would ensure psychological security to voters throughout the country.

 would ensure psychological security to voters throughout the country.
The Election Commission has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to furnish details of expenditure it estimates to make on security arrangements for the local level elections slated for May 14.
The poll panel stated that security spending during elections

was a matter of public concern and details of expenditure had been sought to check possible irregularities.
The EC had sought a budget of Rs 10.3 billion for the local level elections, while the MoHA has estimated over Rs 30 billion for security arrangements for the elections.
“We’ve asked MoHA to submit details of the estimated security spending,” EC Commissioner Sudhir Shah told THT. According to him, the EC is concerned about possible irregularities in poll security funds and is keen to adopt measures to check the same.
Shah said the EC had sought details of spending from MoHA Secretary Lok Darshan Regmi during security briefing.  Representatives of all security agencies — Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and National Investigation Department  — were present in the security briefing held on Saturday at the EC’s central office.
The EC, which held a meeting with security agencies thrice in the past, had also discussed operational security plan approved by the Central Security Committee headed by Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi. During the discussion, EC commissioners had also inquired about the integrated security plan. They had also sought the list of sensitive and highly sensitive rural-municipalities and municipalities from the security perspective.
In an earlier meeting with representatives of security agencies, commissioners had inquired about possible cross-border infiltration during election. They had asked MoHA secretary to direct chief district officers of Tarai districts to communicate and coordinate with their counterparts in adjoining districts in India. EC commissioners had also inquired about security conferences MoHA was holding across the country. “We asked them why they did not invite EC commissioners to security conferences,” said Shah. He said the EC asked security agencies not to hold security conferences without EC representatives.
Commissioner Shah said Nepali Army, which will be mobilised in the third ring outside Nepal Police and APF, would ensure psychological security to voters throughout the country. “NA’s deployment strategy will be determined by the security condition of respective polling station,” said Shah, adding that the army could be mobilised in the second or first ring if the situation deteriorated.
MoHA said Nepal Police would provide security in the first ring, APF would be mobilised in the second circle and NA in the third in polling stations where the situation was normal.

Read more »

EBC abuzz with arrival of 20 mountaineering teams

Apr 10, 2017-
As many as 20 mountaineering expedition teams have arrived at the Everest Base Camp (EBC) to climb Mt Everest, Mt Lhotse and Mt Nhutse.
Among the expedition teams, 16 will scale the highest peak Mt Everest, two Mt Lhotse and two Mt Nhutse, it has been learnt.
According to Everest Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) Programme Official Kapindra Rai, they had arrived at the EBC on Sunday.

The EBC serves as the base camp for all three mountains.
All expedition teams will be taking the same route from the EBC up towards Camp 3 on Everest from where the route to Lhotse and Nhutse separates.
The relatively silent EBC is currently buzzing with around 400 people including Sherpa guides, mountaineers and high altitude workers, Rai shared. RSS

Read more »

"Harry Potter" triumphs with magical sweep at Olivier Awards http://bit.ly/2nwpw4v

Apr 10, 2017-
"Harry Potter And The Cursed Child", a stage adaptation of J.K Rowling's fantastical world of witches and wizards, cast a magical spell at the Olivier Awards on Sunday, scooping nine wins at Britain's big night for theatre.
The critically-acclaimed production, which opened last year in London's West End, went in with 11 nominations. Its victorious haul made it "the most decorated production in the ceremony's history", awards organisers said.
The eighth story in the "Harry Potter" series, the play follows Rowling's young boy wizard and friends Ron and Hermione into adulthood. It took best new play, best actor, best actor and actress in a supporting role as well as best director.
"The power of imagination is infinite," director John Tiffany said in his acceptance speech. "We need it now more than ever."

