ऑल इंडिया मजलिस-ए-इत्तेहादुल मुस्लिमीन (AIMIM) के प्रमुख असदुद्दीन ओवैसी ने पीएम मोदी के नए कार्यकाल की शुरुआत पर हमला बोला...from आज तक http://bit.ly/2JOejXP
Friday 31 May 2019
GDP के निचले स्तर पर ओवैसी ने किया तंज, 'मोदी है तो मुमकिन है'
ऑल इंडिया मजलिस-ए-इत्तेहादुल मुस्लिमीन (AIMIM) के प्रमुख असदुद्दीन ओवैसी ने पीएम मोदी के नए कार्यकाल की शुरुआत पर हमला बोला...from आज तक http://bit.ly/2JOejXP
Donald Trump says Boris Johnson would be ‘very good’ as next UK prime minister
from World | The Indian Express http://bit.ly/2ENxnBz
China steps up trade war and plans blacklist of US firms
from World | The Indian Express http://bit.ly/2XjS6Ea
ICC World Cup 2019: Lasith Malinga inches away from breaking Zaheer and Srinath's...
Lasith Malinga, who turns 36 in August, is on the cusp of breaking into the all-time top-10 one-day international wicket takers, with his tally of 322 just one behind former team mate Sanath Jayasuriya.
from Hindustan Times - cricket http://bit.ly/2EMc7f8
from Hindustan Times - cricket http://bit.ly/2EMc7f8
नई हेयरस्टाइल से रितेश ने पत्नी को किया सरप्राइज, मगर हो गए ट्रोल
रितेश देशमुख ने नई स्टाइल के साथ अपनी पत्नी जेनेलिया को सरप्राइज किया. मगर अपने लुक की वजह से उन्हें...from आज तक http://bit.ly/2EOin6a
कांग्रेस संसदीय दल की अहम बैठक आज, राहुल या सोनिया? कौन बनेगा नेता विपक्ष
संसद के सेंट्रल हॉल में कांग्रेस संसदीय दल (सीपीपी) की बैठक आज होगी, जिसमें नेता विपक्ष का चुनाव किया जाएगा....from आज तक http://bit.ly/2Xhc8yV
कश्मीर में सेना का ऑपरेशन ऑलआउट और तेज, 5 महीने में 101 आतंकी मार गिराए
जम्मू कश्मीर के त्राल में शुक्रवार को हुई मुठभेड़ में 2 आतंकी ढेर हुए जिसमें एक विदेशी और एक स्थानीय...from आज तक http://bit.ly/2ENEGcf
मानव संसाधन विकास मंत्रालय का नाम बदलने की सिफारिश
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ICC World Cup 2019: 'Jealous' Andre Russell reveals what prompted him to bowl bouncers...
It took Andre Russell exactly 18 deliveries to reclaim the ‘fast bowler’ status before injury, his old friend, forced him to limp off the field feeling for his knee.
from Hindustan Times - cricket http://bit.ly/2XrYBVi
from Hindustan Times - cricket http://bit.ly/2XrYBVi
William Barr escalates criticism of Mueller team and defends Trump
from World | The Indian Express http://bit.ly/2WdEGNs
Graft-tainted HC judge nominee in the soup
Kathmandu, May 31
The Supreme Court today ordered to procure case files from the Judicial Council in which the JC had decided to keep a corruption charge against district court judge Lekhanath Dhakal pending. Dhakal was named a high court judge amid allegations of corruption.
A single bench of Justice Bam Kumar Shrestha today ordered the JC to procure corruption complaint(s) lodged at the JC against Dhakal.
Umesh Baniya, a resident of Kavrepalanchowk district, had on May 22 challenged the Judicial Council’s decision to keep a corruption complaint filed against Dhakal pending.
Baniya accused Dhakal of extorting money from him and another person who was indicted in a black marketeering case when Dhakal was a district court judge in Kavrepalanchowk.
Baniya had moved the Supreme Court against the JC’s decision to keep the case against Dhakal pending, but the court registrar had refused to entertain his plea following which Baniya challenged the registrar’s order in the SC.
Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla had quashed the registrar’s decision to refuse to register a case against the JC following which Baniya filed the case at the apex court.
Meanwhile, another person Kumar Dahal, who also faced a case of black marketeering and whose case was decided by Dhakal’s bench in Kavrepalanchowk when he was a district court judge, also filed a corruption complaint against Dhakal, demanding probe into the allegation of corruption charges. Dahal said the JC’s decision to keep corruption allegations against Dhakal pending was a mockery of the rule of law. He urged the JC to keep his complaints together with the complaints filed by Umesh Baniya and probe the case together by procuring case files from the concerned court.
Dahal claimed in the complaints lodged at the JC that Dhakal extorted Rs 1.8 million (nine lakh rupees from Ghanashyam Khatri and Umesh Baniya each) promising to settle their cases. Dahal has claimed in the complaint that Dhakal deliberately delayed adjudication of accused’s cases so as to extort money from them. He said Dhakal passed three orders against the accused by awarding jail term for some and acquitting others in the same case.
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from The Himalayan Times http://bit.ly/2Z0EZIi
क्या कसौटी जिंदगी की 2 में हो रही अनुराग-प्रेरणा की शादी? ये है चर्चा
कसौटी जिंदगी की 2 के फैंस के लिए एक खुशखबरी है. कोमोलिका के जाने के बाद बासु और शर्मा फैमिली...from आज तक http://bit.ly/2IosIHh
नई शिक्षा नीति का ड्राफ्ट तैयार, प्राइवेट स्कूलों को फीस तय करने की आजादी
नई पॉलिसी के ड्राफ्ट में सुझाव दिया गया है कि निजी स्कूलों को अपनी फीस तय करने के लिए...
