23, 000 temporary police personnel to be deployed in Madhesh Pradesh for elections
At least 23, 000 temporary police personnel will be deployed in Madhesh Pradesh to maintain proper security during the elections to the House of Representatives and National Assembly. The Madhesh Pradesh Police Office said that 23, 771 police personnel will be deputed in all the eight districts of Madhesh. Of which, highest 3, 886 will be deployed in Dhanusha district while lowest 2, 007 will be deployed in Parsa. According to Suman KumarTimilsena, spokesperson at the Madhesh Pradesh Police Office, 3,278 temporary police personnel will be deployed in Saptari, 2, 809 in Siraha and 3,486 in Dhanusha, 2, 801 in Mahottari, 3, 307 in Sarlahi, 2, 939 in Rautahat, 3, 144 in Bara and 2, 007 in Parsa. More than 62,000 people had applied for the post of 23,771 in Madhesh Pradesh.
Mind Matters | Issues with in-laws
I’m a 30-year-old newly-wedded woman and I don’t plan on having children for the next two or three years. But my in-laws are forcing me to “give them a grandchild” as soon as possible. I know for a fact that it will hamper my career. And I’m only finally getting somewhere. My husband understands that but he never talks to his parents. He hasn’t told them that he even wants to wait for at least a couple of years before having children. How do I communicate with my in-laws and ask my husband to do the same without offending or hurting anyone? Please help!—A stressed daughter-in-law
Kapil Sharma, counseling psychologist, Nepal Institute of Mental Health
First of all, I want you to know that it’s completely normal to stress out about family planning and your career at this stage of life. Whatever you feel is completely valid and there are ways you can work through these issues. Secondly, it’s a good thing that you and your husband are on the same page about family planning. The major problem here is communication and the other problem is that your husband is not vocal about these issues with his parents.
So, we can work on this with two methods. One, you can talk to your husband and ask him to talk to his parents. If he is unwilling to do so, ask him why. Maybe he is someone who is unable to say no, or is afraid he might hurt his parents’ feelings. Working on his issues and helping him communicate with his parents can be one way to solve this communication gap.
If that does not work, you can be the one to initiate the conversation with his parents. This might be a bit scary for you, but I advise you not to jump into conclusions and think you will offend them before talking to them. The only way you will know is if you have that conversation. So, you must get over your fears and talk to them. Communication is important.
If you feel awkward and uncomfortable, you can begin by saying you would like to tell them how you feel about starting a family. Get them to sit down and discuss this with you. Be calm and mindful while you have the conversation in order to avoid arguments. You can also share your future plans and what you would like to do in life while also acknowledging your in-laws’ concerns to avoid the conversation from getting heated. Doing this will also help you leave some room for further discussions, if you feel its needed in the future.
It’s also best if you keep your husband beside you while having this conversation so that he will be able to verify what you say. This lets the parents know that both of you feel the same way. Maybe he will share his concerns too. Sometimes people are not good at initiating conversations but might have something to say during one. Give your husband a chance to express himself too when you are sharing your thoughts with your in-laws.
Pound slumps to all-time low against dollar
The pound has fallen to its lowest level against the US dollar since decimalisation in 1971, BBC reported.
In early Asia trade, sterling fell by more than 4% to $1.0327 before regaining some ground to around $1.05.
That came after UK Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng unveiled historic tax cuts funded by huge increases in borrowing.
The pound has also been under pressure as the dollar has been boosted by the US central bank continuing to raise interest rates.
The euro also touched a fresh 20-year-low against the dollar in morning Asia trade amid investor concerns about the risk of recession as winter approaches with no sign of an end to the energy crisis or the war in Ukraine.
England in Pakistan: Hosts win absorbing match by three runs to level T20 series at 2-2
Pakistan edged past England by three runs in a thrilling encounter in Karachi to level their Twenty20 series at 2-2, BBC reported.
Chasing 167, Liam Dawson put England on course for victory after smashing 24 runs off the 18th over to leave the tourists needing nine runs from 12 balls.
But an absorbing match swung Pakistan's way the following over when Haris Rauf took two wickets in two deliveries to leave England nine down with four runs still required.