Jamie Parker, who portrays the older Harry, won best actor, beating off competition from the likes of Ian McKellen and Ed Harris. Anthony Boyle, who plays Scorpius Malfoy, took best actor in a supporting role while best actress in a supporting role went to Noma Dumezweni, who plays an adult Hermione.
"Thank you J.K. Rowling for creating Hermione and...the privilege of being able to play Hermione is overwhelming and humbling," Dumezweni said.
The play also won best lighting design, best sound design, best costume design and best set design.
Other winners at the glitzy ceremony at London's Royal Albert Hall included children playing instruments in "School of Rock", composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's adaptation of the 2003 comedy film, who won in the outstanding achievement in music category.
"Groundhog Day", an adaptation of the famed 1993 film starring Bill Murray, won best new musical as well as best actor in a musical for Andy Karl.
"Glee" actress Amber Riley scooped the best actress in a musical award for "Dreamgirls" while fellow cast member Adam J Bernard won best actor in a supporting role in a musical.
Billie Piper won best actress for "Yerma", an adaptation of the play by Federico Garcia Lorca, which won best revival.
"Jesus Christ Superstar" won best musical revival. "Our ladies of Perpetual Succour" won best new comedy while "Akhnaten" took the prize for best new opera production.
Actor and director Kenneth Branagh was honoured with the Special Award in recognition of his "outstanding contribution to British theatre".
Performances on the night included songs from musicals "The Girls", "Dreamgirls" and "School of Rock".

Read more »

lawmaker Rewatiraman Bhandari has demanded resignation of Deputy Prime Minister

apr 10, 2017- CPN-UML lawmaker Rewatiraman Bhandari has demanded resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi saying that the latter is not worthy of holding the position.
Speaking at Legislature-Parliament meeting on Monday, leader Bhandari said that Minister Nidhi has no right to occupy the post as he disrespected the office by snubbing the Cabinet meeting.
“The Home Minister who does not want to attend the Cabinet meeting has no right to occupy the post,” said the UML leader.

Meanwhile, a Cabinet meeting has convened at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu without the participation of DPM Nidhi.
During the House meeting, another UML lawmaker Satyanaran Mandal demanded action against a group led by Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum leader Dinesh Yadav for misbehaving his family members at his residence in Saptari.
Leader Mandal said that the group had assaulted his 60-year-old mother and 21-year-old daughter-in-law.

Read more »

Two convicted for raping underage girls

Apr 10, 2017- The Udayapur District Court has convicted two persons for separate cases of rape involving two underage girls and handed jail sentences along with fine.
Dik Bahadur Pathak, 55, of Lafagaun – 5, Udayapur, was convicted for raping a  girl and slapped 10 years imprisonment along with Rs 50,000 fine,

The court also sentenced Bol Man Rai, 23, of Mainamaini – 9 to eight years imprisonment and slapped a penalty of Rs 15,000.

A single bench of Judge Mahendra Bahadur Karki issued the sentence on Pathak, District Court Udayapur, Registrar Rit Bahadur Magar said.
Rai was handed out the sentence by a single bench of Judge Raj Kumar Koirala, according to the court. Pathak has been convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl from his neighbourhood on July 30 while Rai was convicted for raping a nine-year-old girl on January 6. RSS

Read more »

Foreign investment increases four folds in eight months

Apr 10, 2017-
Foreign investment has surged four folds in the eight months of the current fiscal year.
The Current Economic Situation Report released by Nepal Rastra Bank on Monday states that Rs 8.35 billion foreign direct investment flowed into the country during this period.
As per the report, the FDI in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year was Rs 2.24 billion. The exponential increase in foreign investment is attributed to the additional investment in the hydroelectricity and hotel among other sectors.

Inflation up in hills

Similarly, the report states that inflation is high in the hilly region than in the urban areas. The consumer inflation rate in the hilly area is 5.9 percent, 3.7 percent in the mountainous region, 2.8 percent in the Tarai region and 1.9 percent in the Kathmandu Valley.
The consumer inflation rate in the same period last fiscal year was 10.4 percent in the hilly region, 8.5 percent in the mountainous region, 8.6 percent in the Tarai region and 12.7 percent in the Kathmandu Valley.
Rice import high

According to the Report, Nepal imported rice worth Rs 16.21 billion in the last eight months of the current fiscal year as it still remains the staple food of the Nepalis. Rice import in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year was Rs 13.43 billion.
Similarly, vegetables worth Rs 7.88 billion and fruits worth Rs 3.37 billion were imported from India alone in the last eight months of the current fiscal.
The NRB report showed that Rs 628 billion went out of the country on goods import in the same period of the current fiscal year whereas only Rs 48 billion has entered the country through exports.
The food inflation is negative by 0.4 percent in the review period this fiscal year. It was 10.3 percent in the corresponding period in the last fiscal year.
The central bank report shows that the price of sugar and sugar-related items has increased by 15.2 percent and that of the liquor by 10.7 percent during the review period.