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from आज तक http://bit.ly/2WhFbGa
Downfall of North Korean negotiator was sealed when Trump-Kim summit collapsed
from World | The Indian Express http://bit.ly/2WEploo
Business icon Prabhakar Rana passes away
Chairman and CEO of Soaltee Crowne Plaza Prabhakar SJB Rana in Kathmandu, on Saturday, April 23, 2019. Photo: Naresh Krishna Shrestha/THT
Kathmandu, May 31
A pioneer of Nepali tourism industry, Prabhakar SJB Rana, who was known for his morally guided business attitude, passed away while undergoing treatment in New York, on Thursday. He was 84.
More than profits, Rana believed in earning credibility and transparency in his business because ‘that’s what makes businesses successful’. Founder and chairman emeritus of Soaltee Crowne Plaza, Rana was also recognised for his initiative to bring an international hotel chain to Nepal.
Soaltee, which was founded in 1966 by late prince Himalaya Bikram Shah and late princess Princep Rajya Laxmi, was later converted to a public limited company in 1975 with the involvement of Rana. Since then, Rana had maintained a corporate culture at Soaltee that makes it one of the best hotels in the country.
He also served in many public and private sector undertakings. Starting with the hotel industry, Rana expanded his business to travel and trekking, automobiles, tea garden and hydropower projects. In order to make the tourism industry more responsible and to regulate it, he was instrumental in establishing Hotel Association Nepal and Pacific Asia Travel Association.
It was in 1982 that Rana founded Sipradi Trading, the authorised dealer of Tata Motors in Nepal. Later in 1986, he invested in Surya Nepal under joint partnership with firms of India and UK.
In 1996, he started Bhotekoshi Power Company — the first privately funded, run-of-the-river power project in Nepal.
Besides, he also invested in Himalayan Tea Garden and Amravati Travels. Until recently he was working on Soaltee Westend Hotel in Nepalgunj.
Rana was a living history of Nepali business industry and foreign affairs, witnessing all the historical moments from the Rana regime to the Shah dynasty, said Suresh Acharya, a person who worked closely with former secretariat of the Royal Palace. “Rana was a first generation industrialist of Nepal. Starting his career in the hotel industry, he built an empire with honesty and long-term vision. Not only in business, he has contributed to other areas as well,” he said.
He worked closely with the Shah kings. According to Acharya, Rana was both professionally and personally close with late kings Mahendra and Birendra and in recent times with former king Gyanendra. “He worked as foreign affairs adviser to Birendra. Before taking any decision on national policies or foreign matters, Birendra used to counsel with Rana,” he added. Rana was also close to Gyanendra, both personally and professionally.”
Issuing a press statement today, HAN said Rana could solely be credited for introducing international standards in the hospitality sector of the country.
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from The Himalayan Times http://bit.ly/2HN7yDs
Disgruntled city employee kills 12 in Virginia; suspect also killed
A police canine unit stands by in this still image taken from video following a shooting incident at the municipal center in Virginia Beach, Virginia, US, on May 31, 2019. Photo: WAVY-TV/NBC/via Reuters
VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA: A disgruntled public utility employee opened fire on co-workers at city offices in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Friday afternoon, killing 12 people and wounding several others before he was fatally shot by police, authorities said.
Virginia Beach Police Chief James Cervera said the mass shooting in the coastal resort city began as the gunman entered the public works and utility building at the city municipal centre and “immediately and indiscriminately fired upon all the victims”.
The chief later said that the suspect engaged in a “long-term gun battle” with law enforcement officers as police confronted him inside the building. One police officer was wounded in the shootout, but his bullet-proof vest saved his life, Cervera said.
The police chief said the suspect was armed with a .45-caliber handgun equipped with a “sound suppressor” device and was reloading his weapon with extended ammunition magazines as he moved through the building.
Authorities said the gunman ultimately was shot by police and was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Cervera said the suspect was a longtime public utilities employee and described him as “disgruntled,” but declined to say more about what may have precipitated the attack.
The shooting was believed to be the deadliest act of workplace gun violence in the United States since February, when a factory worker shot five colleagues to death in Aurora, Illinois, just after he was let go from his job.
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from The Himalayan Times http://bit.ly/2W0LQ2E
कभी सुखोई में भरी थी उड़ान, अब बजट पेश करेंगी निर्मला सीतारमण
मंत्रिमंडल के बंटवारे के बाद मोदी सरकार 5 जुलाई को बजट पेश करने वाली है. मोदी सरकार के दूसरे...
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from आज तक http://bit.ly/2Khelqx
Donald Trump to end trade privileges for India on June 5
from World | The Indian Express http://bit.ly/2W8xLQG
PM sidesteps question on stepping down
Kathmandu, May 31
Prime Minister and Co-chair of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) KP Sharma Oli today sidestepped crucial questions related to power-sharing deal signed between him and another co-chair of the party, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, leaving many wondering whether he would step down after he completes two-and-a-half years in office.
On 16 May 2018, Oli and Dahal had entered into an agreement to merge CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre to form the NCP. The fourth point of the deal states that the two co-chairs of the party would lead the government on the basis of equality and for equal period. This basically means Oli, who became the PM on 15 February 2018, will have to step down after he completes two-and-a-half years in office and pave the way for Dahal to become the PM.
When he was reminded by journalists in the Indian capital of New Delhi today that he had a year left to step down, he jokingly said, “I don’t even have a year. I have only four to five days left. What can I say?”