Number 11 Reece Topley was then run out in the final over to seal the win for the home side and spark scenes of jubilation among the crowd.
Earlier, Mohammad Rizwan top-scored with 88 from 67 balls as Pakistan reached 166-4.
A disciplined England bowling performance restricted Pakistan to just three sixes in their entire innings, with two of those coming from Asif Ali in the final over, which proved vital.
England made a poor start to their reply and were reduced to 14-3 after two overs.
Harry Brook hit 34 from 29 balls and Ben Duckett 33 from 24 to lead the recovery, but England continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, according to BBC.
Dawson's late heroics nearly got them over the line, but he looked inconsolable as Pakistan hit back to bowl England out for 163 and seal a breathless win.
The teams will now travel to Lahore for the fifth T20 in the seven-match series on Wednesday.
Roger Waters gigs in Poland cancelled amid Ukraine backlash
Planned concerts in Poland by Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters have been cancelled amid outrage over the musician's stance on the Ukraine war, BBC reported.
The concert's promoter, Live Nation Poland, confirmed the cancellation but gave no reason for it.
The controversy was triggered by an open letter Waters wrote to Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska.
In it, he said, "extreme nationalists" in Ukraine "have set your country on the path to this disastrous war".
He accused her husband, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, of failing to fulfil his election campaign promises to bring peace to the Donbas region and and made no mention of Russia's responsibility for the war.
In response, Mrs Zelenska wrote on Twitter that it was Russia which invaded Ukraine and was now destroying its cities and killing civilians. "Roger Waters, you should ask for peace from the president of another country," she wrote.
City councillors have drafted a resolution to declare Mr Waters persona non grata, due to be voted on at a session on September 28.
Mr Waters, currently on tour in the US, hit back in another Facebook post entitled "Hey Łukasz Wantuch, Leave them kids alone", referencing the lyrics of the classic Pink Floyd song, Another Brick in the Wall.
He denied an earlier media report that he or his management had cancelled the concerts themselves and accused Mr Wantuch of the "draconian censoring" of his work, according to BBC.
Asked whether the cancellation was connected to Mr Waters' comments, a venue spokesman for the Tauron Arena in Krakow told the BBC: "No comment."
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, the government decided to open Poland's borders to millions of Ukrainian women and children fleeing the fighting.
According to the United Nations' Refugee Agency, UNHCR, close to 1.4 million Ukrainians have registered for temporary protection in neighbouring Poland.
Hundreds of thousands of refugees have been put up by Poles in their own homes, BBC reported.
Typhoon Noru: Four dead as 'explosive' typhoon hits Philippines
Four rescue workers have been killed and one left missing after a typhoon hit the main island of the Philippines, BBC reported.
Typhoon Noru, previously classed as a super typhoon, caused gusts of up to 240kph (149mph) on Luzon, where more than half of the country's 110 million population live.
Forecasters say the storm experienced an "explosive intensification" as it made landfall west of Luzon.
Noru is the strongest storm to hit the Philippines this year.
The Governor for the Bulacan area Daniel Fernando said five personnel from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices were washed away in flash floods while carrying out rescue operations in the district of San Miguel.
Typhoon Noru, known locally as Karding, weakened as it made second landfall at 20:20 local time (12:20 GMT) on Sunday, and is expected to leave the Philippines by Monday evening.
"I think we may have gotten lucky, at least this time," said Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos during a briefing on Monday. "I think it's clear from what we did these last two days is that, very, very important, is preparation," he added.
"It's not yet over. I think the point when we can stand down is when the majority of evacuees are already back in their homes," he said.
Mr Marcos has ordered that supplies be airlifted and clean-up equipment provided to communities that have been most affected, according to BBC.
In Quezon Province, east of Manila, fishermen had earlier been prevented from heading to sea, and there were reports of some areas being without power.
Flights and ferry services have been cancelled. On Luzon, President Marcos suspended all government work and school classes were also cancelled.
"We live away from the coast so we're staying put so far. We're more worried about the water from the mountains," a resident told AFP.
Trading on the country's stock exchange will also be suspended on Monday and Mr Marcos warned that the energy ministry had placed on high alert all energy-related industries in the county.
