Kathmandu, Jan 24: The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has arrested former managing director of Nepal Telecom, Sunil Paudel; and former executive director of Security Printing Centre, Bikal Paudel on the charge of corruption.
The anti-graft body arrested them in accusation of illegally stashing money in foreign banks, according to CIAA Spokesperson Narahari Ghimire.
The CIAA had already filed case against them for amassing property illegally. Moreover, they were found working as consultants in the international organizations even while serving in Nepal government.
The CIAA further shared that Bikal Paudel had acquired permanent work permission from the US. He was held on Wednesday so that he would not be able to destroy evidences and leave the country.
His arrest would help intensify investigation, Spokesperson Ghimire added.
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Janamat Party quits Madhes province government
Janakpurdham, Jan 24: Janamat Party withdrew its support and quit the Madhes province government.
Minister for Education and Culture and Minister for Labour and Transport who were participating in the government on behalf of the Janamat Party submitted resignation letters to Chief Minister Saroj Kumar Yadav.
Spokesperson of the Madhes province government and Minister for Home, Communications and Law Mohammad Samim informed that the ministers from the Janamat Party had collectively submitted their resignation to Chief Minister Yadav.
Earlier, Janamat Party’s parliamentary party leader and Minister for Education and Culture Mahesh Prasad Yadav had submitted a letter to the Madhes Province Chief Hari Shanker Mishra withdrawing its support to the government.
Yadav shared that the ministers from Janamat Party had resigned since the government after a year of its formation failed to perform effectively and did not allow atmosphere for the ministers of his party to function well.
The Janamat Party has 13 province assembly members in the Madhes.
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Budget crunch hits drinking water projects
Godavari (Kailali), Jan 24: The drinking water projects operated in Kailali have been hit hard due to budget crunch.
According to the Drinking Water and Sanitation Division Office, Dhangadhi, over two dozen drinking water projects that were initiated in Kailali since 2007 have been facing uncertainty due to budget crisis.
The office said the federal government has not allocated necessary budget for the completion of the project. Although some of the projects being run in Kailali have developed physical structures, installing pipes has not been completed due to lack of necessary budget.
It is said that the projects having physical infrastructure could not come into operation due to lack of budget.
Acting chief of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Division Office, Kailali, Ganesh Prasad Upadhyay, said over two dozen projects have been in limbo due to the government’s ignorance in allocating budget required for the completion of the project.
According to him, allocation of peanut budget annually for the projects worth Rs 100 million will take years to complete the projects.
According to the office data, drinking water projects in Tikapur, Gauriganga, Lamkichuha municipality, Dhangadhi sub-metropolis, Janaki, Joshipur, Kailari and Bardagoria rural municipalities of Kailali have not been completed for the last 15 years.
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Narayangadh-Butwal road section: Only 50 percent progress with six months left for deadline to expire
Triveni (Nawalparasi), Jan 24: Only 45 percent of the works has been so far completed in Nawalparasi eastern section under the Narayangadh-Butwal road expansion project.
Over half of the project work is yet to be completed with about six months left for the deadline to expire, Road Expansion Project’s eastern section chief Ashish Thapa Magar said.
The Narayangadh-Butwal road expansion work had initiated in 2075 BS. Since then, the deadline has been extended twice. The second extension will expire in coming mid-July.
He further shared that 90 per cent of the work will believably be completed during the period. According to him, the construction company will be responsible for repair for five years even after the construction of the project, so the progress should be 90 percent by mid-July considering post-construction repair work as about 10 percent.
“Looking at the current physical progress, at least monthly seven percent progress has to be made to complete the road expansion work on time. However, the work progress is sluggish, Magar said. “We have been repeatedly instructing the contractor to speed up the work”, Magar added.
Stating that the manpower and machinery used at present are insufficient, he said that the China State Construction Engineering Corporation, the contractor, is being directed to complete the work within the stipulated time using adequate resources.
