The relatives of the 6 years kid, Bishal Shrestha of Bhanu Municipality will receive a relief compentation fund of Rs. 50000, as he was preyed by leopard on Wednesday night. “The victim’s family will be funded with the amount as a relief funeral expenses”, said Assistant Forest Officer, Babu Ram Upreti. However, the constitution has the provision of compensate the kin of any accident victim with the amount of 1 million. After the accident, a team of animal’s experts from Jawalakhel Zoo had deployed for the search and tranquilition of such wild animals. However, the team returned empty handed.

The widening of the highway had begun their tasks in 2015 and was expected to be summit by 2017. This is the highway, used to enter the capital valley from different parts of Nepal, including the eastern and western. This has been one of the major routes as it directly links the capital valley. Province 3 Minister because Internal Affairs and Law, Shalikram Jammarkattel, has mentioned that they are not going to give some more additional time for the road upgrade and construction. Narayangadh-Muglin Highway upgrade project was supposed to expand the highway and end-up last year, but the contractors demanded some additional time again. Hence, the deadline was to be extend on February 20. Minister Jammarkattel said that arrangement will be made to ensure genuine remuneration to working journalists mentioned on a press meet in Dhading today. Minister Jammarkattel also assumed for formulating media-friendly legal guidelines for Ministry of statistics and Communications.

India-Nepal oil pipeline project, Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline project is supposed to expedite sooner as the active participation of Indian Oil Corporation could be seen out. On the project, Nepal’s 36.2 kilometer route from Raxaul needs to plant the pipeline and the Indian border to Amlekhgunj via Birgunj Customs, Birgunj Bypass, Gandak, Parwanipur, Jitpur, Simara and Pathlaiya connecting Motihari a 32.7 km route pipeline needs to impair. Although majority of groundwork for the project has been completed, work relating to forest clearance is still pending. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the pipeline project and the Ministry of Population and Environment (MoPE) will soon approve the document. This task has been pending, as MoPE has not approved the document. As this bill is passed, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation will have to give the final nod to EIA, which will open the door for IOC to begin construction work. The Indian government will inject INR 3.5 billion into the project; the expenditure related data from the Nepali side has not been made public yet. NOC, Simara-Bara project’s Mechanical Engineer Sharad Paudel said, the pipes with 10.75 inch diameter and 8 mm thickness will be laid 25 meters away from the road and five feet below the ground. The pipes will run along the east side of the road from Raxaul to Gandak, while they will run along the west side for the remaining distance. The so contracted pipes manufactured and supplier company Jindal Pipes Ltd. is the backend bone to macininate the pipeline project. As a warehouse NOC has being using Birgunj Sugar Mill to store the necessary machinery. The Raxaul-Amlekhgunj oil pipeline was first proposed in 1996. However, the project edged closer to reality during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kathmandu in 2014. The two countries had inked an agreement to construct the pipeline in August of 2015.

CPN-Maoist Centre chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda mentioned to be unified with CPN-UML within few days. The unification process would be made acceptable to all. Addressing the general convention of the party-affiliated All Nepal Teachers’ Association here Friday, Chairman Dahal said, “Intensive discussion was on for the unity. It is not because of dispute, but of the plan to settle all issues in a package that has slightly delayed the unification.” Even though, Dahal mentioned about the unity, this has created a doubtful action as none of the Maoist Centre had joined the Oli led newly formed government. Moreover, the Chairman informed that the priority of the alliance was the economic development and prosperity. On a different note, he hailed the role of teachers, stating that teachers have huge contribution for country’s political change. He argued that technical education could help create jobs in the country. Former Education Minister Dhaniram Poudel said all- students, teachers and parents-should make common efforts for socialist education as provisioned by the constitution.  

