Republic Nepal

BPMCH director missing, abduction likely

2010-05-20T00:06:00.000-07:00

Executive director of BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Bharatpur, Dr Bhaktaman Shrestha has been missing since last night. It is suspected that he was kidnapped by an unidentified group.

All the services in the hospital have been suspended protesting the inability of the local administration to find his whereabouts.

After winding up work in the BPKMCH, Dr Shrestha had gone to Chitwan Hospital Pvt Ltd in Chaubiskothi, Bharatpur last evening. But he went missing after he came out of hospital alone in his car at 10:15 pm.

According to his family, he had telephoned his wife Shilu Shrestha at 8:30 pm saying he would return home only at 10 pm for dinner. But a call to his mobile was not received when 10:30 pm/ When tried later it was found switched off.

According to SP Dhiru Basnyat, Dr Shrestha's family informed the police at 2:15 am that Dr Shrestha had been out of contact. The police suspected that he might have been kidnapped while going to the BPKMCH from Chitwan Hospital. Basnyat said the search for Dr Shrestha was on.

CDO Basanta Raj Gautam said an emergency meeting of the security agencies was held to intensify search.

Meanwhile, Dr Shrestha's car was found from Kudahar Chowk in Pokhara this evening. According to inspector Bishwo Adhikari, the empty car was parked at the chowk. He said the car was with the police. The Human Rights Network and Coordinating Committee of Private Hospitals has urged the authorities concerned to find the whereabouts of Dr Shrestha.

Source

Maoists decline to sit for talks unless PM quits

2010-05-09T21:11:00.000-07:00

KATHMANDU: Responding to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal's letter for talks sent early in the day, the UCPN-Maoist decided on Sunday evening to not to negotiate with the government unless the prime minister reigns from the post.

The Standing Committee of the main opposition party, UCPN-Maoist, took the decision to this effect in a meeting that was held at the party's office at peris Danda in Koteshwor.

Emerging from the meeting, spokesperson for the Maoists Dinanath Sharma said "the meeting has decided not to negotiate with the government unless the prime minister steps down".

According to him, the meeting also decided to organise mass assemblies in major cities across the country on May 25, for which the party would carry out the preparatory tasks between May 10 and 14.

The Maoists, who called off for their programme of indefinite general strike on May 7, would conduct trainings and organise programme of mass mobilisation across the country spanning May 15-24.

Source

Ruling allies ask Maoists to call off stir

2010-05-05T05:29:00.000-07:00

An all party meeting of the ruling coalition on Wednesday urged the Unified CPN-Maoist to call off their indefinite general strike as soon as possible.

The meeting which held in Biratnagar also asked the Maoists to come for talks.

After the meeting, Pramod Kumar Shah, regional member of Madhesi Janadikar Forum Nepal said that they also urged the Maoists to stop extortion.

Representatives of Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party, Sadbhawana Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal and Chure Bahawar among others were present in the meeting.

Source

3-party meet ends, Dahal hints at intensifying stir

2010-05-02T18:31:00.000-07:00

The meeting of the three major political parties – UCPN-Maoist, CPN-UML and NC—held at Hotel Radisson Sunday evening has ended inconclusively at around 9 pm.

Today’s meet, attended by the top brass leaders of the three parties, lasted around one hour and has agreed to sit for another round of talks Monday evening.

Emerging from the meeting, UML chairman Jhalanath Khanal said today’s meeting mainly concentrated on the briefings of the taskforce meet that convened till late Saturday evening.

UML chairman said the three-party meet also spent time on analysing the 6-points agenda, driving the prospect of consensus in a ‘positive’ direction.

He further said today’s meeting decided to hold separate talks between each two parties Monday to be followed by a tripartite dialogue in the same evening.

Speaking to the media, NC’s acting president Sushil Koirala insisted there was no agreement made towards urging Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to step down from the post.

UCPN Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said there is still much left to be desired in the talks for forging a consensus, saying that might necessitate the agitating Maoists to intensify their stir in the days to come.

Source

UNMIN wants early decision on term extension REPUBLICA

2010-05-01T07:57:00.000-07:00

Chief of United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) Karin Landgren has asked Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to reach an early decision on extension of the UN´s political mission in Nepal.

