Nepal Votes In Their First Election Since The Civil War

VOA: Nepal Mounts Historic Election

Voters in Nepal are casting their ballots Sunday in a historic election.

They are choosing local lawmakers in seven newly-formed federal states, as well as lawmakers for the national parliament.

The election marks the country's first provincial polls.

The newly elected provincial Nepalese lawmakers will name their states, draft provincial laws and choose local leaders.

Voter turnout is expected to be high for the two-phase election.

More than three million people in northern Nepal, including the area hard hit by an earthquake two years ago, are eligible to vote Sunday.

The more populous south will vote on December 7.

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More News On Nepal Voting In Their First Election Since The Civil War

Nepal election: First poll since civil war ended -- BBC News
Nepal votes in first election since civil war -- Euronews
Nepalese vote in 1st provincial polls amid democracy hopes -- Fox News
18-Year First: Nepal Enters Historic Vote Amid Violence -- Sputnik International
'Politics is still a man's game': can Nepal's elections finally bring stability? -- The Guardian
Timeline: Nepal's rocky road from monarchy to democracy -- Reuters

Earthquake Disaster In Nepal -- News Updates April 27, 2015

Daily Mail: Incredible drone footage shows the shocking extent of destruction across Kathmandu after the city was rocked by huge earthquake

* Images show huge cracks in roads, fallen monuments and flattened buildings after 7.8-magnitude quake hit Nepal
* Nepalese capital remains short on shelter, food, medicine and power and faces serious threat of disease outbreak
* Footage also shows man pulled alive from rubble after being trapped under collapsed building for the last two days
* Came as the death toll surpassed 4,000 this afternoon, with thousands injured and thousands more still missing

Incredible footage taken from a drone over Kathmandu today revealed the shocking extent of the destruction caused by the devastating earthquake.

Aerial images show huge cracks in roads, fallen monuments and flattened houses after the Nepalese capital was rocked by a 7.8-magnitude tremor at the weekend.

The city remains short on shelter, fuel, food, medicine and power as its people searched for lost loved ones, sorted through rubble for their belongings and struggled to provide for their families.

It came as the death toll from the earthquake surpassed 4,000 this afternoon, with thousands of others still missing.

Earthquake Disaster In Nepal -- News Updates April 27, 2015

Nepal earthquake death toll expected to rise sharply – live updates -- The Guardian
The Latest on Nepal Quake: Stronger quake may be yet to come -- AP
Nepal scrambles to organise quake relief, many flee capital -- Reuters
Global effort to help Nepal earthquake victims intensifies -- AP
Grief-stricken Nepal mourns quake victims -- France 24
Nepal quake: Death toll passes 3,700 amid fears of devastation in rural areas -- CNN
Nepal earthquake: fears grow for uncontacted villages as more than 3,700 confirmed dead -- The Guardian
Nepal earthquake: Death toll rises above 3,000 -- BBC
Nepalese Earthquake Death Toll Tops 4,100 - TV -- Sputnik
Nepal Earthquake: Search for Survivors as Aftershocks Rattle Kathmandu -- ABC News
Climbers stranded on Everest face 'race against time' after Nepal earthquake -- The Guardian
Shocking moment: Avalanche ripping through Everest camp captured by climbers (VIDEO) -- RT
Incredible before and after shots shows the devastation caused by 'wave of snow' avalanche that smashed through Everest Base Camp killing 18 -- Daily Mail
Nepal Earthquake: Americans Trying to Get Out Describe 'Really Bad' Situation -- ABC News
Nepal quake: India leads massive aid effort to help survivors -- CNN
UNICEF says nearly a million children 'severely affected' in Nepal -- Reuters
Nepal earthquake: thousands in need of shelter in country little able to cope -- The Guardian
Factbox: Foreigners in Nepal at time of deadly earthquake -- Reuters
Nepal hit by devastating earthquake (Photo Gallery) -- Reuters
Nepal earthquake: Before and after -- BBC

Massive Earthquake Hits Nepal

Daily Mail: More than 700 dead and homes and offices collapse as massive earthquake rocks Nepal destroying historic 19th-century tower

* A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal today causing massive damage in the capital Kathmandu
* Officials said 758 were killed and warned the death toll could rise as rescue teams are still searching for survivors
* The effects were felt in neighbouring countries with at least 20 dead in India, six in Tibet and two in Bangladesh
* Quake also triggered a massive avalanche on Mount Everest killing eight people and injuring at least 30 climber

More than 700 people across four countries have been killed after a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal causing massive damage in the capital.

