Category: General

Kathmandu: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said the political deadlock would end soon. At a book launch programme organised at CPN (Maoist Centre) headquarters in Parisdanda today, Prime Minister Dahal expressed the belief that the current obstacles would fizzle out through the discussion and dialogues. "Discussions were underway among the main opposition party and the power sharing parties. The parliament deadlock would therefore end by next day", he reminded. Sharing that he has made preparation to take vote of confidence on May 20, the PM said he was confident that he would get vote of confidence from the parliament. "There is no doubt that I will get the vote of confidence", he mentioned. People's aspirations would be addressed through coming budget, assured the PM, according to the Prime Minister's Private Secretariat. The Prime Minister added, "The government is focused on endorsing the policies and programmes and preparing budget as envisioned by the constitution." Pointing out the need of taking ahead the communist movement in an integrated manner, he underlined that communists should stand together to forward socialist revolution and a positive environment was created for the same. On the occasion, Prime Minister Dahal unveiled 'Nepali Communist Movement and Historical Documents of People's Revolution-II' published by CPN (Maoist Centre) Karnali Province Committee, the 'Letter of People's Revolution' penned by Astha KC and 'Kalikot', a souvenir. Source: National News Agency RSS

Indian eminent film actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, in her second appearance at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, once again opted for a gown by designer duo Falguni Shane Peacock. Aishwarya wore a shimmery blue and silver gown as she walked the red carpet on Friday for the screening of acclaimed filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos' latest feature "Kinds of Kindness", starring two-time Oscar winner Emma Stone. The outfit boasted a sweeping trail and bold, dramatic shoulders, featuring metallic fringe. The actress had a cast on her right hand that she has been wearing for an unspecified injury. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Top leaders of different political parties held discussion on how they could sort out problems that are obstructing parliament. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' held meetings with the leaders including President of major opposition Nepali Congress, Sher Bahadur Deuba, this morning. PM Dahal is scheduled to hold separate meetings with Speaker of House of Representatives, Devraj Ghimire, and Chairman of CPN UML, KP Sharma Oli, among others this afternoon. Following the meeting between PM Dahal and NC President Deuba, NC Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak, informed that PM Dahal was positive to sort out problems and forge consensus so that parliamentary impasse could be cleared. As the constitutionally stipulated date of Jestha 15 (May 28), the deadline to present annual budget is approaching near, the political parties representing in the parliament are under pressure to pass the government policies and programmes and prepare for the budget announcement for next fiscal year. The major opposit ion Nepali Congress has been obstructing both Houses of federal of parliament, demanding a parliamentary probe committee on the embezzlement of cooperatives' fund. The next meeting of the House of Representatives is scheduled for May 19. The House of Representatives is yet to extend thanks to President Ram Chandra Paudel for presenting government policies and programmes. Source: National News Agency RSS

The Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) has arrested eight members of a 'Kishor gang' involved in mugging, extortion and different types of harassment at different areas of the city here last night. Khulshi Thana police arrested them along with their gang leader Helal Badsha Chowdhury, who is an accused in several cases in different area in the city. Police also recovered a country-made Light Gun (LG) and two cartridges from their possessions. The arrestees are: gang leader Helal Badsha Chowdhury, 25, his accomplices Md. Rakib Hossain, 22, Md. Kawser, 22, Md. Mehraj Sami, 21, Sheikh Sadi Hasan, 20, Md. Sagar Hossain, 27, Saiful Islam Shanto, 26 and Abdur Rahman, 21. The police officials said they came to know about the gang while investigating a mugging incident in Nasirabad. Police said at least 10 to 15 unidentified people; including Kishor gang leader Helal Badsha Chowdhury attacked the Nasirabad Government Boys High School under Khulshi thana in the city on May 17. A local resident Arif was made h ostage there at gunpoint. Later, they abducted him and taken to the adjoining Bata Goli. At the same time, the Kishor gang members snatched four mobile phones of different models and motorcycle from him. The Kishor gang beat up Arif with iron rode, hammers and seriously injured Arif as he refused to hand over his mobile phone to them. Meanwhile, the victim said the kidnappers also demanded Tk one lakh as ransom from Arif. Based on the information given by Helal Badsha Chowdhury, a country-made LG and two cartridges were recovered from the vacant plot of Mr Taher at Batagoli of Khulshi police station of the city. Two cases were lodged for kidnapping and Arms Act with Khulshi thana against the arrested persons. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

As many as 247 eggs of the Gharial crocodiles have been collected from Rapti river bank to protect them from being damaged, the Chitwan National Park (CNP) officials shared. The crocodile breeding center of the CNP every year collects crocodile eggs from the places where they are deemed unsafe. Information Officer of the CNP, Ganesh Prasad Tiwari, said the crocodile eggs were collected from eight locations where they were unsafe from elephants and other wildlife, and human activities. He said that the eggs located in the safe nests were left to hatch naturally. Likewise, those collected eggs have been kept at Kasara, the headquarters of the CNP, for hatching. A total of 20 others have been kept in incubators maintaining 32 degree Celsius temperature while others have been kept in the sand keeping their natural milieu. The eggs are collected from places where they are at risk of being washed away by the flooded rivers, where there is much human movement and where there is risk of the rare animals such as rhinos causing damage. According to the CNP, the eggs are expected to hatch by this month. Source: National News Agency RSS

