Minister Pradhan interacts with Nepal Diaspora

Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan has attended programmes organised by Nepali Diaspora in the US at the sidelines of the UN general assembly.
According to the UN mission in New York, Pradhan attended a discussion programme on US–Nepal Relations focusing on 'expectations and realities in a period of transformation' organised by America-Nepal Friendship Society (ANFS) on Sunday.
Addressing the function, Pradhan expressed satisfaction over the US support in areas of trade, tourism, infrastructure development, governance, human rights, and democratisation process in Nepal.
Minister Pradhan commended the role of the Nepali Diaspora in mobilizing active political support in the US during the peaceful democratic movement in Nepal and also in infusing dynamism in Nepal-US relations.
Minister Pradhan urged Nepal 's development partners including the US for more generous assistance for the reconstruction of economic and physical infrastructure demolished during the conflict.
On the occasion, Pradhan gave away ANFS Friendship Award to member of the US House of Representatives James T. Walsh and ANFS Community Leadership Award to Marvin Brustin, Honorary Consul General of Nepal to Chicago and Ashok Gurung, Senior Director of India China Institute at The New School in New York.
The Foreign Minister also attended a Nepali cultural programme organised by the Himalayan Foundation in New York

Blast near Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu

A bomb went off near the Japanese Embassy at Panipokhari, Kathmandu, Monday afternoon.
Police officials at the Metropolitan Police Circle, Maharajgunj, said the roadside blast, opposite to the embassy building, occurred at around 13:10 pm. There was no human casualty of physical damage in the 'minor blast'.
Eyewitnesses told Nepalnews that two persons on a motorbike threw a plastic bag on the pavement and made off. It exploded immediately.
Nobody has claimed responsibility for the blast. Police said they were investigating into the blast

City blasts: 13 involved, say cops

Kathmandu, September 30:Police today said 13 persons, including a police constable, were involved in planting bombs that exploded at Sundhara, Tripureshwor and Balaju in the capital on September 2.The police also said four persons — policeman Upendra Shah, 27, Jagat Narayan Thakur, 25, Sanjib Sah, 20 of Rautahat and Ramlakhan Thakur of Bara — were arrested 10 days ago on the charge of being involved in the blasts that killed two students and a woman and left 25 others injured. Nine others — mastermind Kaushal Sahani, alias Mr John, Ajay Sahani, 23, Babban Singh, 40, Ramakanta Thakur, 24, Raj Narayan Thakur, 25, Jagat Shah, 22, Rampriya Sahani, Dhuran Thakur, 28, and Parindar Baidha, 15, of Rautahat — are at large, police said.“The arrested men identify themselves as members of the Tarai Army,” Additional Inspector General of Police Keshav Baral told a press meet at the police headquarters held to make public a report on the blasts. “Investigations are on to ascertain the motive and identify elements that backed the incident,” Baral said.According to him, the group outlined the plan in Rautahat and arrived in the capital on August 29. While Raj Narayan, Dhuran and Parindar put up in a rented room of Jagat Narayan and Ramlakhan at Gursingal, Kaushal, Ramakanta and Jagat stayed somewhere else, the police said.“The group had originally planned to carry out the blasts at Singhadurbar, the Supreme Court, the Gongabu Bus Park and the Nepal Bangladesh Bank. It later changed its plans due to the security that was in place at these places,” Baral said.He said the men lured the constable with a motorcycle and acquired information on the police movement from him. “The arrested will be charged with murder,”he added.

EC sets new dates for filing nominations

Kathmandu, September 30:

Following a government request, the Election Commission (EC) today rescheduled the deadline for filing nominations for the constituent assembly election.The government today urged the EC to defer the deadline for submitting the closed-list of candidates for polls to be held under the proportional representation (PR) system till October 5 and for voting to be held under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system till October 8.A Cabinet meeting earlier today endorsed a proposal to request the EC to reschedule the dates.“Following the government’s request in writing and keeping in mind the peace process and national interests, the EC has rescheduled the programme,” Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokhrel said.Candidates of political parties and independent candidates contesting under the FPTP system must now file their nominations on October 8. While the list of candidates registered with the EC will be published on October 9, complaints against anyone will have to be filed on October 10. The EC will investigate the complaints and take a decision by October 11. It will also publish the list of candidates the same day. Candidates may withdraw their nominations on October 12, while the EC will publish the final list of candidates and grant election symbols on October 14.The parties must now submit the closed-list of candidates contesting under the PR system on October 5. The closed-list will be made public on October 20 and applications against the candidates may be registered on October 21. On November 4 the EC will notify if any candidate’s name has been removed from the list.Candidates wanting to withdraw their names can do so on November 6. The EC will then publish the final closed-list and grant election symbols to the candidates on November 7.No more changes, says CEC:Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokhrel today told political parties and the government that the EC cannot make any more changes in the election programme.“This is the last (time)... that we are rescheduling the election programme. We had to do so considering national interests and the peace process. The EC alone cannot make changes in the programme if any such request is made again,” Pokhrel told a press conference.“We decided to change the programme because the future of the Nepali people directly depends on this election,” he said.He also said that the government is now making efforts to see to it that the law and order situation is improved.Pokhrel said the EC expects support from all concerned including “the government, all Nepali people, political parties, media and other stakeholders of society, friendly countries and international organisations.”Asked what will happen if the election is to be held under the fully proportional representation system as demanded by the Maoists, he said the process will be a longer one as amendments have to be made in the Interim Constitution and other related laws.