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Stakeholders have emphasized that it is possible to implement the decision of the Supreme Court to grant voting rights to Nepali citizens living abroad.

In the first of a series of policy dialogues organized by the Nepal Policy Institute (NPI) on Sunday, stakeholders said that it was possible to exercise voting rights through the use of technology. "If a Nepali has an identity in any country, he/she should be given the right to vote. A study has also been done by the Election Commission in this regard,” observed former Chief Election Commissioner Nilkantha Upreti. “There is a court order; but it is not being implemented,” he said.

According to Uprety, in coordination with the Election Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepalis living abroad can be included in the voter list. “If a photo and fingerprints are taken while making a passport, the same information can be obtained by the Election Commission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” 

Prof. Achyut Wagle, Associate Dean of Kathmandu University School of Management, was of the view that the right to vote of a citizen remains until the passport and citizenship are relinquished. “Politics is taking place over the statistics of Nepalis living abroad. It has been said that 4 million people are staying abroad. This is serious issue. It has a huge impact on management,” he said. He further added “Remittances have greatly contributed to the national economy's ability to maintain macroeconomic stability, nutrition, access to primary education, and urbanization. Those who contribute in this manner should not be deprived of the right to vote.”

Senior Advocate Dinesh Tripathi said that the State had no option but to implement the decision of the Supreme Court, which in 2074 BS had decided to give voting rights to Nepalis living abroad. "The constitution does not discriminate between citizens. Now wemare in the world of technology; it sets no boundaries. And technology has made it possible for people to exercise their voting right," he said. His view was that there is inadequate political will to implement this decision, for which there is need to create pressure on a larger scale.

NPI Chairman Khagendra Dhakal, in his opening remarks, mentioned that the State should implement the decision made by the apex court in the interest of 56 percent of the households that rely on remittances. Citing the example of Mexico, Indonesia, and Iceland, some 115 countries have developed voting policies for citizens working abroad. That should be our basis," he said.

NPI Board Member, Shuru Joshi, who facilitated the program, said that if the country relies on the migrants’ resources (ie, notes) to sustain the economy then they should also be concerned with enabling the migrants to have a say in elections (ie, cast votes), for which pressure should be increased on the political parties, for example, by NGOs.

Representatives of migrant worker entities from Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and India, Dharam KC, Sapna Basyal, and Ram Bahadur Khadka respectively, and Laxman Basnet, general secretary of the South Asia Trade Union Coordinating Committee were positive about supporting the NPI in helping formulate the necessary policies to ensure their right to vote. Similarly, Sita Ghimire, Hari Thapa, Barun Ghimire, and Radhika Regmi Pokharel on behalf of the organizations directly concerned with migrants suggested that the government should formulate necessary policies to speedily and effectively implement the decision of the Supreme Court.

The US is considering offering Ukraine up to $1 billion in sovereign loan guarantees to help Ukraine’s economy amid pressures from the Russian military build-up, a senior Biden administration official said on Monday.

The White House official was confirming what a source familiar with the matter had earlier recounted to Reuters about a conversation by national security adviser Jake Sullivan with congressional leaders.

“Yes it’s something we are considering as part of the additional macroeconomic support we are exploring to help Ukraine’s economy amidst pressure resulting from Russia’s military build-up,” the Biden administration official said.

Russia suggested on Monday that it was ready to keep talking to the West to try to defuse a security crisis in which it has massed a huge force within striking distance of Ukraine, while a Ukrainian official said Kyiv was prepared to make concessions.

A Parliamentary Party meeting of the Nepali Congress concluded that the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) should be endorsed from the Parliament.

The meeting was held at the Lhotse Hall of the Constituent Assembly building.

Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President and Parliamentary Party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said that the MCC should be ratified at any cost.

Addressing the meeting, he said, “MCC is a development project. Rumours should not be spread against the MCC. It should be passed,”

During a meeting held with CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Nepal this morning and opined that the MCC should be tabled in the meeting of the House of Representatives scheduled for tomorrow. Dahal and Nepal have agreed on his opinion.

Nepali Congress another leader Shashanka Koirala also said that the MCC should be endorsed from the Parliament at the earliest.

“All the lawmakers are for endorsing the MCC,” he said.

Earlier this morning, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dilendra Prasad Badu said that the MCC will be tabled in the Parliament tomorrow.

He said that former Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat briefed the lawmakers during the meeting of the Parliamentary Party about the MCC. 

“Most probably, the MCC will be tabled in the Parliament tomorrow,” Minister Badu said.

The United States has given the government of Nepal a deadline of February 28 for the parliamentary ratification of the MCC.

