Make UN More Vibrant

Founded in 1945 following the World War II, the United Nations (UN) is a global body committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards, and human rights and freedoms. To achieve these goals, the UN has been instrumental in harmonising the actions of its Member States. While commemorating the 75th anniversary of the UN on

Coronavirus Not A Hoax

After prohibitory orders imposed in the Kathmandu Valley and other parts of the county to contain the COVID-19 pandemic were removed, people are gradually returning to a new normal. Months of lockdown and weeks of restrictive measures hit the economy up to the hilt. The lockdown led to the loss of jobs on a massive scale while the threat of starvation and scarcity loomed large among the vulnerable population. So the government adopted a strategy of saving the lives of people and reviving the economy...

Time For Telemedicine

Health institutions across the country have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and, as a result, patients are unable or unwilling to visit hospitals fearing the risk of virus transmission. In such a context, online medical services, commonly called telemedicine, have emerged as a valuable means for patients to consult doctors without the need for in-person visits. Telemedicine is not a new phenomenon and in Nepal too, it has been in use for quite some time, helping people, who live in remote...

Substitute Import Of Onion

Notwithstanding the successive governments’ plans to make Nepal self-reliant in food, the country is still forced to import rice, vegetables and fruits in a huge quantity from abroad. There was a time when Nepal used to be known as a food exporting nation. But the situation has reversed over the years. Nepal has favourable climate, adequate arable land and human resources to attain self-sufficiency in food, vegetables and fruits. A large section of people are still involved in agriculture but it...

Abide By Constitution In Letter And Spirit

The other day the country observed the 6th anniversary of the constitution. Apparently, it was a low-profile commemoration owing to the coronavirus pandemic that has thrown normal life out of gear. Even if the prohibitory orders, imposed to contain the virus spread, were lifted, its threat to human life continues, with the rising number of infections. This has forced the government and concerned authorities to limit the celebratory functions. Some formal programmes and decisions constitute the parts...

Notice: No Friday Supplement Today

There is no Friday Supplement today as we are bringing out a 4-page Constitution Day Special on Saturday. 

Revival Of Tourism

Of all the sectors that have suffered badly owing to the prolonged lockdown and prohibitory orders, the tourism and hospitality businesses come to the top in terms of losses they have suffered. This hospitality industry came to a grinding halt in a country known around the world for attracting a plethora of visitors as one of the affordable tourist destinations. However, the fear of coronavirus spread compelled our authority to impose prolonged lockdown and prohibitory orders which has broken the...

Stringent Law Against Acid Attacks In Offing

The government has stepped up much-needed measures to prevent and control the heinous crime of acid attacks. It has begun the process of formulating a law against such inhumane acts. A recent Cabinet meeting has entrusted the Nepal Law Commission with the responsibility of drafting a much tougher new Act within 15 days to deal with the crime. The proposed law will have provisions to bring the perpetrators to justice and conduct hearings on such cases at the earliest possible. In the absence of an...

Fighting Pandemic Of Disinformation

The rise of digital and social media has changed the entire landscape of media, thanks to the people’s enhanced access to internet and smartphones. More importantly, it is their ever increasing penchant to keep themselves abreast of current issues and developments, which has exponentially amplified the scope and craze of online portals and social networking sites. Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have served as viable means of popularising the news that is either printed or...

Expedite Rescue Of Migrant Workers

Nepal has one of the highest remittances to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio with the former contributing about 27 per cent to the GDP. Remittance has played a vital role in reducing poverty in addition to contributing to greater health awareness, literacy and entrepreneurship development. It has been a big respite for the government because the foreign employment opportunities not only engaged the job-seeking youths but also helped them acquire new skills and knowledge and thus supported in skill...

Break The Virus Chain

It is tormenting that the Kathmandu Valley has continued to record a rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 infections in recent times. Some 400-600 new coronavirus patients have been detected in this densely populated valley on a daily basis. This figure is quite alarming as it accounts for well over 47 per cent of the total nationwide infections diagnosed each day. The data maintained by the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) shows that the valley saw a total of 11,139 cases of COVID-19...

NCP Keeps Unity Intact

The ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has successfully resolved its internal dispute much to the respite of its cadres as well as common people. The long-running quarrel has sent negative message to the general masses who are struggling against the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing livelihood crisis caused by the lockdown and prohibitory orders imposed to contain the virus spread. The government has strained every nerve to combat the coronavirus and its economic fallout but unnecessary wrangling inside...

Easing Of Restrictions

The decision to ease the stiff prohibitory orders in the Kathmandu Valley must have brought some cheers among all business operatives whose livelihoods and means of sustenance had been hit severely due to the prolonged lockdown and strict prohibitory orders. The latest decision has allowed people to resume their business and works and thus earn their livelihoods. This is indeed an important decision that will protect many from giving up their professions and jobs. The lengthy lockdown and weeks of...

Mind Mental Health

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Citizenship To Orphaned

The term ‘citizenship’ denotes a legal status of a person recognised by a sovereign nation. Citizenship certificate is a state’s membership of an individual, who should show his/her allegiance to motherland. It allows citizens to enjoy rights as well as fulfill their duties to their country as stipulated by the constitution. When the idea of citizenship first developed in the ancient city states of Greek, it amounted to a license of becoming a free person, offering a sense of belonging and...

Opening Up But Safely

Lockdowns and prohibitions, no doubt, control the spread of the coronavirus and save people from infections. But, at the same time, they also endanger livelihoods. Businesses have not been able to comfortably operate since the first lockdown in March and as a result, they have laid off hundreds of workers. A recent survey by the Nepal Rastra Bank showed that 61 per cent of businesses have been shut down completely and 22.5 per cent of employees lost their jobs. Those employees that still have a job...

Bitter Fact About Sugar

with restrictions in place to rein in the spread of the coronanvirus pandemic, the supply chain has still remained disrupted, to a great extent, almost across the country. Economic activities such as production of essential daily consumer goods and their supply have not resumed in full-swing due to looming fear of the transmission of the deadly virus. Shops and businesses have been in operation only partially. Black marketeers and other profit mongers have a tendency to take the fluid situations...

Rights And Responsibility

The COVID-19 pandemic has impelled the people to undergo drastic changes in their mode of living after it restricted their mobility to the hilt. As it upturned normal economic, social, educational and cultural activities, the nations across the globe started to explore the various ways to fight the killer virus. One drastic step is the compromise of individual liberty for the sake of larger segment of population. Those who demand freedom to freely walk or assemble in the open spaces find it hard...

Adapting To Dire Time

The prolonged lockdown and prohibitory orders following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has shocked many beyond their imagination. However, the unprecedented move of imposing lockdown and prohibitory orders for containing virus surge has hit hard the businesses of all shapes and sizes across the nation. The businessmen, both small and big, have indeed found it quite hard to negotiate with this grim situation. Some small-time business persons, who have been battling hard to sustain their...

A Gesture Of Goodwill

In what may be a gesture of goodwill, Bangladesh has responded positively to Nepal's request for supplying 50,000 metric tons of urea fertiliser for urgent purpose. Farmers in Nepal are in dire need of chemical fertilisers for the current crop season. The supply of fertilisers makes a difference to the production of crops. Since the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) was unable to import the fertilisers even during the peak crop plantation season due to the coronavirus lockdowns...