The second round of the talks between the government and the representatives of the Indigenous Nationalities Struggle Committee (formed by Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities to enforce the 3-day bandh) held at the Army Integration Special Committee's secretariat in Naya Baneshwor ended inconclusively, Monday evening.
The government has decided to table 13th constitution amendment bill in the parliament to pave way for three month extension of the term of the Constituent Assembly.
The cabinet meeting held at Prime Minister's office in Singha Durbar Wednesday evening took the decision to this effect.
Earlier, the major political parties agreed to extend the CA term by three more months.
The parties decided to go for another extension of the CA, concluding that it was not possible to promulgate new constitution by May 27 deadline given the ongoing debate on federalism.
The three major political parties, UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and UML together with the Madhesi Front, Tuesday reached a breakthrough on the new constitution as they agreed on 11-province federal structure along with mixed governance system.
Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai on Sunday announced Rs 1 lakh as relief package to each of the families of those who lost their lives in yesterday's massive flood in Seti River of Kaski district.
PM Bhattarai, who reached the district to inspect the flood affected areas as well as assess human casualty and damages to properties caused by the flood, also announced Rs 25,000 as emergency relief fund to those who have been rendered homeless after the flood swept their houses away.
An avalanche in Annapurna mountain range triggered massive flood in Seti River in Kaski on Saturday, killing at least 13 people and destroying human settlements along with bridges and crops in a vast area.
Thirteen dead bodies have been recovered so far and the search for others is underway, according to District Police Office Kaski. The death toll is expected to rise given the extent of the floods. Among the missing are three foreign tourists.
The second round of regrouping conducted by the Army Integration Special Committee (AISC) has concluded at all the seven divisions except Kailali on Tuesday.
Altogether 5,800 of the 9,705 former Maoist combatants who had initially opted for integration into Nepal Army chose voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) during the second round of regrouping that started at all the PLA divisions on April 8.
22 March 2012 - Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations and Other International Organizations Shanker D. Bairagi has stated that Nepal has adopted a rights-based approach to the development of all sectors, adding discrimination in any form against any citizen or community on any ground, including gender or caste, is strictly prohibited.
The Government of Japan has decided to extend financial assistance of Rs 4,329,006 to Khurkot Sub-Health Post in Sindhuli District.
By utilizing this grant, Khurkot Sub-Health Post will implement the Project for Constructing a Building for Khurkot Sub-Health Post in Sindhuli District, according to a press release issued by the Embassy of Japan.
This financial assistance is extended under the Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGP) scheme of the Government of Japan in Japan's Fiscal Year 2011.
Thirteen people was disappeared from adjoining Basuling and Bhauneli VDCs in Baitadi district during the decade-long insurgency. A total of 27 persons were forcefully disappeared by the State and then rebel from the district, reports RSS.
District Administration Office (DAO) has just started distributing Rs 100,000 each to the families of people forcefully disappeared during the conflict that started on February 13, 1996.
The task of handing over account payee cheques equivalent to Rs 1.97 billion to former Maoist combatants choosing voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) concluded on Saturday.
According to the Special Committee for the supervision, integration and rehabilitation of the former Maoist fighters, of the 7,365 former combatants opting for VRS, 7,200 have received the cheques in all the seven camps and satellite camps.
The United Kingdom has agreed to provide Rs. 2.5 billion (20 million Pound Sterling) to Nepal Peace Trust Fund (NPTF) to support the ongoing peace process.
Andrew Mitchell, the International Development Secretary of the UK pledged such assistance during the meeting with Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai at Dhulikhel, Kavre district on Wednesday.
In the meeting, PM Bhattarai assured Mitchell that his government is committed to complete peace and the constitution drafting process as soon as possible.
Food grains shortage has been seen in eastern VDCs of Rukum's Himalayan region because of heavy snowfall in the district on Thursday night.
Life has been troublesome in more than 12 VDCs with the shortage of food grains as mules could not carry food grains in the area from the district headquarters, according to RSS.
Problems of transport have been seen in Hukam, Maikot, Taksera, Rangsi, Jang, Morabang, Mahat, Syalakhadi, Gotamkot and Sisne.
Normal life in large parts of eastern Nepal was badly hit since early Monday morning due to a bandh (shutdown) enforced by former Maoist combatants enraged after being disqualified in the verification conducted last year and discharged from Maoist PLA cantonments without any compensation or rehabilitation package.
Most of the shops, businesses, educational institutions and factories in Ilam, Jhapa and districts east of Koshi remain closed. Similarly, transportation has come to a grinding halt in the affected districts due to fear of attacks by the bandh enforcers.
A writ petition has been filed at the Supreme Court, demanding a ruling to the government to prevent the rising number of cold-related deaths in some parts of the country, especially in Terai.
Justice and Rights Institution Nepal, an NGO, filed the writ, accusing the concerned government authorities of indifference towards the cold wave deaths.
The petitioner also stated that the measures taken by some local authorities were too insufficient to minimise the problems facing poor people in the wake of rising winter chill.
Two more persons died of hypothermia and cold-related illnesses in Rautahat as the dip in the mercury level caused by cold wave sweeping across the Terai region has taken the death toll in the district to six.
The deceased have been identified as Indramati Devi Singh, 70, of Haminiya VDC-5 and Jagdev Mahato, a man in his 50s from Mudwalaba VDC-9. Both died of cold-related illnesses on Saturday
Reports coming in say that daily life in the district has been badly hit as less number of people are seen coming out of their houses due to the chilling cold.
Two persons were killed by cold wave sweeping across the Terai region on Thursday night.
The deceased have been identified Upendra Jha, a man in his 50s from Dharamapur-3 and Shyam Thakur, 45, of Laxmipur of Rautahat district. They died of hyperthermia, it is learnt.
The dip in the mercury caused by severe cold wave has continued to adversely affect daily life in different parts of Terai for the past few days.
Chilly weather made worse by cold breeze has continued to adversely affect daily life of many people in different parts of Terai for the past few days.
Due to the dip in the mercury caused by cold wave sweeping across the region, people are coming outside the houses in less numbers.
The cold spell has badly affected normal life in Lahan, Mirchaya, Dhangadhi and other places, decreasing business acitivities, local traders say. In the morning the places remain covered in a thick blanket of fog, blocking sun light and warmth for many hours and sometimes the entire day.
Cold wave has created havoc in few Terai districts and has claimed the life of one person in Mahottari district on Monday, the first since the onset of winter.
The deceased has been identified as Aghanu Mandal, 55, of Jaukhtol of Sandha VDC-9. He died due to excessive cold as his impoverished family was not able to provide warm food, clothing and shelter to him.
The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, through KfW Development Bank, has agreed to provide an additional grant assistance of EUR 2.0 million (equivalent to NPR 217.7 million) to the Government of Nepal as a further contribution to the Nepal Peace Trust Fund (NPTF).
An agreement to this effect was signed between the Government of Nepal and KfW at the Ministry of Finance, Singhadurbar, Kathmandu Tuesday, according to a press statement issued by the German Embassy in Kathmandu.
