KATHMANDU, NEPAL -
The Nepali Congress (NC), the only one oldest democratic party of the country, emerged as the largest party in to be formed Constituent Assembly (CA). With counting for the first-past-the-post (FPTP), the NC secured 105 seats and leading in the proportional representation (PR) race too. The CPN-UML has also been following the NC. The UCPN (Maoist), the largest party in the dissolved CA, is being limited in third position. In the PFTP vote count, the NC, UML and UCPN Maoist secured 105, 91 and 26 seats respectively. Recent trend clearly indicates that the NC and the UML will comfortably secure two-thirds majority. The election result is a huge gain to the NC and the UML as both the parties in the 2008 CA election together had a total of 223 seats, against the Maoists\' 229. With the two third majority to the NC and UML, it is expected that previous saga that had persisted during the last CA would not repeat again as recent election result would not only ease to form a majority government but to promulgate a new democratic constitution within the stipulated time frame.
As the constitution is regarded as document of consensus, size matters would not work to promulgate a new constitution; though the NC and UML garner two third majorities require promulgating a new constitution. As the politics is not simply a numbers game, the Nepali Congress and CPN UML should understand that the number of seats is not everything to conclude the remaining task of the ongoing peace process. The cause and consequence of the dissolved CA should be analyzed to identify the road to ahead. The last CA was failed by the political parties particularly the big four as they had forgotten the path of consensus politics. If we go thoroughly to identify the reason behind the failure of the dissolved CA, there would be an obvious saying that the UCPN Maoist and Madhesi parties played foul game by relinquishing in the government. Some childish stand like single identity based federal set up had also led to fail the last CA. We have no intention to blame any political parties here but would like to urge all the parties to stay apart of partisan interest and work together towards a common goal of promulgating a new constitution institutionalizing the achievements made from the popular movement.
We have nothing to say here but would like to remind all the political parties that the need of the hour is consensus among the political force that had brought the nation at this stage. Conesus is the only peninsula of the hour which would not only to ease to promulgate a new constitution within the stipulated time frame but also conclude the ongoing peace process. As the UCPN Maoist is the integral part of the ongoing peace process, it should not run away from the constitution making process though it has faced humiliating defeat in the CA election. As election is the base and beauty of the democracy, any mistakes should be corrected through the rightful channels but not from the streets. Concerned stake holder like Constitutional Assembly Court should hear the grievances of the UCPN Maoist. Obviously, the NC and UML must play an active role in reaching out to the dissenting parties. The UCPN Maoist also should not create obstacle but cooperate to reach out the dissident political parties that had boycotted the CA election and work together with the NC and UML to promulgate a new democratic constitution within one year period.
KATHMANDU, NEPAL -
Nepalese Maoist leader Prachanda has lost his position in Kathmandu booth in the 2nd CA election and he said that he and his party do not accept the results of the election. Nepal has languished in political deadlock since the Maoists laid down arms seven years ago, with six governments failing to forge a constitution. Nepal\'s giant neighbors, India and China, as well as western donors, have grown increasingly concerned about the prolonged struggle to build a stable nation may be to replace the Nepal\'s old monarchy. Without effective government with constitutional, the country can\'t save its sovereignty and not to be able to utilize the natural resources and develop internal production.
In this election, Congress and UML got top votes challenging the \'One Madhes, one Pradesh\' Limbuwan, Khambuwan and ethnic-based federalism including the U-Maoist\'s notorious egoistic challenges. We know, the leaders of Congress, UML are also almost corrupts and traitors. The Congress leaders- Sher Bahadur Deuwa, Ram Chandra Paudel, Krishna Sitoula and UML leaders- Madhavb Nepal, Jhalanath, Subash Nembang, Bamdev Gautam are corrupts and no so good. The Congress and UML\'s corrupted regime had created the Maoists\' war. After all, it became the people\'s compulsion to chase away these anarchists and ethnic based federalists. Then, it became necessary to vote among the evil elements of Congress and UML also. Now and then, we hope, the Congress, UML will join their hands with the nationalist forces like-RPP-Nepal for the stability and unity among the Nepalese people.
