KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress is holding its central working committee (CWC) meeting at party central office, Sanepa, this afternoon.
NC Spokesperson Biswo Prakash Sharma said that the meeting will would basically dwell on Mahasamiti-endorsed statute of the party, Nepal Student Union working committee and other contemporary issues.
The Mahsamiti meeting of the NC had endorsed its statute in a way that the central working committee could amend the main law incorporating inputs and deliberations on it. The Mahasamiti had earlier recommended that the central member should be elected at ward level of the party structure and arrangement of reservation should be one time for one person in the party.
Likewise, the tenure of the Nepal Student Union central working committee had expired on January 16 so discussion would be held on NSU affairs.
Besides, the meeting would discuss government’s performances and contemporary political affairs, Sharma stated.

BANKE: A person was killed when he came under the attack of a Royal Bengal Tiger at Badjaiyatal rural municipality-2 of Bardiya district. The victim is 71-year-old Chandra Bahadur Shahi. Thirty-year-old Bijaya Budha from the same locality has been injured by the tiger believed to have come from the jungle across the border with India. Budha has sustained injuries to his head, back and neck due to the tiger’s mauling.
Both Shahi and Budha, severely injured in the tiger attack, were brought to the Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital for treatment. Shahi died in course of treatment.
The Royal Bengal Tiger had attacked the duo Monday evening near the bridge on the way to Sitapur from Gaughat, in-charge of the Police Post Jamuni, Sub-Inspector Lokendra Karki said. The tiger had pounced on Budha immediately after attacking Shahi, according to Ganesh Rai, a local.

KATHMANDU: The ruling communist party on Monday issued what it called its “Official Position” on the political situation in Venezuela, which some party insiders say was completely unnecessary but that it had to come as an attempt to prevent further damage to its relationship with the United States.

This is the third statement on the unfolding crisis in the Latin American nation within a span of two weeks–the first was from a top leader of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), Puspa Kamal Dahal, on January 25 and the second from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 29. The Kathmandu Post has reported this news. 

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The Himalayan Times English daily newspaper has given a coverage to the Nepali National Cricket Team who returned home yesterday wrapping up their UAE tour.

Nepal national cricketers today received heroes’ welcome at Tribhuvan International Airport upon arrival after a historic double – winning both one One Day International and Twenty20 International series against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai, reported The Himalayan Times under the headline ‘Triumphant cricketers return to heroes’ welcome.

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Even as the country marked World Cancer Day on Monday, hundreds of cancer patients visiting Bir hospital remain hard hit as the country’s biggest hospital has failed to install its new radiotherapy machine, which was brought to Nepal back in May, reported Republica with the headline Cancer patients suffer as Bir Hospital struggles to install US$ 4.1m ouotfit. 

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Even though the government served a letter of termination to the Italian contractor of Melamchi Water Supply Project on December 20, it has continued communication with Cooperativa Muratori e Cementisti di Ravenna, as officials look clueless about how they are going to take national pride forward.

The much talked-about water project has been in limbo for more than one-and -a-half months after the staff of the Italian builder left Nepal following a midnight drama on December 16 when they were apprehended by police and later released, reported The Kathmandu Post with the headline Melamchi contract with Italian firm ends but government is still in talks.

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Parliament’s State Affairs Committee (SAC) has agreed to a provision that Non-Resident Nepalis (NRN) must come to Nepal to apply for NRN citizenship. The committee members have agreed to amend the original bill and provision that applications fro NRN citizenship shall be filed at the offices concerned under the Home Ministry. The committee has, however, failed to forge consensus on whether knowledge of the Nepali language should be made mandatory for those applying for NRN citizenship, reported Republica with the headline NO NRN citizenships through Nepali mission abroad.

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Naya Patrika Nepali daily has reported that the sale of mobile, automobile, steel, cement and alcohol has declined. According to the report, the sale of steel and cement has declined by 8 percent, mobile by 60 percent, alcohol by 25 percent while the sale of automobile has gone down by 50 percent.

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The government on Monday introduced a new bill with provisions that bar individuals from advertising. Intended to restrict people from the freedom of speech and expression, the bill sentences individuals to five years in jail along with a fine of Rs 500,000 for advertising.  (Nagarik daily)

KATHMANDU: Ambassadors representing various countries have congratulated Pavilion Media Pvt. Ltd. for launching Khabarhub, a digital multi-media.

Speaking during the launching of Khabarhub at its office in Durbar Marg today, French Ambassador Francois-Xavier LEGER lauded the transformation of media in Nepal. “I am impressed with Khabarhub’s infrastructure and the high-tech facilities. What is equally inspiring is its young and dedicated staff,” the ambassador said. He also stated that the Nepali media is moving towards globalization through high-paced digitization.

Among other dignitaries present were EU Ambassador Veronica Code, Thai Ambassador Bhakavat Tan Skul, Egyptian Ambassador IamnMostata, Deputy Chief of Indian Embassy Dr. Ajaya Kumar, senior diplomats from Japan, South Korea, and various embassies, and representatives from donor agencies, including the World Bank and UKAID.

Meanwhile, members of the business community, including Shekhar Golchha, Vice Chairman of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) and Rajesh Kaji Shrestha, Chairman of Nepal Chamber of Commerce were also present on the occasion.

KATHMANDU: Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun visited Khabarhub newsroom at Durbar Marg on Monday.

Vice President Pun inaugurated the digital media by clicking www.khabarhub.com at the digitized hall of the Pavilion Group at Durbar Marg.

