Nov 20, 2015- The world's second-largest gem quality diamond has been discovered in Botswana, the Lucara Diamond firm says.
The 1,111-carat stone was recovered from its Karowe mine, about 500km (300 miles) north of the capital, Gaborone.
It is the biggest diamond to be discovered in Botswana and the largest find in more than a century.
The 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond was found in South Africa in 1905 and cut into nine separate stones, many of which are in the British Crown Jewels.
"The significance of the recovery of a gem quality stone larger than 1,000 carats, the largest for more than a century... cannot be overstated," William Lamb, the CEO of Lucara Diamond, a Canadian diamond producer, said in a statement.
Lucara says two other "exceptional" white diamonds - an 813-carat stone and a 374-carat stone - were also found at the Karowe mine.
"This has been an amazing week for Lucara with the recovery of the second largest and also the sixth largest gem quality diamonds ever mined," Mr Lamb said.
The stone is yet to be evaluated, but commodities and mining analyst Kieron Hodgson, told AFP news agency that "the potential to be one very expensive diamond."
In April a flawless 100-carat diamond was sold for $22.1m (£14.8m) at Sotheby's in New York.
The gem, originally mined in South Africa, had taken more than a year to cut, polish and perfect.
Botswana is the world's largest producer of diamonds and the trade has transformed it into a middle-income nation.
Sep 23, 2015- The Indian government has asked the Nepali side to make seven amendments to the new constitution, according to an Indian Government classified report published by the Indian Express.
The India Ministry of External Affairs has said that the seven amendments are indispensable stating that these are the issues of concerns raised by the disgruntled Madhesi and Tharu groups.
The amendments wanted by the South bloc have been forwarded to Nepali leadership via Indian ambassador Ranjit Rae. Rae, who had flown into New Delhi on Monday a day after the promulgation of the new constution, returned to Kathmandu on Wednesday and he headed straight to Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar to convey the message from New Delhi.
Amendment 1 India wants the electoral constituencies in Madhes to be based on population. The Article 63 (3) of the Interim Constitution states that the electoral constituencies will be based on population, geography and special characteristics,“ and in the case of Madhes on the basis of percentage of population.” The latter phrase, however, has been omitted from Article 84 of the new constitution. India wants it re-inserted. Amendment 2 India wants the word ‘proportional’ be inserted in the Article 42 of the new constitution. The article states that “the right to participate in state structures on the basis of principles of inclusion”. The Article 21 of the Interim constitution, however, mentioned that various groups would have “the right to participate in state structures on the basis of principles of proportional inclusion”. The word ‘proportional’ has been dropped from the Article 42 of the new constitution. India has asked the word to be reinstated. Amendment 3 The amendment three is on the Article 283 regarding the special provisions relating to Citizenship of the office-bearers. The article states that the only those who have a citizenship by descent will be entitled to the position of president, vice president, PM, chief justice, speaker of the parliament, chairperson of National Assembly, head of the province, chief minister, speaker of provincial assembly and chief of security bodies. Delhi says this should be amended to include citizenship by birth or naturalisation as a large number of Madhesis have acquired citizenship by birth or naturalisation. Amendment 4 India wants representation in the National Assembly to be based on the population of the provinces. But the Article 86 of the new Constitution states that National Assembly will comprise 8 members from each of seven states and three nominated members. Amendment 5 The five disputed districts—Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Kanchanpur and Kailali—be included in Madhes provinces. These districts are currently in province one (Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari) and province six (Kailali, Kanchanpur) along with hilly and mountainous districts. Amendment 6 The article 281 (12) states that the delineation of electoral constituencies shall be put to review in every 20 years. It was to be reviewed on every 10 years in the interim constitution. India wants this time to be restored to 10 years. Amendment 7 The Article 11 (6) states that a foreign woman married to a Nepali citizen may acquire naturalised citizenship of Nepal as provided for in a federal law. Madhesi parties want acquisition of naturalised citizenship to be automatic on application. This also finds favour with Delhi.
Sep 4, 2015- Actress Drew Barrymore says she wishes she could change "everything" about her past, but appreciates that her history makes her who she is today.