Homes, businesses and landmarks were destroyed when the severe earthquake struck Kathmandu and the densely-populated surrounding areas at noon local time, officials said.

Officials confirmed that 758 people have died, with 181 people killed in the capital, as rescue teams continue to search for survivors who are feared to be trapped under the rubble. Home Ministry official Laxmi Dhakal warned the death toll is almost certain to rise.

Live Updates

Earthquake rocks Nepal (Live) -- BBC
Devastating 7.9-magnitude quake strikes Nepal, India LIVE UPDATES -- RT
Nepal earthquake: hundreds of people dead - live updates -- The Guardian
Nepal Earthquake Live -- The Telegraph
Nepal Live Updates -- First Post

More News On Today's Massive Earthquake In Nepal

Devastating Nepal earthquake kills hundreds, triggers deadly Everest avalanche -- Reuters
Nepal quake: Hundreds dead, history crumbles, Everest shaken -- AP
Nepal earthquake: Hundreds die, many feared trapped -- BBC
7.8 Magnitude Earthquake in Nepal Kills Hundreds and Levels Buildings -- NYT
7.8 magnitude earthquake slams Nepal, nearly 800 dead, authorities say -- CNN
Powerful Magnitude-7.8 Earthquake Rocks Nepal, Death Toll Approaches 900 -- WSJ
Nepal quake: hundreds dead after tremor hits near Kathmandu -- The Guardian
Powerful earthquake kills hundreds in Nepal -- Al Jazeera
Over 750 killed after 7.9-magnitude earthquake strikes Nepal -- RT
Russia's Emergencies Ministry offers aid to Nepal in eliminating aftermaths of earthquake -- ITAR-TASS
Firsthand Accounts of Nepal Earthquake -- NYT
Quake triggers Everest avalanche, 10 killed -- Reuters
8 dead, more missing in quake-triggered avalanche on Everest -- AP
Eight dead after Everest base camp severely damaged -- The Telegraph
Massive earthquake hits Nepal - in pictures -- The Telegraph
Earthquake in Nepal - in pictures -- The Guardian
Nepal quake occurred at major plate boundary -- USA Today
Map of earthquake region -- USGS
Key facts about Nepal, site of magnitude-7.8 quake -- AP
Why Nepal is so vulnerable to quakes -- Jonathan Amos, BBC
The world's strongest earthquakes since 1900 -- AP

Nepal Ex-Maoist Soldiers Absorbed Into The National Army

Young Maoist combatants at a satellite camp in Jhyaltung Daanda of Nawalparasi district. The Hindu

Nepal Army 'Completes' Peace Process With Maoists -- BBC

Nepalese soldiers have moved into camps where thousands of former Maoist rebels have lived for more than five years.

The former rebels have now come under control of the army in what is seen as a key step to securing peace six years after the end of Nepal's civil war.

About 9,000 former fighters have been confined to camps since 2006, awaiting a political settlement.

About 6,000 of them are to be integrated into the army. The remainder will get a financial settlement.

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More News On Nepal Integrating Maoist Combatants Into The Army

Nepal's army takes control of ex-rebel fighters -- AP
Nepal Army takes charge of Maoist combatants -- The Hindu
Nepal army takes control of former Maoist fighters -- Reuters
Nepal Maoists under army now -- Times of India
Nepal's army takes control of former Maoist fighters -- Business Recorder

Nepal Gets A New Leader

Nepal's newly elected Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal leaves the parliament house in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, Feb. 3, 2011. The Constituent Assembly of Nepal elected Thursday the Communist Party of Nepal - Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) Chairman Jhalanath Khanal as the 34th prime minister of the country. (Xinhua/Bimal Gautam)

Nepal Gets New Leader, But Future Still Jittery -- Christian Science Monitor

Nepal got a new prime minister after seven months of a leadership vacuum. Some say the new coalition may result in boosting the agenda of the Maoist party.