On the occasion, he said, “Information technology serves as the eyes of the country. Disseminating wrong information means making the nation blind. I hope Khabarhub serves as the eyes of the nation.”

SINDHUPALCHOWK: Reconstruction works have been expedited to bring into operation the Tatopani checkpoint, an important Nepal-China border checkpoint, by the first week of May.

The Tatopani checkpoint had been closed following the 2015 earthquake that devastated physical infrastructures on both sides of the checkpoint.

Chinese SCRC Construction Company has been entrusted to reconstruct damaged physical infrastructures at the Tatopani checkpoint.

It has been almost four years since the checkpoint was closed after the mega earthquake destroyed its infrastructures including facilities on April 25, 2015.

The infrastructures of historical Nepal-China border checkpoint suffered further damages following the Bhotekoshi floods that occurred on July 6, 2016. The floods damaged Kodari Highway, delaying the construction works further.

The floods had damaged Miteri bridge connecting Nepal to China. The reconstruction of this historical bridge is underway. “We will complete the reconstruction works of infrastructures by the last week of April and that the Tatopani checkpoint will probably come into operation by the first week of May,” said an official of SCRC.

According to an official at the Department of Roads, the China government has expedited reconstruction of infrastructures including roads and customs office buildings.  Nepal government has also directed the Department of Roads to complete the infrastructure on Nepal side as soon as possible.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had signed a deal with China government in this regard. During Oli’s official visit to China last year, Foreign Secretary Shaker Das Bairagi and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou had signed a deal on bringing Tatopani checkpoint into operation, including the construction of Miteri bridge.

Prior to the devastating earthquake, Nepal used to import goods worth over 20 billion through this checkpoint, yielding about Rs. 2 billion in revenue for Nepal.

CHITWAN: Preparation is underway to send samples of bodily part of dead rhinos abroad for laboratory tests in view of increasing incidents of unnatural deaths of one-horned in Chitwan National Park (CNP) and surrounding forest area.
The samples are to be sent abroad for necessary tests so as to find reason behind the death of the rare wild beast.
Twenty rhinos have been found dead as of now in the current fiscal. The Chitwan National Park has constituted a committee to put forth investigation into the death of rhinos due to natural reasons.
According to Gopal Ghimire, Information Officer at CNP, seven rhinos were found dead in the period of last one month.
Among the rhinos dead due to natural reasons, 28 were found at CNP premises and one in the area under the District Forest Office. Ghimire further shared the rhinos found dead in CNP due to other reasons except the natural ones were at the age group of 15-25. An average of rhino is 60 years. Bed Kumar Dhakal, Chief Conservation Officer, CNP said preparation is being made to send samples of rhinos, including four dead for laboratory test with the rise in unnatural death of rhinos.

KATHMANDU: Astro Raj, a renowned astrologer, has touched the lives of thousands of people; from politicians to artistes, from journalists and doctors to businessmen, among others. He been in this sector for the last two decades.

He, who also appears on Sagarmatha Television on a daily basis since 2015, will be contributing daily horoscope for Khabarhub. He has made a lot of predictions, which include the successful prediction of the win of Donald Trump in the 2016 US Presidential elections based on his horoscope.

Astrologer Raj, a PhD from India in Astrology, has received several prestigious awards, including Best Astrologer of Asia in Singapore in 2018, Man of the Year in Indonesia in 2017, and several other awards. He has been a mentor for many institutions, and a public speaker.

KATHMANDU: National Assembly (NA) meeting unanimously passed ‘Bill on Commission on Investigation Enforced Disappeared Persons and Truth and Reconciliation Commission (second amendment) -2075 BS’.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal, had on Sunday presented the proposal seeking its approval at the NA.

The third meeting of Sunday’s NA meeting approved the bill. Similarly, the meeting also passed the proposal, seeking consideration on other five bills unanimously.

Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizen, Thamamaya Thapa, presented the ‘Bill on Senior Citizen (first amendment)-2075 while Minister for Finance, Dr Yubraj Khatiwada presented ‘Bill on Pension Fund-2075’, ‘Bill on Payment and Clearance-2075’, ‘Bill on Citizen Investment Trust (second amendment)-2075.

Similarly, Minister for Communications and information Technology, Gokul Prasad Baskota, presented the proposal seeking consideration on ‘Advertisement (Regulation) Bill-2075’. The meeting passed the proposal unanimously. The NA will meet next on February 10.

RUKUM: Nepali Congress leader and former assistant minister Kesharman Roka and three others have been reported physically assaulted. The ex-minister and NC leader Dhruba Pun and Nepal Communist Party (NCP)’s Satman Pun and Puniraj Gharti Magar were beaten in the course of the banda called in Rukumkot of Rukum (east).
Chief District Officer Mitralal Sharma confirmed the incident in which the former minister suffered a minor injury in his neck and underwent medical treatment at the local medical facility. Roka said he had been in the district headquarters seeking a dialogue with agitators. Currently, Rukumkot is tense over the district headquarters issue.
Though the case regarding the dispute over the headquarters of Rukum (east) is under consideration, the debate is heating in the district. The group demanding that Rukumkot should be reinstated as the district headquarters have intensified the protest.
Transport services and market have remained totally closed since Friday over the same issue. It may be noted that the Nepali Congress-led government on January 25 last year decided to shift the district headquarters at Golkhada of Putha Utterganga rural municipality. The Rukumkot folks have been agitating against such decision. A writ was filed at the Supreme Court on January 31 the same year against the decision of the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government.
In response to the writ, the SC gave an interim order to ensure the status quo. The apex court verdict caused to détente, but fresh programs of protests are in force since January 28 this year.