Thousands of volunteers are monitoring river levels, bridges and mountains for landslides which could hamper rescue efforts, said Dick Gordon, chairman of the Philippine Red Cross.
Information will be crucial in getting help to where it is needed, he said, BBC reported.
The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean, is highly vulnerable to storms. It sees an annual average of 20 tropical storms.
And in 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful tropical storms ever recorded, killed some 6,300 people, according to BBC.
Giorgia Meloni: Italy's far right set to win election - exit polls
Far-right leader Giorgia Meloni has claimed victory in Italy's election, and is on course to become the country's first female prime minister, BBC reported.
Ms Meloni is widely expected to form Italy's most right-wing government since World War Two.
That will alarm much of Europe as Italy is the EU's third-biggest economy.
However, speaking after the vote, Ms Meloni said her Brothers of Italy party would "govern for everyone" and would not betray people's trust.
"Italians have sent a clear message in favour of a right-wing government led by Brothers of Italy," she told reporters in Rome.
She is predicted to win between 22-26% of the vote, says a Rai exit poll, ahead of her closest rival Enrico Letta from the centre left.
Ms Meloni's right-wing alliance - which also includes Matteo Salvini's far-right League and former PM Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia - now looks to have control of both houses, with a projected 42.2% of the Senate vote.
Although she has worked hard to soften her image, emphasising her support for Ukraine and diluting anti-EU rhetoric, she leads a party rooted in a post-war movement that rose out of dictator Benito Mussolini's fascists.
Earlier this year she outlined her priorities in a raucous speech to Spain's far-right Vox party: "Yes to the natural family, no to the LGBT lobby, yes to sexual identity, no to gender ideology... no to Islamist violence, yes to secure borders, no to mass migration... no to big international finance... no to the bureaucrats of Brussels!"
Exit polls put the centre-left alliance well behind with 25.5%-29.5% and Democratic Party figure Debora Serracchiani said it was a sad evening for Italy. The right "has the majority in parliament, but not in the country", she insisted, according to BBC.
Turnout was dramatically low - 63.82% by the time polls closed - said Italy's interior ministry, almost 10 points down on 2018. Voting levels were especially poor in southern regions including Sicily.
Italy is a founding father of the European Union and a member of Nato, and Ms Meloni's rhetoric on the EU places her close to Hungary's nationalist leader Viktor Orban.
Her allies have both had close ties with Russia. Mr Berlusconi, 85, claimed last week that Vladimir Putin was pushed into invading Ukraine while Mr Salvini has called into question Western sanctions on Moscow.
Ms Meloni wants to revisit Italian reforms agreed with the EU in return for almost €200bn (£178bn) in post-Covid recovery grants and loans, arguing that the energy crisis has changed the situation, BBC reported.
Burger Shack: Possibly the best burger place in K-town
We came across Burger Shack when we were on a burger hunt in Kathmandu. We wanted to find out where we could get some really good burgers. We visited a lot of places and liked many of them but Burger Shack blew our minds. This is the place we will be returning to when we want burgers from now on.
It has three outlets—in Kamaladi, Sanepa, and Jawalakhel. The burgers taste the same in all three places. We were quite impressed with the consistency. But we prefer the one in Kamaladi as it has a bigger seating area than the other outlets.
The burgers here are to die for. One of their bestsellers is the Baconiser. It’s basically crispy bacon in a bun but there are other fillings too that nicely balance out the flavors. The fillings ooze out as you bite into it but the burger is worth the mess you make.
For neat freaks, they have the Hissi Mini, a set of four mini-burgers. These are easier to eat because of their comparatively smaller size and you don’t make a mess either. But the taste is the same as their regular burgers. We think these are fun to eat on the go.
If you don’t want to start with burgers and would rather ease into the meal, then there are plenty of options for that too. Burger Shack has a nice variety of starters. We recommend the Bacon Cheese Fries. It’s exactly what the name suggests: bacon, cheese, and fries. It’s delightful and just right for two people to share.
To wash down the scrumptious meal, we suggest you opt for something refreshing rather than a milkshake. A milkshake burger combination feels a little too heavy. Whatever you choose to do, you won’t be disappointed with the place.
Their specials
- Baconiser
- Bacon Cheese Fries
- Hissi Mini
