MastiNepal

Poll ordinance: UML, NC not to budge on past agreements

nepalunited739 — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:47:07 GMT

Poll ordinance: UML, NC not to budge on past agreements

Leaders of Nepali Congress and UML have discussed contentious issues of the proposed election ordinance, and decided not to compromise on past agreements.

The leaders, who met at UML party headquarters in Balkhu, agreed to back provisions in the draft ordinance such as reducing the number of members in the new CA from the previous 601 to 491, baring parties that garner less than a one per-cent threshold of total votes, and not allowing criminal case convicts to file candidacy, an aide to UML chief Jhala Nath Khanal said.

NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel said that the two parties will soon inform Interim government Chairman Khil Raj Regmi about the decision.

The issues have created a rift among the major political parties and delayed the enactment of the crucial legislation. Political parties, including the UCPN (M) are demanding that the contentious provisions be revised. This has prevented the government from declaring an election date. nepalnews.com

WWE en Espanol: 3 de Mayo

wwefannation — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:47:07 GMT

Koirala to shift from Maharajgunj residence

nepalunited739 — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:47:07 GMT

Koirala to shift from Maharajgunj residence

Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala is set to shift to another residence from his current rented residence at Maharajgunj.

Sushil Koirala

Koirala is preparing to move to his nephew Shashanka Koirala’s residence in the same location in a day or two, it is learnt. Some sources citied “astrological reasons” for Koirala’s decision to change the residence. He will stay at Shashank’s house before another residence is found.

Koirala had shifted to the current rented residence, which belongs to Rakshya Rajbandari, after the death of the then NC president Girija Prasad Koirala.

The NC pays a monthly rent of Rs 50,000 for Koirala's current residence excluding utility bills. Nepalnews.com

Fire at school guts property worth Rs 3.5 m

nepalunited739 — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:47:07 GMT

Fire at school guts property worth Rs 3.5 m

Fire broke out at the Nabin Shikshya Sadan Higher Secondary School at Chhathar Phakchamara VDC of Terhathum district last night, destroying property worth 3.5 million rupees, state-owned news agency RSS reports.

An unidentified group is said to have set the school block on fire. The two-story block with four rooms was gutted by fire, said Krishna Bahadur Niraula, the Principal.

It is not known who set the school on fire and the motive for that.

Iran bars Rafsanjani from standing for president

nepalimaya — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:31:44 GMT

TEHRAN, May 22: Iran said Tuesday the moderate ex-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was among those barred from standing in next month´s presidential election, provoking a sharp reaction from Washington.Rafsanjani and a controversial aide of incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had been ruled unsuitable, the interior ministry said.

The Guardians Council, a conservative-dominated vetting body, omitted Rafsanjani, who served as president from 1989 to 1997, from its list of eight approved candidates.

It also excluded Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, a confidant of Ahmadinejad and his former chief of staff.

The approved list of candidates for the June 14 election is dominated by conservatives close to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the ultimate decision-maker in the Islamic republic.

The council gave no explanation for the disqualifications.

Rafsanjani´s late registration on May 11 had polarised Iran´s complex political system, with marginalised reformists backing him while ultra-conservatives questioned his motives for a political comeback.

A heavyweight until eight years ago when Ahmadinejad beat him in the 2005 presidential election, Rafsanjani has lost much of his political stock in recent years.

In particular, he drew the ire of the ruling establishment in 2009 when he openly questioned the handling of the controversial election that had given Ahmadinejad a second term.

That vote provoked massive street protests and claims of fraud, which were crushed in a heavy-handed crackdown.

Rafsanjani, who will turn 79 in August, currently chairs the Expediency Council, Iran´s highest political arbitration body.

Guardians Council spokesman Abbasali Kadkhodai, speaking to state television and without naming Rafsanjani, said frailty and old age had been factors in the eliminations.

Mashaie, the other main candidate disqualified, had been personally endorsed by Ahmadinejad.

His exclusion was not unexpected, however, as he is seen as too liberal, considered a danger to the Islamic revolution by regime insiders, and is accused of driving a wedge between Ahmadinejad and Khamenei.

Mashaie said he would seek to reverse his disqualification.

"I deem my disqualification an injustice. I will seek its resolution through" Khamenei, he told the Fars news agency. "God willing, it will be resolved."

The United States accused the clerical leadership of seeking to tighten its grip on power.

"It appears that Iran´s unelected Guardian Council, which is unaccountable to the Iranian people, has disqualified hundreds of potential candidates based on vague criteria," State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said.

"The Council narrowed the list of almost 700 potential candidates down to eight officials based solely on who the regime believes will represent its interests, rather than those of the Iranian people," he told AFP in an email.

In a statement issued in Paris, an exiled Iranian opposition group described the rejection of Rafsanjani´s candidacy as a "masquerade" that would "shrink and fracture the regime´s powerbase".

