Three policemen shot dead in northwest Pakistan

      ISLAMABAD, Dec 31, (AFP) - Militants have shot dead three policemen who went missing during an overnight search in northwest Pakistan, police said WednesdaThe incident took place imountainous town of Ailam in the district of Malakand, where Taliban militants are active.

"Last night militants fired at a police patrol vehicle, after which a search operation was launched in which four policemen went missing," senior police official Asif Iqbal told AFP.Police found the bullet-riddled bodies of three officers Wednesday morning, he added. A police station chief was wounded.

On December 8 unidentified gunmen shot dead two policemen who were on their way to protect a polio vaccination team in the neighbouring town of BunerThe area where the latest killings took place is close to the Swat Valley. The army in 2009 sent 30,000 troops there to battle Taliban fighters controlled by cleric Maulana Fazlullah, who in 2007 took control of the valley and waged a campaign of violence including beheadings and attacks on girls' schools.

South China plant blast kills 17, injures 33

GUANGZHOU, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Seventeen people were killed and 33 others were injured after a gas blast rocked a plant in south China's Guangdong Province on Wednesday morning, local authorities said.The blast occurred at about 9:30 a.m. at the Fuwa Engineering Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

 in the Shunde District of the industrial city of Foshan, the district government said in a statement.]Among the injured, 16 sustained serious injuries and three remain in life-threatening condition, it said.The blast occurred when the factory was closed for cleaning. Local authorities are looking into the cause of the incident. Guangdong Province is one of China's largest manufacturing bases.

53 dead in Philippines flooding and landslides

          MANILA, Dec 31, (AFP) - The death toll from flooding and landslides in the Philippines wrought by tropical storm Jangmi rose to 53 Wednesday, officials said, with some regions saying they were caught off guard by the deluge. In Catbalogan town in Samar province 19 people died in a landslide that left homes and vehicles buried under rocks and mud, local Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan said, adding that the town had been surprised by the landslide.

"We did not expect a deluge. We thought the hill where the landslide hit was tough as rocks," she told AFP"There was no evacuation, people were just advised to prepare for possible landslides," she said. "We need to check communication systems to find out what went wrong."

Jangmi affected 121,737 people, of which 80,186 are in evacuation centres, according to the national disaster monitoring agency, which said that 53 people were killed overall.The storm's death toll was nearly triple that of the last major storm to hit the country, Super Typhoon Hagupit, earlier this month.

Hagupit, with winds of 210 kilometres (130 miles) per hour, sparked a massive evacuation effort as it brought back memories of the strongest storm ever to hit the country, Super Typhoon Haiyan, whose 230-kilometre per hour winds left 7,350 dead or missing in 2013.In Misamis Oriental province, floods flattened rice and corn fields resulting in an estimated 400 million pesos ($9 million) in damages, Governor Yevgeny Emano told DZMM radio.

"We were caught by surprise, we didn't expect that we would be hit by the eye of the storm," Emano said, although he noted he had received some warnings.In Leyte -- the province worst-hit by Haiyan -- the rains brought landslides and floods that closed off major roads, Governor Leopoldo Domenico Petilla said on DZMM.

Mina Marasigan, the national disaster monitoring agency's spokeswoman, defended the government's handling of the storm saying weather warnings were sent out even as Jangmi was still forming over the Pacific Ocean."Maybe people underestimated the situation because it's a tropical depression, not a super typhoon. They dismissed it as weak," she said."We need to study what happened in this storm closely and find ways for the public to better understand storm warnings," Marasigan added.

200 rebels surrender to gov't in N. Afghanistan

SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- About 200 rebels under Mawlawi Nematullah gave up fighting and surrendered to government in northern Afghanistan's province of Jawzjan on Wednesday, authorities said.

     "Up to 200 insurgents gave up fighting and joined the government in provincial capital of Shiberghan on Wednesday morning," a provincial source told Xinhua.

     A ceremony was underway in Shiberghan to welcome the former insurgents and Afghan First-Vice President General Abdul Rashid Dostum will also attend the ceremony, said the source who declined to be named, adding "The former rebels were active in Darzab and Quish Tipa Districts over the past couple of years."  

