Tag: special

Since the intensification of the Gen Z movement last year in Bhadra, more than 3,500 prisoners who escaped from various prisons nationwide remain uncaptured and have yet to be brought back into custody. According to a spokesperson from the Prison Management Department, as of Ashoj 28, a total of 3,520 prisoners are still at large. Although efforts to re-arrest all escaped inmates continue, the department’s Director General characterized the progress as “somewhat slow.”

Given that some inmates might return home during major festivals, a former senior police official has recommended adjusting security strategies accordingly. There is ongoing concern regarding the fact that, even after a year since the Gen Z movement, none of the escaped prisoners have been safely returned to prison. The department reported that out of those at large, 2,985 are Nepali nationals and 535 are foreign inmates, with female prisoners among the escapees numbering 3,344.

Director General Madhav Prasad Pokharel stated that in every district, search and capture teams led by the Assistant Chief District Officers are operational to track down escaped prisoners. He said, “Police efforts to apprehend them are ongoing. Progress is happening, but it appears somewhat slow.” Spokesperson Jank Raj Pant further noted that during festivals like Dashain and Tihar, there is a possibility that escaped inmates may return home, and thus security strategies should be adapted accordingly.

Former Nepal Police Deputy Inspector General Hemant Mall Thakuri expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of progress in re-capturing escaped prisoners, stating, “I do not consider it satisfactory.” He advocated for adopting new approaches to bring back the remaining escaped prisoners, asserting, “This problem cannot be solved by the police alone.” Under legal provisions, individuals who harbor or conceal escaped prisoners are also subject to punishment.

On Tuesday, following the launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, a bright “space jellyfish” shape appeared in the sky. This luminous formation was created when sunlight illuminated the gases emitted from the rocket’s fuel combustion at a very high altitude.

Carrying approximately 3,000 kilograms of cargo, this spacecraft is expected to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday after a 52-hour journey.

In Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, a local designer was teaching students online when a Russian drone exploded near a 25-story building. The woman was unharmed, but she reported damage to her apartment.

Ukrainian officials have confirmed that two people died in the Russian drone attack near the 25-story building.

Have you ever wondered how much taller you are compared to your grandparents? Most people can easily say they are taller. According to the research-based publication “Our World in Data,” young people around the world today are on average about 10 centimeters taller than their ancestors from roughly 100 years ago. A 2016 study comparing individuals born in 1896 and 1996 found that South Korean women are 20 centimeters taller than people from a century ago, while Iranian men are about 17 centimeters taller.

Dr. Arvind Guntupalli, a senior health lecturer at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, explains, “Improvements in diet, disease conditions, vaccinations, and other factors have contributed to increased height.” However, human height has not always increased steadily. Over thousands of years, diet, wars, diseases, and major social changes have caused fluctuations in our physical stature.

Researchers say that in the absence of historical or statistical data, human height can reveal much about living standards. “Height is a crucial indicator of human health,” says Dr. Matthias Blum, honorary professor of economic history at Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland. Studies show that 80 to 90 percent of height is genetically determined, while shorter stature is influenced by nutrition, disease risk, childhood environment, and access to healthcare. “Greater height indicates a higher standard of living,” Blum notes.

Scientists consider genetic variation but test average heights across large populations to identify inequalities that indicators like Gross Domestic Product (GDP) may not reveal. Blum highlights two historical phases. The first began around 12,000 to 10,000 years ago with the Neolithic Revolution, when humans transitioned from hunting and gathering to agriculture. Studying such ancient periods requires reliance on limited data, but there is broad consensus that the advent of farming led to a decrease in height. A 2022 study showed that Neolithic people were on average 2.8 centimeters shorter than those from the pre-Neolithic era.