PM Oli is a witty person who likes to make tongue-in-cheek remarks. When he was told a copy of the agreement signed between him and Dahal had been made public while he was in New Delhi, the PM said, “The agreement was made public a long time ago. This issue is being unnecessarily brought up now. What can I say? It’s a habit of Nepalis to unnecessarily bring up issues.”
A copy of the deal signed between the two co-chairs of the NCP has been published in a book written by Shubha Shankar Kandel. Although the book, NeKaPa ko Ekta ka Aitihasik Aadharharu, was launched quite some time ago, the issue became a fresh topic of discussion after Dahal said he was confident about things moving forward as per the agreement signed with Oli.
“I do not even want to imagine Oli not quitting after two-and-a-half years in office,” Dahal said in a television interview aired yesterday.
Dahal added that Oli could remain in office for five years if he was able to ensure good governance, develop the country as per the aspirations of people and move ahead forging consensus during the upcoming convention.
He, however, said the NCP had held no discussion on formation of a new government at the moment. “Our discussion is centred on how to enhance the government’s performance and wrap up party unification process as early as possible,” he said.
A day after Dahal made these remarks, Bam Dev Gautam, an influential NCP leader, said the power-sharing deal reached between the two party co-chairs had to be implemented. “If the terms of the agreement are violated, the party unification process may go astray,” he told mediapersons in Pyuthan today, adding, “To lift the confidence of members of the newly merged party, the same person should not lead the party as well as the government.” This implied that Oli should either quit as PM or party co-chair. Gautam has long been a proponent of the concept of ‘one person, one post’.
Ironically, discussions on change in the government led by the NCP, which has support of two-thirds of lawmakers, have surfaced even before the party has completed its unification process.
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from The Himalayan Times http://bit.ly/2MwHu42
वर्ल्ड कप में फरहान अख्तर कर रहे हैं इस भारतीय क्रिकेटर को सपोर्ट
फरहान अख्तर इंग्लैंड में क्रिकेट विश्व कप 2019 के लिए भारत का प्रतिनिधित्व करने पहुंचे थे. बकिंघम पैलेस के पास...from आज तक http://bit.ly/2WhDb0P
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5 साल से सलमान का ईद पर जलवा, पहले दिन इतना कमा सकती है भारत
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Construction of National Zoological Garden in Suryabinayak in limbo
This image shows a view of land and hills in Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur, in February, 2017. Photo: Google maps integrated image
Kathmandu, May 30
Construction of National Zoological Garden, resembling natural habitat for wild life, which will also serve as an ex-situ conservation site for the protection and breeding of endangered and exotic animals, is in limbo due to negligence of the concerned ministries.
The Cabinet in February 2015, had decided to construct National Zoological Garden in Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur, based on a proposal and feasibility study report submitted by the Ministry of Forests and Environment. Four years have passed since, however, authorities concerned are yet to draft a detailed project report of the project.
The project aims to create a safe haven for the wildlife in the forest area, spread along the 245.165 hectares and a 16-km perimeter of community forests.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, on 23 June 2016 had laid the foundation stone of the zoological park amidst a programme. But, work at the site has yet to make a headway. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, the authority responsible for constructing the project has so far completed wire-fencing on the perimeter of the proposed park, dug a deep boring plant and built a building for housing security personnel to guard the park. The government had allocated a budget of Rs 55 million in the fiscal 2016-17 for the project.
Narayan Rupakheti at DoNPWC said the department was still awaiting budget from the government to carry out DPR for the mega project. Rupakheti, talking to THT, said the department has written to ministries like the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Forest to provide it with budget to execute the project. “But, we have not been provided the money yet,” he said.
The DoNPWC has sought Rs100 million from the government for the DPR. DoNPWC estimated the total project cost to be around Rs six billion. Officials of DoNPWC claimed they would complete the project within five years once the budget is provided. The park will have to ensure ‘shelter-food-water’ facilities for the animals that are placed inside it.
Apart from creating facilities resembling natural habitat for wild animals, DoNPWC has planned to build an ex-situ conservation site for the protection and breeding of endangered and exotic animals. The master-plan of the garden has also envisioned building a rescue centre and an animal hospital, inside the park.
Rupakheti said the park would also produce a large amount of fodders for herbivorous animals in Bara and Parsa national parks, where animal food gets reduced during the dry season.
Spokesperson for DoNPWC Bishnu Prasad Shrestha said, the government lately has become positive in regards to their demand for the budget. “We are confident that work on the zoological garden will begin soon,” Shrestha said.
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from The Himalayan Times http://bit.ly/2I88VM3
Against people’s aspirations: NC
Kathmandu, May 30
The main opposition Nepali Congress today said the annual budget was full of distributive programmes and it did not address the people’s aspirations for development and prosperity.
A meeting of the NC Parliamentary Party held at Singha Durbar today concluded that distributive programmes would only increase recurrent expenditure at a time when the need was for spending on development.
Of the total budget for 2019-20, the government aims to utilise Rs 957.1 billion as recurrent expenditure. It has earmarked Rs 408.59 billion and Rs 167.86 billion for capital expenditure and financing provisions, respectively.
NC Chief Whip Bal Krishna Khand said after the meeting that the government’s plan to raise loans amounting to almost a third of the total budget would ultimately add to the burden on Nepali citizens.
Khand said Khatiwada neither came up with any plans to generate employment for the youths nor did he take any initiative to boost productivity in the country. This will further increase the trade deficit that has already been rising alarmingly.
“This is against what Nepali people want. This cannot ensure development,” said Khand.
NC concluded the budget size was huge. “Seems the government plans to run the country on credit,” said NC Whip Pushpa Bhusal.
