New party formation is like forming water by combining hydrogen and oxygen: Dahal

May 17, 2018-Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the unification between CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) is like forming water by combining hydrogen and oxygen.

Addressing a press conference organised at City Hall to make a formal announcement of the party unification, Dahal said, “the unification between CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) is like forming water by combining hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen and oxygen cannot be separated once they turn into water.”

Dahal termed the unification between the two communist forces as a ‘great step’.

He said that the new party formed after the unification of two parties will work for stability, development and prosperity for people.

He admitted that malpractices were rife in communist parties and claimed a unified communist party would work to end such practices.

The former PM said he would devote his rest of his life for the development, prosperity and socialism in the country.

source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

MD course fee row: Medical students stage sit-in outside VC Khaniya’s office

May 17, 2018-Medical students staged a sit-in outside the office of Tribhuvan University Vice-chancellor Tirtha Khaniya on Wednesday, demanding that the varsity enforce the fee ceiling for Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, as decided by the TU Executive Council on March 26.

Around 20 students gathered outside VC Khaniya’s office in TU campus, Kirtipur, for nearly two hours before they were admitted inside.

Dr Gunjan Khadka, one of the protesters, said that VC Khaniya allowed them only a brief moment to listen to their grievances.

“Once we were admitted inside his office building, we had to wait for another two hours to meet him. In a short meeting we had with him, we asked him what the university was doing to address the concerns,” said Dr Khadka.

The agitating students returned after VC Khaniya assured them that the TU was committed to enforcing the decision taken by the Executive Council.

The medical students started their protest after some medical schools refused to comply with the set fee structure. Universal College of Medical Sciences, Bhiarahawa, and Gandaki Medical College, Pokhara, have filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court challenging the decision of the TU Executive Council to reduce the fee for MD course to Rs 2.2 million from Rs 3.1 million.

VC Khaniya has assured the protesting students that the TU would hire the best lawyers to fight the case.

“The decision taken by the TU Executive Council is final. We are not going to bend our knees before these colleges,” he told the students.

Earlier, the students had staged a protest outside the office of the Institute of Medicine, the body that governs the country’s medical schools. Dr Govinda KC, a senior orthopaedic surgeon and a staunch supporter of regulating the country’s medical education sector, has also thrown his weight behind the ongoing protest.

He had recently issued a statement demanding the government to scrap the affiliation of those colleges that are charging exorbitant fees by violating the regulation.


source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

Oli and Dahal shake on Nepal Communist Party

May 17, 2018-Eight months after the initial agreement between the CPN- UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre) on a party unity, the two ruling left parties have reached closer to sealing the deal. The announcement will be made on Thursday.

Two separate meetings—UML’s standing committee and Maoist Centre’s headquarter—on Wednesday evening decided to seal the merger.  The new party will be known as ‘Nepal Communist Party’.

The breakthrough deal came after a two-hour-long meeting between Prime Minister and UML Chairman KP Oli and Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Wednesday morning.

Then UML’s standing committee meeting and Maoist Centre’s headquarter meeting closed the deal.

Oli and Dahal agreed to announce the merger on Thursday, coinciding with the 25th death anniversary of former UML general secretary Madan Bhandari.

As per the agreement, the new party will have 441-member central committee—with 241 members from the UML and 200 from the Maoist Centre.

It will have a 43-member standing committee with 25 UML representatives and 18 from the Maoist Centre. The party will have ‘Sun’ as its electoral symbol that has been used by the UML for long.

The Party Unification Coordination Committee (PUCC) has called a meeting on Thursday to resolve any ideological issues related to the unification. Both parties will dissolve their respective central committees before registering the new party with the Election Commission.

“UML’s standing committee meeting and Maoist Centre’s headquarter meeting have decided to finalise the party merger,” confirmed senior Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

Addressing the media after the standing committee meeting, UML Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai said the the unification process of the two major leftist force in the country has come to the home stretch.

“The UML standing committee’s decision is historic not only for Nepal but also for all our well-wishers across the world,” he added.

The UML and Maoist Centre decided to accept Oli and Dahal as the joint chairmen of the new party until the general convention.

Oli and Dahal are scheduled to address a function at Madan Nagar, Balkhu, at 8:30 on Thursday morning where they will formally announce the merger. That will be followed by a PUCC meeting at Baluwatar at 10am.

The PUCC will prepare the final text, including the political and ideological documents of the new party, according to Maoist leader Shrestha.

“The PUCC meeting will take necessary decisions to ensure the unification process is concluded by Thursday,” UML Vice-chairman Bam Dev Gautam said.

Top leaders of the UML and Maoist Centre are scheduled to visit the Election Commission at around 3pm to register the new party and will hold a press conference at the City Hall at around 5pm.

UML Secretary Bhattarai said the PUCC meeting will prepare party manifesto and statute. “If these tasks are completed on time, we visit the Election Commission tomorrow [Thursday],” he said.

Both parties have agreed to accept the role of the decade-long Maoist’s People’s War and peaceful struggle of the UML in the past decade in their political document.

On the ideological issue, the two parties have agreed to highlight the positive aspects of Janata ko Baudaliya Janabad (People’s Multi-party Democracy), currently undertaken by the UML, and Janabad of the 21st century, the guiding principles of the Maoist party and create a new ideological framework.

The UML secretary said the decision on the party’s guiding principle would be taken up by the general convention.

“The interim political report will, however, mention Samajbad unmukh Janatako Janabad (socialism-oriented people’s democracy),” he said, adding that the party’s political ideology will ensure multi-party system, pluralism, press freedom, human rights and environment for holding timely periodic elections.

Left parties in historic deal



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India flyover collapse kills at least 18 in Varanasi

At least 18 people have been killed and dozens trapped in the Indian city of Varanasi after a flyover collapsed, crushing vehicles beneath it.

The flyover was still being built when portions of its cement structure fell on the road being used under it.

Officials from the National Disaster Response Force said 18 bodies had been recovered so far.

A rescue operation is continuing for those believed to still be trapped, but their number and condition is unknown.

Photographs and video from the scene showed cars and a bus crushed beneath the weight of the concrete, many of which still held people inside.

Local media reported that a handful of people had been successfully rescued, as seven cranes attempted to lift the concrete pillar. A large crowd also gathered at the scene.

One eyewitness told reporters they were nearby when the collapse happened. "At least four cars, an auto-rickshaw and a minibus were crushed under it," they said.

Image copyrightAFP
Image caption
Several vehicles were only partly crushed beneath the tonnes of concrete
India's NDTV also reported that many of those trapped are believed to be construction workers who had been building the flyover.

The cause of the collapse is not yet known, and an inquiry has been ordered, NDTV added.

Major collapses of buildings and other infrastructure are not uncommon in India, where the enforcement of construction standards is weaker than many Western countries.

In September, 33 people died when a six-storey Mumbai building toppled and more than 20 people died in 2016 when a flyover collapsed in Kolkata.

