be infected in Nepalgunj testing lab, according to the Ministry.

Nepalgunj Mayor Dhawal Shumsher Rana has said they are trying to trace the travel history of those nine infected persons.

Meanwhile, it should be noted that 16 out of the 69 persons receiving treatment for COVID-19 have returned home after recovery.

According to Dr Devkota, 77 people across the country are currently in isolation while 21,958 are kept in quarantine as of May 3.

122 police personnel of a battalion test positive for COVID-19 in India

2020-05-02T06:01:00.003-07:00

NEW DELHI: 122 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel’s coronavirus positive result has alarmed the Indian security force citing criticism for the lack of enough precaution despite the chances of transmission.

The CRPF personnel of the 31st battalion of the paramilitary, based in Mayur Vihar phase-3 area of the national capital, that was entirely sealed after 52 personnel were infected with the novel coronavirus and one succumbed to it over the last few days.

According to PTI, the number of COVID-19 personnel in a Delhi-based battalion of the CRPF, the country’s largest paramilitary, has risen to 122 by Saturday.

“A total of 122 troopers of this battalion have tested positive for the virus. Results for over 100 more are awaited,” a senior official of CRPF confirmed.

The personnel are admitted to an isolation facility of the Delhi government at Mandoli.
Twelve troopers had tested positive on Friday and a 55-year-old Sub-Inspector of this unit had succumbed to the disease early this week.

These huge numbers in a single battalion (of over 1,000 troopers) has rung alarm bells in the establishment after it was found that “dichotomous” orders were issued to check the spread of COVID-19.

Critics cite the flaw committed by making mandatory 14 day quarantine provision liberal to the doctors and paramedics.

While the general order in the force was a mandatory quarantine of 14 days for personnel joining back the unit from leave or having suspected exposure to a coronavirus-infected person, CRPF officers said it recently came to light that the medical wing of the paramilitary issued a separate order in April stating that doctors and paramedics can be taken off the quarantine if they do not show any symptom after five days.

Officials have indicated that the primary source of the COVID-19 infection in this unit could be a constable (nursing assistant) who joined this battalion after finishing his leave period at his home in the national capital.

(With inputs from agencies)

Nepal’s Jha on UN’s list of 5 women on COVID-19 response frontline

2020-05-02T06:00:00.005-07:00

KATHMANDU: Director of National Public Health Laboratory and Chief Pathologist Dr. Runa Jha has been included in the list of 5 women on COVID-19 response frontline readied by UN Women.

She and her team are testing roughly 70 samples a day, which arrive at irregular intervals and make for around-the-clock work.

“Staying late at the lab has become the norm. In addition to the technical work, I also have to manage logistics, such as arranging transportation and food for my team,” she told UN Women.

Taking care of her team is a high priority for Jha; it all begun in mid-February when her group was the first to enter a quarantine plant housing 175 Nepali students brought home from Wuhan, China.

“My team did not hesitate to volunteer to take samples… all of them were ready. We worked the whole night and produced 175 reports the following day,” she shares.

Months into the pandemic, the intense work continues. Jha does her best to support the workers and boost morale. “It is a very difficult time for us, and I have to keep them motivated. I talk to them whenever I sense they are feeling down. I tell them their safety is our priority,” she says.

The demands of the job have been challenging for Jha too. She’s living alone, separated from her daughter and husband because she fears to risk their lives with infection. She can’t visit her parents either, who she used to see three times a week.

“I want to hug my daughter and take care of my parents, but this sacrifice needs to be made to keep them and others safe,” Jha says.

UN Women field assistants Amal Al Mahayrah and Hadeel Dabaibeh from Jordan, Yan Shenglian from China, Dina Smailova from Kazakhstan and Ryancia Henry from the Caribbean have made it to the list.

NCP Secretariat meeting begins at Baluwatar

2020-05-02T06:00:00.001-07:00

KATHMANDU: A Secretariat meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has begun at Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar on Saturday evening.

The meeting will discuss the proposal floated made by Prime Minister KP Oli to make the party’s Vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam the next Prime Minister and senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal party’s third Chairman.

In the Secretariat meeting held on Wednesday, NPC Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and leader Nepal faction had asked Prime Minister Oli to resign from the post of Prime Minister and party chair.

In response, Oli had proposed Vice-Chairman Bamdev Gautam as the prime minister and leader Nepal as the party chair with effect once the coronavirus pandemic subsides.

