Month: December 2020

IAWRT art Women’s Short Film Competition: ‘Ice Cream’ and ‘Lakhe’bags first prize

Kathmandu: ‘Ice Cream’ and ‘Lakhe’ have emerged first in the Iawrt Women’s Short Film Competition 2020 organized to increase women’s participation in the film industry. Two short films have won the competition organized by the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT), Nepal. The first successful film ‘Ice Cream’ was directed by Sangeeta… Continue reading IAWRT art Women’s Short Film Competition: ‘Ice Cream’ and ‘Lakhe’bags first prize

Prime Minister Oli emphasize universal access to COVID-19 vaccine

Kathmandu: Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has underlined the necessity of universal access to COVID-19 vaccines, once they are available.They must be truly global public goods and cannot be the means of maximizing profit, the Prime Minister stated. He further stressed the need for global solidarity and cooperation to tackle the pressing challenges such… Continue reading Prime Minister Oli emphasize universal access to COVID-19 vaccine

Congress decides to hold nationwide demonstrations on December 14

Kathmandu: The main opposition party, Nepali Congress (NC) has scheduled a date to stage a nationwide protest against the government on December 14. A meeting of office bearers and former office bearers on Friday condemned the mistreatment and arrest of senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel in Tanahu. “The repressive attitude of opposing the opposition has… Continue reading Congress decides to hold nationwide demonstrations on December 14

China completes lunar sample collection ahead of schedule

FILE PHOTO: The Long March-5 Y5 rocket, carrying the Chang'e-5 lunar probe, takes off from Wenchang Space Launch Center, in Wenchang, Hainan province, China November 24, 2020. Photo Courtesy: Reuters

BEIJING (Reuters): China’s Chang’e-5 lunar vehicle has finished collecting samples of lunar rocks and soil more than a day ahead of schedule in the first lunar sample retrieval mission since the 1970s, the country’s space agency said on Thursday. The robotic vehicle has stored the samples and will now dock with the orbiting Chang’e-5 for… Continue reading China completes lunar sample collection ahead of schedule

Iran ready to show goodwill if U.S., Europe abide by nuclear deal: Zarif

FILE PHOTO: Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaks in Baghdad, Iraq July 19, 2020. Photo Courtesy: Reuters

ROME (Reuters): Iran will fully comply with a 2015 deal aimed at preventing it from developing nuclear weapons if both the United States and Europe honour their original commitments, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday. U.S. President Donald Trump quit the pact in 2018, saying it did not do enough to curb… Continue reading Iran ready to show goodwill if U.S., Europe abide by nuclear deal: Zarif

Next for Biden: Naming a health care team as pandemic rages

In this Dec. 1, 2020, photo, President-elect Joe Biden speaks as Vice President-elect Kamala Harris listens at left, during an event to introduce their nominees and appointees to economic policy posts at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. Up soon for Biden: naming his top health care officials as the coronavirus pandemic rages. It’s hard to imagine more consequential picks. Biden is expected to announce his choice to head the Department of Health and Human Services next week. Photo Courtesy: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Up soon for President-elect Joe Biden: naming his top health care officials as the coronavirus pandemic rages. It’s hard to imagine more consequential picks. Already one prominent candidate to lead the Department of Health and Human Services has faded from the scene. New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was offered another… Continue reading Next for Biden: Naming a health care team as pandemic rages

US, Estonia partnered to search out cyber threat from Russia

FILE - This June 6, 2013, file photo shows the National Security Administration (NSA) campus in Fort Meade, Md. American officials conducted a cyber operation with Estonia this fall at that country’s invitation. That’s according to officials from both countries. The joint operation is part of an election-season effort to preemptively identify cyber threats from Russia and other adversaries that could be used against U.S. networks. Photo Courtesy: AP

WASHINGTON (AP): In a modern twist on old-fashioned war games, the U.S. military dispatched cyber fighters to Estonia this fall to help the small Baltic nation search out and block potential cyber threats from Russia. The goal was not only to help a NATO partner long targeted by its powerful neighbor but also to gain… Continue reading US, Estonia partnered to search out cyber threat from Russia

US jobless claims remain high at 712,000 as virus escalates

FILE - In this June 26, 2020, file photo, volunteers Juanita MacKenzie, front, and Dave Stutman carry boxes of food to a waiting car at a large mobile pantry set up by the Food Bank of the Rockies in the parking lot of Empower Field at Mile High in west Denver. In an effort to keep Colorado residents fed and employed this winter, Colorado's Legislature is concluding a special session Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, by passing bills offering assistance to restaurants and food pantries struggling to keep their doors open during the coronavirus pandemic. Photo Courtesy: AP

WASHINGTON (AP): The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell as the nation celebrated Thanksgiving last week to a still-high 712,000, the latest sign that the U.S. economy and job market remain under stress from the intensified viral outbreak. Thursday’s report from the Labor Department said that initial claims for jobless aid dropped from… Continue reading US jobless claims remain high at 712,000 as virus escalates

NRB has made a new arrangement to stop the auction of collateral of Covid affected business

Kathmandu: Nepal Rastra Bank has made an arrangement that if the interest payment is not due for more than six months, the collateral of the debtor will not be auctioned. The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has made a policy provision that no collateral will be auctioned if the interest is not due for more than… Continue reading NRB has made a new arrangement to stop the auction of collateral of Covid affected business

An hour-long meeting between Prachanda and President Bhandari after Oli

Photo Courtesy: Facebook page of NCP chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda)

Kathmandu: Executive Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has gone to Shitalniwas (President Residence) to meet President Bidhyadevi Bhandari. Amid growing controversy within the party, Prachanda reached Shital Niwas on Thursday evening to meet President Bhandari. Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister KP Sharmaoli had gone to Shitalniwas to meet… Continue reading An hour-long meeting between Prachanda and President Bhandari after Oli