During a meeting held with the prime minister at his official residence at Baluwatar Saturday morning, UNMIN chief Landgren said it would be easy for her to put the proposal at the upcoming UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting if the government took a decision on time on UNMIN´s term extension.

UNMIN´s term is expiring on May 15.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Nepal told her that he is holding discussions with the political parties to take a decision. He assured her that the government will soon take a decision to extend UNMIN´s stay.

The parties have already agreed in principle to extend the term, but they are found to be at odds whether to extend the term by six months or one year. He also referred to growing differences among the political parties, especially with the main opposition party UCPN (Maoist) announcing fresh strikes to topple the government and replace it with a national consensus government.

According to the prime minister´s press advisor, Bishnu Rijal, Landgren express concern about the ongoing peace process and stressed the need to conclude it at the earliest. She informed the prime minister that she had asked the Maoist leadership to act responsibly while staging protests against the government.

On the occasion, the prime minister said that the government will exercise full restraint and act responsibly in facing all challenges posed by Maoist protests. He informed Landgren that the government had received credible information the Maoists were planning to make their protest activities violent and provocative.

The prime minister also complained that a large number of cantoned Maoist combatants had come out of the cantonments with arms, violating the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) reached with the Maoists, and that Maoist protestors were arrested with explosives and arms.

PM meets Assistant SG

Prime Minister Nepal held a meeting with Assistant Secretary-General of the UN Ajay Chibber, Saturday morning.

Visiting Assistant Secretary-General Chibber inquired about the ongoing peace process and stressed the need for restraint on the part of the political parties to help conclude the process.

Chibber said that the peace process in Nepal had reached a critical juncture and expressed confidence that the political parties would be able to take the process to a logical end.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Nepal said that the government has left no stone unturned to take the peace process to a logical end. He stressed the need of cooperation from all political parties concerned to accomplish the task.

Source

PM Nepal addresses the nation; says govt 'cannot step down in this critical situation'

2010-05-01T07:53:00.000-07:00

Addressing the nation Saturday evening, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal described the UCPN (Maoist)'s street protests as 'meaningless' and accused the opposition party of trying to create anarchy.

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal addressing the nation from his...

He said the government "cannot step down in the present critical situation".

Prime Minister Nepal also called on the Maoists to call off the protests, saying the current deadlock should be resolved through a consensus among the parties.

In his 15-minute long address, PM Nepal hinted that he would step down only if the agitating Maoists agreed to meet certain conditions put forth by other parties such as guarantee that the former rebel party turned itself into a "civilian party".

While he admitted "some of the weaknesses" of the government, PM Nepal claimed the government had made important achievements during this tenure such as discharge of the disqualified Maoist combatants and the launching of development programmes.

He spent most of his time criticising the Maoists. He said the country would have progressed much and peace process would have concluded by this time had the Maoists cooperated with the government.

Prime Minister Nepal addressed the nation in a live broadcast from his Baluwatar residence. Most of the ministers were present at Baluwatar as he addressed the nation.

His address came just as a major mass meeting organised by the Maoists at Kathmandu's Khula Manch ended and the top leaders of the three parties prepared to resume talks.

Source

SAARC at twenty-five

2010-04-28T23:34:00.000-07:00

As the 16th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation gets under way in Thimpu, it would be easy to dismiss the event as yet another jamboree at which the leaders of the region will meet and talk a lot but achieve little of substance. A quarter-century after it came into existence, SAARC remains an under-performing regional association. The Thimpu summit is expected to yield an agreement on the region's strategy to deal with climate change, and another on trade in services. But many ambitious plans drawn up by SAARC for the betterment of an impoverished region, home to 1.6 billion people or more than one-sixth of humanity, have either remained on paper or moved towards implementation at glacial speeds. A fund for “least developed countries” within the region was once talked about and abandoned. The South Asia Development Fund for building infrastructure is expected to be operationalised at Thimpu a full 15 years after it was initiated. As an engine for the economic growth and development of the region, SAARC is yet to demonstrate any concrete achievements since 2006, when the much-delayed South Asia Free Trade Agreement became operational. It has pushed regional trade up to an estimated half a billion dollars but this is still way below potential. Subjects such as economic integration of the region and a common currency are no longer discussed with any earnestness.

