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The northeastern United States was walloped by a fierce winter storm on Saturday that dropped more than two feet (60 cm) of snow on some areas while packing high winds, prompting thousands of flight cancellations and leading governors in Rhode Island and other states to curtail access to the roads, Reuters reported.

Nearly 11 million people along the East Coast remained under blizzard warnings from the Nor'easter, according to the National Weather Service, including the Boston metropolitan area, which was forecast to be hit with up to 25 inches (64 cm) of snow. The storm blanketed a large swath of New England with snow.

New York City experienced a heavy snowfall while Long Island, New York braced for up to two feet of snow. With the storm ongoing, some coastal areas of New Jersey also recorded 15 inches (38 cm).

Most Boston area residents heeded warnings to stay indoors as snow, whipped by wind gusts forecast by the National Weather Service to reach 43 miles (69 km) per hour, continued to fall in small, dense flakes on Saturday afternoon, challenging the hundreds of plows out making an effort to stay ahead of the storm.

"This is going to be a historic blizzard," Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune told Reuters. "It's the power of the wind and the amount of snow that makes this one particularly dangerous."

Several states declared emergencies in response to the storm, which formed in the Atlantic Ocean off the Carolinas and was forecast to continue depositing snow into Sunday morning as it moved north to Maine.

Coastal areas across Massachusetts were being hit especially hard, including some flooding along the shoreline, as the center of the storm hovered just east of the Cape Cod resort area by Saturday mid-afternoon.

"Blizzard conditions are expected to remain possible into early Sunday morning from eastern Massachusetts to eastern Maine, with wind gusts potentially leading to scattered power outages," the National Weather Service said.

"It's high winds, heavy snow, blizzard conditions - all the elements of a classic Nor'easter," New York Governor Kathy Hochul said at a news briefing, warning of frigid temperatures overnight and the risk of power outages, which could prompt some residents to use their stoves or space heaters to stay warm.

"This could be life-threatening," Hochul said.

Predicting up to two feet of snow in his state, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee issued a statewide travel ban for all passenger cars and joined surrounding states in banning tractor-trailers from the roads.

The storm prompted airlines to cancel nearly 6,000 flights through the weekend, Amtrak to halt its passenger rail service across much of the region, and the main commuter line for Long Island to suspend its operations for at least one full day.

So far power outages were limited in most of the impacted states with the exception of Massachusetts, where 123,000 out of 2.6 million customers were without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us.

Speaking with reporters at around noon (1700 GMT) on Saturday, Hochul said the storm had not progressed as quickly as forecast, pushing back the state's timetable for cleaning up. Hochul predicted that the most severely impacted counties - Nassau and Suffolk with 7 to 11 inches (18-28 cm) of snow - would get another 5 to 12 inches (13-30 cm) by 6 p.m.

The weather may have contributed to the death of an elderly woman who was found early on Saturday morning in a hotel parking lot in Uniondale with her car window open, according to an officer at the Nassau County Police Department in Long Island.

The storm hit nearly 44 years to the day after a monstrous blizzard crippled New England in 1978. Dumping more than 27 inches (70 cm) of snow on Boston, that storm killed dozens of people, trapped others in their homes and shut down major highways for a week.

To some people, the weather was an obstacle to be overcome or enjoyed. The Black Rose, an Irish pub in downtown Boston, kept its doors open and was filling up with patrons on Saturday afternoon.

And in New York City's borough of Brooklyn, Anson Call seized the opportunity to take his children sledding in what he considered far better conditions than the wetter snow storms of past years.

"This is pleasant. Finally, it's snowing!" Call said.

The ruling coalition has decided to suggest the government to hold the local level elections by mid-June.

A meeting of the senior leaders of ruling coalition held Prime Minister Sher Bahadur's official residence in Baluwatar on Saturday decided to suggest the government to hold the local level elections by mid-June, government spokesperson and Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Kati said.

He said that now the government will hold discussions with the Election Commission and fix the date for the local polls.

The meeting also suggested the government to make necessary preparations to amend the Local Level Election Act 2073 if needed to hold the elections.