Asked what she would like to change about her past, Barrymore said: "Probably everything, but if you're happy with your life today, you have to be appreciative of every single moment that led you to get here."
The 39-year-old actress feels "lucky" she has had her "experimental phase" rather than today as the world is "much worse" now, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
"Most people go through an experimental phase in their lives, but it isn't public. I had to learn a lot of lessons on my own. But I was never a bad person, I never f***ed anyone over. I feel very lucky that it happened then. This is a much worse world to go through anything now. I'm like a quiet, boring church mouse now," she said.
Barrymore said people approach her with a sense of familiarity because she has grown up in the public eye.
"I'm Norm from 'Cheers'. I walk into a place and everyone says, 'Hi Norm'. It's just what my life is," she told Red magazine.
Sep 30, 2015- "The Martian" actor Matt Damon has joked he wants to go to Mars to escape the everyday stresses of family life.
"It's funny because in my life I'm rarely by myself. With four kids I could use some time alone on Mars,” Damon, who plays an astronaut in the new Ridley Scott-directed sci-fi movie, told telegraph.co.uk.
Despite being among the most bankable stars in Hollywood, Damon said his stable family life means he finds it easy to escape the attention of the paparazzi cameras and fans.
“I'm a married man with kids and there's no scandal about me,” the 44-year-old, who has four daughters with his Argentine wife Luciana Barroso - stepdaughter Alexia, 17, and Isabella, nine, Gia, six, and five-year-old Stella, said.
“So long as the photographers get an updated picture every six months, they're okay.
"A picture of us isn't as valuable as a picture of somebody who may cause some scandal and I don't think I've done anything to create any mystique around myself,” he added.
Oct 1, 2015- A protest rally in coordination of Chitwan chapter of Chamber and Commerce was organised against the Indian interference at Narayangadh on Thursday.
Thousands of people from various sectors of life and business participated in today’s rally against Indian interference and “undeclared blockade’.
The rally started from Chitwan chapter of Chamber and Commerce premises and moved towards Pulchowk, Sahid Chowk, Lions Chowk before converging into a corner meet at Chaubis Kothi in Bharatpur.
Sep 30, 2015- Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman has said that she would draw the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi about crisis in Nepal due to the halt in the export of petroleum products and other daily essentials from India.
Minister of Commerce and Supplies Sunil Bahadur Thapa, who is in Indian Capital New Delhi for the past few days to attend South Asia Economic Conclave meeting, notified his Indian counterpart Sitharaman about problems that surfaced in Nepal, during a meeting at Udyog Bhawan on Wednesday. “I notified my counterpart about the problems caused by halt in imports and supplies and its possible long-term impacts on Nepal-India relations,” Minister Thapa told the Post.
Minister Sitharaman assured her Nepali counterpart that he would meet PM Modi at the earliest and inform him about the problems in Nepal.
Thapa has also been taking initiatives to arrange meetings with Indian Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Indian Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley.
Earlier, Minister Thapa met Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and informed about the crisis in Nepal due to shortage of essential supplies following blockade from India.
“Immediate solution to the week-long crisis in supply caused by unofficial blockade is not likely to end anytime soon unless India’s Central government takes any decision towards that end,” said a former Nepal’s ambassador to India, “The decision to use blockade over the political issues in Nepal is likely to embarrass India. We hope some positive decision regarding this by Thursday.
Russia appears to have begun carrying out air strikes in Syria against opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, a US defence official says.
The official said the strikes reportedly came in the area of the western city of Homs.
Washington was informed in advance that they were about to take place.
The US and its allies have insisted that President Assad should leave office, while Russia has backed its ally remaining in office.
Syria's civil war has raged for four years, with armed groups - some of them Islamist, including the Islamic State (IS) group - have been fighting to overthrow the government.
The latest developments came amid reports that President Assad had formally requested Russian military support.
Reports from Russia say the upper house of the Russian parliament granted President Vladimir Putin approval to deploy the Russian air force in Syria.
The US defence official said: "A Russian official in Baghdad this morning informed US embassy personnel that Russian military aircraft would begin flying anti-Isil [IS] missions today over Syria. He further requested that US aircraft avoid Syrian airspace during these missions.
