Monday, August 21, 2017

National News: Nepal

            Voting begins for a new FNJ leadership

            Kathmandu, Aug 21: Voting has begun for a new leadership of the Federation of Nepali Journalists in the 25th general convention that is underway in the capital.

            The voting began from 10:00 this morning, according to election committee coordinator Chiranjibi Khanal. Voting for a new 45-member executive committee shall take place until 3:00 pm today. Voting is taking place on a province-wise basis at separate locations at the general convention venue, Nepal Academy.

            There are a total of 1,516 voters. The counting of votes will take place at the FNJ central office in Sanchargram later today, Khanal said. RSS
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08-       More than 81,000 new voters in Morang

            Biratnagar, Aug 21: More than 81,000 new voters have registered their names in biometric voter list.

            According to the Election Office, 81,862 new voters registered their names from July 16 to August 19. Of them, 41,478 were female, 40,383 were male and one is third gender, said Office Chief, Prem Prasad Sanjel.

            Another 20,987 new voters registered their names in the extended time from August 17-19. Earlier, the EC had set July 16 to August 16 for the registration.

            There is one metropolitan city, eight municipalities and eight rural municipalities in the district. RSS
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09-       RPP whip to vote against amendment proposal

Kathmandu, Aug 21: The Rastriya Prajatantra Party has issued a whip to all its members of parliament to vote against the constitution amendment proposal tabled in the parliament.

The meeting of the RPP parliamentary party today decided to vote against the proposal, joint-spokesperson Mohan Shrestha said. The meeting was chaired by party president and PP leader Kamal Thapa.

The whip to mandatorily be present in the day of vote and then vote against the proposal was issued by Chief Whip Kunti Kumar Shahi. RSS
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10-       Govt. to hold election of province and centre on Nov. 26

Kathmandu, Aug 21: The government has decided to hold the election to the provincial assembly and the federal parliament, the House of Representatives on November 26.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar today decided to recommend the date of November 26 to the Election Commission to hold both election on a single day, said Minister for Information and Communications, Mohan Bahadur Basnet.

Similarly, the government decided to hold discussion about the commitment made by India to support post-earthquake reconstruction, past agreements and losses caused by Laxmanpur Dam and Koshi Dam during the upcoming visit to India of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Discussion will also be held on various issues including the Pancheshwor Hydropower Project, bilateral trade, business, the 1950 treaty and Nepal-India railways during the visit. RSS
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11-       Embossed number plates being fixed in vehicles from today
            (Krishna Raj Gautam)

Kathmandu, Aug 21: The Department of Transportation Management has started installing the high security embossed number plate in the vehicles from today. The new kind of registration number plate is meant for effective management of automobiles and up gradation of the transportation system on par with the international practice.

            The embossed number plate is being fixed in the vehicles for the first time in the country which contains details about the vehicle owner as well as the status of the payment of revenue.

            The Department had awarded the contract to print the embossed number plate to Decatur Tiger IT, a joint venture company of Bangladesh and the USA.

            The Department also aims to fix the embossed number plate based on computerized technology in as many as 2,500,000 vehicles in the country within five years. Agreement to this effect was signed in 2016.

            The number plate is made up of 99 per cent aluminum and rest one per cent of electronic chip. Launching the new system here today, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation Bir Bahadur Balayar commended the new number plate system, which he said, has added a new dimension to the transportation management system in the country.


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            He expressed his confidence that with the new system in place, the transportation could be managed as per the international standard.

            Similarly, Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructures and Transportation (MoPIT), Devendra Karki underscored the usage of technology and tools to mitigate the human errors. He pledged to provide the service seekers the facilities and services in an efficient and effective manner.

            Earlier, there were 23 types of number plates in use. With the introduction of new embossed number plate, it will be reduced to five, according to the Department.

            Department's Director General, Rup Narayan Bhattarai, was of the confidence that with the installation of new number plate, the cases of robbery of vehicles would cut down.

            The chip in the number plate has GPS system which would provide information about the whereabouts of the vehicles and thus is expected to come handy in tracking down the location of the vehicle during the road accidents and robbery.

            The rate for the embossed number plate differs from the size and the function of the vehicles. The heavy duty vehicles owners have to subscribe the service at Rs 3,600 while the four-wheeler owners have to pay Rs 3,200.

            Likewise, tempo and rickshaws could get the number plate installed at Rs 2,900 while the price for the number plate for two-wheelers is fixed at Rs 2,500. RSS
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12-       "Commission capable of holding third phase of local election,"

            Birgunj, Aug 21: Election Commissioner Ishwori Prasad Poudel has reaffirmed the confidence of the Election Commission of Nepal to hold the third phase of local level election in province no 2 in September 18.