     The official declined to say whether the surrendered militants were members of the Taliban insurgent group. However, the Taliban insurgents fighting government are active in parts of Jawzjan and the neighboring Faryab and Sari Pul provinces have yet to make comment.

     Vice-President Dostum, who is visiting the mentioned provinces, has recently said that efforts were underway to encourage the insurgents in Northern provinces to renounce violence and join the government-initiated peace and reconciliation process.The surrendered militants also brought with them guns and high- powered firearms when they joined the government, according to officials. On Monday, more than 80 militants joined the peace process in Jawzjan

U.S.-led airstrikes hit IS forces in Syria, Iraq: Pentagon

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- The United States and its allies conducted a total of 15 airstrikes against Islamic State ( IS) targets in Syria and Iraq Tuesday, hitting several buildings and units, according to a statement released by U.S. Department of Defense.

     In Syria, seven airstrikes near Kobani and Dayz ar Zawr destroyed four IS buildings, an IS tactical unit, an IS shipping container, the statement said.  In Iraq, eight airstrikes near Mosul, Fallujah, Ramadi and Bayji destroyed four IS excavators, two IS fighting positions, six IS buildings, five IS tactical vehicles and five IS tactical units.

     Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Netherlands and the United Kingdom, while countries on the coalition conducting airstrikes in Syria include the United States, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.  

Two-year-old shoots, kills mother in US

LOS ANGELES, Dec 31, (AFP) - A two-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his mother Tuesday at a Walmart store in Idaho after taking a gun from her purse.Police identified the victim as Veronica Rutledge of Blackfoot, Idaho. The shooting took place in the store in Hayden, Idaho, where she was shopping with her children and other family members.

"Once on scene, deputies found a 29-year-old victim was deceased from an apparent gunshot wound," Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger said in a statement.

"Her son was seated in the shopping cart and accessed the victim's concealed weapon from her purse and discharged it, striking the victim," he added, noting that the shooting appeared to be accidental.Rutledge, who was spending the holidays in the area, had a concealed weapons permit, the sheriff's office confirmed.

Sheriff's lieutenant Stu Miller told local television KHQ that in "instances like this, you know I'm a big proponent of a concealed weapon for your own safety. However, you have to be responsible. Unfortunately, in this case, that just wasn't," Miller told the station.

"A very sad incident occurred at our store today involving the death of a female customer," the local Walmart said in a statement."We are fully cooperating with the Kootenai County Sheriff's deputies as they investigate this matter."KREM television reported that Rutledge was in the store with three other children, which police did not immediately confirm.

The fatal shooting took place in the electronics section of the store, KXLY television reported.Authorities sent psychologists to help employees needing assistance, it added. The store, which was evacuated, will be closed on Wednesday.

Floods kill 21 in Malaysia, waters recede

          KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31, (AFP) - At least 21 people have been killed and eight others are missing after the worst flooding in decades across Malaysia's northeast, police said Wednesday, with almost a quarter of a million people displaced.They said 14 of the deaths were recorded in the worst-hit state of Kelantan, where some 158,476 people were displaced.

Four people died in Terengganu and three in Pahang state. There are also reports of outbreaks of flu and diarrhoea.The number forced from their homes in the other affected states -- Pahang, Perak, Terengganu and Johor -- totalled 83,570.Forecasters Wednesday predicted clear skies for the next three days.

"But we are still in the northeast monsoon period until March. We could expect heavy showers later in the week," a meteorological department official said.Floodwaters have began to subside in many areas but authorities are bracing for possible disease outbreaks.Noor Hisham Abdullah, health ministry director-general, said there was no major rise in flood-related diseases at the moment.

"We anticipate that flood victims will come in masses seeking care once the floodwaters start to recede," he said in a Facebook posting.Rajbans Singh, president of the Malaysian Wellness Society, told AFP that floods can increase the transmission of typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis, malaria and dengue.The government has been criticised for it slow response after many victims were caught stranded in outlying areas without food and clean water.

Prime Minister Najib Razak, who came under fire after being filmed playing golf with US President Barack Obama in Hawaii when the disaster happened, said he was saddened by the flooding."I see so much destruction. It is depressing and sad," he said.Najib is criss-crossing flood-hit areas and coordinating aid activities.

