The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) board on Thursday decided to file a case in the US District Court for Southern District of New York, seeking an order to revoke its earlier decision,†said an NRB board member.
The earlier decision of the court was to debit US $ 1 million from NRB’s account to Standard Chartered Bank’s New York branch when Ashim Khatri Chhetri, chairman Tarala International filed case at the court after the government froze US$ 1 million sent by Tarala to Chinese national Wu Lixiang—reportedly its agent—on suspicion of money laundering.
The NRB has already sent documents required for filing the case to the law firm chosen by Chhetri and Associates, according to NRB source.
Tarala has not withdrawn the amount from the bank yet, it is only debited from NRB’s account to another account only. So, the central bank seeks to get back the debited amount through legal measures, said a senior NRB official.
Finance Minister (FM) Bharat Mohan Adhikari did not attend the meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that was scheduled to discuss Finance Secretary Rameshwor Khanal’s resignation scandal on March 31. The PAC meet was rescheduled for today. FM Adhikari informed the PAC of his inability to attend the meeting due to tight work schedule yesterday, sources confirmed.
It is learnt that yesterday, Adhikari was in a discussion with UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the time when the PAC meet has summoned.
The PAC had summoned FM Adhikari, along with Chief Secretary Madhav Ghimire and Revenue Secretary Baskota, for information on Khanal’s recent resignation on Wednesday.
Khanal tendered his resignation on March 29 following serious differences with Finance Minister Adhikari over various issues including the VAT bill and transfers of ministry officials. It is learnt that Khanal’s ideas of taking action against people using fake bills, supplementary budget, and declaration of emergency of energy clashed with the ideas of Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari.
On the protest of Khanal’s resignation, Government officials of Finance Ministry, Custom Office and Custom Duty observed pen-down on March 30. Civil Servants Union (CSU) has demanded that Secretary Khanal should be reinstated and a favourable working environment should be created.
Speaking at a program organized by the Reporter’s Club in the Capital, CSU Chairman Subodh Kumar Devkota said, “Secretary Khanal’s resignation was a result of political pressure. The present government is trying to support corruption.â€
The issue of Khanal’s resignation also engaged the parliament and cabinet on March 30. Maoist minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara expressed dissatisfaction over FM Adhikari’s performance, which made the top bureaucrat take an upsetting decision. The main opposition Nepali Congress also expressed anger with the government for compelling a ‘good’ administrator to step down, the sources said
In Indian model is in dilemma whether to keep her promise or not amidst increasing pressure from her fans (asking her to keep her promise), criticism, and even the looming threat of moral policing from Shiva Sena.
19 year old model Poonam Pandey had promised to bare all if the Indian national team wins the World Cup 2011. Her wish has come true, and her fans are drooling to get a glimpse of her ‘promise’.
Poonam, a 5’7″ tall model, featured in India’s best-selling swimwear calendar, had said previously that she wanted to provide an incentive to the Indian team players by baring all. It is not known if her offer will be welcomed or not.
Although Poonam says that she is a diehard supporter of Indian team and it was not a publicity stunt, the widespread media attention has been no less than one. The Times of India featured a photograph of Poonam wearing a skimpy bikini.
UCPN (Maoist) called Tikapur bazaar bandh on Wednesday protesting against the police atrocities and detain of its cadres while showing black flag to Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood.
Since early morning, the market areas, industries and education institutions have been closed down and long and short route vehicles have remained off the road due to the strike.
The security has been beefed up to prevent any untoward incidents.
About a dozen Maoist leaders were arrested from the district on Tuesday when they showed black flags against Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood.
Police have arrested about a dozen of UCPN-Maoist cadres for showing black flags against Envoy Sood in Kailali district when he reached there to inaugurate a cultural program organised by the Tharu Utthan Manch on Tuesday. Three security personnel were injured during clash between Maoist cadres and the police.
The Maoists greeted Sood with black flags in Kanchanpur district also, where he visited to inaugurate the new school buildings and roads built up on the Indian assistance.
In Gulmi in March 22, 2011, in Bhojpur and Taplejung districts in Feb 28, 2011 also, UCPN-Maoist cadres have demonstrated black flags to Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood.
The man named by Narayan Gharti of Dubidanda VDC-2 killed his own daughter Tekmati Thapa, 20, son-in-law Top Bahadur Basnet, 21, their six-month-old daughter and neighbor Chandra Thapa. The reason behind the killing is a mystery. The incident took place on Wednesday morning.
Police have already arrested the man on charges of man slaughter. The police are still investigating the reason behind the mass murder.
In yet another case, a mother and a daughter were found murdered in Madhesa-5 of Sunsari district on Wednesday morning. It has been identified that Mother, Tika Poudel, 24, was found hanging in an electric pole and her daughter Ashika Poudel’s body was found abandoned nearby it.
The police have suspected Umesh Poudel, husband of Tika Poudel, and taken him into custody. The investigation is on for this murder case.
Manoj Baraili for Works Films Production presents, Nepali Movie – Eaka Trail Starring – Digbijaya Khadka, Ram Bhakta Shrestha, Dharmendra Acharya, Sandip Syangtan etc.
‘Nata’ is the debut movie of actor Bishow Basnet as a director. Actor Shree Krishna Shrestha debuted in the movie as an actor. The film is the first presentation of Tract Movie Makers’ and produced by Chhabi Raj Ojha.
The movie was a huge success. Chhabi took it off the theaters after it ran for 97 days. He didn’t want it to run through 100 days because of the cost involved in the 100-days celebration and other stuffs. Chhabi’s wife Geetanjali is also featured in the movie. She later committed suicide. After her death, Chhabi married actress Rekha Thapa. Continue reading
The fifth presentation of Sophiya Cine Arts by actor and producer Rose Rana, Nepali movie ‘Takkar Dui Mutuko’ is an action movie. Rose was previously having an affair with the actress Saujanya Subba. The break-up was made a big issue and Rose had to go to the police station for it.
