Seventeen Maoist ministers in Nepal resigned on Friday, saying it was time for the government to clear the way for a new one, reports said.

All Maoist ministers - 17 (10 cabinet and seven ministers of state) - were divested of their portfolios; they could enjoy some perks but would no longer have control over ministries and so would not be able to use them during elections. Nepali Congress and its allies would be the ones retaining control.

Almost three months after Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba stripped Maoist Centre ministers of their responsibilities protesting the party&#39;s electoral alliance with the Communist Party of&nbsp;Nepal-Unified Marxist&nbsp;Leninist&nbsp;(CPN-UML), the third largest party has decided to quit the government.

The resignation also came following the election of some ministers to provincial assemblies which led the Maoist party to quit the government in order to make preparations for joining a provincial government, media reports said.

According to reports, after the decision announced on Thursday, the party notified PM Deuba about recalling of the ministers without a portfolio on Friday.

&quot;Giriraj Mani Pokhrel, Minister without Portfolio (the then Health Minister) submitted the resignation letter from the Maoist Center during the cabinet meeting on Friday,&quot; Press advisor of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Govinda Pariyar said.

Maoist leaders Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Janardan Sharma, Tek Bahadur Basnet, Girirajmani Pokhrel, Pradbhu Sah, Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, Shiva Kumar Mandal, Asha Khanal and Santa Kumar Tharu were amongst the 17 ministers.

All Maoist ministers were divested of their portfolios; they could enjoy some perks but would no longer have control over ministries and so would not be able to use them during elections

Seventeen Maoist ministers in Nepal resigned on Friday, saying it was time for the government to clear the way for a new one, reports said. All Maoist ministers - 17 (10 cabinet and seven ministers of state) - were divested of their portfolios; they could enjoy some perks but would no longer have control over ministries and so would not be able to use them during elections. Nepali Congress and its allies would be the ones retaining control. Almost three months after Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba stripped Maoist Centre ministers of their responsibilities protesting the party's electoral alliance with the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), the third largest party has decided to quit the government. The resignation also came following the election of some ministers to provincial assemblies which led the Maoist party to quit the government in order to make preparations for joining a provincial government, media reports said. According to reports, after the decision announced on Thursday, the party notified PM Deuba about recalling of the ministers without a portfolio on Friday. "Giriraj Mani Pokhrel, Minister without Portfolio (the then Health Minister) submitted the resignation letter from the Maoist Center during the cabinet meeting on Friday," Press advisor of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Govinda Pariyar said. Maoist leaders Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Janardan Sharma, Tek Bahadur Basnet, Girirajmani Pokhrel, Pradbhu Sah, Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, Shiva Kumar Mandal, Asha Khanal and Santa Kumar Tharu were amongst the 17 ministers.

Nepal: 17 Maoist ministers decide to quit government

Nepal has cancelled the Budhi Gandaki hydropower project with the Chinese firm over irregularities and lack of transparency.

Nepal&#39;s Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa took to Twitter to inform that the project has been scrapped as directed by the parliamentary committee.

&quot;The agreement, marred by irregularities with the Chinese company - Gejuwa Group regarding the construction of Budhi Gandaki hydropower project, has been scrapped in a cabinet meeting as directed by the parliamentary committee,&quot; (Translation), Thapa tweeted.

Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project is a storage type project, located in Central/ Western Development region on the Budhi Gandaki River of Nepal.

The project was granted to the Gezhouba Water &amp; Power (Group) Co Ltd (CGGC) company one and a half year ago by the then Maoist-led government, headed by Former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda).&nbsp;

Nepal has canceled the Budhi Gandaki hydropower project with the Chinese firm over irregularities and lack of transparency

Nepal has cancelled the Budhi Gandaki hydropower project with the Chinese firm over irregularities and lack of transparency. Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa took to Twitter to inform that the project has been scrapped as directed by the parliamentary committee. "The agreement, marred by irregularities with the Chinese company - Gejuwa Group regarding the construction of Budhi Gandaki hydropower project, has been scrapped in a cabinet meeting as directed by the parliamentary committee," (Translation), Thapa tweeted. Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project is a storage type project, located in Central/ Western Development region on the Budhi Gandaki River of Nepal. The project was granted to the Gezhouba Water & Power (Group) Co Ltd (CGGC) company one and a half year ago by the then Maoist-led government, headed by Former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda).

Nepal cancels power project with China

At least 19 people were killed when an overcrowded bus swerved off the road and plunged into a river in central Nepal on Saturday, police said.

The bus skidded off the road in Dhading district, approximately 80 kilometres (50 miles) west of the capital Kathmandu, early morning and fell into the Trishuli River.

&quot;We have recovered the bodies of 19 people from the place of the accident and number of missing is still unknown as the bus had no record of the total number of passengers,&quot; district police chief Dhruba Raj Raut told AFP.

Local TV footage showed rescue workers pulling the dead and injured from the water, while soldiers in boats scoured the river for the missing.

At least 16 injured passengers were recovered from the river and taken to local hospitals, police said.

Authorities are yet to confirm the cause of the crash, but local media quoted passengers as saying that the driver may have been drunk.

Police Inspector Barun Bahadur Singh, at the scene of the accident, told AFP that the driver was injured in the accident and is thought to have fled after freeing himself from the wreckage of the bus.

&quot;The driver of the bus is suspected of running away right after the incident and we have expedited the search operation in the nearby areas,&quot; he said.

Deadly crashes are relatively common in the impoverished Himalayan nation because of poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.

Authorities are yet to confirm the cause of the crash, but local media quoted passengers as saying that the driver may have been drunk

At least 19 people were killed when an overcrowded bus swerved off the road and plunged into a river in central Nepal on Saturday, police said. The bus skidded off the road in Dhading district, approximately 80 kilometres (50 miles) west of the capital Kathmandu, early morning and fell into the Trishuli River. "We have recovered the bodies of 19 people from the place of the accident and number of missing is still unknown as the bus had no record of the total number of passengers," district police chief Dhruba Raj Raut told AFP. Local TV footage showed rescue workers pulling the dead and injured from the water, while soldiers in boats scoured the river for the missing. At least 16 injured passengers were recovered from the river and taken to local hospitals, police said. Authorities are yet to confirm the cause of the crash, but local media quoted passengers as saying that the driver may have been drunk. Police Inspector Barun Bahadur Singh, at the scene of the accident, told AFP that the driver was injured in the accident and is thought to have fled after freeing himself from the wreckage of the bus. "The driver of the bus is suspected of running away right after the incident and we have expedited the search operation in the nearby areas," he said. Deadly crashes are relatively common in the impoverished Himalayan nation because of poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.

At least 19 dead in central Nepal bus accident: Police

Nepal&#39;s new prime minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, named his first cabinet appointments on Wednesday and put a former Maoist guerrilla in charge of holding the final round of local elections, the first such elections in two decades.

The 70-year-old Deuba replaced Prachanda, a former rebel commander, as prime minister after a parliamentary vote on Tuesday.

He has pledged to complete the remaining phase of village and municipal assembly elections set for June 28, leading to provincial and national elections before the end of the year. The first phase of local polls was held on May 14.

&quot;These are early appointments and the prime minister will expand the cabinet in consultation with coalition partners,&rdquo; said Deuba&#39;s aide and nephew, Bhanu Deuba.

