Latest news with #Development
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Nepal after its Maoist revolution
The writer is an academic and researcher. He is also the author of Development, Poverty, and Power in Pakistan, available from Routledge Listen to article The mountainous, land-locked, never colonised nation of Nepal is getting increased international attention due to the unfolding great power competition in South Asia. Whether Nepal will be able to leverage this newfound external interest to its advantage depends on the ability of its current leftist leaders to transcend personal ambitions and demonstrate greater statesmanship. Communist ideologies have not had much luck in Bangladesh and Pakistan. While Sri Lanka has seen the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) form a government after the ouster of the Rajapaksa brothers in 2022, the JVP's historic communist leanings have been significantly compromised. Communist parties yield significant influence in Indian states like Kerala, Tripura and West Bengal, and Maoist rebels are locked in a lingering insurgency against the hegemonic national government as well. Yet, Nepal is the only South Asian country where Maoists managed to take over the reins of power. Nepal's recent political history has experienced rapid changes. The Shah dynasty unified Nepal during the 18th century, but real power soon shifted to hereditary chief ministers known as the Ranas. The Nepali Congress Liberation Army operating from newly independent India then formed an alliance with the monarchy to undermine the Ranas in 1951. After sovereignty of the crown was restored, the Nepali Congress Party worked with the monarchy to form a new government, until King Mahendra decided to suspend parliament, and turn the country into an absolute monarchy again in 1960. Increasing disgruntlement with the Hindu monarchy eventually led communist influences to gain influence. An outright Maoist revolt soon plunged Nepal into a civil war in 1996, which lasted for almost a decade. A Comprehensive Peace Accord was finally signed between the government and Maoists in 2006, which abolished the monarchy. Yet, despite the creation of a multi-party system, the political landscape of the country has remained instable. There has been significant fragmentation amongst the Maoists, and formation and dissolution of varied coalitions has led to repeated changes in governments, even within a single electoral cycle. During the last general elections, held in 2022, the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-Maoist) formed a coalition with the Nepali Congress Party to secure power. But this partnership lasted for just over a year, before major differences emerged. A new leftist coalition was formed between the CPN (M) and the United Community Party (Marxist-Leninist), but the political situation remained tenuous. The CPN (M) has recently formed a new coalition with the Nepali Congress Party. How long this new coalition will survive before tensions erupt between these traditionally competing parties remains to be seen. There is also a relatively small but active group demanding restoration of Nepal's monarchy, which has also been resorting to violent protests to draw attention to their cause. Amidst all the in-fighting and jostling for power, there is scant attention paid to catering to the basic needs of the citizenry, to creating responsive state institutions, achieving sustainable economic growth and improving the lives of ordinary Nepalis. Nepal has the chance to leverage its geopolitical location to funnel more Chinese investments into the country to push back against traditional Indian hegemony. The US is also keener to invest in Nepal, primarily to keep the Chinese at bay. However, Nepali politicians will need to demonstrate much greater maturity and astuteness to balance these contending external influences in a manner which maximise national interests rather than serving their personal ambitions. Thus far, neither the Maoists factions nor the Nepali Congress Party have demonstrated such foresight.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Kingsport officials address Rural King fee
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – Rural King customers in the Model City have voiced their concerns regarding the store's 1% 'Economic Development Fee' on top of the retail price. Kingsport Economic Development Director Steven Bower said store owners were transparent about the fee. 'The fee was brought to our attention right before they opened the store,' Bower said. 'They let us know they were going to implement it.' Kingsport resident December Taylor said the signs posted were not easily seen. 'I had to hold my arms up to take a picture,' she said. 'That's how far up it was on the door. And had already been to the store twice before and still never seen it then either.' On Taylor's receipt, the fee is listed as part of her tax. The sign posted by Rural King said they are working to have the fee itemized separately. Although the fee only added an extra dollar or two to her total, Taylor said she wants to know how the money is being used. 'Where's it going?' she asked. 