Other collapses with smaller death tolls are frequent.

Varanasi is the home constituency of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said he was "extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to the collapse".

"I pray that the injured recover soon. Spoke to officials and asked them to ensure all possible support to those affected," he tweeted.

source:www.bbc.com

EU paid Airbus billions in illegal subsidies, WTO rules

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled that the European Union (EU) failed to comply with requests to end subsidies for Airbus.

The US Trade Representative (USTR) said the ruling in the dispute opens the way for placing tariffs on EU goods.

The USTR argued that European countries had given $22bn in state aid to Airbus to help launch its A380 and A350 jets, causing losses to US rival Boeing.

The European Commission said most of the disputed support ended in 2011.

It said it had "only a few" remaining things to do to be compliant and pledged "swift action" on those fronts.

What is the history of the dispute?
Tuesday's ruling in favour of the US, which brought the case on behalf of plane-maker Boeing, brings an end to a dispute which began in 2004 over $22bn (£16.3bn) in subsidised European financing for Airbus.

The WTO initially found in favour of the US in 2011. The US subsequently complained that the EU and certain member countries were not in compliance with the decision, prompting further wrangling between the two sides.

On Tuesday, the WTO dismissed an appeal by Airbus, saying the European plane maker had failed to fix the harm done to US rival Boeing.

Boeing chairman and chief executive Dennis Muilenburg said: "Today's final ruling sends a clear message: disregard for the rules and illegal subsidies are not tolerated."


source:www.bbc.com

Royal wedding: Meghan's half-sister hopes father will attend

Meghan Markle's estranged half-sister has said she hopes their father Thomas will attend the royal wedding.

Confusion remains over whether Mr Markle is willing or well enough to attend his daughter's wedding to Prince Harry in Windsor on Saturday.

He had told website TMZ he would not go amid a row over paparazzi photographs; then that he would; then that he could not, due to planned heart surgery.

Samantha Markle said he had faced an "unbelievable amount of stress".

Mr Markle became embroiled in controversy at the weekend, following reports that he staged paparazzi photographs of himself in the run-up to the wedding.

The pictures showed Mr Markle - apparently unaware he was being photographed - in a series of wedding-related activities, including being measured for a wedding suit.

source:www.bbc.com

Carillion board oversaw a 'rotten corporate culture', say MPs

Carillion's board presided over a "rotten corporate culture" and was culpable for its "costly collapse", two committees of MPs have concluded.

They also accused the government and big four accounting firms of failing to stop Britain's second biggest construction firm from going under.

The MPs said regulators should now consider banning the former directors from serving on other company boards.

Carillion collapsed under a £1.5bn debt pile in January.

It employed 43,000 people, about 20,000 of them in the UK, and thousands of jobs have been lost.

It also held numerous public contracts, such as the maintenance of schools and prisons, all of which had to be brought under government control.


source:www.bbc.com

Polycystic ovary syndrome: Scientists closer to understanding cause

A common cause of female infertility - polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - may be due to a hormonal imbalance before birth, researchers have found.

Researchers have been able to cure it in mice, and a clinical trial in human women is due to begin later this year, the New Scientist reports.

PCOS affects up to one in five women worldwide, it says.

It affects how a woman's ovaries work - symptoms include irregular periods and difficulty getting pregnant.

"It's by far the most common hormonal condition affecting women of reproductive age, but it hasn't received a lot of attention," Robert Norman at the University of Adelaide in Australia told the New Scientist.

source:www.bbc.com

Gaza violence: Israelis and Palestinians in fierce exchanges at UN

There have been angry exchanges between Israeli and Palestinian envoys at the UN, as the diplomatic fallout over deadly violence in Gaza gathered pace.

Some 58 Palestinians were killed when Israeli troops fired on protesters on Monday, with funerals held on Tuesday.

The Palestinian envoy spoke of a "crime against humanity", while Israel accused Hamas, who are in control of Gaza, of taking their own people hostage.

This week was the culmination of a six-week protest against Israel.

'Hear our message': Gaza border violence in pictures
Life in the Gaza Strip
Monday was the 70th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel and also the day the US made the controversial move of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

What have Israel and the Palestinians said?
The emergency meeting of the UN Security Council began with its president, Poland's Joanna Wronecka, calling a minute's silence for those killed in Gaza on Monday, along with "others who have died as a result of a conflict that has endured for far too long".

After a number of nations expressed concern at the violence and some called for an inquiry, the Palestinian and Israeli envoys engaged in a fierce exchange.

source:www.bbc.com

Japan's economy shrinks for first time in two years

Japan's economy shrank in the first quarter of 2018 for the first time in two years, ending the longest stretch of economic growth since the 1980s.

The world's third largest economy contracted at an annualised rate of 0.6%, official data showed.

Expectations were for an annualised contraction of 0.2%.

Private consumption and capital expenditure slowed during the January to March quarter, which analysts said dragged down the economy.

Private consumption accounts for about 60% of Japan's economic activity.

Annualised growth rates represent the growth if the quarter-on-previous-quarter rate of change were maintained for a full year.

On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the economy shrank 0.2% compared with growth of 0.1% at the end of 2017.

Analysts said they expected to see a recovery in the current quarter of 2018 and that bad weather together with a global slowdown in demand for electronics had also led to the decline in the first quarter.

source:www.bbc.com

N Korea cancels talks with South Korea and warns US

North Korea has cancelled Wednesday's high-level talks with South Korea because of anger over its joint military exercises with the US.

The North's official KCNA news agency said the exercises were a "provocation" and a rehearsal for an invasion.

It also warned the US over the fate of the historic summit between Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump that is scheduled for 12 June in Singapore.

In March, Mr Trump stunned the world by accepting an invitation to meet Mr Kim.

"We will both try to make it a very special moment for World Peace!" the US leader later tweeted.

The US state department said it was continuing to prepare for the Trump-Kim summit and that it was not aware of any changes in the North Korean position.

source:www.bbc.com

Khadka, Lamichhane lead nominations

May 15, 2018-Nepal Sports Journalists Forum on Monday announced the five nominees each in four categories of the Pulsar Sports Award set for June 18 at the Army Officer’s Club.

The annual Sports Award honours sportsperson in eight categories—the player of year male and female, youth, coach, para-athlete, peoples’ choice, special and lifetime achievement. NSJF has already announced the People’s Choice nominees and on Monday it revealed the contenders in the Male, Female, Youth and Coach categories.



source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

Legendary footballer Shah passes away

May 15, 2018-Legendary footballer and former national team captain Mani Shah passed away at the Norvic International Hospital in Thapathali on Monday.

The 51-year-old, popularly known as ‘Nepali Maradona’, was suffering from liver complications for years. He was admitted to the Hospital on Sunday after high fever and was kept under ventilator support on Monday morning. He was pronounced dead in the evening. His body will be kept at the Dasharath Stadium for final tribute on Tuesday. He is survived by wife and a daughter.

