Nepal times

Gaijatra festival being observed today KATHMANDU:  Denizens of Kathmandu Valley are celebrating the traditional festival of ‘Gaijatra’ in memory of the deceased member of their families. According to the lunar calendar, Gaijatra festival falls on the first day of the waning moon in the month of the Bhadra ( Bhadra Shukla Pratipada ). The celebration, which literally means the festival of cows, is marked with various dance and drama performances; mainly in different places of the three districts of the valley — Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. The festival is observed mainly by the Newar community, though other communities also participate in the processions. People take out a rally, in memory of their deceased loved ones, dressed like a cow among many other kinds of strange and humorous costumes with peculiar appearance. The bereaved families along with bystanders offer fruits, bread, beaten rice, curd, money among other items to those participating in the proces

Longest total lunar eclipse of the century tonight Jul 27, 2018-The longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century is set to occur on Friday night. The longest "blood moon" eclipse will last for 3 hours a nd 55 minutes from 12:09am. However, the "totality" period, when light from the Moon is totally obscured, will last for one hour, 43 minutes from 1:15am when the colour of the moon will turn light red. Nepal Astronomical Society, Gaushala has planned, for keen skywatchers, to view the blood moon eclipse from its three telescopes. According to NASA, the lunar eclipse will be visible from most of Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and South America, with the exception of North America.    Source:ekantipur

Lawmaker Basnet starts monitoring development projects BHAKTAPUR:  Member of the House of Representatives, Mahesh Basnet, has started monitoring development activities in Bhaktapur district. The former Industry Minister said that he had taken this initiative for expediting development works in the district by evaluating effectiveness of works carried out through the budget that was allocated to the district in fiscal 2017/18, for the construction of various physical infrastructures like roads, drinking water, sewerage and schools. According to lawmaker Basnet, monitoring has begun to check the status of works carried out under various projects undertaken with the budget allocated by the Division Roads Office, Bhaktapur, Urban Development Project, Bhaktapur, Water Supply and Sanitation Office, Bhaktapur, and projects undertaken with the budget sanctioned by the central government. The monitoring will be done by a team comprising the Chief District Officer Narayan Pr

Belgium beat England to secure third place finish ST PETERSBURG  – Belgium beat England 2-0 in the World Cup third-place play-off on Saturday to secure their best ever finish at a World Cup and send Gareth Southgate’s side home with a second straight loss. A fourth-minute goal from Thomas Meunier and an 82nd minute Eden Hazard strike earned Belgium the victory and the third-place, which improves on their previous best performance of a fourth-place finish in 1986. England were on top for most of the second half but with captain Harry Kane looking tired, Belgium’s greater sharpness in the final third proved decisive. Meunier’s goal came after Romelu Lukaku swung the ball out left to Nacer Chadli who burst down the wing and slipped the ball across the face of the goal and the midfielder confidently slotted past Jordan Pickford. The goal means Belgium have had 10 different goalscorers at this World Cup — equaling the record set by France in 1982 and Italy in 2006. While

Morning procession held to mark 205th Bhanu Jayanti KATHMANDU:  A morning procession was organised in the capital today to mark the 205th birth anniversary of pioneer poet and national luminary Bhanubhakta Acharya today. Acharya translated the great epic Ramayana from Sanskrit to Khas language. Born on Ashad 29, 1871 BS (July 13, 1814 AD) in Tanahu district of Nepal, he was educated at home. For his pioneering efforts in and contribution to the field of national literature, he has been honoured with the title of Aadikavi (First Poet) of Nepal. Floral tributes were paid to the poet at local Bhanu Secondary School in Ranipokhari. The programme was organised by Bhanu Pratishthan. Before this, the procession passed through various places in the city. Chancellor of Nepal Academy Ganga Prasad Uprety, among other distinguished persons, garlanded the statue of the late poet. The Madan Bhandari Art and Literature Academy is organising a three-day Himwatkhanda Art and Literat

Bhaktapur areas inundated after heavy rainfall KATHMANDU:  Bhaktapur and Madhyapur Thimi areas have become waterlogged due to deluge caused by the swollen Hanumante River following torrential rain last night. Local residents have not been able to come out of their houses as hundreds of houses have been inundated since midnight on Wednesday. There have been two major flooding instances in Bhaktapur in the last four years. River ‘encroachment’ could be one of the reasons for which. Source:The Himalayan Times

