Submit your Article

The arrest on August 7 of Khadga Bahadur Biswokarma, better known by his nom de guerre Prakanda, is indicative of the ruling communist government’s commitment to crack down on ‘anti-national’ activities and extortions. Prakanda is the spokesperson of the Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplab’-led Communist Party of Nepal. He has been charged with using violence to try to disturb last year’s local and provincial elections and of extorting various businessmen. The same charges have been levelled against his party, which is the reason chairman Chand has been in hiding since the government issued an arrest warrant against him in February. It was in 2012 that Chand and his mentor Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’ decided to break away from the mother Maoist party led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, accusing the party chairman of abandoning the ‘incomplete Maoist revolution’ and of caving in to ‘status quoist’ forces. But in 2014 Chand would part ways with Baidya’s new party, too, as Baidya, in Chand’s reckoning, could not adequately justify splinter­ing from the mother party. He then formed the CPN. It rejected the new constitution and threatened to disrupt the three tiers of elections.

Since it was a marginal force the party had to adopt radical ways to come to the public notice. It started dispensing ‘people’s verdict’ and humiliated people’s representatives by smearing their faces with black soot. It bombed LPG plants it excused of extorting people. A transmission tower of a ‘tax evading’ telecom provider was similarly bombed. It was also under the pressure of CPN that the concert of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan in Kath­mandu had to be cancelled earlier this year. These populist moves, CPN hoped, would earn it the goodwill of at least a segment of the Nepali society.

But Chand and company seemed blithely unaware that after witnessing nearly 17,000 deaths in the decade-long Mao­ist insurgency most Nepalis had had enough of the politics of violence. Its violent actions, which included nationwide shutdowns, were roundly condemned. The only way it could survive in this context was by shaking down rich business­men. In order to credibly threaten them the party needed to engage in public show of force, like bombings. A vicious cycle was thus set in motion.

Even though there is a level of sympathy for Chand and his party in the ruling Nepal Communist Party, it will be hard for Chand’s former Maoist colleagues to openly back criminals. Politically, CPN is fighting a lost cause. Signs are that its days as a criminal racket are also numbered.

Chelsea have signed Mateo Kovacic on a season-long loan from Real Madrid, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois expected to have his permanent move in the opposite direction confirmed later on Thursday.

Midfielder Kovacic, 24, has been at Real for three seasons since joining from Inter Milan.

He helped Croatia reach the final of this summer's World Cup in Russia.

"I am really happy and excited to be here. It is an amazing feeling," Kovacic told Chelsea's website.

"I will try to do my best for this club. It is a new league for me, the beginning is always tough but I am sure the coach and my new team-mates will help me and I am looking forward to a great season."

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia added: "He is a perfect fit for us this season, his style is well suited to how Maurizio wants to play and we are sure he will prove to be a valuable asset for the club."

Perez makes West Ham switch

Upon arriving at London Stadium, Lucas Perez said: "I’m very happy to be here at such an historic club."

"I’m very excited, as West Ham are giving me the chance to stay in the Premier League and I’m very happy to be part of this new project.

"West Ham have great fans and play in an amazing stadium, so to sign here brings me great joy. I’m very motivated."

Follow live football transfer on BBC

 Hiking was organized in Black Mountain at Wales in the United Kingdom to promote Nepal Tourism Year 2020. 

The programme entitled 'Hike for Nepal-2018' had put Nepal on spotlight for four hours in the city of the UK. 
'Let us take moves together for Nepal' was set a slogan for the 12-km long march. 

The We Will Rise Foundation has been organizing such hiking event in Hong Kong every year. Following the declaration of Nepal government to mark 2020 as the tourism year, this is most probably the first-of-its-kind event held outside the country on the initiative of Nepali Diaspora. 

On the occasion, Nepali Ambassador for the UK, Durga Bahadur Subedi recalled that Sir George Everest who named Mount Everest to the world's highest peak, Sagarmatha, was from the UK which has also deepened the bilateral relations between Nepal and UK. 

Such programme would not only enhance harmony, fraternity and cordial relations but also play catalytic role for tourism development of Nepal, he noted. 

The guest of honor on the occasion was members of Parliament for Brecon and Radnorshire Chris Davies. 

