Three bills passed Published on: February 22, 2019

KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari authenticated three bills endorsed by both the houses of the Federal Parliament today. The president granted assent to the documents in accordance with the Article 113 (2) of the constitution.

The bills are: National Medical Education Bill, the Bill on the Regulation and Control of International Trade of Endangered Wild Fauna and Flora and the Employees Adjustment Bill- 2075 BS.

Over five million passports distributed in 9 years Published on: February 22, 2019

KATHMANDU: The number of Nepali nationals obtaining Machine Readable Passport (MRP) since its inception in 2010 has exceeded five million. Department of Passports distributes 50,000 passports a month.

Total 5,740,971 passports have been distributed in the span of nine years. Of those, male passport holders include 4,633,965 while female passport holders make 1,16,980 as informed by Tirtha Aryal, spokesperson at the department. The department plans to issue electronic passports from 2020.

Nepali passports are also being distributed from Nepali embassies abroad. Nepali embassies abroad have been distributing around 2,00,000 passports a year.

British State Minister calls on President Bhandari Published on: February 22, 2019

KATHMANDU: The visiting Minister of State for the Armed Forces of Britain, Mark Lancaster, on Friday paid a courtesy call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari at the Office of the President at Shital Niwas.

On the occasion, the duo held discussions bilateral relations between the two countries and topics of mutual interest, according to a statement issued by the Office of the President.

Highly-placed officials of the government of Nepal and the government of Britain were also present on the occasion.

UK commits continued support to Nepal Published on: February 22, 2019

KATHMANDU: The United Kingdom has reiterated its commitment to continue its support in Nepal’s socio-economic development.

The visiting Minister of State for the Armed Forces of Britain, Mark Lancaster, assured this during a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pradeep Gyawali in Singha Durbar on Friday.

During the meeting, the two ministers discussed on Nepal-Britain relations along with the matters of mutual concern. On the occasion, Foreign Minister Gyawali expressed the gratitude to Britain’s continued cooperation to Nepal.

Talking to the media, Minister Gyawali said they held discussions on British support to Nepal for development and construction. Other issues they discussed were peace process and emergency cooperation.

Minister Gyawali also emphasized on addressing the problems raised by the ex-British Gurkha soldiers. He is also learned to have urged the UK government to maintain flexibility when it comes to resolving the ex-British Gurkha soldiers’ concerns.

Visiting Austrian Foreign Minister and FM Gyawali hold talks Published on: February 22, 2019

KATHMANDU: Visiting Foreign Minister of Austria Karin Kneissl and Nepali Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali held bilateral talks today in Kathmandu.

The two foreign ministers discussed issues of mutual interests in the meeting held at Hotel Yak and Yeti in Durbar Marg.

Newspapers set on fire Published on: February 22, 2019

LAHAN: Various national dailies were set on fire at Lahan bazaar of Siraha district this morning.

Some 400 copies of newspapers such as Kantipur, The Kathmandu Post, Saptahik and Hello Shukrabar were set ablaze by an unidentified group in front of Sita Nobel News Center. The newspaper were meant for sale.

The newspapers were burning when he reached the site, according to Dinesh Dev, the proprietor of the News Center.

The police is investigating the incident, according to Rajesh Thapa, Deputy Superintendent of Police at Area Police Office, Lahan.

Ministers squander millions on foreign junkets Published on: February 22, 2019

Government ministers’ foreign junkets between January 15 to February 15 cost the nation over Rs6.56 million. That is not all. The government disbursed a total of Rs70 million in December last year from the state coffers against the foreign trips made by the ministers at different times.

A team led by Prime Minister KP Oli to attend the UN General Assembly incurred a cost of over Rs40 million to the state coffers.

According to the Ministry of Finance (MoF), it disbursed around Rs2.60 million to Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali for his trip to the United States of America in December last year. The amount includes the cost of his delegation.

Likewise, the government spent Rs 5.6 million in the inauguration of its Social Security Program last year.

Likewise, a record by the Ministry of Finance reveals that Foreign Minister Gyawali and his team spent over four million rupees during the visits to countries like Austria, Japan, and Thailand.

Similarly, the MoF disbursed a total of Rs3.7 million in the name of foreign trips of the MoF officials.