"We've seen media reporting that has suggested Russian missions have begun."
The official declared a US-led coalition would continue to fly anti-IS missions over Iraq and Syria as planned, and expressed criticism of Russia's move.
"While we would welcome a constructive role by Russia in this effort, today's demarche hardly seems indicative of that sort of role and will in no way alter our operations."
Sep 30, 2015- Most international airlines serving Nepal have changed aircraft and their refueling points after being informed by Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) that it would be halting refueling services at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) from Tuesday. TIA authorities have barred foreign carriers from taking fuel at TIA citing a worsening jet fuel crisis caused by the unofficial trade embargo imposed by India. Airport officials said that the tough decision followed strong requests from NOC. The first casualty of the decision was China Southern Airlines which has cancelled its flights to Nepal until October 10. According to travel agencies, most east-bound flights have decided to stop in Dhaka, Bangladesh and Kolkata to refuel on their return flight. West-bound flights have decided to stop for fuel in Lucknow. Airline officials said that changing the refueling point would result in an extra financial burden of at least $8,000 per flight. Dragon Air, Korean Air, Malaysian Airlines, Malindo Air and other carriers have decided to refuel in Dhaka. Silk Air will stop its return flight in Kolkata. Likewise, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia and Oman Air will be stopping in Lucknow to refuel. Turkish Airlines will stop in Delhi. Osho World Travel Nepal said that some foreign carriers had decided to fly different aircraft on their Nepal service. Etihad Airways that used to make two daily flights using a narrow-body jet has decided to fly a wide-body jet and carry return fuel. Similarly, Qatar Airways has decided to fly wide-body aircraft and carry return fuel. Air China will be using a wide-body aircraft on the Chengdu-Kathmandu flight and a narrow-body jet on the Lhasa-Kathmandu route. Turkish, Dragon, Korean, Air Asia, Thai and Qatar fly wide-body aircraft on the Nepal sector. Air Asia’s A330 aircraft can accommodate up to 377 passengers, while the highest seating capacity of Bhutan-based Druk Air’s narrow-body aircraft A319 is 114 passengers. “None of the airlines flying narrow-body jets from India, Bangladesh or Bhutan has been affected by the latest decision,” said Deepak Basnet, ticketing executive of Osho World Travel Nepal. “The decision has affected airlines flying narrow-body jets on flights lasting more than three hours.” Basnet said that TIA had been hit by refueling problems during the height of the travel season when Nepali migrant workers return in hordes to celebrate the Dashain and Tihar festivals which start in October. He added that inbound flights on the Middle East and Malaysia sectors were almost 90 percent booked for October. Likewise, bookings on China Southern for the festive season have crossed 80 percent. “The October-November period is also Nepal’s peak tourist season. However, due to the violent activities and strikes in the Tarai, most tourists have postponed their Nepal trips till November,” Basnet said. “There have also been some cancellations from potential visitors.” Dhiraj Chandra Shrestha, deputy sales manager of China Southern, said that they had been flying a 115-seater A319 on the Kathmandu-Guangzhou route which cannot carry a full load of passengers, cargo and a full load of fuel. “So we have decided to cancel our flights effective from Tuesday till October 10 due to lack of jet fuel in Nepal,” Shrestha said, adding that passengers who had booked seats would be rerouted or their money would be fully refunded. He said that the airline would remain in a wait and see mode until October 10. “We have also been discussing with Bangladesh to provide refueling facilities.” Homework begins on airlifting jet fuel The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) on Tuesday said that it had started homework to airlift jet fuel from the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, using Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) jets. NOC Managing Director Gopal Bahadur Khadka said it will become easier to airlift jet fuel from Dhaka due to the proximity. He, however, said that airlifting other products like petrol and diesel would not be feasible due to the cost
