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Genj Z Nepal, the initiator of today’s protest against corruption and ban of social media platforms, through social media has called on everyone to return home immediately after the protests went out of control.

“Different vested groups are stirring up the crowd. Our protest has become successful. Please return home immediately,” reads a  notice issued by Gen Z Nepal.  

The District Administration Office, Kathmandu, has imposed a curfew in the Baneshwor area following a clash between Gen Z protesters and police personnel.

The prohibitory order has been effective from Baneshwor Chowk to the west up to Bijulibazar Bridge via Everest Hotel, from Baneshwor Chowk to the east up to Tinkune Chowk via Minbhawan and Shantinagar, from Baneshwor Chowk to the north up to Ratna Rajya Secondary School via Eyeplex Mall, and from Baneshwor Chowk to the south up to Shankhamul Bridge via the Shankhamul roadway, according to the notice issued by Kathmandu Chief District Officer Chhabilal Rijal.

During the implementation of the curfew order, no movement, gathering, demonstration, rally, meeting or picketing has been allowed in the specified areas.

The curfew began at 12:30 pm today and will remain effective till 10 pm today. 

The District Administration Office (DAO), Kathmandu has issued a curfew order, specifying four boundaries starting from the New Baneshwor area, in response to the demonstrations organized by 'Gen Z' group today.

The order was issued to tame the protest, avoiding the violent acts, it has been said.

The prohibitory order has been effective from Baneshwor Chowk to the west up to Bijulibazar Bridge via Everest Hotel, from Baneshwor Chowk to the east up to Tinkune Chowk via Minbhawan and Shantinagar, from Baneshwor Chowk to the north up to Ratna Rajya Secondary School via Eyeplex Mall, and from Baneshwor Chowk to the south up to Shankhamul Bridge via the Shankhamul roadway, according to the notice issued by Kathmandu Chief District Officer Chhabilal Rijal.

During the implementation of the curfew order, no movement, gathering, demonstration, rally, meeting or picketing has been allowed in the specified areas.

The curfew began at 12:30 pm today and remains effective till 10 pm today.

Gen Z youths, who have been protesting against social media ban and corruption, have entered the Parliament building.

Protesters entered the federal Parliament building after breaching the police cordon.

They climbed over the gate and entered the Parliament building.

The youths taking part in the protest are chanting slogans against the government.

Gen Z youths, who have been staging protest against corruption and social media ban, clashed with police personel at New Baneshwor.

Police opened tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds.

Police resorted to tear gas shells after the protesters pelted stones at police personnel and tried to break into the restricted area.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) has been granted Observer Status at the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG). It marks a significant milestone in BIMSTEC’s efforts to promote regional cooperation in combating money laundering and financing of terrorism.

The APG, established in 1997 in Bangkok, Thailand, is the largest Financial Action Task Force-Style Regional Body (FSRB).

With its Secretariat based in Sydney, Australia, the APG plays a crucial role in advancing Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Standards in the Asia-Pacific region. It also works closely with global institutions such as the IMF, World Bank, OECD, UNODC, INTERPOL, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and others.

The APG’s decision to grant BIMSTEC Observer Status reflects recognition of BIMSTEC’s sustained commitment to regional cooperation in anti-money laundering and financing of terrorism, reads a statement issued by BIMSTEC.

Since establishment of the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (JWG-CTTC) in 2005, and its Sub-Group on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism, BIMSTEC has consistently advanced initiatives for information exchange, capacity building and development of joint strategies to address illicit financial flows among the member States.

Observer Status at the APG will enable BIMSTEC to engage with the relevant regional and global institutions, benefit from international best practices and contribute to shaping responses to emerging financial crimes. It will reinforce BIMSTEC’s collective commitment to peace, stability and sustainable economic development in the Bay of Bengal region.

The BIMSTEC Secretariat expresses its appreciation to the APG and its members for their decision to recognize BIMSTEC as an Observer and is looking forward to active engagement in advancing the shared objectives.

