How fire-safe are apartments in Kathmandu?

A fire broke out in the 'A' block of Soaltee City Apartment in Rabi Bhawan, Kathmandu, on January 18. After the fire broke out, those inside the apartment tried to get out, but in vain. Later, rescuers had to put out the fire from below and reached inside the apartment. According to Nepal Police, 23 people were rescued from the apartment.

Security bodies begin preparations for free, fair elections

Following government instruction last week to tighten security preparations for the forthcoming elections, the four security bodies - the Nepal Army (NA), the Armed Police Force (APF), the Nepal Police and the National Intelligence Department - have begun analysing the safety concerns while also establishing security cells.  Especially, Nepal Police Headquarters has formed a Central Election Preparation and Coordination Cell under the Command of Additional Inspector General (AIG) Bishwa Raj Pokharel,...

Kathmandu’s minimum temperature falling every year: Experts

Over the last seven years, minimum temperature in the Kathmandu Valley during the winter season was found plummeting year after year, according to the records of Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD), Babarmahal. Winter in Nepal normally begins from the first week of December and lasts until mid-February. The lowest temperature for the month of December in Kathmandu was recorded 1.3 degrees Celsius on December 26.

Ward chairs found recommending non-Nepalis for citizenship

Ward chairman Dhruba Bahadur KC of Baglung Municipality-4 including other officials are still at large for assisting and recommending a person to illegally obtain Nepali citizenship certificate. Last year, District Court of Baglung had issued arrest warrants against KC and ward secretary Prem Bahadur Khadka for helping an individual to prepare fake documents and forging evidence of relations to acquire a Nepali citizenship. The person who was being helped is identified as Pankaj Sapkota, who the...

PM Oli reshuffles Cabinet inducting nine new faces

President Bidya Devi Bhandari administered the oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed eight Cabinet ministers at a special ceremony organised at the Sheetal Niwas on Friday evening. Earlier today, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli reshuffled and expanded the Cabinet, adding nine new faces, eight ministers and one state minister. The newly appointed ministers include Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Mani Chandra Thapa, Prabhu Sah, Prem Ale, Ganesh Thagunna, Gauri Shankar Chaudhary, Dawa Lama Tamang and...

Data breach emerges as a growing menace

A few months ago, some e-commerce sites in Nepal, along with internet service providers (ISPs), were hacked and the data of their users were exposed – a security violation called data breach. Other online shopping and food delivery companies, like Daraz, Foodmandu, Vianet and Mercantile, have also faced such incidents. "Already a global problem, data breaching incidents are on the rise in Nepal. As the cases have risen, they have become headaches for the Nepal Police," Nabindra Aryal, Senior Superintendent...

Govt to tighten visit visa to curb possible trafficking

As the cases of human trafficking under the cover of visit visa have, of late, gone up, the government has begun preparations to tighten and regulate the service. The government has started drafting strict measures as human traffickers have been smuggling Nepali citizens, especially women, from the Tribhuvan International Airport and landing them in difficult conditions abroad. Director General Ramesh Kumar KC at the Department of Immigration (DoI) said that the Department is preparing to introduce...

Kathmandu third most polluted city

Around 10 cities in the country, including Kathmandu, have recorded increased air pollution level in the last one week, according to senior chemists at the Department of Environment. Air Quality Monitoring (AQM) stations placed in 25 places across the country, including seven in the Valley, have shown that particulate matter (PM) 2.5, an indicator of pollution level, is found higher than standard value set for Nepal (40 micrograms per cubic metre), Shanker Prasad Paudel, senior divisional chemist...

15,748 women in security bodies rise to ranks for leadership

Over the years, women’s presence in the security bodies has been growing. Seventy years after Nepal Police started appointing women, the female work force makes up to 8.5 per cent of the total number of staff in Nepal Police, while they constitute 12 per cent of Armed Police Force, and 4.5 per cent of the Nepali Army. That more and more women traffic police are handling the burdensome road traffic while several other female soldiers have been managing the bodies of the COVID-19 victims at Aryaghat...

Thousands with disabilities get new life thanks to NDF

Devu Parajuli, who is in her 40s now, is living with her disability caused by post-poliomyelitis and is currently continuing her daily life with the help of caliper. A therapist by profession, she was caught at National Disabled Fund (NDF) office at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu on Wednesday. Parajuli, who herself worked at the Fund for 11 years as a therapist for persons with disabilities, is now visiting the office daily although she is now a former staff of the Fund. The caliper that helps her...