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The rituals associated with the Chhath festival have commenced today, marking a significant cultural and religious celebration dedicated to the "Sun God." This festival highlights humanity's gratitude toward nature and reveres the sun through various rituals and offerings.

The main rituals are conducted over four days and include arba-arbain, kharana, and the offerings of argha to both the setting and rising sun. Today, devotees observe the arba-arbain ritual, also known as nahaya-khaya, during which they begin their fast, abstaining from meat, fish, onions, garlic, millet, and yellow lentils. Early in the morning, devotees take holy dips in ponds and rivers before starting their fast.

On the second day, Panchami, the kharana ritual symbolizes the “dilution of sins.” The area where the Chhath rituals take place is cleansed with a mixture of cow dung and water, and a paste made from Arba rice flour and holy water is sprinkled over the site to consecrate the altar. Devotees maintain a strict fast, refraining from drinking water, and offer payas (rice pudding) to the moon after moonrise.

The third day, Shasthi, involves preparing various delicacies from rice and wheat flour, ground using traditional tools. Family members gather at the designated water body, bringing an array of offerings while singing devotional and folk songs. Offerings include treats like thakuwa, bhusawa, khajuri, and perukiya, along with fruits such as coconut, oranges, and bananas, all carried in large baskets. Before placing the offerings on the bank, devotees prostrate five times and draw ‘aripan’ sketches to sanctify the area. They then enter the water to worship the setting sun with their offerings.

The fourth and final day of Chhath features parvan rituals. Devotees return to the pond or riverbank early in the morning to repeat the previous evening’s rituals, offering argha to the rising sun. After completing the offerings, they listen to priests chanting from the Surya Purana scripture and recounting stories related to Chhath fasting.

Originally celebrated in the Mithila region, the Chhath festival has gained popularity in hilly areas and throughout Nepali society.

Beirut: The 13-month war between Israel and Hezbollah has killed more than 3,000 people in Lebanon, the country’s Health Ministry said on Monday, more than double the number of people killed since their last major war two decades ago.

The war shows no signs of ending, and Israel has said it is carrying out new operations targeting Hezbollah infrastructure across Lebanon and in parts of Syria while Hezbollah continues to launch dozens of rockets into northern Israel.

Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel the day after Hamas’ surprise attack into Israel on 7 Oct 2023 ignited the war in Gaza. Hezbollah and Hamas are both allied with Iran.

For nearly a year, the conflict was mostly contained to the areas along the border between Israel and Lebanon. The conflict dramatically escalated on Sept 23 with intense Israeli airstrikes on south and east Lebanon as well as Beirut’s southern suburbs, leaving hundreds dead and leading to the displacement of nearly 1.2m people.

Israel began a ground invasion of south Lebanon on Oct 1, causing wide destruction in border villages but making little advances on the ground inside Lebanon. Israel says it is destroying Hezbollah weapons and command centers near the border, including an extensive tunnel system built by Hezbollah.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said 16 people were killed and 90 injured in attacks on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 3,002. At least 13,492 have been injured. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and Hezbollah fighters in its toll. Israel claimed hundreds of Hezbollah fighters have been killed.

In Israel, 72 people have been killed by Hezbollah attacks, including 30 soldiers, according to the prime minister’s office. More than 60,000 people have been displaced from their homes.

Also on Monday, Israel announced it terminated the agreement facilitating the work of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, the main aid provider in Gaza.

It was the first step in implementing legislation passed last week that would sever ties with the agency, which Israel says has been infiltrated by Hamas, and prevent it from operating in Israel.

The agency, known as UNRWA, denies the allegations and says it takes measures to ensure its neutrality.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement Monday that it has notified the UN of the cancellation of an agreement dating back to 1967 that facilitates UNRWA’s work. It said UNRWA “is part of the problem in the Gaza Strip and not part of the solution.”

Israel controls all entry into Gaza, and aid groups groups have warned that the legislation could severely hamper UNRWA’s work, creating further obstacles to addressing a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Israel says that UNRWA is responsible for only 13 percent of aid entering Gaza and it says other UN agencies and aid groups can fill the gap. But aid organizations say UNRWA is essential, and the agency says the Israeli figures do not account for the key role it plays in coordinating aid deliveries.

“Without UNRWA coordination, without UNRWA logistics platforms ... no UN agency could operate at the scale required,” said Jonathan Fowler, a spokesman for the agency.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the US was clear about their opposition to the legislation, and gravely concerned about the insufficient number of aid trucks entering Gaza. “We have serious concerns about the implications of it being fully implemented, as well as our concerns about the underlying humanitarian situation in, Gaza, even before Israel passed the legislation,” he told reporters in Washington on Monday.