It is necessary to point that the Indian Intelligence Agency-RAW has been defaming \'INDIA\'. The Maoists, who revolt to overthrow the Nepalese monarchy and Hindu nation by the hints of RAW, emerged as the single-largest party during the last CA election (2008). But during this year CA election, while the vote counting was in progress during midnight of 20th Nov 2013, the anti-Maoist parties- Congress and UML was in leading position at almost all the CA seats then the Maoist uttered an immediate end of vote counting and a review of the whole process of the election. The U-Maoist would be boycotted before the CA election. After 24 hours, The Madhesi parties also followed the path of U-Maoist boycotting the vote counting after losing the seat of CA election. But, after 36 hours, the Maoist Prachanda is elected from Seraha and Upendra Yadhav and Bijaya Gachhedar are elected in another booth. Then, why they are going to boycott? It is very shameful for Nepalese voters and the international communities to hear such news.
I think, RAW has imposed to boycott the CA counting to terrorize Nepal because the Indian notorious Intelligence Agency- RAW Chief Aalok Joshi is in Kathmandu investing money and equipments to the Maoists and Madhesi. I think, if India does not dismiss RAW-the conspirator institution, Indian can break. We Nepalese people hate the RAW\'s nefarious activities. So, I request to the Indian government to dismiss the notorious Agency-RAW who is creating defaming India day by day. due to the RAW\'s nefarious activities. So, I request to the Indian government to quit such notorious Agency-RAW who is creating defaming India day by day.
In that context, Nepal\'s chief election commissioner said-\'I urge all political parties, media, and observers to show restraint until the final results from the counting come,\' European Union observers said voting had been conducted in \"an orderly and generally calm atmosphere\". Former US president Jimmy Carter, who led a separate monitoring team, said he was very disappointed to hear that the Maoists had rejected the count and he called on them to respect the will of the electorate. \"They must refrain from violent protest, and I urge them to allow the electoral process to continue,\"
Actually, the 2nd CA election was not necessary in Nepal and itself it is unconstitutional. The parties could not format the new constitution in four years in the past CA. During the last seven years, the leaders of ruling parties-the so called republicans especially the U-Maoists seemed disoriented in institutionalizing the state organs. They have totally failed on all counts of national integrity and social harmony to maintain law and order to good governance to the country development and ignored the demand of common people. They are engaging in power politics for looting and earning the sate money undermining the democratic norms and values. Actually, due to the anarchist, dictatorial and non- political activities, the U-Maoists have got fizzle out.
Let is be, due to the recklessness and nonsense activities of the parties, the country is in dangerous position. If the elected 2nd CA members have sense of Nepalese nationality and democracy, to save Nepal it is necessary to keep its sovereignty intact, they should join their hands with monarchy restoring the Hindu nation.
Due to the looters and traitors\' regime since 2006, the situation of Nepal is in danger position. \'Let the darkness of ignorance be replaced by the light of knowledge.\'-(Sanskrit) This message is for every individual and enriches one\'s own knowledge and enlightenment. We must make our efforts to illuminate ourselves, society and the country with the intellectual light. Nepal is now facing several problems like mistrust, conflict and confrontation. If we enrich our level of understanding, many of the problems would be automatically resolved. First of all, the traitors and corrupts from 2006, should be punished. Then, we Nepalese people can adjust our way of life prosperous keeping sovereignty intact reinstating the norms of 1990 constitution for the sake of Nepalese stability.
In the context of Nepal, in the absence of democratic constitutional monarchy and parliamentary system, Nepal can\'t move. In Nepal, where nationalistic democratic norms with constitutional monarchy are widely respected, a democratic system is more likely to be characterized by greater freedom, more responsive government, predictable behavior, and successful conflict resolution. Actually, the dysfunctional attitude of culprit leaders thwarted the constitution making and is the result of illegitimate prolongation of the power for their benefits. The everlasting crisis is the result of the Maoist conspirator tactics, it continuing to be used by criminal gangs. So, due to the traitor\'s regime, the government has no capability to control large scale eruption of violence. The 2nd CA also can\'t format the constitution. So, to give the nation a solution the new 2nd elected CA must proposed and decide to implement the articles of 1990 constitution to honor the unchangeable provisions of constitutional monarchy with Hindu nation. Email:dirgharajprasai@gmail.com
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By NJ Thakuria
Guwahati: The political turmoil may not recede in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but the initiative for an inter-country gas pipeline project continues as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been ‘appointed transaction advisor to help attract a commercial consortium leader of global repute that will build, own and operate the planned 1,800-kilometer natural gas pipeline.