Shah, who made national team debut at the age of 17 during the 1985 South Asian Federation Games (now called South Asian Games) in Bangladesh, is remembered as one of the best footballers Nepal has ever produced. He was one of the key players of the Nepali squad that won gold medal in the 1993 SAG in Dhaka. While Nepal was trailing 2-1 against India in the final, Shah scored the equaliser in the fading moments of the match through freekick. Nepal eventually won the match 4-3 in the penalty shootout.

All Nepal Football Association vice president and former national team captain Upendra Man Sing, who played alongside Shah, called him as “the best midfielder” Nepal has ever had. “I have not seen a player of such qualities in midfield so far,” said Singh, the former national team assistance coach.

Singh, who played together with Shah for eight years during 1991-1998 calls Shah as his idol. “I met him for the first time at a programme at Dipendra Police School and played for the first time with him at 1991 SAG. He always encouraged the juniors,” said Singh who was also his teammate during the footballer’s last international tournament in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.



source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

Four officials asked to clarify over disfigured national flag

May 14, 2018-The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has sought clarification from four government officials over the use of a disfigured national flag at Janaki Temple premises during the visit of Indian PM Narendra Modi.

Province 2 acting Chief Secretary Hari Phuyal, Province 2 Internal Affairs and Law Ministry Secretary Deviram Bhandari, Dhanusha Chief District Officer Gopal Parajuli and Janakpur sub-metropolis executive officer Madan Bhandari are asked to clarify how the wrongly-shaped and figured flag ended up at the temple premises. They have been asked to present a written clarification inside three days.

Social media users were abuzz with tempestuous posts for the use of the disfigured flag during the visit by the Indian PM.



source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

Kathmandu starts temple work

May 15, 2018-Rebuilding of Kasthamandap Temple damaged by the earthquake on April 25, 2015 started on Monday. The temple, one of the historic monuments situated in the heart of Kathmandu, figures among UNESCO world heritage sites.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari laid the foundation stone of the quake-damaged structure.

Veteran Culture Expert and Litterateur Satya Mohan Joshi, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Mayor Bidhya Sundar Shakya and National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Chief Executive Officer of Yubraj Bhusal among other were present in the event.

KMC has taken the responsibility of resurrecting the structure. Minister Adhikari said the reconstruction would be completed within three years.“The KMC will initiate reconstruction process and co-ordinate with local bodies,” he said. The government plans to complete reconstruction of all major historic sites in Kathmandu before the beginning of Nepal Tourism Year in 2020, he said.A steering committee headed by KMC Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya will govern the rebuilding process.

Kasthamandap is one of the oldest public buildings in Kathmandu Valley. It serves religious and secular functions for over a millennium. Many erroneously believe the wooden pavilion that Laxmi Narsingh Malla built it in 17th century. Other scholars place the structure as a 12th century monument.

Recent archeological studies resolve several myths and stories about the date of the construction of the temple. Newly discovered objects during excavations in the aftermath of the earthquake suggest it may have been built in the 7th century during the Lichhavi era. A joint excavation conducted by the Department of Archaeology and Durham University pushed Kasthamandap’s dates back by five centuries. It confirmed the foundations date back to the 7th century and established the building was at least 1,300 years old.

Even though the reconstruction process of Kasthamandap was initiated after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, the process had stalled following intervention from citizens and cultural experts after the temple was being reconstructed using steel and concrete while the locals had demanded that originality is maintained to keep the essence of the historic process alive.

Work at heritage sites progresses at the snail’s pace with majority of such sites yet to be reconstructed. According to the data of National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), the agency mandated to carry reconstruction drive, the earthquake affected 750 heritage sites.Of the total, 133 sites have been destroyed while 617 sustained partial damage. The earthquake affected heritage sites in 20 districts out of 32 quake-impacted districts. The NRA data shows 100 heritage sites have been rebuilt so far. Progress is slow at most sites and work is yet to start at 324 sites.

Differences over reconstruction modality, intervention from locals in several sites and slow bureaucratic process among others have prevented the timely reconstruction of the iconic structure.Other crucial issue delaying the reconstruction of the heritage site is unavailability of adequate number of engineers, architects and skilled workers.



source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

PA member sentenced to one year prison for smuggling forest products

May 15, 2018-A Province Assembly lawmaker of Rautahat has been sentenced to one year prison on the charge of smuggling forest products.

According to the verdict of the then Appellate Court, Hetauda, Province Assembly member Kundan Kuswaha was sentenced to one year in prison for his involvement in smuggling forest products.

The District Court, Gaur, has sent a letter including the information to the District Police Office pertaining to the fine penalty against Kuswaha.

Kuswaha had won the Province Assembly election from Rautahat Constituency 3 (Kha) from CPN (Maoist Centre).

The District Court has sent the letter related to fine at a time when the forest products smuggling case against Kuswaha is pending in the Supreme Court.

Court’s registrar Manoj Baral confirmed that a letter related to the fine penalty has been sent at the District Police Office informing that Kuswaha has been sentenced to one year in prison.

SSP Rabindra KC said that the District Police Office has got the letter sent by the court.

“The court has not clarified whether to arrest him,” he said, adding, “I will take consultation with the legal experts regarding the issue.”

A police official at the District Police Office claimed that Kuswaha can be arrested based on the letter of court.

The Appellate Court, Hetauda, on August 10, 2015 had sentenced Kuswaha to one year in prison.

Around 469 cubic feet timber was recovered from a truck (Na 4 Kha 4640) heading towards Pokhara of Kaski from Katahariya of the district on September 18, 2012 during a security check at Pathlaiya Check Post in Pipara Simara.

Truck driver Indra Bahadur Mananadhar had tried to escape the arrest saying that the vehicle was loaded with 350 sacks of rice.

During the interrogation, Manandhar said that the timber belonged to Kundan Prasad Kusaha, owner of Katahariya-based New Everest Saw Mill.

The District Court in July 6, 2014, had found Manandar guilty in the smuggling of forest products while truck owner and Kuswaha were given clean chit.

After the verdict was appealed at the Appellate Court, Hetauda, the court overturned the decision of District Court, Bara, and sentenced Kuswaha to one year in prison.

Later on July 31, 2016, lawmaker Kuswaha had appealed the Supreme Court against the verdict of the Appellate Court.

“I am stunned that a letter has been sent to the District Police Office regarding the fine penalty over the pending case,” he said, “How it happened. I am trying to inquire about this.”

He had contested the province assembly election at a time when the case was pending at the Supreme Court.



source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

Writ filed against CEC Yadav’s appointment scrapped after 5 years

May 15, 2018-A writ filed against Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav has been scrapped finally after five years.

A division bench Justices Kedar Prasad Chalise and Dambar Bahadur Shahi on Monday scrapped the writ filed by Prabin Kumar Labh and Hareram Sah arguing that the appointment of CEC Yadav was against the constitutional provision.

