A glossary-cum-dictionary on journalism and mass communication, the first of its kind in Nepal, compiled by Bhanu Bhakta Acharya, will be released Saturday.
The glossary will be in English-Nepali-English and has been titled as “Glossary of Journalism and Mass Communication (Patrakarita Ra Aamsanchar Shabdawali).”
Providing a review of the book, noted senior journalist RK Regmee said it is a “historic document on journalism education.”
“The work is an attempt to make Nepalis informed about the meaning and usage of contemporary vocabulary related to various sectors of journalism and mass communication,” Regmee said.
“It could be described as a response to the need of the youths and professionals of Nepal who are interested in understanding the vast arena of media in modern times,” he said.
Regmee further said the book provides a reliable base for mastering the vocabulary essential for enjoying and learning the subjects in their true forms for those interested in the study of mass communication and journalism.
The writer, Acharya, is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Ottawa, Canada, on the theme of Media Ethics. Nepalnews.com
Turkish Airlines, a European airline, has started direct flights between Kathmandu and Istanbul from Monday.
Organising a press conference in the capital on Monday, the Airlines informed that it will operate roundtrip flights between Istanbul and Kathmandu four times a week. Turkish Airlines is using Airbus 330 in the route.
The Airlines will fly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from Istanbul and Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from Kathmandu.
The airlines has fixed the minimum round-trip fare of 406 euros (around Rs. 56,600) offering special rates to its members for the first six months of operation.
Nepal and Turkey had signed an air service agreement in September 2010. As per the agreement, the two nations can operate 14 flights a week. Turkish Airlines is the 27th international airline to fly into Nepal.
Turkish Airlines has a fleet of 232 and Kathmandu is its 238th destination. nepalnews.com
Well-wishers and colleagues including St. Xavier School alumni have started campaign for the release of Dorje Gurung, a Nepali national working as a school teacher in Doha, who was arrested on charges of defamation of Islam few days earlier following a complaint from his students.
Dorje Gurung
While the Nepali embassy in Qatar has started diplomatic over the case, former students of St. Xavier School, Lalitpur, have launched an online campaign – through Facebook and a separate website (https://www.change.org/petitions/government-of-qatar-release-dorje-gurung) – with a petition for his release.
“Based on reports of what transpired on the week of April 22, 2013, the charges brought against Mr Gurung do not seem to reflect what transpired in the Qatar Academy. There is growing international attention to his case, and those monitoring the developments fervently hope that due process will be followed, and that Qatar will uphold its international reputation of being a tolerant and welcoming country,” the online petition read.
“Given the facts of this case and Mr Gurung’s long standing professional credentials, those of us who are following his case hope that justice will be done, and Mr Gurung will be promptly released,” it added.
Gurung, a lower secondary chemistry teacher at Qatar Academy in Doha, was arrested based on the complaint of a couple of students after he reacted to their bad behavior. He has denied the charges saying that he did not make any comments on religion, reports quoting his colleagues said.
In the wake of controversy, he was removed from his job on April 28, two months before the formal expiry of his two-year contract with the academy.
Gurung has been out of Nepal for the last 24 years. Earlier, he taught in schools in the USA, Australia and the UK. Nepalnews.com
At a time when protests against the decision to appoint Lokman Singh Karki as the head of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) have intensified, UCPN Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Tuesday threw his weight behind the controversial former royal regime figure saying that the appointment is being done as per the law.
07UCPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Speaking during a media gathering organised by the Revolutionary Journalists Association at Bankatti in Rupandehi, Dahal dismissed the protests against Karki’s nomination, describing them as “attempt to create storm in a teacup”.
“Some people are creating unnecessary controversy on this issue,” Dahal further said, claiming that the proposal to recommend Karki as CIAA chief first came from the UML and it was formally tabled by the Madhesi Front at the meeting of the high-level political committee (HLPC).
Lokman Singh Karki
He also said that the President has “moral obligation” to approve the decision of the Constitutional Council to appoint Karki.
Meanwhile, the Maoist chairman said that efforts were going on to hold talks with parties that are agitating against the election process. He, however, claimed that the elections won’t be affected even if the smaller parties boycott them. nepalnews.com
The various stakeholders have stressed the need for government and the private sector partnership for the economic evolution of the country.
Speaking at the capacity building workshop on Public Private Dialogue (PPD) organised by Nepal Business Forum (NBF) in the capital on Wednesday, entrepreneurs stressed on expediting the implementation of reforms raised in various tiers of NBF chaired by private sector leaders and high level government officials.
Addressing the workshop, Finance Minister Shankar Koirala opined that business environment can be improved through the help of NBF involving both the public and private sector people taking them into confidence.
On the occasion, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) president Suraj Vaidya stressed the need for coordination among the private sector organisations for effectiveness of PPD.
