Celebrating the ethnic diversity of America , President Barack Obama said more than two dozen foreign-born service
members who became U.S. citizens at the White House on the Fourth of
July are vivid reminders that welcoming immigrants "is central to our
way of life."
He pleaded anew for new immigration policies, saying the vast range of backgrounds and experiences that has made America a melting pot for more than 200 years also makes the country stronger.
He argued that the system must be retooled for the U.S. to remain the
greatest nation on earth.
"The basic idea of welcoming immigrants to our shores is central to our
way of life, it is in our DNA," Obama said after the 25 service members
representing 15 countries raised their right hands and pledged
allegiance to the United States.
"From all these different strands, we make something new here in America . And that's why, if we want to keep attracting the best and brightest
from beyond our borders, we're going to have to fix our immigration system, which is broken," he said. "Pass common-sense immigration reform.
The immigration
issue is earning renewed attention because of the influx to the U.S.
of tens of thousands of unaccompanied children from Central America . Under U.S. law, they must be returned to their home countries, angering immigration advocates who already take issue with Obama's enforcement of deportations. They want Obama to allow the children to stay.
At the same time, Obama blames House Republicans for delaying action on
legislation covering the millions already living in the U.S. illegally.
A comprehensive measure the Senate passed last summer has been blocked
by House leaders who also have done little to advance their own immigration proposals.
Obama announced earlier this week that, as a result of inaction on
Capitol Hill, he will pursue non-legislative ways he can adjust U.S. immigration
policy on his own. He scheduled a trip to Texas next week, mostly to
raise money for Democratic candidates, but plans not to visit the
border.
"I'm going to keep doing everything I can to keep making our immigration system smarter and more efficient," Obama said Friday.
Across the country, more than 100 demonstrators, most in support of
immigrants, gathered again Friday outside a U.S. Border Patrol station
in Murrieta, California, where the agency intends to process some of the
immigrants who have flooded the Texas border with Mexico.
Earlier this week a crowd of protesters blocked buses carrying women
and children migrants who were flown in from overwhelmed Texas
facilities. The Border Patrol had to take the migrants elsewhere.
Later Friday, Obama and his wife, Michelle, welcomed hundreds of
service members and their families, including the new citizens, to an
all- America
n barbecue on the South Lawn that was sponsored by the USO, a nonprofit
organization that provides services and entertainment to U.S. troops
and their families. Held under bright sunny skies after Hurricane Arthur
blew north through the region, the event featured food, patriotic music
by the U.S. Marine Band and a scheduled concert by the rapper Pitbull,
along with prime seating for the fireworks on the National Mall.
Obama said that since the nation's founding 238 years ago the U.S. has
become the "greatest democratic, economic and military force the world
has ever known" and a beacon for others looking on from beyond its
borders.
"Immigrants from around the world dream of coming to our shores," he
said. "Young people aspire to study at our universities, other nations
look to us for support (and) leadership in times of disaster and
conflict and uncertainty.
"And when the world looks to America so often they look to all of you, the men and women of our Armed Forces," Obama said.
The president explained that he had other reasons to celebrate on Friday.
"This is always a special day for us because this is Malia's birthday," he told guests. His oldest child turned 16.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Nepal, Oli set for ballot clash
Two days before a vote to elect the party's new leadership, the chairman hopefuls of CPN-UML
, former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Parliamentary Party
leader KP Sharma Oli, made an effort at their unanimous election.
Nepal and Oli on Saturday asked each other to pull out of the race for the sake of party unity. In a meeting at a Kalimati-based hotel, Oli bluntly refused to backtrack while Nepal remained silent, sources said.
An election for leadership selection is scheduled for Monday evening, with 2,176 representatives from across the country and abroad casting ballots.
Oli asked Nepal to support him this time around, arguing that he had sacrificed several chances in the past. Nepal, however, also requested Oli to back him without responding to Oli's request. "Oli requested Nepal to support him but the latter remained silent," said an aide close to Oli.
Nepal confirmed his meeting with Oli as well as Deputy Prime Minister Bamdev Gautam. "Yes, I met Oli and Bamdevji separately. I requested them to support me," Nepal told the Post.
