Big Ben restoration in running for top architecture prize
London, Sep 4: The 166-year-old Big Ben clocktower in London has been nominated for Britain’s leading architecture award.
The five-year refurbishment, which lasted from 2022 to 2022, is considered a “masterclass in conservation and craftsmanship” and preserves a “defining symbol of British heritage.”
The 96-metre structure, also known as the Elizabeth Tower, houses the giant bell, Big Ben, which has been sounded since 1859.
The original cost estimate of 29 million pounds (USD 39 million) more than doubled, but the renovation has been widely praised.
The restoration involved repairing the corroded cast-iron roof and damaged stonework, returning the clock to its original blue and gold colour scheme, and installing an elevator as an alternative to the 334 steps up to the belfry.
The Stirling Prize, organized by the Royal Institute of British Architects, usually goes to a new building, but this year’s contenders include AstraZeneca’s Discovery Centre in Cambridge, the London College of Fashion in east London, and three housing developments. (AP)
Nepal bans Facebook, other social media platforms
KATHMANDU, Sep 4: Nepal has banned social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for failing to register with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology within the seven-day deadline.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Minister of Communications and IT Prithvi Subba Gurung.
The ban will come into effect from Thursday midnight and will affect millions of Nepalese living abroad, earning, or learning.
The ban on Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp will impact communication with family and friends at home, as more than seven million youth are staying outside Nepal for higher studies or employment.
The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) has raised objections to the ban, arguing that it restricts freedom of expression, press freedom, and the right to information guaranteed by the constitution. (PTI)