At an interaction here today, Commissioner Poudel shared that although the Commission had expressed its dissent over the date it reconsidered its stance following political consensus among the political parties for the same.

Poudel also urged the voters in province no 2 not to cast their ballots to the candidates in the upcoming election who do not abide by the election code of conduct. According to him, the political party representatives had formulated the code the conduct for themselves.
                                                          
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Stating that the impending third phase of local level, provincial and House of Representatives elections would be held within stipulated time, he said the Commission had also forwarded the voter education in an effective manner so as to reduce the number of invalid votes.

Similarly, Commission's Spokesperson Surya Prasad Sharma shared that the voters roll was being prepared considering the new federal set up as per the government's decision.

            Works relating to election such as preparing voters name list, printing of the ballot papers and determining the polling centres were underway, according to the Spokesperson Sharma.

            Sharma urged the voters to exercise their franchise without any fear and influence of any political party.

            Present at the event were the Chie Returning Officer at the District Election Officer, Parsa, Humnath Parajuli, Purusottam Jha and Dhruba Adhikari among others local leaders and media persons.

             brought to the fore the local issues such the flood-damaged roads in their locality which could affect the voters to reach their respective polling centres and launch of voter education in as many as places to educate and aware the voters. RSS
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13-       President Bhandari donates one month's salary

            Kathmandu, Aug 21: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has donated her one month's salary for the flood and landslides survivors. The amount was deposited in the Prime Minister's disaster relief fund.

            According to the Office of the President, the expert advisors of the President donated their seven days' salary, the secretary and personal secretary contributed five days' salary, joint-secretary, under-secretary and section officers two days and all assistant level staff donated their one day salary to be deposited into the relief fund. RSS
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14-       Two die in bus accident

            Dhangadi, Aug 21: Two people died in a road accident that took place at the Khanidanda road section along the Dhangadi-Dadeldhura highway in Kailali today. Eighteen others including two children were injured.

            One of the deceased has been identified as Nar Bahadur Deuba of Gadasera VDC-3 in Doti district, according to Khanidanda police office. The injured are undergoing treatment at the Padma hospital in Attariya.


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            The accident took place when a passenger bus (Na 4 Kha 5635) suffered a brake failure all of a sudden in a steep turn, police said. The bus heading towards BP Nagar of Doti from Dhangadi had fallen some 60 meters below the road, police said. RSS
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15-       Capable students should be produced in Nepal: PM Deuba 

            Kathmandu, Aug 21: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that capable students should be produced in Nepal.

            Inaugurating the centenary celebration programme of the Tri-Chandra College here today, Prime Minister Deuba said that students capable to work inside the country should be produced and stressed the need of providing employment-oriented education.

            Stating that the country would move ahead with stability and unity among political parties for the same, the Prime Minister claimed that the nation will progress after the election of provincial assembly and the federal parliament. "Both elections are a must for successful implementation of the constitution," he said.

            Saying rights of all would be established after full implementation of the constitution, he said that now no one could snatch federal republic rights.

            The Prime Minister said that the Tri-Chandra College has played a leading role in the big political changes that have taken place in the country and stressed that it should also play a leadership role in the academic field. He also expressed commitment to provide possible support to the College during his term in office.

            On the occasion, Campus Chief Prof Dr Pradeep Bahadur Neupane said that the college has been established as a model college of the country in the education sector.

            At the inaugural function, PM Deuba honoured litterateur Satya Mohan Joshi, Narkanta Adhikari, lecture Purushottam Singh Dangol, Dipak Krishna Shrestha, Dr Roshani Maiya Shrestha, 16 TU readers, employees and students.

            Chandra Shumsher Rana had established the college in Bhadra 5, 1975 B.S. RSS
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16-       Hour: Opposition parliamentarians go on tirade against govt

            Kathmandu, Aug 21: The parliamentarians from the major opposition party and other fringe parties, in today's special hour in the Legislature-Parliament meeting, came down heavily on the government for its alleged failure in disaster management and relief operation for the flood-survivors in the country.
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During the meeting held at the Legislature-Parliament building at New Baneshwor in the capital city, CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal lamented," We are not serious towards the issues of the public yet. The hardest-hit flood survivors are yet to be identified."

            He also urged the government to pay attention for providing basics as food items, tarpaulin sheets, clothes and medicines to those in the flood-hit and inundated areas.

            More than 135 people have lost their lives in the recent flood related incidents in the country, including in Rautahat district, said Nepal, highlighting the huge loss of lives and properties in various districts in Terai, including Rautahat due to calamites. He reasoned the construction of dam in the southern bordering area had caused inundation in several districts in Terai.

            Similarly, Dr Shivaji Yadav of Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal demanded with the government to form a special committee to study the loss of lives and properties in various flood and landslide affected districts. He also called for a prompt resolution to the proposal seeking constitution amendment.