Both the panels are yet to make public the names of their officer bearer candidates. If the consensus bid fails, Nepal and Oli will fight for the party chief while outgoing Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal is out of the fray.
Nepal is preparing to field former finance minister Surendra Pandey for the general secretary's post. Outgoing Secretary Yubaraj Gyawali, Asta Laxmi Shakya and Bhim Rawal are likely to be fielded as vice-chairpersons.
Oli supporters have already announced their candidates for the key positions. The faction has decided to field Bam Dev Gautam and Bidhya Bhandari as vice-chairpersons and Ishwor Pokharel as general secretary.
Nepal and Oli on Saturday asked each other to pull out of the race for the sake of party unity. In a meeting at a Kalimati-based hotel, Oli bluntly refused to backtrack while Nepal remained silent, sources said.
An election for leadership selection is scheduled for Monday evening, with 2,176 representatives from across the country and abroad casting ballots.
Oli asked Nepal to support him this time around, arguing that he had sacrificed several chances in the past. Nepal, however, also requested Oli to back him without responding to Oli's request. "Oli requested Nepal to support him but the latter remained silent," said an aide close to Oli.
Nepal confirmed his meeting with Oli as well as Deputy Prime Minister Bamdev Gautam. "Yes, I met Oli and Bamdevji separately. I requested them to support me," Nepal told the Post.
Both the panels are yet to make public the names of their officer bearer candidates. If the consensus bid fails, Nepal and Oli will fight for the party chief while outgoing Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal is out of the fray.
Nepal is preparing to field former finance minister Surendra Pandey for the general secretary's post. Outgoing Secretary Yubaraj Gyawali, Asta Laxmi Shakya and Bhim Rawal are likely to be fielded as vice-chairpersons.
Oli supporters have already announced their candidates for the key positions. The faction has decided to field Bam Dev Gautam and Bidhya Bhandari as vice-chairpersons and Ishwor Pokharel as general secretary.
Locals of Mahadevtar, Gongabu, on Thursday protested against the
alleged attempt by Supreme Court Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli to
illegally encroach four Anna (127.16 squr m) of public land .
The locals destroyed the wall constructed under the instruction of Justice Parajuli in the nearby plot adjoining his plot of three Aana.
Security personnel were also deployed as the locals tried to bring down the wall. Locals and police clashed briefly after the forceful attempt to construct the wall.
Chandra Neupane, a local, accused the justice of abusing his power to infringe the public land . "He [Justice Parajuli] tried to acquire the land by using police, we will not let it happen at any cost."
The locals said that Parajuli had attempted to acquire the land three years ago as well. Parajuli had to give up on the adjoining land at that time after the locals protested aggressively.
"Using the security personnel to beat and arrest us, this is sheer misuse of state power," said Neupane. A large number of security personnel were deployed and shops in Mahadevtar area remained closed following the incident.
A surveyor was sent to assess the land after the locals padlocked the VDC office demanding the demarcation of public land . The padlock on the VDC office was removed after a team of surveyors concluded that the disputed area was a public.
The locals destroyed the wall constructed under the instruction of Justice Parajuli in the nearby plot adjoining his plot of three Aana.
Security personnel were also deployed as the locals tried to bring down the wall. Locals and police clashed briefly after the forceful attempt to construct the wall.
Chandra Neupane, a local, accused the justice of abusing his power to infringe the public land . "He [Justice Parajuli] tried to acquire the land by using police, we will not let it happen at any cost."
The locals said that Parajuli had attempted to acquire the land three years ago as well. Parajuli had to give up on the adjoining land at that time after the locals protested aggressively.
"Using the security personnel to beat and arrest us, this is sheer misuse of state power," said Neupane. A large number of security personnel were deployed and shops in Mahadevtar area remained closed following the incident.
A surveyor was sent to assess the land after the locals padlocked the VDC office demanding the demarcation of public land . The padlock on the VDC office was removed after a team of surveyors concluded that the disputed area was a public.
Nepal faction against electronic voting machines
The CPN-UML faction led by Madhav kumar Nepal has rejected the party's decision to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the Central Committee (CC) election.