With the decision of the Supreme Court, the decision made by the then Constitutional Council led by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi has got approval.


Published: 15-05-2018 19:02


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Over 50 people injured in Mahottari bus accident

May 15, 2018-More than 50 people were injured when a bus they were travelling in overturned at Parikauli Chowk in Jaleshwor Municipality along Bhitthamod-Janakpur road section in Mahottari on Tuesday.

According to SP Kuber Kadayet of the District Police Office, Mahottari, the bus (Ja 1 Kha) was heading towards Janakpur from Bhitthamod of Mahottari when the incident occurred due to overspeed.

Of the injured, 13 are undergoing treatment at the District Hospital, Jaleshwor and the remaining at the Janakpur Zonal Hospital.

Among the injured, seven are in critical condition and some of the injured have returned home after the treatment.

The bus was carrying more than 100 passengers. Bus driver and assistant bus driver fled the scene after the incident.

Nepal Army and Nepal Police personnel with the help locals had carried out rescue operation at the incident site.  RSS



source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

Dr KC demands action against medical colleges charging exorbitant fees

May 15, 2018-Senior orthopedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC has urged the government to immediately scrap the affiliation granted to medical colleges charging exorbitant fees from students against the fee ceiling set by the government.

Saying that the medical colleges have indulged in black-marketing of millions of rupees by charging exorbitant fees from students, Dr KC, who has already staged a series of hunger strikes demanding reforms in medical education sector, has urged the government and concerned authorities to take action against those colleges.

Accusing the government of showing irresponsible attitude towards the issue, the crusader said that the government should immediately take action against the syndicate of medical colleges.

“Illegal activities have been promoted as the Ministry of Education which has taken the responsibility to control crime in the entire education sector including medical colleges remained a mute spectator instead of taking action against those carrying out black marketing,” he said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

“We want the government immediately take action against the syndicate of medical colleges indulged in black marketing,” the statement read.

He said that the black marketing is being carried out in medical colleges under the protection of corrupt officer bearers of Tribhuvan University.

Dr KC said that the officer bearers of the Tribhuvan University who are found guilty should be immediately punished and suspended.

Earlier on Monday, medical students had staged protest in front of the Institute of Medicine (IoM) against exorbitant fees charged by medical colleges under the Tribhuvan University for a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree.

Around 40 students from six private medical colleges from different parts of the country demanded that the IoM take necessary steps against those colleges that are charging have passed the university’s ceiling. The TU Executive Council on March 26 had reduced the total fee for the degree to Rs2.2 million from Rs3.1 million. It included the tuition, along with admission, library, practical and examination charges.



source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

Iran nuclear deal: Envoy starts diplomatic tour after US withdrawal

Javad Zarif's first stop was with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing
Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has begun a diplomatic tour to seek assurances that signatories to a landmark nuclear deal will back it despite its abandonment by the US.

Mr Zarif said on his first stop, China, that he hoped to secure a "clear future design" for the agreement.

The US will re-impose sanctions on Iran and firms dealing with it could be hit, angering signatories like France.

President Hassan Rouhani said he hoped Iran could stay in the agreement.

"If the remaining five countries continue to abide by the agreement, Iran will remain in the deal despite the will of America," he said.

Iran nuclear deal: Key details
Europe's billion-dollar deals at stake in Iran row
The 2015 agreement sought to curb Iran's nuclear programme in return for the lifting of economic sanctions.

source:www.bbc.com

Margaret River shooting: Grandfather 'planned' Australia deaths

he father of four children found shot dead along with their mother in rural Western Australia has pointed the finger of blame at their grandfather.

Aaron Cockman said he believed that Peter Miles, 61, had not "snapped" but had been "thinking this through for a long time".

The bodies of Miles, his wife Cynda, daughter Katrina and four grandchildren were found in Osmington on Friday.

Police have said they are not looking for any other suspects.

They have not confirmed the identity of the killer but say they believe him to be among the dead.

Three long firearms found at the property were licensed to Mr Miles, they say.

Image copyrightEPA
Image caption
Aaron Cockman urged his local community not to feel anger at what had happened
Mr Cockman was estranged from Katrina Miles at the time of the killings.

He told reporters he did not feel angry about what had happened, just "tremendous sadness for my kids. I don't want anyone to feel angry".

Of Mr Miles, he said: "I still love who Peter was and... if it wasn't for him I wouldn't have Katrina, I wouldn't have any kids. So it's not some random guy off the street who's taken them away from me, he gave them to me and now he's taken them away".

He said he took some solace from knowing his children had died peacefully in their sleep but added, "I've lost everything in my life."

Image copyrightCYNDA MILES/FACEBOOK
Image caption
Cynda Miles was well known in her community
Police say they were alerted to the killings by a phone call from a man at the property early on Friday morning.

When they arrived, they found the bodies of Peter Miles outside the property, Cynda, 58, in the house and Katrina, 35, and her children - Taye, 13, Rylan, 12, Ayre, 10, and Kayden, 8 - in a nearby converted shed they were living in.

The killings have rocked the tiny rural community of Osmington, which is about 20km (12 miles) from Margaret River, a popular tourist and wine-growing area.


source:www.bbc.com

Dame Tessa Jowell dies aged 70

Former Labour cabinet minister Dame Tessa Jowell has died aged 70, her family has said.

Dame Tessa, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in May last year, suffered a haemorrhage on Friday, and had been in a coma until her death on Saturday.

She played a major role in securing the 2012 Olympics for London when she served as culture secretary.

In recent months she campaigned for more cancer treatments to be made available through the NHS.

She earned a minute-long standing ovation in the House of Lords in January for speaking about the issue.

Obituary: Dame Tessa Jowell
'No London 2012 without Tessa Jowell'
"In the end, what gives a life meaning is not only how it is lived, but how it draws to a close," she said during her speech.

"I hope that this debate will give hope to other cancer patients, like me, so we can live well together with cancer, not just dying of it. All of us, for longer."

Leading the tributes to Dame Tessa, former prime minister Tony Blair told the BBC that she was a "committed public servant" who was "always true and loyal and decent and wise".

source:www.bbc.com

Surabaya church attacks: One family responsible, police say

A family of six, including a nine-year-old girl, were behind a wave of blasts targeting three churches in Indonesia's second city of Surabaya, police say.

At least 13 people were killed and dozens injured in the attacks.

The mother and two daughters blew themselves up at a church, while the father and two sons targeted two others, according to police.

Sunday's bombings, which the Islamic State group has claimed, are the deadliest in Indonesia since 2005.

Why is Indonesia a target for militants?
Inside the home of Indonesia's most notorious IS militant
Police chief Tito Karnavian said the family belonged to an Indonesian IS-inspired network, Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD). Reports suggested the family may have spent time in Syria with IS.

What do we know about Sunday's attack?
The father drove a bomb-laden car into the grounds of Surabaya Centre Pentecostal Church, police said.

source:www.bbc.com

Bagmati, Dhobikhola bridge work crawls

May 13, 2018-Expansion work of two bridges over Bagmati and Dhobikhola rivers between Tinkune-Maitighar road progresses slowly, just like the traffic on one of Kathmandu’s busiest routes.