According to him, the pace at which the progress should have been achieved is low. The 113-km Narayangadh-Butwal section of the East-West Highway covers about 65 kilometres in the Middle East section.
A six-lane road will be constructed in the market area with service lanes, three in Daunne section and four lanes in other areas. So far, only 21 kilometers of two-lane road has been completed in the eastern section. About 125 kilometers of road has to be constructed after calculating the two-lane road except the part of the bridge. In this way, more than 100 kilometers of blacktopping is yet to be done. “The blacktopping of about 21 kilometers has been completed by calculating the one-way calculation,” the project chief said.
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‘Issues of landlessness and unmanaged settlement should be brought to conclusion’
Nepalgunj, Jan 24: Lawmaker Chhabilal Biswokarma stressed the need to bring the problems of landless, unmanaged settlers and Dalits to a conclusion without any delay.
Talking to RSS, he said, “We are now in the parliamentary system envisioned by the Constitution but our practice does not align the spirit of the constitution”.
Adequate attention has to be given for the implementation of the constitution, he said, highlighting the need of developing wider understanding among the political parties.
It is the government responsibility to effectively run the federal parliament – the sovereign representative institution, he said, adding, “Parliamentary business is affected in lack of enabling environment”.
He also called for placing a system to see whether or not the parliamentary committees’ directives are being implemented. Lawmaker Biswokarma viewed that deliberations on the bill should be focused for quality law-making. Biswokarma is also the secretary of the main opposition party, CPN (UML).
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This year’s SEE exams to be based on Letter Grading Directive 2078
Bhaktapur, Jan 24: The National Examinations Board this year has decided to conduct the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) and public its results in accordance with the Letter Grading Directive 2078 BS.
The Board has scheduled the SEE for the year 2080 BS from upcoming March 28 to April 9.
Board Chair Dr Mahashram Sharma said the grade ten students this year will be sitting for the SEE as per the new curriculum and results will be published being based on the Letter Grading Directives 2078 BS.
As per the new system, each SEE student is required to obtain 35 in theory in 100 full marks subject to be qualified for pursuing higher studies. Any student failing to secure above 35 in theory will not be eligible for getting enrolled in class 11 and will find the result under the Non-Graded category.
In such situation, the chance exams for two subjects will be allowed for three times.
A total of 489,000 students, both regular and towards grade improvement, will be appearing the SEE, according Nandalal Paudel, SEE Examinations Controller.
Grading system has been already implemented in the exams of grade 11 and 12. The Board has intensified the preparations for the SEE.
The printing of question papers, preparations of other logistics and fixations for examination centers are the parts of the preparations, it is said.
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Two girls injured in bear attack
Achham, Jan 24: Two girls were injured when a bear attacked them at Ramaroshan rural municipality -5 in Achham district.
Nineteen-year-old Parbati Shah and Kiran Shah, 20, were attacked by the wild animal when collecting fodder for animals at local Salimkot community forest, said the District Police Office Chief, Deputy Superintendent Santosh Pathak.
According to him, both girls have injuries in several parts of the body and deep laceration in the head. Kiran is in an unconscious condition while Parbati is in moderate health.
DSP Pathak said preparation has been made for airlifting the two injured girls and sending them to hospital in next district for advanced treatment.
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Bharatpur Visit Year to be launched on March 1
Chitwan, Jan 24: The Bharatpur Metropolitan City (BMC) is going to inaugurate Bharatpur Visit Year on March 1.
The meeting of the executive of the Metropolis decided to launch the tourism promotion campaign in presence of the Prime Minister, former Prime Ministers, ministers, dignitaries and over 50,000 other people.
The Metropolis had decided to observe visit year towards the beginning of January but citing the lack of preparation, the inaugural got deferred to March 1, according to the Metropolis.
