My Republica

Kosh Raj Koirala

The contributor for Republica.
news@myrepublica.com

Ministerial portfolio sharing triggers rift within ruling NC

Published On: July 6, 2017 06:00 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, July 6: Ministerial portfolio-sharing between the establishment faction of Nepali Congress and the rival faction led by Ram Chandra Paudel has triggered intra-party rift within the ruling party.

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Is Maoist Center bound to confine to rural areas?

Published On: July 3, 2017 05:00 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, July 3: Although the party had influence across the country, the then underground CPN Maoist (now CPN (Maoist Center)) maintained its stronghold largely in the rural areas during the decade-long armed conflict beginning 1996.

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Deuba’s burdens: Elections or bust

Published On: June 23, 2017 11:00 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

Everybody hopes but few believe that now four-time prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba can successfully hold all three sets of elections stipulated in the new constitution by the constitutional deadline of January 21, 2018. In fact, it would be a mini-miracle if he does. What are the kinds of challenges he is likely to face in the next seven months in the lead up to the deadline? Is there really room for hope? Kosh Raj Koirala explores.

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99.33 pc households note more drought in last 25 years

Published On: June 22, 2017 06:00 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, June 22: It is no longer a hypothesis or myth. The impact of climate change is real as far as Nepal is concerned.

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Open government inevitable in all countries: Heller

Published On: June 17, 2017 01:40 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

Nathaniel Heller is the executive vice president of integrated strategies at Results for Development (R4D), which works with change agents such as government officials, sometime social entrepreneurs and civil society activists to design and execute strategies for strengthening health, education and nutrition system. Prior to joining R4D in 2015, Heller co-founded and led Global Integrity, a non-profit organization that promotes government transparency and accountability worldwide. During his time as executive director of Global Integrity, Heller led the organization since its inception in 2005 through a period of intensive growth that saw Global Integrity established as a global leader on anti-corruption and governance issues. Republica's Kosh Raj Koirala caught up with him during his recent trip to Kathmandu in order to learn the efforts of his organization to promote transparency and accountability. Excerpts:

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Wary of fallout from Gulf tensions, govt tells missions to assess situation

Published On: June 6, 2017 06:00 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, June 6: Wary of the possible fallout from diplomatic tensions in the region after Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt jointly decided to sever diplomatic relations with Qatar, Nepal has directed its missions in all Gulf nations to evaluate the unfolding developments and report back  for necessary measures to protect the interests of Nepali migrant workers.

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A more pragmatic Dahal's second PM innings more successful

Published On: May 25, 2017 06:00 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, May 25: Many had doubts about Pushpa Kamal Dahal when he assumed the office of prime minister for the second time on August 3, 2016. Breaking his alliance with the CPN-UML, which had earned huge public support for its 'nationalistic stance' during and after the Indian economic embargo, and teaming up with Nepali Congress (NC) that is soft towards New Delhi was no easy choice. But Dahal did  break  with the UML, alleging that then prime minister K P Sharma Oli was not sincere about resolving the Madhes issue and holding local level elections to pave the way for  implementation of the new constitution.

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Govt warns UN against interfering in its exclusive jurisdiction

Published On: May 24, 2017 05:30 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, May 24: While defending the controversial impeachment motion tabled in parliament against sitting Chief Justice Sushila Karki, the government has warned the United Nations (UN) against interfering in the exclusive jurisdiction of a sovereign state.

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Maoist Center fails to impress urban voters

Published On: May 22, 2017 07:38 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, May 21: Although the CPN (Maoist Center) made considerable gains in the  local elections as compared to its performance  in the Constituent Assembly (CA) election held in 2013, the former rebel outfit seems to have largely failed to impress urban voters.

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Local polls bring promising signs of social change

Published On: May 17, 2017 01:30 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, May 17: While it is yet to be seen if the country heads toward the path of political stability and prosperity with the second phase polls still due, the first phase of local level polls held on Sunday across 34 districts has already brought a number of positive outcomes if seen through the sociological lens.

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OBOR deal lays ground for further Nepal-China cooperation

Published On: May 13, 2017 07:14 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, May 12: Nepal and China signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation under the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative on Friday, paving the way for enhanced trade and transit connectivity, financial integration and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.

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PM, speaker, attorney general skip Law Day function

Published On: May 10, 2017 07:18 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, May 9 : In what could be seen as a growing rift between the executive and legislative branches on one hand and the judiciary on the other, following the impeachment motion brought against the chief justice, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar  skipped the Law Day function on Tuesday.

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Nepal decides to sign OBOR MoU with China

Published On: May 8, 2017 10:25 PM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, May 8: The Nepal government has decided to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of One Belt One Road (OBOR) project proposed by China.

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Ruling parties closer to two-third majority in House

Published On: April 28, 2017 05:30 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, April 28: Although the opposition alliance has vowed to foil the constitution amendment bill, the ruling parties are inching closer to securing the requisite two-thirds majority of votes in favor of the 11-point constitution amendment bill tabled earlier in parliament.

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Under opposition pressure govt shelves plan to increase local units

Published On: April 27, 2017 07:20 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, April 27: Bowing to pressure from the opposition alliance, the government has withdrawn its controversial amendment proposal that would increase the number of local units in 11 select districts in the Tarai-Madhes.

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NC election manifesto for local polls puts focus on economic prosperity

Published On: April 26, 2017 08:01 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, April 25: Nepali Congress (NC) has announced an ambitious plan to reduce the percentage of people living below poverty line to 3 percent of the total population in the next 10 years.

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Local polls in two phases, May 14 and June 14

Published On: April 24, 2017 12:10 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, April 24: In an apparent bid to bring the agitating Madhes-based political parties onboard the election process, the government has formally decided to hold the local level elections in two phases.

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Dahal, Deuba for May 14 poll at any cost

Published On: April 17, 2017 01:00 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, April 17: Two ruling parties --Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN (Maoist Center) - have reached  an informal understanding to hold the local level election on the stipulated date even if the agitating parties united under the Federal Alliance (FA) do not come on board.

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Talks with Madhes parties on back burner as NC-Maoist ties sour

Published On: April 6, 2017 08:40 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, April 6: Souring relations between the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN (Maoist Center) in recent days have relegated  negotiations with the agitating Madhes-based political parties to the back burner.

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Ruling parties turning to 'fence-sitters' for way out

Published On: March 13, 2017 01:20 AM NPT By: Kosh Raj Koirala

KATHMANDU, March 13: As the country prepares for local-level elections on May 14 after a hiatus of 20 years, the Saptari incident last week has further polarized the already fractured politics of Nepal, leaving the polls uncertain at least in  Province 2.

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