The Department of Roads (DoR) in December 2014 announced plans to expand the two-lane bridges after studies showed they caused major traffic congestion in Tinkune-Maitighar.After the authorities upgraded the Tinkune-Maitighar section to eight lanes, traffic snarls at the two-lane bridge are routine.

The expected time to expand both bridges was two years. Under the aegis of Kathmandu Valley Road Improvement Project, construction of these two bridges started on December 29, 2014. The project deadline for Dhobikhola Bridge was 36 months and 42 months for Bagmati Bridge.The first deadline of expanding the bridge over Dhobikhola in Bijuli Bazaar expired on December 29, 2017 while the second one over Bagmati River is due on June 29 next month.

Site In-charge of both projects Bishwa Bijayalal Shrestha said designing of bridges took a lot of time.“These bridges with arch design are the first of its kind in the country. The contract terms stipulate the contractor must prepare the design and then construct the bridge,” he said. Designing of the arch, done in Bangladesh, took longer than expected, said Shrestha, which delayed the construction phase. “Construction started almost a year after awarding the contract. Considering the time taken for designing, we had to extend the deadline for one more year for Dhobikhola Bridge,” he said.

The new deadline for the Dhobikhola Bridge is December 29, 2018. It takes into account the frequent digging at the project site for sewage management, and installation of drinking water pipes and electrical poles. Deputy Director General of Bridge Division, under the Department of Road (DoR), Arjun Jung Thapa said contractor JAYEE Construction had completed around 40-50 per cent of work at Dhobikhola project.Progress at Bagmati Bridge is slower with less than 30 per cent work complete. Pappu Construction, the contractor, has to complete the project this year.

“Pappu Construction workers left the project site long ago. The contractor always gave same excuses like sewage and electric poles digging work for the delay. They resumed work after we threatened to scrap their contract,” said Thapa.

Government agencies are considering fining these contractors if there are more delays.Both the construction companies will have to pay a fine at the rate of 0.5% of their total contract amount per day for next 200 days once their deadline expires, he said.

The length of Dhobikhola Bridge is approx. 51 km and that of Bagmati Bridge is nearly 85m, and each will have a width of 12m including 2m sidewalks on both sides. These two bridges will ease traffic congestion along the 2.6km Maitighar-Tinkune stretch.The contractors face an uphill task to beat their deadlines with monsoons around the corner.


Published: 13-05-2018 08:09


source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

NA defuses bomb along Prithvi Highway

May 13, 2018-Transportation along the Madi Bridge section of Prithvi Highway in Damauli has resumed after an improvised explosive device was defused by Nepal Army bomb disposal team.

A pressure cooker bomb was planted on the bridge obstructing the transportation since early morning.

Tanahun Chief District Officer Bharat Kumar Sharma informed there were wires and detonator inside the pressure cooker.



source:www.blogger.com

Oli briefs parliament about Modi’s visit

May 13, 2018-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Sunday briefed the Parliament about the two-day state visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Oli said the visit by his Indian counterpart had helped take Nepal-India relation to a new height. He said some of the remarks made during Modi’s civic reception in Janakpur was undignified in national and diplomatic terms. Without taking any names, Oli expressed his dissatisfaction for making remarks against national policy.

Oli said Indian PM Modi had agreed to implement the past pacts between two countries without further delay. He said the two PMs’ were also in accord to put a time frame to implement past pacts. The two prime ministers also explored methods to cut Nepal’s trade deficit with India while providing easy entry to Nepali products including ginger and cardamom, Oli said.

The Indian side was also positive about Nepal’s prod for four new air routes. Oli said India has agreed to mobilise technicians to study about Nepal’s prod for four new air routes and take a concrete decision by September.



source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

May 13, 2018-Advocates, defending the accused in the 33-kg gold smuggling case and the subsequent murder of an alleged gold smuggler Sanam Shakya, have asked the Morang District Court to release their clients on general date.

Citing that the charges leveled against the suspects under organised crime Act does not hold any ground, senior advocates Shambhu Thapa, Raman Shrestha, Yadunath Khanal and Raju Basnet on Sunday presented their defence to the bench of Judge Narayan Prasad Sharma.

The senior advocates hired from Kathmandu argued that a smuggling case cannot be registered against their clients as the alleged smuggled gold from the Tribhuvan Internation Airport has not been recovered yet adding that registers and document papers collected from the residence of the accused would not count as evidences in the case.

Senior advocates Thapa and Shrestha defended for businessman and Rastriya Prajatantra Party leader Bhujung Gurung and suspended SP Bikas Raj Khanal. Shrestha also defended former DIG Govinda Niraula.

While, another senior advocate Yadunath Khanal stood in defence for SP Khanal. Likewise, advocate Basnet defended the Thai Air staffer during today’s trail hearing.

The defence advocates also argued that it was meaningless to hold the trail at Morang since the incident allegedly took place at Kathmandu-based TIA, adding that Morang does not have the jurisdiction to hold trail on the case.



source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

Pakistan blocks US diplomat from leaving after fatal crash

Pakistan has prevented a US diplomat from leaving the country after he allegedly killed a motorcyclist by driving through a red light last month.

Local press said on Saturday that a plane was sent by the US to collect Col Joseph Emanuel Hall, a military attache, but was denied clearance.

US officials have previously said he cannot be arrested or tried because he has diplomatic immunity.

The incident has increased political tension between the countries.

Ateeq Baig, 22, was killed in the crash in Daman-e-Koh, north of Islamabad, on 7 April.

CCTV footage showed a white four-wheel-drive - said to be driven by Col Hall - ignoring the red traffic light at an intersection, crashing with a bike at speed and then braking.

The US embassy has denied reports in Pakistan's media that Col Hall was drunk while driving.

The dead man's father has called for the colonel to stand trial at Islamabad High Court (IHC).

source:www.bbc.com

Eurovision 2018: Some of Graham Norton's best bits

Eurovision just wouldn't be Eurovision without Graham Norton's acerbic commentary.

Presiding over the TV commentary on BBC One, which he has fronted since 2009 when he took over from Sir Terry Wogan, he was on fine form.

But as well as his gentle teasing at some of the contestants' expense, Norton also had some strong words to say about the person who invaded the stage during UK contestant SuRie's performance.

Here are a few of his best lines from the 2018 contest.

source:www.bbc.com

Stage stormed during UK's Eurovision song

A man stormed the stage while the UK's entry, SuRie, was performing at the Eurovision Song Contest.

SuRie was singing her song Storm when a man wearing a rucksack ran onto the stage, grabbed her microphone, and appeared to say: "Nazis of the UK media, we demand freedom."

He was swiftly dragged off stage and SuRie continued performing the song.

