Teachers left scratching their heads after exam paper leak

Teachers left scratching their heads after exam paper leak

Dang, March 28: The question papers of almost all the subjects under the district-level Grade XIII examinations have been leaked in the market before the exams.

According to a teacher, the day before the exams kicked off on March 22 students were found to be wandering the streets and clinging on to their mobile phones in search of question papers.

The question papers of the health and physical education to be held today was out in the market on Monday. The question paper of skill, profession and technical studies to be held on Wednesday is also out in the market.

The teachers are left scratching their heads with no explanations and confounded over the leakage of the question papers.

Meanwhile, District Education Officer, Ramesh Prasad Mainali, is taking the crisis in the lightest of manners. Mainali has made it clear he would view the incident in a 'simple way' and pointed to the provision in the Education Regulation allowing the concerned teachers to prepare a new set of question papers.

"I have also heard of the leakage of question paper, but it will not stop the exams, the concerned teacher of a subject can prepare a new question paper and conduct exam at the concerned school," he shared.

Many schools have conducted their exams by preparing new sets of question papers. Interestingly, the question papers of science and mathematics were not leaked in the market. RSS

Nepali Congress Central Committee meet discusses process of giving party tickets for local poll

Nepali Congress Central Committee meet discusses process of giving party tickets for local poll

Kathmandu, March 27: Discussions in today's session of the Nepali Congress central committee (CC) meeting focused on the process of giving party tickets for the upcoming local level election scheduled for May 14 this year.

 Party central members present in the meeting put their views on the 'appropriate ways' for giving party tickets to possible candidates from ward to metropolitan-level, according to party's Central Office Secretariat.

 The majority voice was for distributing tickets to candidates for municipal, sub metropolitan and metropolitan level from the centre and forming a mechanism at the district-level to give tickets for the ward and rural municipality level, as said by central member Surendra Raj Pandey. 

The meeting has been in place since Sunday.  Issues of restructuring party's organisational structure, process of selection of election candidates, the mobilisation of party sister wings and well wishers for the election purpose are other agenda of the meeting. 

Earlier the meeting constituted a central election mobilisation committee under the convenorship of party senior leader Ramchandra Poudel in view of the local level election.

A committee headed by Central member Mahesh Acharya has been formed to prepare a party manifesto for the local-level election, Office Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Poudel said.

Likewise, the meeting Sunday itself formed a 29-meber central works execution committee headed by party President Sher Bahadur Deuba. 

In today's session, central members Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Deepak Giri, Balkrishna Khand, Ananda Raj Dhungana, Mohan Basnet and Surepndra Raj Pandey put their views on a report presented by President Deuba and other contemporary issues.

Issue of post-quake reconstruction key election agenda in Kavrepalanchok

Issue of post-quake reconstruction key election agenda in Kavrepalanchok

Banepa, March 27: When will post-reconstruction works begin in true sense, and how and in what way will it take place? Why it is not getting a momentum till now?

These are most frequent questions that political parties and leaders reaching villages of Kavrepalanchok in view of the upcoming local poll face from the public sphere.

The first question the majority of Kavrepalanchok folks ask to political parties and leaders visiting their doorsteps with the hope of creating an election atmosphere is about the post-quake rebuilding issues, said CPN (Maoist Center) Kavrepalanchok chair Dinanath Gautam.

The issue of reconstruction has now become the top agenda of the election campaign. Post-earthquake rebuilding is the urgent need of the people and they   are excited about the election as they believe that would- be representatives would help them get their needs addressed, he added.

CPN (UML) district chair Tok Bahadur Waiba said the issue of reconstruction has got top priority among the people when preparations for the local level are underway.

The earthquake survivors in the district are living a miserable life, he said. The Kavrepalanchok folks are now busy in attending gatherings, training and meeting being held at the local level to make them aware of their franchise rights and encourage them to fully utilise it in local election, according to Waiba.