The gas pipeline connecting Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and Pakistan with India is estimated to export up to 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India over 30 years. The project (TAPI), supposed to be completed by 2017 will allow the landlocked Turkmenistan to diversify its gas export markets to the southeast Asia and it will also provide a vital new fuel source for developing Afghanistan and help Pakistan tackle chronic fuel shortages, said a statement issued on November 19, 2013 by the ADB from Ashgabat of Turkmenistan.
“We are grateful for the confidence the parties have in ADB to help move this important gas project one step closer to fruition,” said Klaus Gerhaeusser, ADB director general in-charge of central and west Asia department. He also added that it would bring ‘multiple benefits to the participants, including access to new markets, enhanced energy security and job opportunities, and have transformational impact on regional cooperation and boost other initiatives aimed at bringing peace and stability to the region’.
The ADB is understood to advise on the establishment of the said gas pipeline project and also ‘handle the bidding and selection of a commercial consortium leader to build, own and operate the pipeline’. The entire project is jointly owned by four country gas firms namely Turkmengas, Afghan Gas Enterprise, Inter State Gas Systems pvt ltd and GAIL (India) ltd.
The energy starved India, which is set to become the third largest energy consumer in the globe by 2025 after the US and China, continues its initiative for acquiring natural gas from Myanmar too. However, few days the Indian foreign minister Salman Khurshid termed the TAPI gas pipeline project as a real-time investment for the country of one billion populaces. The minister of course admitted that it would be necessary to keep patience as the route involves countries (read Afghanistan and Pakistan) with difficult situations till today.
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Guwahati: To deal with the huge volume of garbage produced by every city today, an eminent environmental activist of Assam emphasizes on promoting non-burning technologies. Aashim K Chatterjee, who strongly opposes the open burning of garbage, argues that the practice can help curbing the level of pollution in the air.
Attending a program on October 30, 2013 in Guwahati Press Club, Mr Chatterjee pointed out that the increase of dioxin in the air is because of open burning of various wastes that is inviting a number of cancerous diseases to the human health.
He also asserted that the ‘waste which cannot be reused, recycled, or composted cleanly, should be land-filled rather than incinerated as it would help in lesser release of dioxin to the environment’. Mentionable is that the dioxin is a nomenclature given to a large group of chemical compounds with similar structure those are made up of Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen and Chlorine atoms.
“Burning of municipal waste, bio-medical waste, backyard blazing and automobile emissions continue to contribute to the release of dioxin into the environment, which is feared as one of the most common and causative agents of cancer,” said Mr Chatterjee, who has been experienced in the waste management process for more than a decade now.
“We are exposed to dioxin through the air that we breathe. The pollutants in the air carry large amounts of it which could target us at any given instance. Hence we must limit its release into the environment,” added the activist.
The statistics of cancer patients in Assam is the highest in northeast India. According to a list prepared in 2011-2012 by the activist, Assam had 4443 cancer patients followed by Meghalaya with 101 cases. The other States of the region had less than hundred reported cancer patients as Nagaland had 84, Arunachal Pradesh 65, Mizoram 59, Manipur
38 and Tripura had the lowest of 14 cases.
Mr Chatterjee, who continues his effort to generate public awareness on the growing menace of air, water and surface pollution across the region with organizing training, technical knowhow and waste management services to a large number of hospitals in Assam insisted on the strict legislations to be implemented with an aim to curb out the menace of dioxin at the earliest.
Dec 04 -
BIRATNAGAR: As many as 134 cases of violence against women have been reported in the past four months in Morang, according to a statistics.
This statistics was presented amidst a programme organised by the ABC Nepal Biratnagar under the 16-day ongoing campaign against violence against women on Tuesday.
ABC-Nepal Biratnagar chairperson Bishnu Sharma informed that of the cases, four are related to trafficking in women, six of possible trafficking, 43 of domestic violence, seven are of sexual harassment, three are related to missing, four are related to polygamy and seven are of rape, among others.
Likewise, during the same period, 57 girls were rescued from the Nepal-India border.
