Of the 19 on board the plane, 18 bodies have been recovered…reports Asian Lite News
Eighteen people were killed after a plane crashed during take-off at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu on Wednesday, local media reported.
The incident occurred around 11 a.m. when the Pokhara-bound plane of Saurya Airlines crashed shortly after taking off from the runway, TIA spokesperson Premnath Thakur said, The Kathmandu Post reported.
Of the 19 on board the plane, 18 bodies have been recovered, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said.
Plane’s Captain Manish Shakya was rescued and rushed to hospital, according to the police, The Himalayan Times reported.
Eyewitnesses said shortly after take-off, the plane plunged to the ground and exploded in a ball of fire.
Firefighters, Nepal Police, and Nepali Army are conducting the rescue operation.
Firefighters and security personnel, including Nepal Police and the Nepali Army, are carrying out the rescue operation…reports Asian Lite News
Four people were killed after a plane with 19 people on board crashed at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu on Wednesday, local media reported.
Four bodies have been recovered.
The incident occurred around 11 a.m. when the Pokhara-bound plane of Saurya Airlines crashed shortly after taking off from the runway, TIA spokesperson Premnath Thakur said, The Kathmandu Post reported.
Firefighters and security personnel, including Nepal Police and the Nepali Army, are carrying out the rescue operation.
Plane’s Captain Manish Shakya was rescued from the wreckage and taken to KMC Hospital, Sinamangal for treatment, according to the police, The Himalayan Times reported.
Three of the passengers somehow managed to get outside the bus and swim to the bank….reports Asian Lite News
Twelve-member teams, including four divers from India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), have joined the Nepali search teams to locate two buses that have gone missing in the Trishuli River for a week since the July 12 landslide that wreaked havoc in the Himalayan nation.
Two buses carrying 65 passengers along the Narayanghat-Muglin road section were hit by a landslide in the wee hours of July 12 and swept away by the Trishuli River.
Three of the passengers somehow managed to get outside the bus and swim to the bank.
The Indian team which arrived in Chitwan yesterday started the search operation on Sunday morning, Chief District Officer of the district confirmed ANI over the phone.
“A 12-member team of India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been carrying out the search operation since this morning,” Chief District Officer Indra Dev Yadav confirmed.
Rescue and search teams from Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force (APF) have been searching the bus and the passengers since the incident, but they haven’t been able to trace the buses so far.
The buses were washed away by a landslide at Simaltal on the Narayanghat-Mugling road.
More than 200 security personnel have been deployed to search for passengers. So far 25 bodies have been found in different locations and 17 people have been identified.
The whereabouts of the two buses and 37 passengers on them are still unknown. The rescue team from India arrived in Nepal at the request of the government due to a lack of manpower and proper equipment in the country. (ANI)
The prime minister has made the details of the midnight deal public three weeks after it was signed by Oli and Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba…reports Asian Lite News
Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, while tabling the trust motion in the parliament, made the seven-point agreement reached with the Nepali Congress public.
Oli, also the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal–Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), read out the contents of the agreement that was sealed past midnight on July 2. The Prime Minister also said that the agreement between the two major parties was part of the two largest parties’ efforts to address the country’s pressing issues.
“We (CPN-UML and Nepali Congress) compete in our ideologies, but there are instances of collaboration between the Congress and the UML. This is a continuation of that collaboration. We have agreed to work together to protect national interests, control corruption, improve governance, expedite development activities, and ensure political stability, in accordance with the public desire,” Oli said, addressing the lower house of the federal parliament.
The prime minister has made the details of the midnight deal public three weeks after it was signed by Oli and Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba. Leaders from Congress and other parties were raising questions over keeping the deal secret for weeks.
According to Oli, the seven points of the agreement reached between the Congress and the UML at midnight of July 1 are as follows:
1. Form a national consensus government under Article 76(2) of the constitution, involving other political parties as well, to protect national interests, control corruption, improve governance, accelerate development activities, and ensure political stability.
2. The national consensus government will prioritise reviewing the strengths, weaknesses, and complexities observed in the course of implementing the constitution, and will focus on amending the constitution and enacting related laws in order to ensure political stability.
