Haaland makes history as Man City hold off charging Fulham in wild 5-4 victory

Manchester City's Erling Haaland became the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals to ignite their charge on Tuesday and then Pep Guardiola's men held off a furious comeback effort from Fulham in a wild 5-4 win, Reuters reported. 

Phil Foden bagged a double, Tijjani Reijnders also struck and Sander Berge scored an own goal to keep City firmly in the title hunt in second place with 28 points. Leaders Arsenal, who have 30 points, host Brentford on Wednesday.

Fulham are 15th on 17 points.

City looked to be heading for a rout at Craven Cottage with a gaping 5-1 lead but Fulham roared back with three second-half goals - a brace from Samuel Chukwueze and one from Alex Iwobi - for a thrilling finish, according to Reuters . 

Foreign Secretary Rai shares challenges facing LDCs

Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai has argued deep-rooted structural impediments, limited access to international markets, widening digital divides, resources constraints and increasing climate related impacts were some of the challenges facing the least developed countries (LDCs).

Foreign Secretary Rai made such an observation in his remarks at the High-level Meeting on 'Forging Ambitious Global Partnerships for Sustainable and Resilient Graduation of LDCs' in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday. 

He was speaking as the Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the group of LDCs. 

Rai called for robust global solidarity and ambitious partnership for smooth, sustained, and irreversible graduation of the LDCs, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Moreover, he also addressed at the session entitled 'High-level Ministerial Dialogue on strategic pathways for navigating sustainable graduation amid challenging global development landscape and unlocking new opportunities'. 

On the occasion, Secretary Rai shed light the key areas – agriculture, hydropower, tourism, manufacturing, ICT and human capital – that hold immense potential for Nepal’s economic transformation despite the challenging global development landscape and expressed Nepal’s keen interest to working closely with development partners, the UN systems, and the international community for sustained graduation.

He also had an inspection visit to the Embassy of Nepal in Doha in the afternoon. 

The Embassy officials were instructed to protect and promote Nepal’s national interest as well as make every possible effort to deliver best services to Nepali migrant workers living in Qatar.

The Foreign Secretary is in his three-day visit to Doha to take part in the High-level Meeting jointly organized by Qatar government and the UN- Office of the High Representative for the LDCs, and the Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island States (UN-OHRLLS).

 

PM Karki vows inclusive governance

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has vowed inclusive development and governance initiatives that focus on the rights of people with disabilities (PWD). 

The government has solidarity to the advocacy for PWD's rights and their leadership for the achievement of sustainable development goals, she reminded.

Giving a message of best wishes on the occasion of 34th International Day of Persons with Disabilities today, PM Karki said the government is committed to health, education and employment to the PWD. Even their participation, social security and rehabilitation are equal priorities.

"We have the state policy to create an atmosphere for dignified and equitable life of PWD by taking into account their socioeconomic status and severity of disability," PM Karki reminded, adding that barriers to PWD's access to physical infrastructures, government and legal services would be wiped out gradually. Once all three tiers of government make collaborative efforts to create employment and foster entrepreneurship among the people with disabilities, it would result in success, according to her.

The PM also informed that Nepal's constitution and existing laws have addressed the social, economic, cultural and political rights of PWD. 

She wished all stakeholders made effective advocacy for PWD's rights.

 

President Paudel stresses inclusion of PWD in all state mechanisms

President Ram Chandra Paudel has underscored the need for including people with disabilities (PWD) in all state mechanisms. 

Effective enforcement of legal and constitutional provisions on PWD's rights is imperative, the President reminded.

In a message given on the occasion of the 34th International Day of Persons with Disabilities today, the Head of State extended best wishes to all Nepali sisters and brothers living in the country and abroad. 

The PWD must be included in all state entitlements and opportunities of education, health and employment with due recognition, Paudel added.

President Paudel reminded, "Nepal's constitution has guaranteed rights to dignified life to the people living with disabilities and their access to public services. 

The national charter has also expected an equal, prosperous and just society based on the principles of proportional inclusion and participation. So, all sorts of discrimination against PWD must be eliminated."

He further reminded the urgency of creating PWD-friendly infrastructures to ease their access to office, schools, public vehicles, road, park, temples and private buildings. Equally important is ditching negative perspectives toward PWD and continuing advocacy for inclusion, equality and rights to such people.

Creation of a favourable atmosphere for PWD requires all sides' efforts- government, households, society and organizations.

The Day has been observed every year since 1992 at the initiative of the United Nations for the protection and promotion of the rights of people living with disabilities. The theme for this year is “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress.”

 

 

Int'l Day of Persons with Disabilities being observed today

The 34th International Day of Persons with Disabilities is being observed by organizing various activities across the country today.

The government agencies and the social organizations working for the rights of disabled persons have planned various sorts of programs to mark the Day.

The Day has been observed every year since 1992 at the initiative of the United Nations for the protection and promotion of the rights of people living with disabilities. The theme for this year is “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress.”

The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs writes, "In every region, persons with disabilities continue to face persistent barriers: Higher risks of poverty, limited access to decent work and lower wages, gaps in social protection, especially for those in the informal sector, barriers to autonomy, dignity and agency within care and support systems, unequal access to assistive technologies and accessible environments." 

Nepal's constitution has ensured the right to dignified life to the people with disabilities.

 

Honduran ex-president Juan Orlando Hernández released from US prison after Trump pardon

Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras, has been released from a US prison, according to online records of federal inmates, after he received a pardon from US President Donald Trump for drug charges, BBC reported. 

The records show Hernandez was released from the high security facility of USP Hazelton in West Virginia on Monday.

Hernandez was found guilty in March 2024 of conspiring to import cocaine to the US, and of possessing machine guns. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison, according to BBC.

India tells smartphone makers to put state-run cyber safety app on new devices

India has ordered all new smartphones to come pre-loaded with a state-run cybersecurity app, sparking privacy and surveillance concerns, BBC reported.

Under the order - passed last week but made public on Monday - smartphone makers have 90 days to ensure all new devices come with the government's Sanchar Saathi app, whose "functionalities cannot be disabled or restricted".

It says this is necessary to help citizens verify the authenticity of a handset and report the suspected misuse of telecom resources, according to BBC.

US Homeland Security secretary calls for more travel bans

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said she will recommend a travel ban on several countries which she claims are "flooding" the US with criminal activity, BBC reported.

Writing on social media on Monday, Noem said she had met President Donald Trump and decided to suggest "a full travel ban on every damn country that's been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies''.

Trump and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) then shared Noem's post on their respective official social media accounts, according to BBC.