The main appointment was Home Minister Janardan Sharma, a former guerrilla fighter, who will be in charge of overseeing all three elections the government hopes will complete a difficult transition since the monarchy was abolished in 2008.

The president&#39;s office said three members of the ethnic Madhesi minority were among the seven appointments.

Those appointments are seen as a bid to appease the Madhesis, who live on the southern plains bordering India and say a new constitution that creates new provinces will unfairly consolidate the power of the country&#39;s hill elite over them.

Among others appointed to the cabinet was Krishna Bahadur Mahara, also a Maoist, who will be a deputy prime minister in charge of the foreign ministry, the president&#39;s office said in a statement.

Gyanendra Bahadur Karki from the ruling Nepali Congress will be finance minister.

(Reuters)

A former Maoist guerrilla has been put in charge of holding the local elections' final rounds, the first such elections in two decades

Nepal's new prime minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, named his first cabinet appointments on Wednesday and put a former Maoist guerrilla in charge of holding the final round of local elections, the first such elections in two decades. The 70-year-old Deuba replaced Prachanda, a former rebel commander, as prime minister after a parliamentary vote on Tuesday. He has pledged to complete the remaining phase of village and municipal assembly elections set for June 28, leading to provincial and national elections before the end of the year. The first phase of local polls was held on May 14. "These are early appointments and the prime minister will expand the cabinet in consultation with coalition partners,” said Deuba's aide and nephew, Bhanu Deuba. The main appointment was Home Minister Janardan Sharma, a former guerrilla fighter, who will be in charge of overseeing all three elections the government hopes will complete a difficult transition since the monarchy was abolished in 2008. The president's office said three members of the ethnic Madhesi minority were among the seven appointments. Those appointments are seen as a bid to appease the Madhesis, who live on the southern plains bordering India and say a new constitution that creates new provinces will unfairly consolidate the power of the country's hill elite over them. Among others appointed to the cabinet was Krishna Bahadur Mahara, also a Maoist, who will be a deputy prime minister in charge of the foreign ministry, the president's office said in a statement. Gyanendra Bahadur Karki from the ruling Nepali Congress will be finance minister. (Reuters)

Nepal?s Deuba makes first cabinet picks to guide elections

Nepal held local level polls on Sunday, the first since 1997 and a key step in the country&#39;s rocky transition to democracy over a decade since the end of the civil war.

Around a third of registered voters across three provinces were eligible to cast their vote, with the rest of the country due to vote in a month&#39;s time.&nbsp;

The vote has been split into two phases because of unrest in the southern plains bordering India, where the minority Madhesi ethnic group is refusing to take part until an amendment to the constitution is passed.&nbsp;

Local representatives were last elected in 1997 and their five-year terms expired at the height of the brutal Maoist insurgency.&nbsp;

The 10-year war ended in 2006 and the country began a fraught transition from a Hindu monarchy to a secular federal republic, which has seen it cycle through nine governments.

The long gap between polls has left an institutional void at the local level, which has seen graft become a way of life in Nepal, hampering the delivery of basic services as well as the recovery from a devastating 2015 earthquake.

&quot;It is difficult to expect much from our politicians -- they have always been selfish and not worked for the people -- but I hope that with this election things will change,&quot; housewife Shova Maharjan, 41, told AFP after casting her vote in the capital.

With nearly 70 per cent of the population aged under 35, many were voting for their local representatives for the first time.&nbsp;

Polls opened at 7:00 am (0115 GMT) and closed at 5:00 pm, with each voter casting their ballot for seven local representatives: mayor, deputy mayor, ward chairman and four ward committee members.

The ballot paper in the capital Kathmandu -- one of the largest constituencies -- was around one metre long (three feet) to accommodate the 878 candidates.

Nearly 50,000 candidates were standing for election across 283 local municipalities in the first phase, with many registered as independents or with a number of small reformist parties hoping to grab some votes from the traditional political heavyweights.

While the youth vote is seen as key in undermining the grip of the three main political parties, the elderly were also out in force, including an 105-year-old man who cast his ballot in Gorkha, the epicentre of the devastating 2015 earthquake, according to the election commission.

&#39;Drawn-out peace process&#39;

There were sporadic reports of violence on Sunday with one person killed when police opened fire on a group attempting to raid a polling station in Dolakha district, 180 kilometres (110 miles) northwest of the capital Kathmandu, police told AFP.

A bomb was also found early Sunday morning outside the house of a mayoral candidate for the main opposition CPN-UML party in Bhaktapur, 15 kilometres (nine miles) east of Kathmandu. It was diffused without incident.

The remaining four provinces, considered potential flashpoints for election-related violence, will vote in the second phase on June 14.

But with results expected from Sunday&#39;s vote later this week, observers have expressed concern that the first phase will influence the outcome of the second.

As part of the deal that ended the civil war, a new constitution was written and finally adopted in September 2015, nearly a decade after the end of the conflict.

The charter mandated that local elections, followed by provincial and then national elections, be held by January 2018 -- the final step in the drawn-out peace process.

But the constitution sparked protests by the Madhesi community -- who say the document leaves them politically marginalised -- and led to a months-long blockade of the India-Nepal border in 2015 that caused&nbsp;a crippling shortage of goods across the country.

The Madhesi threatened to boycott the local polls unless the constitution is rewritten. This forced the government to split the vote into two phases.

The government has promised a vote on an amendment to the constitution after Sunday&#39;s election, but the fragile ruling coalition is struggling to get a majority in parliament to pass the bill.

(AFP)

Nearly 50,000 candidates are vying for the positions of mayor, deputy mayor, ward chairman and ward member in 283 local municipalities

Nepal held local level polls on Sunday, the first since 1997 and a key step in the country's rocky transition to democracy over a decade since the end of the civil war. Around a third of registered voters across three provinces were eligible to cast their vote, with the rest of the country due to vote in a month's time. The vote has been split into two phases because of unrest in the southern plains bordering India, where the minority Madhesi ethnic group is refusing to take part until an amendment to the constitution is passed. Local representatives were last elected in 1997 and their five-year terms expired at the height of the brutal Maoist insurgency. The 10-year war ended in 2006 and the country began a fraught transition from a Hindu monarchy to a secular federal republic, which has seen it cycle through nine governments. The long gap between polls has left an institutional void at the local level, which has seen graft become a way of life in Nepal, hampering the delivery of basic services as well as the recovery from a devastating 2015 earthquake. "It is difficult to expect much from our politicians -- they have always been selfish and not worked for the people -- but I hope that with this election things will change," housewife Shova Maharjan, 41, told AFP after casting her vote in the capital. With nearly 70 per cent of the population aged under 35, many were voting for their local representatives for the first time. Polls opened at 7:00 am (0115 GMT) and closed at 5:00 pm, with each voter casting their ballot for seven local representatives: mayor, deputy mayor, ward chairman and four ward committee members. The ballot paper in the capital Kathmandu -- one of the largest constituencies -- was around one metre long (three feet) to accommodate the 878 candidates. Nearly 50,000 candidates were standing for election across 283 local municipalities in the first phase, with many registered as independents or with a number of small reformist parties hoping to grab some votes from the traditional political heavyweights. While the youth vote is seen as key in undermining the grip of the three main political parties, the elderly were also out in force, including an 105-year-old man who cast his ballot in Gorkha, the epicentre of the devastating 2015 earthquake, according to the election commission. 'Drawn-out peace process' There were sporadic reports of violence on Sunday with one person killed when police opened fire on a group attempting to raid a polling station in Dolakha district, 180 kilometres (110 miles) northwest of the capital Kathmandu, police told AFP. A bomb was also found early Sunday morning outside the house of a mayoral candidate for the main opposition CPN-UML party in Bhaktapur, 15 kilometres (nine miles) east of Kathmandu. It was diffused without incident. The remaining four provinces, considered potential flashpoints for election-related violence, will vote in the second phase on June 14. But with results expected from Sunday's vote later this week, observers have expressed concern that the first phase will influence the outcome of the second. As part of the deal that ended the civil war, a new constitution was written and finally adopted in September 2015, nearly a decade after the end of the conflict. The charter mandated that local elections, followed by provincial and then national elections, be held by January 2018 -- the final step in the drawn-out peace process. But the constitution sparked protests by the Madhesi community -- who say the document leaves them politically marginalised -- and led to a months-long blockade of the India-Nepal border in 2015 that caused a crippling shortage of goods across the country. The Madhesi threatened to boycott the local polls unless the constitution is rewritten. This forced the government to split the vote into two phases. The government has promised a vote on an amendment to the constitution after Sunday's election, but the fragile ruling coalition is struggling to get a majority in parliament to pass the bill. (AFP)