At the programme, violence survivors shared how and on what charges they were tortured mentally and physically by their husbands, in-laws and members of family.
Most of them were thrashed for not bringing enough dowries from their maternal home and some even were expelled from houses on the same charge. Similarly, husbands of some survivors married with second woman for not \'fulfilling\' their expectations.
Speaking at the programme, advocate Meena Sedhai called on the government to enforce the laws against violence against women effectively and ensure women\'s rights.
Chief of Women and Children Development Office, Morang Gita Mahat urged the government to manage rehabilitation centers for the survivors.
Kishori Shakti Protection Center Morang coordinator Rajendra Dhakal, advocate Kabita Basnet and the survivors stressed the need of implementing prevailing laws against violence against women.
Toddler found dead
Meanwhile, a new-born baby with Mongolian face was found dead on the roadside behind the Adarsha Secondary School, according to the District Police Office Morang.
The body has been sent to the Koshi Zonal Hospital for post-mortem. Police are investigating the case.RSS
KATHMANDU, Dec 4: The Narayan Gopal Music Trust has honored senior musician Deepak Jangham with this year´s Swor Samrat Smriti Award.
Musician and lyricist CK Rasaili conferred the Award on musician Jangham amidst a function organized to mark the 23rd Memorial Day of Swor Samrat Narayan Gopal Gurubacharya on Wednesday.
Speaking at the programme, Award recipient Jangham said all songs sung by veteran singer Narayan Gopal are popular and evergreen. He expressed happiness over being a recipient of the Award set up after the late singer´s name.
General Secretary of the Trust, Usha Sherchan, spoke on Narayan Gopal´s contribution to Nepali music and stressed that the new generation needs to give due respect to Narayan Gopal.
Yo Samjhine Man Chha Ma Birsu Kasori, Malai Nasodha Kaha Dukchha Ghau…, Parkhi Banse Aula Bhani…, Ankha Chhopi Narou Bhani…, and Mero Piyaro Okhaldhunga, are some of the evergreen songs sung by veteran singer Narayan Gopal. RSS
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
KATHMANDU, Dec 4: The Nepali Congress party said Wednesday it plans to lead a broad-based coalition after winning the most votes in last month´s election, with agreement on a new constitution its top priority.
The Nepali Congress, one of the country´s oldest parties, won 196 of the 575 seats up for grabs in the November 19 polls, according to the final results, pushing the former ruling Maoists into third place.
The Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) party secured 175 seats in the constituent assembly. The Maoists, which swept Nepal´s first post-civil war elections in 2008, were humiliated with a tally of 80 seats.
\"Our first priority is to form a consensus (cross-party) government,\" Nepali Congress general secretary Prakash Man Singh told AFP.
\"A consensus government will make it easier for us to promulgate the constitution, which is our primary task,\" Singh added.
The Maoists, which entered the political mainstream in 2006 after a decade-long civil war, have alleged that the polls were marred by fraud, leaving their participation in the constituent assembly in doubt.
Singh said his party wanted the Maoists on board but added that it was prepared to form a \"majority\" government with the UML, if they refused to join a cross-party coalition.
The new government will nominate another 26 people to join the 601-member constituent assembly, which will also serve as a parliament.
The former rebels gave up arms after signing a peace agreement which ended royal rule and transformed Nepal into a secular republic.
Since then a string of coalition governments have squabbled and failed to agree on the text of a constitution, forcing the collapse of the first constituent assembly in May 2012.
A total of 30 parties have won seats in the elections, which saw more than 100 parties field candidates.
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
KATHMANDU, Dec 4: The Nepali Congress party said Wednesday it plans to lead a broad-based coalition after winning the most votes in last month´s election, with agreement on a new constitution its top priority.
The Nepali Congress, one of the country´s oldest parties, won 196 of the 575 seats up for grabs in the November 19 polls, according to the final results, pushing the former ruling Maoists into third place.
The Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) party secured 175 seats in the constituent assembly. The Maoists, which swept Nepal´s first post-civil war elections in 2008, were humiliated with a tally of 80 seats.
\"Our first priority is to form a consensus (cross-party) government,\" Nepali Congress general secretary Prakash Man Singh told AFP.
