8 july, kathmandu- The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall in most parts of the country for the next four days.
According to Department meteorologist Samir Shrestha, the low pressure system is moving towards Nepal from India. The system will prevail in Nepal over the next four-five days before moving back to the south, and during this period monsoon remains fully active, posing a threat of water-induced disasters.
Monsoon has been active since Saturday. Meteorologists have urged people to take precaution on the eve of the risk of disasters. Many parts in the country are likely to witness rainfall ranging from moderate to heavy following generally to mostly cloudy conditions.
Similarly, there is risk of a sudden increase in the flow of waters in the small rivers in the eastern region, rivers in far-west and Gandaki state and some Chure based small rivers, according to the Division. On Tuesday, most parts of the country are likely to get rainfall with generally to mostly cloudy weather throughout the country. The possibility remains for moderate to heavy rains on coming Wednesday as well. (RSS)
8 july, kathmandu- Minister for Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa has reaffirmed his commitment to ensure more reliable and credible security system in the country.
Responding to the queries raised by the parliamentarians in today’s meeting of the National Assembly where deliberation on Appropriation Bill-2076 BS took place, Minister Thapa shared that the government was effortful to bring the culprit of the Nirmala Rape and Murder case to justice.
Stating that government had raised facilities for the security forces to motivate them further, Thapa informed about allocating budget for imparting trainings for the inmates and engaging them in productive works.
The Minister confidently said that security agencies were cracking down on the organized crimes and other criminal activities.
According to him, the scheme for personality development for the employees in Ministry of Home Affairs and security agencies would be resumed. It was halted for a long time.
Informing about a campaign launched in collaboration of local communities to control use of narcotic drugs, he said that CCTV cameras would be installed in the bordering points to step up surveillance in the activities taking place in the bordering points. He also mentioned about government’s aim to complete the distribution of national identity card to all eligible citizens by two years. (RSS)
7 july, kathmandu- Three bills have been tabled in the House of Representatives today. Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Chakrapani Khanal, tabled the Plant Protection (first amendment) Bill, 2075, and Seed Bill, 2075, while Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation Bina Magar presented the Drinking Water and Sanitation Bill, 2075.
Similarly on behalf of the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Bhanubhakta Dhakal, presented the annual report of the National Information Commission in the meeting. The HoR will meet next on coming Monday. (RSS)
7 july, Nepalgunj- Minister for Urban Development Mohammed Ishtiyak Rai has warned that erring contractors undertaking constructing of physical infrastructures would be brought to book.
At an interaction programme organized by the Office of Urban Development and Building Construction under the Ministry here today, Minister Rai said that the government was aware about environment degradation while carrying on the projects of physical infrastructures.
“He who has committed mistakes in course of construction of roads and canals in Nepalgunj should correct his mistakes himself,” Minister warned. He shared that the Ministry would coordinate with the Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan city to plant 10,000 saplings in Nepalgunj.
Present in the interaction were representatives from the Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan city, office-bearers of political parties, construction entrepreneurs and stakeholders. (RSS)
7 july, damak- One person has died while another was injured in an incident of power leakage in Kamal rural municipality of Jhapa last night. The deceased is Nepal Electricity Authority staffer Prem Khatiwada,55, of ward no. 3 in same municipality.
According to the Area Police Office, Damak, Hikmat Budha, 49,also NEA staffer was seriously injured in the incident. They were renovating a transformer in front of the Kabeli Corridor Power House sub-station in ward no. 5 of the rural municipality, when the incident took place at around 8:00 pm, police inspector Khagendra Ekten said.
Khatiwada was declared dead-upon-arrival at the Lifeline Hospital in Damak while Budha has been rushed to Siliguri of India for further treatment. Meanwhile, Police have begun an investigation into the incident.(RSS)
7 july, kathmandu- The Central Executive Committee meeting of the main opposition, Nepali Congress is taking place today. It is scheduled to discuss internal matters of the party as well as contemporary political issues.
The regulations presented by the regulations amendment draft committee as well as the first phase of the national awakening campaign will be reviewed during the meeting to be held at the party’s central office in Sanepa at 2:00 pm, said party office chief secretary Krishna Prasad Poudel. (RSS)
5 july, kathmandu- Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Banskota has said that the government was willing to control the anarchy not press freedom.
While responding the queries of lawmakers in the meeting of the National Assembly (upper house) under the appropriation bill discussions today, Minister Banskota clarified that the government had no intentions of curtailing the press foredoom.
He further added that the government even could not think on curtailing the press freedom then how does it curtail it. Minister said, “discussions on media council bill outside the House have no meaning.’
He also said that the sovereign Parliament was the only right place to hold discussions on any matters. Minister Banskota opined for holding healthy discussions on any bill in the parliament before endorsing it.
On another note, minister Banskota said that the geographical hindrances were affecting to effectively reach the telecommunications services in some parts of Karnali region but it would be resolved soon.