Nepal votes in first local elections in 20 years

The continuous whirl of hair dryers is a novel sound at the Blush Beauty Point parlour in Nepal&#39;s capital Kathmandu, which until just five months ago had to close at regular intervals because of power cuts.&nbsp;

Scheduled power cuts -- known as load-shedding -- have been a part of daily life in the impoverished landlocked country for decades, forcing small businesses to rely on expensive generators or simply close when the lights went out.

&quot;We had to run our business according to the load-shedding schedule. Clients would call and check if there was light,&quot; the salon&#39;s owner Anita Shrestha told AFP.

But that has all changed since Kulman Ghising was appointed head of the Nepal Electricity Authority in September last year.

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<h5>Ghising overhauled the hydropower generation system -- storing water at times of low demand so more could be generated at peak hours. He also ended a policy that provided electricity round the clock to certain industries</h5>
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Load-shedding -- previously up to 16 hours a day in the winter dry season -- has all but ended in the country&#39;s three largest cities and in other major towns been reduced to around two hours on alternate days.

&quot;When I was appointed I set the goal that I would at least make Kathmandu load-shedding free,&quot; Ghising told AFP.

&quot;But at that time I felt that whatever I said I could manage more than that.&quot;

Demand for electricity has long outstripped supply in Nepal, with energy production severely depressed by chronic under-investment and inefficiencies in the power network.

The result has been crippling for domestic industry and deterred foreign investment, while crucial infrastructure development has flagged in the years of political paralysis that followed the end of the Maoist insurgency in 2006 and the overthrow of the monarchy two years later.

Political alignment 
Ghising&#39;s formula to end the power cuts involved tackling some basic inefficiencies.

He overhauled the hydropower generation system -- storing water at times of low demand so more could be generated at peak hours. He also ended a policy that provided electricity round the clock to certain industries.

The policy was meant to give 24-hour power to around 20 big employers, but had expanded after decades of mission creep -- and backhanders.&nbsp;

&quot;Before there was some mismanagement that some industries get 24 hours (of power), some industries get 12 hours, some industries get only 8 hours. There was unequal distribution of electricity that was not as per the rules of NEA,&quot; said Ghising.

In addition, he brought online some power plants that had been sitting idle due to poor maintenance, and launched a public awareness campaign to encourage people to avoid electricity-guzzling activities -- like ironing and pumping water -- in the evenings when demand for power is at its highest.

But arguably the single greatest weapon Ghising has is the backing of the prime minister and the energy and finance ministers.

For one of the first times in Nepal&#39;s short history as a parliamentary democracy, all four are members of the Maoist party and that political alignment is bearing fruit.&nbsp;

The country is due to hold its first local elections in nearly two decades later this year and the Maoists need to show results to boost their chances at the polls.

Hydro potential 
But while Ghising might have turned on the lights for much of Nepal, the country will need to harness its huge hydropower potential to keep the electricity flowing.

&quot;It&#39;s cautious optimism because we are known to squander opportunities,&quot; said Sujeev Shakya, founder of the Kathmandu-based Nepal Economic Forum, of the recent drop in load-shedding.

He added: &quot;Now at (the) NEA you have a good guy and he may try to reform, but the system is designed to take care of the interests of few.&quot;

Nepal with its mountain river system should be an energy-producing powerhouse.

Experts say it could be generating 83,000 megawatts of power, but its total installed generation capacity currently stands at less than two percent of that.

Construction on two long mooted projects is finally expected to begin later this year.

It will take around seven years before they come online, but even one would double Nepal&#39;s current generation capacity, eventually transforming it into an energy exporter.

That would be a game changer for the Himalayan nation, which currently relies on India for electricity in the winter dry season.

But with the average tenure of governments in Nepal at around seven months, many are concerned that another change at the top could reverse the recent gains.

&quot;Development of hydro energy infrastructure requires a long-term view. And with these short-term governments it&#39;s very difficult to believe they can have a long-term view,&quot; said Shakya.

And on the now lit streets of Kathmandu, suspicion darkens the mood.

&quot;I don&#39;t know the details, but I feel like Nepalis were kept in the dark for too long,&quot; said Shrestha as she styled a client&#39;s hair into cascading curls.

&quot;There is a tension that there will be power cuts again if the government changes.&quot;

(AFP)

