<p>Hearing on the appointment and incentives to the suspended Chief of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Lokman Singh Karki would begin at Supreme Court from December 2. </p><p>The full bench of Justices Jagdish Sharma Poudel, Ishwori Prasad Khatiwada and Anand Mohan Bhattarai made such decision today.<br>&nbsp;<br>On October 28, advocate Om Prakash Aryal had filed a writ petition demanding that suspended CIAA Chief Karki be stripped of his incentives. <br><br>Meanwhile, advocate Tej Bahadur Katawal received a warrant on behalf of suspended CIAA Chief Karki.<br><br><br></p>

<p>Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has urged CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli to help in the constitution amendment process. <br><br>At a meeting held at the Secretariat office of Speaker Onsari Gharti at Singha Durbar this evening, Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Dahal requested leader Oli for his support in seeking a consensus on the amendments process, according to the PM's press advisor Govinda Acharya. <br><br>PM held discussion with UML Chair about the registration of constitution amendment within mid-November based on a consensus of the three major parties. The discussion today ended with a positive note, it is reported.<br>&nbsp;<br>On the occasion, the UML Chair inquired with the Prime Minister about the rationale, subject matter and methodology of the amendment process. They also agreed to continue with the process of dialogue. <br><br>Meanwhile, a meeting was held between Prime Minister Dahal and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba. Matters relating to the constitution amendment and latest political situation of the country were discussed. <br><br>Also discussed were ways to make the functioning of the present government effective, the PM's personal deputy secretary Manohari Timilsena said.<br><br></p>

<p>Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central bank of the country, has stated there are around 33.6 million Indian currency notes of the Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations with the banks and the financial institutions across the country.<br><br>The NRB shared this information in response to a query by RSS after reports of increasing confusions surrounding the said Indian currency notes among the general public in the wake of the Indian government banning its currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denomination started pouring in from different trading towns across the country. <br><br>NRB deputy governor Chintamani Siwakoti said the central bank is in consultations with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and through them, with the Indian authorities regarding this issue.</p><p>He said the NRB has also written to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to discuss the fate of Indian currency of 1,000 and 500 denominations in use in Nepal.<br></p><p><b>Effects of demonetisation of Indian Rs 500 and 1000 banknotes </b><br><br>In Nepalgunj, the recent ban on the transaction of Indian currency of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 by Indian government has affected local people, traders and businesspersons in various ways in some parts of the country including bordering areas. </p><p>The affected bordering areas and cities include Dhangadi and Biratnagar the most. &nbsp;<br><br>They have complained that they were in dilemma what to do with the Indian currency of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 they had after the ban. <br><br>On the other hand, Director of the Nepalgunj-based of Nepal Rastra Bank Guru Prasad Poudel said that they were waiting for direction by the government.<br><br><br><br></p>

<p>Minister for Industries Nabindra Raj Joshi and Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Kenichi Yokoyama held discussions regarding the implementation status of the ADB-funded projects. <br><br>In the meeting held at the Ministry of Industry in Singha Durbar today, Minister Joshi said the ministry is moving ahead with priority on performance. <br><br>The Minister and the ADB country director also talked on the investment promotion conference being organised in the first week of March 2017. <br><br>On the occasion, ADB country Director Yokoyama said the ADB would ramp up investment in the production sector. <br><br><br></p>

<p>Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today made commitment to increasing investment in science, technology and research. <br><br>Speaking at a seminar on 'Scientific exploration in Nepal: opportunities and challenges' organised by Nepal National Intellectuals' Organisation in the Capital, Prime Minister Dahal also pledged to invest in this sector even by bringing supplementary budget. <br><br>He also said the government is preparing to drive the country towards economic and social development, and the development of science and technology while ensuring the acceptability of the constitution. <br><br>Nepal has an abundance of resources. It could be utilised to create job opportunities within the country, he asserted. <br><br>Likewise, President of the Development Committee of Parliament Rabindra Adhikari stressed the need for creating job opportunities within the country to lure foreign employment aspiring youths. <br><br></p>

<p>A load-shedding free campaign started by the government in the Kathmandu Valley as a trial is to be expanded gradually to places outside the Valley as well. <br><br>Speaking at a press meet at the Energy Ministry today, Minister Janardan Sharma said the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is technically in the position of continuing the no-power outage drive in the future, too.<br><br>Discussions are underway to determine possible alternative sources for power and to import additional electricity from India, he said.<br><br>Refuting rumours that the NEA is providing regular power supply to the capital by increasing load-shedding hours outside the Valley, he said the constructions of the Chameliya, Kulekhani III and the Upper Trishuli 3 'A' projects are going on war-footing level. &nbsp;<br><br><br></p>

<p>The meeting of the Development Committee has directed the authorities concerned to accelerate the ongoing road-widening project in the Kathmandu Valley so as to complete it soon as the lack of timely completion of the project has left roads dusty prompting to traffic congestion. <br><br>Besides, the meeting directed the authorities concerned to display details informing the public about the roads included in the widening project. &nbsp;<br><br>Likewise, the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority has been asked to present a progress report on the Tripureshwor-Nagdhunga Road widening project within the next seven days, as said by Committee President Rabindra Adhikari. <br><br>The Authority has been instructed to mend pits, potholes and other structural defects in the roads in the capital within a month and properly cultivate trees planted on the midway of roads during the 18th SAARC summit and to restore the roads that turn dusty in winter and become muddy during the winter, giving trouble to travelers.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>The Committee drew the attention of the government towards the completion of the widening project by coming mid-March and to sketch an outline to systematise the Valley transport network. <br><br>Moreover, the Committee directed the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to encourage pedestrians to use overhead bridges and footpaths, systematise the increasing settlement outside the Kathmandu Valley and formulate an umbrella act for the Authority. <br><br>Stating that demolition of an overhead bridge at Kalanki ( before its completion) constructed going against the direction of the&nbsp; Public Account Committee caused a huge loss to the state coffer, the meeting asked the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office to present a report of this within a week. <br><br>Minister for Urban Development Arjun Narshing KC shared that national urban development strategy was under the progress of releasing soon. <br><br>Minister KC further informed that the concerned bodies were directed to develop all river side corridors to be eligible to ply the vehicles aimed at lessening the traffic jam in the valley.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br></p>

<p>Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Ramesh Lekhak has stressed. </p><p>Local poll is a must for the smooth enforcement of the constitution, <br><br>Speaking at a press meet in Bhimduttangar today, the Minister from the Nepali Congress said the constitution amendment and local election are the focused agenda of the government.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br><br></p>

<p>The meeting of the CPN (Maoist Centre) has initiated discussions regarding the report to be submitted in the upcoming national assembly of the party scheduled to begin from December first week. &nbsp;<br><br>The meeting of the party headquarters held in Lajimpat today discussed on latest political developments and the performance of the government among other issues.<br><br>According to party spokesperson Pampha Bhusal, leaders have put forth their views on the issues of the constitution amendment and upcoming national assembly as well. &nbsp;<br><br><br><br></p>

<p>Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) chairman Pashupati Shamser Rana has said his party and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal led by Kamal Thapa will be merging soon.</p><p>Speaking at a party press meet in Phidim of Panchthar today, leader stressed the need of amending the constitution as soon as possible and thereby holding the local poll.</p><p>He was of the view of continuing the existing village-municipal structure to hold the election. <br><br><br></p>