Litterateur Tara Nath Sharma passed away at his residence on Tuesday. He was 87.

Sharma was born at Barbote of Ilam district in 1934.

He was awarded with Madan Puraskar in 1969 for ‘Belayat Tira Baralinda’.

Sharma was suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems.

His final rites will be performed at the Pashupati Aryaghat this afternoon.

Two people died and one sustained injuries when a bike they were riding on met with an accident at Milan Chok in Bhutwal Sub-Metropolitan City-12 of Rupandehi on Tuesday.

The deceased have been identified as Prem Ruchal (20) and Rahul Thapa (20) of Hattibazaar of Gaidahawa Rural Municipality-9.

Bike (Lu 60 Pa 3652) rider Bimal Rana (21) of Rupandehi, who was seriously injured in the incident is undergoing treatment at the Lumbini Provincial Hospital in Butwal, the Area Police Office, Butwal said.

Two persons died and two others were injured in separate road accidents in Lalitpur and Bhaktapur on Monday.

Ganesh Kumar Tharu (30) of Banke died when a bike (Province 2-030 Pa 9483) hit a road divider in Bagdole of Lalitpur last night.

Critically injured in the incident, he breathed his last during the course of treatment at the Patan Hospital at around 11 pm, police said.

Pillion rider Indra Bhandari (30) of Kailali was injured in the incident.

He is receiving treatment at the Patan Hospital, Metropolitan Police Range, Lalitpur said.

Similarly, a man died and other sustained injuries when two motorbikes (Ba 3 Kha 4765 and Ba 61 Pa 6618) collided with each other at Chyamasingh in Kamalbinayak of Bhaktapur.

The deceased has been identified as pillion rider Devendra Karki (34) of Dolakha.

Incapacitated in the incident, he breathed is last wh

The Kremlin signaled Monday it is ready to keep talking with the West about security grievances that led to the current Ukraine crisis, offering hope that Russia might not invade its beleaguered neighbor within days as the U.S. and European allies increasingly fear, Associated Press reported.

Questions remain about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions, however. And countries are evacuating diplomats and on alert for possible imminent war amid the worst East-West tensions since the Cold War.

On a last-ditch diplomatic trip, Germany’s chancellor said there are “no sensible reasons” for the buildup of more than 130,000 Russian troops on Ukraine’s borders to the north, south and east, and he urged more dialogue.

Britain’s prime minister said Europe is “on the edge of a precipice” — but added, “there is still time for President Putin to step back.” France’s foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, told French television that “all elements” were in place for a strong Russian offensive, but “nothing shows today” that Putin has decided to launch one.

Despite warnings from Washington, London and elsewhere that Russian troops could move on Ukraine as soon as Wednesday, Monday’s meeting between Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested otherwise.

At the session with Putin, Lavrov argued that Moscow should hold more talks with the U.S. and its allies despite their refusal to consider Russia’s main security demands.

Moscow, which denies it has any plans to invade Ukraine, wants Western guarantees that NATO won’t allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members. It also wants the alliance to halt weapons deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe — demands flatly rejected by the West.

The talks “can’t go on indefinitely, but I would suggest to continue and expand them at this stage,” Lavrov said, noting that Washington has offered to conduct dialogue on limits for missile deployments in Europe, restrictions on military drills and other confidence-building measures. Lavrov said possibilities for talks “are far from being exhausted.”

His comments, at an appearance orchestrated for TV cameras, seemed designed to send a message to the world about Putin’s own position: namely, that hopes for a diplomatic solution aren’t yet dead.

Putin noted the West could try to draw Russia into “endless talks” and questioned whether there is still a chance to reach agreement. Lavrov replied that his ministry wouldn’t allow the U.S. and its allies to stonewall Russia’s main requests.

The U.S. reacted coolly to Lavrov’s comments.

“The path for diplomacy remains available if Russia chooses to engage constructively,” White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “However, we are clear-eyed about the prospects of that, given the steps Russia is taking on the ground in plain sight.”

U.S. officials said the Russian military continued apparent attack preparations along Ukraine’s borders. A U.S. defense official said small numbers of Russian ground units have been moving out of larger assembly areas for several days, taking up positions closer to the Ukrainian border at what would be departure points if Putin launched an invasion.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss information not publicly released. CBS News was first to report on the movement of the units.

Satellite images taken over the last 48 hours show increased Russian military activity in Belarus, Crimea and western Russia, including the arrival of helicopters, ground-attack aircraft and fighter-bomber jets at forward locations. The photos also show ground forces leaving their garrisons and combat units moving into convoy formation, according to Maxar Technologies, a commercial satellite imagery company that has been monitoring the Russian buildup.

