Post scribe Kaini beaten in Gorkha

Jan 15, 2018-Gorkha district correspondent of The Kathmandu Post, Sudip Kaini has been beaten up at Anbu Khaireni in the district on Monday.
A gang intercepted him at Anbu Khaireni while he was on his way to Marshyangdi River to cover the news of illegal sand mining, and roughed him up. He has sustained injuries in his neck. The goons also destroyed his cell phone and camera. It is learnt the attackers first deleted the photos captured by him and later smashed it.
Kaini had received inputs about the extraction of sand without tender at Marshyangdi River banks. The river borders Gorkha and Tanahu districts.
Talking over phone, Kaini said: “I am okay but my camera has been ruined. I ran to police for my protection. I came to Gorkha police station after Tanahu police station did not pay much attention to my plight.”
Police said that they have indentified the attackers and looking for them.

Maghi observed in Tudikhel (in photos)

Jan 15, 2018-Photos by Prakash Chandra Timilsena
People from Tharu community thronged at Tudikhel, Kathmandu, on Monday to mark their annual festival Maghi. Marked as the beginning of New Year, Maghi is the biggest festival of Tharu community.
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba marked his presence as a chief guest in the programme that saw various Tharu cultural shows.

No turning back from unification process: Dahal

Jan 15, 2018-CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that there is no turning back from unification process with CNP-UML.
Dahal said that forming a single communist centre in the country is his long-ago dream and even UML Chairman KP Oli is strongly in favour of the unification.
“I had a wish to form a single communist centre and bring prosperity to the country. Now this dream will materialise,” said Dahal while inaugurating Tarebhir Festival in Gokarneshwor Municipality today, “Both of us won’t backtrack from unification process at any cost.”
He mentioned that his party and UML had contested in federal parliament and provincial assembly elections with a joint manifesto and resultantly garnered nearly two-third majority. This shows that public have approved the unification of communist forces and this task will be taken to a logical conclusion very soon, said Dahal.

Prez Bhandari organises tea reception on Maghi

Jan 15, 2018-The Office of the President on Monday organised a tea reception programme on the occasion of Makar Sankranti also known as Maghi. 
President Bidya Devi Bhandari had wished for peace, prosperity, good health and happiness to all Nepali sisters and brothers at home and abroad on the occasion of the Makar Sankranti and the Maghi festival. 
Present on the occasion were Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli, Deputy Prime Ministers, former Vice President, former Prime Ministers, former Chairman of the Interim Council of Ministers, Ministers, different political parties' leaders, members of federal and provincial parliaments, chiefs of security bodies, among others. 
The Tharu community marks the day as the New Year and day of freedom as well. 
The Makar Sankranti is a cultural and religious festival day in the lunar calendar in reference to deity Surya (Sun) marking the first day of its transit into Makar Rashi (Capricorn) that starts of longer days. 
The Hindu devotees throng Devghat, Kaligandaki, Bagmati, Indrawati, Triveni, Ridi, Betrawati among other places for holy bath today.

MMC enter semi-finals

Jan 13, 2018-Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) cruised into the semi-finals of the Khaptad Gold Cup football tournament with a 4-0 rout of Rupandehi XI on Friday.
Victor Amobi, Bishal Rai and  Bimal Rana scored for MMC while Rupandehi’s Chhiring Gurung conceded the another. MMC will take on Tribhuvan Army Club in the first semi-finals on Saturday, while the another semi-finals pits Nepal Armed Police Force Club against Far-west XI on Sunday.
Amobi put MMC ahead in the 20th minute but it took another 35 minutes for them to add to their tally, even that courtesy an own goal. Gurung inadvertently guided the ball into his own post in an attempt to foil the MMC attack.
Rai then ended any remaining hopes of Rupandehi’s comeback when he struck the third goal seven minute before time. Rana completed an emphatic MMC victory scoring the fourth goal a minute later. Amobi was declared man-of-the-match and was rewarded with Rs 10,000.
MMC coach Hemanta Ale credited the victory to the team coordination. “We did right in every aspect and scored goals at will while also keeping the opponents at bay,” said Ale adding that the semi-final match against the departmental team would be a competitive affair. “Having played on numerous occasions during the top-flight league in the past, we know each other very well but still we have an upper hand and hope we will win on Saturday.”
Rupandehi coach Dilip Chhetri blamed his team’s blunders for the big-margin defeat. “After conceding an early goal, we went for goals in the second half and exposed ourselves allowing them (MMC) to score more goals,” said Chhetri, who was also not happy with his team’s coordination.