The Secretariat also thanked the BIMSTEC member States, particularly India, which leads regional cooperation in the security sector, for their support in this regard, according to the statement.

BIMSTEC comprises seven countries of the Bay of Bengal region: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It pursues regional cooperation in 7 broad sectors: Agriculture & Food Security; Connectivity; Environment & Climate Change; People-to-People Contact; Science, Technology & Innovation; Security; and Trade, Investment & Development.

The cooperation also covers eight sub-sectors: Blue Economy, Mountain Economy, Energy, Disaster Management Fisheries & Livestock, Poverty Alleviation, Health, and Human Resource Development.

Three persons died of Japanese Encephalitis in Nawalparasi.

Acting Chief of the District Health Office Bheshraj Sharma said a 74-year-old man from Bardaghat Municipality-12; a 62-year-old man from Sarabal Rural Municipality-1 and a 50-year-old man of Pratappur Rural Municipality-1 died of Japanese Encephalitis in the course of treatment.  

Likewise, the district reported nine cases of dengue fever in this season. The officials have warned that the dengue cases could rise sharply in the district.

The three deaths were reported in the past one and a half months. All three men, who died of Japanese Encephalitis, had not received the vaccine against its infection.

Meanwhile, the local government and officials have worked to search and destroy mosquitoes in view of rising cases of these two diseases.  

Japanese Encephalitis is a transmissible disease caused by the bite of an infected Culex mosquito. This mosquito, medium-sized and brown with white markings on its abdomen, is active primarily after sunset and during the night. Its primary breeding grounds are stagnant water in paddy fields. The risk of infection is the highest during the monsoon season.

Symptoms of Japanese Encephalitis include fever, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, exhaustion, headache, fatigue, neck stiffness, and pain. In severe cases, it may lead to epilepsy, paralysis or loss of consciousness.

A person died after being struck by lightning at Jogiyatol in Siraha Municipality-19 on Sunday.

The deceased has been identified as 50-year-old Sulenadevi Mandal. The incident occurred while she was collecting grass, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of District Police Office in Siraha, Birendra Kumar Paswan, said.

The traditional Yenya Punhi Mye Pwa Khnegu Jatra, the tongue-piercing festival observed on Sunday evening in Madhyapur Thimi on the occasion of Ashwin Shukla Purnima, made a trip to the Bhaktapur city for the first time in the history of this festival.

The observers of the festival made a circumambulation of the city after paying a homage to the deities in Dattatraya and Nawadurga.

The circumambulation was conducted on the wish of the tongue-piercer Birendrabhakta Gaju Shrestha. As in the previous years, Birendrabhakta Gaju Shrestha, a cultural enthusiast from Balkumari, Madhyapur Thimi-4, pierced his tongue to continue the age-old ritual.

Last year, Shrestha visited the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu after piercing his tongue, while this year, he will visit Bhaktapur’s Dattatreya and Navadurga temples before circumambulating the city.

Unlike the Bode festival, where only one person pierces the tongue following a fixed circumambulation route, the Thimi festival allows more than one participant, and the procession route is not predetermined.

Shrestha pierced his tongue in front of the Digu Bhairav Temple, carried a large wooden and bamboo oil lamp on his shoulders, and circumambulated the city while following traditional routes and rituals.

The procession passed through various cultural and religious sites, including Thasma Ganesh, Balkumari Shankhadhar Chowk, Barahi, Sallaghari, Siddhapokhari, Durbar Square, Sukuldhoka, Dattatreya Temple, Navadurga Dyoche, Taumadhi, Nyatapola Temple, Bhimsen Chowk, and other locations before concluding at Balkumari.

Shrestha first pierced his tongue in 2017 to revive the declining festival.

He has since repeated the ritual in 2022 and 2023. “Madhyapur Thimi is a living repository of art and culture. By continuing this tradition, I want to preserve and promote Thimi’s identity to the world,” he said, explaining that his choice of temples to visit reflects his personal devotion.