The Nepal faction has expressed a serious reservation over the effort of the organising committee of the ongoing ninth UML National Congress to use the EVMs for election.
Organising a separate press meet on Saturday, UML politburo member, Raghuji Pant, said that a large section of the party representatives are skeptical about the use of EVMs, and demanded the use of paper ballot for the election.
Pant, a close aide to Nepal, claimed that there were technical problems with the EVMs and cannot generate the right results. "Our technical team has found various errors in those machines which has been has reported to the central committee," he said.
Pant also claiming that elections conducted through EVMs have become controversial around the world.
Leaders close to former Nepal have also been raising questions over the authentication of the digital identity cards of the convention representatives, claiming that the cards were without the signature of the office bearers. "Can technical team authenticate our card?" asked Ram Kumari Jhankri, youth leader close to Nepal. "The party must issue another card before the election."
The Oli faction, however, has dismissed the claim made by the rival faction.
Pradeep Gyawali, a leader close to Oli, claimed that the EVMs were fully tested and there was no need to doubt their functionality. He said the party's Central Committee and the Standing Committee had taken unanimous decision to use the EVMs.
Gyawali also claimed that it will take more than two days just for the election procedures if EVMs are not used.
UML has already prepared 60 EVMs for election and 10 for the mock election that were prepared by the engineers duo Ram Rimal and Laxman Rimal. Over 500 candidates are expected to file their candidacy for the 149-member Central Committee.
The Nepal faction has expressed a serious reservation over the effort of the organising committee of the ongoing ninth UML National Congress to use the EVMs for election.
Organising a separate press meet on Saturday, UML politburo member, Raghuji Pant, said that a large section of the party representatives are skeptical about the use of EVMs, and demanded the use of paper ballot for the election.
Pant, a close aide to Nepal, claimed that there were technical problems with the EVMs and cannot generate the right results. "Our technical team has found various errors in those machines which has been has reported to the central committee," he said.
Pant also claiming that elections conducted through EVMs have become controversial around the world.
Leaders close to former Nepal have also been raising questions over the authentication of the digital identity cards of the convention representatives, claiming that the cards were without the signature of the office bearers. "Can technical team authenticate our card?" asked Ram Kumari Jhankri, youth leader close to Nepal. "The party must issue another card before the election."
The Oli faction, however, has dismissed the claim made by the rival faction.
Pradeep Gyawali, a leader close to Oli, claimed that the EVMs were fully tested and there was no need to doubt their functionality. He said the party's Central Committee and the Standing Committee had taken unanimous decision to use the EVMs.
Gyawali also claimed that it will take more than two days just for the election procedures if EVMs are not used.
UML has already prepared 60 EVMs for election and 10 for the mock election that were prepared by the engineers duo Ram Rimal and Laxman Rimal. Over 500 candidates are expected to file their candidacy for the 149-member Central Committee.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Locals protest Justice Prajuli’s attempt to encroach public land
Locals of Mahadevtar, Gongabu, on Thursday protested against the
alleged attempt by Supreme Court Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli to
illegally encroach four Anna (127.16 squr m) of public land .
The locals destroyed the wall constructed under the instruction of Justice Parajuli in the nearby plot adjoining his plot of three Aana.
Security personnel were also deployed as the locals tried to bring down the wall. Locals and police clashed briefly after the forceful attempt to construct the wall.
Chandra Neupane, a local, accused the justice of abusing his power to infringe the public land . "He [Justice Parajuli] tried to acquire the land by using police, we will not let it happen at any cost."
The locals said that Parajuli had attempted to acquire the land three years ago as well. Parajuli had to give up on the adjoining land at that time after the locals protested aggressively.
"Using the security personnel to beat and arrest us, this is sheer misuse of state power," said Neupane. A large number of security personnel were deployed and shops in Mahadevtar area remained closed following the incident.
A surveyor was sent to assess the land after the locals padlocked the VDC office demanding the demarcation of public land . The padlock on the VDC office was removed after a team of surveyors concluded that the disputed area was a public land.