Dr Bishwa Subedi, tourism advisor of the BMC, said the inaugural would see presence of persons involved in the tourism sector from federal, province and local levels. To ensure local residents’ attendance in the inaugural, the ward chairpersons of all 29 wards in the Metropolis would be assigned for the same.
Rallies and cultural processions involving elephants would be staged from every ward that would eventually assemble in the Narayani River side.
There are seven major tourist destinations in Bharatpur and 21 additional ones publicized for the Bharatpur Visit Year. A 2,024-member Main Organizing Committee has been formed, coordinated by BMC Mayor Renu Dahal to make the Bharatpur Visit Year a success.
The campaign is estimated to cost 60 million. Over 200,000 external and 500,000 domestic tourists are expected to visit Chitwan district during the Bharatpur Visit Year.
On the eve of the inaugural, local artistes will perform in the cultural programme in the Narayani river bank, it was shred.
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CIAA nabs three for alleged bribery
Patan, Jan 24: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has apprehended three individuals, including Rambir Yadav, the survey supervisor at the Survey Office, Lalitpur on charges of bribery.
Acting on a tip-off regarding their alleged demand for a bribe from a service seeker seeking a land certificate after demarcation, the CIAA conducted the operation. In addition to Yadav, para-legal service providers Dinesh Banjara and Binod Adhikari were also taken into custody from the office premises. The arrests were carried out on Tuesday, as confirmed by CIAA Spokesperson Narahari Ghimire.
It has been reported that the CIAA seized an amount of Rs 250,000, suspected to be the bribe, from them. The arrestees are under investigation.
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Martyrs Week kicks off
Kathmandu, Jan 24: Martyrs Week celebrations have been kicked off from today in memory of those martyrs who died during various political movements in the country.
In this connection, a programme was held at the memorial to Sukraraj Shashtri at Pachali of Teku in Kathmandu where Shastri was executed by hanging from a tree during the then Rana regime for his fight for democracy.
Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Sunita Dangol offered a garland and laid wreaths on the statue of Shashtri on the occasion.
Dangol said that Shastri, who was interested in literature along with political movement, had made unforgettable contributions for liberty of people.
Recalling many people had sacrificed their lives for political freedom from the Rana autocracy, she said many people attained martyrdom in political movements while striving for democracy.
Martyrs’ Day is observed on the 16th of Magh every year in Nepal in commemoration of martyrs Shukraraj Shastri, Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Dashrath Chand and Ganga Lal Shestha who were executed by the Rana rulers on different dates in the month of Magh in 1997 BS for rebelling against the autocratic Rana oligarchy.
Various programmes including memorial assemblies are organized weeklong to pay tributes to the freedom fighters.
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‘Institutional, human resources restructuring is necessary for IT development’
Kathmandu, Jan 24: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, has said institutional and human resources restructuring is necessary for the development of information and technology in every sector of the country.
Minister Sharma expressed this in a discussions programme on the targeted programmes of the Ministry and the subordinate bodies to be incorporated in the forthcoming 16th Five-Year Plan, held at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology today.
She stressed on the said restructuring to prepare the skilled human resources and efficient bodies also for the implementation of the Digital Nepal Framework.
Minister Sharma urged one and all to work towards capacity enhancement through the institutional restructuring of the bodies under the ministry and the human resources in the media.
On the occasion, she also pointed out the need of establishing an Information Technology Authority or a similar institutional entity, as the information and technology is an inevitable and emerging topic in every sector in the present age.
Stating that success cannot be achieved only through the lone efforts of the Ministry, Minister Sharma called on the leadership of the bodies under the ministry to also work with enthusiasm to that end.
Secretary at the Ministry, Ram Krishna Subedi maintained that since the 16th Plan is a guideline for the next five years for transformation of the country, the bodies under the ministry should make sure that no salient topic is missed out in the Plan.
He expressed commitment for support on behalf the Ministry for resolving any issue in the context of incorporating the targeted programmes in the Plan.
