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Media experts and advocates for freedom of expression have argued that there is no direct law to protect the journalists in most of the countries in South Asia. They were speaking in a day-long training workshop on safety of journalists with a feminist approach organized jointly by Media Action Nepal and ARTICLE19 today in Kathmandu. The workshop was supported by Global Affairs Canada. Despite progressive legislation across South Asia, there are no concrete laws to protect journalists in South Asia other than Pakistan. Media trainers have complained that the South Asian countries do not have direct laws regarding the welfare of the journalists. Most of the South Asian countries have signed and ratified the international treaties such as CEDAW and ICCPR, however, practical execution of it is dismal, they lamented. A group of 20 female journalists participating from all the provinces of Nepal complained, “We have all experienced some sort of threats, sexual assault, and gender discrimination at least once during our professional journey.” I was called by the security force of the country which threatened and behaved derogatorily for writing news on them, a participant shared. Chairperson of the Media Action Nepal Laxman Datt Pant said, “Laws are being framed to restrict and refrain the freedom of expression. We need to protect the journalists in and outside the newsroom to ensure their safety.” Adding that journalists face risks and abuse depending on their race and sexual orientation, religion, and other characteristics, Pant called for institutionalizing  a strong system to support journalists in danger. Women journalists face multiple safety threats such as stereotyping, harassment, and gender discrimination, he added. “Not only the countries, even media houses do not have any policies regarding the safety of the journalists”, said Rumky Farhana, FEMSOJ project Lead in South Asia for ARTICLE 19. Equal inclusive and non-discriminative policy must be implemented on the basis of gender diversity, she added. Likewise, Faruq Faisel, Regional Director, ARTICLE 19 South Asia thanked the participants for their attentive and engaged role for the successful completion of the training. The training workshop was facilitated by Laxman Datt Pant and Namrata Sharma.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has said that 123 ropani of public land has been protected in the current fiscal year. Addressing public complaints on unauthorized use of public land, KMC Mayor Balendra Shah said that the KMC has managed to protect 123 ropani of public land in the current year. The public land protection was carried out as per the manifesto he released during the local level elections held a year ago. Likewise, the work of building 25 new parks, installing smart street lights, removing footpath shops and vendors and making it easy to use for the public has also been accomplished within a year. The KMC has installed 1,700 smart street lights during the period Mayor Shah said that 42 kilometers of roads have been paved, seven kilometers of new sewers constructed, and 1,500 meters of footpaths constructed. Similarly, the Book Free Friday program is being conducted for the first time in all public schools in the metropolitan city from the current academic session.

Relief materials have been supplied to the flood and landslide victims of Taplejung district. The materials including clothing, tarpaulins, utensils and blankets have been sent by the Koshi Province government, and the Nepal Red Cross Society, said Chief District Officer Goma Devi Chemjong, also chair of the District Disaster Management Committee. Scores of families of Sidingwa Rural Municipality-6 have been displaced by flooding and landslides. Most of them are taking shelter in a local Nilgiri Secondary School, said local Kamal Kadariya. Three people have died and three others of a single family have gone missing in the disaster. The local health post in the village has been buried in a landslide, creating a shortage of medicines. Meanwhile, initiatives have been taken in distributing relief materials to the victims, said the district disaster management committee. A Disaster Management Committee meeting on Tuesday asked all concerned sectors to be ready for rescue efforts and relief distribution.

A man allegedly killed his spouse by hitting her with a firewood at Sirijunga Rural municipality-3 in Taplejung on Tuesday. Laxman Chamling of Sikaicha has been arrested for allegedly killing his wife Nisha Rai (31) by attacking her with a firewood, according to the District Police Office, Taplejung. The husband who came home intoxicated started quarreling with his spouse and attacked her amidst the quarrel leaving her dead on the spot. Meanwhile, a person died after being struck by lightning at Bhatuke in Binayi  Tribeni Rural Municipality-1 of Nawalparasi (Bardghat Susta East). Police identified the deceased as Chhabilal Saru (57). The incident occurred at around 6:30 am today while he was working at his farm.