The locals destroyed the wall constructed under the instruction of Justice Parajuli in the nearby plot adjoining his plot of three Aana.
Security personnel were also deployed as the locals tried to bring down the wall. Locals and police clashed briefly after the forceful attempt to construct the wall.
Chandra Neupane, a local, accused the justice of abusing his power to infringe the public land . "He [Justice Parajuli] tried to acquire the land by using police, we will not let it happen at any cost."
The locals said that Parajuli had attempted to acquire the land three years ago as well. Parajuli had to give up on the adjoining land at that time after the locals protested aggressively.
"Using the security personnel to beat and arrest us, this is sheer misuse of state power," said Neupane. A large number of security personnel were deployed and shops in Mahadevtar area remained closed following the incident.
A surveyor was sent to assess the land after the locals padlocked the VDC office demanding the demarcation of public land . The padlock on the VDC office was removed after a team of surveyors concluded that the disputed area was a public land.
Judge orders to submit all sub judice contempt news
The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered its administration to compile
the news articles, editorials, and opinion pieces about the court and
justices published in the Kantipur daily after April 22, and present it
before the court within five days.
The order comes in response to the contempt charge filed on June 25 by Advocate Ratna Kumari Shrestha against the daily’s Editor-in-Chief Sudheer Sharma and correspondent Ghanshyam Khadka.
A single bench of Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana also ordered the court administration to submit the report on previous contempt case against Editor Sharma; Chairman and Managing Director of Kantipur Publications Kailash Sirohiya; Director Swastika Sirohiya; and columnist Bijay Kumar Pandey.
In May 2013, Advocate Anjani Kumar Pokharel had lodged the contempt case , claiming that Pandey’s opinion piece titled “Pad ra pahichan bich ko mahan antar” (Difference between post and posture) had defamed SC. The case is still sub judice. “Though earlier plaint had missed the due date, the case can be heard again,” said Baburam Dahal, assistant spokesperson for SC.
In the latest contempt case against Sharma and Khadka, the plaintiff has claimed two instances of contempt—news article by Khadka on June 14, and the editorial column published on June 18. In his news article, Khadka had mentioned the court’s decision to release Mohan Agrawal and Guymtso Lama, the prime accused in a gold smuggling case, on ordinary bail, and detain Om Bahadur Bajra-charya, the taxi driver who was transporting the gold.
The division bench of Justices Gopal Parajuli and Cholendra Shumsher Rana—the judge who is adjudicating the contempt case —had also ordered Bajracharya to post a bail amount of Rs 1 million, according to the news article.
The plaintiff has claimed that the news report the concept of independent judiciary, and she has accused Khadka of defaming the court’s verdict.
Similarly, making her case against Editor Sharma, Shrestha has mentioned in her writ application that the editorial column, published on June 18 about the proposed Bill on contempt of court titled Abhibyakti Swantantratamathi Prahar (An attack on freedom of expression), was written with the intent of influencing the proposed Bill.
The order comes in response to the contempt charge filed on June 25 by Advocate Ratna Kumari Shrestha against the daily’s Editor-in-Chief Sudheer Sharma and correspondent Ghanshyam Khadka.
A single bench of Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana also ordered the court administration to submit the report on previous contempt case against Editor Sharma; Chairman and Managing Director of Kantipur Publications Kailash Sirohiya; Director Swastika Sirohiya; and columnist Bijay Kumar Pandey.
In May 2013, Advocate Anjani Kumar Pokharel had lodged the contempt case , claiming that Pandey’s opinion piece titled “Pad ra pahichan bich ko mahan antar” (Difference between post and posture) had defamed SC. The case is still sub judice. “Though earlier plaint had missed the due date, the case can be heard again,” said Baburam Dahal, assistant spokesperson for SC.
In the latest contempt case against Sharma and Khadka, the plaintiff has claimed two instances of contempt—news article by Khadka on June 14, and the editorial column published on June 18. In his news article, Khadka had mentioned the court’s decision to release Mohan Agrawal and Guymtso Lama, the prime accused in a gold smuggling case, on ordinary bail, and detain Om Bahadur Bajra-charya, the taxi driver who was transporting the gold.
