Russia attacking Mariupol steelworks after evacuations, says Ukraine commander
Attacks have resumed on Mariupol's steel works, despite hundreds of civilians remaining trapped inside, a Ukrainian officer has said, BBC reported.
The Azovstal plant was being shelled by "all kinds of weapons", National Guard commander Denys Shlega said on Monday.
On Sunday a number of civilians who had sheltered inside the last resistance stronghold managed to escape.
But "several dozen small children are still in the bunkers underneath the plant", the commander said.
The shelling on the plant in the southern port city, which has been under intense Russian bombardment for weeks, began as soon as the civilians who had been evacuated left, he told Ukrainian television, according to BBC.
On Monday evening, footage emerged apparently showing a massive fire at the Azovstal, in what social media users said was a result of Russian bombardment.
A first group of evacuees from the steelworks were expected to arrive in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia on Monday - but the rescue efforts have run into delays, the BBC's Laura Bicker, who is in the city, reports.
It is not clear what is causing the hold-up, she says. The convoy is on its way, but the buses have hundreds of miles to travel along a road which is - in part - rubble. They also have to go through a number of Russian checkpoints.
Those who left Mariupol on Monday were evacuated with the support of the United Nations (UN) and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which organised an official convoy.
Russia said some evacuees had been taken to a village controlled by Moscow-backed separatists. But state media later reported that they would be free to travel onwards to Ukrainian-held territory if they wanted to.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the news that around 100 people were heading for Zaporizhzhia, which is about 140 miles (230km) north-west of Mariupol, BBC reported.
"Grateful to our team! Now they, together with UN, are working on the evacuation of other civilians from the plant," he wrote on Twitter.
Some people have spent many weeks sheltering in the Azovstal steelworks, with reports suggesting food, water and medicine supplies are all running low.
"The situation has become a sign of a real humanitarian catastrophe," Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.
One Russian news report estimated the number of civilians still in the plant was more than 500, according to BBC.
EC seeks clarification from KMC mayoral candidate Sthapit
The Election Commission has sought clarification from the mayoral election candidate in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Keshab Sthapit, accused of making 'indecent remarks' against a woman.
Sthapit, who has filed his candidacy for the mayoral post in the KMC from main opposition CPN-UML, has been charged with making discourteous remarks against a woman at a public event here recently.
He has been asked to furnish his clarification in the case within 24 hours, said the EC spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Paudel.
Similarly, non-governmental organizations, which have expressed their concerns about the case relating to Sthapit, have also been directed to furnish their clarification without 24 hours, he added.
EC to impose fine of Rs 100, 000 on candidates hanging banners and pasting posters
The Election Commission (EC) has banned the political parties and candidates from hanging banners and pasting posters for the local level elections slated for May 13.
“This is against the election code of conduct. The Commission directs the political parties and candidates to remove such banners and posters as soon as possible,” EC Assistant Spokesperson Surya Prasad Aryal said.
He said that the political parties or candidates found hanging banners and pasting posters will be fined Rs 100, 000.
“The political parties and candidates will be fined Rs 100, 000 if they violate the election code of conduct and do not remove such banners and posters at the earliest,” he said.
EC warns of action against those spreading poll-related fake information on social media
The Election Commission (EC) has warned of taking stern action against those involved in spreading misinformation and hate speech targeting political parties and candidates on social networking sites in the wake of local level elections.
In view of the rising spread of such content in digital spaces, the EC urged everyone not to misuse social networking sites to assassinate characters and spread rumours as it would impact elections.
In order to monitor the use of social networking sites in terms of the election, the EC has formed a task force, comprising cyber experts of security agencies.
The EC has however expected that misuse of social media would be reduced with its stern warning that no activities would be allowed against the free and fair elections. The Election Code of Conduct, 2078 has mentioned that if the social networking sites were used by ignoring the election code of conduct, EC would take action as per Section 23 of the Election Commission Act, 2073, and Election (Crime and Punishment) Act, 2073, according to EC Spokesperson and Joint Secretary Shaligram Sharma Poudel.
Moreover, the EC has initiated to contact the offices of Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Viber and Google in a bid to regulate social networking sites as per the Election Code of Conduct, 2078. Even the Nepali Embassies in India, China, and the US have been directed via the Foreign Ministry to establish contact with such social media and cooperate in curbing the spread of misinformation.