“PPD is a trust building exercise and we have to invest our resources, time and energy to make it lively. The government is doing the work of facilitation which is not easy and our engagement is focused on investment promotion and improving business environment,” said Ministry of Industry (MoI) Secretary Krishna Gyawali stressing on streamlining working groups with some additional terms and conditions.
President of Confederation of Nepalese Industry (CNI) Narendra Basnyat maintained that BBF can prove to be an effective mechanism to minimise disputes between public and private sectors as well as between private entities, which will ultimately help improving the business environment and industrialisation process. nepalnews.com
Representatives civil society at a protest programme against the preparations to appoint Lokman Singh Karki as chief of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu, Sunday, 05 May 2013. nepalnews.com/rh
Representatives civil society at a protest programme against the preparations to …
A civil society group staged dharna (sit-in) in front of Singha Durbar on Sunday to protest the preparations to appoint controversial former chief secretary Lokman Singh Karki as the chief of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).
The protesters demanded that the Constitutional Council (CC) reject the four-party mechanism’s recommendation to appoint Karki considering accusation of corruption against him along with misuse of power to suppress Janandolan-2.
Journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, advocate Tika Ram Bhattarai and former NGO Federation chairman Arjun Karki were among those present in the dharna.
The protest of the civil society groups comes as the CC prepared to meet today to take a decision on the appointment of the CIAA chief. The Supreme Court had recently cleared the deck for Karki as it quashed a writ petition that challenged the four-party mechanism’s recommendation. Nepalnews.com
Anup Raj Sharma
Former Chief Justice Anup Raj Sharma has said formation of the election government headed by the Chief Justice will be against the Interim Constitution and that the new Prime Minister should be from within the parties.
Speaking at a programme organised by Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) in the capital Monday, Sharma said that the parties’ attempt to install CJ Khil Raj Regmi as the PM is dragging the judiciary into controversy. He also warned that the CJ’s appointment as the head of the executive might invite autocracy as separation of power will be compromised by such an arrangement.
Finding the new PM from smaller parties could be a better option given the disagreement between the major ones, he said. Nepalnews.com
A young Tibetan exile, who set himself on fire near the Bouddhanath Stupa yesterday morning, died while undergoing treatment at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Maharajgunj, Wednesday night.
The Tibetan youth identified as Thuundup Dopchen, 20, died at around 11 pm due to severe burn injuries, according to a source at the hospital. Ninety percent of his body was severely burnt and doctors treating him had said yesterday that he would not survive the ordeal.
Dopchen, who was dressed in monk’s robe, self-immolated by dousing himself with petrol near the Bouddhanath Stupa to protest against Chinese rule in Tibet. Nepalnews.com
Ram Humagai in New Delhi
The problem of outdoor and indoor air pollution is increasing in the South Asian countries including Nepal and it is ranked among the top global health risk burdens, findings of newly released Global Burden of Disease (GDB) report says.
Officially releasing the report on Thursday, scientists behind the study at a dialogue workshop organized by Centre for Science and Environment, Indian Council of Medical Research and US-based Health Effects Institute in New Delhi said, air pollution related diseases are ranked among the top 10 killer in the world and the sixth most dangerous killer in South Asia.
Speaking in the South Asian workshop scientists said increasing number of vehicles in urban area and the use of fire woods and other source of energy in rural area are main causes of outdoor and indoor air pollution which can leads toward respiratory and heart related diseases.
Scientists pointed out the alarming rise in air pollution related diseases which resulted in 3.2 million deaths worldwide every year.
Scientists also expressed concern over the lack of proper monitoring infrastructures in the south Asian cites, adding that it is also the major challenge to get regular information about air pollution.
Highlighting the findings of the report, Vice President of Health Effect Institute Boston, US Robert O’keefe said outdoor pollution contributes to 1.2 million deaths in East Asia where economic growth and motorization are taking over, and 712,000 deaths in South Asia which is at the take-off stage.
Speaking in the programme, Director General of Center for Science and Environment (CSE) said air pollution can harm both urban and rural people as well as the rich and poor, and urged for unity to fight with this problem.
About 100 scientists, journalists and other activists participated in the workshop. nepalnews.com
Pavitra Banjade Shoes Industries Pvt. Ltd has launched its new shoe brand – “Shoe Land – Comfort & Style” – for ladies amidst a function in capital on Thursday.
On the occasion, the company appointed former Miss Nepal 2002 Malvika Subba as its brand ambassador for the period of one year.
The shoes manufactured by the company are attractive and available at reasonable price, said the company during the function.
Currently, the company has been distributing its products from the outlets situated in New Road and Maha Boudha in Kathmandu and Pokhara and Butwal outside the valley.
The company said it has the capacity of producing around 700 pairs of shoes a day while it has aimed to build up its capacity to 15,000 pairs a day in the near future, said chairman of the company Suraj Banjade.
The company is also providing direct employment to 110 people, he informed.
The company aims to extend the market of its product to other South Asian nations in its second phase after a successful promotion in Nepal. Nepalnews.com