The agency provides education, health and other basic services to Palestinian refugees from the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation and their descendants, who now number nearly 6m across the region. Refugee families make up the majority of Gaza’s population.

The remainder of the legislation is set to go into effect in three months.

AP

Washington: Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016 because of the Electoral College. So did George W Bush in 2000.

The Electoral College is the unique American system of electing presidents. It is different from the popular vote, and it has an outsize impact on how candidates run and win campaigns. Republicans Trump and Bush lost the popular vote during their presidential runs but won the Electoral College to claim the nation’s top office.

Some Democrats charge that the system favors Republicans and they would rather the United States elect presidents by a simple majority vote. But the country’s framers set up the system in the Constitution, and it would require a constitutional amendment to change.

A look at the Electoral College and how it works, as Trump and Vice-president Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, compete for the White House on Election Day, Nov 5:

What is the Electoral College?

The Electoral College is a 538-member body that elects a president. The framers of the Constitution set it up to give more power to the states and as a compromise to avoid having Congress decide the winner.

Each state’s electors vote for the candidate who won the popular vote in that state. The runner-up gets nothing—except in Nebraska and Maine where elector votes are awarded based on congressional district and statewide results.

To win the presidency, a candidate must secure 270 electoral votes—a majority of the 538 possible votes.

How is it different from the popular vote?

Under the Electoral College system, more weight is given to a single vote in a small state than to the vote of someone in a large state, leading to outcomes at times that have been at odds with the popular vote.

It also affects how candidates campaign. Because the outcome is almost certain in solidly Republican states and solidly Democratic states, candidates tend to focus most of their efforts on a handful of swing states that have split their votes in recent elections.

Who are the electors?

Electors are allocated based on how many representatives a state has in the House of Representatives, plus its two senators. The District of Columbia gets three, despite the fact that the home to Congress has no vote in Congress.

It varies by state, but often the electors are picked by state parties. Members of Congress cannot serve as electors.

How and when are the votes counted?

After state election officials certify their elections, electors meet in their individual states—never as one body—to certify the election. This year, that will happen on Dec 17.

If the two candidates have a tied number of votes, the election is thrown to the House, where each state’s congressional delegation gets one vote. That has happened only twice, in 1801 and 1825.

Once a state’s electors have certified the vote, they send a certificate to Congress. Congress then formally counts and certifies the vote at a special session on Jan 6. The Vice-president presides as the envelopes for each state are opened and verified.

Can lawmakers object?

Lawmakers can object to a state’s results during the congressional certification, as several Republicans did after the 2020 election. On 6 Jan 2021, the House and Senate both voted to reject GOP objections to the Arizona and Pennsylvania results.

After Trump tried to overturn his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden and his supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan 6, Congress updated the 1800s-era Electoral Count Act to make it harder to object and to more clearly lay out the vice president’s ceremonial role, among other changes. Trump had pressured Vice-president Mike Pence to try and object to the results—something the Vice-president has no legal standing to do.

Once Congress certifies the vote, the new or returning president will be inaugurated Jan 20 on the steps of the Capitol.

AP

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane, arrested on charges of cooperative fraud on Oct 18, is set to appear in court on Tuesday for a detention extension. Although Lamichhane completed his statement last Wednesday, he will be presented in court due to the five-day Tihar public holiday, according to the Kaski District Government Attorney's Office.

Lamichhane was arrested at the RSP party office in Banasthali, Kathmandu. RSP leader Deepak Bohora noted that Lamichhane was unable to celebrate Bhai Tika this year while in custody, but received blessings via a photo from two of his sisters and well-wishers.

Bohora also shared that Lamichhane has been occupying his time in detention by reading various books. In the wake of Lamichhane's statement, police are conducting further investigations into other individuals associated with him.

Today marks the start of a pivotal election in the United States, featuring a closely watched race between Democratic and Republican candidates.

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are competing to become the 47th President of the United States, each representing their respective party.

Trump seeks a second term, while Harris is stepping up after President Joe Biden endorsed her candidacy following his decision not to seek re-election. The US election process includes direct voting as well as the Electoral College.

Both candidates are concentrating their final campaign efforts on key battleground states, with analysts suggesting this election could have a major impact on global affairs.

Key issues include immigration, gun rights, economic opportunities, women's rights, and rising global instability.

Despite efforts to revive the economy post-covid, inflation remains a significant issue, with rising costs of essentials placing pressure on the middle class and making economic concerns a central focus.

The Democratic Party, known for its immigrant-friendly policies, has Kamala Harris as its candidate, while Trump, currently facing legal challenges, represents the Republicans. Both candidates face substantial obstacles.

