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Nepal has got political stability and policy improvement, it is 100% secure to Invest in Nepal: PM Oli in Switzerland

Posted on by SAT News Desk

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that Nepal was moving towards stability in terms of politics and policies while speaking as a panellist in World Economic Forum’s session titled ‘Strategic Outlook on Sout Asia’ in Davos of Switzerland on Tuesday.

PM Oli further said that Nepal now has clear and stable policies and is giving priority to the public as well as the private sector to create more job opportunities for young people.

“Nepal is trying to attract investments from outside in the productive sector to increase productions and create more jobs,” PM Oli shared.

PM Oli reiterated that Nepal’s railway and other connectivity to India and China are on the progress. “We are trying our best to develop understanding between the member states in the region. Trust is important to enhance regional cooperation.”

Likewise, Prime Minister Oli said Nepal is giving due consideration to environmental conservation. “60 per cent of our land is allocated to climate conservation including 15 per cent to mountains and 45 per cent to forests. We are committed for sustainable development,” the Prime Minister said in a question concerning climate change.

“Our motto is prosperous Nepal and Happy Nepalis, and we are concentrating all our efforts in order to realize this national desire,” PM Oli said referring to attaining the sustainable development goal.

On a different note, PM Oli said, “We are also speeding up our collaboration with neighbours India, China and Bangladesh, doing due agreements and implementing them, and making policies internally to achieve the goal of development, control corruption and good governance.”

As the chair of the SAARC, Prime Minister Oli said, Nepal is trying to increase cooperation among SAARC member countries and also hold the SAARC summit in the near future with the development of all-round ties between the members in the region.

Prime Minister Oli was joined in the session as co-panellists by Chief Executive of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah, former governor of India’s Central Reserve Bank Prof Raghuram G. Rajan and President and CEO of Telenor Group, Norway Sigve Brekke.

On the occasion, Foreign Minister Pradip Gyawali was also present.

Rastriya Samachar Samiti

A British man arrested over the case of paedophile in Nepal

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Kathmandu: A British citizen identified as Iain Robert Cole, 50, (passport number 511123659) has been arrected on the charge of sexually exploiting under-age male children from Kathmandu,  The Central Investigation Bureau has mentioned on Saturday.

The suspect entered Nepal on December 29 last year with another man, police said. Two Nepalese identified as “helpers” were also found living in the flat in the Ravi Bhawan neighborhood.

“As per Cole, this is his 16th time in Nepal. He has accepted all the charges of sexually exploiting children every time he came to the country,” Superintendent of Police Uma Prasad Chaturvedi of CIB told.

Cole had recently entered Nepal on 29 December 2018. The CIB is currently gathering Cole’s arrival and departure details from the Immigration Department. According to the CIB, Cole has been entering Nepal with different people most the time. The one awith whom Cole entered Nepal this time has already left the country.

Cole also used to visit rural areas in districts around Kathmandu, such as Dhading, and convince parents to send their children with him, by promising the parents their children were in good hands.

The CIB team found mobile phones, tablets, bicycles, and pills, such as Zenegra (one of the most widely prescribed erectile dysfunction pills), from the apartment during the raid. “Cole used to show children expensive mobile phones and bicycles, and would promise them that he would gift those things to them if they did not share his activities outside. He even gave them money on a regular basis to keep their mouths closed, and sometimes threatened them too,” said Chaturvedi.

A bit of information the CIB found that is rather surprising is that whenever Cole returned to Nepal, children who were previously sexually exploited by him often visited him themselves. The CIB stated that this behaviour by the children reflect how much control Cole had over the children’s psychology.

More media coverage regarding the topi can be seen through this link : Click here 

Nepal embassy U.K. launch a special committee to promote Visit Nepal 2020

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London : Embassy of Nepal to U.K.  has taken a formal step to support and promote “Visit Nepal 2020” initiative of the Government of Nepal  to bring 2 million  tourists to the country by the year 2020.

The embassy organised a formal program on Saturday evening for  launching the promotion of Visit Nepal 2020 officially in U.K..

