Google unveils two new Nexus phones 5X and 6P

Sep 29, 2015: Google has announced two new Nexus phones in the series of its own design and pure android smartphones. Nexus 5X and 6P, made by LG and Huawei respectively are unveiled in a Nexus event at San Francisco. The full metal body, 7.3 mm thin, comfy Nexus 6P has a display of 5.7 ", Snapdragon 810 64 bit processor underneath, 3450 mAh battery. The flagship phone owns a Type C USB port, 3GB RAM and low light sensitive camera of 12.3 MP/ 8MP. The camera provides you best low light experience (indoor photography) with 1.55 micro pixels and best selfie with HDR plus feature. The phone is known to be running on new Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Hardware wise, Google brings new finger print scanning features with Nexus imprint with the sensor in the back. The phone is priced at 500 $, with availability sometime in October. 

Nexus 5X is relatively low end with plastic built 136 gm weight, 5.2 inch display and 2700 mAh battery. The plastic phone comes with 64 bit Snapdragon 808, 2G RAM. Most of the hardware features are same as 6P like Camera and Nexus imprint feature. The camera as they told outperforms the previous edition of Nexus and iPhone 6S in low light due to higher pixel density, laser detect auto focus but 5X has 5M camera in the front. The phone supports Slow motion video and smart burst for animated GIFs. The camera is known to be missing the Image stabilization feature as found on the other flagship phones. Nexus 5X is priced at $379, and is available for pre-order at Google stores in two dozen countries.

Well the prices have gone down when I compare it with Nexus 6. Hardware and features have gone up, but I wait the videos of experience for both the phones to have more details. 

Both the phones will be running on Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

Features of Marshmallow:

• improved lock screen with google voice in swipe left, charging indicator.
• Animations changed in opening screens.
• Learning the pattern of the apps by user and notify accordingly.
• Improved head-up notifications.
• Reduced pre-loaded apps.
• Now on tap feature to provide power of google to phone fast.
• Voice actions: sending text or alarms.
• Always on Google on.
• New doze mode to go deeper sleep mode for saving battery.

Apart from two new Nexus phones, Google announced family plan for Google play music, Nexus protect and improved Google photo applications.

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Nepal implements odd even vehicle system

Sep 26, 2015: Government of Nepal has decided to implement odd even number system in the country from Sunday, due to the shortage of petroleum products in the country. As the essential supplies including fuels are unofficially blocked by India and some Madhes based parties are also blocking the major entry points, the petroleum products got deficient. Lots of vehicles were bound to queue up in the line for hours to get the fuel in the government/security forces owned petrol pumps. With the system, vehicles with odd number will be allowed to ply on the road on odd dates and even number vehicles on even dates. Home ministry has announced to implement the numbering system strictly from Sunday till the situation gets better. India has officially expressed  its resentment in the promulgation of new constitution over the agitation in Madhesh and even hinted some blockade. Though there is no any official announcement of blockade from India, the tanks carrying essential supplies and petroleum products have been blocked in all of the checkpoints and Indian Oil corporation have stopped to provide petroleum fuels to Nepal Oil corporation. 

This sort of numbering system was implemented several times in some of the major events happened in Nepal like the SAARC summit, that time it was for reducing the number of vehicles plying in the road for traffic congestion but this time it is for the shortage of fuel.

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Woda no 6 Movie review

More than "Halka Ramailo"

Sep 22, 2015:  Woda No. 6 is a story of five friends in ward number 6 village of Nuwakot during the Maoists insurgency period and their consequences after the peace accord. The movie tells the story in a comedy manner showing how disparities, economic divide and discrimination fuels the rise of "Mausuli" (Maoists) in the village and its the impact on the society. Among the five, one is a son of tailor: shown as "lower caste", second: the drunkard Daya, third: the juwade Magne, fourth: the bachelor having a problem with eye sight & marriage and the graduate Deep. The four illiterate have no other option to loiter other than playing cards or be drunk. All of them end up joining Maoists rebel group, either for taking revenge or due to Deeps clash with Kaji family (the elite in the Village). Movie even gets funnier in the Maoists camp and the training. The "Krantikari" love letter from Magne and Radio news broadcast in phone by Daya are more hilarious. Movie sounds a little vulgar in some parts whereas for a comedy with PG certificate, it is acceptable.

Even though most of the actors are originally from comedy TV serials, director Ujjwal Ghimire has managed to make them sound not too loud. The comedy faces, run and chase in the field are not found to the extent as found in the TV serials and are not the primary comic stunts. Directors managed the producers (as most of the actors are also the producer of the movie) not to be loud in the movie and made the plots/sequences look lively rather than the "Joker" like comedy.