Twenty-five seems a good age to fix the problem that ails the association. Its charter is clear that bilateral issues cannot be brought up in any forum of the association. Despite this, SAARC has permanently been overshadowed by the hostility between India and Pakistan. Both countries have used it as an alternative sparring ground, to the despair of the smaller member countries that see regional cooperation as an urgent necessity for their own progress. SAFTA is a victim, as is the SAARC convention on terrorism. The smaller nations must share some of the responsibility as some of them have used SAARC to tilt towards one or the other side of the India-Pakistan divide. Influential sections of the media in India and Pakistan tend to treat a SAARC event as a match between the two. This time is no different, going by the obsessive focus on a possible meeting between the Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers on the sidelines of the summit. If these two countries, the biggest in the region, can commit themselves to keeping their rivalry out of SAARC, it would help the association focus on its agenda of regional cooperation. Eventually, this may even help India and Pakistan become good neighbours.

source:

Nature Collection 25 - Wild China Ep3of6 2-6 Tibet - 2008

2010-04-24T19:44:00.000-07:00

The Tibetan Plateau is the subject of the third instalment. It covers one quarter of Chinas land area, but just 2.5 million people live there, the majority Tibetan Buddhists. Their religion mixes traditional Buddhism with older shamanic beliefs, and its teachings have instilled a respectful attitude to wildlife. Rare species such as black-necked cranes and Tibetan eared pheasants can benefit directly from co-existence with people. Meltwaters from Tibets 35000 glaciers form large freshwater lakes including Qinghai and Manasarovar. Nesting birds here include great crested grebes and bar-headed geese. The plateau is a high altitude desert swept by freezing winds, but is also home to Chinas biggest concentration of large animals. Argali sheep are seen descending hillsides to their winter grazing sites. In the Changtang, chiru are filmed congregating in the rutting season, and wild yaks are only found in the remotest areas. Predators include the elusive snow leopard and the Tibetan fox, filmed profiting from a Tibetan bears attempts to hunt pika. A highly lucrative "caterpillar fungus" (yatsa gunbu) is harvested from the spring ground for use as a traditional remedy. Life even clings on in the most extreme environments; the slopes of Everest are home to a species of jumping spider, whilst the unique hot spring snake survives at 4500m by warming its body in thermal springs. The Saga Dawa festival takes place at sacred Mount Kailash and draws pilgrims of many faiths. Source

UK suspends Indian student visa applications

2010-01-31T19:04:00.000-08:00

the last three months of last year, there were 13,500 applications from northern India alone, compared with 1,800 in the same period of 2008.

British officials say the system has been overwhelmed and there are concerns that many cases are not genuine.

Unscrupulous offers of visas as a way of settling in the UK are not uncommon.

The British high commissioner in Delhi, Sir Richard Stagg, said abuse of the system would not be allowed to happen.

'Tough action'

While extra checks take place, visa applications have been temporarily suspended - a decision which will be reviewed at the end of February.

Jeremy Oppenheim, of the UK Border Agency, said: "The points-based system gives us the flexibility to act to maintain the integrity of the visa system, whilst processing legitimate applications fairly, thoroughly and as quickly as possible.

"We continually check and monitor all student applications and education providers to ensure that they meet the required standards.

The genuine students who want to come over for the universities they're going to suffer as a result and they won't be able to get here in time for their courses
Harjap Singh Bhangal

"We will take tough action against those who attempt to abuse the system."

The director of the legal advice firm, London Immigration Advice and Appeal Services, Harjap Singh Bhangal, says a temporary suspension will prevent illegal immigration, but it will also adversely affect genuine students.

He told the BBC: "It's going to create a panic and we don't know when this suspension is going to be lifted. I believe it's for one month initially but it could run into several months.

"The problem that we're going to have is that the genuine students who want to come over for the universities they're going to suffer as a result and they won't be able to get here in time for their courses."

India is currently the UK's biggest visa operation in the world.