The story and the script of the movie is written by Maunata Shrestha. The viewers have complained that the movie is mostly the copy of Hindi movies ‘Humraz’ and ‘Devdas’. Continue reading
Gurkha soldiers are known for fighting single-handedly against a number of enemies. Last time, it was Indian Army Gurkha who fought more than 40 train robbers, in India to save a girl from being raped.
Now, a British Army Gurkha soldier was honored by Britain’s second highest medal for bravery for fighting off at least a dozen Taliban insurgents.
Acting Sergeant Dip Prasad Pun was stationed in a checkpoint near Babaji, in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. On September 17, 2010 militants opened fire from all direction.
Alone on the roof, Pun fought rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47s. He fired a more than 400 rounds of bullets, detonated a mine, and launched 17 grenades in about fifteen minutes of intense fight. He even used the machine gun tripod to knock down an insurgent, trying to climb up to his position.
In a BBC news article, Pun says, "I think I am a very lucky guy, a survivor. Now I am getting this award, it is very great and I am very happy."
The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross medal is only one level below the Victoria Cross, the highest medal a British Army personnel can get. The 31 year old Acting Sergeant Dipprasad Pun’s father and grandfather both had been Gurkha in British Army. (Photo credits – BBC)
Movie – Yeshu ko Katha (Nepali Version of Christ’s Story)Â
This is a movie telling about the story of Jesus Christ with the aim to promote Christian belief and encourage people to convert themselves to Christian religion. The movie is posted here for educational purpose and we don’t promote Christian faith (or, any other faiths).
Houston Nature Centre has honored Raju Acharya with the World Owl Hall of Fame special award for his outstanding contribution in the research and conservation of owls.
The Special Achievement Award was awarded to Acharya on March 5, 2011 at the International Festival of Owls held in Minnesota, US.
In the photo above, Raju is seen talking in a media event in Pokhara on March 21‚ 2011. (Photo credits – Krishnamani Baral)
A graduate in Environmental Management, Tropical Forestry and Agro-forestry, Raju Acharya is the director of Friends of Nature, a youth-led social and environmental organization and has been working in owl conservation for the last three years. Before that he had worked for Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) for ten years.
In an interview with Republica he told that he is interested in establishing an owl hospital in Nepal and develop it also as a conservation education center.
When we see a couple of movies being released in Nepal almost every weeks, we get a feeling that the Nepali film industry is a successful industry. Every actor/actress seem very busy in one shooting or the other. The film personalities are busy in a number of events including movie launch, music launch, premiere shows, foreign shows and so on. Question arises – can the ‘book’ (film industry) be judged by its cover (all the hypes)?
Movie awards is another aspect the industry has progressed a lot. In the last two years, we have seen a huge increase in the number of Nepali Film Awards. Different organizations and associations are organizing such film awards without any coordination with each other. A few years back in the history, there were only music awards and there were nothing like movie awards. Now, the situation has reversed and there are more movie award ceremonies than music award events.
Birthdays are fun filled and the kids are the ones who would love it the most. When it comes the happiness of our kids, we forget all the hardships and spend lavishly.
Ang Tenzind Sherpa wanted to make fun in one of his loved one’s birthday (we didn’t ask whose birthday it was). He bought a snow spray costing him Rs. 250 in Gemini store in Boudha. But, when he opened the snow spray package, the familiar smell wasn’t pleasant. It smelled like a pesticide. It was actually recycled pesticide package with a paper cover with the details of snow spray.
The main poi
nt Ang mentions is that, "There was a smell of pesticide, and I’ve vomited more then five times since yesterday."
It is clear from the photos he has posted in Facebook, that the packaging was that of "Hit" branded pesticide. The pesticide can’t be considered healthy to be sprayed on kid’s birthday cake.
In our question about the manufacturer of the product, Ang told that the packaging was written in Chinese, so he is not sure about the company that produces it. If the product is produced out of Nepal, we can’t do anything about it. The only responsible business will be the importer of the product.
Ang is facing health issues due to the product and many others might have faced sucproblems. When consumer products create health problems, somebody should be held responsible for the problem. In this case, who is responsible for the damage it does to the health of the users?
Is it Gemini Store?
Is is Nepal Government?
We hope somebody will take a
ction against such irresponsible practice to create problem to the health of general public.
Following photos show the paper, and the actual pesticide can underneath (photo credits – Ang Tenzind Sherpa) :
Given the current political situation and lack of proper monitoring of products being sold in market, we would like to ask the users to be careful while using new product available in the market. And, we would also like to ask the businesses to take the health and safety of their customers seriously and stop the sales of potentially harmful and fake products.
Update Ang Tenzing Sherpa has created a video of the spray and posted in YouTube:
Karishma Manandhar organized a special event on the occasion of holi at her home. They also celebrated the birthday of film producer and director, Binod Manandar. The actual birthday of Binod Manandhar, Karishma’s husband was on the day before Holi. Also present in the occasion was the Karishma and Binod daughter, Kabita Manandhar.
In the special program, present film related personalities were – actresses like Rekha Thapa, Nandita KC, Rejina Upreti, and Sushma Karki. Among the actors, present were – Yashraj, Niraj Baral, Naresh Poudel, Aakash Adhikari, Ashok Sharma, Shovit Basnet, Sudarshan Thapa, Ukesh Dahal, Kiran KC, and Shayam Bhattarai. Other personalities include Rajendra Khadgi, Himal KC, Govinda Rai, Prabhu Shamsher, Dinesh DC. Also present in the occasion were various singers, journalists and Manandhar family friends.
