Tearing through infodemic is a tough job

In addition to a pandemic, the coronavirus has also caused an infodemic – a phenomenon where an enormous volume of misinformation is released to the public, according to Laxman Datt Pant, media expert and chairperson of Media Action Nepal. Described as an epidemic of [false] information, infodemic is as detrimental to public health as the coronavirus epidemic because it breeds conspiracies, downplays risks and misleads and misguides people to take actions harmful to their health and safety, Pant...

Patan tense after mob pulls Machhindranath chariot

People in Patan Thursday pulled the chariot of Rato Machhindranath by defying the prohibitory order imposed by the local administration to control the spread of COVID-19, leading to eruption of tension. Police were deployed to stop the chariot pullers. The security personnel initially tried to talk to the people but when things escalated, they fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse the crowd. In response, the people pelting stones at the police.

Unlikely businesses adopting home delivery model

Home delivery is usually associated with fast food or e-commerce, not with barbers, butchers or mechanics. But as the coronavirus-induced restrictions drag on, more and more businesses are choosing to deliver their services directly to the customers’ homes, even though it was highly unlikely for them to do so before the pandemic. Salons are businesses that do not typically go to the customers’ homes. They have a fixed location and people in need of haircare go to them. But most barbershops have...

Nepal's only zoo in financial crisis

The Central Zoo has found itself in crisis due to the lack of regular income from visitors, which has now stopped due to COVID-19. According to Dr. Chiranjibi Prasad Pokharel, Project Manager of the Central Zoo from the National Trust for Nature Conservation, COVID-19 and the restrictions imposed to control it have knocked the only zoo of Nepal down so hard that it might not be able to get back up.

Prohibitory order shuts down Kathmandu Valley

A week-long prohibitory order is in place in Kathmandu and on its first day on Thursday, the valley wore a deserted look. The crowded inner alleyways were desolate, the bustling Durbar Squares were silent and the Ring Road – always teeming with vehicles – was empty.

Masks protect from COVID-19 but can trigger traumatic memories

Gita (name changed) finds the need to put on a mask terrifying. As a rape survivor, having her mouth covered triggers flashbacks to her assault. Another survivor Rina (name changed) told The Rising Nepal that masks, or any facial covering, brought back traumatic memories that made her anxious. “The feeling is indescribable. As soon as I put on a mask, I get overwhelmed,” she said.

Weddings in the time of coronavirus: A dreadful affair

As if the stress of working, studying and maintaining some semblance of normal life during COVID-19 was not enough, people are also having to contend with a new headache since the lockdown was lifted – weddings. Now that restrictions have been somewhat relaxed, people are hastening to get married. Mandala Baidya, who works as a matchmaker, said that many were set to get married and had arranged everything when the lockdown was imposed on March 24. “So, the weddings that had been postponed then...

CBS survey finds Nepali men happier than women

As suggested by the findings of the Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (NMICS) 2019, women are less happy with their lives than men. The survey, conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics, found that 62.4 per cent of women aged between 15 to 49 years were happy with their lives compared to 64.7 per cent of men of the same age group. The difference is even greater when talking about hope for improvement. A total of 45.4 per cent of women in the age group expected that their life would get...

Public vehicles largely obeying safety rules

Sailuja Shrestha was pleasantly surprised when she boarded a bus from Patandhoka to Chappal Karkhana Tuesday morning. Clean seats, sanitizers for passengers and the driver and conductor wearing masks and gloves.

LMC brings Nepal Sambat into official use

Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC) has started using Nepal Sambat, in addition to Bikram Sambat, to date its official documents. The decision was passed by the municipal assembly and came into effect from July 16. This move aims to help in the preservation and promotion of Nepal Sambat, according to Raju Maharjan, spokesperson for LMC. He said, “The Metropolitan City wants to go beyond simple slogans, promote the use of this indigenous calendar of our country and help in protecting it.”