Kulman Ghising took over the Nepal Electricity Authority in September last year

The continuous whirl of hair dryers is a novel sound at the Blush Beauty Point parlour in Nepal's capital Kathmandu, which until just five months ago had to close at regular intervals because of power cuts. Scheduled power cuts -- known as load-shedding -- have been a part of daily life in the impoverished landlocked country for decades, forcing small businesses to rely on expensive generators or simply close when the lights went out. "We had to run our business according to the load-shedding schedule. Clients would call and check if there was light," the salon's owner Anita Shrestha told AFP. But that has all changed since Kulman Ghising was appointed head of the Nepal Electricity Authority in September last year. Ghising overhauled the hydropower generation system -- storing water at times of low demand so more could be generated at peak hours. He also ended a policy that provided electricity round the clock to certain industries × Load-shedding -- previously up to 16 hours a day in the winter dry season -- has all but ended in the country's three largest cities and in other major towns been reduced to around two hours on alternate days. "When I was appointed I set the goal that I would at least make Kathmandu load-shedding free," Ghising told AFP. "But at that time I felt that whatever I said I could manage more than that." Demand for electricity has long outstripped supply in Nepal, with energy production severely depressed by chronic under-investment and inefficiencies in the power network. The result has been crippling for domestic industry and deterred foreign investment, while crucial infrastructure development has flagged in the years of political paralysis that followed the end of the Maoist insurgency in 2006 and the overthrow of the monarchy two years later. Political alignment Ghising's formula to end the power cuts involved tackling some basic inefficiencies. He overhauled the hydropower generation system -- storing water at times of low demand so more could be generated at peak hours. He also ended a policy that provided electricity round the clock to certain industries. The policy was meant to give 24-hour power to around 20 big employers, but had expanded after decades of mission creep -- and backhanders. "Before there was some mismanagement that some industries get 24 hours (of power), some industries get 12 hours, some industries get only 8 hours. There was unequal distribution of electricity that was not as per the rules of NEA," said Ghising. In addition, he brought online some power plants that had been sitting idle due to poor maintenance, and launched a public awareness campaign to encourage people to avoid electricity-guzzling activities -- like ironing and pumping water -- in the evenings when demand for power is at its highest. But arguably the single greatest weapon Ghising has is the backing of the prime minister and the energy and finance ministers. For one of the first times in Nepal's short history as a parliamentary democracy, all four are members of the Maoist party and that political alignment is bearing fruit. The country is due to hold its first local elections in nearly two decades later this year and the Maoists need to show results to boost their chances at the polls. Hydro potential But while Ghising might have turned on the lights for much of Nepal, the country will need to harness its huge hydropower potential to keep the electricity flowing. "It's cautious optimism because we are known to squander opportunities," said Sujeev Shakya, founder of the Kathmandu-based Nepal Economic Forum, of the recent drop in load-shedding. He added: "Now at (the) NEA you have a good guy and he may try to reform, but the system is designed to take care of the interests of few." Nepal with its mountain river system should be an energy-producing powerhouse. Experts say it could be generating 83,000 megawatts of power, but its total installed generation capacity currently stands at less than two percent of that. Construction on two long mooted projects is finally expected to begin later this year. It will take around seven years before they come online, but even one would double Nepal's current generation capacity, eventually transforming it into an energy exporter. That would be a game changer for the Himalayan nation, which currently relies on India for electricity in the winter dry season. But with the average tenure of governments in Nepal at around seven months, many are concerned that another change at the top could reverse the recent gains. "Development of hydro energy infrastructure requires a long-term view. And with these short-term governments it's very difficult to believe they can have a long-term view," said Shakya. And on the now lit streets of Kathmandu, suspicion darkens the mood. "I don't know the details, but I feel like Nepalis were kept in the dark for too long," said Shrestha as she styled a client's hair into cascading curls. "There is a tension that there will be power cuts again if the government changes." (AFP)

The man who has (almost) got rid of load-shedding in Nepal

An&nbsp;earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter Scale shook Nepal&nbsp;early&nbsp;this morning.

Nepal&#39;s National Centre for Seismology (NCS), a unit of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said the quake occurred at 5:05 am, and at a depth of 10 kilometres, PTI reported.

The NCS located&nbsp;the earthquake&#39;s&nbsp;epicentre at Solukhumbu, near Everest, and around 150 kilometres east of Kathmandu, and recorded its intensity&nbsp;at 5.6.

PTI reports that this was the 475th aftershock above a 4 magnitude of the April 2015 earthquake that devastated Nepal.

Thankfully there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the earthquake, according to PTI, which was also felt in Kathmandu and in other parts of central and Eastern Nepal.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

There have been no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the quake, which was felt as far as outside Kathmandu

An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter Scale shook Nepal early this morning. Nepal's National Centre for Seismology (NCS), a unit of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said the quake occurred at 5:05 am, and at a depth of 10 kilometres, PTI reported. The NCS located the earthquake's epicentre at Solukhumbu, near Everest, and around 150 kilometres east of Kathmandu, and recorded its intensity at 5.6. PTI reports that this was the 475th aftershock above a 4 magnitude of the April 2015 earthquake that devastated Nepal. Thankfully there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the earthquake, according to PTI, which was also felt in Kathmandu and in other parts of central and Eastern Nepal. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Nepal hit by 5.5 magnitude earthquake

Police arrested 223 members of a Maoist splinter group across Nepal on Sunday for vandalising vehicles and forcing shops to close while trying to enforce a nationwide strike.&nbsp;

The protesters from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) had called on factories, schools and public transport to shut down across the Himalayan nation as they pressured the government to provide food subsidies.

&quot;We have arrested 223 people for trying to block roads and vandalise vehicles,&quot; police spokesman Hemant Malla told AFP.

Malla said that three vehicles had been vandalised but no casualties have been reported.&nbsp;

Kathmandu&#39;s usually gridlocked streets were largely empty and many shops remained shut.

&quot;The main aim of our protest is to pressure the government to lower the prices of food grains, fuel and cooking gas.... The government should provide 50 per cent subsidy on these items to make them affordable for the public,&quot; said party spokesman Khadga Bahadur Biswokarma.

Nepal&#39;s inflation rate soared to 12 per cent last year following a massive earthquake and months-long border blockade by demonstrators unhappy with the terms of a new constitution but has since eased to 7.9 per cent, according to the country&#39;s central bank.&nbsp;

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

A Maoist splinter group called for a shut down across the nation to pressure the government into providing food subsidies

Police arrested 223 members of a Maoist splinter group across Nepal on Sunday for vandalising vehicles and forcing shops to close while trying to enforce a nationwide strike. The protesters from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) had called on factories, schools and public transport to shut down across the Himalayan nation as they pressured the government to provide food subsidies. "We have arrested 223 people for trying to block roads and vandalise vehicles," police spokesman Hemant Malla told AFP. Malla said that three vehicles had been vandalised but no casualties have been reported. Kathmandu's usually gridlocked streets were largely empty and many shops remained shut. "The main aim of our protest is to pressure the government to lower the prices of food grains, fuel and cooking gas.... The government should provide 50 per cent subsidy on these items to make them affordable for the public," said party spokesman Khadga Bahadur Biswokarma. Nepal's inflation rate soared to 12 per cent last year following a massive earthquake and months-long border blockade by demonstrators unhappy with the terms of a new constitution but has since eased to 7.9 per cent, according to the country's central bank. (AFP)

Nepal police arrest 223 protesters for vandalisation during nationwide strike

The Nepalese newspaper Kathmandu Post reported concerns among &nbsp;the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization &nbsp;(UNESCO) regarding the reconstruction of Ranipokhari, a historic artificial pond built in 1670 AD in the heart of Nepal&#39;s capital Kathmandu. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Its main building, Balgopaleswor Temple, which stands in the middle of the pond, was destroyed during the April 2015 earthquake. &nbsp; &nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
UNESCO wrote a letter to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the Department of Archaeology urging to halt the ongoing work, fearing that hurry and inappropriate techniques are undermining the final result. &nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;Since the very beginning of the reconstruction, UNESCO has stressed in meetings and letters addressed to the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and National Reconstruction Authority, the importance of changing bidding procedures for historical monuments,&rdquo; the UNESCO noted in its statement on Thursday.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The Kathmandu Post reported the letter to read that the international heritage conservation organisation is worried about awarding reconstruction works to the cheapest bidder, a practice which should not be used when it comes to restoring heritage buildings.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
UNESCO offered its full cooperation and technical expertise in managing the situation and identifying suitable solutions. They also urged the Department of Archaeology to take care of the &nbsp;post-quake reconstruction process.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;We trust that the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the Department of Archaeology will take concrete and effective steps to maintain and preserve the religious, cultural and historical significance of the Ranipokhari and the entire Kathmandu,&rdquo; stated UNESCO.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The international organisation is not the only actor worried about the heritage reconstruction. The website Nepali Time reported a student&#39;s protest in Kathmandu against the use of cement in Ranipokhari&#39;s rebuilding. Demonstrators were carrying placards reading &#39;Save our heritage&#39; and &#39;Save our identity&#39;.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
After natural disasters there is always a comprehensible hurry in reconstructing everything, a country needs ant want to go back to a normal life. This urgency applies particularly on damaged cultural heritage which represent a source of income for the local communities. &nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Historical buildings need special interventions and techniques though and these are normally expensive and not always fast.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Taking shortcuts could save some time, but this comes at the expenses of the beauty or of the stability of heritage with the only final result of affecting the touristic potential of a country.&nbsp; 
 