Read more »

Kashmir violence: Eight killed in clashes during by-election

The past year has seen a surge in unrest and violence in Indian-administered Kashmir
Apr 10, 2017-
Eight people have been killed and scores injured after police clashed with protesters during a by-election in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Paramilitary forces fired bullets and shotgun pellets as people protesting against Indian rule stormed polling stations near Srinagar on Sunday.
Separatist leaders had called for a boycott of the vote.
Muslim-majority Kashmir is at the centre of a decades-old territorial dispute between India and Pakistan.

India accuses Pakistan of supporting separatist sentiment in Kashmir, but Islamabad denies this. Both countries claim Kashmir in its entirety and control different parts of it.
The region has seen heightened tension and increased unrest since July last year when influential militant Burhan Wani was killed by Indian forces.
Reports said the voter turnout in Sunday's election was a mere 7% - the lowest in three decades.
Two schools were set on fire by unknown protesters, The Times of India reported.
Security was tightened on Monday across the region - roads were blocked with barricades and some train services were also suspended.

Read more »

EC starts imparting training to election officers

Chief election officers and election officers to be deployed for local level election take part in an election management and operation training held at Dhulikhel, Kvare on Monday. NARAYAN
Apr 10, 2017-

Election management and operation training to chief election officers and election officers to be deployed in local-level election has begun at seven different places of the country on Monday.
The Election Commission has appointed District judges as the chief election officers and under-secretaries of judicial and administrative sectors and government attorneys as election officers.
Two-day training has been organised from today in Biratnagar, Sindhuli, Dhulikhel, Pokhara, Hetauda, Surkhet and Dhangadhi for the 75 chief election officers and 669 election officers, according to the EC.
The chief election officers and election officers would impart such type of training to 42 thousand people including polling officers and assistant polling officers after the training.

The local-level elections would be held at four metropolitan cities, 13 sub-metropolitan cities, 246 municipalities and 481 rural municipalities across the country in a single phase.
Inaugurating the training at Dhulikhel today, Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav said that the election fever is gradually gripping the country.
"Employees to be deployed in the election and voters should not worry as peace and security situation across the country is conducive and political environment has stabilized," said Yadav.
Directing the employees and the security personnel assigned on election duty to play an impartial role and fulfill their responsibility for conducting the election in a free and fair environment.
He said the Election Commission has a clear policy of observing financial frugality in the management of internal expenditure while minimizing the dependency on foreign assistance in the context of elections. The Chief Election Commissioner also called on the people to gear up for the campaign of stabilising and strengthening democracy, federalism and republic by voting in the local level election, the first step towards implementing the constitution.
Chief District Officer of Kavre Shiva Prasad Simkhada, joint attorney at the Office of the Government Attorney Patan, Narayan Prasad Poudel, and Joint Secretary at the Election Commission Nawaraj Dhakal said that the local level election is important step towards the formation of the local government and the employees assigned for election duty should uphold the credibility and impartiality of the election and that the all works related to the election were going on full speed.
One hundred and nine persons from Dolakha, Ramechhap, Kavre, Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Rautahat, Lalitpur and Kathmandu district from the region are attending the training RSS

Read more »

Pakistani court sentences accused Indian spy Kulbushan Jadhav to death

A Pakistani military court sentenced an Indian accused of espionage to death on Monday, potentially ratcheting up tension between the two nuclear-armed states.
Kulbushan Sudhir Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016, in the turbulent province of Baluchistan, which has seen a long-running conflict between Pakistani security forces and a militant separatist movement.

The Pakistani military said in a statement he had confessed to being tasked by India’s intelligence service with planning, coordinating and organising espionage and sabotage activities in Baluchistan “aiming to destabilize and wage war against Pakistan”.

