Credibility Of PCR Reports In Question

The credibility of some hospital labs has been questioned after the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test reports of COVID-19 they issued were found to be false. The dubious test reports came to light after some air passengers with virus negative PCR reports tested positive upon being re-tested in the destination country. Actually this may not be the case related to the air passengers alone. There may be many other infected people moving around with virus negative reports. Such an anomaly must be...

Challenge Of Reopening Schools

Schools have remained closed since March 18 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even examinations were postponed. This has affected millions of students across the country. They are worried about their studies. The current academic year, which should have started in Baisakh, has not got off the ground, albeit some schools have started online classes and conducted online examinations, too. Framework

Local Govt’s Role In Disaster Management

We were successful in containing COVID-19 by identifying transmission chains with the help of widespread testing and contact tracing,” said Baldev Chaudhari, Mayor of Triyuga Municipality of Udayapur. Chaudhari said that his office mobilised the local people in different layers of anti-pandemic campaign that included isolating new cases and quarantining. The municipality is in the limelight for its exemplary efforts to overcome the threat of deadly virus. With the second largest number of COVID-19...

Vaccine Priority To Vulnerable People

When some drug giants like Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford University announced that the coronavirus vaccines developed by them have high success rates, the entire world has now become quite optimistic. In the wake of an unprecedented success in the development of the much-needed vaccines, Nepal government has made a decision to amend laws in order to bring the disruptive drug in the country. President Bidya Devi Bhandari issued the Drug (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2077 last week. The cabinet...

Grade 12 exams from today

The National Examination Board (NEB) has stated that all preparations for the final examinations of Grade 12 have been completed. The examinations are beginning from Tuesday. The NEB stated that 433,000 examinees of 4,105 schools across the country are going to sit for the annual examinations.

New SSP pledges to manage capital’s traffic

Newly transferred Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and in-charge at the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD) Janak Bhattarai Monday said managing smooth traffic system and reducing road fatalities in the valley would be major works during his term. Speaking at a welcome and farewell ceremony hosted by outgoing in-charge SSP Bhim Prasad Dhakal of the Division, SSP Bhattarai said he would try his best to manage smooth traffic system in the valley in coordination with the KMC's City Police...

Civil servants need permission to teach Lok Sewa candidates

Civil servants wishing to teach preparation classes of the aspiring candidates of the examinations to be taken by the Public Service Commission (Lok Sewa Ayog) and similar bodies are now required to obtain approval from the government. Following a decision taken by the Council of Ministers on Sunday, the officials occupying the position of gazetted first-class officers (Joint Secretary) or above are now mandatorily required to seek permission from the Council of Ministers and other officials are...

Surkhet Airport to be expanded

The government has decided to expand the runway of the Surkhet Airport for the second time after getting permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to acquire 30 bighas of land. The way has been opened to expand the runway of the Surkhet Airport after the approval of the Council of Ministers. Voice has been raised to expand the runway by at least 300 metres from the existing 1,255 metres citing that the runway was short. It is believed that after the Cabinet meeting gave approval to...

Kiwi fruit brings prosperity to Ilam farmers

The season of picking and selling kiwi, which has over time become a good source of income for farmers in Ilam, has now begun. Although the market has been disrupted due to the protracted lockdown, farmers have started picking kiwis and selling them in the market. According to farmer Toyanath Chapagain from Soyang, Ilam the Hayward and Allison varieties of kiwi planted in many villages of the district have grown sufficiently this year.

Blooming marigold business

With the demand of flower remaining constant in all seasons, farmers at Gundu of Bhaktapur, who used to grow makhamali flower in the past, are now attracted towards marigold flower cultivation. The demand for marigold and makhamali is especially high during Tihar festival. With the end of Tihar, the demand for makhamali has fizzled out, while that for marigold remains intact, said Anita Basnet, a resident of Gundu. Basnet, who has been in floriculture business for more than 20 years, has shifted...