3. To end the prolonged economic slowdown, prepare a reliable business environment, and rejuvenate economic activities. This includes encouraging both domestic and foreign investments to create sufficient and dignified employment opportunities within the country.
4. CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli will lead the national consensus government for the first two years and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba will lead the election government until elections in November-December 2027.
5. To prepare common minimum programmes to protect the national interest, to ensure good governance by ending corruption, to determine the basis of the national consensus government and to run the government on the same basis.
6. The national consensus government will ensure equal participation of the two leading political parties, while also including other political parties in the government.
7. Provincial governments will be formed as per the spirit and intent of the national consensus government, and efforts will be made to accelerate development activities at the provincial and local levels as per the public sentiment. (ANI)
The embassy urged students to stay indoors and follow the instructions of their respective university and college administrations….reports Asian Lite News
Nepal’s embassy in Dhaka has issued an advisory for Nepali students to stay indoors and follow the instructions of their respective universities and college administrators after the students’ protest intensified over the government jobs quota.
The advisory follows Bangladeshi government’s decision to shut down all public and private universities after protests by students against a quota system for government jobs. There has been escalation in violence following protests with media reports stating that six people were killed on Tuesday.
“The students are also requested to contact the embassy in case the administrators ask them to move to safer places or if the situation at their current accommodation is unsafe,” the advisory reads.
The embassy urged students to stay indoors and follow the instructions of their respective university and college administrations.
The embassy further stated that they are closely monitoring the situation and are in constant contact with concerned government agencies and college administrative bodies for the safety of Nepali students.
The embassy has also given two contact numbers for any assistance. Yojana Bamjan, second secretary at the Nepali Embassy in Dhaka: +8801880691013 and Riya Chhetri: +8801745407958.
Bangladesh has seen protests over quota system that reserves significant number of civil service posts for certain groups, including children of those who took part in the country’s 1971 war of independence against Pakistan. (ANI)
Oli was sworn in as the Prime Minister for his fourth term on July 15….reports Asian Lite News
Nepal’s newly appointed Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli is set to take a vote of confidence on July 21, a week after he took over charge of the office.
Oli, 72, the chairman of the CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal–Unified Marxist Leninist), was appointed Prime Minister by President Ram Chandra Paudel on July 14 after his predecessor Pushpa Kamal Dahal lost a vote of confidence in parliament.
Oli was sworn in as the Prime Minister for his fourth term on July 15.
According to CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula, Prime Minister Oli has informed the Parliament Secretariat about it stating that an early vote of confidence would help him work comfortably.
“As per the constitution, a Prime Minister is mandated to take the vote of confidence within 30 days of formal appointment over the post. Prime Minister Oli will be taking the vote of confidence on Sunday (July 21) because it would give me more confidence and allow me to work properly,” Bartaula confirmed to ANI over phone.
On July 12 this month, Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel called on political parties in the Nepal Parliament to stake claim for the Prime Minister after Pushpa Kamal Dahal lost a trust motion.
The President had called for the claim of stake as per Article 76(2) of the Constitution.
On the same day, Oli staked claim for the prime minsterial post, he and Nepali Congress party President Sher Bahadur Deuba jointly signed an application for the President to appoint the UML chief as the country’s new PM on Friday evening.
Oli, backed by the Nepali Congress and other smaller parties had on Friday submitted the signatures of 165 lawmakers claiming majority support in the parliament for the Prime Ministership.
The Constitution of Nepal mandates a Prime Minister to have the support of a majority of 138 members in the 275-strong House of Representatives to take over as Prime Minister.
Moreover, the Prime Minister is also mandated to take a vote of confidence within 30 days of appointment to prove support.
Oli became the Prime Minister for the first time in October 2015, soon after the promulgation of the Constitution that year, and remained in power until August 2016.
Right after the general election in 2017, Oli, who was able to usher in nationalist sentiment amongst the people siding with China, formed a government and remained in power from February 2018 to May 2021.
Oli was again appointed Prime Minister under the constitutional provision of 76(3) from May 2021 to July 2021 after staking claim as the parliamentary leader of the largest party in parliament.