लेखको जानकारी श्रम र व्यावसायिक सुरक्षा विभागले सबै नियोक्ता र संस्थाहरूलाई श्रमिकलाई चाडपर्वको बोनस उपलब्ध गराउन आग्रह गरेको छ। यदि यो हक पूरा गरिएन भने श्रमिकलाई उजुरी दर्ता गर्न प्रोत्साहित गरिएको छ। श्रम ऐनको प्रावधानअनुसार, श्रमिकले आफ्नो धार्मिक र सांस्कृतिक चाडपर्व मनाउन वार्षिक चाडपर्वको बोनसको रूपमा एक महिनाको आधारभूत तलब पाउने हकदार छन्। विभागका निर्देशक जनरल चक्रपाणि पाण्डेले भनेका छन् कि श्रमिकले यो लाभ नदिने संस्थाहरूविरुद्ध उजुरी दर्ता गर्न सक्छन्; तर, उजुरीमा अपूर्ण जानकारीका कारण कार्यान्वयन कहिलेकाहीं अवरुद्ध हुन्छ। उनले उजुरीकर्ताहरूलाई सबै प्रक्रियागत आवश्यकताहरू पूरा गर्न र उजुरीको लागि दर्ता गरिएका व्यक्तिको नाम र ठेगाना स्पष्ट रूपमा उल्लेख गर्न आग्रह गरे। कानूनी विशेषज्ञहरूले धेरै व्यक्तिहरू उजुरी दर्ता गर्न हिच्किचाउने बताउँदै, काम गुमाउने डर वा प्रक्रिया जटिल, लामो र महँगो हुन सक्छ भन्ने कारणले गर्दा उजुरी दर्ता गर्न हिच्किचाउने गरेका छन्। विभागले चाडपर्वको बोनस नपाएका श्रमिकहरूले आफ्नो स्थानीय श्रम र रोजगार कार्यालयमा वा श्रम र व्यावसायिक सुरक्षा विभागमा आवेदन दिन सक्ने जानकारी दिएको छ। उजुरीहरू विभागको आधिकारिक वेबसाइटमा उपलब्ध QR कोडमार्फत पनि दर्ता गर्न सकिन्छ। कानूनी प्रावधान के भन्छ? श्रम ऐन २०७४ को धारा ३७ ले चाडपर्वको बोनसको प्रावधानलाई परिभाषित गरेको छ, जुन डशैं बोनसको रूपमा पनि चिनिन्छ, जुन कुनै पनि श्रमिकलाई चाडपर्व मनाउन उपलब्ध छ। यस प्रावधानको धारा १ मा भनिएको छ: “प्रत्येक श्रमिकले आफ्नो धर्म, संस्कृति र परम्पराहरू मनाउन वार्षिक रूपमा एक महिनाको आधारभूत तलब बराबरको रकम चाडपर्व खर्चको रूपमा प्राप्त गर्नेछ।” धारा २ अनुसार, श्रमिकले आफ्नो प्रमुख चाडपर्वको अवसरमा चाडपर्वको बोनस प्राप्त गर्नका लागि वार्षिक रूपमा एक पटक आफ्नो नियोक्तासँग लिखित अनुरोध गर्न सक्छन्। यदि कुनै अनुरोध गरिएन भने, बोनस प्रत्येक वर्षको प्रमुख डशैं चाडको समयमा तिर्नु पर्छ। सेवा अवधि एक वर्षभन्दा कम भए पनि, चाडपर्वको बोनस सेवा अवधिका अनुपातमा तिर्नु पर्नेछ। निर्देशक जनरल पाण्डेले भनेका छन् कि धेरै उजुरीहरू प्राप्त भए तापनि, कार्यान्वयनमा विभिन्न कारणले कठिनाइहरू देखिएका छन्। केवल मासिक तलब पाउने कर्मचारीहरू मात्र होइन, सामाजिक सुरक्षा कोषसँग सम्बन्धित कार्यालयमा काम गर्ने व्यक्तिहरूले पनि नियमित रूपमा चाडपर्वको बोनस प्राप्त गर्छन्। तर, अनौपचारिक क्षेत्रका श्रमिकहरूले यो लाभ प्राप्त गर्न चुनौतीहरूको सामना गर्नुपर्छ। “हामीले चाडपर्वको बोनस नदिएको बारेमा उजुरीहरू प्राप्त गर्दै आएका छौं, र सचेतना बढाउन निर्देशन जारी गरेका छौं। मानिसहरूले बोनस पाउनु पर्ने हो कि होइन भनेर सोध्न थालेका छन् र उजुरीहरू बढ्दैछन्,” उनले भने। “यस मंगलबार बिहान, ९ बजेदेखि १०:३० बजेसम्म, करिब २० उजुरी दर्ता गरिएका थिए। तर, कारवाही सधैं सजिलो हुँदैन। दैनिक तलबमा तलब पाउने वा स्वयंसेवकहरूलाई हकदार छैन; केवल मासिक तलब पाउनेहरूलाई मात्र हकदार छन्।” प्रमुख संस्थाहरूलाई नेपाल उद्योग वाणिज्य महासंघ, PABSON, र NPABSON लगायतका पत्रहरू पनि पठाइएका छन्। उजुरीहरू विभागको वेबसाइट www.dolos.gov.np मार्फत अनलाइन दर्ता गर्न सकिन्छ वा प्रदान गरिएको QR कोडमार्फत पनि। प्रत्यक्ष इमेल पनि info@dolos.gov.np मा पठाउन सकिन्छ। कार्यान्वयनमा चुनौतीहरू के छन्? अधिकारीहरूले सबै उजुरीहरूलाई प्रभावकारी रूपमा समाधान गर्न प्रयास गरिरहेको बताएका छन्। निर्देशक जनरल पाण्डेले भनेका छन् कि केही उजुरीहरूमा पूर्ण जानकारीको अभावले कार्यान्वयनलाई जटिल बनाउँछ। “पहिले, श्रमिकले श्रम ऐन अन्तर्गत चाडपर्वको बोनस उपलब्ध गराउनका लागि आफ्नो प्रबन्धकसँग अनुरोध गर्नुपर्छ। यदि औपचारिक अनुरोध गरेपछि पनि अस्वीकृत गरिएमा, तब श्रमिकले सम्बन्धित कार्यालयमा उजुरी दर्ता गर्न सक्छन्। हामी यस्ता उजुरीहरूलाई अनुसन्धानको लागि सम्बन्धित कार्यालयमा पठाउँछौं। केही अवस्थामा, फोन कल गरेपछि भुक्तानी छिटो गरिन्छ,” उनले थपे। “केही उजुरीहरूमा संस्थाको नाम वा सम्पर्क विवरण छैन। कानूनी कारवाही गर्नका लागि श्रम र रोजगार कार्यालयमा धारा १६३(२) अन्तर्गत उजुरी दर्ता गर्नुपर्छ। त्यसपछि संस्थालाई वार्ताका लागि बोलाइन्छ।” धारा ६३ उपधारा २(क) अनुसार, न्यूनतम तलबभन्दा कम तलब दिने वा तलब अवैध रूपमा घटाउने नियोक्ताहरूले श्रमिकलाई घटाइएको रकमको दोब्बर क्षतिपूर्ति गर्नुपर्छ। कानूनी पेशेवर प्रदीप भट्टले कार्यान्वयनमा रहेका कठिनाइहरूको वर्णन गरे। “यद्यपि चाडपर्वको बोनस कानूनी रूपमा परिभाषित गरिएको छ, विशेष गरी अनौपचारिक क्षेत्रमा यसको अभ्यास कम छ। यदि उजुरीहरूलाई बेवास्ता गरिन्छ भने, श्रमिकहरूले श्रम अदालतमा जान सक्छन्,” उनले भने। “तर यदि उजुरीहरूलाई जवाफ दिइँदैन भने, के विकल्पहरू बाँकी रहन्छ? अदालतका लागि वकिल भर्ना गर्नु महँगो हुन्छ, जसले श्रमिकहरूलाई हतोत्साहित गर्छ।” भट्टले भने कि अनौपचारिक क्षेत्रका श्रमिकहरूले प्रायः उजुरीहरू दर्ता गर्न डराउँछन्। “केहीलाई आर्थिक कठिनाइहरू छन् भने, अन्यले रोजगार गुमाउने डरले उजुरी दर्ता गर्न हिच्किचाउँछन्,” उनले स्पष्ट गरे। “श्रमिकहरूले व्यक्तिगत विवरणहरू खुलासा गर्न र उनीहरूको उजुरी गोप्य रहनेछ कि छैन भन्ने चिन्ता पनि गर्छन्।” उनले थपे कि धेरै सोधपुछहरू निजी विद्यालयका कर्मचारी र औद्योगिक श्रमिकहरूबाट आएका छन्, जसले नपाएको डशैंको बोनसको लागि उजुरी दर्ता गर्ने तरिका जान्न खोजिरहेका छन्। केही अवस्थामा, तलबको पर्ची र सम्झौताहरूको अभावले श्रमिकहरूलाई प्रमाण प्रस्तुत गर्न कठिनाइमा पार्छ।