More than 500,000 Indians visit the UK every year, among them tens of thousands of students.
Source:

Birgunj traffic at mercy of transporters ire

2010-01-30T02:04:00.001-08:00

A Chakka Jam brought traffic movement in Birgunj to a grinding halt on Saturday morning with transport workers demanding action against the students who had beaten a bus driver and conductor on January 29 at Parawanipur.

Transport employees showed their solidarity with their fellow men demanding adequate compensation to Rajesh Patel, 22, the bus driver who was left injured.

The incident was sparked off by an arguement over the fare. The culprits also damaged the vehicle.
Source: The Himalayan Times

Arts & Culture Forbes Features SCI & TECH Health Odd News News Briefs Readers' Letters Star Scene Photo Essay Today in Brief Si

2010-01-15T00:13:00.000-08:00

Speaker Nabih Berri’s call to begin the process of abolishing sectarianism in politics was greeted Thursday with criticism of the lack of national consensus on the issue, along with counter-calls for establishing a federal system. Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Thursday the formation of a national committee tasked with the abolishment of political sectarianism necessitated consensus of all Lebanese factions, which currently does not exist.

“Consensus on the issue is the basis, and if certain stances don’t support the formation of a committee, then it means there’s no consensus over the issue,” Hariri told reporters at the Grand Serail in downtown Beirut.

During a news conference on Wednesday, Berri said the abolishment of political sectarianism was not optional, but rather mandatory in accordance with the Taif Accord, while underlining that participation in the committee was open to all religious sects, which would choose their own representatives. The speaker had said some parties’ claims that the formation of the committee necessitated consensus weren’t justified.

However, Hariri said that since the current Cabinet was a national unity government, he was interested in issues that brought the Lebanese together, rather than dividing them.

“I believe Berri thinks similarly,” Hariri said.

But Berri reiterated Thursday before visitors at his residence in Ain al-Tineh that the current circumstances, given the presence of a national unity Cabinet, constituted the best moment in years to liberate the Lebanese people from sectarianism.

Voicing support for Berri’s call, Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt said in remarks published on Thursday by the daily Al-Safir that “there’s nothing wrong with forming a committee tasked with the abolishment of political sectarianism in accordance with the Constitution.”

March 14 groups have linked the formation of the committee to the full implementation of the 1989 Taif Accord, namely ensuring total state sovereignty and the exclusive authority over the possession of arms, a reference to Hizbullah and armed Palestinian factions.

Labor Minister and Batroun MP Butros Harb said Thursday the issue of abolishing political sectarianism was a source of conflict between Cabinet members, as he underscored the need to tackle the issue by staying away from bickering in the media, which could lead to national division rather than unity.

The Phalange Party and the Lebanese Forces have said the current conditions of domestic challenges and foreign threats to the country were unfavorable for such a step, while Berri’s ally in the former opposition, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun also raised concerns about the issue, saying Wednesday that it required preparations before being tackled to avoid negative repercussions.

On Thursday, former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said that the Taif Accord should be implemented as a whole rather than picking out certain clauses, while underscoring that the abolishment of political sectarianism was a constitutional step but required sufficient preparations in order to bolster public support.

For his part, Metn MP Sami Gemayel said a federal state should be established if political sectarianism is to be abolished.

Echoing the stance of the Maronite patriarch, Gemayel said that abolishing sectarianism from the country’s legislation rather than people’s hearts would lead to the domination by sects with the largest numbers.

“As long as we live in a centralized state, political sectarianism should be maintained,” Gemayel said, adding that “guarantees should be made to ensure that none of the religious sects in Lebanon seeks to abolish the other.”

“Therefore, abolishing these guarantees mean that others should be provided, and if we want to abolish political sectarianism, we should [move toward] a federal state,” Gemayel added.

Also, Phalange Party official and Social Affairs Minister Salim Sayegh said his party rejected the partial implementation of the Taif Accord, while calling for a comprehensive framework to promote several reforms in order to reach a civil and secular state.

“The Phalange Party does not fear the abolishment of political sectarianism or any other reforms, but we fear their partial implementation,” Sayegh said, adding that “given the presence of illegitimate weapons being disputed by the Lebanese, the circumstances aren’t favorable for such step.”

Meanwhile, the National Bloc called for setting up another national committee, tasked with disarming militias.