Oct 1, 2015- The government on Wednesday formed a committee to recommend options to fly in aviation fuel for domestic airlines amid mounting fears that the country’s airlines could be grounded for lack of fuel. Surface transportation has been largely crippled due to gasoline shortages and a long-running agitation in the southern Tarai belt that has cut off major highways. The seven-member panel under the coordination of Tourism Joint Secretary Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane has been told to submit its recommendations by 11am on Thursday. International airlines serving Nepal have already been told to carry return fuel as they will not be able to refuel at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu which is fresh out of stock. As the store of aviation fuel kept for domestic airlines has started to go down at a faster rate with a sudden rise in the number of air travellers, the government is worried that domestic carriers could be immobilized on the eve of the festival season in Nepal. The daily fuel requirement of domestic airlines stands at 50,000 litres. Suresh Acharya, joint secretary of the Tourism Ministry, said that a meeting held between the Home and Supplies ministries, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) and Nepal Airlines Corpora-tion (NAC) discussed three options to forestall an expected aviation turbine fuel (ATF) crisis by bringing fuel by air. The first option discussed was to use Russian Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft, a heavy transport jet, that can transport up to 50 kilolitres of fuel. Using Mi-17 helicopters to transport fuel from cross-border points to oil depots in the Tarai where domestic aircraft can refuel. An Mi-17 can ferry up to 4 tonnes of fuel. The third option proposed at the meeting was to request China and the US Air Force to airlift jet fuel. The meeting has also decided to request Nepali private helicopter companies to transport fuel. Likewise, the option to use NAC’s jets to airlift fuel has been kept open. “The committee has been directed to conduct a study of the technical and financial aspects of airlifting fuel,” said Acharya, adding that the plan submitted by the committee would be tabled at higher levels of the government. After the government approves the scheme, formal talks will be held with the parties concerned. Most international airlines serving Nepal have changed aircraft and their refuelling points after being informed by Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) that it would be halting refuelling services at TIA from Tuesday. There are 25 international airlines currently serving Nepal, and they make 70 take-offs and landing daily. TIA authorities have barred foreign carriers from taking fuel at TIA citing a worsening jet fuel crisis caused by the unofficial trade embargo imposed by India. Airport officials said that the tough decision followed strong requests from NOC. The national flag carrier has also been mulling instructing its east-bound aircraft to refuel in Kolkata and Dhaka, Bangladesh on the return flight. Likewise, west-bound flights will be told to halt in Delhi and Lucknow to refuel while returning. “We don’t have refuelling problems for our Delhi flights, but we need to explore refuelling options for our flights to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Doha,” said NAC Spokesperson Ram Hari Sharma. “As our inbound flights are fully booked due to the Dashain rush, we cannot off-load passengers or cargo.” He said making stops at airports en route would lead to an additional financial burden of nearly $10,000 per flight. Meanwhile, Indian media reported Indian carriers had made no changes to their schedule to Kathmandu. Air India, Jet Airways and IndiGo operate flights to Nepal. “We will do double uplift for the Kathmandu flight. It will restrict the allowed payload on the flight,” an IndiGo spokesperson told the Indian media. The airline’s fuel requirement on the Delhi-Kathmandu route is 9 tonnes, while on the return flight, it is 7 tonnes. “Jet Airways flights from Delhi and Mumbai may have reduced passenger and cargo carrying capacity to cater to additional fuel uplift. We are constantly monitoring the situation and guests are being duly informed,” a Jet Airways spokesperson tsaid.
Sep 30, 2015- The shortage of petrol, due to a blockade on essential supplies to Nepal, is making daily commute difficult for Nepalis. But citizens have come up with creative ideas, many social media-based, to tackle the crisis and help one another.
Here are a few!
1) Seatkhalicha.com
Through crowdsourcing, 'Seatkhalicha' offers a way to register a vacant seat so they can match someone in need of a ride with someone who is willing to offer a lift. By providing details, you register your vacant seat.
2. Carpoolktm.com
Another instance of crowdsourcing, this web app allows you to enter a ‘pick up’ and “drop off” information with two buttons ‘Ask’ and ‘Offer’
3. Facebook Groups and Twitter Hashtags.
A Facebook Group titled ‘Carpool Kathmandu’ has already gathered over 10,000 followers. This page matches people who are willing to offer rides with those who need a ride. “Let us make this forum warm, welcoming and safe for everyone to use. If someone only wants to offer ride to women, let them do that. You see at least someone is being helped,” reads a post on the page.