Most of  the distinguished community leaders , stakeholders and well wishers of Nepalese living in Britain were invited in Embasy to be a part of the program.

Delivering a welcome speech in the ceremony , Ambassador of Nepal to U.K., HE Dr Durga Bahadur Subedi highlighted that Nepal government has set a target to bring 2 million tourists from around the world and celebrate the year 2020 as a “Visit Nepal Year”.  The embassy of Nep has a priority service to the tourists visiting Nepal such the one postal visa service , additional assistance and further coordination to the needy people in Nepal, Subedi added.

“Nepal is truly natural and  adventurous country to be once in life time. The Flora , fauna , culture , mountains , birds, diversity,  every single aspect of the land locked country  has its own beauty to enjoy. Hence, I urge you to visit Nepal for adventure and lifetime experience. If you already been there please recommend your friends and family to visit  the spiritual land ,the top  the world” Subedi added.

To support this government’s tourism promotion  plan,  Embassy of Nepal to U.K. has formulated a High Level Tourism Promotion Committee to encourage and mobilise the local Nepalese community residing in U.K.

Announcing the Tourism promotion committee the special guest of the ceremony, Mr. Aditya  Baral, senior director of Nepal tourism Board mentioned  “Send Home A Friend” will be the main slogan and strategy of the committee.

The committee chaired  by Dr Durga Bahadur Subedi and all the chair persons of the Nepalese organisations in U.K. will be the members of the committee, Spokes person of the ambassador Me Sharad Raj Aran mentioned.

Mr Aran has been nominated as a member secretary of the the committee.

Chief guest of the program Mr. Birendra Sharma British MP of the opponent Labour Party said that it is possible to send 100,000 tourists to Nepal and he will support from his side to the Nepalese committee to achieve this goal.

On this very occasion Er Ghanashyam Poudel and Samyukta Shrestha delivered  presentation about A U.K. Nepal Friendship program called “Teku Dovan”.

Nepali youth Migma Gyabu Sherpa honoured with international Piolets d’Or Asia Awards

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KATHMANDU: Mountaineer Mingma Gyabu Sherpa has been honoured with a recipient of the Piolets d’Or Asia Award under Sherpa category for his outstanding achievements in the field of mountaineering.  Mingma Gyabu has been also recognised as the Sherpa  of the Year 2019 with this award.

The Union of Asian Alpine Association has awarded Sherpa for his commitment to technical face climbing and positive environmental stewardship in the mountains.

The awards have motivated progression in Asian mountaineering culture over the last decade, contributing to an ethos of safety, respect and athleticism in alpine and glacial environments, said UAAA President Inn Jeoung Lee.

The awards have three categories: lifetime achievement, alpinists and Sherpa.

According to climbing records, Sherpa climbed Mt Aconcagua (6,962 m), the highest peak in South America on December 20 last year. Before heading to Mt Aconcagua, Sherpa climbed Mt Manaslu (8,163 m), the world’s eighth highest peak, in nine days, appealing all stakeholders to make Visit Nepal 2020 a grand success. He also climbed Mt Ama Dablam in last November.

Sherpa had climbed Mt Everest and Mt Lhotse in the last spring season. He scaled the world’s second highest peak guiding a group of international expedition to Mt K2. He also made it to the summit of Broad Peak after returning from Mt K2 in Pakistan. He also climbed Mount Elbrus (5,642 m), Europe’s highest peak last year. Sherpa, who climbed Mt Everest six times, has also been involved in many high altitude rescue efforts.

Born in Taplejung in 1989, Sherpa began his climbing career at the age of 18.  “It’s a great honour that inspires me to serve the country’s mountaineering sector,” Sherpa who is also a central executive board member of NMA, reacted. “It’s a celebration of an ethical mountaineering practices to exemplify respect for the outdoors.”

On the occasion, UAAA president Lee has also been awarded with Harka Gurung Mountaineering Award, a mountaineering award named after the veteran mountain environment conservationist. Minister  for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari presented award to Lee for his tireless efforts to promote mountaineering in the Asian continent. Adhikari has also named Lee as goodwill ambassador for Visit Nepal 2020.

