WASHINGTON, 22 March, 2021 (TON): On Sunday marking the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the U.S. President Joe Biden called to vow changes in the laws that enabled continued discrimination as the systematic racism and white supremacy has long plagued the U.S.

“One of the core values and beliefs that should bring us together as Americans is standing against hate and racism, even as we acknowledge that systemic racism and white supremacy are ugly poisons that have long plagued the United States,” he said.

“We must change the laws that enable discrimination in our country, and we must change our hearts,” he added.

The country faced problems with racism, xenophobia and nativism, bluntly said the President.

Following the President’s comments, Vice President Kamala Harris also stressed on this issue who detailed in Atlanta on Friday the US history of discrimination against Asian Americans.

She said, “Racism is real in America and it has always been,” said Harris, the country’s first Asian-American, first Black and first female vice president. “Xenophobia is real in America and always has been Sexism too.”

The remarks from both the leaders came as the two met with the Asian-American leaders to discuss the ongoing attacks and threats against the community, during a stop at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, US, 19 March, 2021.

Biden said in the statement, “Hate can have no safe harbor in America. It should have no safe harbor anywhere in the world. We must join together to make it stop.”

He said his administration would speak out against racial discrimination around the world, including the “horrific” mistreatment of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar and the Uighurs in China.

President’s remarks came as the law enforcement authorities pressurized the administration to probe and put the decision on the table over deadly shooting in Atlanta last week, killing 8 people.

MALE, 22 March, 2021 (TON): A plan has been formulated for the City Council to offer employment to 200 locals by decreasing the number of expatriate workers, said Sifa Muhammad, Male City Mayor.

“Male’ City Council must prioritize hiring locals and decrease the number of expatriates working for the council. He further called on the City Council to offer more employment opportunities to those with special needs,” said Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), a mayoral candidate.

 In response to Muizzu’s tweet, Mayor Sifa tweeted, “30 additional local staff has been hired by the council over the past two years, and a plan is in place to hire 200 more local staff.”
However, she clearly said that while Muizzu managed all sections of Male’ City Council for seven years, no changes were brought to the number of expatriates working for the council.

KABUL, 22 March, 2021 (TON): On Sunday, the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin paid an unannounced visit to the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

The meeting between the two discussed their concerns over the increased violence in Afghanistan, local authorities said.

Austin arrived in Kabul on Sunday, following his two-day trip to New Delhi.

Lloyd Austin said in a tweet, “I’m very grateful for my time with President Ashraf Ghani today. I came to Afghanistan to listen and learn. This visit has been very helpful for me, and it will inform my participation in the review we are undergoing here with POTUS (U.S. President Joe Biden).”

The Afghan Presidential Palace issued a statement soon after the meeting between the two officials saying, “Ghani and the Defense Secretary stressed that enduring and just peace is the main solution for the current situation in Afghanistan.”

U.S. is supporting Afghanistan in making it possible, it added.

It is expected that the U.S. official will meet other senior high ranking officials during his stay in Kabul.

However, seemingly, Austin’s trip comes as the US is reviewing the Doha agreement, which the country had signed with the Taliban in February 2020, while also keeping all options on the table when it comes to the 1 May deadline for the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and reports said that the U.S. administration is to extend the deadline till November but there are no further advancements as yet.

NANGARHAR, 21 March, 2021, (TON): One citizen personnel was killed and another was injured in two separate sides of the road bomb impacts in the city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar territory on Sunday morning, police said.

The first shoot happened near the Directorate of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock in Jalalabad's region 1 in which a region laborer was murdered, police said.

The subsequent impact happened in Chawke-e-Talashi territory in the city's region 1 in which a regular citizen was injured, as indicated by authorities.

 No group including the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the blasts.

KATHMANDU, 21 March, 2021, (TON): The Transport Management Department has chosen to keep the vehicles from conveying the heap more than their ability. On the off chance that the holders are found conveying over-burden, they would group activity.

They would confront activity according to the compartments' conveying limit guideline order, 2074, the Department added. The Department concocted this choice after the objections of non-execution of the order, as per Department Spokesperson Dr. Loknath Bhushal.

Prior, the Department brought into utilization the gauging span at Bardibas of Mahottari and Anptari of Chitwan to check over-burden transportation. The activity is pointed toward decreasing mishaps and guaranteeing street security.

COLOMBO, 21 March, 2021, (TON): Steps will be taken to provide a relief pack through Sathosa outlets with the aim of giving relief to consumers during the Sinhala/Tamil New Year season, Minister Bandula Gunawardena said.

He said the relief pack will contain 10 essential food items and will be available at Sathosa branches from April 1 at a nominal price of Rs. 1,000 each.

KATHMANDU, 21 March, 2021, (TON): Director of the CPN (Maoist Center) Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" has claimed some "external elements" of attempting to incapacitate the constitution and the framework through Prime Minister KP Oli.