High officials of the Ministry and the chiefs and office-bearers of the subordinate bodies were present in the programme.
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Province government to be authorized to print driving license card
Kathmandu, Jan 24: Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prakash Jwala, has said preparations are being made to devolve the authority of printing driving license smart cards to the province governments.
Addressing the training programme organised by the CPN (Unified Centre), Central School Department here today, Minister Jwala shared that the right to print the driving license is being given to the provinces for providing services to the people in a smooth manner.
According to him, the application for the driving license and the payment for the same can be made online. “We have held consultations on this matter with the province government ministers and secretaries concerned some days back. The driving license distribution and related services should be now done at the province level. That meeting had come to this conclusion,” he said.
The Transport Minister stated that the Ministry is actively involved in the homework for making this service more effective and reliable. He added that the Ministry has carried out some good works despite of the limitations. “We have made arrangements for making online application and payment. We have exposed the irregularities in the driving license and some 29,000 fake licenses have been revoked. Nearly 100,000 fake licenses which are already printed are in the process of annulment,” he added.
Minister Jwala vowed to carry out further investigation and to punish those involved in this scam.
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Immigration Department issues new travel advisory for visit-visa
Kathmandu, Jan 24: The Department of Immigration, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has recently issued a 13-point travel advisory along with a six-point procedure for individuals travelling abroad on visit and tourist visas. The issuance of the travel advisory was prompted by increasing reports of Nepali citizens falling prey to fraudulent activities while traveling on visit visas.
According to the Director and Information Officer of the Department, Prem Prasad Dahal, the newly introduced advisory and procedures are effective from today. The advisory explicitly states that seeking employment abroad while holding a visit or tourist visa is illegal. Engaging in such activities may lead to legal repercussions in the host country and cause various complications.
The advisory also clarifies that individuals are personally accountable for any consequences resulting from the submission of forged documents, providing false information, visiting a country not permitted by the visa, entering conflict zones, or joining foreign armed or military forces while abroad on a tourist or visit visa.
Likewise, the department has issued a cautionary note regarding the susceptibility of women to be tempted by intermediaries into traveling to labor destination countries such as Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain on visit visa, persuading them to convert their visas into working ones, charging exorbitant fees and coercing them into precarious and indent labor conditions in collaboration with employers.
The Department has urged one and all to not pursue a foreign travel on the visit visa with the aim of working as it may push once into unorganized and precarious jobs, depriving of social security. It has encouraged citizens to seek a foreign job on just a working visa after obtaining a labour permit from the government.
Those Nepalis going to various countries on these visas have been urged to return to home country within the visa expiry date in other circumstances except for unusual conditions, as some Nepali travelers going to several countries on visit and tourist visa are found not returning on the stipulated date.
They have been asked to depart for foreign countries by making a self-declaration that they will return back home on the stipulated date since the person concerned would be responsible for any situation resulting from overstaying the visa. They have also been urged to set out on the visit after keeping general information regarding the language, culture and laws of the destination country.
“You might land in trouble if you work illegally in a foreign country going there after enrolling in a university listed with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, but not studying in the university. Adopt additional precaution if you are visiting with the intention of enrolling in foreign university and working there through various middlepersons even when carrying study visa in the recent days, as study and work are separate matters,” reads the travel advisory.
Those carrying visit and tourist visas have been requested to travel only via Nepal’s airports, to do so only by taking the NOC Letter and, in the case of women, to adopt additional precaution and alert while travelling to third countries through airports in India.
People have been urged to ask for the authentic papers of the licensed institution before making the payment if any institution has sought money with the assurance of sending them to foreign country by taking labour permit. Similarly, people are advised to not give money if any education consultancy, travel agency or any person has asked for money with the assurance of sending on foreign employment.
People have been urged to inform the Department of Foreign Employment or the nearest police station or dial Nepal Police at 100, if they suspect that they are being conned.