Art works of three Nepalis showcased in Myanmar Kathmandu, July 11: A four-day International Art Exhibition showcasing works of three Nepali artists concluded on Monday in Myanmar. Three Nepali artists, whose paintings were included in the exhibition, are ArunaHingmang, RanjuYadav and Bipin Raj Shrestha. More than three dozen paintings of 32 artists from nine countries were also displayed in the exhibit, art curator from India Mano V Delhi said.  Besides Nepalis, other artists whose artworks were exhibited in the show are from India, Bangladesh, Singapore, Myanmar, USA, Mexico, Panama and Brazil. The exposition, hosted by the Worldwide Art Movement-India, had run between July 6th and 9th at 43 Gallery in Yangon city. “The exhibition was a success as over five hundred art lovers visited the exposition during the four-day,” curator Mano informed The Rising Nepal over phone. Source:The Rising Nepal

Ministry bans daytime operation of tippers Jul 11, 2018-The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to ban daytime operation of tipper inside all three districts of Kathmandu Valley. The decision comes following the increase in the number of fatalities caused by tipper-related accidents. The Home Ministry, on Wednesday, directed Chief District Officers of all three districts and Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MPTD) to make arrangements for tipper to ply on valley roads only during night from 8pm to 5am. On Tuesday, Royal Subedi of Jhapa, currently residing in Dudhpati, was killed after a tipper hit him at Jadibuti. Likewise, scooty rider Asmita Rajbhandari was also killed at the same place in another tipper-related incident on June 13. According to MPTD, 19 people have lost their lives in last month alone in tipper-related accidents. Source:ekantipur

Muglin-Narayanghat section cracks in another place Jul 11, 2018-The recently-widened Muglin-Narayanghat road section has developed cracks in another place near Gaighat. Some 70 meter section of the road developed cracks forcing operation of one-way traffic in the damaged section. Officials, however, said the cracks were not a result of faulty works but due to geological condition of the caved-in section. But a geological team, which reached the site to inspect the road, has not reached to any conclusion behind the road developing cracks. Source:ekantipur

France beat Uruguay 2-0 to reach semi-finals Jul 6, 2018-Raphael Varane's glancing header and a goalkeeping blunder that gifted Antoine Griezmann a soft goal gave France a 2-0 victory over Uruguay in the first World Cup quarter-final on Friday and a set up a last-four tie with Brazil or Belgium. Varane's 40th-minute header from a Griezmann free kick was only the second goal Uruguay had conceded all tournament. The South Americans went close to equalising just before the break only for Martin Caceres's goal-bound header to be brilliantly turned onto a post by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. But it was an error by Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera that settled it when he tried to palm a routine long-range, swerving Griezmann shot after 61 minutes but misjudged it and allowed it to slip past him. Uruguay, hard-hit by the absence of injured key striker Edinson Cavani, showed plenty of commitment trying to find a way back but France controlled the ball well to secure

Simrik chopper crash-lands at Grande Hospital’s helipad Jun 30, 2018 -A helicopter belonging to Simrik Air crash-landed while attempting to land at the rooftop helipad of Grande International Hospital in Dhapasi, Kathmandu. No casualties have been reported, informed Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (Caan). Caan Director General Sanjiv Gautam said the helicopter slipped at the final approach to the helipad of the hospital. The chopper with call sign 9N-ALR fell some 10 feet below the helipad. The chopper was planning to fly to Bharatpur in Chitwan with a patient. Source:ekantipur Dr Govinda KC begins hunger strike at police office after arrest Jun 30, 2018-Senior orthopedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC has started his fast-unto-death at Jumla Police Office following his arrest on Saturday. KC was arrested from District Administration Office premises. He was stopped while on his way to Jumla Teaching Hospital before he went to DAO where he was arrested

Ashad 15 ( Ropayi Day) Ashad 15 is called the Ropayi day (Crop Planting day), the day that is being celebrated in a year to mark the end of Crop Planting with the wish for high production. On the day, people go to the farm field to play with mud, where ladies plant the Rice plant and men plough the field to make it smooth for planting. Various functions are being organized all over the country to mark the day, where people sing folk songs, throw mud to each other in the field. Many Tourists also participate in the local celebrations and take part in various competition like Folk song competitions, planting rice competitions and several other entertaining games. Ashad 15 is also named as the Dai Chuira Day when people eat bitten rice with curd. So the people in the festival are also served with the Dahi Chuira (Bitten Rice with Curd).  Nepal Government also announced the day as National Paddy Day, to launch several programs to encourage farmers to grow more and celebrate the