A media conference has begun at Surunga of Kankai municipality in Jhapa district to hold discussion on communications policy. Jhapa chapter of the Federation of Nepali Journalists organised the event. Minister for Internal Affairs and Planning of Koshi Province, Ram Rana, inaugurated the conference. Most of the journalists of Koshi Province as well as Executive Chairperson of the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), Dharmendra Jha, senior vice-president of FNJ, Ramesh Bista, Chairperson of Advertisement Board, Laxman Humagain, Director of the Department of Information and Broadcasting, Bharat Gautam, and former president of FNJ, Shiva Gaule, have been participating in the conference. Similarly, FNJ presidents and representatives of 14 districts in Koshi Province are attending the conference. President of FNJ, Jhapa, Ekraj Giri, said discussion would be held on communication policy in federalism, opportunity and challenge of 'digital journalism', journalism and advertisement during the conference. Source: Na tional News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) President Bipul Pokharel said the election of the umbrella organization of journalists would be held in the designated time. In his address to the fourth general assembly of FNJ Corporate Province Committee held today at RSS central office, President Pokharel asserted that FMJ's election would be held on coming June 8. He shared the information that the election committee has started its works for timely election. It may be noted that the 27th national convention of FNJ held on last May 3-4 had set the dates for electing its new leaderships at the central, provincial and district levels. Also speaking on the occasion, FNJ's former presidents and other speakers insisted new generation to work for making journalism sector professional, independent and responsible. They lambasted the tendency of seeking posts in the FNJ on political proximity. Former Presidents, including Harihar Birahi, Bishnu Nishthuri, Dr Suresh Acharya and Dr mahendra Bista urged to deve lop FNJ as a common and professional umbrella organization of working journalists. FNJ Corporate Committee President Balkrishna Adhikari shared that the general assembly has endorsed the organizational and economic reports along with a declaration calling for cleansing overall journalism. Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR), Devraj Ghimire inaugurated the general assembly of FNJ Associate Province Committee. Source: National News Agency RSS

A daylong workshop on implementation of blended education method was held at Rajshahi University (RU) here today for formulating a master plan in this regard. In the opening session, RU Vice-chancellor-in-Charge Prof Sultan-Ul-Islam welcomed the participants with Member of Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof Hasina Khan in the chair at Senate Bhaban of the university. They told the meeting that the blended learning program under this method involve the creation of different groups and stations for various activities and lessons. For instance, for one group, it may be a discussion, for another an online demonstration, while for others, it may be a face-to-face instruction. In the technical session, Prof Mohaimin As-Sakib from Information Technology Institute in Dhaka University talked about the aspects of formulating a master plan related to blend learning policy at national level during his keynote presentation on blended learning master plan in the higher education. Chief Executive Offic er of Bangladesh Research Network Muhammad Tourit discussed the issue while presenting his keynote paper titled "Blended Learning Roadmap: Cost Modelling and Estimation". Taking part in group-works, either vice-chancellors or their representatives from 10 public and 10 private universities put forward a set of recommendations on how to formulate a master plan accurately. Discussions were held based on the information and data received from the group works in the third phase of the workshop elaborately. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

The chairs of various thematic committees under the Bagmati Provincial Assembly are being selected today. The names for the committee chairs will be tabled for approval at the meeting of the Provincial Assembly. Speaker Bhuvan Kumar Pathak has summoned the meeting for 11:00 am today. NC's Sriram Lamichhane and Tshering Dorje Lama have filed nominations for Chairperson of Public Accounts Committee and Provincial Affairs Committee respectively. Likewise, CPN (MC)'s Thakur Prasad Dhakal has filed nomination for the post of Agriculture, Education and Health Committee Chair while RPP's Nuraj Bajracharya has filed nomination for the post of Chair of Finance and Development Committee, according to Provincial Assembly Secretariat. No nomination papers were filed for the post of Industry, Tourism and Environment Committee. The parties have reportedly agreed to award the position to the CPN-UML. Source: National News Agency RSS

The District Police Office, Jhapa has arrested 372 drug peddlers in the past ten months. This also includes drug abusers, who were arrested from various parts of the district. Of those arrested, 22 are foreign nationals including four women. During the period, the police filed 240 cases related to drugs in the district court, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Krishna Bahadur Chand. Meanwhile, the police have been organising awareness raising programmes to combat illegal drugs. However, the open border with India touching West Bengal and Bihar states has made it challenging for the police to ensure effective control. Considering the increasing number of drug users in the district, the District Police Office, Jhapa has recently implemented the 'mothers for control of drug abuse', said Superintendent of Police, Milan KC. This programme has been implemented in all the 15 municipalities in the district. The concerned local levels have collaborated in this door-to-door programme, adds SP KC. Source: National News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: The government is set to promote and facilitate investment for startups enterprises. The 'National Startups Policy, 2080' adopted and enforced by the meeting of the Council of Ministers held on May 2 has specified arrangements to provide waiver and facilities, facilitate investment, ease policy and legal provisions and assure commercial safety. "Exemption has been made on the costs involved in the registration of enterprises, renewal and registration of industrial properties. Facility and concession will be provided to the entrepreneurs on seed money, human resource development, consultancy and technical assistance, concessional loan and cash incentives on exports", the policy stated. An arrangement has been made to waive income tax up to 10 years after the establishment of startup enterprises, according to the policy. Necessary arrangement will be made to provide loan on concessional interest rates from banks and financial institutions, it is stated. Banks and financial institutions shall be o bliged to invest certain percent of the loan flow to startup enterprises. A separate fund will be instituted to promote new thoughts and innovative enterprises and subsidy will also be provided on the loan to be provided by the banks and financial institutions for startups and innovations, the policy noted. Source: National News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: Nepal Police has decided to recommend four Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to be promoted to the post of Deputy Inspector General. The SSPs recommended to be promoted as DIGs are Krishna Hari Sharma, Dan Bahadur Karki, Dr Manoj Kumar KC and Rajan Adhikari. The meeting of the Home Ministry's Promotion Committee on Friday decided to recommend them for the promotion. The recommendation was made in accordance with Rule 27 (4) of the Police Regulations, 2071 B.S., according to the Ministry. Source: National News Agency RSS