‘Party conflict won’t lead to mid-term polls’

Pokhara, February 29

Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa today said conflict party would not affect party unity.

Talking to journalists at Pokhara airport, Thapa reiterated that intra-party dispute in the party would not lead to the dissolution of the House of Representatives and lead to mid-term polls.

Thapa, who is also the member of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Secretariat, said the current dispute in the party was normal. “It is natural for a vibrant party to have discussion and debate. So, it is not good to make mountain out of a molehill,” Thapa said.

“Since the party has decided to send Bamdev Gautam to the vacant seat of the National Assembly, the government will abide by it. Thus, it is redundant to make fuss out of it,” he said.

Meanwhile, addressing a Gandaki Province-level security meeting organised by the home ministry and Gandaki Province Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law in Pokhara, Thapa said government had increased check posts from 87 to 104 in the southern border. Thapa said technical work to print the map of Nepal including land allegedly occupied by India was over.

“We shall publish the map of Nepal including Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulek,” Thapa said. He informed that diplomatic efforts were on to reclaim the land from India.

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Australia reports first coronavirus death

MELBOURNE: Australia reported its first death of a coronavirus patient in a hospital in the western city of Perth early on Sunday, health official Andrew Robertson said.

The 78-year-old had been in quarantine after being evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, among more than 150 Australians taken off the vessel.

“Our condolences are with his family and unfortunately he’s the first death we’ve had from coronavirus in Australia,” Robertson, the chief health officer of Western Australia state, told journalists.

The man’s wife also caught the virus, but is in stable condition, authorities said.

Australia’s tally of virus infections stands at 25, the latest government figures show.

On Saturday, Australia said it would deny entry to all foreigners travelling from Iran because of the spreading virus in the Islamic republic.

There have been more than 85,000 virus infections worldwide, the majority in China, the World Health Organisation said. Outside China, it has spread to 53 countries, with more than 6,000 cases and 86 deaths.

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Sandeep Lamichhane completes century of wickets in T20Is

Kathmandu, February 29

Star legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane became the first Nepali bowler to complete century of wickets in Twenty20 Internationals when he took three scalps against Malaysia in the ACC Eastern Region T20 at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok today.

Lamichhane, who has been participating in the franchise tournaments worldwide after making a breakthrough from the Indian Premier League in 2018 after Delhi Capitals bought him through the auction, took his tally to 102 in 75 matches after he returned with 3-22 against Malaysia. He reached the magical three digits in the third ball of the third over when he had Malaysia opener Virandeep Jagjit Singh caught by Pawan Sarraf.

Lamichhane then made it two in as many balls when the same duo combined to dismiss Khizar Hayat Durrani in the next ball. He also claimed the wicket of Khizar Hayat Durrani, also caught by Sarraf, as he completed his four-over spell on a high. Syed Aziz Syed Mubarak top scored with an unbeaten 51 as Malaysia posted 154-6. Abhinash Bohara grabbed two wickets and Karan KC claimed one for Nepal. Nepal faced a 22- run defeat after they were all out for 132 runs with two balls to spare.

“It’s a good achievement but I had never thought of getting there so early,” Lamichhane told CricketingNepal after the match. “Thanks to the almighty, friends, family and all teammates who supported me so far and fans as well,” he added. “I have a long way to go and I am still not satisfied as I am thinking of a bigger picture ahead in my life.”

Globe-trotting Lamichhane, who made his T20 International debut for World-XI against the West Indies at Lord’s on May 31 in 2018, had previously taken 28 wickets in 17 matches for the national team. He took his tally to 31 with three wickets against Malaysia in the five-team tournament.

The 20-year-old Lamichhane, who took five wickets in his debut IPL season in 2018 and added eight scalps in the next edition last year, claimed the highest 15 wickets in his second season in Big Bash League in 2019-20. He had taken 11 wickets each in the debut season Down Under and Pakistan Super League. Lamichhane bagged seven and eight wickets respectively in the first and second season of the Caribbean Premier League, while he took four scalps in Bangladesh Premier League and bagged two in Afghanistan Premier League in 2019.