Also present in the event were Chairman of the Powys County Council Cllr David Meredith, Mayor of Talgarth Town Council Cllr William Powell, Mayor of Brecon Town Council Cllr Many Trailor, deputy mayor of Brecon Town Council Cllr Ann Mathies, former Mayor of BreconTwon council Cllr Eueun William and former Mayor of Talgarth Town Council Cllr Jacque Wilding, among others. 

Phurwa Tenzing Sherpa,a record-keeping Mount Everest climber, Thaneswor Guragain, who suceeds in keeping his name in Genies Book on 16 different genres, Tulsi Gurung, founder of the We Will Rise Foundation, its Director Nirmal Shrestha and Suraj Gurung had reached Wales to participate in the 'Trek for Nepal' event. 

Foundation founder Gurung expressed his confidence that the event would contribute to make the 'Visit Nepal 2020' a success. 

Around 150 Nepali and foreigners had enquired about Nepal with much interest in the trek programme. 
The UK Embassy has set a target to send 100,000 British tourists to Nepal in 2020.

Chief Minister of Province No. 2 Lal Babu Raut Gaddhi has said that a nation cannot prosper until social transformation and positive changes were maintained. 

Positive and progressive thoughts in the society could only lead the nation towards prosperity, the Chief Minister said on Sunday while addressing a programme at Dibya Kanya Higher Secondary in Kalikamai Rural Municipality, Parsa. 

Gaddhi added that poverty could be uprooted with the quality changes in health and education by gradually transforming the society. 

The Chief Minister reiterated that the campaign of 'Save Girl Child, Teach Girl Child' was unveiled to end the ill-practices prevalent in the society and urged one and all to join in this campaign. 

Gaddhi shared that 50 per cent seats for women have been reserved for girls in the province police service of the Province No. 2 to make the campaign effective. 

He also announced that the seat for women would be reserved in other services to be catered by the province government. RSS

KATHMANDU: The government has formed a four-member committee to look into the activities of Nepal Sanskrit University Vice-Chancellor Kul Prasad Koirala. The committee is mandated to submit a report to the government after carrying out investigation into Koirala’s reported attempt to go abroad without leave approval and allegations related to financial irregularities. RSS

Kathmandu : Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradip Kumar Gyawali has said some European nations are willing to invest in Nepal’s energy and infrastructure development. Talking to media persons upon his arrival after his weeklong visit to Portugal, Luxembourg and Belgium, Minister Gyawali said the European nations were more interested in Nepal’s energy, infrastructure and agriculture sectors.

Gyawali said that he had urged European leaders to allow Nepali goods into European markets as Europe was a vital trade and development partner of Nepal. The foreign minister shared that the European leaders put forth their concerns about Nepal government’s economic poli­cy, investment environment and inclusion in constitution.

“Nepal is willing to benefit from the economies of India and Chi­na. I found them concerned about Nepal’s ability to move ahead by maintaining geopolitical balance,” Gyawali stated. On the occasion, Gyawali said that he urged European leaders to immediately resolve the issues that have hindered Nepal’s air services to Europe. RSS

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is com­ing to Nepal, in what will be his fourth visit, to attend the fourth summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIM­STEC) being held in Kathman­du on August 30 and 31. This regional body is comprised of four countries from South Asia (Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka) and two countries from South-East Asia (Myan­mar and Thailand).According to a Foreign Ministry source, along with Modi, there is a high chance that the executive heads of all seven countries will participate. During the last Nepal-India Eminent Persons Groups meeting in Kathmandu, the Indian EPG members had also informed that Modi would be coming to Kathmandu for the BIMSTEC summit.

The source said Nepal’s emphasis during the summit will be on coming up with a BIMSTEC charter, which the member countries have been unable to agree on in the 20 years of the organiza­tion’s existence.

Kathmandu: Nepal has been grouped together with India, Bangladesh and Myanmar in the qualifying games for the women's football category in the 2020 Olympics to be held in Tokyo, Japan. 

The first round of the Asian qualifying for Nepal will begin on coming November 8 with a game against India, according to calendar released on Saturday. Likewise, Nepal will face Myanmar on November 11 and Bangladesh on November 13. 

A total of 18 countries are taking part in the first phase of qualifying among the Asian countries. They have been divided into four groups of four and Nepal is in Group 'C'. Of them 12 including the group winners and runners-up and the best two among the remaining go to the second round.

However, only two will qualify for the Olympics from Asia, as Japan qualifies automatically as the host nation. A total of 12 countries will compete for the gold medal in women's football category. RSS