Meanwhile, PM Oli has decided not to resign while Dahal and leader Nepal are preparing to pressure Oli to resign from the government and remove him from the party’s key role.

During the meeting, the Dahal-Nepal group had prepared to force Prime Minister Oli to resign and convene a meeting of the Standing Committee.

Sources claimed that there was a strategy to force Oli to make a decision as the Dahal-Nepal group was believed to have a majority in the nine-member secretariat.

But according to high-level sources close to the prime minister, Oli has a majority in the Secretariat.

25 Buddha quotes to lead you down the path of enlightenment

2020-05-01T23:22:00.000-07:00

Born in Nepal in the 6^th century B.C., Siddhartha Gautama, who would later become known as Buddha, was a spiritual leader and undoubtedly one of the most influential figures of all times.

It is said that the "awakened one" was the son of king who wanted to keep him away from seeing the world's suffering and hardship. So Buddha was raised in opulence in a palace that was built especially for him. It was only in his late 20s that Buddha decided to leave the palace and confront the reality outside the protective walls.

After 49 days of deep meditation, Buddha attained enlightenment and found all the answers he had been seeking for. He spent the rest of his life traveling and preaching the dharma to all those who wanted to follow the path of enlightenment.

Buddha's life and teachings serve as the foundation of the Buddhist religion and he is considered to be one of the 10 major avatars of Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation.

Here are Buddha quotes for living a more peaceful and meaningful life:

Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.

If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way.

Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded.

People with opinions just go around bothering each other.

By liberation of the self through love, we will develop love, we will practice it, we will make it both a way and a basis.

Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise man. Gathering it little by little, fills himself wit good.

Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance.

If anything is worth doing. Do it with all your heart.

It is easy to see the faults of others. But difficult to see one's own faults.

Three things cannot hide for long: the moon, the sun and the truth.

Conquer the angry one by not getting angry; conquer the wicked by goodness; conquer the stingy by generosity, and the liar by speaking the truth.

Do not look for a sanctuary in anyone except yourself.

If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows him like a shadow that never leaves him.

Health is the greatest gift, contentment is the greatest wealth.

If you don't tend to one another, who then will tend to you?

The foolish and the ignorant give themselves over to negligence; whereas the wise treasure mindfulness as a precious jewel.

Silence the angry man with love. Silence the ill-natured man with kindness. Silence the miser with generosity. Silence the liar with truth.

As a mountain of rock is unshaken by wind, so also, the wise are unperturbed by blame or by praise.

Better than a hundred years in the life of a person who is idle and inactive, is a day in the life of one who makes a zealous and strenuous effort.

Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.

That deed is not well done, if one has to repent for having done it, and if, with a tearful face, one has to weep as a result of that deed.

It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe that lures him to evil ways.

If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path.

Sometimes things that hurt you most, teach you the greatest lesson in life.

"There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting."

2,310 throat swab samples collected in State-2

2020-05-01T09:00:00.002-07:00

Swab sample of a person being taken at quarantine. (File photo/RSS)

JANAKPURDHAM: Ninety-two throat swab samples were collected in the State 2 today for the cornavirus test.

So far, 2,310 samples have been collected here and 12 among them have tested positive, 1,433 have been tested negative while the results of 865 are awaited, according to secretary at the social development ministry, Dr Ram Prasad Ghimire.

Of the total infected, four have already returned homes after successful recovery and eight are under medical treatment.

No rapid diagnostic test (RDT) has been conducted in the state in the past 24 hours.

Earlier, 5,019 persons underwent the antibody test for COVID-19. A total of 1,372 people are in several quarantine facilities, 4,587 in home quarantine and 25 are in isolation.

2020-05-01T08:57:00.003-07:00

KATHMANDU: Nepal has been placed 16th in the ODI and 15th in T20I as per the latest rankings made public by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday.

Nepal has remained unchanged when compared to the earlier rankings.

In T20I rankings, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Scotland except test-playing nations are above Nepal. The UAE has been ranked 13th, while Scotland has been placed in 14th position.

Australia has topped the rankings as England and India have been placed second and third respectively.
In ODI, the Netherlands (12), Oman (13) and Scotland (15) are placed above Nepal. The UAE, Namibia, the USA and
Papua New Guinea have ranked below Nepal.

England has topped the ranking as India and New Zealand have been placed second and third respectively.