\"A consensus government will make it easier for us to promulgate the constitution, which is our primary task,\" Singh added.
The Maoists, which entered the political mainstream in 2006 after a decade-long civil war, have alleged that the polls were marred by fraud, leaving their participation in the constituent assembly in doubt.
Singh said his party wanted the Maoists on board but added that it was prepared to form a \"majority\" government with the UML, if they refused to join a cross-party coalition.
The new government will nominate another 26 people to join the 601-member constituent assembly, which will also serve as a parliament.
The former rebels gave up arms after signing a peace agreement which ended royal rule and transformed Nepal into a secular republic.
Since then a string of coalition governments have squabbled and failed to agree on the text of a constitution, forcing the collapse of the first constituent assembly in May 2012.
A total of 30 parties have won seats in the elections, which saw more than 100 parties field candidates.
RSS
KATHMANDU: A delegation of the European Union (EU) ambassadors called on Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala this morning and held discussions on matters pertaining to the recent Constituent Assembly (CA) election, constitution-drafting and formation of a new government, among others.
During the meeting took place at Koirala\'s residence at Maharajgunj, the EU Ambassadors were learnt to have expressed happiness over the successful completion of the November 19 CA election in Nepal and expressed gratitude to Koirala for his support to that end.
On the occasion, the NC President said his party would lead the process of constituting a consensus government as it is going to be the largest party in the new CA and pledged to initiate the constitution making process and form a new government by taking all the parties into confidence, according to NC central member Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat who was also present in the meeting.
The EU Ambassadors expressed satisfaction over the peaceful and fair CA election, wished for the formation of a new government as soon as possible and acceleration in the constitution drafting, Dr. Mahat said. The EU ambassadors also stressed the need of holding the local bodies\' election soon, he added.
The meeting focused on the discussions about the people\'s mandate they gave through the November 19 election for drafting a new constitution on time and the matters of local bodies\' election and a new government formation, said Ambassador and delegation Chief Rensje Teerink after the meeting.
Koirala\'a personal secretary Laxman Dhakal also confirmed the EU ambassadors\' meeting with the NC President Koirala by issuing a press note.
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4: A parked sedan rolled into the Malaysian premier´s official car at parliament on Wednesday, but the prime minister was not hurt, an official said.
Prime Minister Najib Razak was on his way to parliament when a car temporarily parked at the guard house at the compound´s entrance rolled back and hit his Proton Perdana, a spokesman said.
The Volvo´s driver had forgotten to engage the handbrake while he got out to get a security pass to enter parliament, he said.
\"The car is slightly damaged. PM not hurt,\" the spokesman said in a text message.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh was quoted by the official Bernama news agency as saying that authorities investigated the man, who is in his 20s, but the probe did not reveal any criminal intention.
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4: A parked sedan rolled into the Malaysian premier´s official car at parliament on Wednesday, but the prime minister was not hurt, an official said.
Prime Minister Najib Razak was on his way to parliament when a car temporarily parked at the guard house at the compound´s entrance rolled back and hit his Proton Perdana, a spokesman said.
The Volvo´s driver had forgotten to engage the handbrake while he got out to get a security pass to enter parliament, he said.
\"The car is slightly damaged. PM not hurt,\" the spokesman said in a text message.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh was quoted by the official Bernama news agency as saying that authorities investigated the man, who is in his 20s, but the probe did not reveal any criminal intention.
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
DHAKA, Dec 4: Opposition activists killed three people when they derailed a train in Bangladesh Wednesday as part of a campaign against elections scheduled for next month, officials said.
Three coaches and the engine of the express toppled off the tracks in the northern district of Gaibandha and trapped dozens of passengers, police and railway spokesmen said.
\"Among the trapped passengers, three have died -- rwo men and a woman,\" Gaibandha police chief Sajid Hossain told AFP.
Hossain said five passengers who had been rescued from one of the derailed coaches were seriously hurt and others had minor injuries.
The private television network Somoy put the number of injured at 40.
Mahbubul Alam Bakshi, the head of Bangladesh Railway´s northern region, said protesters removed fishplates linking the rails in what he called \"an act of sabotage\".
Police chief Hossain said Wednesday´s derailing was believed to be the work of opposition activists protesting at plans to hold next month´s election, adding that two had been arrested at the scene.