Nepal recorded 4, 904 new Covid-19 cases and six deaths on Saturday.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 10,101 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 3,318 returned positive. Likewise, 4, 661 people underwent antigen tests, of which 1,587 tested positive.

According to the Ministry, 5,924 infected people recovered from the disease.

There are 87, 329 active cases in the country.

Meanwhile, the Kathmandu Valley recorded 1,8200 new cases.

Of them, Kathmandu reported 1,404 cases and Lalitpur and Bhaktapur recorded 305 and 111 cases respectively.

H. E. Felicity Volk

Ambassador of Australia to Nepal ​

1. What was your first impression of Nepal when you landed here as the Australian ambassador?

I landed at Tribhuvan Airport a year ago, late one winter night. I was returning to Nepal for the first time in over 20 years. Kathmandu’s streets were empty, but for dogs curled in balls against the cold. A faint trace of the evening’s fires hung in the air, the smoky aroma taking me back to earlier visits, a point of reference for how much the city had changed—growing up and out.

Come daylight the next morning, and in subsequent weeks, I had a clearer sense of the way Nepal has both evolved and stayed the same over the years.  There have been changes in both the built and natural environments, shifts in the architecture of politics and government and a maturing of the economy and national identity. But underpinning all of this are Nepal’s enduring characteristics: an ancient, rich and complex culture and the unparalleled warmth, hospitality and generosity of its people.

2. What are the similarities between Nepal and Australia?

The thriving Nepali community in Australia, which numbers around 150,000, speaks to the many similarities between Nepal and Australia and the way these make Australia a natural home for migrants and students from Nepal, and Nepal an attractive destination for Australians.

Both our countries are characterized by ethnic and cultural diversity, friendliness, a love of good food and the great outdoors, a federal system of government, an appreciation of community and concern for the environment.

3. What are the three milestones you feel you have achieved as your country’s Ambassador to Nepal?

When the second wave of Covid-19 hit soon after my arrival, I was pleased to facilitate a A$7million emergency assistance package to support Nepal’s Covid-response, in addition to our vaccine contributions through COVAX AMC and the delivery of much needed PPE by a Royal Australian Air Force flight.

I have placed gender equality and social inclusion issues prominently in my public outreach, reflecting the priority we attach to these in Australia’s development activity.

And third, I’ve worked closely with the education sector to prepare for the return of Nepali students to Australia when our borders opened in mid-December 2021. It’s been great to welcome students from Nepal back to Australia.

4. How are the people-to-people relations between Nepal and Australia and how can the relationship be further enhanced?

Flourishing people-to-people links underpin our warm diplomatic relations, which now span more than 60 years. I look forward to a time where travel between our countries is easier and we see a resumption of two-way educational exchanges, tourism and visits by business-people.

5. What do you like the most about Nepal?

The kindness of its people, the compassion of its spirituality and the majesty of its landscapes.

6. Where do you think Nepal as a country should improve?

I consider Nepal’s greatest untapped resource is its youth. I would love to see more young Nepalis accessing leadership opportunities in politics and government, as well as the community sector, business and the arts.

7. Is there anything you have planned but are yet to achieve in Nepal?

A program that I’m looking forward to joining this year is a mentoring initiative for young Nepali women, led by the British Ambassador H.E. Nicola Pollitt. I’m keen to work with women here to support their leadership aspirations and, of course, to learn from Nepali youth. 

Quick Questions:

1. Favorite Nepali food

Oh, too hard to choose. But let’s say Kwati on a winter’s night—comfort food! And Juju Dhau from Bhaktapur. 

2. Favorite place in Nepal

Whenever I need to restore serenity and to be immersed in everything I love about Nepal, I visit Boudha. Outside the valley, Pokhara is my easy-to-get-to haven.

3. Favorite Nepali song

‘Resham’ by Nepathya. I first heard this performed by a local cover band at Boudha on Laxmi Puja evening, last Tihar. Amrit Gurung and Nepathya have toured Australia five times, most recently in 2019 and always to very enthusiastic audiences. One day I hope to hear Amrit Gurung perform Resham live myself!