The sentence was passed by a Field General Court Martial and confirmed by the powerful army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. The military did not announce any date for the execution.
There was no immediate comment from the Indian government.
Pakistan accuses India of helping the separatist movement in Baluchistan, a charge denied by India. In its turn, the government in New Delhi says Pakistan aids separatist fighters in Kashmir, part of India’s only Muslim-majority state, which Pakistan also claims.

Last September, tension between the neighbours escalated after gunmen killed 19 Indian soldiers at an army camp in Kashmir, an attack India blamed on Pakistan-based militants.

Read more »

Tim Pigott-Smith, a versatile British actor who recently played Prince

Tim Pigott-Smith, a versatile British actor who recently played Prince Charles on stage and screen, has died at the age of 70.
The actor's agent, John Grant, says Pigott-Smith died Friday. Grant called him "one of the great actors of his generation ... a gentleman and a true friend."

Pigott-Smith was already a veteran of stage and screen when he came to international attention as a sadistic police officer in British-controlled India in the 1980s miniseries "The Jewel in the Crown."
The show became a global sensation, and Pigott-Smith said it "changed my life."

Born in Rugby, central England in 1946, Pigott-Smith trained at the Bristol Old Vic theater school and built up a diverse career on stage, television and film. He became a regular on British TV screens in everything from "Doctor Who" to "Downton Abbey," and had roles in movies including "V for Vendetta," ''Gangs Of New York" and the James Bond thriller "Quantum Of Solace."
He is due to appear onscreen with Judi Dench in Stephen Frears' historical drama "Victoria and Abdul," due for release in Britain in September.
He recently won Olivier and Tony award nominations for the London and New York runs of the play "King Charles III," which imagines disastrous events after the current heir to the British throne becomes king. He reprised the role for a TV adaptation.
Pigott-Smith is survived by his wife Pamela Miles and their son Tom.

Read more »

NRA to facilitate distribution of land ownership certificates

The National Reconstruction Authority has decided to make necessary arrangements to conclude the housing grant agreement with beneficiaries who are yet to receive the relief due to lack of land ownership certificate.

A meeting of the executive committee presided over by NRA Chief Executive Officer Govinda Raj Pokharel had recently made a decision to the effect. For this purpose, a panel led by executive committee member Dhruba Prasad Sharma was formed to offer suggestions on policy provisions that could be made to address the problem.
A press release issued by the NRA said the panel will submit a report to the committee with a recommendation within one week. The government had already entered into grant agreements with 548,255 out of 636,036 identified or recorded beneficiaries of the housing grant in 14 districts worst-hit by the quakes.

Despite being genuine beneficiaries, as many as 77,781 households are still deprived of the facility for want of land ownership certificate.

The government provides beneficiaries a total of Rs 300,000 each to reconstruct their homes damaged by the quakes in three instalments. Land ownership certificate is required by the local levels to sign the grant agreement with the beneficiaries. Quake survivors without land ownership certificate have to register their land with the district survey office and land revenue office to receive the certificate as per existing NRA guidelines.
Earlier, the NRA had directed the Ministry of Land Reform and Management to instruct its line agencies to expedite land registration for those lacking the certificates. It even issued the Guidelines for Land Registration, 2016 after holding consultations with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Land Reform and Management to resolve the issue.
Meanwhile, the NRA said it has completed a survey in 17 districts least affected by the quakes, identifying 44,443 beneficiaries of housing grants.

Read more »

Tourist arrival surges in Annapurna region

Tourist arrival surges in Annapurna region

LAMJUNG: The surge in the arrival of tourists at the Annapurna region has been a matter of great joy for entrepreneurs and villagers here.

As per the data provided by the Timsa Check Post, Besisahar, more than 2,500 foreign tourists travelled through the Annapurna circuit in the month of March.

According to Check Post employee Mina Gurung, 2,596 foreign tourists travelled through the Annapurna trek route in the month of March alone.
Gurung said 100 more tourists were arriving every day since the start of April.
Israeli, German, French, Australian, British and American tourists usually travel through the Annapurna trek route.
The domestic tourists have also increased of late with the construction of the motorway to Manang district headquarters, Chame.