“In light of Speaker’s Berri calling for establishing a national committee for abolishing political sectarianism, the National Bloc would like to suggest setting up another national higher committee, tasked with disarming militias,” a statement by the group said.

Criticizing Hizbullah’s possession of weapons outside state authority, the National Bloc said “reforming state administrations will be impossible given the presence of weapons in the hands of a militia that aimed to grab hold over all the government’s institutions.”

Baalbek-Hermel MP Marwan Fares, an official with the fiercely anti-sectarian Syrian Social Nationalist Party, said he supported Berri’s call.

“We support abolishing political sectarianism, and then eliminating sectarianism,” Fares said.

“There are [different] sects and religions in France, Germany and everywhere in the world, why is this a problem?”
Source:http://www.dailystar.com.lb

PM has no place in HLMP: Prachanda

2010-01-12T22:25:00.000-08:00

Chairman of UCPN-Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' today said the Prime Minister had no business in the newly-formed High Level Political Mechanism (HLPM).

Talking to mediapersons in Kailali's Dhangadhi, prior to his flight to Kathmandu, Prachanda said it was not necessary to include the PM in the mechanism and added it was wrong to demand his inclusion.

Claiming that the present political impasse was created by the government, the Maoist supremo said, "Why include the person who is the cause of the obstruction?'' He added that there was no use of two leaders from the same party in the mechanism since CPN-UML chairman Jhalanath Khanal was already there. ''The government has been terrorised after the formation of the mechanism,'' Prachanda said. ''The mechanism is not to topple the government but to take the peace process to a logical conclusion, to draft the statue within the time stipulated time and to forge a consensus among the political parties,'' he clarified.

The Maoist chairman said their agitation would remain until the guarantee of national independence. He stated that some forces had been spreading rumour that the issue was a political tool for the Maoists, refuting the allegation. He claimed that the Nepali territory had been encroached by India in Brahmadev of Kanchanpur.

Prachanda claims 'foreign powers' plotting to kill him

2010-01-11T23:54:00.001-08:00

Prachanda, who just returned from his unannounced visit to Hong Kong, claimed that he has been receiving death threats, especially after his Unified Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist) party decided to fight for "national independence".

He also claimed that the Maoists had initiated a dialogue with the Royal Palace, a month before the June 2001 massacre of King Birendra and his entire family.

"We had tried to hold direct talks with then King Birendra, and to offer him the post of first president of the country if he had agreed to abdicate," he said. But, the king was killed along with his family soon after that.

Former general secretary of CPN-UML Madan Bhandari died in a jeep accident under mysterious circumstances when he
opposed "foreign intervention" in Nepal, Prachanda said, adding he was also receiving similar threats.

Prachanda, who did not categorically name any country, alleged that imperialist and expansionist forces were behind it, indirectly hinting at the US and India.

The Maoists regard the US as an imperialist force and India as an expansionist power.

"No one will be able to defeat us as there will be an army of 30 million Nepalese to fight for national independence," Prachanda said yesterday.

Home ministry sources said that the government has stepped up security for Prachanda in the wake of possible threats.

Prachanda had visited Hong Kong last week before reaching a deal with Nepali Congress president GP Koirala to form a high-level political mechanism to facilitate completion of the peace process and drafting of the new Constitution. That was
his fourth visit to China since August 2008.

Though Prachanda told the media that the aim of his visit to Hong Kong was to impart training to his party's cadres based there, political observers have cast a doubt his real intention.

Former king leaves for India

2009-12-07T22:33:00.000-08:00

Former king Gyanendra Shah left for India to attend a nuptial ceremony of one of his relatives. It's Shah's second India visit after the Constituent Assembly stripped him of all the privileges that he had been enjoying as the head of the state. However, the date of his return is yet to be fixed though reports say he is likely to be away for nearly three weeks as he will reportedly proceed to Europe for a visit. Shah is accompanied by his wife Komal Shah and personal secretary Sagar Prasad Timalsina.

Ministry for Foreign Affairs issued a diplomatic passport for Shah, 63, on November 20 following his request through his aide. It is the first passport that Shah holds as he did not need it for his official visits when he was head of the state.

