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A new sub-variant of Corona Virus XBB has been detected for the first time in Nepal. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, the variant was detected in a Nepali recently. The sub-variant was detected during genome sequencing conducted at the National Public Health Laboratory. The Ministry said that the new sub-variant of Omicron was detected during genome sequencing of some samples collected from the people of various age groups from August 6 to September 30. According to the World Health Organization, this variant has already been detected in 26 countries of the world. It has been said that this variant is more contagious than other variants detected in the past. Assistant spokesperson at the Ministry Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari said, “This variant has been spreading in other countries and the new Covid-19 cases have also been increasing in recent times.” He urged all the people to take precautions while celebrating the upcoming festivals.

Laxmi Puja and Kukur Tihar are being observed today by worshipping, garlanding and feeding cows and dogs. Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth, is being worshipped in every household today to mark the second day of the five-day Tihar festival –also known as the festival of lights – by lighting butter lamps and candles inside and outside of the households to light up the path of Goddess Laxmi in order to welcome her. Nepali Hindus worship Goddess Laxmi in the evening today wishing for prosperity. All the nooks and corners of the house are illuminated with colourful and decorative lights this evening in the belief that Goddess Laxmi does not visit places that are not properly illuminated, and so to please Goddess Laxmi, people light lamps and spend the whole night in vigil. The night of Laxmi Puja is also a start to the cultural prog rams like ‘Deusi’ and ‘Bhailo’, where people, said to be sent by the king Bali, visit different homes singing and dancing for the prosperity. In Kukur Tihar, dogs are worshipped as protectors of the house. A dog is the most loyal friend to human beings, and according to Hindu myth, dogs are regarded as the guards of Yama, the god of death.

Nepal reported 41 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 445 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 39 returned positive. Likewise, 805 people underwent antigen tests, of which two were tested positive. The Ministry said that no one died of the virus in the last 24 hours. The Ministry said that 59 infected people recovered from the disease. As of today, there are 696 active cases in the country.

The Nepali Army (NA)'s contribution to the United Nations peacekeeping missions is memorable. The NA has been contributing to the UN peacekeeping missions since 1958 and it has strongly proved its role in the establishment of peace in the war-hit countries. The Nepali blue helmets have also been playing a commendable role in the areas of education, health and other humanitarian sectors in the UN peacekeeping mission where they are deployed. It is said so far 60 contributors to the world peacekeeping missions from Nepal have attained martyrdom while on duty and 66 have got serious injuries. The professionalism of NA personnel has played a role in establishing Nepal's deeper ties with many nations in the world and citizens there, Nepal's foreign relations experts say. At present, Nepal holds the third position in terms of the number of troops it is sending to the peacekeeping missions at the call of the UN, according to NA. In a 64-year journey to the UN efforts to keep world peace intact, 140,366 blue helmets have contributed to 43 missions. Participants of a program on need of work efficiency in the UN peacekeeping mission and a future organized on the occasion of the UN Day said the NA's role it played under the umbrella of UN peace operations were commendable. Government's Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi was of the view that Nepal's support, cooperation and contribution to the UN peace campaign was incomparable. "The NA has been abiding by UN genuine instructions during the crisis in the war-hit countries," he said, adding that it deserves the same role in the future, too. Chief of Army Staff Prabhu Ram Sharma said the NA was efficiently doing its role for the peace establishment given to it in the highly sensitive zone. The NA deputes a disciplined, professional and brave workforce in the management of multidimensional conflict seen lately in the world," the NA Chief said. On the occasion, General Birame Diop, Military Adviser in the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), UN released a coffee table book 'Nepali Army: Strengthening Global Peace and Security' with pictures of the activities of the Nepali Peacekeeping Force. The NA received a message of appreciation from the UN in recognition of its support in the world peace efforts, wishing for the success of today's program. At the moment, 5,568 soldiers are deployed for peacekeeping in 12 zones in 11 countries of the world. Similarly, 42 Nepal Police personnel and 194 Armed Police Force personnel are deputed to various countries at the call of the UN. It is said. The presence of Nepali security forces in such countries has largely contributed to the creation and cultivation of the military-civic relations. The UN has so far allocated the responsibility of force commander to nine high-level officers At the call of the UN, blue helmets get training at the Birendra Peace Training Center based in Panchkhal of Kavrepalanchok. Nepal has already committed to the United Nations that it is capable of sending around 10,000 peacekeepers if necessary. The UN founded on October 24, 1945 has won the Nobel Prize for its significant contribution to world peace.