Ee Su Chuong, 42, the owner of an auto repair shop in Kota Bharu in Kelantan, said many people were taking advantage of the sunny day to clean their mud-filled homes after floodwaters receded.

"But they will return to the relief centres to spend the night because they are unable to cook on their own as most provision shops are still closed," he told AFP.

The National Security Council admitted there were delays in its relief efforts, saying this was partly because some of its staff were flood victims."Due to the magnitude of the floods, most districts were completely inundated. Our entire district machinery collapsed as they (staff) had become victims themselves," council secretary Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper.

Pakistan hangs man for attack on former military ruler

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Dec 31, (AFP) - Pakistan on Wednesday hanged a man convicted of attempting to assassinate former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, the seventh execution since the country lifted a moratorium on capital punishment after its bloodiest-ever terror attack, officials said.over to relatives," an official at Peshawar's high-security Central Jail told AFP.

Mohammad was convicted of attacking Musharraf in Rawalpindi, the official said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to media.Another prison official confirmed the execution.The attack, which took place in December 2003, involved a powerful explosion targeting the former president's motorcade as it was passing over a bridge in Rawalpindi.

The motorcade escaped the explosion by a matter of seconds, however, and no one was injured.Pakistan earlier this month lifted a six-year moratorium on the death penalty in terror cases, a decision that came amid public outrage over a Taliban massacre at a school in the northwestern city of Peshawar which killed 150 people, including 134 children.

Of the seven people hanged so far, six were involved in the failed attempt to assassinate Musharraf in Rawalpindi in 2003, while one was involved in a 2009 attack on the army headquarters.Pakistani officials have said they plan to hang 500 convicts in the coming weeks, drawing protest from international human rights campaigners.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also announced the establishment of military courts for terror-related cases in order to accelerate trials, describing them as "an extraordinary solution to an extraordinary problem."

Despite the moratorium, which began in 2008, courts continued to issue death sentences and Amnesty International estimates there are around 8,000 people on death row in Pakistan.The United Nations, European Union, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called on Pakistan to re-impose its moratorium on the death penalty.Rights campaigners say Pakistan overuses its anti-terror laws and courts to prosecute ordinary crimes.

Eight killed in Canada 'senseless mass murder'

MONTREAL, Dec 31,  (AFP) - Police in western Canada were investigating Wednesday the "senseless mass murder" of six adults and two children, who were apparently slain by a depressed man who later killed himself.Police Chief Rod Knecht said killings -- the worst ever in Edmonton -- were "planned and deliberate" and apparently were carried out during a domestic dispute.

The killings began late Monday in the southern part of Edmonton, a city of nearly one million people in Alberta province, where a man shot to death a woman in her 30s, Knecht said.

The man then headed to a residence in the north of the city, where he killed another seven people -- three women, two men, a girl and a boy.Alerted by reports of a disturbance, police went Monday initially to a home in Edmonton where they discovered the body of the first female victim.

They went later that evening to investigate reports of a "suicidal male" at a house in the north of the city.An initial visit to the house showed nothing that appeared out of the ordinary, but when police returned a few hours later and entered the home, they discovered the bodies of the seven murder victims.

The body of the suspected killer, an apparent suicide, was found early Tuesday in a Vietnamese restaurant in Fort Saskatchewan, a northeastern suburb of Edmonton.Authorities indicated that the suspect "had a business interest" in the restaurant where his body was found.The names and ages of the victims and their killer were not immediately released.

Knecht said the suspect had a criminal record dating back to 1987 of sexual assault and violence, and was in deep financial distress.A woman told the Edmonton Journal newspaper that she had heard noises Monday outside the restaurant.

She looked and saw several police officers, one of whom yelled through a megaphone for someone in the restaurant to "come out with your hands up!".Detectives went on to find a dead man inside and quickly identified him as the suspected killer.Knecht stressed that the public was not at any risk."This series of events are not believed to be random acts," he said at a news conference."And these events do not appear to be gang-related, but rather tragic incidents of domestic violence."

