Submit your Article

Foreign Minister NP Saud has said that preparations are being made to repatriate the bodies of Nepali students killed in armed attacks by Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist militant group which rules the Gaza Strip, in Israel.

During a program organized in the Capital on Monday, Minister Saud said that the Israeli government has handed over five bodies out of 10 to the concerned Nepali authority in Israel. So, preparations are being made to bring the bodies back home as soon as possible.

He said that the other five bodies will be handed over to Nepal after completing the due process.

Minister Saud further said that they are coordinating with the government of other Gulf countries who have relations with Hamas to search for student Bipin Joshi who has been missing in Israel.

The government has already evacuated 254 Nepalis from Israel.

The government is also taking initiatives to rescue other Nepalis who wish to return to Nepal.

Koshi Province Chief Minister Kedar Karki is seeking a vote of confidence in the Province Assembly on October 18.

Appointed as the Chief Minister in accordance with Article 168 (5) of the Constitution, CM Karki has registered a proposal in the Province Assembly for a vote of confidence as per Article 168 (4), said Province Assembly secretary Gopal Prasad Parajuli.

Article 168 (4) states that a person appointed the chief minister should seek a vote of confidence from the Province Assembly within 30 days of the appointment.

Koshi Province Chief Parshuram Khapung had appointed Karki as the Chief Minister on October 14.

Kedar Karki, a leader from the Nepali Congress’ anti-establishment camp, has taken the oath of office and secrecy as the chief minister of Koshi province from Parshuram Khapung, the province chief, in accordance with Article 168 of the Constitution.

He was elected on Saturday with support from 47 members of the Province Assembly. Karki, considered close to NC leader Shekhar Koirala, managed to become the chief minister with support of 39 PA members from the CPN-UML and eight PA members from the NC, though the coalition government at the Center was against a new coalition in Koshi.  

CPN (Maoist Center) parliamentary party leader Indra Bahadur Angbo had also staked a claim for the post with the signatures of 47 members. However, Angbo was not present for verification of the signatures.

After the NC’s rebel candidate Karki came to power in Koshi, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba and leader Koirala held a meeting at the PM’s official residence in Baluwatar on Saturday morning, agreeing to give Karki a vote of confidence.

Since 26 Dec 2022, when province assembly elections were conducted, Koshi has seen a frequent change of guard. Hikmat Karki of the UML and Uddhav Thapa of the NC each became chief minister of the province in a short span. However, their governments collapsed as they could not win the vote of confidence.

Responding to journalists’ queries, Karki described his appointment as the lawmakers’ “conscious and responsible decision” to avoid mid-term polls in the province. He said the new government was the result of joint efforts from provincial assembly members to rekindle hope among the people for development and prosperity of Koshi.

After Hikmat Karki of the UML resigned as the chief minister on Oct 7, province Chief Khapung had invited assembly members to lay claims to the high office by 5 pm Friday (Oct 13).

After taking the oath, Karki, the new CM, has formed a three-member Cabinet by appointing Shamsher Rai of the Nepali Congress and Ram Rana of the UML as ministers without portfolio. 

Meanwhile, parliamentary party leader of the NC’s Koshi province assembly Uddhav Thapa has resigned. He said it was not ethical to remain in power at a time when a new government had taken shape in the province.

Former Prime Minister and CPN (Unified Socialist) leader Jhalanath Khanal left for China on Sunday evening to attend the third 'Belt & Road Forum (BRF) to be held in Beijing, informed party's central foreign secretary Dr Shanker Khatiwada.

According to him, former PM Khanal is also scheduled to address the third BRF to be held on October 18.

During his stay in China, leader Khanal will also have separate meetings with the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party and leaders coming from different countries.

Leader Khanal along with Rabi Laxmi Chitrakar and Prof Dr Yuwaraj Sangraula left for China to participate in the program.

The team will return home on October 22.