Remittances increased by 32 percent despite foreign employment dropped by40% in Nepal

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Nepal has received 32 per cent more remittances in the first five months of the current fiscal year compared to the corresponding period last year, despite nearly 40 per cent decrease in the number of people going abroad for foreign employment.

The remittances sent by the Nepalis working abroad reached Rs 376.59 billion, even though the number of labourers abroad declined by around 40 per cent in the first five month of the current fiscal year, a report published by the Central Bank of Nepal said.

In the first five months of the current fiscal year, 92,931 Nepalis left for foreign employment compared to 155,381 labourers who left the country in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

Industry experts attributed factors such as inclusion of remittance sent from South Korea through formal channels and appreciation of the US dollar against the Nepalese Rupee.

Earlier, Nepalis working in South Korea used to send back money through informal channels. But these days, they are using formal channels and the remittance received is included in the national statistics, Suman Pokharel, CEO of IME Remit, a leading remittance service provider in the country, said.

Government’s effective crackdown of illegal channels like hundi, through which a significant chunk of remittance was being sent to the country, also contributed to the surge in remittances, the Kathmandu Post reported.

Travel norms to Indian citizen visiting to Nepal and Bhutan by Indian gvt

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PTI , New Delhi: Aadhaar cards are now valid travel documents for Indians under 15 and above 65 travelling to Nepal and Bhutan, according to a Home Ministry communique.

Indians other than those in the two age brackets will not be able to use Aadhaar to travel to the two neighbouring countries, for which no visas are needed, clarified the communique issued recently.

Indian citizens going to Nepal and Bhutan don’t need a visa if they have a valid passport, a photo identity card issued by the government of India or an election ID card issued by the Election Commission, it added.

Earlier, persons over 65 and under 15 could show their PAN card, driving licence, Central Government Health Service (CGHS) card or ration card, but not the Aadhaar, to prove their identity and visit the two countries.

The Aadhaar card has now been added to the list, explained a senior Home Ministry official.

“Now, persons in the age group of over 65 years and below 15 years have been allowed to use Aadhaar as a valid travel document,” the official said.

Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). It is being made mandatory for using a host of government services.

Giving details, the official said a certificate of registration issued by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, to Indian nationals is not an acceptable travel document for travelling between India and Nepal.

“However, the emergency certificate and identity certificate issued by the Indian Embassy in Nepal will be valid for single journey for travelling back to India,” he said, citing the communique.

Teens between 15 to 18 years will be allowed to travel between India and Nepal on the basis of an identity certificate issued by the principal of their school in a prescribed form, the officer said.

In case of a family (like husband, wife, minor children and parents) travelling together, all persons will not be required to carry relevant documents (such as a passport or an election ID) if one of the adult members has valid travel papers, he said.

However, the other family members must have some proof of their identity with a photograph and their relationship as a family, such as a CGHS card, ration card, a driving licence or an ID card issued by school/college, the official explained.

Indian nationals travelling to Bhutan need to have either an Indian passport with minimum validity of six months or a voter identity card issued by the Election Commission of India.

Bhutan, which shares borders with the Indian states of Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal, has about 60,000 Indian nationals, employed mostly in the hydroelectric power and construction industry.

In addition, between 8,000 and 10,000 daily workers enter and exit Bhutan everyday in border towns.

About six lakh Indians live in Nepal, according to data by the Ministry of External Affairs.

These include businesspersons and traders who have been living in Nepal for a long time, professionals (doctors, engineers, IT personnel) and labourers (including seasonal/migratory) in the construction sector, it said.

Nepal shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states – Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Nepal host first Pickle ball tournament to promote sports tourism in Pokhara

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Kathmandu – Pickleball players from many countries around the world have been gathered in Pokhara, the beautiful city of Nepal to compete in the country’s very first open Pickle Ball tournament. The tournament game was inaugurated by Mr. Krishna Thapa , the Member of Gandaki Province.  The ceremoney was held under the chairmanship of  Mr Keshav Thapa , the  President of Sahara club.