"Khamenei had no choice but to eliminate both candidates... he is trying in vain to forestall the regime´s overthrow through contraction and the purging of his rivals," the People´s Mujahedeen of Iran said in a statement.

The disqualifications appeared to put lead nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, a figure close to Khamenei, in the front seat.

The Guardians Council is tasked with vetting candidates to ensure they meet the constitutional requirement of being faithful to the principles of the Islamic republic.

It comprises religious conservatives who are all directly or indirectly appointed by Khamenei.

Two figures seen as moderate conservatives are on the list of approved candidates: former nuclear negotiator, Hassan Rowhani, and Mohammad Gharazi, a former minister who served under Rafsanjani and under opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, who is currently under house arrest.

The reformists will have only one candidate in the election in Mohammad Reza Aref, who served as first vice president under president Mohammad Khatami.

Some 686 hopefuls, including 30 women, most of them politically unknown, had registered to contest the election.

Ahmadinejad is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term. His two-term presidency has left the Islamic republic isolated internationally and struggling to cope with harsh economic sanctions over Tehran´s nuclear ambitions.

Source: myrepublica.com

Irate locals continue highway obstruction

nepalimaya — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:31:44 GMT

*SAPTARI, May 22: The grief-stricken family and relatives and irate locals of slain former Constituent Assembly (CA) member Sadrul Miyan Haque have continued the closure of the East-West Highway in Saptari on Wednesday as well, demanding the government´s pledge for inquiry into the murder.Although the stranded vehicles for more than 12 hours were safely crossed during the night, the supporters and locals obstructed the highway again from as early as 5 this morning.

Scores of long-route vehicles have been stopped in Koshi Barrage, Bharadah, Barmajhiya areas in the east and Lahan, Kadmaha, Kalyanpur and Bishanpur areas in the west due to the obstruction.

Meanwhile, the body of deceased has been sent to BP Koirala, Health Science Academy, Dharan for autopsy on late Tuesday night. According to NawarajPoudel, Saptari chief district officer, Haque’s body will be kept for public honor following the postmortem this morning.

The former CA member was found dead with his throat slit at a room of the Huma Oil Traders petrol pump owned by him in Bishanpur, Kalyanpur VDC of the district on Tuesday morning.

Haque was elected a representative to the erstwhile CA as an independent candidate from the Constituency No. 5 of the district.

*

Source: myrepublica.com

Helping disseminate the message of conservation

nepalimaya — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:31:44 GMT

Miss Nepal as WWF Young Conservation AmbassadorKATHMANDU, May 21:

Ishani Shrestha, Miss Nepal 2013, is the eighth Young Conservation Ambassador appointed by WWF Nepal. During her inauguration ceremony last month, Ishani promised to work to raise awareness on conservation issues.Starting with Payal Shakya in 2004, WWF Nepal has been appointing the title holder of Miss Nepal as its Young Conservation Ambassador as the best way to disseminate the message of conservation among youth.

WWF Nepal believes that Miss Nepal’s influence amongst the youth will build awareness and understanding on conservation issues while also stimulating debates and actions.

Akash Shrestha, senior manager at WWF Nepal’s communications and marketing department, says, “Through our ambassadors in turn, we seek to empower youth to be the agents of change for the environment.”

The ambassadors either come with an area of interest or work out their own plans and projects with WWF. Till date they have been involved in issues ranging from community participation in conservation and protection of species, climate change and wise use of water. According to WWF, the ambassadors are committed to their role and have taken the effort to learn more about conservation so that they can communicate better.

With field visits and interactions with WWF personnel and local community members, they are involved in learning about conservation and other important issues that help them be a better communicator.

Ishani was recently in Dhunche in Rasuwa district to participate in the red panda awareness tournament. Speaking of her experience there, she says, “I found that the community was very well informed regarding the importance of conserving the red panda. No one is allowed to hunt in the forests.”

“I think it would be interesting to meet poachers and get their perspective. I’d consider it a success if I’m able to dissuade them from poaching,” she further adds.

For this year, the ambassador will be fronting The Generation Green youth campaign which will teach the young generation about making smart and environmentally viable decisions that can be incorporated into their lifestyles.

Photos Courtesy: WWF Nepal
Shristi Shrestha (above) in Khambachen village where she was pres

After her stint as the ambassador, Sadichha has become more conscious of little things, like not throwing chewing gum out of car’s window or not throwing wrappers just anywhere.

She remembers a home stay village at Dalla in Bardia district. “It was also Nepal Tourism Year and promoting home stay meant that the local economy would receive a boost,” she says. During one of the visits to eco schools, she was presented with a bag made out of gutkas packets and she also planted a tree next to the one planted by Hollywood actor, Leonardo Di Caprio.