The police chief added that "our thoughts go out to the community... with this senseless mass murder."The killings were the worst ever in Edmonton, where six people were slain in a tragic incident in 1956.Mass killings and gun crime are relatively rare in Canada compared to the neighboring United States, where gun ownership is also much more widespread.

ELDERLY WOMAN DIES OF COLD IN PARSA

Birgunj, Dec 31: Daily public life is becoming harsher with the increasing cold in Parsa district since the past few days.

As a result, an elderly woman died of hypothermia in Petarwa Sugauli of the district. A resident of Ward no-6 in the VDC, 65-year-old Sukhani Devi Tharu froze to death, Area Police Office, Sugauli said.

Along with the elderly, the children have been hardly hit by the dip in the mercury along with the blowing of cold wave.

Meanwhile, majority of the schools in the district have been closed considering the adverse weather conditions. RSS

drinking water project with indian assistance begins in myagdi

Babiyachaur (Myagdi), Dec 31: Construction of a drinking water with support from the Embassy of India has begun at Takam of Myagdi.

The locals of Takam collected donations, grant from local bodies and contributed voluntary labour to begin the project after receiving water pipes, cement and other construction materials worth more than ten billion rupees from the Embassy, according to local Indra Bahadur Bhandari, who is an ex-Indian Army personnel.

More than 300 households in ward nos 3,4 and 5 of Takam VDC are expected to be benefited by the project that is expected to be completed in the next five months.

Water from the Kot river will be processed and distributed to all the households through 82 water taps, added Bhandari.

The Takam VDC with more than 119 ex-Indian Army households has also been receiving support for community schools, health post, police post and community centres from the Embassy. RSS

Indian citizen arrested with smuggled copper statues

            Ilam, Dec 31: The Area Police Office, Pashupatinagar has arrested an Indian citizen along with smuggled copper statues.

            Tsering Sherpa,32, a resident of Lobema-2 in Darjeeling, India was arrested on Tuesday from Pashupatinagar-4, as he was about the smuggle the statues into India from Nepal.

The statues worth Rs. 197,000 included a big statue of Buddha, Guru Rimpoche and Guru Charesi.

Sherpa has been handed over to the Pashupatinagar Customs Office for necessary action, Police Inspector at the Area Police Office Iswar Thapa said. RSS

ENT endoscopy service begins in Koshi Zonal Hospital

             Biratnagar, Dec 31: Endoscopy of Ear, Nose and Throat or ENT is now available at Koshi Zonal Hospital, the largest government hospital in Morang.

            The ENT endoscopy machine worth one million rupees was provided to the Hospital by the Ministry of Health.

            The latest technology is expected to help facilitate ENT treatment at the hospital, said Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, Dr Roshan Pokharel. RSS

timber smugglers arrested in kanchanpur

 Kanchanpur, Dec 31: Seven people have been arrested by police as they were transporting illegally felled timber from the Kanchan community forest in Dekhatbhuli-3 of Kanchanpur on Tuesday.

They were arrested along with the timber being transported in bullock carts by the forest guard team of the Sector Forest Office in Bani.

Those arrested are Jeli Rana,27, Kara Rana,45, Chanda Rana, Prithi Rana, Darauga Rana,50, Hari Lal Rana,29 and Radheshyam Rana,21, of Dekhatbhuli.

They have been taken into custody by the Forest Office Kanchanpur for further investigation and necessary action, according to Chief of the Sector Forest Office Dilip Yadav. RSS

eight-point commitment for child-friendly local governance

Trishuli (Nuwakot), Dec 31: The two-day orientation seminar organized to discuss ways to making local governance child-friendly in all the VDCs of Nuwakot concluded with an eight-point child-friendly commitment paper here on Tuesday.

All stakeholders were present in the programme organized by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development in collaboration with the District Development Committee, Nuwakot.

The commitment paper includes among others the development of an integrated child profile of all the VDCs, municipalities and the district, developing an integrated child-friendly local action plan for the district and allocated at least 15 per cent of the total development budget to child-related activities.

Other targets included in the paper are declaring at least three VDCs and one municipality of the district as child-friendly in the next three years, ensuring meaning participation of children at the local level and meeting child-friendly governance indicators.

