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The Madhes Province government has decided to grant a public holiday tomorrow. 

A notice issued today by Bimal Prasad Baral, Secretary at the Ministry of Home, Communications and Law of the provincial government, stated that a public holiday has been declared across the Province on Friday to mark the Mohammad Jayanti.

Following the decision of the Ministry of Communicationand Information Technology to shut down unregistered social media platforms in Nepal, the ‘Hamro Patro’ app has applied for registration.

Ministry spokesperson Gajendra Kumar Thakur shared that Hamro Patro app proprietors have applied for registration today.

The Supreme Court had ordered the Government to register domestic and foreign online and social media platforms with the relevant bodies before allowing their operation in the country.

In compliance with the order, the meeting of the Council of Ministers had called on individuals, companies or organizations interested in operating social media platforms in Nepal to register. 

According to the Directives to manage the use of social media, 2080, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology had asked the applicants to submit an application within seven days for listing of their platform in the format specified in Schedule 1 of the same directives.

IT company Meta has contacted the Secretariat of the Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung, hours after the government decided to ban Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram among 26 social media platforms.

Ministry Spokesperson and Joint Secretary Gajendra Thakur informed that Meta has contacted Minister Gurung's personal assistant Shaligram Parajuli through email.

Thakur said that Meta has asked for the necessary documents for registration in Nepal from its office in Singapore.

The Meta, however,  has not come into contact through government officials.

Earlier, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology had decided to shut down 26 social media platforms in Nepal in accordance with the Supreme Court order and the decision of the Council of Ministers.

The Nepal Telecommunications Authority has written to the mobile and internet service providers to block access to 26 social media platforms.

The authority directed the internet service providers to shut down the social media platforms including Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram among others in accordance with the decision of the Cabinet meeting and the order of the Supreme Court.

Earlier, the meeting of the council of ministers had called on social media platforms to get registered in Nepal.

A meeting of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology held on Thursday decided to shut down 26 social media platforms including WhatsApp.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has begun the process of gradually deactivating all social media platforms except those registered with the Ministry.

The Ministry has stated that it has already instructed the regulatory body for telecommunications and internet service providers, the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to that end.

A ministerial level meeting held today made a decision to immediately deactivate social media platforms that have not been registered in Nepal.

The Ministry has started  the process to implement the order of the Supreme Court and the decision of the Council of Ministers made on August 25.

According to Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, the compulsion to deactivate social platforms arose because the platforms have been obstinate despite the government issuing notifications repeatedly to get registered in Nepal.

“Our aim is not to shut them forever and they will be resumed as soon as they get in touch. Those ones that are already registered and the ones in the process of registration have not been closed,” he said.

The spokesperson of the Ministry, Gajendra Kumar Thakur, said that TikTok, Viber, Wetalk, Nimbuzz, and Poppo Live have been registered so far, and that Telegram and Global Diary are in the process of being registered.

According to a study conducted by the Ministry, there are currently more than 25 social media platforms actively used in Nepal, he said, but it is uncertain how many will be closed after the Ministry’s latest decision.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba has emphasized the strong and sustainable ties between Nepal and the United States, describing the relationship as one built on trust, respect and shared values. 

At a ceremony held today to hand over two Skytrucks provided by the United States to the Nepal Army, she described the assistance as a symbol of lasting friendship and cooperation between the two countries. 

The Foreign Affairs Minister noted that Nepal's friendship with the US is guided by the objectives of peace, stability and human service. 

"The United States is a development partner and reliable friend of Nepal in strengthening democratic governance, humanitarian assistance, disaster management, peacekeeping and capacity building," she said, expressing gratitude to the US government and people for their continued support.

Minister Rana also praised the Nepal Army for its dedication, discipline and unwavering commitment to nationhood, world peace and security. 

At the ceremony, US Ambassador Dean R Thompson handed over two Skytrucks to Minister Rana, Defence Minister Manbir Rai, and Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel. The Skytrucks will be used for disaster relief and rescue operations and air ambulance services.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 6. 55 points to close at 2, 719. 77 points on Thursday..

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 11  points to close at 469. 83 points.

A total of 12,701,097-unit shares of 317 companies were traded for Rs 5. 14 billion.

Meanwhile, Him Star Urja Company Limited (HIMSTAR) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 9. 98 percent. Likewise, Barahi Hydropower Public Limited (BHPL) was the top loser as its price fell by 3. 83 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 54 trillion.

The Indrajatra lingo (a ritualistic wooden pole) has been erected in front of the statue of Kaal Bhairav located in the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, which is listed as a World Heritage Site. 

According to the auspicious time prescribed by the Nepal Calendar Determination Development Committee, the wooden pole was erected before the statue at 10:31 am today, informed Laxuna Sharma, Head of the Guthi Trust's Kathmandu branch office.

Earlier, on August 31, the wooden pole was brought to the city. It is informed that the Indrajatra lingo was brought from Bhotahiti and placed in front of the statue of Kal Bhairav in the Basantapur Durbar Square on the day of Bhadra Shukla Ashtami. 

On the night of Bhadra Shukla second day, a pine tree cut at the Chittapal Community Forest in Bhaktapur was brought to Bhotahiti the following day. 

The Indradhwoj was raised today with the help of bamboo and rope, along with tantric rituals, shared Rajendra Dahal, chief of the religious and cultural branch of the Trust. 

After erecting the pole on the occasion of Bhadra Shukla Dwadashi, a procession of Shri Kumari, Shri Ganesh, and Shri Bhairav will take place on Saturday, Bhadra Shukla Chaturdashi, also known as Ananta Chaturdashi, in the presence of distinguished personalities including President Ram Chandra Paudel. 

This day is the main day of Indra Jatra festival, one of the important cultural festivals of the Kathmandu Valley. There is a practice of declaring a public holiday in the Kathmandu Valley on this occasion.