Among the actors, Deepak raj Giri, Jitu Nepal, Kedar Ghimire, Sitaram Kattel, Rajaram Poudel are from TV whereas Priyanka karki, Dayanhang Rai, Nir Shah are from the main stream movies. To me, all of the actors have given their best whereas for Dayahang, I expected some major role which was missing and I felt he is not utilized to the full. But for a movie with such huge star casts, the unbalance of actors is quite evident. Film's hype would have been different but not the movie without Dayahang.

If I compare it with their former venture, the movie is way better than "Cha Ekan Cha" which was also successful business wise but critics had a different view. I am sure Wada no Cha will definitely break the records and will occupy more weeks in the screens. Dialogue delivery and the cinematic feel are far improved than "Cha Ekan Cha". But the film also could not get rid of old formula for having climax fight in the end whose length was too boring at least to me. 

Luckily, I happen to watch the movie with two prominent leaders, along with the movie crews at QFX Kumari. One was Minister for information and communication who was the host for the official ceremony to welcome new constitution at Tudikhel and the other being former prime minister who had expressed his discontent over the formation of new constitution (over some agitation) and boycotted the welcome program. Both of them applauded the movie and wished for more success in the history of Nepali cinema.

Movie is successful in entertaining people even with the serious issue of Maoists insurgency, its impact on the society & innocent villagers, and the consequences after peace accord. Though the movie did not take any side for or against the war but there are some lines that express the discontent in the rebels like "Tauko Katera Kranti hudaina" (There won't be revolution with beheading a person). Movie gets emotional at times, asking people to think of the reason behind the social disparities. With the perfection of script and dialogues, I bet if the dialogues are either written for the actors in their mind or be improvised later to suit the actors. Abhimanyu Nirabi deserves big salute for the script.

Cinematography by Deepak Bajracharya boosts the overall viewing experience and the feeling for a nice movie. About the location: the glittering mountains and flora in the backdrop are really fascinating. The songs: the"Wahiyat" song and another folk tune "Surkhe Thaili" are also worth listening. As the movie is more than halka ramailo, it is definitely setting a record in terms of success. Word of mouth is trending high on social medias and is providing more favor to the team for further success. I would also like to recommend highly to watch it in theaters other than wait for the movie to be uploaded in Youtube.

As the movie success is being measured in the no of turnouts during the strike, I have this random thought that Nepali movie will prosper high if two days holidays be given, unlike the single Saturday holiday. Not only movie, other industry will also boom with the two days holiday. So I conclude two days holiday be given for film development or else India's pending decision to block their films to Nepal will also do a big favor. #HalkaRamailo: Just to end on a funny note for such comedy movie review.

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President of Nepal promulgates new constitution of Nepal (with Final pdf)

Sep 20, 2015: After the passing of the constitution draft by two third majority and verification by CA members and chairperson, President Ram Baran Yadav declares the commencement of the new constitution 2072 from today in a special meeting at the CA hall. With the promulgation of new constitution, the Interim Constitution has been nullified and the CA has been turned into a parliament as stated in the interim constitution. Eight years before, the first Constituent assembly was formed following the success of  People's movement II and Peace accord. Due to differences in several burning issues, the first CA was dissolved after four years of making without giving new constitution. A neutral government led by Chief Justice hold a election to second CA which is now successful in giving new constitution to Nepali within 2 years of election. Nepal has become one of the 40 countries which have made constitution through the election of Constituent assembly. 

President Ram Baran Yadav paid huge respect to the new constitution after promulgation and lawmakers gave a big round of applause for his respect. 

People have thronged to Baneshwor outside CA to join the celebration for the promulgation of new constitution. They were carrying Nepali flag and shouting slogans like "Yo jit kasko, Nepal ko", "Himal Pahad Terai, koi Chaina parai", and songs like "Sayau Thunga- National song" and "Rato ra chandra Surya". I felt really delighted for the nation and people as a whole as our long dream of having new constitution from peoples representative is fulfilled. Well, declaring the constitution is just a start, we all people have to follow it and force their representative to follow it accordingly. Now we all have to work together to take the progressive path for economic development. Let all the nationalists from different communities, ideology, and geography join the common cause for the development and prosperity of the country. I see no reason for any citizen to be unhappy as it does not discriminate people of their race, sex, religion, community, geography, and ideology. This is not the end for the constitution making as we can always make amendment with our representatives through upcoming elections. And I say welcome New Constitution of the federal democratic republic: Nepal. 

Here is the pdf of the final version of the New constitution of Nepal. Click to download.

Nepal Constitution 2072

Some other photos from the event are as follows:

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This is how CA voted on every articles of New constitution.

Sep 16, 2015: CA today passed Nepal's new constitution 2072 by two third majority along with the endorsement of each and every articles before. Here is a video in Youtube that shows how CA chairperson Subash Nembang puts every clauses for the vote and Lawmakers either say "huncha" in support of the proposal or "hunna" for against the proposal.

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