Ruling Nepali Congress emerges as largest party

Ruling Nepali Congress emerges as largest party

• Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's Nepali Congress emerged as the largest party by winning 57 seats in Nepal's parliamentary election as the counting of votes under the direct system concluded here on Monday, brightening the party's chances of forming the new government.
• In the 275-member HoR, 165 will be elected through direct voting, while the remaining 110 will be elected through a proportional electoral system. A party or a coalition needs 138 seats for a clear majority.
• According to Nepal's Election Commission, the Nepali Congress has won 57 seats under direct voting, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN-UML) has bagged 44 seats, while the CPN-Maoist Centre and CPN-Unified Socialist have emerged victorious on 18 and 10 seats respectively.
• Political instability has been a recurrent feature of Nepal's Parliament since the end of the decade-long Maoist insurgency, and no prime minister has served a full term after the civil war ended in 2006.
• The frequent changes and fighting among parties have been blamed for the country's slow economic growth.
• The next government will face challenges of keeping a stable political administration, reviving the tourism industry and balancing ties with neighbours - China and India.

Dominique Lapierre, French author of ‘The City of Joy’, dies aged 91

• Dominique Lapierre, the bestselling French author well-known in India for his ode to the city of Kolkata titled “The City of Joy”, has died aged 91, his wife has confirmed.
• Lapierre, who was conferred the Padma Bhushan in the 2008 Republic Day honours, founded a humanitarian association with his wife entitled the City of Joy Foundation rescuing children suffering from leprosy from the slums of Kolkata. Dating back to 1981, it was supported by the royalties from his many literary successes.
• While completing military service in 1954, Lapierre met American soldier Larry Collins.An everlasting friendship and a valuable partnership sprang from this meeting and the duo went on to collaborate on some of the most memorable books, including “Is Paris Burning?”, “O Jerusalem”, “Freedom at Midnight” and “The Fifth Horseman”.