People have been urged to only pay the minimum amount fixed by the government to the licensed institution sending them on foreign employment and take the receipt of the same, and not to believe in false assurances as there is no provision for agent.
The travel advisory states that getting recruited in the army or armed groups of any country is completely illegal and against the national interest, except in the case of the Indian Army and the British Army by taking approval from the Government of Nepal. People have been urged to not be involved in such activities under any circumstances as it is difficult to also rescue the people carrying out in such acts.
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Nepali’s company to be listed in American stock exchange NASDAQ
Washington DC, Jan 24: The Fusemachines Inc, a company set up by an entrepreneur of Nepali origin, Dr Sameer Maskey, is set to be listed in the US Stock Exchange-NASDAQ.
The company recently entered into a definitive agreement for merger with CSLM Acquisition Corp, paving the path for the AI solutions provider enterprise to debut in the prestigious stock exchange NASDAQ.
Following the merger, the company’s equity valuation is estimated to be worth USD 200 million, according to Dr Maskey, CEO of the Company.
It will be publicly traded company on the NASDAQ under the name ‘Fuse’, said Dr Maskey, adding that deal for business combination with the CSLM Acquisition Corp is expected to be carried out at the end of second quarter of fiscal year 2024.
The board members of the both companies have already approved the deal and it will be listed on NASDAQ following approval of stakeholders and fulfilling legal process.
Dr Maskey, who is also an Associate Professor at the Columbia University, established Fusemachines in 2013. Headquartered in New York of the USA, his company is currently operating across Nepal, Canada and USA.
Of the total 450 employees working in the Fusemachines, 350 were Nepal and they were mostly outsourcing from Nepal, he said.
Talking to RSS, he said, “It is a significant milestone for the company to be listed in the NASDAQ and become a publicly traded company. I am confident that the company after partnership with the CSLM would make a leap in the sector of Artificial Intelligence in future.”
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PM Dahal assures of graduation of universities
Kathmandu, Jan 24: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said the government is committed to promoting the standard of universities.
In his meeting with experts from the education sector at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar today, the Prime Minister said the government is going to select vice-chancellors for universities through an open competition so as to prevent the universities from being used as a venue for political sharing.
“Best brain should focus on building the nation. Universities should not be used as the means of serving political interests. A break through is ahead in the custom of selecting its officials and the support and cooperation of intellectual communities are expected from the intellectual community,” the Prime Minister said.
As he assured, universities will see a graduation in a way that they could exist as competitive academic institutions of international standard.
He took time to say that since assuming his office, he was effortful to deliver in favour of good governance, social justice and prosperity for a bright and prosperous Nepal. “It is the responsibility of the State to assure its citizens that a future is possible within the country and the role of intellectual community is vital to this regard.”
The Prime Minister said, “All governments, political parties and people are responsible for contributing to the building of the nation. The country needs transformation in political, economic, social, cultural and education sectors and the State is primarily responsible for addressing these needs.”
Dr Kedar Bhakta Mathema, Dr Pitambar Sharma, Dr Bidyanath Koirala, Dr Chaitanya Mishra and Prof Krishna Khanal were among those present in the meeting with the Prime Minister. They advised the Prime Minister to initiate efforts for restructuring of the education sector.
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Over Rs 280 million collected in PMDRF
Kathmandu, Jan 24: Over Rs 280 million has been collected in the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund (PMDRF) for the support of the quake survivors in Karnali Province.
An earthquake of 6.4 magnitude had jolted Jajarkot and its surrounding districts on November 3, 2023 leaving scores of casualties and fatalities.
As per the latest details unveiled by the Fund, it has collected over Rs 280 million from various social organizations and individuals who had pledged support for the post-quake rescue, search and rehabilitation, and relief distribution operation to the survivors of the quake.
The government had urged individuals and agencies to contribute for the cause through one-door system. Agencies and individuals can deposit relief in the Fund through account numbers in nine commercial banks.