            Yogendra Chaudhary, Whip of the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum Loktantrik, stated that the genuine demands raised by the Tharu communities should be addressed while considering an amendment in the new constitution.

            Prem Suwal of Nepal Majdoor Kissan Party spoke of the need for the Prime Minister to candidly broach the topic of issues relating to inundation in Nepal to his Indian counterpart during his upcoming visit to India.

            Echoing with Suwal, CP Mainali of CPN-ML asserted that the Prime Minister should clearly put forth the issues to Indian government as curbing the untoward activities at the bordering areas between Nepal and India and the dams built in the bordering areas non-compliance with the international criteria.

            Mahendra Yadav of Rastriya Janata Party urged all political parties to stand in favour of the constitution amendment, which was being carried to ensure equal rights to all Nepalis and to implement the constitution.

            NC's Sheshnath Adhikari pointed out the need to resume the people's embankment programme in order to stop further inundation by rivers like Narayani and Rapti in Chitwan.

            Rastriya Janamorcha President Chitra Bahadur KC said the Prime Minister should raise during his upcoming visit to India about the flooding caused by the dams construction by India in the bordering region, and about the keys to the Koshi dam. RSS
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17-       CEC for favourable atmosphere for elections in Province no. 2

Rajbiraj (Saptari), Aug 21: Chief Election Commissioner Dr Ayodhee Prasad Yadav has said that the recent floods have posed challenges to the September 18 local elections in province no. 2.

Speaking at a press conference held in District Election Office here today, he said the government and the local administration should resolve the problems facing the flood and landslides immediately to build an atmosphere conducive to the election.  He however said that the local level elections to be held on September 18 would not stop at any pretext.

Complete security arrangement has been made for the elections which will be held in a free and fair manner, he said while adding that the Rastriya Janata Party will also take part in the election.

On the occasion, CEC Yadav also called for support from the media in monitoring the practice of the election code of conduct. RSS
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18-       Deliberations continues on the constitution amendment bill

Kathmandu, Aug 21: Nepali Congress leader Bimalendra Nidhi has appealed for support to the constitution amendment bill tabled in the parliament.

Taking part in today's meeting of the Legislature-Parliament, leader Nidhi urged all to garner support from all parties to the constitution amendment bill.

Similarly, CPN (UML) lawmaker Yagya Sunuwar said his party would not support the amendment proposal brought by the government at a time when the country is facing problems due to landslide and flood.  He said the CPN (UML) would stand against the constitution amendment proposal.

Likewise, Amanlal Modi of CPN (Maoist Centre), said that all parties should stand in favour of constitution amendment proposal as it was brought in favour of the suppressed people.

Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal leader Sarbendranath Sukla said that the RJP-Nepal would support the constitution amendment proposal with a belief that it would help establish peace and move the country ahead.

Leader Ashok Rai, also of the same party, said only the general issues raised by the agitating parties would be addressed.

President of Rastriya Janamorcha Chitra Bahadur KC expressed the view that the constitution amendment would be appropriate only after holding extensive deliberations at the provincial level after the completion of election at all the three tiers.

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CPN-UML's Prem Giri said the amendment introduced to recognize a foreign language as national language is not acceptable at any cost.

NC's Pradip Giri said the parliament should not only be used as a forum for making governments but also to inform the people on the burning issues of the nation.

Clause-wise deliberations on the Bill relating to second amendment to the Constitution of Nepal, 2073 is underway at the parliament. RSS
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19-       Nepali OCT Technology for visually impaired people launched

Kathmandu, Aug 21: Now the visually challenged people in the country could comprehend Nepali printed materials independently using Nepali Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software, which was launched here today amid a programme.

The software developed by two IT experts at the Kathmandu University (KU) for the Nepal Netra Joyti Sangh in financial support of the Australian government was launched by Australian Ambassador to Nepal, Peter Budd.

At a programme organized by Nepal Association of the Blind, Australian envoy Budd said that software as OCR would bring the visually impaired and blind people under the access of public information and would be useful in elevating their status.

World Blind Union estimates that less than 1 % published works are accessible for visually impaired people in developing country like Nepal.

Against this backdrop, President Ramesh Pokharel believed that software as such would ensure visually challenged persons' access to information.

The software developed by Prof Dr Bal Krishna Bal and Nirajan Panta after their two years of intensive research offers blind and visually impaired people to scan printed texted and then speak it back in synthetic speech or save it to a computer in aid of the speech synthesis application named Text to Speech (TTS).

The software could prove a boon for the 95,000 blind population recorded in the country in the last census in ensuring their access to information and technology. RSS
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Time:17:00
Editors : Manoj Karki, Abhilasha Pokharel & Rosha Basnet
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