(WION)

They asked to halt Khatmandu's pond Ranipokhari restoration, urged Department of Archaeology to supervise all heritage-related works

The Nepalese newspaper Kathmandu Post reported concerns among the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) regarding the reconstruction of Ranipokhari, a historic artificial pond built in 1670 AD in the heart of Nepal's capital Kathmandu. Its main building, Balgopaleswor Temple, which stands in the middle of the pond, was destroyed during the April 2015 earthquake. UNESCO wrote a letter to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the Department of Archaeology urging to halt the ongoing work, fearing that hurry and inappropriate techniques are undermining the final result. “Since the very beginning of the reconstruction, UNESCO has stressed in meetings and letters addressed to the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and National Reconstruction Authority, the importance of changing bidding procedures for historical monuments,” the UNESCO noted in its statement on Thursday. The Kathmandu Post reported the letter to read that the international heritage conservation organisation is worried about awarding reconstruction works to the cheapest bidder, a practice which should not be used when it comes to restoring heritage buildings. UNESCO offered its full cooperation and technical expertise in managing the situation and identifying suitable solutions. They also urged the Department of Archaeology to take care of the post-quake reconstruction process. “We trust that the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the Department of Archaeology will take concrete and effective steps to maintain and preserve the religious, cultural and historical significance of the Ranipokhari and the entire Kathmandu,” stated UNESCO. The international organisation is not the only actor worried about the heritage reconstruction. The website Nepali Time reported a student's protest in Kathmandu against the use of cement in Ranipokhari's rebuilding. Demonstrators were carrying placards reading 'Save our heritage' and 'Save our identity'. After natural disasters there is always a comprehensible hurry in reconstructing everything, a country needs ant want to go back to a normal life. This urgency applies particularly on damaged cultural heritage which represent a source of income for the local communities. Historical buildings need special interventions and techniques though and these are normally expensive and not always fast. Taking shortcuts could save some time, but this comes at the expenses of the beauty or of the stability of heritage with the only final result of affecting the touristic potential of a country. (WION)

UNESCO expresses concern over Nepal post-quake reconstruction

Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda has been elected as Nepal&#39;s Prime Minister by 363 votes. The appointment has come in only a few days after former minister KP Oli&#39;s resignation ensued a fresh political turmoil in the country. 
 
Nepal&#39;s parliament met today in a crucial session that confirmed the former Maoist rebel chief as the Himalayan nation&#39;s new prime minister after Oli stepped down to avoid a no-confidence motion. 
 
Nepal has been mired for years in political instability, and the new leader will be its 24th prime minister after weeks of deadly protests established multi-party democracy in 1990. 
 
This is &nbsp;61-year-old Prachanda&#39;s second turn as premier after his party of former guerrilla fighters won national elections in 2008. 
 
&#39;Prachanda&#39;s appointment unlikely to end&nbsp;revolving-door politics&#39; 
 
Analysts say the return of Prachanda, who still uses his nom de guerre meaning &quot;Fierce&quot; but has lost his former &#39;Robin Hood&#39; image dating back to the insurgency, was unlikely to end the revolving-door politics that has sapped business confidence in one of the world&#39;s poorest countries. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t think he will be stable,&quot; said Guna Raj Luitel, editor of the daily Nagarik. 
 
&quot;There is no agreement between parties on a basic agenda for the country. They have only agreed for convenience and there is already a deal to change the prime minister after nine months.&quot; 
 
Prachanda&#39;s confirmation was virtually assured thanks to the support of the centrist Nepali Congress, the biggest party in parliament, and an alliance of several small parties. 
 
Under a widely reported power-sharing deal, Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba is expected to take over from Prachanda before Nepal holds a general election at the beginning of 2018. Party officials have declined to comment. 
 
Frequent changes of government are blamed on politicians who are seen as selfish and power hungry, and who show little concern for the plight of Nepal&#39;s 28 million people. Nearly a quarter live on less than $2 a day. 
 
Great power rivalry 
 
Political change in Nepal, which has great potential to generate hydroelectric power, is closely watched by China and India as they vie for influence over the country that is home to Mount Everest and the birthplace of Lord Buddha. 
 
In 2008, Prachanda visited China before India, breaking a tradition of new Nepali leaders making New Delhi their first foreign port of call. 
 
During a visit in March, Oli cosied up to China with a deal to use its ports for trading goods with third countries, ruffling feathers in India which controls landlocked Nepal&#39;s main overland export route. 
 
India is blamed in Nepal for imposing a blockade on fuel and essential goods last year following protests by the Madhesi minority against Nepal&#39;s first post-monarchy constitution, an accusation India denies. 
 
The Madhesis, who mostly live on the southern plains and have historical and family ties to India, have protested against the charter saying it weakens their say in the central government by dividing their homeland into several provinces. 
 
The new leader also faces the task of rebuilding homes, roads and monuments destroyed by earthquakes that killed 9,000 people last year as well as oversee settlement of war crimes cases against the Maoists and the security forces. 
 
(Reuters)

This is ?61-year-old Prachanda's second turn as premier after his party of former guerrilla fighters won national elections in 2008

Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda has been elected as Nepal's Prime Minister by 363 votes. The appointment has come in only a few days after former minister KP Oli's resignation ensued a fresh political turmoil in the country. Nepal's parliament met today in a crucial session that confirmed the former Maoist rebel chief as the Himalayan nation's new prime minister after Oli stepped down to avoid a no-confidence motion. Nepal has been mired for years in political instability, and the new leader will be its 24th prime minister after weeks of deadly protests established multi-party democracy in 1990. This is 61-year-old Prachanda's second turn as premier after his party of former guerrilla fighters won national elections in 2008. 'Prachanda's appointment unlikely to end revolving-door politics' Analysts say the return of Prachanda, who still uses his nom de guerre meaning "Fierce" but has lost his former 'Robin Hood' image dating back to the insurgency, was unlikely to end the revolving-door politics that has sapped business confidence in one of the world's poorest countries. "I don't think he will be stable," said Guna Raj Luitel, editor of the daily Nagarik. "There is no agreement between parties on a basic agenda for the country. They have only agreed for convenience and there is already a deal to change the prime minister after nine months." Prachanda's confirmation was virtually assured thanks to the support of the centrist Nepali Congress, the biggest party in parliament, and an alliance of several small parties. Under a widely reported power-sharing deal, Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba is expected to take over from Prachanda before Nepal holds a general election at the beginning of 2018. Party officials have declined to comment. Frequent changes of government are blamed on politicians who are seen as selfish and power hungry, and who show little concern for the plight of Nepal's 28 million people. Nearly a quarter live on less than $2 a day. Great power rivalry Political change in Nepal, which has great potential to generate hydroelectric power, is closely watched by China and India as they vie for influence over the country that is home to Mount Everest and the birthplace of Lord Buddha. In 2008, Prachanda visited China before India, breaking a tradition of new Nepali leaders making New Delhi their first foreign port of call. During a visit in March, Oli cosied up to China with a deal to use its ports for trading goods with third countries, ruffling feathers in India which controls landlocked Nepal's main overland export route. India is blamed in Nepal for imposing a blockade on fuel and essential goods last year following protests by the Madhesi minority against Nepal's first post-monarchy constitution, an accusation India denies. The Madhesis, who mostly live on the southern plains and have historical and family ties to India, have protested against the charter saying it weakens their say in the central government by dividing their homeland into several provinces. The new leader also faces the task of rebuilding homes, roads and monuments destroyed by earthquakes that killed 9,000 people last year as well as oversee settlement of war crimes cases against the Maoists and the security forces. (Reuters)