Nepali Congress district vice president Achyut Poudel said people raise the issue of reconstruction with a high priority before political leaders visiting people's doorsteps in view of the upcoming local poll.  Meetings, gatherings and training on the importance of elections are underway at the local level.

Major political parties, RPP Nepal, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party and Madeshi Janadhikar Forum and some other fringe parties have reached the village as they seek public support in the election.

Of 25 political parties registered in the Election Office from Kavre for local election, 11 represent in the parliament.

As per the new mapping of the local level, there are seven rural municipalities and six municipalities.

The district remains as one of the 14 districts most affected by the April 25 earthquake in 2015 and its aftershocks.

Front leaders warn against holding polls sans amendment

Front leaders warn against holding polls sans amendment

Rajbiraj (Saptari), March 27: Federal Socialist Forum Nepal Chairman, Upendra Yadav, on Sunday ruled out the possibility of conducting the polls without amendment of the new constitution.

Speaking at a ceremony held to pay tribute to the five Untied Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) cadres killed in police firing at the Rajbiraj Industrial Zone in Maleth, Yadav said that Kathmandu does not have the right to conduct local elections under the existing federal set up.

Stating that the right to hold local elections in Madhes rested with Madhes government, Yadav added, "If elections need to be held it should be that of the centre. When the central election is held thereby making the local level efficient, then only should there be local level elections."

On the occasion, Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) Chairman, Mahantha Thakur, said they would accept the elections only after an amendment proposal with border demarcation was introduced.

Sadbhawana Party Chair, Rajendra Mahato, underlined the continuing discrimination at the hands of the three major parties of the country against Madhes.

National Madhes Socialist Party Chairman, Sharat Singh Bhandari, warned that if the government holds the local level elections excluding the Province no 2, then no one will be able to hold elections there again.

At the same programme, Forum Republican Chair, Raj Kishor Yadav, Nepal Sadbhawana Party Chair, Anil Jha and Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party Chair, Mahendra Rao, said it would not be feasible to hold elections by keeping the demarcation issue on hold.

The senior Front leaders also insisted on forming a single strong party to fight for the rights of Madhes.

Five UDMF cadres were killed two weeks ago in police firing as they tried to disrupt the Mechi-Mahakali Campaign of CPN (UML).

Shrestha bags Nick Simons Award-2016

Shrestha bags Nick Simons Award-2016


Kathmandu, March 22: Bal Gopal Shrestha, public health inspector at a health post in Pyuthan, has grabbed the Nick Simons Award-2016.

Established by the Nick Simons Institute, a Nepal-based organisation working in the field of rural health care, the award is given to one among health workers every year contributing to the holistic quality and infrastructure development in rural health system.

Shrestha outperformed a list of 118 health workers from 63 districts across the country who applied for the prize. Set up by founder of the Institute Dr Jim Simons and his wife Marilyn in memory of their late son Nick, the award carries a cash prize of Rs 100,000 and a felicitation letter. 

A selection team comprising the National Health Training Centre director Dr Sri Krishna Bhatta, officer Sabin Chaudhary and the Institute administrative officer Nawaraj Shrestha picked Shrestha for the award.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Gagan Kumar Thapa handed out the award amid a programme today in the Capital.

Speaking at the event, minister Thapa informed that the ministry has prioritised quality and infrastructure development of rural health service.

Likewise, health secretary Dr Senendra Raj Upreti and Director General of the Department of Health Services Dr Rajendra Panta said the ministry focuses on ensuring health rights as stipulated by the constitution and infrastructures were ready for providing health services in line with the new federal setup. RSS

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Nepal Police retrieves firearm lost during Ananda Bazaar clash

Nepal Police retrieves firearm lost during Ananda Bazaar clash


Bhimduttanagar, March 22: Nepal Police has retrieved a Chinese pistol and its magazine that got lost during a clash occurred in Ananda Bazaar of Kanchanpur near the Nepal-India border two weeks ago. 