The division bench of Justices Gopal Parajuli and Cholendra Shumsher Rana—the judge who is adjudicating the contempt case —had also ordered Bajracharya to post a bail amount of Rs 1 million, according to the news article.
The plaintiff has claimed that the news report the concept of independent judiciary, and she has accused Khadka of defaming the court’s verdict.
Similarly, making her case against Editor Sharma, Shrestha has mentioned in her writ application that the editorial column, published on June 18 about the proposed Bill on contempt of court titled Abhibyakti Swantantratamathi Prahar (An attack on freedom of expression), was written with the intent of influencing the proposed Bill.
Engineers’ bodies found
The bodies of two engineers who went missing after a jeep plunged into the Chameliya river at Sittad-4 in the district were found on Thursday afternoon.
The bodies 26-year-old Atul KC of Bhaktapur and 28-year-old Shailendra Khadka Saptari were found by a rescue team comprising Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police personnel at Dashrathchanda Municipa- lity, which is nearly five kilometers away from the accident site. KC worked with telecom company Hello Nepal while Khadka worked with RR Engineering Consultancy.
The jeep heading to Baitadi from Darchula carrying three passengers had skidded off the road and plunged 50 meters below into the river near Panjuniya. Police said the engineers were returning to Baitadi after installing telecommunication tower of the telecom company.
The bodies 26-year-old Atul KC of Bhaktapur and 28-year-old Shailendra Khadka Saptari were found by a rescue team comprising Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police personnel at Dashrathchanda Municipa- lity, which is nearly five kilometers away from the accident site. KC worked with telecom company Hello Nepal while Khadka worked with RR Engineering Consultancy.
The jeep heading to Baitadi from Darchula carrying three passengers had skidded off the road and plunged 50 meters below into the river near Panjuniya. Police said the engineers were returning to Baitadi after installing telecommunication tower of the telecom company.
Nepalis escape to Al-Alam from Tikrit
Three Nepali workers trapped in the city of Tikrit in war-torn Iraq for the past three weeks have fled to Iraqi town of Al-Alam.
“We reached Al-Alam safely with the help of an Iraqi national. The place is comparatively safe,” said Pres Giri of Jhapa, who along with his two Nepali friends, Mohan Kumar Basnet of Morang and Top Bahadur Basnet of Dang, are relieved to be out of trouble.
They were hiding in a container on the premises of Tikrit Teaching Hospital, 140 km north of Baghdad, after their company was bombed by Islamic militants.
“We have been kept here in a private factory which processes water,” Giri said.
He said that the rebels had enquired a nurse at the hospital about them, and she had asked them to switch off their phones. The three men are trying to escape to Kurdistan, which is reportedly a safer place.
“An Iraqi national told us that he would help us get to the border of Kurdistan’s Capital Erbil. He also told us that he would send a vehicle to pick us up,” he said. The workers are in contact with the Nepali embassy in Pakistan. Officials of the embassy said they would send travel documents to the workers for their safe return.
“We reached Al-Alam safely with the help of an Iraqi national. The place is comparatively safe,” said Pres Giri of Jhapa, who along with his two Nepali friends, Mohan Kumar Basnet of Morang and Top Bahadur Basnet of Dang, are relieved to be out of trouble.
They were hiding in a container on the premises of Tikrit Teaching Hospital, 140 km north of Baghdad, after their company was bombed by Islamic militants.
“We have been kept here in a private factory which processes water,” Giri said.
He said that the rebels had enquired a nurse at the hospital about them, and she had asked them to switch off their phones. The three men are trying to escape to Kurdistan, which is reportedly a safer place.
“An Iraqi national told us that he would help us get to the border of Kurdistan’s Capital Erbil. He also told us that he would send a vehicle to pick us up,” he said. The workers are in contact with the Nepali embassy in Pakistan. Officials of the embassy said they would send travel documents to the workers for their safe return.
School building collapses within five hours of construction
A four-room building of the Mahendra Ideal Woman Secondary School, Jaleshwor, has collapsed just after five hours of its construction .