Maoist chief Prachanda takes over as Nepal's 24th Prime Minister

Nearly 80 people were killed in floods and landslides triggered by the incessant rain since Monday in several districts of eastern, central and western Nepal. 
 
Pyuthan district in western Nepal is the worst hit area, where 36 people have died due to the landslides and floods. Similarly, seven persons were killed in Gulmi, six in Baglung, four each in Palpa and Rolpa, three in Makawanpur, two each in Arghakhachi, Jhapa and Rupendehi, officials said. 
 
One each died in Kathmandu, Dolakha, Sarlahi, Parvat, Udaypur, Dang, Kapilvastu, Bara and Saptari, they said. At least 43 people went missing, according to officials. Nine people have sustained injuries in Gulmi, eight in Parvat, three each in Pyuthan and Banke, two in Kathmandu and six others in different parts of the country. 
 
Four people have gone missing from Pyuthan, two each from Arghakhachi and Jhapa districts and one each from Sunsari, Dang, Kaski and Kapilvastu districts. Heavy rains have caused massive floods and landslides in in several parts of Nepal, putting thousands of lives at risk. Scores of houses and bridges have been swept away in several parts of the country as incessant rains have swelled rivers. 
 
Army personnel have been deployed for rescue and relief operations in 14 flood affected districts. Soldiers and volunteers used rubber boats to rescue people marooned by the flooding, while helicopters are being used to drop food supplies. 
 
(PTI)

Pyuthan district in western Nepal is the worst hit area, where 36 deaths have been reported. Army has been deployed in 14 affected areas

Nearly 80 people were killed in floods and landslides triggered by the incessant rain since Monday in several districts of eastern, central and western Nepal. Pyuthan district in western Nepal is the worst hit area, where 36 people have died due to the landslides and floods. Similarly, seven persons were killed in Gulmi, six in Baglung, four each in Palpa and Rolpa, three in Makawanpur, two each in Arghakhachi, Jhapa and Rupendehi, officials said. One each died in Kathmandu, Dolakha, Sarlahi, Parvat, Udaypur, Dang, Kapilvastu, Bara and Saptari, they said. At least 43 people went missing, according to officials. Nine people have sustained injuries in Gulmi, eight in Parvat, three each in Pyuthan and Banke, two in Kathmandu and six others in different parts of the country. Four people have gone missing from Pyuthan, two each from Arghakhachi and Jhapa districts and one each from Sunsari, Dang, Kaski and Kapilvastu districts. Heavy rains have caused massive floods and landslides in in several parts of Nepal, putting thousands of lives at risk. Scores of houses and bridges have been swept away in several parts of the country as incessant rains have swelled rivers. Army personnel have been deployed for rescue and relief operations in 14 flood affected districts. Soldiers and volunteers used rubber boats to rescue people marooned by the flooding, while helicopters are being used to drop food supplies. (PTI)

80 killed in floods and landslides across Nepal

China&#39;s foreign ministry said today that it hoped that all parties in Nepal put national interest first and worked for stability, after the landlocked country&#39;s prime minister resigned, nine months after coming to power. 
 
Nepal&#39;s Prime Minister KP Oli resigned on Sunday, minutes before parliament was to vote on a no-confidence motion he was likely to lose. 
 
The no-confidence motion was brought by former Maoist rebels who propped up the Oli-led government last October, but fell out with him after accusing him of failing to honour a power-sharing deal. 
 
Oli&#39;s departure plunges the Himalayan country, plagued by political turmoil for years, into a whole new round of political uncertainty. This is the country&#39;s 23rd government to fall since a multi-party democracy began in 1990 after bloody protests, and the political tumult has weighed on business confidence. 
 
China is vying to increase its influence in Nepal, challenging India&#39;s long-held position as the dominant outside power. 
 
When Oli visited China in March, he signed a deal allowing Nepal to use China&#39;s ports for trading goods with third countries, potentially ending India&#39;s decades-long monopoly over the impoverished country&#39;s trading routes. 
 
&quot;As a neighbour and friend, China genuinely hopes that all parties and sides in Nepal put the national and people&#39;s interests first, and dedicate themselves to effecting Nepal&#39;s stability and development,&quot; China&#39;s foreign ministry said in a brief statement. 
 
&quot;China and Nepal have been through thick and thin together, and no matter the changes in the international or domestic situation, the direction of China and Nepal&#39;s friendship and mutually beneficially cooperation will not change.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

China is vying to increase its influence in Nepal, challenging India's long-held position as the dominant outside power

China's foreign ministry said today that it hoped that all parties in Nepal put national interest first and worked for stability, after the landlocked country's prime minister resigned, nine months after coming to power. Nepal's Prime Minister KP Oli resigned on Sunday, minutes before parliament was to vote on a no-confidence motion he was likely to lose. The no-confidence motion was brought by former Maoist rebels who propped up the Oli-led government last October, but fell out with him after accusing him of failing to honour a power-sharing deal. Oli's departure plunges the Himalayan country, plagued by political turmoil for years, into a whole new round of political uncertainty. This is the country's 23rd government to fall since a multi-party democracy began in 1990 after bloody protests, and the political tumult has weighed on business confidence. China is vying to increase its influence in Nepal, challenging India's long-held position as the dominant outside power. When Oli visited China in March, he signed a deal allowing Nepal to use China's ports for trading goods with third countries, potentially ending India's decades-long monopoly over the impoverished country's trading routes. "As a neighbour and friend, China genuinely hopes that all parties and sides in Nepal put the national and people's interests first, and dedicate themselves to effecting Nepal's stability and development," China's foreign ministry said in a brief statement. "China and Nepal have been through thick and thin together, and no matter the changes in the international or domestic situation, the direction of China and Nepal's friendship and mutually beneficially cooperation will not change." (Reuters)

China calls for stability after Nepal PM's departure

Nepal&#39;s KP Sharma Oli resigned as Prime Minister today, minutes before facing a no-confidence motion in parliament he was certain to lose, plunging the impoverished nation into fresh turmoil. 
 