Narayangadh-Muglin Highway upgrade project was supposed to expand the highway and end-up last year, but the contractors demanded some additional time. The widening of the highway had begun their tasks in 2015 and was expected to be summit by 2017. This is the highway, used to enter the capital valley from different parts of Nepal, including the eastern and western. However, following the earthquake and the Indian blockade, the deadline for the work was extended for 10 months. Now, the companies are saying that frequent landslides, election-related traffic and movement of vehicles during the festivals are impacting their work and it cannot be completed on time. The road has been divided into three sections and the contract for constructing each section was awarded to a different company. The deadline for one of the sections of the project ended on Wednesday while that for remaining two sections is ending on February 20. According to officials, 25 percent of the work still remains to be done. Supreme-Rautaha JV, which was awarded the contract for working on the 12.1 kilometre stretch from Simlatar to Muglin, has asked authorities to extend the deadline by 158 days. Likewise, Hill-Lama JV has sought 336 more days to complete its 10.7-kilometre road, while BLA-Shrestha JV has asked for 684 additional days to finish is 10.4 kilometres. The project’s consultant engineer Pushkar Regmi said a proposal has been prepared to recommend an extension to the deadline. The companies’ deadlines are to be extended by around 80-90 days. The recommendation concerning the extension has been sent to the Department of Roads for approval, said Chief of the Narayangadh-Muglin road project Chandra Narayan Yadav.

An accident of Bolero Jeep reckoning 4 deaths and other 18 injured on BP Highway, near Bhadrakali. “Four persons died on the spot, other 18 persons have been rescued and sent to Sindhuli District Hospital for treatment”, said DSP Vinod Sharma. The deceased are yet to be ascertained, according to Sharma. A bolero Jeep (Ba 11 Cha 2275) heading towards Hirding of Ratnachura, Golanjor Rural Municipality from district headquarters got accident near Dhungre Bhanjyang of Kamalamai Municipality-2 along the BP Highway. Most of the victims boarded the ill-fated jeep after it crossed the police check-post along the highway, Sharma added. Road accidents are common in Nepal due to pathetic condition of roads, poor maintenance of highways and feeble execution of traffic rules. However, the main cause of the accident is yet not confirmed.

With the candidate nomination from CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli leading politician has sworn in as the 41st Prime Minister of Nepal today. Newly swore PM is in his second term as Prime Leader of Nepal. He took an oath as newly-elected Prime Minister amid a function organized at President’s Office, Shital Niwas, in Maharajgunj, under the administration of President Bidya Devi Bhandari. Oli was appointed to the top executive post in accordance with Article 76 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal. Oli is the 38th politician to head the government in modern Nepal. Similarly, the newly-elected Prime Minister has formed a three-member Cabinet incorporating ministers Lal Babu Pandit and Tham Maya Thapa, both of CPN-UML. Thapa has been appointed as Minister for Women and Children whereas Pandit has been appointed as Minister for Population and Environment. President Bhandari has also administered the oath of office and secrecy to both Pandit and Thapa. To pave the way for Oli to lead the nation as Prime Minister, a meeting of the UML held in Singhadarbar this afternoon had unanimously appointed him as the Parliamentary Party (PP) leader. Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, ministers including Sher Bahadur Deuba, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhalanath Khanal, Subhash Nembang, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Onsari Gharti Magar, Kamal Thapa, ambassadors and other high level officials were present in the swearing-in ceremony. President Bhandari appointed KP Sharma Oli to the post this afternoon. CPN-UML Standing Committee, with support from the CPN Maoist Centre, had put forth his name for the top executive position of the country on Wednesday. He is CPN-UML’s fourth leader to take the high office of Prime Minister since 1995.

