Illegal structures razed in Kapan

The illegal structures- houses and huts set up on public land for private use and profit- are being torn down in Kapan, Kathmandu. 

Heavy equipment has been deployed  to demolish the illegally built houses as part of an ongoing campaign to clear encroachments along embankments of the Bagmati River and its tributaries in the Kathmandu Valley.

Assistant District Officer in Kathmandu, Mukti Ram Rijal, said the illegal structures were removed in Kapan of Budhanilakantha Municipality, in  coordination with the Ministry of Urban Development, District Administration Office Kathmandu and Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

"Removal of illegally set up houses and huts at Sattale, Pathibhara, Tenjing Chowk and other spaces is going on currently," he said. .

Similar structures are being razed to the ground at Anamnagar-Devinagar section along the Dhobikhola River corridor, Balaju-Machhapokhari and Tilganga areas. 

The authority has so far flattened over 2,300 houses and huts in the Kathmandu Valley.

According to Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Force Chief Bishnu Prasad Joshi, 15 to 20 structures were being demolished at Devinagar, three in Balaju and 89 at Tilganga, Kathmandu today.

In line with the directive of Prime Minister Balendra Shah, removal of structures built by encroaching upon public land and squatter settlements in the valley had begun last Saturday. 

On the first day, such structures were removed from Thapathali, Sinamangal-Gairigaun in Kathmandu, and Manohara, Bhaktapur and illegal settlers evacuated.

The affected families after the evacuation have been kept in the ‘holding centers’ of Kirtipur, Balaju and Bhaktapur. 

Even the identification and management of the landless squatters is going on in the holding centers.

In a bid to seek a long-term solution to the encroachment and management of the families affected by the evacuation with demolition, the government has launched identification of the real squatters through the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation. 

Those claiming themselves as landless are also being screened to know whether they have owned land in any part of the country.

 

2,111 traffic violations recorded in Kathmandu Valley in 24 hours

The Kathmandu Valley recorded 2,111 cases of violation of traffic rules in the past 24 hours. 

Revenue of Rs 565,000 has been deposited in the State coffer.

According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, such cases include 109 of drunk-driving, 184 of ride-sharing against the rule, 103 of violation of traffic signals and 222 of over-speed driving. 

Likewise, 138 incidents are of breaching lane discipline, 67 of honking in prohibited areas, 86 of parking on roadside and pavements, 42 of flouting pick-up and drop rules and 1,160 of other traffic-related violations.

 

Oil tanker hijacked off coast of Yemen and taken towards Somalia

Somali pirates have hijacked an oil tanker off the coast of Yemen, according to multiple Somali security officials, BBC reported. 

The Yemeni coastguard earlier said the tanker MT Eureka had been hijacked and was headed towards Somalia. Sources said it was overrun by pirates in the Gulf of Aden, near the port of Qana.

The pirates departed a remote coastal area near the seaside town of Qandala, which sits on the Gulf of Aden, according to three separate security officials from the semi-autonomous Puntland region, according to BBC. 

Trump expresses doubt that Iran’s peace proposal is ‘acceptable’

United States President Donald Trump has said he is reviewing Iran’s 14-point proposal to end his war on the country, while warning that Washington could restart air strikes if Tehran “misbehaves," Aljazeera reported. 

Speaking to reporters in Florida before boarding Air Force One on Saturday, Trump confirmed that he had been briefed on the “concept of the deal”.

Despite the diplomatic opening, the US president struck a characteristically blunt tone regarding the possibility of renewed hostilities, which have been paused since the announcement of a ceasefire between the sides on April 7.

Sunderland's Ballard sent off for pulling Arokodare's hair in 1-1 draw at Wolves

Daniel Ballard became the second defender to be sent off for pulling the hair of Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Tolu Arokodare in the Premier League this season, as Sunderland squandered a lead in a 1-1 draw on May 2, Reuters reported. 

Everton's Michael Keane received a straight red for the same offence in January, and was a given three-match suspension for violent conduct.

Ballard was holding and pulling a handful of Arokodare's hair as they moved backwards to receive a high ball, until the Nigerian went down, grabbing his head. Referee Paul Tierney sent off Ballard after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor.

Land screening begins for squatters

The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation has started land screening for the squatters. The process is assisted by the Soil-Archiving Management System (SAMS).

It aims to find out whether the people claiming to be landless actually have their own land somewhere else in the country.

Ministry Joint-Secretary and Spokesperson Ganesh Prasad Bhatta said the examination is based on various policies, rules and procedures and the government is committed to making it transparent and effective. 

Now, the Ministry is collecting the names of squatters in the Kathmandu Valley and it is in the process of identifying the genuine landless squatters. 

The identification would pave the way to sustainable management of landless squatters, it is said. 

A total of 110 land revenue, 21 land reform and revenue offices function under the Ministry. 

 

 

Gold price drops by Rs 1, 000 per tola on Sunday

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 1, 000 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday.  

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 295, 100 per tola today.   It was traded at Rs 296, 100 per tola on Friday.  

The price of silver, however, has increased by Rs 65 per tola and is being traded at Rs 5, 010 per tola.

Bayern score in stoppage time to rescue 3-3 draw against strugglers Heidenheim

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich scored through Michael Olise with the last kick of the game to snatch a 3-3 draw against bottom club Heidenheim in the league on Saturday, after battling back from two goals down, Reuters reported. 

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany rotated his side heavily after Tuesday's 5-4 loss to Paris St Germain in their Champions League semi-final first leg and ahead of next week's return match in Munich.

Treble-chasing Bayern, who have already secured the league title, quickly found themselves two goals down with Budu Zivzivadze and Eren Dinkci finding far too much space to beat keeper Jonas Urbig.