There was a scuffle between the Nepali nationals and Indian Seema Suraksha Bal (border security force) on March 9 in Ananda Bazar over the issue of construction of a culvert at Punarbas.   A Chinese pistol and its bullets remaining in the possession of Assistant Sub Inspector Madhav Bhatta deputed to interfere in the clash was lost from the border area. 

     According to Far Western Regional Police Chief, Deputy Inspector General of Police Romendra Singh Deuja, the lost firearm and its magazine was retrieved a few days ago.

A police squad deputed from the District Police Office Kanchanpur to search for the missing pistol led by Inspector Hirendra Rokaya found it with the help of the Sampurnanagar Police Beat, India. One Govinda Gautam of Punarbas Municipality got martyrdom due to the shot fired by the Indian SSB and a local Tikaram Chapagain was injured in the incident.

Trans-border people's movement over here is yet to become normal following the incident. Nepali nationals have left visiting the Indian market Basahi that shares border with Nepal after the incident.  The Armed Police Force (APF) has set up a temporary camp to make security arrangements in the Bazar area. RSS

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PM Dahal to discuss with Ex-PMs, China affairs experts before China visit

PM Dahal to discuss with Ex-PMs, China affairs experts before China visit


Kathmandu, March 22: As Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is preparing to pay an official visit to China on March 23, the PM is scheduled to discuss the matter with former Prime Ministers and China affairs experts beforehand.

A meeting of former PMs and China affairs experts has been called at PM Dahal's official residence in Baluwatar at 9 am on Thursday in this regard, said PM Dahal's press advisor Gobinda Acharya.

PM Dahal's prior discussions with former PMs and China affairs experts aims to take suggestions on bilateral and multilateral meetings. PM Dahal is scheduled to hold with Chinese officials during the visit, said PM's Secretariat.

A Cabinet meeting scheduled to take place today evening will finalise issues to be taken up from Nepal side in the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, Acharya informed.

PM Dahal is leaving Thursday for China to take part in the annual conference of Boao Forum for Asia to be held in Boao, Hainan province from March 23-26.

On the occasion, PM Dahal is also slated to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

PM Dahal is scheduled to hold bilateral and multilateral meetings with the Head of State and government, and representatives from various participating countries, said Acharya. PM Dahal is scheduled to return home on March 29. RSS

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Youth found dead in a hotel at Kataari Bazaar

Youth found dead in a hotel at Kataari Bazaar


Gainghat (Udayapur), March 22: A youth has been found dead in a room at Solu Hotel of Kataari Bazaar in Kataari Municipality, Udayapur.

The deceased has been identified as Dawa Sherpa, 23, of Tangsindu – 6 of Solukhumbu district, according to Area Police Office.

Sherpa had arrived at Kataari Bazaar from India via Kakarbhitta on a Matri Vhagya Rekha Passenger Bus. A person living in a room next door informed the hotel administration after the youth did not get up till late in the morning.

The hotel called the Area Police Office, Kataari immediately after coming to know of the death. The body of the youth has been kept at the Kataari Hospital and police have informed his family members in Solukhumbu to come and claim the body, Inspector Chandra Kumar Rajbanshi said.

The youth had gone to Meghalaya in India three months ago and had spoken to the hotel management of being robbed in India during his return trip, police said. Sherpa went to sleep without eating any food and spoke of having a fever, the police said quoting the hotel management.

Sherpa did not have a bag and carried only Rs 800 in his pocket. Police are carrying out further investigation into the incident. Police have said they will know more once his body undergoes a post-mortem examination. RSS

Trump warns GOP of political costs of rejecting health bill

Trump warns GOP of political costs of rejecting health bill


WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned House Republicans they could lose their seats in next year's midterm elections if they failed to back the GOP health care overhaul and fulfill a long-promised goal to undo Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act.

     In a rare trip to the Capitol, the president met behind closed doors with rank-and-file Republicans, some wavering on the legislation two days before a climactic vote. Top House Republicans unveiled revisions to their bill Monday night in hopes of nailing down support.