Speaking at the programme, Local Development Officer Rajendra Kumar KC said all should play a positive role in ensuring that the provision to allocate specific amount of budget to the target groups is put into practice.

Government office representatives, political party leaders and cadres, CSOs, VDC secretaries and social mobilizers and child networks took part in the seminar. RSS

Jhapali found dead in Malaysia

Surung (Jhapa), Dec 31: A resident of Surunga in Jhapa district has been found dead in course of foreign employment in Malaysia.

The deceased has been identified as Khadga Prasad Sarki of Ward no. 4 of Kankai municipality.

Sarki had reached Malaysia for employment just six months ago and he was found dead in sleep on December 28, according to his relative Ramesh Sarki.

Sarki was working as a security guard at the Target Company of Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Sarki's widow Pabitra BK has appealed to all concerned for support in bringing her husband's body to Nepal for final rites. RSS

Children in a campaign to select plans for their own

  Birgunj, Dec 29: With the complaints that the VDCs in Parsa district have not prioritized the children's issues in the plans and projects and transferred budget time and again, the children have launched a campaign to select the plans of their interest and needs.

            The campaign was launched in a bid to make the child-friendly development programmes by identifying the problems and challenges of the children and seeking proper solution.

            With the assistance of UNICEF Nepal, the campaign is launched under the child-friendly local governance programme of the District Development Committee. As per the project, children's gatherings are being conducted at every village to formulate the child focused plans.

The gatherings center on the identification of children's needs and the ways to address them through the plans and projects.

            The issues passed by the gathering are forwarded to village council through the citizen's forum and integrated plan formulation committee. Once the village council approves the agenda, the implementation of the plan is doable.

            The gatherings begun from mid December have raised the issues as child marriage, child labour, school closure, violence against children, quality basic education, maternal health, child care, and pre and primary child nutrition, intellectual development and sanitation, hygiene and pure drinking water, good governance, youths and development.

            The children also wondered how the budget on children is spent.

            The children have formulated the plans on priority basis.

            Most of the gatherings have demanded awareness campaigns against social anomalies as child marriage, trafficking in children and dowry, said social mobilizer at Mudali VDC, Bikram Saha.

            Similarly, they have demanded the concerned bodies to ensure education to all children from the poor families; scholarship to handicapped children, stationary materials and training to the parents to care children.  RSS

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Man killed

 Golbazar (Siraha), Dec 29: A person from Hakpada VDC, Ward No 7 of the district was killed on Sunday evening.

            Chandar Yadav of 40 year was found dead at a mango grove.

            According to police inspector from the District Police Office, Siraha, Raj Kumar Sahi, investigation into the murder was going on. RSS 

Transportation resumes after road repair

 Gokuleshwor (Darchula), Dec 29: The bus transportation has resumed after the reconstruction of the road on Khalanga-Bangbang stretch which was damaged in the devastative floods of the Makahali River.

The people and the transport entrepreneurs in the Katai area have been elated after the resumption of the bus transportation. RSS 

Police Office organizes health camp

 Ilam, Dec 29: In a bid to make the public-police relations harmonious, the Area Police Office, Pashupatinagar, of the district organized a daylong health camp at Tinghare bazaar of Suryodaya municipality on Sunday.

The police office said the health camp was organized to cater health service conveniently to the needy ones and help boost peace and security in the area.

A total of 273 people received the health service during the camp, said police inspector Ishwor Thapa.

Doctors Sandip Adhikari, Shyaman Nand Gupta, Sona Gupta and Bijay Kumar Lingden checked people's health. RSS 

Nepal Army Wives' Association distribute warm clothes to poor families in Tarai

            Sarlahi, Dec. 29: The Nepal Army Wives' Association (NAWA) has distributed warm clothes to the very poor families in the district.

            As many as 160 destitute households, including Dalits, from ware Ishworpur municipality Ward No 1 of the district were provided warm clothes to fend off biting cold.

            They were given quilts, blankets and clothes for children, grown up and the old ones, according to Chief of Nepal Army's Ripumardan Battalion, Anjan Keshar Khatri.

            Among those getting such warm clothes are eleven single women.

            A 65-year-old woman said she felt it a great relief with the warm clothes in this winter.