Israel won the contest with 520 points while SuRie's song was third from bottom, gaining 48 points.

Israel wins Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision 2018: The night in pictures
Some of Graham Norton's best bits
The invader is in police custody, the European Broadcasting Union said. He is understood to be a European citizen but not British.

It is thought the same man invaded the stage at the National Television Awards this year, and The Voice in 2017.

SuRie was given the chance to perform again, but declined. The BBC said: "SuRie and her team are extremely proud of her performance and have together decided that there is absolutely no reason to perform the song again."

Image copyrightEPA
Image caption
The stage invader took the microphone off SuRie, before being dragged off stage
The Eurovision 2018 final in Lisbon, Portugal, was watched by an estimated TV audience of 200 million.

Israel's entry Netta won the contest with the song Toy, and stood out with an unconventional singing style likened to chicken clucking.

The Cypriot entry Eleni Foureira came second with the song Fuego.

The voting was weighted so that half the points come from public telephone votes from viewers in each country, and half from a jury of musical experts in each nation.

source:www.bbc.com

One killed in Paris 'Islamic State' knife attack

A knifeman has killed one person and wounded four in a suspected terror attack in central Paris, French officials say.

The attacker was then shot dead by police in the Opéra district. Witnesses say they heard him shout "Allah Akbar".

So-called Islamic State (IS) later said one of its soldiers carried out the attack on Saturday evening.

It took place in an area renowned for its nightlife. People ran for cover into cafes and restaurants.

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted (in French): "France has once again paid in blood, but will not give an inch to the enemies of freedom."

How did the events unfold?
The attacker began stabbing passers-by at about 21:30 local time (19:30 GMT) on the rue Monsigny.

He also tried to enter several bars and restaurants, but was blocked by people hiding inside.

Police first tried to stop the assailant with a stun-gun before shooting him dead. He has not yet been identified.

source:www.bbc.com

North Korea pledges to dismantle nuclear site in May ceremony

orth Korea says it will begin dismantling its nuclear test site in less than two weeks in a ceremony attended by foreign journalists.

Pyongyang said it was taking "technical measures" to carry out the process between 23-25 May, North Korean state news agency KCNA reported on Saturday.

Scientists previously said the site may have partially collapsed in September.

The move is due to take place three weeks before US President Donald Trump meets North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

In April, South Korean officials said Mr Kim had stated he "would carry out the closing of the nuclear test site in May", adding that nuclear experts from South Korea and the US would be invited to watch.

Their comments came after talks between Mr Kim and South Korea's President Moon Jae-in.

However there was no mention of allowing foreign experts access to the site in Saturday's statement from North Korea.

North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site
UN gains 'unprecedented access' during visit
North Korea crisis in 300 words
What will the pledged ceremony include?
The dismantling of the Punggye-ri site, the exact date of which will depend on weather conditions, will involve the collapsing of all tunnels using explosives and the removal of all observation facilities, research buildings and security posts.

Journalists from South Korea, China, the US, the UK and Russia will be asked to attend to witness the event.

North Korea said the intention was to allow "not only the local press but also journalists of other countries to conduct on-the-spot coverage in order to show in a transparent manner the dismantlement of the northern nuclear test ground".

The reason officials gave for limiting the number of countries invited to send journalists was due to the "small space of the test ground... located in the uninhabited deep mountain area".

What do we know about the test site?
Situated in mountainous terrain in the north-east, the Punggye-ri site is thought to be the North's main nuclear facility.

Nuclear tests have taken place in a system of tunnels dug below Mount Mantap, near the Punggye-ri site.

Six nuclear tests have been carried out there since 2006.

After the most recent test, which took place in September 2017, a series of aftershocks hit the site, which seismologists believe collapsed part of the mountain's interior.

source:www.bbc.com

Stage stormed during UK's Eurovision song

Watch: Protester interrupts the UK's Eurovision entry in Lisbon
A man stormed the stage while the UK's entry, SuRie, was performing at the Eurovision Song Contest.

SuRie was singing her song Storm when a man wearing a rucksack ran onto the stage, grabbed her microphone, and appeared to say: "Nazis of the UK media, we demand freedom."

He was swiftly dragged off stage and SuRie continued performing the song.

Israel won the contest with 520 points while SuRie's song was third from bottom, gaining 48 points.

Israel wins Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision 2018: The night in pictures
Some of Graham Norton's best bits
The invader is in police custody, the European Broadcasting Union said. He is understood to be a European citizen but not British.

It is thought the same man invaded the stage at the National Television Awards this year, and The Voice in 2017.

SuRie was given the chance to perform again, but declined. The BBC said: "SuRie and her team are extremely proud of her performance and have together decided that there is absolutely no reason to perform the song again."
 
source:www.bbc.com

Rich List 2018: Jim Ratcliffe is UK's richest man

A businessman who grew up in a council house near Manchester is the richest person in the UK, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.

Jim Ratcliffe, who founded chemical firm Ineos, topped the list with an estimated worth of £21.05bn - after coming 18th last year.

Two of the company's directors are also on the list, which ranks Britain's wealthiest 1,000 people or families.

Jamie Oliver and fashion tycoon Sir Philip Green saw their fortunes drop.

Mr Ratcliffe, 65, spent the first ten years of his life in Failsworth, before moving to East Yorkshire.

He went to Beverley Grammar School, studied chemical engineering at Birmingham University, and got an MBA from London Business School, according to a Financial Times profile.

His father, who was a joiner, went on to run a factory that made laboratory furniture, while his mother worked in an accounts office.

Mr Ratcliffe's firm is currently locked in a legal battle with the Scottish government over its moratorium on fracking.

His wealth leapt by £15bn in the past year - partly because of a revaluation of his assets.

source:www.bbc.com

One killed in Paris 'Islamic State' knife attack

The attacker was then shot dead by police in the Opéra district. Witnesses say they heard him shout "Allah Akbar".

So-called Islamic State (IS) later said one of its soldiers carried out the attack on Saturday evening.

It took place in an area renowned for its nightlife. People ran for cover into cafes and restaurants.

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted (in French): "France has once again paid in blood, but will not give an inch to the enemies of freedom."

How did the events unfold?
The attacker began stabbing passers-by at about 21:30 local time (19:30 GMT) on the rue Monsigny.

He also tried to enter several bars and restaurants, but was blocked by people hiding inside.

Police first tried to stop the assailant with a stun-gun before shooting him dead. He has not yet been identified.


source:www.bbc.com

Motorised shed to make speed record attempt at Pendine Sands

A souped-up motorised shed and a motorbike will aim to break a world record on a Welsh beach this weekend.

The Fastest Shed will hope to smash its own 80mph (129km/h) record for the fastest shed at a land speed event at Pendine Sands in Carmarthenshire.

Superbike racer Zef Eisenberg will also attempt to break the land-speed record - and the 200mph barrier - on sand on his supercharged Suzuki Hayabusa bike.

Owner Kevin Nicks said his was the only road legal motorised shed in the world.