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from The Himalayan Times http://bit.ly/2wvGtya
Local governments to get 9,161 civil servants
Kathmandu, May 30
Following recommendation by the central government, the Federal Public Service Commission has come up with a schedule to recruit 9,161 civil servants for local governments.
The FPSC today announced that it was all set to hire more than nine thousand employees for 515 local governments.
Of 9,161 employees to be hired by FPSC, nine are for economic plan and statistic service, 3,638 for engineering service, 10 for judicial service, 4,097 for administrative service, 805 for educational service and remaining 602 for other services. FPSC is responsible for recruiting civil servants for the central government only. Provincial Service Commission that is supposed to recruit employees at provincial and local levels is yet to be formed.
Hence, the central government entrusted the FPSC to hire civil servants for local governments, in line with the Civil Servant Adjustment Act.
“The commission has followed the decision by the government to hire employees for local levels,” Chair of the FPSC Umesh Mainali said, during a press conference today, adding that it has already started the process, which would be completed this mid-December. According to Organisation and Management Survey by the Ministry of the Federal Affairs and General Administration — a total of 84,409 posts were created under the central government, 22,297 posts under the provincial governments and 66,908 posts under the 753 local levels. Percentage-wise, 35 per cent of posts were created for the centre, 16 per cent posts for the provinces and 49 per cent for the local levels.
Total, 40,409 employees were integrated into the centre, 14,659 employees in the seven provinces, while 31,043 employees were integrated at local levels, as per the government’s employee adjustment process.
As most of the civil servants under the adjustment process were integrated into the centre, local governments have been facing a shortage of staffers.
Local levels and provincial governments had been requesting the federal government to provide enough civil servants for their smooth functioning.
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from The Himalayan Times http://bit.ly/30YJPYk
TIA immigration officer booked for graft
Kathmandu, May 30
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority today filed a chargesheet at the Special Court against Ramakant Aryal, an immigration officer at Tribhuvan International Airport, for allegedly accumulating disproportionate assets worth around Rs 20.6 million.
Acting on a complaint against Aryal in connection with accumulation of assets from illegitimate sources, the anti-graft body launched a thorough investigation that led to the filing of the charge.
An investigation by the CIAA shows that Aryal earned cash and property valued at around Rs 24.9 million from 8 September 2002 (date of joining government service) to mid-December, last year.
The amount includes his salary, allowances, agricultural income, loan, ancestral property and sale of land.
The CIAA report suggests that Aryal and his wife Sarita Nepal spent or invested more than Rs 45.6 million during the 16 years. Investments were made in land, house, vehicle and bank deposit.
Joint Secretary Pradeep Kumar Koirala, who is CIAA spokesperson, said Aryal had failed to disclose the source of disproportionate assets equivalent to Rs 20.6 million.
According to the CIAA, Aryal had earned Rs 20.6 million illegally as he could not establish its legitimate sources.
The CIAA has also listed Sarita as a defendant in the corruption case under the Prevention of Corruption Act for the purpose of recovery of the amount in question.
It has sought confiscation of Rs 20.6 million, a fine of an equivalent amount and jail sentence as per the provisions of Sub-section (2) of Section 20 of the act.
Aryal has been suspended from civil service since the anti-graft body filed a case of corruption against him.
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from The Himalayan Times http://bit.ly/2MiwkzC
FinMin denies budget is distributive
Minister of Finance Yubaraj Khatiwada and Minister of Information and Communications Gokul Prasad Baskota (left) take part in post-budget interaction with journalists held at the Ministry of Finance in Kathmandu, on Thursday, May 30, 2019. Photo: RSS
Kathmandu, May 30
Minister of Finance Yubaraj Khatiwada today said the budget for fiscal 2019-20 was not ‘distributive’ and met the aspirations of the people, economy and the entire development process.
At a post-budget interaction with journalists, Khatiwada said the budget had given priority to enhancing education, health and drinking water sectors and creating job opportunities in the country to ensure people’s fundamental rights.
He added that top priority had been given to infrastructure development, which was crucial to materialise the country’s development aspirations and economic growth.
The budget has been criticised, especially for allocating a large chunk for recurrent expenditure and low allocation for development expenditure. Giving priority to populist programmes, such as raising the budget for constituency development programme and substantially raising salaries of civil servants, experts have been criticising this distributive nature of the budget.
Khatiwada defended the hike in the budget for constituency development programme by Rs 20 million, saying, “Lawmakers are people’s representatives. We cannot neglect the will of people’s representatives towards development.”
However, the finance minister mentioned that effective monitoring of the constituency development programme was necessary to ensure accountability while using the fund.
Khatiwada added that raising the elderly allowance and salaries of civil servants was necessary to address the aspirations of people.
The minister said the government would be successful in meeting its revenue collection (Rs 981 billion) and economic growth target (8.5 per cent) in the next fiscal. “The government, through the budget, has tried to promote domestic production-oriented revenue collection over import-oriented revenue collection,” he said.
As a number of big projects, including Gautam Buddha International Airport, will be completed within fiscal 2019-20, the 8.5 per cent growth target is achievable, Khatiwada stated. He said inflation in the next fiscal would be below six per cent as mentioned in the budget.
Khatiwada said the budget had not made any significant changes in taxes in a bid to promote businesses. “The tax administration has to be predictable, accountable and scientific. Instead of focusing on rates, the budget has focused on raising compliance on value added tax,” he added.
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Djokovic breezes into third round in Paris
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning his second round match against Switzerland’s Henri Laaksonen. Photo: Reuters
PARIS: Novak Djokovic wasted little time beating Henri Laaksonen 6-1 6-4 6-3 on Thursday to breeze into the third round of the French Open and stay on course to hold all four Grand Slam titles.