Read more »

Nepal Eye Hospital marks 43rd anniversary:

Nepal Eye Hospital marks 43rd anniversary:
 The Nepal Eye Hospital, the oldest eye hospital of Nepal, observed its 43rd anniversary on Saturday.
 The hospital was founded in 1974 by a group of social workers with the objective of preventing blindness in the country.

Speaking at the anniversary function, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal lauded the hospital for providing services to the poor, backward, elderly and helpless. “This historical hospital has also contributed significantly to producing skilled ophthalmologists for the country,” he said.
He also pledged every possible support for the advancement of the hospital and its services.
On the occasion, Chairperson of the hospital and senior advocate Biswakanta Mainali stressed the need for developing an eye research centre in the country.
In the fiscal year 2015/16, the hospital provided service to 73,208 patients, out of which 4,270 unerwent surgery, the hospital informed.
The hospital provides 25 per cent discount to patients above 80 years and subsidy to the poor patients, according to the hospital.

Read more »

DFO drafts pest extermination proposal

DFO drafts pest extermination proposal
The number of complaints regarding damage caused by wild animals have increased greatly at the District Forest Office Kathmandu,

said District Forest Officer Indra Sapkota.

Sapkota said the DFO had been receiving many complaints against monkeys, wild boars, and porcupines destroying crops on the outskirts of the Valley.

“Locals have filed numerous complaints demanding that the DFO address the problem,” DFO Indra Sapkota told The Himalayan Times, “However, there is nothing we can do, because we do not have the authority or regulation regarding pest management.”
Sapkota said they have been receiving complaints against wild boars and porcupines from the outskirts of the Valley such as Tokha, while complaints against monkeys come from both the outskirts and urban areas of the Valley.
The DFO reportedly receives complaints against monkeys the most, followed by wild boars and porcupines.
The DFO has sent a draft of a pest extermination proposal to the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation for approval to combat the issue.
Regarding the proposal, the ministry’s Biodiversity and Environment Division Chief Dr Maheshwor Dhakal said the proposal was under discussion.
This week, the Supreme Court had issued an interim order to act against the havoc caused by monkeys in Pashupatinath to the Pashupati Area Development Board and the Government of Nepal.
Meanwhile, wildlife expert and visiting professor of Kyoto University Japan Dr Mukesh Kumar Chalise has appealed the government to first conduct a research on monkey habitat, activities, and health before taking any drastic decision.
“The government must first conduct a thorough research on monkeys before deciding what steps must be taken to minimise human-animal conflict. Based on the research, the government must then decide its course of action, whether it be relocating the monkey population or exterminating them,” he said.

Read more »

Hot singer Jtoti magar in program with hot photos

Stone mahotsavaharuma viewers fascinated by his provocative conducted successful singer Minister and model light Magar festival on Thursday evening, more boisterous messengers stones. The festival organized by the Youth Club of orchids and stones 

provocative and suggestive conducted at 15 hundred darsakamajha light his supporters tried to pull her closer. Stejabatai young achu achu words that struck her because of the light, serving young people were forced to flee to bear it, it hurts. Light, I Love You, Lodges, cvaka, jhyapa, romance to you?
Brave Researchers Uncover Hitler's Final Secret Revealed on His Deathbed
This soltisamga marry him, then the son of a black Lodges would like, such as language lurele not light garamagarama festival atmosphere was created. The presence of light festival audience had comments on the kind of food served beat. Meanwhile, the light of the hostile glances accusing journalists, he said, "my program uhaharule where others take much fun here" and take it home and enjoy the warmth of engalabata photoe garigari zoom view. "

Read more »

Over 250 foreign climbers acclimatising on Mt Everest

KATHMANDU: With the expedition operators expecting over 500 foreign climbers on the Mt Everest this spring, at least 250 foreign climbers representing 27 teams have already left for Khumbu region for acclimatisation till date.
“As of today, over 250 mountaineers from 28 countries obtained climbing permits for Mt Everest while more than 70 climbers reutilised their old permits issued in 2015,” an update prepared by the Department of Tourism shows.

The government had decided to extend the climbing permits of all 2015 spring expeditions by two years after the devastating earthquake struck the country killing nearly 9,000 people in April and May.