     Trump's message to Republicans: "If you don't pass the bill there could be political costs," said Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C.

     The lawmaker said Trump said House GOP seats could be at risk if the bill fails and "the danger of your not voting for the bill is people could lose their seats."

     Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters Trump was "all-in" on repeal-and-replace, and attending the meeting "to do what he does best: to close the deal."

     At a rally Monday night in Louisville, Kentucky, Trump underscored what he called "the crucial House vote."

     "This is our long-awaited chance to finally get rid of Obamacare," he said of repealing former Obama's landmark law, a GOP goal since its 2010 enactment. "We're going to do it."

     Trump's closed-door meeting with House Republicans was coming as party leaders released 43 pages worth of changes to a bill whose prospects remain dicey. Their proposals were largely aimed at addressing dissent that their measure would leave many older people with higher costs.

     Included was an unusual approach: language paving the way for the Senate, if it chooses, to make the bill's tax credit more generous for people age 50-64. Details in the documents released were initially unclear, but one GOP lawmaker and an aide said the plan sets aside $85 billion over 10 years for that purpose.

     The leaders' proposals would accelerate the repeal of tax increases Obama imposed on higher earners, the medical industry and others to this year instead of 2018. It would be easier for some people to deduct medical expenses from their taxes.

     Older and disabled Medicaid beneficiaries would get larger benefits. But it would also curb future growth of the overall Medicaid program, which helps low earners afford medical coverage, and let states impose work requirements on some recipients. Additional states could not join the 31 that opted to expand Medicaid to more beneficiaries under Obama's law, the Affordable Care Act.

     In a bid to cement support from upstate New Yorkers, the revisions would also stop that state from passing on over $2 billion a year in Medicaid costs to counties. The change was pushed by Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., one of Trump's first congressional supporters. Local officials have complained the practice overburdens their budgets.

     The GOP bill would dismantle Obama's requirements that most people buy policies and that larger companies cover workers. Federal subsidies based largely on peoples' incomes and insurance premiums would end, and a Medicaid expansion to 11 million more low-income people would disappear.

     The Republican legislation would provide tax credits to help people pay medical bills based chiefly on age, and open-ended federal payments to help states cover Medicaid costs would be cut. Insurers could charge older consumers five times the premiums they charge younger people instead of Obama's 3-1 limit, and would boost premiums 30 percent for those who let coverage lapse.

     Republican support teetered last week when a nonpartisan congressional analysis projected the measure would strip 24 million people of coverage in a decade. The Congressional Budget Office also said the bill would cause huge out-of-pocket increases for many lower earners and people aged 50 to 64.

     Democrats have opposed the GOP repeal effort. They tout Obama's expansion of coverage to 20 million additional people and consumer-friendly coverage requirements it imposed on insurers, including abolishing annual and lifetime coverage limits and forcing them to insure seriously ill people.

     House approval would give the legislation much-needed momentum as it moves to the Senate, which Republicans control 52-48 but where five Republicans have expressed opposition. Trump used Monday's trip to single out perhaps the measure's most vociferous foe — Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul.

     "He's a good guy," Trump said of one 2016 rival for the GOP presidential nomination. "And I look forward to working with him so we can get this bill passed, in some form, so that we can pass massive tax reform, which we can't do till this happens."

     Enactment of the health care bill would clear the way for Congress to move to revamping the tax code and other GOP priorities. Defeat would wound Trump two months into his administration and raise questions about his ability to win support from his own party moving forward.

     Among the disgruntled were GOP lawmakers in the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, though the strength of their opposition was unclear. The group has seemed to have around 40 members, but that number may be lower now and some have expressed support or an open mind for the bill.

Nepali migrant worker found dead in Malaysia

Nepali migrant worker found dead in Malaysia

2017-03-17 08:41:24.0

Dhanusha, March 17: A man from Dhanusha who had gone to Malaysia for work has been found dead in suspicious circumstances.