The 32-year-old Serbian top seed, bidding to win his second French Open, was at his clinical best in the opening set against the Swiss lucky loser, dropping only three points on serve.
There was a brief loss of focus when Djokovic was broken to love midway though the second set but he was quickly back in the groove to move two sets ahead.
Laaksonen, ranked 104th in the world, had only reached the second round once in a Grand Slam, and there was no way back as Djokovic broke twice in the third to wrap up victory.
As with holder Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Djokovic has enjoyed a friendly first-week draw and he will face Italian qualifier Salvatore Caruso for a place in the fourth round.
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Muglin-Aanbukhaireni road to be closed for nine hrs daily for road expansion
Two excavators are seen digging a roadside hill across a bridge over Trishuli River along the Prithvi Highway in Aanbukhaireni Rural Municipality of Tanahun district, on Thursday, May 30, 2019. Photo: Madan Wagle/THT
DAMAULI: Vehicular movement along the Prithvi Highway will be halted for nine hours daily as the road expansion has begun on both sides of the newly constructed Muglin arch bridge over Trishuli River since Thursday, the Department of Road said.
“Due to the ongoing road expansion, the vehicular movement along the Muglin-Aanbukhaireni road stretch will be halted for nine hours at two intervals; from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and from 9:00 pm to 2:00 am,” Adhikari shared.
According to District Traffic Police Office, Tanahun, Incharge Sub-Inspector (SI) Purna Bahadur Adhikari, two excavators are being used for digging the roadside hills in Aanbukhaireni Rural Municipality of Tanahun district.
The road closure will take place on a daily basis from May 30 to June 13 for the road widening and blacktopping, according to a notice issued by the Department of Road today.
The newly constructed 160-metre model bridge over the Trishuli River connects Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality of Chitwan district with Aanbukhaireni.
The bridge is being constructed with the grant of Rs 120 million from the World Bank. Construction of the bridge started in view of the degrading condition of the existing bridge.
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Stokes leads England to 311-8 in World Cup opener
England’s Ben Stokes in action. Photo: Reuters
LONDON: Ben Stokes top-scored with 89 as England posted a solid but not commanding total of 311 for eight in their opening Cricket World Cup match against South Africa at The Oval on Thursday.
Jason Roy, Joe Root and Eoin Morgan also passed fifty in favourable batting conditions, but England were never able to break free from the shackles imposed by a disciplined South African attack.
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After being put in to bat, the tournament favourites lost Jonny Bairstow to the second ball of the innings, caught by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock off spinner Imran Tahir, but Roy and Root shared a 106-run partnership to steady the hosts.
Roy never threatened to dismantle the bowling as he has done regularly in recent matches, accumulating 54 runs before he skied Andile Phehlukwayo to Faf du Plessis at mid-off.
Three balls later Root departed for 51, playing a loose drive at Kagiso Rabada to give JP Duminy a simple catch at backward point and leave England on 111 for three.
South Africa continued to bowl tightly as Morgan and Stokes set about rebuilding the innings.
Morgan struck the first six in the 26th over and the captain cleared the ropes twice more in a fourth-wicket partnership of 106.
Morgan, on 57, was brilliantly caught off Tahir by Aiden Markram at long-on, the fielder diving forward to catch the ball inches from the turf, and England failed to cut free.
Jos Buttler made a scratchy 18, Moeen Ali three before he too fell to a superb catch on the boundary by Du Plessis and Chris Woakes 13 as the last 10 overs produced 76 runs to leave the match finely poised at the half-way stage.
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Modi sworn in for second term as Indian prime minister
India’s President Ram Nath Kovind administers oath of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a swearing-in ceremony at the presidential palace in New Delhi, India May 30, 2019. Photo: Reuters
NEW DELHI: Narendra Modi has been sworn in for a second term as India’s prime minister after an overwhelming election victory for his Hindu nationalist party in a country of 1.3 billion people seeking swift economic change.
President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath to Modi and his Cabinet ministers on Thursday.
Missing from the new Cabinet were former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who stepped aside for health reasons.
The ceremony at the presidential palace was attended by several South Asian and Southeast Asian leaders as part of Modi’s effort to build economic partnerships in the region.
Modi did not invite Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, signifying that tense relations continue between the nuclear-armed rivals.
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Mane focused and happy at Liverpool despite Real interest
Liverpool’s Sadio Mane celebrates scoring their first goal. Photo: Reuters
LONDON: Sadio Mane has said he is happy at Liverpool and will not let speculation that he is wanted by Real Madrid distract him ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur.
Real are looking to strengthen their squad after reappointing Zinedine Zidane as manager and Mane is one of a number of players being linked with a move to Madrid, according to reports in Spain.
The Senegal international was joint top-scorer in the Premier League this season, alongside his team mate Mohamed Salah and Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and signed a new five-year contract with Liverpool in November.
“For me the most important thing is Liverpool and I’m happy here,” Mane told reporters. “I’m preparing for one of the biggest games for the club, the fans and the players as well, so let’s focus on this one first and win it.
“(Speculation) is part of football so we have to deal with it. It’s always a pleasure that this kind of team wants (you), but don’t forget Liverpool. They beat big teams.”
Mane said Liverpool were especially motivated to beat Spurs after losing to Real in last season’s Champions League final and finishing second in the league behind Manchester City this season.
“(Last year’s final) will help with this one because we wanted to win it and it was not the case. It’s positive because many people didn’t expect us to play this final,” he added.
“We didn’t win the league but we still have one trophy to play for so we are going to try to give everything to win it.”