            Executive member of the Association, Seema Shrestha, informed that warm clothes was essential for the poor and Dalit people, as they failed to afford for better facilities during the cold. RSS 

Nepal Army Wives' Association distribute warm clothes to poor families in Tarai

            Sarlahi, Dec. 29: The Nepal Army Wives' Association (NAWA) has distributed warm clothes to the very poor families in the district.

            As many as 160 destitute households, including Dalits, from ware Ishworpur municipality Ward No 1 of the district were provided warm clothes to fend off biting cold.

            They were given quilts, blankets and clothes for children, grown up and the old ones, according to Chief of Nepal Army's Ripumardan Battalion, Anjan Keshar Khatri.

            Among those getting such warm clothes are eleven single women.

            A 65-year-old woman said she felt it a great relief with the warm clothes in this winter.

            Executive member of the Association, Seema Shrestha, informed that warm clothes was essential for the poor and Dalit people, as they failed to afford for better facilities during the cold. RSS 

Nepal Army Wives' Association distribute warm clothes to poor families in Tarai

            Sarlahi, Dec. 29: The Nepal Army Wives' Association (NAWA) has distributed warm clothes to the very poor families in the district.

            As many as 160 destitute households, including Dalits, from ware Ishworpur municipality Ward No 1 of the district were provided warm clothes to fend off biting cold.

            They were given quilts, blankets and clothes for children, grown up and the old ones, according to Chief of Nepal Army's Ripumardan Battalion, Anjan Keshar Khatri.

            Among those getting such warm clothes are eleven single women.

            A 65-year-old woman said she felt it a great relief with the warm clothes in this winter.

            Executive member of the Association, Seema Shrestha, informed that warm clothes was essential for the poor and Dalit people, as they failed to afford for better facilities during the cold. RSS 

Parties' differences over agreement and process continue

Kathmandu, Dec 28: Lawmakers of the various political parties have expressed mixed opinions during participation over the discussion on Constitutional Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee Report, 2071 at the Constituent Assembly session here today.

The lawmakers of the ruling parties have reiterated their stance on delivering the new constitution through majority voting process while the opposition ruled out any other alternative to an unanimous agreement.

Nepali Congress' Saraswoti Bajimaya demanded drawing the final decision on the report at the full house of the CA rather than sending it back to the CPDCC for adjudication.

Likewise, Nepali Congress' Chandra Bahadur Kunwar urged for delivering the constitution through the CA on January 22 to save the country from becoming a toy at the hands of foreign powers.

CPN (UML) Bikash Lamsal said the report should not be sent back to the Committee in view of its earlier failure to resolve the dispute over the contentious issues and make the country a hostage in name of consensus. Lamsal pressed for taking the report to the voting process immediately.

Lamsal also added that the senior leaders would be coerced to promulgate the new constitution on the stipulated timeframe.

At the session, lawmakers from CPN (UML) Bishram Prasad Chaudhary and Juned Ansari asserted that the people would not be able to forgive the parties if the latter failed to deliver the constitution as mandated and urged the parties to create an environment to promulgate the new constitution. They opposed the idea of sending back the report to CPDCC.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Abdul Hamid Siddiqi called for opting for voting process as agreement on disputed issues had time and again proved evasive.

Terai Madhes Loktantri Party lawmaker Ramani Ram underscored the importance of promulgating the new constitution on basis of agreement and called for sending the report back to CPDCC.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Dilman Pakhrin said the constitution must give a sense ownership to the people while backing the voting process as an option for the leaders.

UML's Mira Pokharel Dhuju said the country had remained a hostage in name of consensus for the past eight years and urged for drafting the supreme law of the land through special arrangement at the CA to facilitate the voting process.

UCPN (Maoist) lawmaker Juthbahadur Tuhure Khadgi underlined the importance of a consensual constitution to institutionalize the past agitation and revolution, and urged the parties to not indulge in the game of minority and majority.

UCPN (Maoist) Prakashwala Rai and Manbahadur Tharu said the dubious scheme of plunging the country into a whirpool of conflict in name of voting process would not be allowed to succeed.

Meanwhile, UML's Kriparam Rana expressed a dissenting view from that of his party's official standpoint, and urged for a constitution through an agreement than a voting process.