On whether their roles as the conservation ambassador help bring about effective change, Sadichha states that it does have some impact. “Though it might not be on a large scale, there is a change, however, small. With publicity, a certain interest arises in the issues and that’s how people become aware of things they might not have known. But we can’t really change people. It’s more about the lifestyle than the status of education. We know about things, we’re just not motivated enough to make the changes we should,” she says.

Ishani believes that it’s more effective to mobilize and teach the youth and the presence of a role model helps make it possible. “I didn’t even know about Dhunche and the red pandas till I visited the place. So that’s how we learn,” she says.

Works done by Young Conservation Ambassadors
n Miss Nepal 2004 and the first Young Conservation Ambassador, Payal Shakya, focused on climate change. She travelled to Gokyo in the Everest Region where she observed the impact of changing climate on the Himalayan eco system. The documentary ‘Meltdown in Nepal’ was based on the trip.

n Sugarika KC, Miss Nepal 2005, involved herself in promoting participatory conservation, which is basically the approach to connecting traditional knowledge with the scientific for sustainability.

n Tackling the importance of water issues for biodiversity and people, Sitashma Chand, Miss Nepal 2007, was also involved in the concerns over freshwater in Nepal. Along the same lines, she was involved in spreading the message of using water wisely, as illustrated in the children’s book ‘The Journey of Pani Prasad’ which she helped to distribute.

n Zenisha Moktan centered her role as the Young Conservation Ambassador on raising awareness among the youth on tiger conservation. The Miss Nepal 2009 was also the spokesperson for WWF’s Year of the Tiger Campaign through which she helped release the documentary ‘Tracking the Tiger’.

n Miss Nepal 2010, Sadichha Shrestha, launched the first home stay program in Bardia district. She was also part of the Green Hiker-Green Planet organized in Langtang by WWF Nepal and USAID.

n Malina Joshi, Miss Nepal 2011, was engaged in a camera trap project in Bardia. This method is useful in capturing animals on films without requiring the presence of a researcher. Malina also visited Indrawati to understand WWF’s climate adaptation work there. A trek to Gosaikunda and participation in the Red Panda trophy tournament in Dhunche were her other engagements as the Young Conservation Ambassador.

n Snow leopard monitoring was the focus of Miss Nepal 2012, Shristi Shrestha’s engagements as conservation ambassador. Shristi traveled to Khambachen village in Kanchenjunga where recognizing the work done by the locals she raised funds in order to help improve their lives.

Source: myrepublica.com

Bestsellers now cheaper for students

nepalimaya — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:31:44 GMT

KATHMANDU, May 21: Bestsellers like Atma Katha by Binod Chaudhary and Mayur Times by Narayan Wagle will soon be available to students at a lower price. Keeping in mind the benefit of the student community, nepa-laya is publishing the books labeled as ‘student edition’ at 50% of the original price. While Atma Katha was selling for Rs 395, it will now be available to students at Rs 195. Mayur Times’s original price of Rs 300 will be cut down to Rs 150.Students can purchase the books at ‘Nepal Education and Book Fair 2013’ which will commence this weekend.

“Depending upon the demand from the student community, we consider publishing a special student edition, after the sales of the book reaches 5 digits,” shared Saijan Maskey, Chief Executive of publication nepalaya.

A similar publishing of Narayan Wagle’s Palpasa Café sold more than 5000 copies in a week.

Wagle said, “I am happy to see my book reach as many readers as possible. With the student edition of Palpasa, my reader base had increased to the student mass who otherwise could not afford it. I hope this edition of Mayur Times will also serve the purpose.”

Similarly, Chaudhary also said, “I am overwhelmed by the response to my book. Taking the book to the student fraternity is a great idea and I hope the subsidized edition of the book will help cater to a wider student community.”

Students can buy the books at the Education Book House stall of Nepal Education and Book Fair which starts this Friday. A book signing session of Atma Katha will be held at the stall on May 25 from 12 to 1 pm.

Source: myrepublica.com

The True Story Behind Amitabh Bachchan & Rajiv Gandhi (Exclsuive)

ebiz — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:23:32 GMT

Lehren Bulletin: Deepika Padukone Most Beautiful Women & More

ebiz — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:23:32 GMT

Top 10 Blocks: Playoffs - Second Round

lost — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:23:32 GMT

Top 10 Dunks: Playoffs - Second Round

lost — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:23:32 GMT

Century of Bollywood: Bollywood Divas:- Sridevi, Madhuri & Juhi

taxidriver89 — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:23:32 GMT

Century of Bollywood: Jodi Kamaal Ki

taxidriver89 — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:23:32 GMT

Century of Bollywood: Bollywood Marketing Gimmicks:- PROMO

taxidriver89 — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:23:32 GMT