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The vote counting of mayoral elections in the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has begun.

Though the Election Commission had planned to start the counting from late Friday night, it was delayed due to the dispute among the candidates.

Vote counting of Kathmandu Metropolitan City started at around 10 am in City Hall.

Nepali Congress leader Srijana Singh, CPN-UML leader Keshav Sthapit  and Samiksha Baskota from Bibeksheel Sajha Party are vying for the post of mayor.

Balen Shah is an independent candidate.

 

Voting counting for May 13 local elections held in 753 local governments has begun across the country. The preliminary vote counting has shown neck and neck competition between Nepali Congress and CPN-UML.

In some places including Kathmandu Metropolitan City, independent candidates have taken lead over party candidates. In some places, preliminary counting shows five-party electoral alliance has not worked well.

In 2017, CPN-UML has emerged as the largest party in the local elections closely followed by Nepali Congress, and CPN(Maoist) secured a distant third position. This time too, it seems two parties will compete tough to become the first. 

In a bid to control the rising domestic prices, India has banned wheat exports with immediate effects, PTI reports. Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in a notification dated May 13 says "the export policy of wheat … is prohibited with immediate effect…,"

It also clarified that wheat exports will be allowed on the basis of permission granted by the Government of India to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their governments.

A person died on the spot and another was injured when police opened fire at a mob trying to rob a ballot box at Sorungchhabise in Katari Municipality-10 of Udayapur district on Friday.

The deceased has been identified as local Nabin Katuwal (19). He was hit by a bullet in the chest.

Police said that Man Shrestha (13), who was staying in the house, was injured in the firing. 

 Meanwhile, police constable Bishnu Tamang was injured when the cadres of a political party pelted stones at the security personnel.

Katuwal was the nephew of Gaur Bahadur Katuwal, an independent of Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal.

Laxman Paudel, District Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal, said that the police opened fire after a dispute ensued between the Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal cadres at the polling station.

Chief District Officer Birendra Kumar Yadav said that the police opened fire after a group of 50/60 persons tried to rob a ballot box.

It has been learnt that police fired eight rounds of bullets to disperse the mob.

Chhetra Bahadur Khadka from CPN-UML, Bal Bahadur Karki from Nepali Congress, Tek Narayan Shrestha from CPN (Unified Socialist) and Gaur Bahadur Katuwal from independent had filed candidacies for the post of ward chairman in Katari-10. 

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has died, Emirati state news agency WAM reported. He was 73, Aljazeera reported.

“The Ministry of Presidential Affairs announced that there will be 40 days of official mourning with flags at half mast and three days closure of ministries and official entities at the federal and local levels and the private sector,” the agency wrote on Twitter on Friday.

Sheikh Khalifa had rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2014, with his brother, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed (known as MBZ) seen as the de facto ruler and the decision-maker of major foreign policy decisions, such as joining a Saudi-led war in Yemen and spearheading an embargo on neighbouring Qatar in recent years.

“The UAE has lost its righteous son and leader of the ’empowerment phase’ and guardian of its blessed journey,” MBZ said on Twitter, praising Khalifa’s wisdom and generosity.

Under the constitution, Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, would act as president until the federal council which groups the rulers of the seven emirates meets within 30 days to elect a new president, according to Aljazeera.

Condolences started pouring in from Arab leaders, including Bahrain’s king, Egypt’s president and Iraq’s prime minister.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed his condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa, whom he described as “a true friend of the United States”.

“We deeply valued his support in building the extraordinary partnership our countries enjoy today. We mourn his passing, honour his legacy, and remain committed to our steadfast friendship and cooperation with the United Arab Emirates,” he said.

Sheikh Khalifa came to power in 2004 in the richest emirate Abu Dhabi and became the head of state. He is expected to be succeeded as ruler of Abu Dhabi by Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed.

Abu Dhabi, which holds most of the Gulf state’s oil wealth, has held the presidency since the founding of the UAE federation by Sheikh Khalifa’s father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in 1971, Aljazeera reported.

An unidentified person opened fire at Tatakhase polling station (Siddhakali Higher Secondary School) in Bhimsen Thapa Rural Municipality-2 of Gorkha during the local level elections on Friday.

Police said that an unidentified person opened fire when a dispute among the cadres of Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN-UML escalated and turned into a clash this afternoon.

Election Officer Khimananda Gautam said that an unidentified person opened fire and an investigation into the incident is underway.

He said that the incident occurred when 55 percent voters had cast their ballots and around 80 persons were in the voting line.

It has been learnt that Manisha Thapa (22) sustained a bullet injury to her leg.

Thapa is a staffer assigned to conduct the elections.

She has been taken to a hospital for treatment.

security has been beefed up in the area following the incident.

The Election Commission said that around 35 percent voters cast their votes across the country until 12 pm on Friday.

Voting is taking place in 21, 955 polling booths and 10, 756 polling stations of 753 local units.

The voting has been halted in Dolakha, Sarlahi, Saptari, Ramechhap, Parbat, Humla and Bajura owing to minor disputes, EC spokesperson Shalikram Sharma Paudel said.

At least 13 persons died and 12 others were injured in a jeep accident at Panchamul in Waling Municipality-14 of Syangja on Friday.

The identities of the deceased are yet to be ascertained.

According to Raju Paudel, Chief District Officer of Syangja, all the injured have been sent to Pokhara for treatment.

The District Police Office, Syangja said that the the jeep (Ga 2 Cha 3026) carrying voters was  heading towards the polling center in Waling from Sighre when the incident occurred. Police said that the four-wheeler fell some 150 meters down the road.

Police said that they are looking into the case.