UML's Damodar Bhandari, Congress Dr Ganesh Kumar Mandal urged for immediately opting for majority voting.

The next meeting of the CA is slated to be held on December 29 at 1 pm. RSS 

TMLP turns seven

Kathmandu, Dec 28: The Tarai-Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) marked its seventh anniversary on Sunday.

The party formed after the People's Movement-II has been raising the concerns of Madhesi people and Madhes in general.

Vice President Parmanand Jha and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala attended a cultural programme and tea party organized by the TMLP in the capital to mark its seventh anniversary.

On the occasion, CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli, UCPN (Maoist) senior leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Nepali Congress Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel, Chairman of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Democratic) Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar, former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Pashupati Shumsher JBR and many others were present.

On the occasion, TMLP Chairman Mahantha Thakur told RSS that the new constitution should institutionalize the achievements of the people's war, People's Movement-II, Madhes movement and movements of different other communities.

The achievements of all such movements should not be forgotten to bring the constitution on time and the constitution should be issued based on consensus, Thakur added. RSS

All flights at Simara airport cancelled today

           

            Kalaiya (Bara), Dec 28: All flights to and from the Simara Airport in Bara district have been cancelled due to dense fog today.

           

            The Buddha Air cancelled its seven flights due to the low visibility caused by the thick fog since the morning, Pravez Siddiqui, the Chief of the Simara Airport, said.

           

            The passengers who had come from Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Makwanpur and bordering areas in India for traveling to Kathmandu had to return home due to the cancellation of flights owing to bad weather. RSS

New education policy on the cards, education minister says

Chitwan, Dec 28: Education Minister Chitralekha Yadav has said that the government is working to bring a new education act.

At a programme organized by District Education Office, Chitwan, Yadav said the new act would address the concerns raised by the teachers and urged the teachers to bear patience till the act was brought.

"The Education Regulations were revised by taking nod from the professional organizations of teachers. Revision in it was needed for quality education," she said.

On the occasion, she said that the education given in the English medium has supported in quality enhancement of public school and pledged support for schools to run classes in the English medium. RSS

Chinese artist's painting on show

Pokhara, Dec 28: A Chinese painter would show his art at the Pokhara Art Gallery for five days from Monday.

The Gungzhaou Painting Academy of China is holding the painting on show at the request of Pokhara Sub-Metropolis.

The paintings depict the Cantonese and Lungan cultures of China, said Shiva Shankar Palikhe, Chairman of Nepal-China Friendship Association. RSS 

Customers hassled as ATMs conk out

            Sarlahi, Dec 28: The customers of the commercial banks here have been beleaguered after the ATMs failed to function.

For some days, half dozens of bank ATMs as of Nepal Investment Bank, NIC Asia Bank and Mega Bank have not been functioning for most of the time.

"We're not satisfied with the bank service, for the ATMs do not work. To this, how can the banks claim that they have ensured smooth service to people," wondered a local. RSS 

Workers provided houses

Gajuri (Dhading), Dec 28: The labours working for long around a local Agra river of Mahadevbesi in the district have been provided houses.

The houses each with two rooms built with the assistance of UCAP Nepal and an Italian organization were jointly handed over to thirty poor labours on Saturday.

Chief District Officer Basu Dev Ghimire handed over the keys to the labours to stay in the homes constructed at Tasarpu-1 of the district.

CDO Ghimire also inaugurated the labours' residential area and welcomed the workers offering them shawls in the area.

The labours exuded happiness and felicitated the CDO and donors offering them garlands.

The labours can stay in the houses for at least 15 years. They do not need to pay tax. However, they would not get the land their houses have occupied. The donor organizations have taken the land in lease.

A representative from the Italian organization, Ganesh Bhattarai, said some 4.5 million was spent to construct the house and hand over the workers. RSS 

Chhatra Shankar reelected HURJA Chair

Kathmandu, Dec 28: The fourth convention of the Human Rights Journalists' Association (HURJA) has reelected Chhatra Shankar Karki as the new chairman.

