KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has extended a message of good wishes to all Nepalis living at home and abroad on the occasion of Sonam Lhosar. “The festival may bring happiness, prosperity, peace and progress to all Nepalis. All should focus on preserving and promoting Nepali festivals and culture so as to retain the identity of Nepal and Nepalis at the national and international level,” read the message.
Likewise, Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba also issued separate messages of well wishes on the occasion. In his message, Vice President Pun has said that the religious and cultural festivals have strengthened social goodwill and national unity. Likewise, in his message today, PM Oli said that the cultural diversities of Nepal have contributed to unite Nepalis in a single thread of unity.
“Our cultural festivals, costumes can also contribute in the campaign of prosperity,” the PM has said adding that the current government was moving ahead with the goal of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis’. The country is observing the 2855th Sonam Lhosar, a festival celebrated particularly by Tamang community, with various programmes today.
The festival which marks New Year of Tamang community falls in the Shukla Pratipada of the Nepali month of Magh. On the occasion, a special programme will be held in Tundikhel where a variety of clothing, foods and artworks of Tamang community will be put on display, said Belilo Tamang, senior vice chairperson of the main organising committee. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is scheduled to inaugurate the programme at 1 pm.

KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is set to intensify the enforcement of local curriculum from the upcoming academic session.
All public community and institutional schools are required to follow the directives in this regard enforced by the KMC. The local curriculum introduced to keep up with the newly introduced federal system includes various five subjects, including Nepal Bhasa, sustainable development, environment education, traffic management, culture of Kathmandu, and ancient language.
The KMC’s move follows the handover of the authority of overall school management to the concerned local levels under the federal setup. The new curriculum is needed as earlier set of center-based courses could not accommodate concerns of various aspects of local level, said Sitaram Koirala, chief of education department at the KMC.

KATHMANDU: Pavilion Media Group P. Ltd., a newly established digital media house in Nepal, launched its digital media Khabarhub amid a special function in the capital today.

Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, who was invited as the chief guest, inaugurated the digital media by clicking www.khabarhub.com at the digitized hall of the Pavilion Group at Durbar Marg.

On the occasion, Vice President Pun said, “Information technology serves as the eyes of the country. Disseminating wrong information means making the nation blind. I hope Khabarhub serves as the eyes of the nation.”

‘Punchier, tighter and bolder’, as it aims to be, Khabarhub is a digital media branch of Pavilion Media Group established in 2017.

Nepal-based diplomats, representatives from various donor agencies, distinguished personalities and intellectuals were present at the program.

KATHMANDU: A former guerilla, a prominent leader in the then CPN-Maoist party, and a former minister, Lokendra Bista emitted a distinct identity in the party. In 2007, Bista created history by entering the interim parliament wielding a gun, growled of possessing an arm, labeled parliamentarians as “wolves and pigs”, and threatened of raining blows on them.

Despite having prospects for crucial position in politics, he now wants to become an inspiration to many, especially youths, through farming. “I want to give the message to the youth of this country that agriculture is a respectable profession,” he quips.

His resolute contribution during the decade-long insurgency helped him to win the first Constituent Assembly elections in 2008. Thereafter, he led the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation in 2011, and got elected as a member in the party’s Standing Committee – the most powerful body in a communist party.

Bista, however, holds a different identity now. For him, agriculture has been a passion. He had not even in the wildest of his dreams thought that he would be quitting active politics to join agriculture. “In fact, I had never thought of quitting active politics,” he says, adding, “The notion that politics would only change the society was wrong.”

Despite having prospects for crucial position in the politics, he now wants to become an inspiration to many, especially youths, through farming. “I want to give the message to the youth of this country that agriculture is a respectable profession,” he quips.