Due to the lack of fuel, a lot of people have taken to cycling to work. Promoters of a cycle friendly city have also been carrying out rallies to promote cycling around the city. Gaurav Shrestha who is a part of the campaign ‘Kathmandu Cycle City 2020’ says he has been receiving a lot of phone calls from people who want to buy bicycles.
Photo: Facebook.com/GauravShrestha
5. Men's Room Reloaded
Men’s Room Reloaded, a Facebook Group, has started a campaign in which people paste MRR’s stickers on their bikes, or put on a MRR tee-shirt or a badge. People can wave at bikes carrying this sticker, and they will be helped. The campaign specifically states that they will prioritise children, elderly and women
Oct 1, 2015- The government has imposed a three-day ban on sales of fuel to private vehicles. Beginning Thursday, fuel supplies will be limited to emergency services, public transport, security forces, food supply and medical services. A joint meeting of Home Ministry, Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), Commerce Ministry and security agencies on Wednesday took the decision amid the worsening fuel crisis. The government has come up with the move after the petroleum shortage gripped the country following the ‘unofficial blockade’ imposed by India on vital supplies. “We will not be selling fuel to the private vehicles, both two- and four-wheelers,” said NOC spokesperson Deepak Baral. According to the NOC, trucks, tippers and mini-trucks will also be not eligible to receive the petroleum. “However, the restriction will not be applicable to vehicles used for food supplies, medical services, media and public transportation,” Baral said, adding that the fuel distribution will be as per the quota fixed by the government. The government began rationing fuel supplies on Monday. Under the provision, owner of a two-wheeler will be provided three litres of petrol per week; a private four-wheeler will get 10 litres per week; public vehicles are being provided 10-30 litres every alternate day. “The provision will be revised depending on the supply situation,” said Baral.
Sep 28, 2015- India has been releasing a limited number Nepal-bound freights since Sunday from its Sunauli point after the officials at Bhairahawa customs continuously urged their Indian counterparts to release the Nepal-bound freights.
India, which had been sending perishable goods like potatoes, fruits and onion for the past four days, released around 40 vehicles, including two fuel tankers and two LP gas bullets on Sunday.
On Monday, two dozens of trucks carrying vegetable, fruits and industrial raw materials were released by India until 2 pm. But it did not release any fuel tankers today.
Bhairahawa Customs Chief Lawanya Dhakal said that he directly contacted Indian customs officials and inquired why the fuel tankers were not released. In response, the Indian officials assured of immediately sending eight fuel tankers and three LP gas bullets.
Chief Dhakal also said they have been sending representatives to Indian customs office for pressurising them to send essential goods to Nepal.
Meanwhile, the cadres and leaders of agitating Madhesi Morcha staged demonstration from no-man’s land today. A group that headed from Nepal to resist the protest was stopped by security personnel from going near the border. Tension surrounded the border area after both the groups engaged in confrontation for few moments. Later, the Madhesi Morcha’s programme ended and the protestors headed towards India, it has been reported.
Sep 25, 2015- The sky lit up on the evening of Sunday, September 20, as Nepal became the youngest republic in the world. The noise of the firecrackers that exploded above the ceremony venue drifted through the air and made its way into the home of an 80-year-old woman in Old Baneshwor.
“I don’t know if I am happy or sad,” confesses Shanta Shrestha over the phone. "A part of me is happy to see a constitution; but then at the same time, look at what’s happening across the country.”
Whatever it was, the ringing in of the constitution was a significant day for Shrestha, one of the trailblazing feminists of Nepal. It was the start of another chapter in a life that has witnessed all of the important happenings in the last sixty-five years.
For both those who have and have not heard of Shrestha: she is a living legend. With more than six decades of struggle for freedom, Shrestha, who was close to becoming the vice-president in 2008, is a custodian of Nepal’s history. A revolutionary known for wearing her heart on her sleeves, Shrestha is a witness and an active agent of Nepal’s struggle for democracy and for women's rights.