Ukrainian security and defense council chief Oleksiy Danilov downplayed the threat of invasion but warned of the risk of “internal destabilization” by unspecified forces.

“Today we do not see that a large-scale offensive by the Russian Federation can take place either on (Feb.) 16th or the 17th,” he told reporters after meeting lawmakers. “We are aware of the risks that exist in the territory of our country. But the situation is absolutely under control.”

As if to show defiance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday would be a “day of national unity,” calling on the country to display the blue-and-yellow flags and sing the national anthem in the face of “hybrid threats.”

“Our country today is as strong as ever. It is not the first threat the strong Ukrainian people have faced,” Zelenskyy said Monday evening in a video address to the nation. “We’re calm. We’re strong. We’re together. A great nation in a great country.”

The country is preparing nonetheless. Kyiv residents received letters from the mayor urging them “to defend your city,” and signs appeared in apartment buildings indicating the nearest bomb shelter. The mayor says the capital has about 4,500 such sites, including underground parking garages, subway stations and basements.

Dr. Tamara Ugrich said she stocked up on grains and canned food, and prepared an emergency suitcase.

“I don’t believe in war, but on TV the tension is growing every day and it’s getting harder and harder to keep calm. The more we are told not to panic, the more nervous people become,” she said.

Others heeded the advice of Ukraine’s leaders not to panic. Street music flooded central Maidan Square on Sunday night and crowds danced. “I feel calm. You should always be ready for everything, and then you will have nothing to be afraid of,” said Alona Buznitskaya, a model.

During what could be a crucial week for Europe’s security, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Ukraine on Monday before heading to Moscow for talks with Putin on a high-stakes diplomatic foray.

After meeting Zelenskyy, Scholz urged Russia to show signs of de-escalation, and reiterated unspecified threats to Russia’s financial standing if it invades.

“There are no sensible reasons for such a military deployment,” Scholz said.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held talks with Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and said in a statement that “abandoning diplomacy for confrontation is not a step over a line, it is a dive over a cliff.”

U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday spoke by phone with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. According to a Downing Street statement, the two “agreed there remained a crucial window for diplomacy and for Russia to step back from its threats towards Ukraine.”

The U.S. said it will close its embassy in Kyiv and move all remaining staff there to Lviv, a city near the Polish border. Lithuania moved diplomats’ families and some nonessential diplomatic workers out of the country as well.

“It’s a big mistake that some embassies moved to western Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. “It’s their decision, but ‘western Ukraine’ doesn’t exist. It’s united Ukraine. If something happens, God forbids, it (escalation) will be everywhere.”

So far, NATO’s warnings have had little effect: Russia has only bolstered troops and weapons in the region and launched massive drills in its ally Belarus, which also neighbors Ukraine. The West fears that the drills, which run through Sunday, could be used by Moscow as a cover for an invasion from the north.

One possible off-ramp emerged this week: Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.K., Vadym Prystaiko, pointed at a possibility of Ukraine shelving its NATO bid — an objective that is written into its constitution — if it would avert war with Russia. 

“We might — especially being threatened like that, blackmailed by that, and pushed to it,” Prystaiko told BBC Radio 5.

On Monday, Prystaiko appeared to back away from the idea, but the fact that it was raised at all suggests it is being discussed behind closed doors.

Pressed over Ukraine’s NATO ambitions Monday, the Ukrainian president remained vague, referring to them as a “dream.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would welcome such a move.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked emergency powers Monday to quell the paralyzing protests by truckers and others angry over Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions, outlining plans not only to tow away their rigs but to strike at their bank accounts and their livelihoods, Associated Press reported.

“These blockades are illegal, and if you are still participating, the time to go home is now,” he declared.

In invoking Canada’s Emergencies Act, which gives the federal government broad powers to restore order, Trudeau ruled out using the military.

His government instead threatened to tow away vehicles to keep essential services running; freeze truckers’ personal and corporate bank accounts; and suspend the insurance on their rigs.

“Consider yourselves warned,” Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said. “Send your rigs home.”

Freeland, who is also the finance minister, said the government will also broaden its anti-money-laundering regulations to target crowd-funding sites that are being used to support the illegal blockades.

Trudeau did not indicate when the new crackdowns would begin. But he gave assurances the emergency measures “will be time-limited, geographically targeted, as well as reasonable and proportionate to the threats they are meant to address.”

For more than two weeks, hundreds and sometimes thousands of protesters in trucks and other vehicles have clogged the streets of Ottawa, the capital, and besieged Parliament Hill, railing against vaccine mandates for truckers and other COVID-19 precautions and condemning Trudeau’s Liberal government.

