UAE: Two Nepali nationals died while two others sustained critical injuries in a road accident in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates.

The deceased are identified as Niroj Pariyar of Nawalparasi and Shanti Bishwakarma. Bishwakarma’s address is yet to be ascertained.

According to the kin of the deceased, the accident took place when the taxi they were traveling by was hit by a speeding car.

The bodies of the deceased have been kept at Abu Dhabi-based Khalifa Hospital.

The two injured in the accident, whose identities are yet to be established, are undergoing treatment at the same hospital.

LONDON:  British passports are being issued without the words ‘European Union’ on the cover, a BBC report said.

The new burgundy passports were introduced from 30 March, the day after the UK was supposed to leave the EU. However, some Britishers may still receive the old version until stocks run out.

One recipient said she was “truly appalled” at the change.

Dark blue passports resembling the pre-EU British design are due to be issued from the end of the year.

Susan Hindle Barone, who received her new passport on Friday, opined that she thought the design should not change for as long as the UK remains an EU member.

She said: “I was just surprised – we’re still members of the EU. I was surprised they’ve made the change when we haven’t left, and it’s a tangible mark of something which I believe to be completely futile.

The decision to remove the ‘European Union’ label was made in the expectation that the UK would be leaving the EU at the end of last month, as scheduled.

(Agencies)

MAHOTTARI: Property worth Rs 3 million was destroyed in a fire that broke out at a printing house in Jaleshwar Saturday morning. The fire at the Pashupati printing house at Mahendrachowk in ward no. 2 of Jaleswar municipality occurred due to a short circuit at around 5:30 am, according to the District Police Office, Mahottari.

A flex printer machine, and other printing equipment, materials, furniture and other goods were completely destroyed in the fire, said Superintendent of Police Iswar Karki.

The printing house is owned by one Surendra Shaha. A fire fighter from Jaleswar municipality, locals and police worked together to contain the blaze.

KATHMANDU: The capital is receiving heavy rainfall since early morning on Saturday. Pedestrians are seen walking under umbrellas and some are taking shelter under sheds. The sky is overcast and looks darker than usual.

Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD) has predicted rainfall and thunderstorm in most of the hilly districts of the country for three days. Light to moderate snowfall are likely to occur in some places of the high mountainous region.

“Down-power accompanied by thunderstorms is forecast due to the gusty winds blowing from the Bay of Bengal. The rain will continue until Monday,” said meteorological Barun Paudel.

The rain will continue till Monday.

Today

Generally to mostly cloudy throughout the country. Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds/lightning likely to occur at some places in the country. Chances of light to moderate snowfall in some places of the high mountainous region.

Tonight

Generally cloudy throughout the country. Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds/lightning likely to occur in some places of the eastern and central regions and in a few places of the western region. Chances of light to moderate snowfall at some places of the high mountainous region.

KATHMANDU: The Institute for Strategic and Socio-Economic Research (ISSR), Pavilion Group, and Khabarhub jointly organized an interaction program on ‘Post-Investment Summit Nepal-2019’ at the Durbar Marga-based Pavilion Hall on Friday.

Speaking at the interaction, former Minister for Finance, Dr. Ram Saran Mahat said the government organized the Summit in haste.

‘It would have been better had the government carried out ample homework for the Summit,” he said. Former Minister Dr. Mahat said the government should have first focused on creating a conducive environment for the summit rather than hurriedly organizing it,’ he lamented.

He stressed that the government should have prioritized the manufacturing sector rather than infrastructure.

Mahat remarked that instances of violence and blasts will not impart a positive message to potential investors.

Likewise, former Governor Tilak Rawal questioned how Nepal could bring foreign direct investment ‘as external environment and internal commitment was not favorable for investment’.

He was of the opinion that it was very difficult to attract foreign investment in Nepal as Nepalis have weak spending capacity, and finding markets in neighboring India has been a tedious task. “Exporting goods manufactured in Nepal is very hard to export to India and China,” Rawal said.

Also speaking former CEO of Nepal Investment Board, Radhesh Pant said it is high time that the government and private sector worked together to attract more foreign investment in Nepal.

Pant said it was positive that investment laws were formulated ahead of the much-talked summit while casting doubt over the effectiveness of service delivery.

Likewise, former Vice-Chairman of National Planning Commission Prithvi Raj Legal said that the Nepal Investment Summit was successful, and praised the government for ‘seriousness’ in bringing FDI.

Former Nepali Congress lawmaker Ram Hari Khatiwada raised skepticism over the possibility of investment here saying that the government should ensure that negative messages should not go to the international community.

Saying that political stability alone would not play a positive role for development, he stressed on a political commitment for attracting foreign investment.

Also speaking on the occasion, former Governor Deependra Chhetri expressed the optimism of bringing in foreign investment saying that there has been a conducive environment for the same.

ITAHARI: Police opened fire following a clash with the locals after disputes over border checks took a nasty turn at Bhokraha of the district on Friday.

SP Rajan Adhikari at District Police Office, Sunsari informed Khabarhub that a policeman was injured in the attack by the locals.

It is reported that some locals were also injured in the clash. Details are yet to follow.

KATHMANDU: Ghode Jatra is being celebrated in Kathmandu Valley today with fanfare. The festival is celebrated annually as per a mythology which relates the genesis of the festival after the death of a demon named Tundi.

On the day, the Nepali Army cavalry team performed different artistic stunts riding on their horses. On the occasion, president Bidhya Devi Bhandari, vice- president Nanda Kishor Pun, prime minister KP Sharma Oli, ministers and other high-ranked officers observed the Godhe Jatra performed by Nepali Army cavalry team at Thudikhel.

Public beliefs that the demon who lived on a meadow, which is now at Tundikhel, used to unleash terror among the Kathmandu denizens, particularly children. After his death people rejoiced by dancing on his body by riding horses.

There is also a belief that the parade of horses at Tundikhel keeps the demon’s spirit away. The faster the horses run, the better Tundi’s spirit is dispelled. As per another legend, the Ghode Jatra is held to mark the start of the New Year.

The festival is celebrated on the day of Krishna Aunsi, as per the lunar calendar, which is a day before the Chaitra Shukla Pratipada and this day is taken as the start of the New Year.

The horse parade, known religiously known as Aswa Yatra, is organized to welcome the New Year.The day before Ghode Jatra is also known as Pichas Chaturdarshi, as per lunar calendar.

The Jatra is also observed in Lalitpur today.

Photos: Krishna Khatri/Khabarhub