According to a DoT official, Gurkha Everest Expedition, AG Everest Expedition and Expedition Himalaya Mountain Trip among others have their members who utilised the old permits this season. The government has also collected Rs 190 million as royalty from 45 spring expeditions as the DoT issued climbing permits to more than 400 world mountaineers for different mountains including Mt Everest till date, he added.
According to Ang Dorjee Sherpa, Chairman of Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, the base camp has also been set up to accommodate the world mountaineers who will be attempting climb the Mt Everest, the Mt Lhotse and the Mt Nuptse.
“The icefall doctors mobilised by the SPCC opened the route up to the Camp II from base camp and they have been monitoring the route on a daily basis,” he told this daily over phone from Namche Bazaaar.
According to the icefall doctors, they used black diamond static ropes along the treacherous icefall section this time replacing the previously used Korean ropes.

Read more »

Chitwan National Park records 1st rhino poaching incident in 3 yrs

Chitwan National Park records 1st rhino poaching incident in 3 yrs
CHITWAN: A one horned male rhinoceros was killed in the Chitwan National Park, which is popular for  of the district on Friday night.
According to the CNP, the bull was killed yesterday at a community forest of Hariyali Belhatta of Jagatpur in Chitwan.

The horn of the rare animal was taken away by the poachers, added the CNP.
This is the first  time that  CNP has reported a rhino poaching since May 3, 2014.

Read more »

Officials raise red flag for some Tarai districts

Say it will be difficult to hold elections if Morcha not brought on board
Regional security meeting
- Post Report, BIRATNAGAR

DPM and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi (second from left) at a regional security meeting in Biratnagar on Friday.
Apr 8, 2017- Security officials on Friday flagged potential problems in some Tarai districts during elections if they are held without bringing the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) on board.

“It will be difficult to hold elections in Siraha and Saptari districts without convincing the Morcha,” security officials said during a regional security meeting organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Biratnagar.
During their briefings, chief district officers of the eastern region said political parties have not been able to organise election campaigns in Siraha and Saptari districts, hinting at a lack of conducive environment for them to canvass in the region.
The agitating Morcha, which has announced protests against the government’s failure to address its concern of the constitution amendment, has warned of disrupting the local level elections slated for May 14.

Read more »

Don’t return unknown int’l calls, teleco warns

Apr 8, 2017- Did you miss a call from countries like Seychelles or Tunisia? If you have, don’t return such calls, as they could be scams, Nepal’s largest telecommunications service providers have said.
Nepal Telecom (NT) and Ncell made the request, as more and more customers started complaining about missed international calls from unknown numbers.
Although the telecom service providers aren’t clear about what is actually happening, they said calling-back such numbers might result in huge deduction in cell phone balance. They have, thus, termed such calls as ‘fraud’.

NT has already drawn the attention of international carriers regarding calls with country and area codes such as +21698, +6749 and +212 and has asked them to block those numbers. Ncell has also stated that it has started receiving complaints about missed calls from numbers with codes such as +248 and +92. Most of these calls originate in Tunisia and Seychelles.

Read more »

Those who die young, and in vain

Death comes unbidden to all. But while for some privileged ones it is an abstraction that one encounters in an old age, for many, especially in a country like ours, it comes early and leaves behind painful consequences

Apr 8, 2017- We are raising a new Nepal from the ashes and bones of our dead, young people. If you don’t believe in what I am saying, go and see the layers of the country’s newly-built foundation. The first layer is made up of those who died during the Maoist insurgency. They were young boys and girls from villages who had been brainwashed into carrying arms and killing others. They were low-ranking, meagerly paid, ill-treated and ill-equipped police and military personnel who were, in most of the cases, just obeying orders from above. They were innocent civilians, mostly peasants, who were caught between the army and the insurgents.

On top of this layer, if you examine closely, you will see the remains of the Madheshis and janajatis who died, or were killed, during various movements demanding equal rights and opportunity. And finally, on the top of them all, you will see the scattered remains of those who left this country to work abroad hoping to bring an end to the poverty and hardships they had been facing for so long.

Read more »