Five killed, multiple houses swept away in Dhading landslides DHADING:  Five persons of two families have lost their lives while nine houses have been damaged in landslides that occurred in Saiswara and Chiurikharka of Khaniyabas Rural Municipality, in the northern part of Dhading district, on Wednesday night. Due to landslides triggered by incessant rain last night, house of Raju Gole in Saiswara, Khaniyabas Rural Municipality-5 was completely damaged after being buried in the debris. In the incident, Gole’s wife Basodha Gurung (36), daughters Laxmi Gurung (10) and Saraswati Gurung (5) have lost their lives, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police at Dhading District Police Office, Ram Bahadur KC. Gole’s 12-year-old son Bikas has sustained injuries in the incident and has been referred to a health facility in the district headquarters after receiving preliminary treatment at a local health facility. Gole has been reported safe. Likewise, house of Shamsher Ghale (

Brazil outclass Serbia to set up Mexico clash        REUTERS Goals in each half secure top spot in Group E Brazil through to face Mexico in last 16 Serbia finish third and go out MOSCOW:  After Germany’s exit and Argentina’s nerve-shredding escape, Brazil  made more serene World Cup progress on Wednesday when goals by Paulinho and Thiago Silva earned them a 2-0 win over an outclassed Serbia and a knockout tie against Mexico. The five-times champions rarely hit the heights against tough, dogged opponents who had qualification hopes of their own but, in this World Cup of shocks and late drama,  Brazil  will be delighted to have made it through a potentially awkward game with the minimum of fuss. The victory, and Switzerland’s 2-2 draw with Costa Rica, meant  Brazil  finished top of Group E on seven points, two ahead of the Swiss who will face Sweden in the last 16. Serbia ended third on three points and are eliminated along with Costa Rica. Brazil  took a while

Champions Germany crash out of World Cup at group stage KAZAN  – Champions  Germany  were sent crashing out of the World Cup after suffering a stunning 2-0 defeat by a tenacious South Korea on Wednesday that saw them eliminated in the first round for the first time in 80 years. Germany  would have progressed with a win at the Kazan Arena but barely looked capable of scoring against the Koreans, let alone going on to successfully defend the title they won in Brazil four years ago. Stoppage-time goals from Kim Young-gwon and Son Heung-min finished off Joachim Loew’s sorry Germany  side, who finished bottom of the group on three points. They have won four World Cup titles and also finished runners-up four times and entered this year’s tournament heavily backed to retain their title. Instead, they will head home after a stunning failure, having been unable to break down the South Koreans and after a shock 1-0 loss to Mexico in their opening group match. Sweden won

Ronaldo scores hat-trick as Portugal & Spain draw six-goal thriller Jun 16, 2018 -Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick for Portugal as he denied Fernando Hierro's Spain victory with a stunning late free-kick in their World Cup Group B opener. Two days after Julen Lopetegui was fired as Spain boss for agreeing a post-tournament move to Real Madrid, more pain lay in wait for the Spaniards as Ronaldo swerved a vicious shot into David de Gea's corner to avert defeat in a spellbinding, topsy-turvy match. Ronaldo had earlier opened the scoring, a penalty in the fourth minute after Nacho felled him in the box, before Diego Costa's bullying low finish dragged Spain back into the match. But just before the break De Gea made a terrible and uncharacteristic error, fumbling a zipping Ronaldo shot through his gloves and over the line. Another dose of adversity for Spain deal with. But Hierro's men responded through Costa again, the Atletico Madrid striker

World Cup: Russia ease past Saudi Arabia challenge in opening fixture KATHMANDU:  The hosts Russia have comprehensively defeated Asian side Saudi Arabia by 5-0 in the opening fixture of the 2018 World Cup played at  Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow today. Russia’s Yury Gazinsky, broke the dead-lock against run-a-play with a free header in the 12th minute, becoming the first player to score the opening goal of the tournament. The hosts raced to double their lead in the 43rd minute after striker Denis Cheryshev evaded two challenges inside the box before rifling net from the tight angle to rapturous joy of the home supporters. In the second half, Saudi Arabia came out all blazing against the hosts, they nearly pulled a goal back but failed a decisive touch at the far post after a weighted cut back in the danger area. Substitute Artem Dzyuba notched his first and team’s third goal in the 71st minute to secure the match in the host’s favour. After conceding the third goal the