Dr KC ends hunger strike following 5-point deal with govt

Jan 13, 2018-Orthopedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC has ended his hunger strike on Saturday. He ceased his 14th hunger strike on the sixth day following an agreement reached with Health Minister Deepak Bohara on Friday night.
Dr KC ended his fast-unto-death by drinking a juice offered by a Navuniya Mechi of Siraha at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in the Capital this morning. Mechi works as a cobbler outside TUTH premises.
ALSO READ: I assure that the court will be made justice imparting body: Dr KC
A government team comprising of Health Minister Bohara had penned a five-point deal to address Dr KC’s demands. The issues addressed are:

Form a committee within seven days to give a full shape to Medical Education Commission

Continue the tenure of Dr Jagdish Prasad Agrawal as the Dean of Institute of Medicine (IoM)

Call a Tribhuvan University senate meeting to take necessary steps to return the rights and power of IoM

Pass necessary budget for reform plans of Teaching Hospital such as infrastructure development, human resource management, public service

Dr KC to end his hunger strike

 
National Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Swornim Wagle and former Deputy-chair Govinda Pokhrel had accompanied Minister Bohara in the meeting with Dr KC on Friday night.
Dr KC began his hunger strike on January 8 seeking resignation of Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli. Dr KC was anguished by Parajuli’s decision to reinstate Dr Shashi Sharma as the Dean of Institute of Medicine (IoM). After making provocative statement against the appointment, the Supreme Court had ordered the arrest of the doctor on the same night on contempt of court case. Dr KC was released on January 10 following huge public backlash against the arrest. His next court hearing is on February 20.
The anti-corruption crusador has staged fourteen hunger strikes seeking reforms in the country's health education and medical sector.

I assure that the court will be made justice imparting body: Dr KC

Jan 13, 2018-Dr Govinda KC has said that he will make the Nepali judiciary a justice imparting body rather than a ‘justice selling’ body. He said so during a press conference organised to announce the end of his hunger strike at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital on Saturday.
Talking to mediapersons, the anti-corruption crusader demanded the resignation of Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli and warned that he will start yet another fast-unto-death if Parajuli doesn’t resign. Dr KC has leveled accusations against CJ Parajuli regarding the authenticity of his citizenship and School Leaving Certificate.
Dr KC started 14th hunger strike on January 8 after CJ Parajuli reinstated the sacked Institute of Medicine (IoM) Dean Dr Shashi Sharma to the post. Anguished by Parajuli’s decision, Dr KC had made provocative statement against the CJ which caused his arrest on contempt of court charge. He was later released without bail on January 10 after a huge public outcry. 
ALSO READ: Dr KC ends hunger strike following 5-point deal with govt
Dr KC said that CJ Parajuli’s remarks that he has submitted his documents [citizenship and SLC certificate] to the Parliamentary Hearing Committee and that he doesn’t need to present them elsewhere, is a contempt of court and he should face action for it. According to KC, CJ Parajuli made such statement during the inauguration of Rukumkot District Court on Friday.
“Chief Justice making such remark at a time when the independent bench of the Supreme Court has stated that it would enquire with the District Administration Office regarding the controversy over Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli’s citizenship and consult with judicial council regarding his certificates is a contempt of court,” said Dr KC during the press conference, adding that he will launch another hunger strike if CJ Parajuli doesn’t comply with the court decision.