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President summons parliament session for Feb 5
Kathmandu, Jan 24 : President Ramchandra Paudel has summoned the joint session of the both Houses of the federal parliament for February 5 at the federal parliament building, New Baneshwor.
President Paudel called for the session of the both Houses at 4:00 pm on February 5 at the recommendation of the Council of Ministers in accordance with Article 93 (1) of the Constitution. Information to this was shared by President’s Office on Wednesday.
The Cabinet on Tuesday had recommended the President for the call of parliament session.
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Litterateur Bhattarai comes up with fiction, ’28 Sal’
Kathmandu, Jan 24: A novel- ’28 Sal’-penned by litterateur Kumar Bhattarai has been released here Wednesday. The fiction is based on the ‘Jhapa revolt’ launched by the communists in protest of the Panchyat regime.
The book which incorporates experiences of leaders and characters involved in ‘Jhapa revolt’ was released by one of the witnesses, Thulo Durga Adhikari, noted journalist Purushottam Dahal and writer Bhattarai. The book has focused 35 characters of Jhapa movement. It is published by Sangri-La Books.
Stating that democratic republic was established in the country in the foundation of struggle and sacrifice of that time, Thulo Durga Adhikari mentioned that they were ready to share their experiences and story of Jhapa revolt for the welfare of the country and the people.
Similarly, noted journalist Dahal reminded that communists and Congress had launched agitation at different phases against Rana regime and Panchyat, among which, Jhapa revolt is a significant one.
The fiction would help readers enrich understanding on the Jhapa revolt, he stated.
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UN Under Secretary-General pays courtesy call on CoAS Sharma
Kathmandu, Jan 24 : UN Under Secretary-General of Disarmament, Izumi Nakamitsu, paid a courtesy call on Chief of Army Staff, Prabhu Ram Sharma.
During the meeting held at the office of the CoAS, they discussed the issues of mutual welfare, including contribution of the Nepali Army to establishment of world peace, according to the NA Directorate of Public Relations and Information.
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NA Election: EC urges for fair election
Kathmandu, Jan 24 : The Election Commission has urged all sides concerned to help conduct the National Assembly (NA) election in a free and fair atmosphere.
The election to the members of NA is being held on Thursday (Jan 25). All preparations are over for the elections, EC said, adding that the silent period was in effect from Tuesday midnight. It is the time prohibiting electoral publicity.
The time for voting is slated from 9:00 am to 3:00pm at the respective polling centres in provinces. The Province Assembly members, chairs and vice chairs of rural municipalities, and mayors and deputy mayors of municipalities are the voters.
EC Spokesperson Shaligram Sharma informed that the publicity campaigns as discussions, interactions, assemblies and workshops were banned during the silent period. The officials of political parties, candidates, sister organizations of the parties are urged to abide by election code of conduct.
For the Province Assembly members, the EC has managed ballot papers with green election symbols printed on white paper, while for mayors, deputy mayors, chairs and vice chairs, there are red election symbols printed on white paper.
The EC has directed the voters to exercise their rights to voting being present with any identity card determined by the EC. The NA election is taking place tomorrow for 19 seats that are going to be vacant from March 4. The weightage of vote from Province Assembly members is 53 while 19 of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the rural municipalities and mayors and deputy mayors of municipalities. There are 2,047 voters for NA election.
Meanwhile, the EC on Wednesday asked the Chief District Officer of Morang district to submit a report within 24 hours after it received the information that some of the political parties carried out election publicity in Biratnagar during silence period that violated the election code of conduct.
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Cabinet meeting decides to form panel to probe NRNA disputes
Kathmandu, Jan 24 : The government has formed a panel under the leadership of Joint-Attorney General Dhruba Kumar Chauhan to probe into the elections and other issues relating to the International Coordination Council of Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA).