His political rivals, former Maoist rebels, called for the vote against Oli after they deserted his fragile ruling coalition, accusing him of reneging on past deals and following deadly unrest over a divisive new constitution. 
 
&quot;I have decided to open the road to elect a new prime minister in this parliament and presented my resignation to the president,&quot; Oli told lawmakers who were set to vote on the no-confidence motion. 
 
Oli accuses rivals of undermining ruling government&nbsp; 
 
In his speech, the embattled premier accused rival lawmakers of undermining his nine-month-old government, which he said was working to rebuild the Himalayan country after a devastating earthquake last year. 
 
&quot;I am concerned that the steps taken were driven by selfishness and revenge (and they) will cause a long-term negative impact and push the country to instability,&quot; he said of the motion, during the nearly two-hour speech. 
 
Oli&#39;s resignation is the latest crisis to hit Nepal which has been struggling to rebuild the quake last April that claimed almost 9,000 lives. 
 
The former rebels and main opposition Nepali Congress party had said they would try to form a new administration if Oli lost the vote, with Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal as premier. 
 
Dahal, the country&#39;s first prime minister after the Maoist insurgency ended in 2006, pulled his party from Oli&#39;s coalition two weeks ago, leaving it without a majority. 
 
Dahal, better known by his nom-de-guerre Prachanda, painted Oli as an egocentric who refused to listen to the people and demanded that he resign. 
 
After debate on the motion kicked off on Friday, two smaller parties also abandoned the coalition, leaving Oli&#39;s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) floundering for support. 
 
The Maoists joined Oli&#39;s government last October, weeks after Nepal adopted the new national constitution. 
 
Coalition cracks 
 
Cracks began to appear in the coalition two months ago when the Maoists threatened to topple Oli, prompting the premier to draw up an 11th-hour deal with Dahal. 
 
But Dahal later withdrew from the coalition, citing the government&#39;s failure to implement that agreement to withdraw war cases from Nepal&#39;s courts and offer amnesties to people accused of abuses during the decade-long Maoist conflict. 
 
Since becoming premier, Oli has faced fierce criticism over his handling of protests against the charter, which triggered a months-long border blockade in southern Nepal by demonstrators from the Madhesi ethnic minority. 
 
More than 50 people died in clashes between police and protesters, who said the constitution left them politically marginalised. 
 
The new constitution, the first drawn up by elected representatives, was meant to cement peace and bolster Nepal&#39;s transformation to a democratic republic after decades of political instability. 
 
But ongoing discussions between the government and protesters over the charter have failed to yield agreement. 
 
Kathmandu accused New Delhi of imposing an &quot;unofficial blockade&quot; on the landlocked nation in support of the Madhesis, who share close cultural and family links with Indians across the border. 
 
(AFP)

KP Oli was forced to quit after coalition allies deserted the government accusing him of not honouring power sharing deals

Nepal's KP Sharma Oli resigned as Prime Minister today, minutes before facing a no-confidence motion in parliament he was certain to lose, plunging the impoverished nation into fresh turmoil. His political rivals, former Maoist rebels, called for the vote against Oli after they deserted his fragile ruling coalition, accusing him of reneging on past deals and following deadly unrest over a divisive new constitution. "I have decided to open the road to elect a new prime minister in this parliament and presented my resignation to the president," Oli told lawmakers who were set to vote on the no-confidence motion. Oli accuses rivals of undermining ruling government In his speech, the embattled premier accused rival lawmakers of undermining his nine-month-old government, which he said was working to rebuild the Himalayan country after a devastating earthquake last year. "I am concerned that the steps taken were driven by selfishness and revenge (and they) will cause a long-term negative impact and push the country to instability," he said of the motion, during the nearly two-hour speech. Oli's resignation is the latest crisis to hit Nepal which has been struggling to rebuild the quake last April that claimed almost 9,000 lives. The former rebels and main opposition Nepali Congress party had said they would try to form a new administration if Oli lost the vote, with Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal as premier. Dahal, the country's first prime minister after the Maoist insurgency ended in 2006, pulled his party from Oli's coalition two weeks ago, leaving it without a majority. Dahal, better known by his nom-de-guerre Prachanda, painted Oli as an egocentric who refused to listen to the people and demanded that he resign. After debate on the motion kicked off on Friday, two smaller parties also abandoned the coalition, leaving Oli's Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) floundering for support. The Maoists joined Oli's government last October, weeks after Nepal adopted the new national constitution. Coalition cracks Cracks began to appear in the coalition two months ago when the Maoists threatened to topple Oli, prompting the premier to draw up an 11th-hour deal with Dahal. But Dahal later withdrew from the coalition, citing the government's failure to implement that agreement to withdraw war cases from Nepal's courts and offer amnesties to people accused of abuses during the decade-long Maoist conflict. Since becoming premier, Oli has faced fierce criticism over his handling of protests against the charter, which triggered a months-long border blockade in southern Nepal by demonstrators from the Madhesi ethnic minority. More than 50 people died in clashes between police and protesters, who said the constitution left them politically marginalised. The new constitution, the first drawn up by elected representatives, was meant to cement peace and bolster Nepal's transformation to a democratic republic after decades of political instability. But ongoing discussions between the government and protesters over the charter have failed to yield agreement. Kathmandu accused New Delhi of imposing an "unofficial blockade" on the landlocked nation in support of the Madhesis, who share close cultural and family links with Indians across the border. (AFP)

Nepal PM resigns ahead of no-confidence vote

Nepal was thrown into political crisis today when the main Maoist party withdrew its support from the ruling coalition and called for the formation of a new government, threatening to topple Prime Minister KP Oli. 
 
The Maoists tried to unseat Oli in May but he clung on after reaching a power-sharing deal.&nbsp; 
 
An official from the prime minister&#39;s communist UML party said Oli would meet officials later on Tuesday to discuss his next move.&nbsp; 
 
Oli came to power in October when the Maoists offered his party parliamentary backing to build a coalition in the impoverished Himalayan country.&nbsp; 
 
Maoists accuse Oli of breaking promise&nbsp; 
 
The Maoists - who ended a decade-long insurgency in 2006 before joining mainstream politics - said Oli had broken promises he made in May.&nbsp; 
 
They also accuse him of failing to resolve festering anger in the south of the country over the terms of a new constitution, and of failing to speed up rebuilding of homes and roads destroyed in an earthquake last year.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;We believe that our decision to withdraw support to this government will help form a new alliance on the basis of national consensus among major political parties,&quot; Krishna Bahadur Mahara, a top Maoist official, told reporters in Kathmandu.&nbsp; 
 
Congress ready to back Maoists &nbsp; 
 
Mahara said the opposition Nepali Congress party was ready to throw its support behind Maoist leader Prachanda to form a new government. Congress party officials were not immediately available for comment.&nbsp; 
 
Commentator Lok Raj Baral said the Maoists&#39; move could force a no-confidence vote and end Oli&#39;&#39;s term in office.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;I suspect these two parties have already made a deal, but we will need to wait and see how Oli and the UML respond,&quot; he told Reuters, referring to the Maoists and the Congress. 
 
The Maoists&#39; withdrawal of support is the latest political twist for Nepal since it adopted its first post-monarchy constitution in September. 
 