“There is one word to describe Shanta didi, and that is ‘revolutionary’,” says Sudha Tripathi, Chairman of a working committee that has been formed under the Shanta Shrestha Trust. “She will fight against everything that is wrong and harms the oppressed.”
Shanta Shrestha, born in 1935 to revolutionaries Mohan Maya Shrestha and Anandlal, attended one of the first schools in Nepal, Shanti Nikunj. At Shanti Nikunj, under the tutelage of a group of teachers who were fiercely devoted to the idea of democracy and republicanism, Shrestha fostered her dedication towards freedom. “I have fought for republicanism ever since I understood what it meant,” she says.
A picture that hangs on one of the walls of her room serves as proof. It is dated 1947, when the Rana regime was still in control. In the picture are founding members of the ‘Nepal Women’s Association’ who had gathered under the pretext of a picnic. These women were actually finalising the formation of a women’s organisation to demand their equal rights.
We are talking of a time when women, once they came of age, were barred from leaving the house without a male member. This group had broken all rules.
That very year, women from this association marched to authorities to demand suffrage for women. Shanta Shrestha, barely 12 years old, was the youngest member of the delegation.
On another wall is another picture, this one dated 1951. In it are two young girls, full of energy, screaming. A young Shanta Shrestha is pumping her fist in the air. The caption reads: “Nepalese girls belonging to the Congress demonstrating against the Rana regime on the arrival of the British Diplomats at the Gauchar Aerodrome.”
When King Tribhuvan escaped to India with his family, his supporters and advocates of democracy had started protesting against the Rana regime. The police, in an attempt to control the crowds, had taken out their guns. Shrestha had then gone up to a policeman, grabbed him by his collar, snatched his gun and looked inside the gun: there were no bullets. Upon, realising that it was a false alarm, informed the others.
“No bullets in here. They are trying to trick us. Come back, I had shouted then,” she says, reminiscing those days. “You know, when King Tribhuvan came back, he met us and said that picture of us had brought tears in his eyes--to see girls as young as me fighting for freedom.”
It wasn’t only the king that took notice. The photograph incident had everyone talking about these revolutionary women and, soon after the aerodrome incident, an arrest warrant was placed on Shrestha, which compelled her to go underground. She resurfaced only several months later, after Nepal was declared a democracy in 1951.
For the next five years, Shrestha was present at every protest with other members of the federation. She remembers the first time when the riot police had to use water cannons. The women were protesting against an alliance formed between the Nepali Congress, the monarchy and the Ranas. “Oh, that was when the police released water cannons. I could feel my skin peeling,” she says. “How painful it was. But did it deter us from fighting? Not at all."
“Whenever there was a protest, she was there,” says Prayag Raj Singh Suwal, a former minister from the Panchayat era.
The declared democracy did not last long and Nepal slipped into the Panchayat system. After that, Shrestha worked at Radio Nepal for three-and-a-half decades as a program producer. For eight years, she hosted a daily one-hour show on which she discussed women’s issues.“I remember hearing her distinct voice on the radio,” says Dwarika Man Pradhan, who was then a student. He is now one of the five trustees of the Shanta Shrestha Trust. "She couldn’t say the things she wanted to because everything had to be approved by the palace, and all the programs were scripted, but there was sternness in her voice. You couldn’t help but listen to her. You could tell that she was fierce,” says Pradhan.
At Radio Nepal, she went on to establish a worker’s union. “She doesn’t know how to be politically correct. She says whatever is in her mind which might not go well with everyone, but she has the purest heart,” says Pradhan.
Shrestha’s seven decades of experience, political analysis and critique is recorded in the 13 publications to her name, which includes an anthology of 108 poems, a collection of 30 stories, plays, memoirs and reflections.
A picture of Shanta Shrestha during her Radio Nepal days
“Her stories are a reflection of what she has seen,” says Sudha Tripathi, who has extensive knowledge on Nepal’s feminist literature. “Stories about oppression, social injustice and the fight for freedom and equality are recurring themes.”