Nepal vows to fight threats posed by climatchange after concluding historic high-altitude meet

2009-12-04T04:28:00.000-08:00

The historic cabinet meeting at Kalapatthar plateau near Everest Base Camp (5,242 meters) in the foothills of Mt Everest has concluded by issuing a 10-point "Everest declaration" which calls for concerted actions to minimize adverse effects of climate change in the Himalayan region.

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal (center) and other ministers at a press conference organised after the historic cabinet meeting at Mount
Everest base camp at Syangboche, Friday Dec 04 09. nepalnews.com/Ram Humagai
Informing about the decision of the cabinet meeting at a press meet organized in Syangboche (3,780 m) after returning from Kalapatthar, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said that through the Everest declaration Nepal wants to express its commitment to fight the threats posed by global climate change and show areas of cooperation to follow for this noble purpose.

The meeting held for around 20 minutes also declared Banke National Park as new national park and Api-Nampa and Gauri-Shankar as conservation areas.

In the 10-point declaration, Nepal has expressed commitment to work together with the international community to mitigate the threats of climate change to the entire human civilization including the world's fragile bio-diversity, heritages and for sustainable socio-economic and cultural development of mankind.

He said the Himalayan region which boasts of Mt Everest, the world's tallest peak, including the majestic 2,700 kilometer-long mountain range, has a special significance for the socio-economic and cultural development of 1.3 billion people living in the region including maintaining the global environmental balance.

"But the world-wide climate change patterns of recent years has started to negatively affect the Himalayas and the people living in this region, their socio-economic development, biological diversity and other sectors, " he said, adding that as a result of which the risks of floods, landslides, glacier outbursts, drought, deforestation and other natural calamities have greatly increased.

He said the adverse effects of climate change is not only being seen in the areas near to Himalayan region, but in the whole of South Asia including the ecology of the whole world.

"Due to global climate change and its effects, the entire human civilization is faced with additional challenges for their survival," PM Nepal claimed.

PM Nepal said that Government of Nepal has from the past many decades been expressing bilateral and multilateral commitments for sustainable development and environmental protection knowing that conserving and protecting planet Earth, our shared home, is not only in the interest of us but our future generations too.

Twenty-four cabinet ministers, including PM Nepal, had flown to Kalapatthar at 9:20 am on Friday to hold the historic cabinet meeting set in the backdrop of the majestic Himalayas, including Mt. Everest, the world's highest mountain.

A rescue team led by Usha Gurung along with six doctors and a team of mountaineers accompanied the ministerial team for this historic event.

Speaking to media-persons before the ministerial team was air-lifted to Kalapathhar, Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Dipak Bohora had said that the government is holding the cabinet meeting to draw the attention of the world to the threats of climate change in the Himalayas and the people living in the region.

State-owned Nepal Television broadcast the special event live from Syangboche.
Source: nepalnews.com

Maoists declaring autonomous states to end significance of Constituent Assembly: PM Nepal

2009-12-02T18:20:00.000-08:00

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that the plan of the UCPN (Maoist) party to declare autonomous federal states is against the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the Interim Constitution, accusing the former rebels of trying to end the significance of the Constituent Assembly (CA) with this move.

Speaking at a programme organized in the capital on the occasion of Jyapu Day Wednesday, PM Nepal dismissed Maoist claims that their plan to declare federal states is as per the tenet and spirit of the Interim Constitution.

He criticized the Maoists for their plan to declare federal states at a time when the political parties are holding discussion on state restructuring, adding that the Maoist move is objectionable.

Ailing Koirala in Singapore

2009-11-15T21:35:00.000-08:00

Ailing Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala left for Singapore this morning in an air ambulance for further treatment.
Koirala’s treatment began today at Gleneagles Hospital, Singapore, according to NC chief secretary Ram Chandra Pokharel. “It took 5:45 hours to reach Singapore and his health is now stable,” he added. Koirala’s family sources said he would return home in two weeks. The government will bear all expenses of
his treatment.

Koirala, after a five-day treatment at Shahid Gangalal Heart Centre, flew to Singapore along with two doctors — Man Bahadur KC and Jeju Pokharel — his security guard Mahendra Marasini and two doctors come from Singapore. His daughter and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala also flew to Singapore today in a separate flight. An ambulance equipped with emergency medical assistance was called from Singapore, as Koirala needs to be given oxygen regularly and he might need emergency services, said attending doctors. The ambulance had arrived from Singapore this morning. Koirala left Tribhuvan International Airport at 9:10 a.m.