4G in major cities by mid-November
Nepal Telecom is working towards expanding 4G services in all major cities in the country by mid-November this year for which ‘4G Core’ offices have been set up in Biratnagar and Nepalgunj.
Minister Banskota shared that the file relating to expansion of 4G service had stuck in CIAA’s office when he assumed the office. Stating that works towards expansion of 4G services was forwarded; he presented the studies conducted on the 4G expansion case by the parliamentary committee.
A total of 600 huge BTS towers shall be made for expanding 4G services across the country while more than 4,100 BTS towers of medium and small scale should be made.
He informed parliament that although the transportation cost of one such tower would cost around Rs 10 million the installation of such towers was being expedited on a war footing.
The Minister assured,” Expansion of 4G service had picked up a pace. The government aims to carry out its expansion by the end of 2019.’
He also shared that instructions were issued to Nepal Telecom to carry on its works in such a manner that there will be no any comment on its service.
Furthermore, the Minister informed about the upgradation and expansion of Nepal Television and Radio Nepal’s reach. Expansion of ‘Fiber to Home’ service was being accelerated. The service has already come into operation in Kohalpur, Bharatpur and Kathmandu.
Minister Banskota clarified that the journalists should get minimum wage and reaffirmed his commitment to work for the cause of journalists. He shared that direction was issued to implement Proportional Advertising Directive-2069 BS. (RSS)
5 july, kathmandu- Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has clarified that the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) award will only be allowed to take place in Nepal if it would do any good for the country and support the Visit Nepal 2020 programme.
At a programme organized in Nepal Communist Party (NCP)’s central office at Dhumbarahi here today to welcome the new comers to the party, PM Oli and party chair reiterated that IIFA would be allowed only when the circumstances were favorable in Nepal for the same.
Oli asserted, “We will not approve any event to be hosted which would incur loss to the country rather than benefiting it financially.” According to him, Council of Ministers, in their decision, had clearly mentioned that permission to host the Indian award ceremony in Nepal would be only issued on a condition ensuring low investment and high returns.
He claimed that false rumours being spread that government was going to spend billions of rupees to host the event. “The government has not decided anything on it yet.”
Stating that the government had aimed to attract over 2 million tourists in Nepal in 2020, the PM opined that the false rumours were being spread to prevent the IIFA event from taking place in Nepal.
According to him, conspiracies were being hatched by anti-development forces to stall every development works. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to complete those development projects on time.
PM Oli, also the chair of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), said that the reaming tasks of the party unification process would be concluded soon as it was delayed due to the merger of different two currents and ideologues.
He also committed that the unification bid would be completed by mid-July at any cost. Chair Oli invited other communist parties and socialist party to come in merger process, comparing NCP with a big ocean where any kinds of rivers and streams could merge.
Then Naya Shakti party leaders Kalpana Dhamala (former minister), Devendra Parajuli and Manu Humagain among others had joined the NCP. (RSS)
5 july, geneva- More than 80 people are feared drowned following a boat disaster off Tunisia, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said Thursday.
Citing several survivors, UNHCR said the incident occurred on Wednesday night. Passing Tunisian fisherman came to their rescue and then brought four people to shore and to hospital. One of them later passed away.
Two survivors are receiving assistance at a shelter in Tunisia’s Zarzis, while another remains in hospital receiving treatment. the UNHCR added.
“The status quo cannot continue,” said Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR special envoy for the Mediterranean. “Nobody puts their lives and the lives of their families at risk on these desperate boat journeys unless they feel they have no other choice.”
“We need to provide people with meaningful alternatives that stops them from needing to step foot on a boat in the first place,” the UN official added. (RSS)
5 july, geneva- A total of 38 journalists were killed in 20 countries from January to the end of June this year, the Geneva-based Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) said Thursday.
The figure represents a 42 percent decrease from the same period last year. PEC regarded the decrease as a positive development, but added that the trend remains very worrying in two countries: 9 journalists have been killed in six months in Mexico and 6 in Afghanistan.
Terrorist groups in Afghanistan and criminal groups in Mexico bear the main responsibility for the high price paid by media workers, it noted.
“The international community must establish an independent mechanism that can fight impunity when the national institutions are not efficient nor sufficient in order to fill the gaps in prevention, protection and prosecution,” said PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen.
By region, said PEC, Latin America represents the most affected continent with 15 killed. There is an improvement in the Middle East due to the lower intensity of conflict in Syria and Iraq,
The PEC calls upon governments, associations and civil society to continue to engage on the issue of the safety of journalists in order to reduce at least by half the casualties among media workers around the world, a goal set last year.
Founded in June 2004 by an international group of journalists, the PEC is a non-governmental organization with special consultative United Nations status, whose aim is to strengthen the legal protection and safety of journalists in conflict zones, areas of civil unrest, or on dangerous missions. (RSS)