Pickleball game has been introduced in Nepal for the first time to promote sports tourism in Nepal, the organizers of the tournament informed to South Asia Time.

US-originated  Pickleball was first introduced first time in Nepal by Sahara and Network of Innovative Neplease Entrepereneurs (NINE UK ) in an initiative to promote sports tourism.

The tournament has been kicked off in  Pokhara from 18 of January and will last until  19 Jan 2019. UK based entrepreneur and the first campaigner of sports tourism in Nepal Mr. Navin Gurung , who initiated this event informed that more than 40 participants are from UK, India, Nepal and other European countries are now  in Nepal to participate in the tournament.

Pickleball is a cross between tennis, badminton and table tennis, it is played using paddles and a plastic ball with holes in it and a new set at about tennis-height.

It is believed that the tournament would help enhance national identity across the globe and also helps to promote  governments initiative “Visit Nepal 2020.” History of Pickleball

After playing golf one Saturday during the summer, Joel Pritchard, congressman from Washington State and Bill Bell, successful businessman, returned to Pritchard’s home on Bainbridge Island, WA (near Seattle) to find their families sitting around with nothing to do. The property had an old badminton court so Pritchard and Bell looked for some badminton equipment and could not find a full set of rackets. They improvised and started playing with ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball. At first they placed the net at badminton height of 60 inches and volleyed the ball over the net.As the weekend progressed, the players found that the ball bounced well on the asphalt surface and soon the net was lowered to 36 inches. The following weekend, Barney McCallum was introduced to the game at Pritchard’s home. Soon, the three men created rules, relying heavily on badminton. They kept in mind the original purpose, which was to provide a game that the whole family could play together.

Pickleball History Timeline:

1965: Pickleball is invented.

1967: Bob O’Brian builds first known court specifically for playing pickleball.

1968: Pritchard and several friends form Pickle Ball Inc. (later called Pickle-Ball Inc.).

1976: Tennis magazine publishes an article calling pickleball “America’s newest racquet sport”.

1976: First known pickleball tournament held in Tukwila, Washington.

1984: The USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) was founded.

1990: Pickleball reaches the milestone of being actively played in all 50 states.

1997: At the age of 72, Joel Pritchard passes away.

2008: USA Pickleball Association publishes the Official Tournament Rulebook.

2009: First USAPA National Tournament for players of all ages was held in Arizona.

2016: USAPA creates a Juniors program to promote the sport for players ages 7 thru 19.

2018: Pickleball is currently being played in the US by over 2.5 million people, there are over 4,000 locations to play in the country as well as international competitions taking place in other parts of the world.

International Entrepreneurship Conclave- Connect IN being held in Kathmandu

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Kathmandu : The International Entrepreneurship Conclave aimed at bringing Nepali and Indian entrepreneurs together is set to be held here on January 19. This is the second edition of the event organized by Embassy of India and Clock b Business innovations.

The first edition was successfully held on March 24 last year by the Embassy of India and Clock b. It brought together over 400 Nepali and Indian start-ups, entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, aspiring youths, experts, high ranking Nepali and Indian government officials and representatives from media, and provided a common platform for the exchange of innovative ideas between the entrepreneurial communities of the two countries.

“We did this event and there were more than 400 entrepreneurs from Nepal that participated in the event. We reached to about 20,000 to 25,000 people from Nepal who were connected through our digital campaign last year and on the other side almost three times this year so far we are working on the number of registration of the people, in terms of people who have shown interest to participate. That is the reason we are more confident about this event that it would be much better,” said Kapidhwaja Pratap Singh Second Secretary (Commerce & Commercial Representative) at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

The theme of the conference is ‘To connect the great entrepreneurial minds of Nepal & India’ and it aims at building market connections between start-ups, entrepreneurs, investors, marketers, lawyers, auditors, government, universities/ colleges, mentors, advisors, corporate leaders, incubators/accelerators, development partners and business enthusiasts.