Swing states critical to election outcome

Seven states are expected to be critical in determining the election results: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Among them, Pennsylvania, the fifth most populous state, is particularly crucial. In 2016, Trump won five of the seven swing states to secure the presidency, while Biden claimed six in 2020.

Pennsylvania has seen significant investment in election advertising, with $1.20bn allocated for media campaigns in the state alone—over 10 percent of the $10.53bn spent nationwide. Early voting in Pennsylvania has already seen participation from 1.6m voters.

Influence of Nepali voters

Around 25,000 Nepali American voters live in Pennsylvania, where their votes could be significant.

Harry Bhandari, a politician in Harrisburg, is leading efforts to raise voter awareness, accompanied by 51 Maryland-based volunteers on Saturday. "We’re engaging in politics to inspire future generations. Kamala Harris, as a second-generation immigrant, aims to make history, which will inspire others," he said.

Local political organizer Abhisek Thapa stated, "This election is especially competitive. We believe our (Nepali) votes will make an impact this year. We are reaching out to every Nepali household to encourage voting."

Social worker and activist Binita Puri mentioned that voter awareness rallies are being organized, expressing optimism for increased turnout. The Nepali American community is divided in its support between Harris and Trump, with many voicing their views on social media.

While there are 231m eligible voters in the US, only 168m are registered. A candidate needs to secure 270 of the 538 Electoral College votes to win, regardless of the popular vote.

A bus in India plunged into a deep Himalayan ravine on Monday, killing at least 36 passengers and injuring several others, a government official reported.

Photos from rescue teams showed the crumpled wreckage in thick undergrowth, with the bus’s front crushed nearly flat. oad accidents are common on the mountainous roads in the Himalayas, mostly due to poor maintenance and reckless driving on the challenging terrain.

“So far, 36 casualties have been confirmed,” said Deepak Rawat, a senior official from Uttarakhand. “Three critically injured passengers have been airlifted to the hospital.”

Volunteers formed a human chain along the steep slopes and across a rushing river, helping to pull the wounded from the bus’s remains. Bodies were laid on the back of a truck.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his “deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the unfortunate road accident.” Modi's office announced that families of the deceased would receive InRs 200,000 ($2,380) in support, and those injured would receive InRs 50,000 ($595).

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered an investigation into the accident, which occurred in forested hills near Almora. Hundreds of people die in road accidents in India every year.

The demand for Nepali tea and coffee in the international market is steadily rising.

According to the National Tea and Coffee Development Board, 77 metric tons of coffee were exported in the fiscal year 2022-23, up from 72 metric tons worth Rs 96m in the previous fiscal year. Data collection for the current fiscal year 2023-24 is underway.

On the import side, coffee imports totaled 450 metric tons worth Rs 320m in the fiscal year 2021-22. This dropped significantly to Rs 100m in the following year, a decrease of around Rs 220m.

Board Director Deepak Khanal noted that recent improvements in the coffee farming environment and cultivation expansion have boosted production. Coffee is now cultivated on 3,659 hectares of land, with about 33,000 farmers involved.

International demand for Nepali coffee stands at around 14,000 metric tons. Commercial coffee farming occurs in 43 districts, including Gulmi, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Lalitpur, Tanahu, Kavre, Sindhupalchowk, Lamjung, Kaski, Gorkha, Syangja, Parbat, and Baglung.

For tea, exports reached Rs 3.8bn in fiscal year 2021-22, with an increase of around Rs 140m the following year. The country has 161 tea industries, employing approximately 60,000 workers, according to Board officer Chandra Puri.

The construction of the Chilime-Trishuli 220 kV transmission line has been completed.

This transmission line is crucial for delivering power from ongoing and future hydropower projects along the Trishuli River and its tributaries to the national grid.

The 28-kilometer line extends from the Chilime Hub Sub-Station in Ama Chhodingbo Rural Municipality, Rasuwa district, to the Trishuli III B Hub Station in Kispang Rural Municipality, Nuwakot district.

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Managing Director Kul Man Ghising noted that the transmission line was completed thanks to the efforts of employees and contractors, who continued working even during the Dashain and Tihar holidays.

He added that the infrastructure is ready to transmit electricity from the 111-megawatt Rasuwagadhi and 42.5-megawatt Sanjen projects, along with other projects under construction or in planning stages in Rasuwa. Both the Rasuwagadhi and Sanjen hydropower projects are nearing production.

The estimated cost of the Chilime-Trishuli project is $3.62bn, funded by the NEA, a grant from the German Development Bank (KfW), and a concessional loan from the European Investment Bank.

A contract was signed with a Chinese construction company in Kartik 2017 for the construction of the transmission line and the sub-station.