At least 13 children lost their lives when a boat capsized on the Ganga River in Vaishali district of India’s Bihar state on Tuesday night, officials reported. The villagers onboard were heading to a feast in a neighboring village. According to local residents, the feast was taking place near Mata Maharani’s house, at Singheshwar Rai’s home in Bhagatan Tola (Rampur Shyamchand Panchayat). Around 20 people were on the small boat.
District official Varsha Singh of Vaishali stated that seven people were rescued and sent to Nalanda Medical College and Hospital. All the passengers on the boat were children aged 15 years or younger, she said. Some of the rescued individuals were transferred to Patna, the Bihar state capital, for further treatment.
Following protests against the administration, District Officer Singh visited the local hospital to assess the situation, where angry locals were raising slogans against the district administration. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary have announced compensation. Chief Minister Chaudhary expressed sorrow over the incident in an Instagram post: “The news of the boat accident in Raghopur, Vaishali, leading to the loss of innocent lives is extremely sad and heartbreaking. I extend my deep condolences to the grieving families during this difficult time. May God grant peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families,” he wrote.
“The state government will provide INR 400,000 to each deceased family. The administration has been directed to expedite relief and rescue operations and ensure proper treatment for the injured.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund would provide INR 200,000 to the families of those who died and INR 50,000 to the injured. “The deaths caused by the boat accident in Vaishali, Bihar are deeply tragic. I convey my condolences to the grieving families at this difficult time and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The local administration is assisting the affected,” Modi said on social media platform X.
Tejashwi Yadav, MLA of Raghopur and leader of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, expressed deep sorrow in a video message posted on X: “The heartbreaking news of the boat accident in Raghopur has left me deeply shocked. May God grant peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families. I am currently in Delhi for a meeting of the Indian National Developmental Alliance. Once I reach Patna tomorrow, I will meet the affected families in my constituency,” he said.