Nepal got a functioning prime minister after seven months of leadership vacuum on Thursday, but analysts refused to call it a breakthrough and remained jittery about the future of the country’s stalled peace process.

Jhala Nath Khanal, the chief of a moderate communist party, Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), was elevated to the post after 16 rounds of voting. He got last-minute backing from the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), which fought a 10-year war against state forces until 2006.

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More News On Nepal's New Leader

Nepal: Jhalanath Khanal elected new prime minister -- BBC
Nepal chooses a new prime minister -- L.A. Times
Election of New Leader in Nepal Brings Hope of Peace -- Voice of America
Nepal Selects a Premier, Ending a Stalemate -- New York Times
Nepalese parliament elects new prime minister -- CNN
Nepal's new leader begins forming govt -- AFP
Nepal gets new PM, ending long process -- UPI
Profile: New Nepal Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal -- BBC

A Step Towards Peace In Nepal

Nepal's Maoists Hand Over Control of Ex-Rebels -- Voice of America

Nepal's Maoist former rebels formally handed command of their fighters over to the government on Saturday.

A cross-party committee will now monitor the 19,000 former fighters who have been confined to camps around Nepal since the civil war ended in 2006.

Nepal's government now has the task of integrating the former rebels into the security forces.

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More News On Nepal's Maoists Handing Control of Their Ex-Fighters

US hails Nepal move on Maoist forces -- AFP
Nepal gains control of ex-fighters -- Al Jazeera
Nepal Takes Command of Ex-Rebels -- New York Times
Nepal's Maoists hand over control of ex-rebel army -- Business Recorder
Nepal govt takes formal control of Maoist army -- Times Of India
Nepal Maoists severe ties with their army; hand over combatants’ -- Asian Tribune

Nepal's Nationwide Strike Over ..... For Now

Nepalese police use tear gas to dispel crowds of protesters. Photo AFP

Despite End of Maoist Strike Nepal's Crisis Continues -- Voice of America

Nepal's Maoists have lifted a general strike that crippled commerce for a week in the Himalayan nation. Life on the streets began returning to normal Saturday, but the political crisis enveloping the country is far from over.

The shutters came up on street-front shops of Nepal's capital Saturday.

Nepal's business community estimates the forced shutdown cost the country's already weak economy about one quarter of a billion dollars.

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More News On Nepal

Maoists End Strike in Nepal -- New York Times
Nepal's streets lively after crippling strike ends -- AP
Life limps back to normalcy in Nepal -- Xinhuanet
Maoists call off strike after six days -- BBC
Nepal Maoists end unpopular strike -- Al Jazeera
Maoists end nationwide strike in Nepal -- AFP

Crisis In Nepal -- News Updates

Nepalese prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal annnounces his resignation in Kathmandu. Photograph: Pradeep Shrestha/AFP/Getty Images

Nepal In Crisis As Maoist PM Quits -- AFP

KATHMANDU (AFP) — Nepal's Maoist Prime Minister Prachanda resigned on Monday, plunging the country into a major political crisis triggered by a stand-off between his ex-rebels and the army chief.

In a televised address to the nation, Prachanda said he was stepping down in response to an "unconstitutional and undemocratic" move by Nepal's president to stop the elected Maoist government from sacking the army chief.

He also warned that the impoverished nation's 2006 peace deal, which ended a decade of civil war that left 13,000 dead, was in danger of falling apart.

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More News On Nepal

Nepal prime minister quits amid sacking protest -- The Guardian
Nepali PM resigns in bid to save 'infant democracy' -- CNN
Nepal head tells general to stay -- BBC
Nepal prime minister resigns -- L.A. Times
Nepal’s Maoist Prime Minister Resigns -- New York Times
Nepal's Maoist Prime Minister Prachanda Resigns -- Wall Street Journal
SCENARIOS - What next for Nepal after Maoists quit government? -- Reuters