     Santosh Singh, 21, from Hansapur Kathapulla of Dhanusha district was found dead in the premises of the house where he had been staying at Puchung, Malaysia, Dhirendra Paswan, who works at the same place where Singh worked, informed the Singh family.

     According to Paswan, Singh was found hanging in the premises of the house where he lived. He had been working at the Nigai Hing Foundry Works in Malaysia for the last two years. The company where Singh worked has stated that it has taken the incident seriously. Paswan said they are taking initiatives to send Singh's body to Nepal.

     Meanwhile, another man from Dhanusha district who was in Qatar in course of employment has been reported as missing since the last eight years. He is Naresh Kumar Yadav of Ramdaiya Bhawadi, Kshireshwarnath Municipality.

     The Yadav family here is distressed after Naresh became incommunicado. It is stated that after three years in Qatar, Yadav had informed his family that he was returning to Nepal.  It is also said that he had boarded a flight to Nepal but nothing is known about him till now. 

     Naresh's father, Ram Bir Yadav, had reached Kathmandu to receive his son but he had to return with a heavy heart after his son did not arrive. The Yadav senior has urged the bodies concerned to find the whereabouts of his missing son.

The Yadav family, that is very poor, has been in great distress since Naresh went missing as he was the sole bread-earner for the entire family of five. RSS

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Four people including two policemen arrested for looting

Four people including two policemen arrested for looting


Kathmandu, March 17: Police has arrested four people including two Nepal Police Sub Inspectors for their involvement in first kidnapping and then looting a manpower supply company proprietor.

     Those arrested in this connection include Sub Inspectors Sambat Tamang and Surya Bahadur Thapa, Raj Kumar Gurung of Devdaha, Rupandehi district and Arjun Bahadur Lama of Shikar Ambote VDC, Kavre district. Sub Inspectors Tamang and Thapa are currently assigned at the Metropolitan Police Circle, Gaushala though they have their postings at different places. A team of the Metropolitan Police Crime Division arrested them.

     The four arrested, including Raj Kumar Gurung, had called Badri Rai from Dhankuta and the proprietor of Tiger Overseas Pvt Ltd, at Dhumbarahi, to Koteshwar on January 14, 2017 and abducted him from there. From Koteshwar, they took Rai to Sinamangal and held him hostage in a room at the house where Bajeko Sekuwa Corner restaurant is run. They had then looted Rs 230 thousand in cash from Rai and also made him to sign on four bank cheques amounting to Rs 10 million under duress. Out of the cheques, two are of the Nabil Bank and two of the Rastriya Banijya Bank at the rate of Rs 2.5 million each.

     These cheques were in the name of Sub Inspector Tamang, Gurung and one Dhiraj Gurung as bearers. The abductors also made Rai to sign on some papers of transaction that they had brought with them before releasing him in the night.

     They were arrested on Tuesday from different places in Kathmandu. They have been held in custody at the Crime Control Division and investigation is underway, police said.

Nepal Investment Summit 2017 – An opportunity for attracting more foreign investment

Nepal Investment Summit 2017 – An opportunity for attracting more foreign investment


Kathmandu: The Nepal Investment Summit that opens in the capital on March 2 is expected to be a big opportunity for the country in terms of attracting foreign as well as domestic investors to core sectors of the economy. The theme of the summit is, 'Harnessing Investment Opportunities in Nepal.'

More than 200 investors from 25 countries are participating in the two-day meet being hosted by the government. The government is expected to take this opportunity to call for investment in eight identified major areas. It is hoped that the foreign investors will be forthcoming in this connection. The Ministry of Industry, the Investment Board Nepal and the National Planning Commission are jointly organising the event.

Industry Minister Nabindra Raj Joshi said the summit was being organised to promote Nepal as an important destination for foreign investors. "It is important to attract a large amount of foreign investment to fund the construction of various infrastructures necessary for the country's development," he explained.