At the conference, young entrepreneurs can connect with investors, venture capitalists, and mentors and discuss with entrepreneurial ecosystem actors. It also presents an opportunity for them to learn from prominent entrepreneurial journeys and network with fellow entrepreneurs from India and Nepal.

One of the core objectives of Connect [IN] initiative, according to the organizers, is to scout start-ups, provide them with training and mentorship in the incubation programme, and finally take the most promising start-ups to the finale.

After a year-long social media campaign, outreach activities and partnerships and receiving hundreds of applications, the top 21 ideas were selected for the seven-day ‘Start-up Incubation Programme’.

The organizers then took those 21 start-ups through ‘Idea Auditions’ and finally, the six most promising ideas were selected for the finale to pitch their ideas in front of investors, media and entrepreneurs from Nepal and India.

The top six ideas that will be appearing in the finale are ‘Airlift’, ‘Swadeshi Innovations’, ‘Maker Valley’, ‘Unschool’, ‘Offering Happiness’ and ‘Walkman’, informed the organizers.

Ambassador of India to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri will address the event as the inaugural speaker.

Other speakers at the event include, Founder of YouFirst Ventures & TransAsia Ventures Vikrant Gugnani, CEO for India and South Asia, OYO Hotels & Homes Aditya Ghosh, Co-Founder and Managing Director, IME Group Hem Raj Dhakal, CEO of Prisma Advertising Ranjit Acharya, President at King’s College Narottam Aryal, CEO of Sushmit Group Sushil Pokharel, Second Secretary, Embassy of India Kapidhwaja Pratap Singh amongst others.

The organizers have stated that more than 1000 entrepreneurs, start-ups, and students have already registered for the conclave.

Theresa May’s government has won a confidence motion with 325

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London : Theresa May’s government has won a confidence motion with 325 to 306 votes – just one day after she suffered the biggest parliamentary defeat ever over her Brexit deal.

A new general election was avoided after a majority of 19 MPs showed support in the prime minister, who failed to get backing on her Withdrawal Agreement from 118 of her own MPs on Tuesday.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tabled the vote after May’s deal was rejected by a majority of 230 votes, but ministers were unwilling to gamble with their own positions in Parliament and backed the existing government on Wednesday evening.

Nepal’s Largest-Ever Leaks On Illegal Wealth 55 Nepali Business People Laundered Billions Of Dollars Across Several Countries

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Kathmandu: Nepal’s Largest-Ever Leaks On Illegal Wealth Shows 55 Nepali Business People Laundered Billions Of Dollars Across Several Countries

A year-long investigation conducted by a Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ) team in collaboration with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) found that 55 Nepalis have invested in several foreign countries.

Nepal’s law does not allow  Nepalis from investing abroad. The investigation shows that nearly a dozen business groups are involved in channeling their illegal wealth abroad and bringing the money back into the country in the name of foreign direct investment (FDI).

Nepal Leaks 2019 is said to be the outcome of a year-long investigation conducted by a Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ) Nepal team in collaboration with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).

This probe shows that 55 Nepalis have invested in several foreign countries. Nepal’s law bars Nepalis from investing abroad. Our study found that nearly a dozen business groups are involved in channeling their illegal wealth abroad and bringing the money back into the country in the name of foreign direct investment (FDI).

This report has revealed with evidence how ill-gotten wealth is taken abroad, how it is returned to the country under FDI and who are involved in this financial crime within Nepal and outside by building access to powerful people in a way to degrade governance and democracy. This revelation explains their modus operandi and how it affects the country. CIJ source statess on its website link 

The CIJ team has said that it took nearly a year to sift through some 3,000 documents. For these reports, we interviewed nearly 70individuals including office staff, their helpers, relatives and stakeholders directly linked with the issue. We pored over documents made available by the ICIJ, investigative journalists from six countries, offices of the company registrar and court orders. We conducted a digital investigation of the evidence thus gathered while preparing these five investigative stories.