Currently, besides cultivating black rice, a good source of fiber, in Bhakundebesi of Kavre, Bista, who prefers to work in the fields himself, has expanded his agriculture business in other areas, including Sankhu of Kathmandu where he cultivates black rice. Now, Bista is working on yet another project at Bijauli of Dang where he is planning to grow dragon fruit, a fruit equipped with many health benefiting properties that is full of antioxidants. Most probably, the fruits will be ready to be marketed after three years, he informed.

Black Rice plantation.

“My plan is to produce organic products, create employment opportunities and inspire youths to get into this business rather than going abroad as migrant workers,” Bista told khabarhub. He employs around 140 people in a season.

However, an enthusiastic Bista is disenchanted with the trend of the out migration of Nepalese youths. “Why should someone go abroad to work in an unfavorable environment when there are opportunities in Nepal itself?” he queries while drawing the government’s attention. He laments at the government’s apathy towards Nepalese youth who otherwise would want to lead a dignified life back home.

Often portrayed as a member of former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s coterie, Gupta gave up active politics after being convicted of corruption charges.

Bista is not the only ‘elite’ to join agriculture business by quitting active politics. Jay Prakash Gupta, once an influential leader of Nepali Congress, too, is involved in agriculture-piggery and fishery in Saptari district.

Often portrayed as a member of former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s coterie, Gupta gave up active politics after being convicted of corruption charges.

“I am doing fine now,” he says with a sense of satisfaction.

He claims his active involvement in agribusiness has encouraged several youths in the district to get into agriculture rather than flying overseas for employment. Gupta, a former Minister for Information and Communications, suggests the government to invest in agriculture to discourage youths from flying abroad.

Former Minister Gupta (C) at his poultry. Photo: Gupta’s Facebook

Deepak Prakash Baskota is another name in the list. Baskota has been engaged in agriculture and cooperative business for the past 25 years. A Nepali Congress and former minister of State for Home Affairs Baskota is an established name in tea production.

Ask anyone his name in his home district Pachthar, and pat comes the reply, “Yes, he is the owner of Kanchanjangha Tea Estate, which is one of the highest producers of orthodox tea.” Besides, Baskota is involved in promoting the Nepali tea as a Himalayan Nepali tea into the international arena. His dedication to agriculture has inspired a lot of youths, who have started their own agribusiness. Baskota, however, lambasts the government for encouraging youths to seek overseas employment by failing to prioritize the agriculture sector.

“Nepalese tea is the best tea because of its climatic condition,” he claims. He suggests that it is high time that the tea producers should focus on organic cultivation to create a niche in the international market.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian oil output declined to 11.38 million barrels per day (bpd) in January, or by around 35,000 bpd from the October 2018 level, the baseline for the global oil accord, missing the deal’s target, Energy Ministry data showed on Saturday. Russian oil pipeline exports in January fell to 4.313 million bpd from 4.496 million bpd in December.

Rosneft, the world’s largest oil producer by output, reduced its production by 0.1 percent last month from December, while second-largest Russian oil producer Lukoil saw production cuts of 0.8 percent. Output at Rosneft’s largest unit, RN-Yuganskneftegaz, declined by 0.8 percent after a blaze ripped through Priobskoye oilfield in early January.

Production at Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of gas giant Gazprom, edged up by 0.1 percent. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak has said the country’s overall cuts would total 50,000 bpd in January from October. The Organization of the Petroleum Producing Countries and other leading global oil producers agreed in December to cut their combined output by 1.2 million bpd in order to support oil prices and evenly balance the market.

Of that, Russia has pledged to cut its production by around 230,000 bpd in the first quarter. Novak has also said Russia was unable to reduce oil output sharply due to technical limitations but would try to do so more quickly.

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The slower than expected cuts have drawn a rebuke from Saudi Arabia, the OPEC kingpin.Reducing production presents a challenge because Russia’s harsh winter climate can cause wells to freeze, Russian officials and analysts have said. According to a Reuters survey, OPEC oil supply has fallen in January by the largest amount in two years.Russian natural gas production was at 67.43 billion cubic meters (bcm) last month, or 2.18 bcm a day, versus 67.04 bcm in December. Reuters

Female authors dominate this year’s Man Booker prize shortlist. Works by Anna Burns, Esi Edugyan, Daisy Johnson, and Rachel Kushner cover subjects ranging from an 11-year-old escaping slavery on a sugar plantation to an unflinching look at prison life for poor women in America.