4. Favorite trek in Nepal

A confession: I’m more a hiker than a trekker.  To date, my favorite hike was to Murma Top during a trip to Rara Lake with the US and UK ambassadors to promote climate resilience and biodiversity conservation programs.

5. Favorite season in Nepal

Spring, with its moderate temperatures, trees flowering, days lengthening, evenings of golden light and the sense of the world coming to life again.

6. Favorite Nepali festival

Tihar, especially the night of Laxmi Puja. 

The ambassador’s personal message:

Australia marks its National Day on 26 January, a time to celebrate who we are as a nation. The vibrant and growing Nepali community in Australia makes a highly valued contribution to contemporary Australia and is integral to our rich, multi-faceted culture. I’ve been delighted to connect with this community both in Australia and when non-resident Nepalis and alumni return to Nepal. 

In both our countries, we’re facing new challenges with the current wave of Covid-19. Confronting testing times such as these, together, in a mutually respectful partnership, the ties between Australia and Nepal are stronger than ever. I regard it as a great privilege to contribute to our expanding relations and the warm friendship between our peoples.  

The government has decided to remove odd-even rule for public transport in the Kathmandu Valley.

A meeting of the Chief District Officers of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur held on Friday evening decided to remove the odd-even number plate system for public transport except for private vehicles and taxis.

The decision will come into effect from today midnight.

Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Govinda Prasad Rijal said that the rule will be applicable only to the private vehicles and taxis.

The  Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) has recommended the government to remove odd-even rule for the public vehicles.

India’s capital Delhi lifted a weekend curfew and allowed restaurants and marketplaces to reopen on Friday, following a sharp drop in new infections of COVID-19, Reuters reported.

Under new orders, however, the city will remain under night time curfew, and schools will be closed, Delhi’s lieutenant governor said. Restaurants, bars and cinemas will be allowed to operate with up to 50% capacity and the number of people at weddings will be restricted to 200.

“In view of the decline in positive cases, it was decided to gradually ease restrictions while ensuring adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour,” Delhi lieutenant governor Anil Baijal, who represents the federal government, said.

The number of new cases in Delhi fell to 4,291 on Jan. 27 from a peak of 28,867 on Jan. 13. More than 85% of COVID beds across the city’s hospitals were unoccupied, government data showed.

“The hospitalisation is far, far lower compared to what we saw in the previous wave,” said Dr. Desh Deepak, a senior physician with state-run Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi.

“Most patients who have died had underlying conditions such as cancer or kidney disease and most were not fully vaccinated.”

Last week, authorities eased some curbs, allowing private offices to be partially staffed but advised people to work from home as much as possible.

The capital has been one of the worst hit in the ongoing third wave led by the highly infectious Omicron variant of the coronavirus and the city government had imposed the curfew on Jan. 4 and ordered schools and restaurants to close.

Late on Thursday, the federal home ministry urged states to remain vigilant and said it was a concern that 407 districts across 34 states and Union Territories were reporting an infective rate of more than 10%, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla told them in a letter.

India reported 251,209 new COVID-19 infections over the last 24 hours, taking the overall tally to 40.62 million, the health ministry said. Deaths increased by 627 and total fatalities were 492,327.

An arrest warrant has been issued against the owner of a construction company in connection to the death of a rhino.

The Chitwan National Park has issued the warrant against Sahadev Khadka, the owner of Sagun JV.

Raju Ghimire has been assigned as an investigation officer to probe the matter, said the information officer at the Park, Ganesh Prasad Tiwari.

A rhino was found dead in a roadside ditch in Chitwan last Sunday.

The Park accused the company of not abiding by the acts and rules to be followed while undertaking construction projects in wildlife corridors which led to the death of the rhino. RSS

The Immigration Office of the Tribhuvan International Airport has barred its staffers from using their mobile phones while on duty at the airport.

The Department of Immigration and the Immigration Office of the Tribhuvan International Office said so by issuing a notice on Friday.

The staffers deputed at the arrival and departure hall have been directed to use landline or official mobile phones during the office hours.

Senior immigration officers will monitor whether the staffers have been following the directive or not.

The staffers can use their mobile phones only by taking permission of the immigration officers in case of emergency, the notice read.

All the employees have to keep their mobile phones in the locker.