First, Nepal’s law bars its citizens from investing abroad. Moreover, we carried out investigations into Nepalis who deposited their money in dubious banks subjected to international scrutiny. In the first story, we have exposed people who have deposited their wealth in Swiss banks.

The Nepalis Who Deposited Their Suspicious Wealth in Swiss Banks

Second, Nepalis were found to have invested their illegally amassed wealth in tax havens countries. Another news report concerns foreign direct investment (FDI) sourced from such countries.

Nepali companies are bringing suspicious Foreign Direct Investment from tax haven countries

Third, emerging business people in Nepal were found to have brought in investment from the companies registered in tax havens in their names and other ventures. The second and third stories are based on this.

How Illegal Funds Are Channeled Into Nepal In the Name Of Foreign Direct Investment

Fourth, a Nepali citizen cannot invest in a foreign country without permission from the government of Nepal. Non-Resident Nepalis (NRN) are allowed to do this. However, Nepali citizens, and NRNs somehow legally, were found to have evaded Nepal’s taxes, invested money in countries where taxes are not strictly enforced, and repatriated the investment. Our fourth story uncovers this phenomenon.

How Nepali Companies Have Used FDI To Whitewash Dirty Money

Major cases of tax evasion in Nepal are also linked to this. Our investigation does not include the investments made by Non-Resident Nepalis in countries having transparent financial systems.

The fifth story is about investments made by 55 Nepalis in foreign countries. This story shines light on Nepalis who have defied the Act Restricting Investment Abroad (1964) to channel their money abroad.

How 55 Nepali Business Elites, Defying Their Country’s Laws, Invested In Offshore Companies

All these stories were translated into English from the five originally prepared in Nepali. #Nepaleaks2019

Nepali Women team became Group topper in T20 Smash Cricket Tournament, Thailand

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Bangkok: Nepali women cricket team made it to semi-finals of the tournament as group leaders after four continuous wins in the series.

While the first three consecutive wins gave the team the semi-final status, the group stage match held in Bangkok on January 16, 2018, gave it a 9-wicket win against the host country Thailand, making it topper of ‘Group A’ of the tournament.

From Group ‘A’, United Arab Emirates also entered the semi-finals of the tournament by claiming the second position.

The Nepali team had beaten China by 10 wickets in the first Group ‘A’ game on Saturday and eased to a six-wicket win over Malaysia in their second match played at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok on Sunday. Similarly, Nepal secured the semi-final berth by registering a six-wicket win over United Arab Emirates at the Asia Institute of Technology Cricket Ground on Monday.

Nepal will play the table topper of the Group ‘B’ which comprises of Hong Kong, Indonesia, Bhutan and Myanmar in the next upcoming matches.

McDonald lost its Big Mac trade mark in Europe

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McDonald’s has lost its trademark for its Big Mac burger in the European Union.

According to multiple reports in the British press, the EU Intellectual Property Office ruled Tuesday that the fast food giant was not using the trademark in accordance with EU law. The ruling takes effect immediately.

McDonald’s said that it intends to appeal the decision and is confident it will be overturned.

“We are disappointed in the EUIPO’s decision and believe this decision did not take into account the substantial evidence submitted by McDonald’s proving use of our BIG MAC mark throughout Europe,” a McDonald’s spokesperson said in a statement.

An Irish restaurant chain called Supermac’s brought the case before the regulator two years ago. It accused McDonald’s of “trademark bullying.” McDonald’s had been using its trademark on Big Mac to stop the company from trademarking its own name in the EU, which would help it expand beyond Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Chicago-based company had argued that Supermac’s was too close in name to the trademarked burger and would confuse the public. Both fast food restaurants sell burgers and fries.

Annual Bull fighting festival observed in Nepal

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Kathmandu : Nepal  hosted a bull fighting festival on the occasion of  the Maghe Sankranti festival on Tuesday.

The annual winter celebrations as per the lunar calendar Maggie sankranti is one of the biggest festival in Nepal.

According to Hindu rituals this day is considered as the end of winter and the beginning of the summer season.