'You know, what is it actually for?' According to the sign, the fee was added to comply with the 'Memorial Boulevard Development Project.' Bower said this doesn't refer to any specific project of the city. 'I believe it's just that they're on Memorial Boulevard,' he said. 'That's their address, so they've called it a Memorial Boulevard Development Project.' On Tuesday afternoon, the city issued a statement making its position on the fee clear to the public. 'It is not an economic development fee for the city of Kingsport,' he said. 'This is a fee imposed by a private business. So we collect nothing from it.' Taylor said she only wanted one thing from the business. 'An answer would be nice,' she said. Rural King issued the following statement to News Channel 11: The economic development fee helps Rural King offset a small portion of the significant investment in the Kingsport community, which includes new employment opportunities, increased tax revenue, and access to a broad array of differentiated products and services. We're committed to being valuable long-term partners in the Kingsport community and look forward to demonstrating our positive impact on the local business landscape. Rural King Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Rayalaseema to get two Industrial parks
Kadapa: Union Minister of State for Rural Development Dr Pemmasani Chandrasekhar said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has taken steps to set up two industrial parks at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore in Rayalaseema region. Addressing TDP Mahanadu meeting in Kadapa on Wednesday, he said the CM has taken steps to get Rs 50,000 crore worth Central government projects in the next five years in the State besides constructing the State capital Amaravati in a big way. He recalled that the Centre allotted Rs 9,000 crore to AP in the railway budget during the current financial year. The Union Minister said, 'The aim of CM Naidu is to develop the State for future generations. At present, the government is developing roads at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore in all the Assembly constituencies across the State.' He criticised that the previous YSRCP government had failed to utilise Central schemes for State development and cheated the people. The coalition government gave a new lease to the people, he added. He said petrochemical complex will be set up in state with Rs 95,000 crore and it will give big boost for the development of the State. Dr Pemmasani said, the aim of the meeting is to develop the State and render better services to the people. Earlier, he paid tributes to the portrait of late CM NT Rama Rao on the occasion of his birth anniversary.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Making It Easier To Consent Quarries And Mines
Minister for RMA Reform Hon Shane Jones Minister for Regional Development The Government has opened public consultation on the biggest change to national direction in New Zealand history, with proposals to make it easier to consent quarries and mines to enable more infrastructure development. National direction refers to rules and policies sitting under the Resource Management Act (RMA) that inform how councils develop and implement local plans and rules. The Government is today releasing three discussion documents proposing amendments to 12 different instruments and the introduction of four new instruments, centred on three packages: infrastructure and development, the primary sector and freshwater. 'New Zealand has a massive infrastructure deficit, but to build and maintain more infrastructure we need quarries and mines. The RMA makes it far too difficult for these types of projects to get consent,' Mr Bishop says. 'Addressing this is critical to boosting economic growth, improving living standards and meeting future challenges posed by natural hazards and climate change. 'We've already repealed Labour's botched RMA reforms and made a series of quick and targeted amendments to remove unnecessary regulations for primary industries as well as barriers to investment in development and infrastructure. We've also passed the Fast-track Approvals Act to make it much easier to deliver projects with regional or nationally significant benefits – and the first projects are already going through the Fast-track process. 'Next year we'll replace the RMA with new legislation premised on property rights. Our new system will provide a framework that makes it easier to plan and deliver infrastructure, quarrying and mining projects, as well as protecting the environment. 'In the meantime we're making targeted, quick changes through our second RMA amendment Bill which is expected back from the Environment Committee next month, and to national direction.' The proposed changes include amendments to quarrying and mining provisions in four existing national direction instruments: National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity 2023 National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land 2022 National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 National Environmental Standards for Freshwater 2020. 