A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Tuesday formed the committee comprising Chauhan as the coordinator and a Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a Senior Superintendent of Police and an Under Secretary (Accounts) of the government as the members, Government Spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma said.
Likewise, the cabinet meeting formed a three-member team to recommend whether or not a new institution was needed to run the stock market. Former Deputy Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Chintamani Siwakoti would lead the study team.
The government has also formed a talks team to finalize the draft on concessional loan of Rs 31.02 billion to be received from the government of Japan for the Koteshwor Intersection Project.
Similarly, Dr Asim Bhandari of Chhatrakot Rural Municipality-1 in Gulmi district was appointed the coordinator of National Anti-Doping Agency. The cabinet meeting has decided to provide 1,780 cube feet wood to Guthi Corporation for the maintenance of chariots (Rath) of Rato Machhindranath, Seto Machhindranath and Bisket Jatra, and to waive off the royalty of the forest produce.
As decided, the cabinet meeting has given approval to the Ministry of Forest and Environment to work as a national agency for carbon trading to be done under the clause 6 of the Paris Agreement. According to Minister Sharma, the government approved the resignation tendered by Nepal’s Honorary Consul General to New South Wales State of Australia, Deepak Kumar Khadka, effective from October 10, 2023.
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Alliance needed as single party unlikely to obtain majority, Deuba says
Waling, Jan 24 : Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that his party forged alliance in forming the government as his party has not obtained majority given the provisions of the constitution.
Addressing the first district conference of NC Syangja district committee on Tuesday in district headquartesr Putalibazar, the former Prime Minister argued that forming the alliance was not a choice but an obligation.
“A single political party is not likely to get majority also due to the proportional inclusive system stated in the constitution,” Deuba added.
We have an obligation to forge alliance with one or the other political party to manage majority, according to Deuba. On the occasion, Deuba instructed the party cadres to strengthen the party organization in Syangja by keeping the party’s revolutionary history in mind.
Similarly, Deuba said that the nation witnessed development only after the restoration of democracy and added that the country changes have occurred though they were not as per the people’s expectations.
Also speaking at the event, NC Vice President and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dhanraj Gurung asked the party cadres to unite the party and move forward.
NC leaders Shashank Koirala, Jeevan Pariyar, Govinda Bhattarai, Pradip Poudel, Sarswati Aryal Tiwari, Shukraraj Sharma and Raju Thapa, among others shared their views.
NC leader and Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey also shared his opinions on party building, it is said.
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PM Dahal intensifies result-oriented works
Kathmandu, Jan 24: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has intensified works from Singh Durbar as per his address to the nation.
During the address he made on the completion of a year in office, PM Dahal had committed to change work style, which he argued, would be result-oriented. In the last one month, PM Dahal did not attend public programmes except Saturday and holidays, but engrossed on the daily works from main administrative complex, Singha Durbar, according to PM’s personal secretary, Arjun Bhandari. PM Dahal spends most of the time at office.
“Every day, PM Dahal arrives at office at 10:00 am, and continues works for five to seven hours,” Bhandari said, adding that the PM was attentive on how country’s economy could be developed and public service delivery enhanced.
The PM has forwarded the activities as per the address he had. He regularly receives briefings from ministers, secretaries and chiefs of concerned bodies and facilities how the policy level hassles and hurdles could be wiped out.
Lately, the PM directed the concerned bodies to immediately provide driving licenses to 1.4 million service seekers. He also directed for effective monitoring of service delivery. As per PM’s direction, the Finance Ministry has released necessary amount to clear dues to contractors.
The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security was given a 16-point directive. After the PM directed not to enforce the costly agreement on workers opting for jobs abroad, those going to Malaysia for jobs have got financial relief.
Another significant commitment PM Dahal made is end of ‘bhagbanda’ (political share) in university appointments, as per which the oldest university, TU, has made a vacancy announcement for open competition in the post of Vice Chancellor. Similarly, the university students will receive certificates online after some time.