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I think it’s a goodbye, says Hazard
Chelsea’s Eden Hazard celebrates scoring their fourth goal. Photo: Reuters
BAKU: After scoring twice in Chelsea’s 4-1 win over Arsenal in the Europa League final, Eden Hazard said it was the moment to call time on his magnificent career with the London club to seek new challenges.
The Belgian is widely expected to join Real Madrid and he capped a superb display against Premier League rivals Arsenal by converting from the penalty spot to make it 3-0 before adding the fourth to complete the rout.
“My dream was to play in the Premier League and I did it for seven years. I think it’s a goodbye,” Hazard told BT Sport.
Chelsea had broken the deadlock in the 49th minute through former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud and Hazard created the second goal for substitute Pedro.
“It was good. The first half both teams had a bit of stress because it was a final. But when Olly (Giroud) scored it was the beginning of a great night,” Hazard said.
“We played well in the second half. We tried to play our football and we knew we had the players to do that. It is a great trophy to win.”
Hazard, 28, joined Chelsea from Lille in 2012 for 32 million pounds ($40.41 million) and won the Europa League in his first season, later winning the Premier League title in 2015 and 2017 as well as one League Cup and one FA Cup.
Real Madrid have not tried to hide their desire to sign the Hazard, with president Florentino Perez admitting this week that he has been chasing his signature for years and expects to land the Belgian this summer.
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Federer feels the love in Paris
Switzerland’s Roger Federer in action during his second round match against Germany’s Oscar Otte. Photo: Reuters
PARIS: If Roger Federer wondered how much he means to the French Open he got his answer after a clinically efficient, yet still eye-catching, second-round win over German Oscar Otte on Wednesday.
After closing out his 6-4 6-3 6-4 victory with a signature stroke of magic, a silky backhand drop volley played on the walk from mid-court, the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd rose as one.
After a warm handshake with 144th-ranked Otte, who played admirably in the biggest match of his career, Federer milked the applause as the fans broke out into a chant of “Roger, Roger”.
Later, pandemonium broke out in the concourse outside the media centre as the 20-times Grand Slam champion, who skipped the last three editions of the claycourt showpiece, headed for his post-match duties through hoards of fans.
“It makes me happy because I see that people are crazy about tennis. They have a lot of desire to see me play, to see me win, to see me several times more,” the 37-year-old told reporters.
“It gives me a lot of energy. When you have that atmosphere, you feel that people are excited to see you, to follow you, they chant your name, and it was not even a five-set match, it was a match with Otte, 144 in the world. It’s very rare.”
Federer claimed his one and only French Open title 10 years ago. When injury prevented him playing in 2016, then he opted to skip the claycourt swing altogether in 2017 and 2018 to avoid injuries, it seemed his competitive days in Paris were over.
Whatever the future holds, however, his return is clearly not just for sentimental reasons.
The third seed has won all six sets he has played so far this week and looks imperious. Anyone assuming the fortnight will culminate with a battle between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic might have jumped the gun.
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“I must say I feel really good considering I haven’t played here in that long,” Federer said.
“Especially if I think back a few weeks and months ago before Madrid, didn’t know how successful I was going to play or how I was going to feel on the clay.
“Honestly I was looking at a worst-case scenario, losing first round in Madrid and then somehow having a tough draw here as well and not getting past the first-round hurdle.”
One reporter remarked that Federer’s kit, pale brown shorts and light cream shirt with a brown stripe, made him look like a delivery driver for a well-known courier company.
It is not as exotic as many of the kits on display this week, but then Federer can make anything look good.
“It was more trying to go back in time a little bit to the ’70s, you know, and haven’t worn brown ever and cream,” he said.
“Maybe more vintage looking.”
Federer keeps rolling back the clock on court and his display on Wednesday was sublime.
Otte, a lucky loser from the qualifying draw playing only his third Grand Slam main-draw match, was the perfect prop.
With his aggressive strokes he offered enough threat to keep things interesting and admirably stuck with Federer.
He could never really lay a glove on the Swiss master though and Federer timed his changes of gear to perfection.
Neither player had seen a break point through the first nine games but Federer pressed hard with his opponent serving at 4-5 and converted his first set point.
It was a similar story in the second set, Federer breaking in the eighth game with a volley before holding for a two-set lead. When Otte served at 4-4 in the third set you knew what was coming and so it proved as Federer set up a clash Norway’s 63rd-ranked Casper Ruud.
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Man involved in child murder made public in Dhanusha
JANAKPURDHAM: Dhanusha Police have made public a man arrested on the charge of murdering a two-and-a-half-year-old boy in the district, on Thursday.
The body of the child had been discovered on May 7. He had gone missing since the afternoon of May 6. The deceased was identified as Aryan Sah, son of Shambhu Sah, a resident of Dhalkebar in Mithila Municipality-6.
Police arrested Shatrughan Mahato, a local shaman, from his own house in Mithila-6, on Wednesday. Mahato killed the child as a “sacrifice to attain power”, as revealed through police investigation.
Grandfather of the child, Pitambar Sah, filed a report with police stating that Mahato was responsible for the death of his grandson. On the basis of this, Mahato has been put under judicial custody for further investigations.
According to the chief at Dhanusha District Police Office, Superintendent of Police (SP) Shekhar Khanal, a sharp weapon used in the murder was confiscated from Mahato’s possession along with the clothes he was wearing during the incident. He added that three weeks had lapsed while investigating the case.
SP Khanal informed, investigations showed that Mahato had killed the child in cold blood around 2:00 in the morning of May 7 by slitting his throat and had thereafter disposed his body in somebody else’s field. Khanal said, the shaman had taken away the child while his mother had gone out into the fields to work.