While in power, Oli twice dissolved the parliament but the Supreme Court issued a mandamus resinstating it.
According to the July 2 deal between Congress chief Deuba and UML chairman Oli, the two parties will lead the government on a rotational basis until the next general elections in 2027.
The deal, however, has not been made public yet. (ANI)
KP Sharma Oli, with the backing of the Nepali Congress and smaller parties, had submitted the signatures of 165 lawmakers, claiming majority support in the parliament for the Prime Ministership…reports Asian Lite News
With the expiration of the deadline to stake the claim for the Prime Minister, Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel has appointed KP Sharma Oli (72) as the next Prime Minister.
Oli is the single leader who staked his claim for the post in support of the Nepali Congress.
Nepal President Paudel called the political parties in the Nepali parliament on Friday evening to stake a claim for the Prime Minister after Pushpa Kamal Dahal lost a confidence motion. The President had called for a claim of stake as per Article 76 (2) of the Constitution.
“Honourable President Shree Ram Chandra Paudel as per Article 76 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal has appointed member of the House of Representatives Shree KP Sharma Oli as the Prime Minister of Nepal,” the President’s Office said in a statement.
According to the statement, the oath ceremony for Oli has been scheduled for 11 am (NST) on Monday.
Along with Oli, a group of ministers will also be inducted into the cabinet for which the parties are holding rounds of discussions.
Oli and Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba jointly signed an application for the President to appoint the UML chief as the new prime minister on Friday evening, right after the results of the vote of confidence.
Oli, with the backing of the Nepali Congress and smaller parties, had submitted the signatures of 165 lawmakers, claiming majority support in the parliament for the Prime Ministership.
The Constitution of Nepal mandates a Prime Minister to cross a majority of 138 in the 275-strong House of Representatives to take over as Prime Minister. Oli became the Prime Minister for the first time in October 2015, soon after the promulgation of the constitution that year, and remained in power until August 2016.
Moreover, the Prime Minister is also mandated to take a vote of confidence within 30 days of appointment to prove his support.
Following the general elections in 2017, Oli, who was able to usher in nationalist sentiment amongst the people siding with China, formed a government and remained in power from February 2018 to May 2021.
Oli again was appointed as Prime Minister under the constitutional provision of 76 (3) from May 2021 to July 2021 after staking claim as the parliamentary leader of the largest party in parliament.
While in power for about three years, Oli dissolved the parliament twice, which was reinstated by the Supreme Court issuing a mandamus.
The Nepali Congress and CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist) signed an agreement on July 2 to divide 9 and 8 ministries, respectively, on the council of ministry.
According to the July 2 deal between Congress chief Deuba and UML chairman, Oli, the two parties will lead the government on a rotational basis until the next general elections in 2027. But, the deal has not been made public to date. (ANI)
Prachanda approved China rail deal ahead of trust vote
A day before Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ lost a vote of confidence in Parliament, he approved an agreement to link Nepal with China by rail under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). According to MyRepublica, this decision has more operational than political significance, aligning with Nepal’s involvement in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s large-scale infrastructure project.
“The Cabinet meeting on Thursday approved the ‘Strengthening the Development Cooperation in Building the Trans-Himalayan Multidimensional Connectivity Network’ agreement with China,” stated Communication Minister and government spokesperson Rekha Sharma. However, a minister noted that this is an initial decision and project implementation details are yet to be finalized.
On Friday, Prachanda lost the vote of confidence after coalition partner Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) withdrew support. Prachanda received only 63 votes in the 275-member House of Representatives, with 194 against him, leading to a new government likely headed by ex-Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.(photo:IN)
Prachanda’s move is seen as a step towards implementing BRI projects, including the Kerung-Kathmandu railway and broader infrastructure development along the Nepal-China border. Earlier, the Nepali Congress, before forming a power-sharing deal with UML, had resolved to “only accept grants and not loans under the BRI project.” The government was also set to decide on implementing the 2017 BRI agreement with China, pending at the cabinet.