Johnson, 27, has become the youngest author to ever make the shortlist, beating by a few months the record from Eleanor Catton, who was also 27, in 2013. Catton went on to win the prize. Richard Powers and Robin Robertson complete the list with their novels The Overstory and The Long Take, respectively.

“All of our six finalists are miracles of stylistic invention,” chair of the judges, Kwame Anthony Appiah, said. “In each of them the language takes centre stage. And yet in every other respect they are remarkably diverse, exploring a multitude of subjects ranging across space and time.

“From Ireland to California, in Barbados and the Arctic, they inhabit worlds that not everyone will have been to, but which we can all be enriched by getting to know. Each one explores the anatomy of pain – among the incarcerated and on a slave plantation, in a society fractured by sectarian violence, and even in the natural world. But there are also, in each of them, moments of hope.”

Writers of all nationalities are eligible for the prize, the criteria being that their work is in English and published in the UK and Ireland. This year’s shortlist is made up of three authors from the UK, two from the US, and one from Canada.

Edugyan is the only author this year to have been previously shortlisted – for Half-Blood Blues in 2011. This year she won over the judges with Washington Black, which tells the story of a bright young man who breaks free from the chains of slavery but struggles to make a name for himself in a world that’s set against him.

Johnson’s Everything Under details the struggles of a young woman who was abandoned by her mother at the age of 16. Kushner’s book The Mars Rooms is the gritty tale of a former lap-dancer serving two life sentences in an women’s jail in the US, while Burns’s Milkman is set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

Powers’ The Overstory has been described by the judges as ”the eco-epic of the year” and looks at nine strangers who are brought together to save the last few acres of virgin forest standing in North America. The Long Take, by Robertson, concerns a D-Day veteran living with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Each author who made the shortlist will receive £2,500 and a specially bound version of their book. The eventual winner, who will take home £50,000, will be announced on the 16 October in London’s Guildhall.

The 2018 Man Booker Prize shortlist in full
Author (nationality) – Title (imprint)

Anna Burns (UK) – Milkman (Faber & Faber)

Esi Edugyan (Canada) – Washington Black (Serpent’s Tail)

Daisy Johnson (UK) – Everything Under (Jonathan Cape)

Rachel Kushner (USA) – The Mars Room (Jonathan Cape)

Richard Powers (USA) – The Overstory (William Heinemann)

Robin Robertson (UK) – The Long Take (Picador)

BAITADI : Power supply has been obstructed in Baitadi district for the past four days due to wind, rain and snowfall.
According to Power Distribution Centre of the Nepal Electricity Authority, Baitadi, the electricity supply has been obstructed from Monday after the power supply line of 33 KV National Transmission Line was broken following the wind and snowfall.
Problem has surfaced to carry out maintenance of the line due to continuous snowfall and rainfall. Baitadi folks are out of contact and radio service as well as media houses have been affected due to the disruption of power supply.
Similarly, the district witnessed hailstorm, rainfall and snowfall on Wednesday. Transport service along the Dasharath Chand Highway and Jayprithvi Highway has been obstructed following the heavy snowfall, Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Baitadi, Netra Mani Giri, said.

The rupee slipped against the Euro again Thursday as the daily exchange rate remained unchanged with the US dollar whose value is slipping in the money market.

The Nepal Rashtra Bank fixed Thursday’s buying rate for one Euro at Rs.78.89 and the selling rate at Rs.79.50. The slide started Wednesday. The central bank fixed Thursday’s buying rate for the dollar at Rs.78.00 and the selling rate at Rs.78.60 For the first time the Euro is fetching more rupees that the dollar in the money market.