A seven-member committee was formed under his chairmanship where Bishwo Nath Bhattarai is the vice-chair, Kishor Nepal general secretary and Kalika Khadka the treasurer

The members are Mina Sharma, Tikashwori Rai and Nimeshjung Rai.

The HURJA since its establishment in 2061BS has launched media campaign against human rights violations. RSS 

None can belittle Prithvi Narayan Shah's contribution

Kathmandu, Dec 27: Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bamdev Gautam has said no one could erase the contributions made by Prithvi Narayan Shah in creating the modern Nepal.

Speaking at an interaction programme organized by 293^rd Prithvi Jayanti Main Celebration Committee here on Saturday, DPM Gautam said, "I do not oppose the idea of marking National Unity Day (on Poush 27) and I am taking initiative to take a proposal in the cabinet meeting."

On the occasion, DPM Gautam made it clear that the new constitution could not incorporate the provision on giving Hindu religion the status of the state religion.

Likewise, Nepali Congress leader Khum Bahadur Khadka reminded of a major campaign for reinstating the Hindu state and added that as the country had already embarked for federalism he had no opposition.

Litterateur Modnath Prashit said the cultural unification of Nepal took place during the era of Lichchhavi King Shanker Dev and that the territorial unification was carried out by Prithvi Narayan Shah.

Meanwhile, a 101-member Prithvi Jayanti Main Celebration Committee has been formed under the chair of Modnath Prashit to celebrate the 293^rd birth anniversary of Prithvi Narayan Shah.

The Committee will hold a special programme on Poush 27 in the capital city to mark the birth anniversary of Shah. RSS 

PN-Maoist national conference: Deliberation on Baidhya's proposal

Kathmandu, Dec 27: Discussions continued on the political document presented by CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidhya at the party's close-session of the ongoing First National Conference on Saturday as well.          

The participants at the conference have been divided in 18 seprate groups for deliberations on the proposal submitted by Baidhya, said CPN-Maoist Spokesperson Pampha Bhusal.

The leaders of the different groups will present the conclusion of the deliberations at the conference on Sunday.

The majority of the participants have called the proposal positive while calling for more clarity on party's course--'People's Revolt on the foundation of People's War'.

The party organized the conference to formulate its future roadmap after the desertion of party secretary Netra Bikram Chand to form a separate party.  

The conference started on Friday will continue till December 29. RSS 

taskforce expected to yield result by Sunday evening

 Kathmandu, Dec 27: The formation of the taskforce constituting the representatives of three major parties and the Madhesi Front has heralded a new ray of hope on the prospect of consensus among the parties.

The taskforce was formed on December 25 at a meeting of the parties that took place at the Prime Minister's official residence following the bitter recriminations between CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal which dashed the remainder of any hope left for a consensus.

"Possibly, the panel will submit its result by Sunday evening," said UML Vice-Chairman and member of the taskforce Bhim Rawal.

"We are making effort on bringing a concrete viewpoint on resolving the disputes and finding the base on which consensus can be reached on the disputed issues of the new constitution," Rawal said.

The parties have become more serious on reaching an agreement as less than a month remains till the deadline for promulgation of the new constitution as pledged during the CA Election and Regulation, 2070 endorsed by the Constituent Assembly.

Meanwhile, Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal and Rastriya Janamorcha have been pressing for a referendum on the controversial and difficult issues on which agreement has time and again proved evasive. RSS 

CPDCC Chairman Dr Bhattarai, UML leader Nepal meet

 Kathmandu, Dec 27: In their bid to troubleshoot the contentious issues of new constitution, Chairman of Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee of the Constituent Assembly (CA), Dr Baburam Bhattarai, and CPN (UML) leader Madhav Kumar Nepal held discussions at a hotel in the capital city on Saturday.

The former Prime Ministers agreed to move ahead by forging consensus among all political parties to promulgate the new constitution on 22 January 2015, it is learnt.

            During the meeting, the leaders discussed on the current political situation, constitution writing process and making the ongoing political dialogue meaningful for ensuring the new constitution by 22 January, said Dr Bhattarai's personal aide Bishwodeep Pandey.

            Likewise, the two leaders agreed to make united efforts to promulgate the new constitution as per the commitment made before the public during the Constituent Assembly elections, Pandey said. RSS

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