The BRI has faced global criticism for China’s debt diplomacy, exemplified by the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, which was leased to China for 99 years after Sri Lanka defaulted on Chinese loans. India has also protested against the BRI’s USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The worldwide digital release has been made possible with the collaboration of The Italian Buddhist Union, Rome, Italy…reports Asian Lite News
As a mark of reverence on the 89th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama, an icon of ahimsa (non-violence) and karuna (compassion), on Saturday, ‘Never Forget Tibet: The Dalai Lama’s Untold Story’ was released worldwide.
The documentary, directed by Jean-Paul Mertinez, explores details of the Nobel Peace Laureate’s incredible escape into exile for the first time on film in his own words, with the Indian political officer who led him to safety — late Havildar Mander Singh.
Featuring the Tibetan community in exile and those with historic ties to Tibet, the film explores the Dalai Lama’s compassion for a world seemingly in crisis today and seeks to find out what can be learnt from his inspirational life story, Tibetan culture and its ancient spirituality.
Inspired by the book ‘An Officer and His Holiness’ by Rani Singh, the film is narrated by British acting legend Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey, Paddington) and features music from Grammy-nominated artist Anoushka Shankar.
The film is produced by Compassionate Films and the Executive Producers are Templeheart Films, Lyndon Baldock, Gavin Patterson and Rani Singh.
The worldwide digital release has been made possible with the collaboration of The Italian Buddhist Union, Rome, Italy.
The feature-length documentary will be available on world’s leading streaming platforms, including Apple TV+, Amazon and Google Play.
In 1959, the occupying Chinese troops suppressed the Tibetan national uprising in Lhasa and forced the 14th Dalai Lama and over 80,000 Tibetans into exile in India and neighbouring countries.
On reaching India after a three-week-long and treacherous journey, the Dalai Lama first took up residence for about a year in Mussoorie in Uttarakhand.
On March 10, 1960, just before moving to Dharamsala, which also serves as the headquarters of the exiled Tibetan establishment, the Dalai Lama said: “For those of us in exile, I said that our priority must be resettlement and the continuity of our cultural traditions. We, Tibetans, would eventually prevail in regaining freedom for Tibet.”
Currently, the government-in-exile is based in Dharamsala, a town in Himalayan foothills where a community of Tibetans lives in exile with the Dalai Lama, hoping to sustain their struggle to secure complete autonomy in their Chinese-ruled homeland, Tibet.
Oman Welcomes 25,000 Hardworking Nepalese with Expanding Job Market…reports Vinod Raghavan
With the opening up of the economy in the Sultanate, the Himalayan country Nepal is not leaving any stone unturned to grab opportunities for its nationals with various job opportunities in Oman.
To equip with advanced technology, all recruitments and document attestation of Nepali citizens will be made by using digital platform and no more paper procedures or wasting time in long serpentine queues, from July 16th announced the Nepal Embassy in Oman.
Launching the e-portal for Institutional Demand Attestation in Oman at an Employment, Trade and Investment Promotion event at the Nepal House attended by eminent businessmen, country managers, HR executives, media professionals and representatives of different establishments, Nepal Ambassador to the Sultanate, Dornath Aryal said that the e-portal for job recruitment and Institutional Demand Attestation is aimed at a transparent and easy process without any hassle, adding, further, he pointed out that such moves will assist in establishing cordial long-term relationship between the Embassy and the valued recruiters in Oman.
Henceforth, the recruiting companies willing to take Nepali workforce need to first register their companies at the e-portal (https://demand.nepalconsular.gov.np) and once it is approved by the embassy, they could create demand for recruiting Nepali workers.
He further highlighted the priorities of the Government of Nepal to diversify the trading partners of Nepal and promote the vast opportunities of the foreign investment in Nepal and urged the businesspersons to consider expanding transactions with Nepali counterparts for better outreach. Ambassador Aryal informed the guests of the successful completion of Nepal Investment Summit 2024 and its achievements.
Detailing the various facets of the e-portal, Nabin Jha, IT Officer, Department of Consular Services explained the steps to be followed for company registration and demand letter attestation. The Company Registration of the recruiters in Oman commenced from July 3, 2024 and all the institutional demands will be attested only through the e-portal from July 16, 2024 and physical demand letters will not be accepted.