The 53-year-old gardener from Oxfordshire has spent more than £13,000 creating his bespoke shed on wheels, which now boasts a turbo-charged 400 brake horsepower engine that is more powerful than many sports cars.


Media captionThe souped-up shed that can do 80mph
Man walks away from record attempt crash
Car tested ahead of 1,000mph record attempt
Wallace and Gromit makers set Pendine record
He first had the idea of creating a shed on wheels in 2015 when his old Volkswagen Passat lay broken on his drive - and he thought: "Let's see if I can do something a little different."

The father-of-one initially spent £5,000 and 12 months making his home-made shed roadworthy so he can "take his daughter to school and pop to the shops".

"I did everything, build the shed, connected the engine, build the chassis," said Mr Nicks, who lives in the same village as motoring broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson.

Image copyrightSTRAIGHTLINERS
Image caption
Kevin Nicks created the Fastest Shed from his old Volkswagen Passat
"The only thing I didn't do was felt the roof! I then thought, I wonder how fast it could go?

"I entered a few speed events and basically floored it. I hit 80mph to break the record, including the Guinness record. But it blew up so it needed some work."

Now two years and 20,000 miles later, Kevin has splashed out an estimated £8,000 on revamping the shed with a finely-tuned Audi RS4 engine.

"I've spent all winter doing it up and putting in a new engine and suspension, it's so quick off the mark.

"But goodness knows how fast it will go And clearly aerodynamics is my biggest opposition to overcome if I want to go fast."

Image copyrightCENTAURUS
Image caption
Pendine Sands is synonymous with land speed attempts since Sir Malcolm Campbell broke the record in Blue Bird in the 1920s
He will begin his record bid on Saturday at Pendine, a beach which has become synonymous with land speed attempts since Sir Malcolm Campbell broke the record in the legendary Blue Bird in the 1920s.

He will be joined by a host of karts, three-wheelers and the most powerful street legal motorbikes as they hope to break the current UK record of 194.5mph (313km/h).

"Pendine Sands is a notoriously difficult race track," said Eisenberg, who will attempt to break the record.

"Competitors have no idea what the surface is like until the tide goes out.

Image copyrightCENTAURUS
Image caption
Zef Eisenberg survived a 230mph crash breaking the land speed record for a turbine bike 18 months ago
"It's not just the high-end engineering that makes breaking records on Pendine Sands difficult. As Pendine is a Ministry of Defence test fire site, you'll often end up encountering unexploded ordinances alongside giant washed-up jellyfish."

Eisenberg, from Guernsey, almost died after breaking the land speed record for a turbine bike 18 months ago as he crashed at 230mph (370km/h) and was in hospital for three months.

"No one in history, car or bike has ever exceeded 200mph on the sand at Pendine," he added.

"It's the holy grail of speed, where the best speed racers in the world have tried."

source:www.bbc.com

Student mental health 'failing a generation'

British universities say they risk "failing a generation" unless students get better mental health care.

A Universities UK report found some students risk "slipping through the gaps" due to a lack of co-ordination between the NHS and universities.

The most up-to-date statistics show 146 students killed themselves in 2016. At Bristol, three students have died suddenly in the past month alone.

An NHS official said local services should collaborate with universities.

Henry Curtis-Williams, a photography student, took his own life in 2016, aged 21.

"He had lost weight, he had dark shadows under his eyes, he was clearly in crisis," said his mother Pippa Travis-Williams.

"He changed from being that super-confident person to [becoming] just a shell of a person."

The number of deaths in 2016 was higher than the 134 students who killed themselves in 2015 - which in turn was the highest total since 2006.

Universities UK said over the past five years, 94% of universities have seen a "sharp increase" in the number of people trying to access support services.

Some institutions noticed a three-fold increase.

source:www.bbc.com

US offers to help rebuild N Korea economy if it denuclearises

America will help rebuild North Korea's economy if it agrees to give up its nuclear weapons, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said.

The US would be "prepared to work with North Korea to achieve prosperity on the par with our South Korean friends", he told reporters on Friday.

Mr Pompeo, who has just returned from Pyongyang, said he had "good" talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Mr Kim and President Donald Trump will meet in Singapore on 12 June.

The two leaders, who had previously exchanged insults and threats, made the announcement after landmark talks between North and South Korea in April.

Trump-Kim summit: Iran deal pull-out casts shadow over talks
How does North Korea's Kim Jong-un travel?
The political gamble of the 21st Century
What did Mr Pompeo say?
"If chairman Kim chooses the right path, there is a future brimming with peace and prosperity for the North Korean people," he said after Friday's talks in Washington with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha.

Mr Pompeo urged Pyongyang to take "bold action to quickly denuclearise".


Media captionHow to talk to North Korea - advice from three North Korean experts
But he stressed that this would require a "robust verification" programme by the US and other nations.

During his surprise visit to North Korea this week, Pyongyang released three US detainees.

source:www.bbc.com

Former Malaysia PM Najib Razak banned from leaving country

Ex-Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been banned from leaving the country, immigration officials say.

This comes after Mr Najib said that he and his wife were planning to go on an overseas holiday on Saturday.

Earlier this week, Mr Najib's long-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition suffered a shock electoral defeat.

Mr Najib has been accused of diverting $700m (£517m) from a state investment fund in 2015, but has since been cleared by the authorities.

On Thursday, Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in as Malaysia's new prime minister, becoming the world's oldest elected leader at 92.

He has said there will be a thorough investigation into cases of alleged corruption including the one involving the state investment fund.

source:www.bbc.com

Road expansion to complete only after monsoon

May 11, 2018-The road expansion work at Koteshwor-Kalanki stretch of the Ring Road is likely to be delayed by some months owing to some technical issues, according to the Department of Roads (DoR).

 The 10km stretch is being widened as part of the Kathmandu Ring Road Improvement Project that began in June 2013. The project was originally set to be completed in 2017, but the completion date was postponed to July 2018 due to the delays caused by the 2015 earthquake and the Indian border blockade.

The DoR has once again put off the project completion deadline.

According to the project manager Prakash Bhandari, the delay this time was caused due to some additional overhead bridges that are being installed along the road.

Those bridges were not part of the main design.

“Two bridges at Satdobato and Gwarko are near completion. We need to build some more bridges for which we have decided to wait until the end of monsoon,”said Bhandari.

The delay has also been caused due to differential settlement on pavement structure that may occur between new and old road sections, causing cracks on the newly built road.

“The Chinese side will complete work on the first settlement within this fiscal year.  However, they don’t want to take the risk by handing over the road ye,t because there is a chance of cracks developing on the road during monsoon,” said Bhandari, adding that the contractor wants to wait till monsoon to make sure that there is no problem with the road surface before handing it over to the government.

The road expansion project has already been criticised for undermining the safety of pedestrians and other road users.

Civil society members have long been raising their concerns about the stretch having few crossing points along the busiest road of the Kathmandu Valley.