Members of the self-styled Freedom Convoy have also blockaded various U.S.-Canadian border crossings, though the busiest and most important — the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit — was reopened on Sunday after police arrested dozens of demonstrators and broke the nearly week-long siege that had disrupted auto production in both countries.

“This is the biggest, greatest, most severe test Trudeau has faced,” said Wesley Wark, a University of Ottawa professor and national security expert.

Invoking the Emergencies Act would allow the government to declare the Ottawa protest illegal and clear it out by such means as towing vehicles, Wark said. It would also enable the government to make greater use of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the federal police agency.

One of the protest organizers in Ottawa vowed not to back down in the face of pressure from the government.

“There are no threats that will frighten us. We will hold the line,” Tamara Lich said.

Cadalin Valcea, a truck driver from Montreal protesting for more than two weeks, said he will move move only if forced: “We want only one thing: to finish with this lockdown and these restrictions.”

Trudeau met virtually with leaders of the country’s provinces before announcing the crackdown.

Doug Ford, the Conservative premier of Ontario, which is Canada’s most populous province and includes Ottawa and Windsor, expressed support for emergency action, saying: “We need law and order. Our country is at risk now.”

But the leaders of other provinces warned the prime minister against taking such a step, some of them cautioning it could inflame an already dangerous situation.

“At this point, it would not help the social climate. There is a lot of pressure, and I think we have to be careful,” said Quebec Premier François Legault. “It wouldn’t help for the polarization.”

The protests have drawn support from right-wing extremists and armed citizens in Canada, and have been cheered on in the U.S. by Fox News personalities and conservatives such as Donald Trump.

Some conservatives pushed Trudeau to simply drop the pandemic mandates.

“He’s got protests right around the country, and now he’s dropping in the polls, desperately trying to save his political career. The solution is staring him in the face,” said opposition Conservative lawmaker Pierre Poilievre, who is running for the party’s leadership. 

Millions in donations have poured in supporting the protests, including a big chunk from the U.S.

Hackers who apparently infiltrated one of fundraising websites, GiveSendGo.com, dumped a file online that showed a tally of nearly 93,000 donations totaling $8.4 million through Thursday, an Associated Press analysis of the data found. 

Roughly 40% of the money raised came from the U.S. while slightly over half was from Canada.

In other developments, the Mounties said they arrested 11 people at the blockaded border crossing at Coutts, Alberta, opposite Montana, after learning of a cache of guns and ammunition. 

Police said a small group within the protest was said to have a “willingness to use force against the police if any attempts were made to disrupt the blockade.” Authorities seized long guns, handguns, body armor and a large quantity of ammunition.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney also said protesters in a tractor and a heavy-duty truck tried to ram a police vehicle at Coutts on Sunday night and fled. He said some protesters want to “take this in a very dangerous and dark direction.”

Over the past weeks, authorities have hesitated to move against the protesters. Local officials cited a lack of police manpower and fears of violence, while provincial and federal authorities disagreed over who had responsibility for quelling the unrest.

An earlier version of the Emergencies Act, called the War Measures Act, was used just once during peacetime, by Trudeau’s late father, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, to deal with a militant Quebec independence movement in 1970.

The demonstrations have inspired similar convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands. U.S. authorities have said that truck convoys may be in the works in the United States.

Invoking emergency powers would be a signal to Canadians and allies like the United States and around the world “who are wondering what the hell has Canada been up to,” Wark said.

Also Monday, Ontario’s premier announced that on March 1, the province will lift its requirement that people show proof of vaccination to get into restaurants, restaurants, gyms and sporting events. The surge of cases caused by the omicron variant has crested in Canada. 

“We are moving in this direction because it is safe to do so. Today’s announcement is not because of what’s happening in Ottawa or Windsor but despite it,” Ford said.

The Ambassador Bridge, which carries 25% of all trade between the two countries, reopened to traffic late Sunday night. The interruption forced General Motors, Ford, Toyota and other automakers to close plants or curtail production on both sides of the border. Some of them have yet to get back to full production.

The siege in Ottawa, about 470 miles (750 kilometers) away, has infuriated residents fed up with government inaction. They have complained of being harassed and intimidated by the protesters who have parked their rigs bumper to bumper on the streets.

“It’s stressful. I feel angry at what’s happening. This isn’t Canada. This does not represent us,” Colleen Sinclair, a counter-protester who lives in Ottawa. 

Many of Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions, such as mask rules and vaccine passports for getting into restaurants and theaters, are already falling away as the omicron surge levels off.

Pandemic restrictions have been far stricter in Canada than in the U.S., but Canadians have largely supported them. The vast majority of Canadians are vaccinated.