In order to make the day more special and fill with entertain Bull fighting festival has been annual event in Nuwakot and Dhading, districts that adjoin the Kathmandu valley.

Hundreds of people gathered in Taruka village of Nuwakot district, some 75 km from the capital city, to witness the fun-filled bull fight.

The event was inaugurated by Nepali Minister for Youth and Sports Jagat Bahadur Bishwakarma, who said it is important to preserve such fiesta carrying rich history and culture.

The bull fighting is believed to have been started in Taruka village some 200 years ago for entertainment purpose.

Unlike in other parts of the world, Nepali bull fighting includes both bulls and oxen in the field from different owners.

People gather around to observe bull fight in Taruka. Photo: RSS

At least 22 pairs of bull competed this year in Taruka, where the bulls continuously fought for over an hour in the dusty playground.

According to locals, the competing bulls were selected on the basis of their physical fitness including length, height and age.

The bulls used for tilling lands are set free on this particular day for the event.

When the bulls went wild and rowdy during the warm winter afternoon, people screamed and cheered for their favorites.

PM May’s draft Brexit deal is voted down by 432 to 202, faces vote of no confidence

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London : Theresa May’s draft Brexit deal has been voted down in one of the most significant Commons defeats of a sitting Prime Minister in recent political history. Despite months of negotiations and last-ditch attempts to win round MPs, Mrs May’s legal framework for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU was rejected by Parliament. In dramatic scenes in Westminster on Tuesday evening, MPs voted 432 to 202 against the deal which left the Prime Minister losing by 230 votes.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn immediately announced that he would be calling a vote of no confidence against the Government, adding that the “catastrophic” defeat represented an “absolutely decisive” verdict on her Brexit negotiations.

Mrs May said that she would make time for such a motion on Wednesday and said the focus now is confirming whether the government still has Parliament’s confidence. She said it was clear that MPs do not support the deal but that the vote “tells us nothing about what it does support, nothing about how or even if it intends to honour the decision that people took in a referendum”.

Motorbike taxi being popular in Nepal; Government keeping closer eyes on legal issues

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Kathmandu : In a massive traffic jam of Kathmandu valley a new concept of entrepreneurship has been flourished as Uber taxi app has taken the market in Europe and America.

A mobile app called Tottle which is developed by local youth in Nepal is gaining its popularity due to its innovative feature of sharing a motorbike to travel. An alternative taxi concept to 4 wheeler taxi dominated the market in Kathmandu is being popular.

Due to the risky nature of travel, health & safety and legal issues, it is said that the government has kept its supervision due to some of the case registered against earlier this week.

Metropolitan Traffic Police Division has started taking action against motorbikes giving rides to the people through ride-hailing apps such as Tootle and Pathao, saying that the service providers were charging money from customers which is against the law.

Following the complaints, the MTPD had asked the Department of Transport Management regarding the legal status of bike sharing service. In response, the DoTM said that the Tootle and Pathao were not registered at the office.

According to Section 8 of the Transport Management Act 2049, vehicles registered for private purpose cannot be used as a means of public transportation.

SP Sapkota said that they started taking action after finding that the ride sharing apps were not registered at the department. He said police impounded five motorbikes and arrested their riders operating the bike hailing service on Monday. The bike riders were fined Rs 1,000 for violating the law.

Local startup Tootle has attracted a growing number of young and tech-savvy commuters to its motorbike-sharing service, which is five times cheaper than traditional taxis, since its launch in early 2017. It now operates in three cities in the Kathmandu Valley where about 4 million people live. Nearly 10,000 taxis operate in the valley and the industry generates roughly 17 billion Nepalese rupees ($162.6 million) annually.

But as the population in Nepal becomes increasingly connected digitally, the potential for Tootle also extends elsewhere.

Tootle is also planning to expand to the cities of Narayangadh and Pokhara within six months, with the ultimate aim of setting up abroad. More than 50,000 users have downloaded the app, which on average provides 700 rides a day, Tootle says.