Following such complaints, the authorities had decided to add zebra crossings and overhead bridges along the road.

“We are planning to construct 10 overhead bridges and add more zebra crossings on the road to make it easy for the public to get across,” said Bhandari.

The eight-lane road also lacks median, a key safety component to keep vehicles from getting into opposite lane.

DoR Deputy Director General Sanjay Kumar Shrestha said that by the time they realised the need of median, it was already too late. “We had requested the contractor, but that would require breaking the newly built road surface, meaning more time and more budget,” he said.

The authorities are planning to place items like water-filled plastic drums to divide the lanes.

The DoR officials said they will also be using double white lines to separate lanes, enforce speed limit and other traffic safety rules to reduce accidents along the road.



source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

Indian PM Modi offers worship at Muktinath Temple

May 12, 2018-Visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered worship at Muktinath Temple in Mustang district on Saturday.

The Indian premier, who reached Muktinath Temple through a Nepali Army chopper at around 8 am, offered worship for around 20 minutes. A large number of security personnel were deployed around the temple.

Locals, clad in traditional attire, welcomed him by offering khada, a traditional ceremonial scarf.

On the occasion, the Muktinath Area Development Committee offered a Shaligram (a usually black fossil found in Nepal and worshipped as symbol of Lord Vishnu) to the Indian Prime Minister.

Seven Buddhist monks from right side of the temple and Lama Hira Bahadur Thakuri from the left side welcomed PM Modi while five priests chanted mantra.

Priest Krishna Prasad Subedi and Ani Jhuma Karsang Gurung performed puja for PM Modi.

Indian PM Modi arrived in Nepal on a two-day state visit on Friday.


source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

Bibeksheel Sajha Party supporters stage demonstration against Modi

May 12, 2018-The Bibeksheel Sajha Party has organised a protest programme against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s welcome and blockade on Saturday.

Supporters of the party staged a demonstration in front of the party office in Bakhundole of the Capital carrying a banner labelled with a slogan ‘You are welcome Modi Ji but we have not forget the blockade’. Later, they set aloft balloons with the same slogan.

Earlier on Friday, police tore down a banner hung at the party office protesting the Indian Prime Minister.



source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

Indian PM Modi offers special worship at Pashupatinath Temple (In photos)

May 12, 2018-Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day state visit to Nepal, offered a special worship at Pashupatinath Temple in the Capital on Saturday. He spent around 30 minutes in the temple.

He returned to Kathmandu at around 11 am after offering a special worship at Muktinath Temple in Mustang this morning.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari and Pashupatinath Area Development Trust (PADT) officer bearers among others welcomed the Indian Prime Minister at the Pashupatinath Temple.

He is scheduled to meet leaders of various political parties at Boudha-based Hotel Hyatt.

The Indian premier arrived in Nepal on Friday.



source:www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com

Sainsbury's-Asda may 'have to sell at least 73 shops'

At least 73 supermarkets will have to be sold in order for Sainsbury's proposed merger with Asda to be given the go-ahead, according to new research.

And it's in the south-east and the north-west of England where stores are most under threat.

The new supermarket group would become the largest in the UK by market share.

The £15bn deal is set to face huge scrutiny by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). regulator.

It's the CMA's job to prevent companies becoming too dominant and harmful to consumers.

If the CMA approves this merger, then many expect both chains to have to give up a number of stores.

Sainsbury's vows Asda deal will cut prices

Sainsbury's-Asda deal in nine charts

Suppliers fear Sainsbury's price squeeze

However, divining how the Competition and Markets Authority will vet this controversial mega-merger is no straightforward task.

"There hasn't been a retail deal like this in more than a decade," says David Haywood, founder of Maximise UK, which is an expert in identifying the best locations for stores.

He reckons at least 6% or 73 of the combined group's supermarkets are at risk, a figure that excludes convenience stores.

Mr Haywood worked on the last big retail merger - the takeover of Safeway by Morrisons in 2004.

The market looks very different today, with the rise of the discounters and the ability to buy groceries online.

So how will the CMA view this blockbuster merger?

Key question

"The real focus will be on how Sainsbury's and Asda's main supermarkets operate at a local level and how they overlap. The CMA will be concerned about whether the deal reduces the number of competing brands within a 10 or 15 minute drive time," says Mr Haywood.

One of the key questions is what weight the CMA gives to Aldi and Lidl, which have grabbed more than 12% of the grocery market and are continuing to open lots of stores.

Maximise UK's calculations do include Aldi and Lidl as effective competitor brands.

But it says if the CMA takes a more conservative view and excludes the discounters, then the number of potential store disposals leaps to 245, a number that would weaken the financial merits of the tie-up.

The CMA has included Aldi and Lidl in a number of previous cases, although they've been given a lower "weighting" in some investigations because they didn't stock all of the products of their competitors.

Sainsbury's is confident that the regulators will take a more sophisticated approach this time round reflecting the changes in how and where people shop.

source:www.bbc.com

MPs criticise 'unrealistic' MoD plans

Ministry of Defence spending plans are simply "not realistic" and could be more than £20bn over budget, the Commons spending watchdog says.

It criticises the department for not being "open" about the shortfall and relying on "optimistic saving targets".

"The Ministry of Defence simply does not have enough money to buy all the equipment it says it needs," MPs say.

The MoD said MPs were highlighting an "unlikely worst-case scenario" and it was "on track" to meet savings targets.

• MoD 'exposed financially' by carrier and jet programme
• MoD equipment plans 'need more savings'

The department plans to spend almost £180bn on new military equipment over the next decade, including new submarines, warships and aircraft.

But the Commons public accounts committee has warned of a "worrying" funding gap, with forecast costs of at least £4.9bn and potentially up to £20.8bn, leaving it without sufficient funds to buy all the equipment.

Image copyrightAFP

Image captionRenewing the Trident nuclear weapons system is the biggest financial risk, say MPs

The biggest risk to the £180bn equipment plan is the rising costs of renewing the Trident nuclear weapons system. The committee was concerned that a need to bring forward some of the cost of building the next generation of nuclear missile submarines would put an extra strain on the budget.

The MoD itself was criticised for lacking "cost control", a "vagueness and reluctance to acknowledge its full exposure", not being open about its financial risks and for putting its faith in a defence review - the Modernising Defence Programme - to "solve its affordability issues".

'Highly sceptical'

"We are highly sceptical that the Modernising Defence Programme will be able to return the department to a balanced position," the report says.

There was also some concern that the bulk of planned spending was on large-scale programmes that take years to build - leaving little headroom in the budget for responding to new threats like cyber attacks and artificial intelligence.

Committee chairwoman Meg Hillier said there was "no excuse" for the MoD's "lack of rigour in its financial affairs".

"The department must be more rigorous and realistic in its approach to costing its equipment plan. It also needs to be more open with Parliament and the public about its finances, commitments and their costs to taxpayers.

source:www.bbc.com