Prachanda said these components discovered Oli a proper person who could move to their tunes and annihilate every one of the accomplishments, including federalism.

“Foreign forces, in fact, nurtured Oli to destroy the constitution and the system that has been established with the blood and sweat of the Nepali people,” Prachanda said at a program in the capital Sunday.

“It is, therefore, high time people united and made clear their positions – either to go for Oli-attitude or stand firm to safeguard the people’s achievements,” he said.

Recalling the unification between the Maoist Center and the CPN-UML, Prachanda said, “People criticized me for making an alliance and unity with KP Oli. However, let me make it clear that I did not commit a mistake by doing so. I intended to further strengthen the communist movement.”

“I would also like to tell the people that I did not surrender by unifying with the UML party then,” he added.

He said he chose Prachanda as his pseudo name simply because he wanted to get rid of the caste. “I chose this name since I believed that it would encompass and represent all castes, religion, and people in the country.”

KATHMANDU, 21 March, 2021, (TON): As of mid-March, the nation's import/export imbalance has ascended to Rs 863 billion, as indicated by government measurements.

The Department of Customs says the measure of import, which had descended during the pinnacle of the Covid-19 limitations, returned to ordinariness though that of the fares stayed as powerless as could be expected, prompting the expanded import/export imbalance.

As the first eight months of the current fiscal year are over, the amount of trade deficit stands at Rs 863.2 billion that is 1.63 percent more than the figure recorded exactly one year ago, the department informs.

In the past eight months, Nepal imported petroleum products only for Rs 121.61 billion.

Here are some highlights of the first eight months of the current fiscal year: Imports: Rs 943.98 billion (2.14% more than last year’s figure), Exports: Rs 80.77 million (7.84% more than last year’s), Gross foreign trade amount: Rs 1 trillion and 34.76 billion (2.56% more than last year’s), Share of import: 92.5%, Share of export: 7.88%

CHITWAN, 21 March, 2021, (TON): Nepali Congress President and previous PM Sher Bahadur Deuba said an opportunity had arrived for the NC to fabricate the gathering instead of spotlight on the executive's post.

Deuba said this during a social occasion coordinated by Tarun Dal, an adolescent wing of the gathering, here today. NC's spotlight at present ought to be on guaranteeing the gathering's triumph in the coming political race, as opposed to rushing to turn into the head administrator, he added. Deuba, in any case, said, "If the situation emerges in a way that the government needs NC's leadership, the party should step back."

He contended that there is as yet a joint legislature of the CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Center. Maoist Center has not removed help to the public authority. "It is time to observe how Madhes-centric parties, Maoist Centre, and UML factions led by Oli and Nepal move ahead," he reminded the cadres.

The president directed cadres and leaders to go ahead with preparation for elections by ending the intra-party disputes and differences.

The grievances and demands of all cadres and leaders in the party will be managed. "People are sovereign, they are not servants. They don't like speeches any more. So, provide relief to their problems," he urged the cadres.

On the occasion, Joint General Secretary of the party Prakash Sharan Mahat, said, "NC will make the new government, but with full authority and power. NC won't not join government on the basis of conditions."

Other youth speakers, including Shankar Bhandari and NP Saud, focused on the requirement for the gathering to go about according to individuals' command. It is NC's obligation to bring the public undertakings back on the track, he added.

NEW DEHLI, 21 March, 2021, (TON): The Indian Railways to forestall the occurrences of wrongdoing against ladies in trains and its premises have made a few strides lately as a component of an engaged exertion to all things considered take a stab at wellbeing of ladies travelers and to alleviate monstrosities against ladies in railroads.

Different rules or activity plans gave by Indian Railways to every single zonal rail route and creation units to forestall episodes of wrongdoing against ladies. As assessed (23) million travelers travel through the Indian Railways ordinarily out of which 20% for example about 4.6 million are ladies.

“The action plan should be classified in short term and long term plan. Short term plans should be implemented immediately from the existing resources on priority without any delay. It may include keeping watch on suspects, regular visit to vulnerable spots by duty officers and staff during their rounds. However, long term plan include improvement of basic infrastructure, CCTV, light masts, etc,” the ministry said in a statement.

Among the preventive estimates that should be received including appropriate lighting game plans ought to be guaranteed covering all weak spots recognized in rail route stations, coursing region, stopping, approach streets, closures of stages, yards and washing lines, and so on, it said.

It has been seen that by and large instances of eve prodding, if stay unattended, lead to increment in episodes of attack or attack on ladies. As an action to forestall such wrongdoings, GRP/RPF authorities will expeditiously make a fundamental move on accepting protests with respect to a ‘crime against women’.

The Ministry further said that CCTV surveillance systems should be used effectively. “Time to time audit of the cameras installed and the area covered by them should be done. It should be ensured that all the persons visiting the Railway Platform/ Passenger area are caught on the cameras,”

The vulnerable places identified for such crime should mandatorily be covered under the CCTV surveillance, it added.