Sixit Bhatta, the 37 year old co-founder of Tootle, which employs 16 people in its glass-paneled office in  Kathmandu, said it was easier for locals to use motorbikes. “There are almost half a million motorbikes in the [Kathmandu] valley. It is the most convenient mode of transport to get around,” he said.

Bhatta and his two co-founders, who declined to specify their initial investment, were in part inspired by what they saw during an Indian embargo in 2015 that led to the disruption of supplies in this Himalayan nation. Then, Nepalese pooled resources and shared rides.

“Sharing taxis is an existing behavior, but bike-sharing is new. Our service, though, is ideally suited to navigate the traffic-choked streets,” said Bhatta, a former telecommunications engineer. “Transportation is a big problem here … We lack freedom of mobility.” Bhatta added.

Around 40% of Tootle users are women, according to Bhatta, a pool that could increase over time as women avoid crowded public transportation systems, which includes buses, minibuses and three-wheelers, such as rickshaws. A 2014 survey by the World Bank found that 25% of women aged 19-35 have experienced “inappropriate touching” while traveling on public transportation in Kathmandu.

The Tootle app gives users the option to choose between male and female drivers, even though it currently has only male drivers. But Tootle intends to change that. The company has signed an agreement with an organization promoting women’s employment to train female chauffeurs. For the handicapped, motorbike-sharing is also easier than getting on cramped buses.

Nepal observed fourth national Yoga day

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RSS : Several programs are being held throughout the country to observe the Fourth National Yoga Day today.

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) has determined ‘Yoga for Peace and Prosperity’ as the slogan for this year’s celebration.

A Main Organizing Committee was organized in coordination of Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel and comprising representative members from more than 100 organizations related to Yoga.

The Main Organizing Committee will arrange the celebration of the Day that was first proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. The United Nations later proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga and the International Yoga Day was being observed on June 21 since then.

However, the Yoga campaigners in Nepal had proposed the Council of Ministers through then Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction to declare January 15 as the National Yoga Day.

The Council of Ministers on August 13, 2015 had officially decided to observe Magh 1 every year in the Nepali Calendar as the National Yoga Day and handed the responsibility of its coordination to the Ministry of Education.

In a week-long celebration, a rally will be organized at Shanti Batika in Kathmandu in the morning where the employees at the MoEST will participate. Discourses and discussion on Yoga would be organized to observe the Day.

On the concluding day on January 21, a workshop would be organized where working papers would be presented.

The MoEST has already corresponded with all the 753 local levels and the 77 District Coordination Committee through the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration to celebrate the Day with special programs.

The Yoga Day has been observed in the country to raise awareness on the aesthetic discipline as yog and to encourage people to practice it regularly in their daily lives.

Nepal Sanskrit University’s Chief of Yoga Department Dr Hari Prasad Pokharel asserted that the Nepal could be developed as the spot for yoga.

He further said that Yoga which was developed in between the Himawatkhanda and Manaskhanda of Nepal and thousands of foreigners were coming Nepal to learn yoga. According to him, around 50 yoga centers in Kathmandu have been imparting lessons on yoga to foreigners.

Nepal Maharshi Vedic Foundation has launched Yoga and meditation in more than one dozen of community schools and 75 Gurukuls across the country.

Foundation’s Chair Deep Prakash Banskota told National News Agency (RSS) that plans were afoot to extend the program to other Gurukuls and schools in the country.

Similarly, the Patanjali Yog Peeth has deputed around 40,000 yog teachers in Nepal and has been offering classes on yoga through all 77 yoga centers run in all districts in the country.

Likewise, Brahmakumari Rajyog Service Center has launched Rajyog and medication campaign in 72 districts of the country.

Baskota said that Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) was also preparing to develop Pashupati area as a conducive place for yoga and meditation.

Mahatma Sushil has started imparting Pashupat Yoga at the Pancha Debal in front of the northern main gate of the Pashupatinath Temple every morning.

The training on yoga which has been conducted in aid of the Trust would be expanded across the country, according to the PADT.