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Lamichhane so far in T20Is

YEAR	TEAM	WICKETS	MATCHES
2018	National Team	31	18
2018	Indian Premier League	5	3
2018	World-XI Vs West Indies	0	1
2018	Carribean Premier League	7	5
2018-19	Big Bash League	11	8
2019	Afghanistan Premier League	2	1
2019	Bangladesh Premier League	4	6
2019	Pakistan Premier League	11	7
2019	Indian Premier League	8	6
2019	Carribean Premier League	8	6
2019-20	Big Bash League	15	13

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Bayern crush Hoffenheim 6-0 after game interrupted by fans’ banner

• Bayern fans’ banner prompts 20-minute interruption
• Bavarians scored three times in opening 15 minutes

BERLIN: Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich fired in three goals in the opening 15 minutes en route to a 6-0 demolition of hosts Hoffenheim on Saturday in a game interrupted over an offensive banner unfurled by visiting fans.

Bayern moved four points clear at the top of the table but the match was at risk of being cut short when the Munich club’s fans displayed the banner insulting Hoffenheim investor Dietmar Hopp in the 79th minute.

The referee ordered the teams into the tunnel and some Bayern players as well as the entire club leadership walked to the stands and urged fans to take it down immediately.

After a 20-minute interruption both teams came back onto the pitch and ran down the clock without playing competitively, ending the game with an ovation for Hopp and with Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge by the billionaire’s side in a show of solidarity.

Hopp has been a lightning rod for some German fans, who oppose the way he used his wealth to help Hoffenheim climb through the lower leagues to the Bundesliga with consecutive promotions more than a decade ago.

A similar insulting banner led to a Borussia Dortmund fans’ ban in Hoffenheim for two seasons and a 50,000 euro fine earlier this month.

“I am deeply ashamed for the behaviour of these people. That is inexcusable. It is the ugly face of football,” Rummenigge told reporters.

“I have apologised to Dietmar Hopp. We have filmed everything and these people will be held accountable. The way these people behaved today they have absolutely no place in a football stadium.”

“It was a big sign the way the players did it in the end. They had discussed it with the referee. There is a process provided by the football association and I think it is good.”

Up until that point the game had gone smoothly for the champions, who were without injured top scorer Robert Lewandowski.

His absence was not felt when Serge Gnabry volleyed them ahead in the second minute. Joshua Kimmich doubled the advantage five minutes later and Joshua Zirkzee made it 3-0 with a clever turn and shot.

Philippe Coutinho scored either side of the break and Leon Goretzka completed the rout in the 62nd but Hoffenheim had thrown in the towel long before the game ended on a sour note following the interruption.

Bayern are on 52 points, four ahead of RB Leipzig, who host Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday. Borussia Dortmund are third on goal difference following their nervous 1-0 victory over Freiburg.

Borussia Moenchengladbach captain Lars Stindl scored twice in their 3-2 away win at Augsburg to stay fourth on 46 as misfiring Schalke 04 slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Cologne to lose further touch with the top spots.

David Wagner’s team, in sixth place on 36, have now scored just one goal in their last six league games and conceded eight in the last two.

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Samples collected for second time from quarantined Nepalis

Kathmandu, February 29

Nasal and throat swabs were collected for the second time from 175 Nepalis evacuated from China, currently quarantined at Nepal Electricity Authority Training Centre, Kharipati, today.

Samples were also collected from 18 persons — crew members and others who had gone to China to evacuate Nepalis. They are quarantined at National Water Supply and Sanitation Training Centre, Nagarkot.

“The samples have been brought to National Public Health Laboratory. The test reports will be given on Tuesday,” said Dr Runa Jha, director at NPHL. “Those under quarantine will be sent home if they test negative. If any of them have fever or respiratory problems they won’t be sent home,” Dr Jha added.