Dialogue, discussion and interactions with concerned secretaries have been intensified by the PM so that they would be active to solve people’s problems.
PM Dahal has directed the Ministry of Physical Infrastructures and Transport to sort out problems on Muglin-Pokhara and Narayangadh-Butwal roadways. Secretary at Office of the PM and Council of Ministers, Eknarayan Aryal, informed, “Monitoring and regulation of works as per PM’s direction was going on.”
The government has been able to secure increase in commitment of foreign direct investment (FDI) by 69.29 percent in the first six months of the current fiscal year.
Moreover, the government has prepared the drafts of 109 bills to be presented in the winter session. The Ministry of Law is for forwarding at least 35 bills to the coming bill session of the federal parliament.
The PM’s attention is on forwarding ‘game changer’ projects and the national pride projects, said PM’s press advisor, Govinda Acharya. As per PM’s direction, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation held discussion with chiefs of government-owned financial institutions, chiefs of the different organisations including Nepal Telecom about the investment model of 1200-MW hydropower project.
Meanwhile, PM Dahal participated in the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Kampala, Uganda and addressed the summit. He informed the world that Nepal would complete the remaining task of the peace process.
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‘More investment in unproductive sector posed challenges in economy’
Kathmandu, Jan 24: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has said that more investment in unproductive sectors including the real estate and share market created challenges in the country’s economy.
Addressing a programme organized here to mark the 59th anniversary of Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB) on Tuesday, the Finance Minister said now our focus should be on productive and lucrative sectors.
He, however, said that the indicators of the economy have gradually become positive and the morale of the investors is also upped. “The investment from the banks in the past was not made in the right place. Massive financing was done in share market and real estate. Those taking loans that time are in trouble now,” Dr Mahat added.
The Finance Minister urged the banks and financial institutions to provide loans to the needy ones by accepting their projects as collateral instead of giving loans by evaluating home and land plots.
Dr Mahat said that the RBB could not progress as expected for being a state-owned bank. “This is not the bank’s true status. It could not emerge as the nation’s no. 1 bank for being the state-owned. It did not happen due to the bank’s management and officials,” he argued.
Governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank Maha Prasad Adhikari said that country’s economy has witnessed a good progress adding that there has been improvement in the external factor and there are no issues in the bank and financial institutions except some challenges in loan recovery.
Likewise, CEO of RBB Kiran Kumar Shrestha said the bank would become more competitive in future by investing in the priority sectors. The state-owned RBB has more than Rs 15.63 billion of issued and paid up capital until the last fiscal year. The bank’s capital fund is Rs 50.74 billion and the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio is 3.77 per cent in the last fiscal year. The number of bank’s depositors are 4.14 million plus.
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ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup: Pakistan defeats Nepal by five wickets
Kathmandu, Jan 24: Nepal lost its second match of Group ‘D’ under ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup. Pakistan defeated Nepal by five wickets in the match held on Wednesday at Cricket Ground of East London, South Africa.
With the victory, Pakistan entered the Super six from Group ‘D’. Choosing to bat first after winning the toss, Nepal posted a target of 198 runs before Pakistan. Pakistan chased the target in 47.4 overs losing five wickets.
Nepal had made 197 runs losing all wickets in the determined 50 overs match. Bipin Rawal had contributed the highest 39 runs for Nepal. Similarly, Deepak Dumre made 26 runs while Captain Dev Khanal 23 runs, Gulshan Jha 18 runs, Subas Bhandari 20 runs, Akash Chand 16, Deepak Kandel 13 runs and Arjun Kumal and Akash Tripathi six runs each.
Similarly, Arafat Minhas of Pakistan took three wickets, Ubaid Shah and Ahmed Hussain two wickets each and Ali Asfand, Khubaib Khalil and Mohammad Zeeshan one wicket each.
Nepal would play its last match of Group ‘D’ against Afghanistan on Friday.
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