The investigation had been jointly carried out by Area Police Office-Dhalkebar, Dhanusha District Police Office, Federal Police Unit-Janakpurdham, and Province 2 Police Office. Moreover, SP Khanal said that the investigation was also supported by an investigation team of Province 3 Police.
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Kids forced to study in Indian school
Dhangadi, May 29
Many children of Hausalpur in Kailari Rural Municipality, Kailali, are compelled to go to school across the border in India due lack of school in their locality.
The nearest school in their area is across a river with no bridge over it. So to avoid the risk, many children have joined a school in India.
There are 28 Tharu families in Hausalpur, and as there is no school in the village, the kids here go to Saraswoti Shishu Mandir in Belaparasuwa, on the Indian side of the border for education. These kids here know Hindi and can sing the Indian national anthem, but haven’t ever heard about their own national anthem.
“As ours is an Indian school, we only know the Indian national anthem, the one we sing every day during the morning assembly,” eighth-grader Bimala Chaudhary said in Hindi. “As that’s an Indian school, we can speak Hindi. We can speak Tharu language too as it is our mother tongue, but we do not know the Nepali language,” said the girl.
In fact, even adults can’t speak and understand Nepali here, and it’s not surprising given how they are cut off from the rest of the country and have been depending on India for every other thing, including education for their kids.
Sohanlal Chaudhary, a local, said they had no option but to send their kids to the Indian school as there was no school in their locality, and the school in the adjoining settlement Rampur was a long way across the river,” he said.
Hausalpur village leader Narbendra Kathariya said, “The school where our kids are now studying runs classes up to Grade VIII, and is one-and-a-half kilometres away. Once they pass Grade VIII, they go to another school in the same village, which is 3-km away from here.”
Talking about the problems faced by children in the village due to lack of school, Kailari Rural Municipality Chair Lajuram Chaudhary informed that the municipality was preparing to set up a school in the village from next year.
“A school couldn’t be established here in the past as there were very few kids. We’re thinking of running a school in the village from next academic session irrespective of the number of students,” he said.
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Strong earthquake off coast of El Salvador, tsunami possible
SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR: A strong earthquake hit off the coast of El Salvador early Thursday, sending frightened residents running out of their homes in the predawn hours. Authorities say a tsunami is possible.
The US Geological Survey reported the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.6. Its epicentre was about 17 miles (28 kilometres) south-southeast of La Libertad, a suburb of the regional capital, Santa Tecla, and it was recorded at a depth of 65 kilometres (40 miles).
Via Twitter, El Salvador’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources warned of a possible tsunami and advised people to stay away from the Pacific Ocean for the next four hours.
The earthquake was felt strongly in the capital, San Salvador. People left their homes with flashlights, and power was knocked out in at least some areas.
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England bat first as World Cup gets underway
LONDON: The 2019 Cricket World Cup got underway under bright London skies on Thursday as hosts England were put in to bat by South Africa in the first game of the six-week tournament.
Both teams have an uncomfortable history with the 50-over tournament, neither having won it, but arrive for the latest edition with high hopes.
England, who last reached the final in 1992, are the number-one team in ODI rankings and tournament favourites. South Africa, who have never reached the final having lost in the semi-finals four times, are ranked third, behind India.
The Duke of Sussex addressed the crowd at The Oval, saying:
“The first ever Cricket World Cup took place in England in 1975 and I am delighted that the UK will once again play host to this wonderful global event featuring 10 incredible teams, who, thanks to the UK’s diversity will feel like they are playing to a home crowd at every game.
“Cities will come alive across the next six weeks as World Cup fever sweeps the nation once more. Good luck to all the teams and thank you to everyone who has played a part in making this tournament happen. Trust me, you won’t want to miss any of it. I am now honoured to declare the men’s World Cup of 2019 open.”
South Africa’s Faf Du Plessis, without injured pace bowler Dale Steyn, won the toss and opted to field.
“A 10.30am start at The Oval – if there’s anything in the wicket, it’ll be in the first hour,” he said. “We’ve got some fantastic fast bowlers and we’re hoping it’ll be a great occasion today.”
England skipper Eoin Morgan said: “We would have looked to do the same, just preferring chasing. The wicket looks really good.”
Morgan said pace bowler Mark Wood had overcome injury and was available but had missed out on selection as England went for the ever-reliable Liam Plunkett.
Morgan was also excited about the World Cup debut of Jofra Archer.
“Jofra has come in and impressed,” he said of England’s fastest bowler. “He’s very calm when he plays. He’s a very exciting prospect given this is the very start of his international career.”
England have routinely been posting scores of over 300, invariably set up with quickfire scoring from openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow.
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Budget for education, science and technology increased
Kathmandu, May 29
The government has increased the budget for education, science and technology by more than 17 per cent for the fiscal 2019-20.
Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada, presenting the budget said that Rs 163.76 billion had been allocated for education, science and technology. This is more than 17 per cent in comparison to Rs 134.50 billion budget allocated in the current fiscal under the same title.
The government has announced the next 10 years as community school quality improvement decade, allocating Rs 8.53 billion for the programme. The amount will largely be used to build 300 new high schools across the a. It will also be used to build necessary hostel facilities at community schools in the mountain and hilly regions.
The government has proposed to draft University Umbrella Act. The government has also decided to restructure University Grant Commission as Higher Education Commission. The grant money which is being provided to UGC, however, has been increased to Rs 17.64 billion. For the current fiscal, the government had allocated Rs 14 billion for UGC.
Similarly, Rs 1.10 billion budget has been allocated for Madan Bhandari University of Science and Technology. The finance minister also said nuclear research centre would be established in the country. Minister Khatiwada also pledged to build a forensic science laboratory in all the provinces.