Region No. 3 Kathmandu defeated Region No. 6 (Baitadi) to secure third consecutive victory in the ongoing Pepsi Standard Chartered Senior T20 National (Cricket) Tournament on Saturday.

Ambassador Dr Chalise calls on Chairman of the interim election government, Khil Raj Regmi at the latter’s office. Nepalnews.com
In the match held at Pulchowk Engineering Campus Ground, Kathmandu beat Baitadi by eight wickets. Kathmandu easily met the target of 96 runs set by Baitadi in 13.4 overs as Bivitsu Thapa scored 39 runs and Niraj Bhattarai 22 runs.

Kathmandu had defeated Region No. 9 (Mahendranagar) and Region No. 4 (Bhairahawa) in its previous matches.

Similarly, Region No. 2 (Birgunj) secured victory against Region No. 8 (Pokhara) by 2 runs to register second win held at Kirtipur TU Ground. However, it had lost to Armed Police Force (APF) by 76 runs on Friday’s match.

Hasim Ansari of R-2 (Birgunj) receiving the player of the match award from guest Sanjeev Pandey (Member of CAN)
Pokhara was held to 150 runs against the target of 153 runs set by Birgunj as Jitendra Mukhiya and Irshad Ahmed took two wickets each for the winning side. Both teams lost five wickets each.

Likewise, Region No. 4 (Bhairahawa) thrashed Region No. 9 (Mahendranagar) by five wickets to register first win in the tournament. However, this is a second straight defeat to Mahendranagar as it has lost to Kathmandu by 42 runs in its previous match.

In the first inning played at TU Ground, Mahendranagar posted a target of 108 runs losing six wickets in 20 overs. Surendra Chand scored 26 runs for the team.

However, Bhairahawa chased the target in 16.4 overs as Fazlur Rehman Khan made half century to the team. He was also declared player of the match.

Meanwhile, the match between APF Club and Region No. 5 (Nepalgunj) was abandoned due to rain. They both shared one point each. Both the teams have won two matches earlier. Nepalnews.com

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal led by Kamal Thapa on Friday made public the key components of its election manifesto, proposing king as the ceremonial head and an elected prime minister as the executive head.

Kamal Thapa
Releasing the preliminary draft of manifesto amid a candidacy announcement program in the capital, RPP-N further said its election slogan is “No Nepal Bandh” as the party’s chief Thapa said the party stands against all types of Nepal Bandh (general shutdown).

“All religions will exist in Nepal in harmony. All religions will have religious freedom in a traditionally Hindu Nepal,” Thapa said. “Load shedding will be totally eliminated within the next five years and the party will work towards massive economic development,” he added.

Thapa further said his party will act tough against corrupt ones and corruption, saying that illegal property will be confiscated under his party’s tenure.

On the issue of state restructuring, RPP-N will ensure autonomous governance system at the local level, Thapa said, adding, “The destination from here on is economic revolution, strong and prosperous Nepal.”

RPP-N further said it will announce 100 percent candidacy in all 240 constituencies. In today’s program, the party declared 196 direct candidacies. The party has proposed its chief Kamal Thapa as the prime ministerial candidate. But Thapa’s constituency has not been fixed yet.

The list of 196 declared candidates includes most of the party’s top leaders, central committee members and district leaders.

Among the top leaders, Padma Sundar Lawati has been announced RPP-N candidate from Panchthar -2. The constituency of another senior leader Keshar Bahadur Bista is yet to be finalized.

Similarly, Chandra Bahadur Gurung has been declared candidate from Syangja-1, Udhav Poudel from Kathmandu-4 and singers Mira Rana and Sanjaya Shrestha from Kathmandu-3 and 6, respectively. Bharat Jangam, who joined the party today, is also contesting from Kathmandu-1.

“We will soon finalize rest of the constituencies under the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) as well as Proportional Electoral System within a few days,” said party chairman Thapa. Nepalnews.com / Kishor Poudel