Bakshi said the pair were both followers of Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist movement which is banned from taking part in the election and is allied to the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Opposition activists trying to enforce a transport strike also derailed two other trains early Wednesday, forcing the suspension of four key train services in the southeast and all services in the southwestern city of Khulna, police and officials said.
Two burns victims, injured during arson attacks in the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chittagong, died of their injuries early Wednesday.
At least 64 people -- 34 of them since last week -- have now been killed since late October when the BNP began a mass campaign to try to force Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to stand down ahead of the January 5 elections.
The BNP and its Islamist ally want a caretaker government to oversee the polls, as with previous elections, to ensure fairness.
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
DHAKA, Dec 4: Opposition activists killed three people when they derailed a train in Bangladesh Wednesday as part of a campaign against elections scheduled for next month, officials said.
Three coaches and the engine of the express toppled off the tracks in the northern district of Gaibandha and trapped dozens of passengers, police and railway spokesmen said.
\"Among the trapped passengers, three have died -- rwo men and a woman,\" Gaibandha police chief Sajid Hossain told AFP.
Hossain said five passengers who had been rescued from one of the derailed coaches were seriously hurt and others had minor injuries.
The private television network Somoy put the number of injured at 40.
Mahbubul Alam Bakshi, the head of Bangladesh Railway´s northern region, said protesters removed fishplates linking the rails in what he called \"an act of sabotage\".
Police chief Hossain said Wednesday´s derailing was believed to be the work of opposition activists protesting at plans to hold next month´s election, adding that two had been arrested at the scene.
Bakshi said the pair were both followers of Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist movement which is banned from taking part in the election and is allied to the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Opposition activists trying to enforce a transport strike also derailed two other trains early Wednesday, forcing the suspension of four key train services in the southeast and all services in the southwestern city of Khulna, police and officials said.
Two burns victims, injured during arson attacks in the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chittagong, died of their injuries early Wednesday.
At least 64 people -- 34 of them since last week -- have now been killed since late October when the BNP began a mass campaign to try to force Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to stand down ahead of the January 5 elections.
The BNP and its Islamist ally want a caretaker government to oversee the polls, as with previous elections, to ensure fairness.
They are boycotting the poll, which electoral officials have said could be postponed.
They are boycotting the poll, which electoral officials have said could be postponed.
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
LAHORE, Pakistan, Dec 4: Pakistan paceman Wahab Riaz has been booked by police for breaching local laws against excessive wedding celebrations.
The 28-year-old left-arm paceman, who got married on Saturday, was accused after Lahore district magistrate officials raided his house on Thursday.
The Punjab authorities passed a rule late last month banning marriage ceremonies beyond 10:00 pm in the night and barring more than one dish in meals.
The law is widely condemned in Lahore, a vibrant city where marriage ceremonies are the most lavish in the country and renowned for running late into the night.
Riaz´s father Sikander said his son was granted bail from the additional session judge until December 9.
\"It´s a baseless case against us and Riaz has been granted bail until December 9 and after that we will file a defamation case against those who raided our house,\" Sikander told reporters.
Mohammad Amir, inspector in the city government, said Riaz´s house was raided on reports of violation.
\"We raided his house at around 11pm and found that five dishes were served in meals which was a violation and an FIR (first information report) was lodged against Riaz,\" Amir told AFP.
If proven guilty Riaz will be fined in the range of 100,000 to 150,000 Pakistani rupees ($1,000 to $1,500).
Riaz has played seven Tests, 39 one-dayers and six Twenty20s for Pakistan. He was dropped from the team for this month´s short tour of South Africa and has not been selected since.
Queen Latifah admits having Michelle Obama on her show would be a \"dream.\"
The presenter thinks the U.S. first lady would be the perfect guest for her new \'The Queen Latifah Show,\' which aired for the first time last month, and has even named part of her studio the \'Michelle Obama Lounge\'.
Speaking to Conan O\'Brien on Tuesday night (29.10.13), she said: \"You know a girl can dream right. I think it would be awesome. She (Michelle) hasn\'t been there yet. The whole set is designed like my house basically. That\'s the concept. You know like you come in, you sit, you have dinner at the kitchen table. So I made sure there\'s a kitchen, you know like a dining room table so we can chit chat. Then there\'s the lounge where she is, which is kind of like a family room with a den.