'The Coalition Government is committed to utilising New Zealand's mineral reserves to boost regional opportunities and jobs, increase our self-sufficiency, improve energy security and resilience, and drive our export-led focus for economic recovery. The length of time it takes to navigate various consenting processes for a major mining project in New Zealand is costing us dearly in missed economic opportunities that could lift living standards for our regional communities and supercharge productivity,' Mr Jones says. 'A mining operator currently needs to navigate the often contradictory and confusing requirements of many national direction instruments. By amending these instruments to remove duplication and provide more clarity, we are reducing costs and inefficiencies and providing the certainty potential investors and operators need to take well-designed projects forward – something our regulatory regime has long lacked. I want to be clear - we are cutting red tape and barriers, not corners. There are no shortcuts in terms of robust planning and rigorous consideration of environmental protections.' Consultation on these proposals will remain open until 27 July 2025. The Government intends to have 16 new or updated national direction instruments in place by the end of this year. Notes: Quarrying and mining amendments to National Policy Statements and National Environmental Standards The Government has committed to unlocking development capacity for housing and business growth, and to boost mineral exports. To support this, locally sourced aggregate and minerals are needed. This targeted amendment for quarrying and mining, aims to make the consent pathways and gateway tests for quarrying and mining affecting wetlands, significant natural areas (SNAs) and highly productive land (HPL) more enabling, and to ensure the policies are more consistent across the: National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPSIB) 2023 National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL) 2022 National Environmental Standard for Freshwater (NES-F) 2020 National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) 2020. Key proposals to change these instruments are: To amend wetland quarrying and mining provisions across NPS-FM, NES-F, NPSIB and NPS-HPL to make them more enabling and more consistent, which involves: adding 'operational need' to the gateway tests for mining and quarrying activities that may adversely affect wetlands under the NES-F and NPS-FM changing a few words in the NPSIB and NPS-HPL SNA and HPL mining and quarrying exceptions for SNAs and HPL to: clarify that essential related (ancillary) activities for mining and quarrying have a consent pathway and use consistent terminology remove 'that could not otherwise be achieved using resources within New Zealand' and the requirement for benefits to be 'public' and allow regional benefits of mining to be considered.
Muscat Daily
4 days ago
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Nama announces RO1bn transition to renewable energy, smart grid
Muscat – Oman's electricity sector is undergoing a major transformation with Nama Group announcing renewable energy projects and digital upgrades aimed at reducing emissions, improving efficiency and enhancing grid reliability. At its annual media briefing on Tuesday, senior officials announced that over RO1bn will be invested in expanding clean energy and digitalising the network, including a nationwide rollout of smart meters and upgrades to power transmission systems. Said bin Khalaf al Abri, General Manager of Planning and Project Development at Nama Power and Water Procurement Company, said two solar projects – Ibri 3 (500MW) and Al Kamil (280MW) – have been tendered and are expected to be awarded this year. He added that the prequalification process for five wind projects has been completed. Proposals have already been invited for two, with all five scheduled to be awarded in 2025. 'Our goal is to raise the share of contracted renewable capacity to 30% of total contracted electricity by 2030,' he said. Sultan al Rawahi, General Manager of Load Dispatch Centre at Oman Electricity Transmission Company, said the country has built 116 power stations, including 17 high-voltage stations operating at 400kV. 'The network now operates at 99.9% reliability, meeting global benchmarks,' he said. Rawahi said more than 75% of conventional meters have been replaced with smart ones, with full conversion targeted by end-2025. 'This shift has helped reduce electricity loss to less than 8% for the first time in our history,' he said. Salem bin Saeed al Kamyani, CEO of Nama Electricity Distribution Company, informed that a mobile app now allows customers to monitor usage, receive top-ups and manage electric loads. 'This is part of our ongoing push to make electricity management more efficient and accessible,' he said. In the water sector, Ali bin Issa Shamas, CEO of Nama Dhofar Services, said over 22mn m3 of treated water is produced annually. He added that RO137mn worth of infrastructure tenders have been awarded, including plans to raise sewage coverage in Salalah from 76% to 95% before the end of 2025.
