NC special general convention should be called through consensus: leader Koirala

Nepali Congress leader Shekhar Koirala has said that the Central Committee should convene the party's special general convention on the basis of consensus.

During the meeting with party leaders today, leader Koirala mentioned that it would be appropriate to call the special general convention after January 20 by holding intra party discussions.

It would be acceptable if the Central Committee called the special general convention addressing the sentiments of all, he argued, adding he is active for this purpose. 

The NC leader opined that the NC should not make an alliance in the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives. 

Leaders—Chinkaji Shrestha, Dila Sangraula, Ram Janam Chaudhary, Uday Shumsher Rana, Arjun Joshi, among other Central Committee members had reached the contact office of leader Koirala.

 

 

58 days to go for HoR elections: EC stresses effective implementation of code of conduct

The Election Commission (EC) has stressed the need for an effective mechanism to regulate the challenges surfaced in the implementation of the election code of conduct in the wake of massive use of the information technology.

The first meeting of the Central Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee held on Monday underscored the need to devise a special mechanism to control issues such as misinformation, hate speech and fake information circulated through social media and digital platforms during elections.

The Central Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee is formed as per Clause 26 of Election Code of Conduct, 2082 BS. 

The meeting was presided over by EC Commissioner Sagun Shumsher JBR in the presence of Officiating Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari and Commissioner Dr Janaki Kumari Tuladhar, the EC Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said. 

The meeting discussed the coordination among the agencies, role of regulatory bodies and challenges in implementation, and various other issues relating to the effective implementation of the election code of conduct. 

On the occasion, the officials viewed that awareness-based, promotional, and punitive programs should be initiated simultaneously for effective implementation of the code of conduct.

Officiating Chief Election Commissioner Bhandari said that regulation of the social sites was imperative and the Commissioner should effectively mobilize all its mechanisms.

 

US Ambassador Thompson pays farewell call on PM Karki

US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R. Thompson paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Sushila Karki.

During the meeting held today at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, matters related to various aspects of bilateral relations between the two countries were discussed, according to the Prime Minister's Secretariat.

Rs 133.5 million collected in govt fund for restoration after Gen Z movement

A total of Rs 133.5 million has been collected so far in a government fund established to restore physical properties damaged in arson and vandalism occurred during the September 8–9 Gen Z movement.

According to the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Finance, Tanka Prasad Pandeya, as of this morning, Rs 133,565,000 has been deposited in the Fund.

Siddhartha Premier Insurance Limited today contributed Rs 10.1 million to the fund under its Institutional Social Responsibility initiative. 

Last week, insurance company MetLife Nepal deposited Rs 2.5 million, while earlier the Oriental Insurance had chipped in Rs 2 million.

The fund was established in the aftermath of the Gen Z movement, calling on the public, private sector, non-resident Nepalis, development partners, and donor agencies for their assistance. 

The government has also provided provisions allowing contributors to deduct or claim expenses while calculating their taxable income for the current fiscal year.

Anyone wishing to chip in the fund can deposit the amount in the Rastriya Banijya Bank account number 1960100102070004.