The District Education Office, Mahottari had provided Rs. 2.4 million for the construction of the building.
The roof of the building had been cemented at 2:00 am on Tuesday but it collapsed five hours later, said locals.
The roof collapsed as sub-standard construction materials were used by the contractors, said Suresh Shah, a local resident.
Meanwhile, locals said they have found around 10 bundles of iron rods supposed to be used for the school building in a bush near the school.
The local stakeholders have demanded investigation into the incident and stern action against those found guilty.
The District Education Office, Mahottari had provided Rs. 2.4 million for the construction of the building.
The roof of the building had been cemented at 2:00 am on Tuesday but it collapsed five hours later, said locals.
The roof collapsed as sub-standard construction materials were used by the contractors, said Suresh Shah, a local resident.
Meanwhile, locals said they have found around 10 bundles of iron rods supposed to be used for the school building in a bush near the school.
The local stakeholders have demanded investigation into the incident and stern action against those found guilty.
Police bar eateries from screening WC football live
Police on Tuesday evening stopped restaurants in Lalitpur from
screening World Cup matches even though they had got permission from the
District Administration Office for the same. Several outlets in
Jhamsikhel were forced to close, with police claiming that the “rule has
been amended”. Restaurants are mandated to screen matches live with
permission from the respective DAO. “I had taken permission.
They came in, pressing us to shut down,” said a restaurateur in Jhamsikhel who did not want to be named. Superintendent of Police Ghanashyam Aryal said they had shut restaurants that did not have the DAO permission.
They came in, pressing us to shut down,” said a restaurateur in Jhamsikhel who did not want to be named. Superintendent of Police Ghanashyam Aryal said they had shut restaurants that did not have the DAO permission.
Woman dies of snakebite
Gyanikala Pandey of Rampur-13 died of snakebite
in the district on Thursday. A snake species named krait bit the
victim while she was taking rest at the courtyard of her house. The
33-year-old was rushed to Rampur Hospital, where she died during
treatment. Dr Prakash Aryal at the hospital said the victim was
administered eight injection of anti-snake venom but to no avail.
Meanwhile, amidst shortage of anti-snake venom, the government has said that the crisis of the antidote will end by next month.
Issuing a press statement following a meeting at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Thursday, PMO Secretary Santa Raj Subedi said the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) at present has a stock for one week and additional 4,000 phials of the anti-venom will soon be made available. Subedi said he directed the concerned officials to take measures so that the crisis does not loom next year too.
The meeting was attended by MoHP Acting Secretary Dr Tirtha Raj Burlakoti, PMO Joint-secretary Ghanashyam Upadhyay, Epidemiology and Disease Control Division Director Dr Baburam Marassini and Home Ministry's Under-secretary Ganga Bahadur Chhetri.
Meanwhile, amidst shortage of anti-snake venom, the government has said that the crisis of the antidote will end by next month.
Issuing a press statement following a meeting at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Thursday, PMO Secretary Santa Raj Subedi said the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) at present has a stock for one week and additional 4,000 phials of the anti-venom will soon be made available. Subedi said he directed the concerned officials to take measures so that the crisis does not loom next year too.
The meeting was attended by MoHP Acting Secretary Dr Tirtha Raj Burlakoti, PMO Joint-secretary Ghanashyam Upadhyay, Epidemiology and Disease Control Division Director Dr Baburam Marassini and Home Ministry's Under-secretary Ganga Bahadur Chhetri.
Couple commit suicide
0
Shiva Raj Rawat, 56, and wife Khima, 50, killed self by hanging from the ceiling of their house using a single rope, police said. The couple torched their bedding and clothes in their bedroom before they committed suicide in another room. There were only the husband and wife at home when the incident took place.
Padam Raj Gorathoki, a local, said villagers saw the couple hanging as they reached there to douse the fire. Security personnel and local people took the fire under control.
“It is said that the wife was a mental patient. But the motive of committing suicide together is not immediately known,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Dipak Regmi, adding that an investigation into the matter is under way.
The dead bodies were taken to the District Hospital in Bijuwar for post-mortem.
Posted on: 2014-07-03 09:08
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