The passing of the constitution looked like a rare moment of political consensus for the country, which became a republic in 2008, but it soon sparked protests. 
 
Minority Madhesis, who live mostly in Nepal&#39;s lowlands near India, imposed a four-month border blockade to protest against a proposal to carve Nepal into seven federal states, which they say would divide their homeland and deprive them of a fair say. 
 
More than 50 people were killed in clashes before protesters called off the blockade in February. 
 
Neighbours India and China compete for influence in Nepal and are both likely to be concerned by the prospect of more instability. 
 
(Reuetrs)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The Maoists - who ended a decade-long insurgency in 2006 before joining mainstream politics - say PM Oli has broken promises he made in May

Nepal was thrown into political crisis today when the main Maoist party withdrew its support from the ruling coalition and called for the formation of a new government, threatening to topple Prime Minister KP Oli. The Maoists tried to unseat Oli in May but he clung on after reaching a power-sharing deal. An official from the prime minister's communist UML party said Oli would meet officials later on Tuesday to discuss his next move. Oli came to power in October when the Maoists offered his party parliamentary backing to build a coalition in the impoverished Himalayan country. Maoists accuse Oli of breaking promise The Maoists - who ended a decade-long insurgency in 2006 before joining mainstream politics - said Oli had broken promises he made in May. They also accuse him of failing to resolve festering anger in the south of the country over the terms of a new constitution, and of failing to speed up rebuilding of homes and roads destroyed in an earthquake last year. "We believe that our decision to withdraw support to this government will help form a new alliance on the basis of national consensus among major political parties," Krishna Bahadur Mahara, a top Maoist official, told reporters in Kathmandu. Congress ready to back Maoists Mahara said the opposition Nepali Congress party was ready to throw its support behind Maoist leader Prachanda to form a new government. Congress party officials were not immediately available for comment. Commentator Lok Raj Baral said the Maoists' move could force a no-confidence vote and end Oli''s term in office. "I suspect these two parties have already made a deal, but we will need to wait and see how Oli and the UML respond," he told Reuters, referring to the Maoists and the Congress. The Maoists' withdrawal of support is the latest political twist for Nepal since it adopted its first post-monarchy constitution in September. The passing of the constitution looked like a rare moment of political consensus for the country, which became a republic in 2008, but it soon sparked protests. Minority Madhesis, who live mostly in Nepal's lowlands near India, imposed a four-month border blockade to protest against a proposal to carve Nepal into seven federal states, which they say would divide their homeland and deprive them of a fair say. More than 50 people were killed in clashes before protesters called off the blockade in February. Neighbours India and China compete for influence in Nepal and are both likely to be concerned by the prospect of more instability. (Reuetrs)

Nepal in crisis after Maoists withdraw support, call for formation of new government

Nepal is selling thousands of tonnes of rice donated by China and Bangladesh to help earthquake victims, an official said, despite aid agencies warning that survivors remain at risk of food shortages. 
 
Nearly 9,000 lost their lives when a 7.8-magnitude earthquake ripped through the Himalayan nation in April 2015, destroying more than half a million homes and leaving thousands without food or shelter. 
 
Initial estimates by the World Food Programme (WFP) said that about 1.4 million were in urgent need of emergency food supplies, prompting governments to spring into action to help the desperately poor country. 
 
According to the state-run Nepal Food Corporation (NFC), Dhaka and Beijing donated about 11,200 metric tonnes of rice, only 20 per cent of which was distributed by the government to quake victims. 
 
&quot;The remaining rice has been sitting in our godown (warehouse) for 10 months and now that Bangladesh has donated even more rice to us, we don&#39;t have enough space to store it all,&quot; said Pawan Kumar Karki, NFC spokesman. 
 
&quot;So we started selling the rice last month and will deposit the proceeds in a fund operated by the government,&quot; Karki said. 
 
No further details about the fund were available. 
 
Kathmandu stopped distributing rice across quake-hit districts last June, just weeks after the disaster, according to Karki. 
 
Yet more than a year later, disaster victims continue to be at risk of food shortages, aid officials said. 
 
&quot;We were distributing rice, lentils and other supplies right until February. While there have been improvements, there are still pockets of food insecurity among households headed by single mothers or belonging to marginalised communities,&quot; said a WFP spokeswoman. 
 
The NFC&#39;s Karki said that authorities also plan to dispatch 3,400 metric tonnes of donated rice to the remote Karnali region following last year&#39;s poor monsoons and a prolonged winter drought, but no supplies had been sent yet. 
 
With an estimated four million people still living in temporary shelters, Nepal has asked for $8.4 billion in aid to help rebuild the country. 
 
But delays in formulating a reconstruction plan mean Kathmandu has received just $1.6 billion so far, about 40 per cent of the $4.1 billion pledged by international donors. 
 
Stung by criticism, the government has vowed to kickstart the rebuilding of schools and hospitals and speed up the distribution of a $2,000 payout to homeless households. 
 
So far, some 24,000 families have received the first $500 instalment of the promised payout, fewer than five per cent of those left homeless by the disaster. 
 
(AFP)

A year after earthquake, victims continue to be at risk of food shortages as governement runs out of space to store donated grains

Nepal is selling thousands of tonnes of rice donated by China and Bangladesh to help earthquake victims, an official said, despite aid agencies warning that survivors remain at risk of food shortages. Nearly 9,000 lost their lives when a 7.8-magnitude earthquake ripped through the Himalayan nation in April 2015, destroying more than half a million homes and leaving thousands without food or shelter. Initial estimates by the World Food Programme (WFP) said that about 1.4 million were in urgent need of emergency food supplies, prompting governments to spring into action to help the desperately poor country. According to the state-run Nepal Food Corporation (NFC), Dhaka and Beijing donated about 11,200 metric tonnes of rice, only 20 per cent of which was distributed by the government to quake victims. "The remaining rice has been sitting in our godown (warehouse) for 10 months and now that Bangladesh has donated even more rice to us, we don't have enough space to store it all," said Pawan Kumar Karki, NFC spokesman. "So we started selling the rice last month and will deposit the proceeds in a fund operated by the government," Karki said. No further details about the fund were available. Kathmandu stopped distributing rice across quake-hit districts last June, just weeks after the disaster, according to Karki. Yet more than a year later, disaster victims continue to be at risk of food shortages, aid officials said. "We were distributing rice, lentils and other supplies right until February. While there have been improvements, there are still pockets of food insecurity among households headed by single mothers or belonging to marginalised communities," said a WFP spokeswoman. The NFC's Karki said that authorities also plan to dispatch 3,400 metric tonnes of donated rice to the remote Karnali region following last year's poor monsoons and a prolonged winter drought, but no supplies had been sent yet. With an estimated four million people still living in temporary shelters, Nepal has asked for $8.4 billion in aid to help rebuild the country. But delays in formulating a reconstruction plan mean Kathmandu has received just $1.6 billion so far, about 40 per cent of the $4.1 billion pledged by international donors. Stung by criticism, the government has vowed to kickstart the rebuilding of schools and hospitals and speed up the distribution of a $2,000 payout to homeless households. So far, some 24,000 families have received the first $500 instalment of the promised payout, fewer than five per cent of those left homeless by the disaster. (AFP)

Nepal selling rice donated by Beijing, Dhaka for quake victims

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