BAITADI: A tremor was felt in the far-western region of Nepal this morning. According to Tirtha Raj Dahal,  a seismologist at  the Seismological Center, Surkhet, the tremor measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale was recorded at 8.37 am with its epicenter in Darchula.

According to Dahal, it was an aftermath of the Gorkha earthquake that devastated Nepal on April 25, 2015. The jolts were felt in Baitadi, Darchula and Bajhang districts.

Earlier, the aftershock had struck thrice in a singe day with its epicenter in Lipulek, border point between Nepal, India and China on March 18.

KATHMANDU: Dharan Police arrested four people for their involvement in the smuggling of marijuana.

The arrested are 23-year-old Bijaya Rai and Madan Rai alias Aite Rai of Shahidbhumi Rural Municipality, Dhankuta, Nar Bahadur Rai, 35, of Pakhribas Municipality, Dhankuta and Raj Kumar Sah, 36, of Biratnagar Metropolitan City-13, said DSP Suman Kumar Timsina of Area Police Office, Dharan.

Timsina further shared that the police also arrested Sah for trying to bribe police with Rs 50,000 to release the arrested with the marijuana.

Police intercepted them with the contraband at Shivdhara in Dharan while they were heading to Dharan from Dhankuta in a tempo.

BHAKTAPUR: A man has been landed in police net for allegedly raping his stepdaughter.

Police arrested Ramesh Kumar Basnet, 35, of Umakunda Rural Municipality of Ramechhap district from Duwakot Chagunarayan Municipality in Bhaktapur on Monday.

Police have further stated that Basnet is alleged to have continuously raped the ninth grader for the past two years.  The Basnet family had been temporarily living in a rented house at Duwakot.

KATHMANDU: Tarai-Madhesh is facing a growing risk of heat waves, according to a new study.

The  study on ‘Assessing trends of heat waves and perception of people about health risks of heat wave in Nepal’ showed that the recent freak storm that struck some places in Bara and Parsa districts was the result of uneven heat. The study on heat wave was conducted for the first time in Nepal.

This is mentioned in the report of study financially and technically Tarai-Madhesh assisted by the World Health Organisation and conducted by the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) here today.

The preliminary findings of the report are the scale of heat is increasing and the southern plains witness hotter nights; impact of pre-monsoon before and excessive rains during monsoon.

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interim order not to implement the Home Ministry’s decision to distribute citizenship on the basis of descent.

Hearing on the writ petition filed by senior advocate Bal Krishna Neupane, a single bench of Justice Purusottam Bhandari ordered the concerned not to implement the Home Ministry’s decision for the time being.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) had last week instructed all district administrations to issue citizenship on the basis of descent at a time when the proposal to amend the Citizenship Act is still sub-judice at the Parliament.

The Home Ministry has cited the Supreme Court (SC)’s verdict to provide citizenship on the basis of a mother’s name and the Nepal Citizenship Act, 2006, Nepal Citizenship Rules, 2006 and the Citizenship Certificate Distribution Procedures Directives, 2006 to issue citizenship.

HETAUDA: Government of State 3 is set to organize an investment conference to attract domestic investors in Chitwan from April 19.

The State government said it would request entrepreneurs of private sector to make investment in various sectors. The two-day state-level conference is expected to see a participation of around 200 people, including investors and experts, according to Chief Minister Dormani Poudel’s Press Coordinator, Prakash Dahal.

According to Member of Policy and Planning Commission of the State, Shyam Kumar Basnet, a broad discussion would also be held with the private sector with the objective of opening ways of investment keeping a five-pillar policy in priority.

KATHMANDU: Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Kulman Ghising on Monday claimed that those forcing load-shedding in the past are attempting to weaken the NEA leadership.

Holding a press conference, he said that forces displeased by end of power cut and profit made by the power authority are trying to defame him while strong objecting to the attempt.

Ghising said that fake news was circulated claiming that he has taken Rs 6 million as allowance and clarified that he received only Rs 600,000 on the recommendation by performance appraisal committee.

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Oli has said that the government was always ready to support the private sector for import substitution and promoting export.

Stating that a policy has been adopted for forging partnership with the private sector for industrial progress, PM Oli said the government will facilitate in formulating the necessary acts, laws and rules, and in constructing physical infrastructure for the country’s economic development.

Inaugurating the 16th annual general meeting of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) in the capital today, Prime Minister Oli said that the investors have been encouraged to invest in industrial sector in a transparent way.

He also said it is high time that fake transaction, sale of fake VAT bill and non-transparent activities are discouraged. Prime Minister Oli maintained that the government was equally determined to encourage and protect domestic industries while urging the business communities not to carry out illegal activities.

The Prime Minister also expressed commitment to support the private sector in all sectors, including the technology, and raw materials.

KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population, Upendra Yadav on Monday urged government doctors to go to the assigned working stations.

He called on the agitating government doctors, who have been protesting the government employees’ adjustment process.

Minister Yadav urged them to go to the deputed areas and provide services, and the government would address their concerns.

Talking to journalists in Kathmandu today, he said that the government was committed to ensuring people’s rights to quality health services.

It should be noted that doctors affiliated with the Government Doctors Association of Nepal (GODAN) have stopped their services in the government hospitals, except the emergency for the past three days alleging the government of being against the agreement reached between the government and the GODAN.