All rounder Karan KC inspired Nepal to qualify for the 2019 World Cup qualifier with his fearless hitting to thrash Canada by one wicket in thrilling last over of the ongoing ICC World Cricket League Division II match played at the Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek, Namibia, on Wednesday. KC walked to the middle, at a stage when Nepal were reeling at 144/8, still needing 51 runs off 48 balls for victory with just two wickets intact. Unsung all rounder KC smashed flamboyant 42 runs off just 31 balls which included four humongous sixes and three cracking fours to snatch a match from  clutches of Canada. Man of the match KC opened his account with a straight drive four past the bowler to the long-of region before lofting a six to long-on region off Keyliner delivery in the same over. In the penultimate over of the innings, KC, who hit two consecutive four and six before stealing a single off last ball of the over to keep strike with himself, brought down the equation to eight off six balls in the last over. Cecil Pervez was given a responsibility by his captain to defend eight runs off the last over, bowled four dot balls, Keeping Canada in the hunt; however, KC had other ideas as he hit six of the penultimate delivery to long-on boundary. Nepal still required two runs off the last delivery, Pervez under pressure bowled a wayward wide delivery to tie the score before KC hit a winning run of the last ball to take his team over the line. Dilip Nath, who was left out for clash against Kenya, was drafted in for today’s crucial encounter as he justified his selection with his measured 41 runs off 68 balls with five hit to the fence. Nepal’s pathetic form with the bat continued as they again lost early wickets, Gyanendra Malla perished after scoring painstaking 9 runs off 25 balls before hitting a six. Skipper Paras Khadka, who has been a backbone of Nepal’s batting order fell for a rare golden duck after miscuing a pull to mid wicket region off short ball. Sarad Vesawkar one of the senior pro of the team, who is yet to make a substantial contribution with the bat fell again cheaply for 1 run. He followed Nath back to pavilion in the 22.1 overs leaving the team hovering at 73/4. Lower order batsmen Aarif Sheikh and RK Paudel again contributed valuable 26 and 27 runs respectively before KC and Lamichanne shared a match winning tenth wicket 51 runs partnership to take the team home. Pervez took three Nepali wickets, Dutta and Saad Bin Zafar bagged two wickets each, Dhindsa, Heyliger chipped in with a wicket each for Canada. Nepal were given a target of 195 runs by Canada in a last and crucial encounter of the tournament. After winning the toss, Nepali skipper Khadka had opted to field first. Canada rode on Srimantha Wijeratne’s unbeaten century to post a challenging total for Nepal in a do-or-die encounter today. Wijeratne smashed 103 runs in 152 balls, studded with eight boundaries. Hamza Tariq and Saad Bin Zafar contributed 24 and 10 runs respectively. Other Canadian batsmen failed to register double digit score as they wilted to after being put on tremendous pressure by Nepali bowlers, who bowled in tandem to tandem. Spinner Basanta Regmi was picking of the bowler with 10-0-34-3. Sandeep Lamichanne took two Canadian scalps where as Karan KC and Sarad Vesawkar chipped in with a wicket each. The match was halted for while due to sporadic rainfall, had it been decided by Duck worth Lewis method Nepal would have lost to Canada by 10 runs. At that stage the par score was 125 but Nepal were 10 runs short to the total. However, the black cloud hovering over Windhoek triggered light drizzle which brought luck in Nepal favour. Earlier, Nepal beat the hosts Namibia by one-wicket before facing a six-wicket lost at the hands of Oman. Nepal bounced back to thrash the United Arab Emirates by four wickets and registered a three wickets triumph over Kenya in the last ball thriller. Nepal are pitted in Group A along with West Indies, Ireland, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea where as the other qualifier UAE sit in Group B along with Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Scotland and Hong Kong. The top three teams in each group will qualify for Super Sixes; others move into play-offs. Top two teams in Super Six make the final–both qualify for 2019 World Cup to be held in England and Wales.

What is next Nepal has to face?

Nepal along with UAE has secured their berth at the 2019 World Cup qualifier to be held next month in Zimbabwe. Bottom two teams have been relegated to Division III. Nepal and the UAE have booked their tickets for the 2019 ICC World Cup Cricket Qualifiers to be played in Zimbabwe from March 4-25. Other teams that have already qualified for the tournament are: the West Indies, Ireland, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Scotland and Hong Kong. Nepal and the UAE now play the final of the Division II tournament final on Wednesday. The result of the match will determine the group Nepal will be pitted in during the qualifiers. If Nepal wins the final against UAE, they will be placed in Group A of the tournament alongside the West Indies, Ireland, the Netherlands and PNG. If Nepal loses the final, they will be placed in Group B alongside Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Scotland, Hong Kong and Scotland. Top three teams from each group qualify for the super sixes stage in which each team play five matches. Two teams that finish the super sixes on top play the final, as well as qualify for the 2019 world cup. In addition to this, the top three associate countries earn ODI status for four years. These countries will be playing ICC Qualifier matches for WC.

1. West Indies
2. Zimbabwe
3. Afghanistan
4. Ireland
5. Netherlands
6. Scotland
7. Hong Kong
8. PNG
9. Nepal
10. UAE