Hundreds of people stranded on Mugling, Narayanghat highway

Kathmandu, 11 July: Nearly a dozen persons have been killed or have gone missing in landslides triggered by incessant monsoon rains since Friday.
Three persons have been killed in Kaski where five are missing; Ganga Mahat and her five-year-old child were buried alive in Syangjha overnight,
Dozens of villages in Jhapa along rivers have been threatened with inundation as river levels rise with incessant rain.
Meteorologists said this year’s monsoon was activated Friday/Saturday.
Thousands of passengers traveling between the south and the capital have been trapped since 3.30 in the morning Monday as landslides at six places blocked movement of vehicles on the Mugling, Narayanghat highway.
The landslide is the first major landslip on the mountain road during the current monsoon season that began with force Friday/Saturday.
Red flags have been planted on the Kosi barrage and sirens have been wailing as danger signals for the last three days with the rising level of water in Sapta Kosi with incessant rains for the last three days.
The river has started breaching embankments.
Water has entered settlements in the terai where agricultural land has been inundated.
Villages have been threatened in the plains with rivers overflowing banks.
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Four dead, 28 injured on Bhimdutta highway
Bus heading to Dhangadhi from Bhajang.
Injured undergoing treatment at TIM Hospital.

PM Nepal feels another majority govt. unlikely; political crisis triggered

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 11 July: Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Sunday thought ‘another majority government was unlikely’.
He predicted this in an interview with Republica as it’s almost certain a national consensus government led by Maoists won’t be formed in the next two days by Monday when an extended deadline given by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav to assemble such a government expires.
The Maoist failure to secure a consensus government will enrage them; they have threatened protests on the street and parliament to push their agenda.
With the looming political crisis, Nepal said a vote on account will be presented in parliament Monday ‘to run the administration ‘for the next four months’.
Two ruling parties, UML and NC, immediately rejected the Maoist concept paper for a resolution of the prolonged impasse with the main opposition proposals for integration and resettlement of 19,000 fighters and a government under their leadership made public Saturday night.
The outgoing premier revealed he rejected a direct proposal to him from Chairman Prachanda before his resignation to integrate 7,000 PLA fighters with a combined force of 14,000 personnel of Nepal and Armed Police Force.
A combined force of 21,000 personnel would be created, Nepal revealed.
“It was a strategy to draw away 14,000 personnel from Nepal Army and Armed Police Force for offering to integrate 7,000 from PLA to convert the entire 21,000 into a force loyal to the Maoist party.”
Nepali Congress has convened a meeting of the central committee Sunday to further discuss the Maoist concept.
MORE DETAILS ON MAOIST CONCEPT
Maoists rejected standards of state security agencies for recruitment as minimum requirements for integration demanding ‘consensus norms’.
The party, as it continues seizure of state and private assets, repeated its position most seized assets during the people’s war have been returned.
UCPN (Maoist) suggested formation of all-party mechanisms to investigate seizure claims for implementation.
Maoist concept paper says fighters will be integrated only one month after determining numbers to be sent home voluntarily, resettled or integrated after visiting camps—a process that should take two months.
The party demanded Rs 1 million as compensation for families of its martyrs at par with compensation for families of Maoist victims.
“The proposal has been put forward not to implement point one of the three-point agreement [signed by three parties 28 May]. Many proposals are regressive, unclear and are a backward step. The peace agreement has been trampled,” NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel said.
“A basis for agreement can’t be created if this position is maintained,” said UML Secretary Bishnu Paudel.
Meanwhile, NC and UML at a tripartite meeting with Maoists Sunday rejected the Maoist proposal in an hour-long meeting.
“The concept paper was different than expected,: said NC leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat.
The parties are meeting again Monday before the second presidential deadline ends to narrow down differences for an agreement whichc is unlikely.
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Krishna Prasad Sapkota elected Supreme Court Bar Chairman

Kathmandu, 11 July: Krishna Prasad Sapkota was elected chairman of Supreme Court Bar Association Saturday.
Sapkota supported by Nepali Congress representing the ‘democratic panel’ defeated Mahendra Kant Mainali, supported by UML and Maoists, by 36 votes.
Sapkota collected 221 votes.
A 13-member working committee was elected for a two-year term; all but five members were elected from the democratic panel.
Democratic panel earlier this year swept elections in the Nepal Bar Association previously controlled by UML.
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Former deputy speaker Lila Shrestha Subba dead

Kathmandu, 11 July: Former first deputy speaker of parliament Lila Shrestha Subba,63, died at her home in Dharan Sunday morning.
She was suffering asthma.
She was elected to parliament on a UML ticker.
He was the party’s central advisor.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

Nepse freefall continues with resignation of PM Nepal

Kathmandu, 11 July: Nepse lost 4.62 points at the end of five-day trading Thursday.
The market opened at 464.69 points Sunday and closed at 460.07 points Thursday.
The secondary market closed at 470.91 points 2 July.
The resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal triggered the fall.
Altogether 310,990 shares of 109 companies worth Rs 141.83 million were traded through 4,147 transactions.
Total trade value fell 30.09 percent compared to the previous week.
Altogether 61.70 percent shares of class A companies exchanged hands during the week.
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SPORTS

Monsoon rain will mar World Cup final

Kathmandu, 11 July; Heavy monsoon rain since Sunday will disrupt the viewing of the World Cup final between Spain and Netherlands at midnight.
Both European nations are attempting to lift the trophy for the first time.
The downpour expected to continue into the evening will pin football fans to their homes preventing them from viewing the final at public places where big screens have been put up to view the 90-minute battle.
Brazil, who lost to Germany, is hosting the next World Cup four years later.
They were favourites to lift this year’s cup.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“The state shouldn’t be without a government if parties become prisoners of indecision. That’s why the president should use his power and save the country from being a prisoner of indecision.”

(Nepal Majdoor Kishan Paty Chairman Narayanman Bijukakchaya, Annapurna Post, 11 July)
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