The government had airlifted 134 males and 41 females from Wuhan, Enshi, Shiyan, Yichang, Jingmen and Jingzhou of China on February 15. A chartered flight of Nepal Airlines had flown to Wuhan Tianhe International Airport to bring the Nepalis back home.

The first round of samples was collected on February 16. All the evacuees had tested negative for coronavirus.

The Ministry of Health and Population has said surveillance would be strengthened in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan and Lumbini. “These cities are tourist hubs and there is high risk of infection. We are working on strengthening the surveillance system in these cities,” said Dr Bikash Devkota, spokesperson for the health ministry.

“Surveillance must be done properly if we are to prevent coronavirus transmission. Daily reporting from hospitals and updated record keeping are necessary,” said an official on the condition of anonymity.

The ministry today sent a team of doctors to Tatopani and Rasuwagadi borders as these areas didn’t have doctors.

After many complaints, the Ministry of Health and Population today provided three infrared thermometers to measure body temperature of people entering Nepal from Tribhuvan International Airport. There are now six infrared thermometers at TIA.

However, the thermal scanner at TIA, which stopped working a few weeks ago, has not been repaired. “Decisions have been taken to maintain and purchase three more thermal scanners. It will take a week’s time,” said Dr Devkota.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today formed a high level committee to prevent and control the spread of covid-19. A meeting held today formed the committee with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ishwor Pokhrel as co-ordinator.

The World Health Organisation said that some countries had not reported any case, but it didn’t mean those countries wouldn’t have cases of coronavirus.

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Mbappe masterclass fires PSG to 4-0 win over Dijon

Kylian Mbappe capped a brilliant individual performance by scoring twice and creating another for Mauro Icardi as leaders Paris St Germain cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Dijon in their Ligue 1 clash at the Parc des Princes on Saturday.

With Neymar and Marco Veratti suspended and Thiago Silva missing with injury, PSG got off to the perfect start when midfielder Pablo Sarabia steered a mis-hit shot from Marquinhos past Runar Runarsson in the third minute to give them the lead.

Mbappe added a second in the 74th minute, timing his run perfectly to collect Julian Draxler’s through ball before rounding Runarsson and slotting the ball through the arms of the diving goalkeeper.

He then set up Icardi for PSG’s third three minutes later, sliding a perfectly-weighted pass into the path of the Argentinian striker for him to fire the ball home.

The 21-year-old completed his attacking masterclass with a second goal in stoppage time at the end of the game, rifling the ball past the helpless Runarsson to complete the 4-0 rout.

The win took PSG to 68 points from 27 games and restored their lead at the top of the table to 13 following second-placed Olympique de Marseille’s 3-2 win over Nimes on Friday night. Dijon remain just above the relegation places with 27 points.

In the late kickoffs, Teji Savanier scored twice for Montpellier as they thumped Strasbourg 3-0 and Angers put some daylight between themselves and the relegation zone with a 1-0 win away to Brest.

Bottom side Toulouse slumped to a 2-0 defeat at home against Rennes while Amiens, who are second from bottom, lost 1-0 at home to Metz, with Farid Boulaya getting on the scoresheet for the visitors.

On the south coast, Monaco were held to a 1-1 draw with Reims when Wissam Ben Yedder’s first-half penalty for the home side was cancelled out by a 58th-minute equaliser from Hassane Kamara.

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Government to maintain high alert on coronavirus

Kathmandu, 1 March: After World Health Organisation enlisted Nepal among the high risk countries of coronavirus epidemic, the government has decided to remain on high alert.

A meeting of the ministers and senior officials and senior security personnel held on Saturday at Baluatar chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has constituted a high-level coordination committee under the convenorship of DPM and Defence Minister Ishwor Pokhrel.

Prime Minister Oli has given instruction to the committee to manage equipment and medical officers at the Tribhuvan International Airport and conducting compulsory medical test of all the passengers arrived from air route.

He has also asked the committee to manage necessary medical equipments and medicines to fight against coronavirus.

Oli has also instructed for conducting medical test to those arriving Nepal in border points via land route.

People’s News Monitoring Service