Minister for General Administration Lal Babu Pandit’s trip to Dubai to attend the “World Global Summit” of the Third Global Dialogue for Happiness Seventh Gathering cost the nation over Rs5.6 million.

Minister for Youth and Sports Jagat Biswokarma spent around Rs1.80 million during his trip to New Delhi to receive an international award last year.

Likewise, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Matrika Yadav’s trip to India’s Mumbai to attend the 25th Edition of the Partnership Summit 2019 cost the nation Rs2.5 million.

Similarly, the government disbursed Rs 4.27 million in the name of renovating the office and secretariat of the Minister for Energy and Irrigation, Barsa Man Pun.

What is more intriguing is that state coffers have resulted in the loss of Rs.7, 50,000 as part of releasing cabinet decision.

Likewise, the government spent Rs 5.6 million in the inauguration of its Social Security Program last year.

Likewise, a team led by Minister for Forest and Environment, Shakti Bahadur Basnet during the UK visit spent over Rs3.1 million last year. The team was in the UK to attend a program “Illegal Wildlife Trade’. Similarly, an informal visit of President Bidhya Devi Bhandari to Poland incurred the state coffers over Rs200 million.

In the same vein, Minister for Communication and Information, Gokul Prasad Baskota and his team spent around two million during its visits to countries such as India, Switzerland, and Germany.

What is more intriguing is that state coffers have resulted in the loss of Rs.7, 50,000 as part of releasing cabinet decision.

Whereas the cabinet decision would be released the government spokesperson on the same day of the decision taken, the provision was later altered such that the cabinet decisions are not released once a week.

NCP Secretariat dissolves task force Published on: February 22, 2019

KATHMANDU: A meeting of the Nepal Communist Party Secretariat today decided to dissolve the task force formed to suggest on party unification.

The meeting held at the Prime Minister’s official residence at Baluwatar decided to entrust the party secretariat to complete the remaining task of the party unification.

The decision will, however, be endorsed by the party’s standing committee, party spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha informed.

The meeting also appreciated the efforts of the task force for its endeavor that it made so far. The members of the task force had urged the leadership seeking an extension of their tenure for a week. Party Chairman and Prime Minister KP Oli, however, was against the idea.

Prabhu Bank opens extension counter Published on: February 22, 2019

KATHMANDU: Prabhu Bank has opened its additional branch office on the premises of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), Amlekhgunj, in Bara district.

Pradip Kumar Yadav, regional chief of NOC, inaugurated the bank’s extension counter amid a ceremony, according to a statement issued by the bank.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Yadav said, “The extension counter will help the dealers in carrying out their transactions related to petroleum products.”

Also speaking on the occasion, Chief Executive Office of Prabhu Bank Ashok Sherchan said the bank has brought its extension counter into operation in view of the comforts of the petroleum suppliers and consumers.

Continue attending classes at AIBT: Australian Embassy tell students Published on: February 22, 2019

KATHMANDU: The Australian Embassy in Nepal has suggested the students studying at the Australia Institute of Business and Technology (AIBT) to continue to attend class and remain enrolled at the college until it stops operating.

Issuing a statement here today, the Embassy has advised that students studying with AIBT should remain enrolled and continue to attend classes. “This is to ensure that the conditions of their visa are met and their recourse to the Tuition Protection Service is assured should the provider cease delivering its courses,” it said.

According to the Australian Embassy in Kathmandu, Australia’s Department of Home Affairs would also allow a grace period of at least 28 days and up to three months for students to transfer to alternate providers before it would consider visa cancellation.

The statement also maintained that if the AIBT does stop operating, the college would be responsible to find students an alternative course or pay them a refund of their unspent tuition fees.

According to the Australian Embassy in Kathmandu, Australia’s Department of Home Affairs would also allow a grace period of at least 28 days and up to three months for students to transfer to alternate providers before it would consider visa cancellation.

The Brighton Pacific Ltd Pty, the statement said, can seek to have ASQA’s cancellation decision stayed while the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) determines the review. Brighton Pacific Pty Ltd’s registration was cancelled by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) on February 19.

“Unless Brighton Pacific Pty Ltd seeks a review and is granted a stay of ASQA’s decision, the cancellation decision will take effect from 26 March 2019,” the statement said adding that until the review is determined, the institute is permitted to continue operating, including conducting classes.