Two of her books are based on true incidents from during the Maoist insurgency, when she was arrested and kept at the Bhairavnath Battalion after sheltering a Maoist rebel in her house for months. Manu Humagain, a former combatant who is now a member of the National Women’s Commission recalls the days when the movement was its peak. Humagain needed a place to stay. “Who in Kathmandu would let a Maoist stay at that point in time? No one, but, of course, Shanta didi,” she says. “She truly supported women who wanted to revolt against the system.”
Shrestha supported the Nepali Congress for over thirty years, but never became a member of the party. With the Maoists too, she did not join the party (although she does serve as chief advisor to the UCPN-Maoist’s Revolutionary Women association) but admires the movement’s accomplishment of bringing forward women. “Women really did come to the forefront during the Maoist revolution,” she says. “This has been one of the great achievements of the movement.”
In 2008, Shanta Shrestha, at the age of 73 who was also a member of the interim legislature parliament (independent candidate) filed her nomination to contest for vice president on behalf (of then) CPN-Maoist. She lost to the current vice president Parmanandha Jha.
Since then, she has been living a quiet life. She is visited periodically by admirers and people who want to listen to Nepal’s history from someone who has lived through it. It was these people--family and friends--who insisted that she open a trust so that her legacy could continue. “I had never really thought about opening a trust, but then people told me that I could inspire women. That is when I decided to go forward with it,” she says, pointing at a huge pile of unpublished work.
These unpublished writings, stacked next to newspaper cuttings, old photographs, certificates of felicitations, and notes take up a huge space on the fourth floor of a building where Shrestha lives by herself. She never married.
“She is legendary. She is inspirational. In fact, I think she deserves to be the next president of Nepal,” says Bishnu Hari Nepal, a former ambassador to Japan, who has known Shrestha since the 1970s. Like some of her admirers, Nepal likes to visit "Shanta didi" at times and listen to her. Her eyes light up as she narrates stories from her past. She will talk more about others rather than herself. Of the martyrs we lost, of the secrets meetings of the Praja Parishad--the first attempt to establish an organisation to stand up against the Rana regime, of men and women who were willing to sacrifice their lives for Nepal, of the other trailblazing feminists who sneaked out of their homes to participate in protests. She will also note, with a hint of sadness, of the leaders who promised, but falsely. “I have yet to find a dedicated and committed leader in Nepal,” she says
Sep 30, 2015- Actress Meryl Streep says she regrets spending less time with her friends due to her busy career.
The "Mamma Mia" actress shared that due to her busy career and her "civic concerns", her relationship with close friends suffered a lot, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
“My friendships suffered from a lack of attention in favour of the time taken up by my family, my career and civic concerns,” the 66-year-old told Time Out magazine.
Also talking about what makes her angry, the Academy Award winner said: "Deliberate ignorance of global warming by the richest, best-educated people and institutions in the world, as if it will not profoundly impact on them, their privileged lives and their families."
Oct 1, 2015- Cristiano Ronaldo equalled Raul's all-time goals record for Real Madrid and took his career tally to 500 with two against Malmo in Sweden.
The Portugal international opened the scoring in the Champions League Group A match when he latched on to Isco's pass and clipped the ball home. The 30-year-old added a second late on with a simple finish after he was teed up by substitute Lucas Vazquez. Ronaldo's second saw him draw level with Raul's club total of 323 goals. "To equal this record for Real Madrid is great. I am glad to come to Sweden and score again," Ronaldo said. "The most important thing is to win. It was a tough game, Malmo were difficult, but we controlled the game and scored two goals so we are happy." Real Madrid's victory over the Swedish champions maintained their 100% start in the Champions League, having beaten Shakhtar Donetsk 4-0 in their opening match thanks to a Ronaldo hat-trick. Paris St-Germain are behind Real on goal difference after they also made it back-to-back wins with a 3-0 victory over Shaktar in Lviv.
Oct 1, 2015- Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) on Thursday expressed concerns over the direct effect born by Nepali media and journalists due to the protests across the country waged against the new constitution.
In a statement today, the umbrella body of Nepali journalists also shed light on the chaotic situation in the aftermath of the ‘unofficial blockade’ imposed by India.
Highlighting the role played by media fraternity at this critical juncture, the FNJ has urged the government and concerned stakeholders to provide and make necessary arrangement and security for the media sector.