Five billion rupees budget has also been allocated for President Education Reformation Fund. The fund will be used to provide free sanitary pads to girl students in all community schools and for hiring at least one sports teacher for each community school. Likewise, Rs 3.191 billion budget has been allocated for scholarship.
Some 1.076 million Dalit students, 1.965 million female students and 63 thousand disabled children will benefit from the government’s scholarship programme, in the next fiscal.
The government has also allocated Rs 5.95 billion budget to provide free lunch to more than 22 million students of community schools.
The government has allocated Rs 1.50 billion for a programme, ‘Know your nation, make your nation’. The programme aims to improve vocational education in the country and provide capacity building trainings to teachers teaching subjects such as mathematics, science and English.
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Tatopani border point reopens after 4 yrs
Kavre, May 29
Tatopani transit point at the Nepal-China border resumed today after four years. The border point was closed due to the earthquakes of 2015.
The transit point officially resumed after four containers ferrying wool entered the Nepali side from China amidst a programme attended by high level officials from both countries.
Minister of Industries, Commerce and Supplies Matrika Yadav and Chinese envoy to Nepal Hou Yanqi had jointly inaugurated the transit point and announced its operation.
Though the transit point has come into operation, people will not be permitted to pass via the border. Vehicles ferrying goods from China will be off-loaded at a dry port in Larcha on the Nepali side and loaded from there. Earlier, people were allowed to move through the border point.
Repair and construction of the main office, customs yard, a quarter destroyed by the earthquakes have been completed at the dry port. Likewise, after the construction of customs office, quarantine, check post, bank and residence is over, goods will be off-loaded and loaded at the dry port.
The Nepal-China border point resumed after Miteri bridge and other physical structures damaged by the earthquakes were constructed. The border-point is the shortest from the capital Kathmandu.
China had constructed the road from border point to Baseri on the Nepali side while the Road Division Office, Charikot, had built the road from Barhabise to Beri. Houses and other structures destroyed by the tremors have been reconstructed and rebuilt at Tatopani, Liping and other areas.
Immigration office that had remained closed due to the earthquakes has been re-established in Liping. Some parts of the road damaged by flood and tremor have also been black-topped while some sections have been gravelled.
The Chinese government had agreed to reopen the border as repair of the border point and its surroundings was finished.
Tatopani transit point at Nepal-China border was closed for four years due to the devastating earthquakes of 2015 and frequent flooding in the Bhotekoshi River. Earlier, China had been reluctant to reopen the border citing security reasons despite repeated requests from the Nepal government.
According to Tatopani Customs Office, goods worth Rs 20 billion used to be imported and goods worth Rs 3 billion exported through the border point.
The import and export used to contribute around Rs 5 billion as revenue to the national coffers.
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President Bhandari awards Constituent Assembly members
KATHMANDU: The government has conferred the Constituent Assembly medal on all the members of Constituent Assembly (CA) elected in first and second CA elections.
A total of 1,106 CA members would be awarded the CA medal in two phases. The first phase programme was organised at the Office of the President at Shital Niwas this morning while the second-phase programme took place this afternoon.
The medal distribution ceremony commenced with President Bhandari awarding Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli with the medal. Also receiving the medal were Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara, former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Jhalanath Khanal, among others.
The medals are conferred on CA members in recognition of their contribution in promulgation of the new constitution after a recommendation from the Council of Ministers.
The constituent assembly elections were held on April 10, 2008 and November 19, 2013.
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Only 26 PEs booked profit in 2017-18
Kathmandu, May 29 E
Only 26 out of the 37 public enterprises (PEs) operating in the country had booked profit in last fiscal 2017-18.
The Annual Status Update of the PEs of 2017-18 unveiled by the Ministry of Finance today showed that the overall financial status of PEs operating in Nepal slightly improved compared to previous fiscal.
In the previous fiscal year also, 26 PEs had booked profit.
As per the report, the operating income of PEs increased by 21.27 per cent compared to fiscal 2016- 17. Similarly, net profit of PEs also increased by 3.31 per cent in fiscal 2017-18 compared to the previous year.
However, the dividend that the government received from PEs under non-tax revenue came up by 27.23 per cent in 2017- 18 compared to fiscal 2016- 17, according to the report.
As per report, Nepal Telecom was the top gainer in fiscal year 2017-18 with Rs 14.48 billion profit. It was followed by Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal with Rs 4.43 billion, Rastriya Banijya Bank with Rs 3.65 billion, Nepal Oil Corporation with Rs 3.58 billion and Agricultural Development Bank with Rs 3.44 billion.
The 37 different PEs, which are in operation, are broadly classified into four categories namely, service oriented, industry oriented, service oriented and public utility PEs.
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‘Investment-friendly budget’
Chitwan, May 29
Industrialists and businesspersons in Chitwan have welcomed the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, calling it liberal. They have, however, expressed their concern about its implementation.
Commenting on the budget, Tilachandra Bhattarai, executive committee member of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said the budget as a whole is good. “The budget has focused on infrastructure and has a target of 8.5 per cent growth, which is encouraging,” he said.
“The provision in the budget that aims to double the production of fruits and provide subsidy in seeds will increase agriculture production. Besides, the different approach proposed for the import of final commodity and raw materials will have a positive impact on the production sector,” Bhattarai said.
FNCCI Province-3 Vice-chairperson and former chairperson of Chitwan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rajan Gautam, mentioned that the attempts made in the budget to support domestic industry and products will help reduce the country’s trade deficit.
“While it’s positive for the budget to address the agriculture sector, what I feel lacking is its failure to create a mechanism to take social security programmes to the target population,” he said. “Again, it would be better if the budget had come up with a policy to convert remittance into capital,” he added.
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