She added: \"So that\'s the hope you know. That she\'ll come on and sit in her very own lounge designed for her.\"
Fortunately, the former actress is no stranger to high profile guests appearing on her show. Superstar Dolly Parton shocked audiences last week when she performed a rap that left Queen Latifah no less than impressed.
She said: \"Lets be clear Dolly Parton is a rapper. Somewhere before all the country, I don\'t know what happens up there in the mountains when you\'re growing up, but she has been spitting rhymes for a very long time - 50 years I\'d say.
She added: \"When she knew she was coming on the show, she was like, \'Oh I\'ll tell you what we are going to do I\'m going to do my rap,\' and I\'m like, \'you do whatever the hell you want you Dolly Parton.\' \"
This Interview was originally published in www.femalefirst.co.uk .
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By MARK K. UPDEGROVE 31-10-13
Jimmy Carter left the White House in 1981, but his life of public service was far from over. He has enjoyed the longest post-presidency of any U.S. President, and one of the most productive. His work through the Carter Center, the nonprofit he and Mrs. Carter began in 1982, played a large part in his 2002 Nobel Peace Prize. Nearly 33 years after leaving the White House, the former president, 89, and first lady, 86, speak with Parade on the work they are most proud of, how Washington politics have changed, and the secret to their 67-year marriage.
Check out highlights from the interview below, and be sure to check out this weekend’s issue of Parade for the full story.
On how President Carter hopes history will remember him:
Jimmy Carter: “I’d like to be judged primarily by our work at the Carter Center for the last 32 years. I don’t mean to exclude the White House. But in my more self-satisfied moments, I think about our unwavering promotion of peace and human rights.”
On how he would evaluate the Obama presidency so far:
JC: “He’s done the best he could under the circumstances. His major accomplishment was Obamacare, and the implementation of it now is questionable at best.”
On how President Carter would advise Hillary Clinton regarding a possible run in 2016:
JC: “Most of the democratic candidates consult with me, at least to be polite. I tell them, ‘go ahead and run.’ I use myself as an example. Nobody thought I had a chance in God’s world to be the nominee. Obviously she’ll have a good chance if she does run.”
Grandson James Carter IV uncovered the hidden camera video of Mitt Romney making his comments about the 47 percent. What was President Carter’s reaction?
JC: “I think it was the turning point [in the election]. About six months later, President Obama came to Atlanta, and another grandson, Jason, a state senator, took James over to meet the president, and Obama thanked him profusely. I was very proud.”
In Carter’s day, experts put his legislative batting average at 76%. Has Washington changed?
JC: “Dramatically. The most seminal cause has been the massive influx of money into campaigns. The Citizens United ruling was a terrible mistake. Now even corporations with partial ownership from overseas have an almost unlimited impact on elections…The main way you win elections these days is by destroying the reputation of your opponent. And the winners go to Washington highly imbued with partisanship…The country is polarized—not only in Washington, but back home, too. The other factor is the gerrymandering of districts.”
Mrs. Carter has been active in mental health for more than 40 years. Given the recent shootings, what are her views on whether we have a mental health issue or a gun control issue?
Rosalynn Carter: “There’s a mental health problem in the sense that people are so afraid of the stigma that they don’t get help. But there’s absolutely a gun control problem in the country. Only 4 percent of all violent crimes in the U.S. are committed by people with mental illnesses. It’s just unbelievable to me that the National Rifle Association has so much power. I think Americans probably want gun control but Congress can’t vote for it.”
What’s the secret to your 67-year marriage?
RC: “I think space. He lets me do things I am interested in, and I let him do things he’s interested in.”
Mr. Carter came to the defense of Paula Deen after she admitted to using a racial slur. What advice was offered?
JC: “She’s a very close friend. I told her she ought to publicize what she’s done for very poor people in Savannah, more than two-thirds of whom are African-American. She said she’d done that. What she did was admit what almost every southerner of her age would have to admit—that sometime in their lives they probably used the word. I’m not making an excuse – I don’t need to. I was in the navy when Truman ordained that racial discrimination be over in the military. I came home looking upon African-Americans as equals.”
This interview was originally published in http://www.parade.com .
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