Also, the FNJ has made a special request to government and agitating parties to seek a political solution to the current crisis by holding decisive talks with utmost flexibility.
Mentioning about the closure of daily newspapers in Biratnagar, the FNJ drew the attention of government and the agitating parties to the possible of shutdown of media sectors across the nation if the essential materials including petroleum products and newsprints directly connected with printing, publishing and broadcasting of news could not be imported due to the restriction of vehicular movement in Tarai region.
Also, hinting at India, the FNJ’s said, “Instead of inciting Nepal to resolve its internal affairs by itself, India’s latest activities like ‘undeclared’ blockade, political pressure and intervention are condemnable.”
The FNJ has urged India to uphold the centuries old Nepal-India friendship and immediately call off their ‘unofficial blockade’ without any preconditions and thus present a respectable behaviour towards their friend neighbour.
आश्विन १४, २०७२- सरकारले वार्ताको वातावरण बनाउन आफ्नातर्फबाट आवश्यक कदम चालिसकेकोे उल्लेख गर्दै मधेसमा आन्दोलनरत दलहरूलाई नाकामा अवरोध पुर्याउनेलगायतका कडा कार्यक्रम बन्द गरी स्थितिलाई सहजीकरण गर्नअपिल गरेको छ । मन्त्रिपरिषदको बिहीबार बसेको बैठकले आन्दोलनका क्रममा पक्राउ गरिएका सबै आन्दोलनकारीलाई रिहा गर्नेलगायतका निर्णय गरी मधेस केन्दि्रत दललाई विरोध कार्यक्रमलाई शान्तिपूर्ण बनाई तराईको तनावपूर्ण स्थितिलाई सामान्य बनाउन अपिल गरेको जानकारी सिंचाइमन्त्री एनपी सावदले दिए । बैठकले भारतीय नाकामा जारी अघोषित नाकाबन्दी फिर्ता गराई आपूति व्यवस्थालाई सहज बनाउनससमेत भारत सरकारसित विभिन्न तहमा कूटनीतिक संवादलाई तीव्र बनाउने निर्णयसमेत गरेको छ । सावदका अनुसार सरकारले वार्ताको वातावरण बनाउन मधेस आन्दोलनका क्रममा मारिएका सबै व्यक्तिका परिवारलाई सहिदको परिवार सरह १०/१० लाख रुपैयाँ दिने, घाइतेको निःशुल्क उपचार गर्ने, तराईमा परिचालित सेना फिर्ता गर्ने तथा कफ्र्यु र निषेधाज्ञा फिर्ता गर्ने निर्णयसमेत गरिसकेको छ । मन्त्रिपरिषदले प्रमुख तीन दलद्वारा गठित वार्ता समिति र मधेस केन्दि्रत दलहरूबीच सुरु भएको संवाद र छलफलका क्रममा राजनीतिक मुद्दामा हुने सहमतिलाई संविधान संशोधनमार्फत् पूरा गर्ने प्रतिबद्धतासमेत व्यक्त गरेको छ ।
Australia have postponed their Test tour to Bangladesh this month because of security concerns.
The two-Test series was due to begin in Chittagong on Friday, 9 October.
Cricket Australia (CA) say "an independent security assessment found a risk of terrorism in Bangladesh targeting Australian nationals".
"We have worked tirelessly to find a way for the tour to proceed, but in the end it was simply not possible," said CA chief executive James Sutherland.
CA had delayed the team's scheduled departure on 28 September while they worked on a "revised security plan".
But they now say that official advice means they had "no alternative but to postpone the tour".
Sutherland added: "We had hoped that the security concerns would fade, but unfortunately the advice we have received from government, our own security experts and independent security advisors has clearly indicated that there are now high risks to our people should they make the trip.
"From an Australian perspective, the safety of our players and officials is our highest priority. We will work with the Bangladesh Cricket Board to reschedule the tour as soon as possible."
On Wednesday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board had promised "VVIP" treatment for the Australian team, saying they would be given the same level of security afforded to visiting heads of state.
England are due to tour Bangladesh to play two Tests and three one-day internationals in October and November 2016.