“Through the conference we are trying to give out a message to the world that Nepal is a suitable destination for investment,” Chief Executive of the Investment Board Nepal, Maha Prasad Adhikari said, highlighting the main objective of the conference. Adhikari is also hopeful that some investors will commit for investment in the conference.

Businessmen and investors from China, US, European countries, Gulf countries and some African countries, besides the countries of South Asia will participate in the mega investment summit. Industrials and businessmen from within the country, representatives of foreign business organisations, diplomatic missions and non-governmental organisations and donor agencies will be among the 600 or so people attending the conference.

At the summit, the investors from all over the world would be briefed about Nepal's improved investment climate. It may be noted that following the passage of a number of new laws, government policies have become more investment friendly and the summit aims to disseminate this message to the potential investors.

“This conference is organised to send out a message to the prospective investors that the country is already poised towards the ‘second generation reform’ of economic development with political issues already having been settled,” Director General of the Department of Industries, Pradip Koirala, said.

According to Koirala, with the new constitution institutionalising the federal democratic republic and the multi-party parliamentary system of governance, the political issues are already settled. The country is now expected to see political stability and policy consistency and now is the time for economic development. The investment climate was not sound in the preceding two decades due to the perpetual political instability and policy inconsistencies. There was frequent change of governments which resulted in policy inconsistencies in terms of investment. Without any iota of doubt, investment, especially foreign direct investment, could not be conceived of in such situation.

The government has passed and introduced key legislations over the last couple of months for promoting foreign investment climate. These legislations include the Industrial Enterprises Act, the Special Economic Zone Act, the Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act, the Intellectual Property Rights Act and the Company Act.

Koirala is confident this conference will help instill a sense of confidence in the investors and project prospective sectors for investment.

The eight major areas identified for investment in the conference are agriculture, banking and finance, energy, information and communication technology (ICT), production based sector, mines and mineral, tourism industry and transport. The conference will see presentations made and deliberations held on various aspects of investment in these sectors. The government hopes to attract maximum foreign investment in these sectors. And the government would like to cash on it by projecting during the conference what is on the table for investment, the investment opportunities and the investment policy.

The investment in the agriculture sector could be in fertilizer industries, irrigation canal, agricultural roads, electrical power for agriculture, agriculture financing, agricultural machinery, inputs and technology and seed production. Insurance sector has been identified as the potential area for investment in the banking and financing sector. Given the insurance penetration of only 1.31 per cent in Nepal, this sector offers huge opportunities for investment. There are 26 insurance companies and one re-insurance company in the country at present.

The one sector with high potential for investment is the energy sector. There is particularly high potential for foreign investment in the hydropower sector. Apart from hydropower, there is a window of opportunity for investment in the solar energy, wind energy, biomass and geothermal energy sectors.

Under the information and communication technology sector, there is much prospect for investment in the business process outsourcing and information technology service,software development, digital content development, mobile application development, internet service provider, the online payment infrastructure and services, and internet data centre, among others.

The other sector that has been identified for foreign investment is the production-based industries as fast moving consumer goods, garment, cement, pharmaceuticals and iron and steel industries. Similarly, six sub-sectors have been identified as potential investment areas under the mines and mineral sector. These include metal-based, non-metal based, fuel minerals, gemstones and construction minerals.

Tourism is another area which has high potentials to attract foreign investment. Hotel industry is highly prospective. Foreign investment could also come in travel agency, tour operator and trekking and rafting agencies. Transport is another sector that has been identified for opening for foreign investment. This sector offers much opportunity for investing in big infrastructure projects as highway, airport and railway construction and development of urban transport.

The government has sought the collaboration and support of the private sector for having the participation of the foreign investors in this highly important conference. Private sector organisations such as the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Nepal Chamber of Commerce are coordinating and facilitating in the conference. They have a great role to play in ensuring the maximum participation of the foreign investors in the conference.

Apart from promoting Nepal as a safe destination for investors, the summit will provide information about different sectors that have investment potential in Nepal. RSS

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