Nepal to rebuild Kathmandu’s historic Dharahara tower

KATHMANDU: Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Thursday laid the foundation stone for the reconstruction of the historic Dharahara tower situated in the heart of Kathmandu which was destroyed during the 2015 earthquake. A joint venture of Chinese company GIETC and a local firm has won the contract to rebuild the new 22-storeyed structure at a cost of NRs 3.48 billion. The nine-storeyed 62-metre-tall white tower was built by Nepal’s first PM Bhemsen Thapa in 1825. The tower would include a mini theatre hall, a museum, musical fountain, food court, stone water spouts, souvenir shops and parking facilities. PTI

American adventurer completes solo trek across Antarctica

Washington: An American adventurer has become the first person to complete a solo trek across Antarctica without assistance of any kind. Colin O’Brady, 33, took 54 days to complete the nearly 1,600 km crossing of the frozen continent from coast to coast. In an Instagram post, he explained his journey ended upon crossing the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf: the point where Antarctica’s land mass ends. It lies at the head of Ross Sea, a deep bay of the Southern Ocean. “I accomplished my goal: to become the first person in history to traverse the continent of Antarctica coast to coast solo, unsupported and unaided,” O’Brady wrote in an Instagram post. AFP

Mock voting

Dhaka: A presiding officer takes the finger prints of a voter before he casts his vote on an electronic voting machine during a daylong mock voting test ahead of the 11th General Election, in Dhaka on Thursday. Reuters