Bishesh Kumar Sah, Second Secretary further explained that the e-portal will replace the manual work with the Digital platform for completing the process of recruiting Nepali workers by the companies in Oman after selecting from among 1400 Nepali recruiting agencies, will now complete all documentation via the website.
Nepalese, around 25,000, who are known for their hard work and honesty are making their living happily in Oman and with the online recruitments, more opportunities are open for skilled and unskilled men and women in the Sultanate.
Rashtriya Swatantra Party ministers had reached Dahal’s residence to tender their resignations but changed their decision after meeting him….reports Asian Lite News
In a change of stance, Nepal’s Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has decided not to immediately walk out of the government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, who is battling a political crisis following withdrawal of support by CPN-UML.
Rashtriya Swatantra Party ministers had reached Dahal’s residence on Thursday to tender their resignations but changed their decision after meeting him.
“We went to meet Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal carrying resignation letters. He apprised us that he will exercise his constitutional rights and face the parliament. We also asked him to take the floor test soon and our ministers didn’t tender resignation,” Santosh Pariyar, chief whip of the party, told ANI over the phone.
Pariyar along with four ministers and vice president of RSP went to Dahal’s residence to give resignations.
Dahal is leading a minority government after his major ally, CPN-UML, walked out of the government on Wednesday.
With the expiration of the 24-hour deadline given on Tuesday, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), the key ally of the Dahal-led government walked out of the government. The party had given a one-day ultimatum to Prime Minister Dahal to step down from the post which it called “a respectful exit.”
On Wednesday (July 3), eight ministers from CPN-UML on board the cabinet of Dahal formed on March 4 earlier this year, tendered resignations before the Prime Minister at his residence in Baluwatar. The ministers had reached Balkot, the residence of UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and headed for Baluwatar.
“We have resigned and submitted the letter to the Prime Minister a while ago. All the 8 ministers on board the cabinet from the CPN-UML have resigned informing the Prime Minister that we no longer are part of this government and withdraw our support,”
Jwalakumari Sah, the former minister for Agriculture told ANI over phone call from PM residence, Baluwatar.
The UML and Congress on Monday night agreed to form a new government. Oli would lead a new national consensus and government for a year and a half. For the remaining term, Nepal’s former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba will be the prime minister.
Dahal expressed reluctance to resign immediately. The office-bearers meeting of the CPN (Maoist Centre) held in Baluwatar on Tuesday had decided that the Prime Minister will not tender his resignation but instead face a trust vote in Parliament within 30 days since the retraction of support.
On Wednesday, the Nepali Congress formally endorsed the agreement reached with the CPN-UML on the formation of a new coalition. A central work execution committee meeting of the party held at party President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence in Budhanilkantha endorsed the deal reached between the top leaders of the two largest parties.
In the deal, leaders from the two largest parties have reached an understanding to lead the governments in the remaining around three-and-half-year tenure of the present parliament on a rotation basis.
“The meeting concludes that it would be appropriate for the prime minister to pave the way for the formation of a new national consensus government as, following the agreement between Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, a clear majority in the House of Representatives is in favour of forming the government under the leadership of KP Sharma Oli,” reads a statement issued after the meeting.
The meeting also expressed commitment to implement the agreement. “The meeting expresses its determination to implement the agreement reached between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML regarding leading governments on a rotation basis to protect national interests, control corruption, ensure good governance, the development, maintain political stability, amending the constitution to strengthen the federal democratic republican system and inclusiveness and to strengthen the economy.”
As per the midnight agreement between Sher Bahadur Deuba from Nepali Congress and KP Sharma Oli from CPN-UML on Tuesday, a committee is also formed to suggest amendments to the election procedures and the constitution under the leadership of former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha.
In the overnight agreement, the largest and the second largest party in the parliament drafted a constitutional amendment agreement where it was stated that the Vice President would be made the chairman of the National Assembly. Leaders from the Congress and the UML informed President Ram Chandra Paudel about the change in coalition.
During the meeting, the leaders informed the President about activating Section 76 (2) to form a new government in case the incumbent Prime Minister fails to win the vote of confidence after UML withdraws its support. (ANI)