Koirala’s cousin Shekhar Koirala and personal secretary Shekhar Thapa were already in Singapore to arrange for the treatment. Doctors attending to Koirala said his certain
check-unavailable in Nepal would be done in Singapore. A number of supporters and NC leaders bade farewell to Koirala at the Centre and the TIA.
Source: The Himilayan Times

Swine flu detected in Parvat

2009-11-05T22:41:00.000-08:00

Tests have confirmed the flu spreading in Parbat and Baglung since last two weeks are mostly swine flu, Nagarik daily reported quoting health officials. Nine out of 12 samples collected from Kushma bazaar have tested positive to Pandemic Influenza H1N1.

Five of them were army men working at Naya Bhairavi Dal Battalion based in Kushma Bazaar, district headquarters of Parbat. Four others were from children in Kushma.

A team of World Health Organisation and Ministry of Disease Control Division officials had collected samples of five army men and seven locals in Kushma a week ago.

The officials have said most of the cases of flu spreading in Parbat and Baglung could be swine flu as the samples collected from a small area tested positive in such high proportion.

A lot of people in Parbat and Baglung have fallen ill with fever and cold since last two weeks. Doctors had been saying the disease could be viral fever.

Schools in both Kushma and Baglung have been closed due to prevent the disease from further spreading. Although tests have not been carried out in Baglung, it could also be swine flu, as the disease spread from Parvab.

Tiger experts say species dying out fast despite conservation efforts

2009-10-28T23:59:00.000-07:00

The world's tiger population is declining fast despite efforts to save them, and new strategies are urgently needed to keep the species from dying out, international wildlife experts said Tuesday.

"We are assembled here to save tigers that are at the verge of extinction," Nepal's secretary of forest and soil conservation, Yuvaraj Bhusal, told a conference of tiger experts from 20 countries, including the 13 where wild tigers are still found.

An estimated 3,500 to 4,000 tigers now roam the world's forests, down from the more than 100,000 estimated at the beginning of the 20th century. All the remaining tigers are in Asia.

Participants at the conference, which also includes the World Bank, the World Wildlife Fund and other groups, plan to discuss strategies for tiger conservation, as well as challenges such as poaching, the trade of tiger parts and conflicts between tigers and local populations.

In a recent case, a Sumatran tiger died after being caught in a pig snare last week in the country's news agency, Antara, reported Monday. The report said the tiger died as it was being prepared for surgery Monday. Only about 250 Sumatran tigers remain in the wild.

"Despite our efforts in the last three decades, tigers still face threats of survival. The primary threat is from poaching and habitat loss," Nepal's prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal told the conference.

He said extreme poverty has also challenged efforts.

"Global and regional solidarity and corrective measures are more necessary now than ever to face these challenges," the prime minister said.

Bhusal, the forest secretary, said participants hope to make high-level policy makers in their countries more aware of the animal's possible extinction.

The 13 countries where wild tigers are still found include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.

The conference continues through Friday.

President Yadav worried about delay in constitution drafting, House obstruction

2009-10-25T04:03:00.000-07:00

President Ram Baran Yadav called some acclaimed legal professionals at his residence Saturday and expressed concern over the delay in constitution drafting and the ongoing obstruction of the legislative parliament.

President Yadav sought a collective advice from senior legal professionals Bhimarjun Acharya, Tika Ram Bhattarai, Kumar Regmi, Bipin Adhikari, Parshuram Upadhyaya and Dinesh Tripathi, among others, on his role to expedite the constitution drafting process.

The constitution drafting and peace process should be completed within the stipulated time at any cost; it should not be prolonged by imposing a state of emergency or by amending the Interim Constitution, said a lawyer quoting the President.

The President also sought the lawyers' advice on what could be his role within the provisions of the Interim Constitution to expedite the process of writing the new constitution.

President Yadav also expressed concern about the confusion on the post of Vice President and the ongoing obstruction of the legislative parliament preventing budget for this year to be passed.

The lawyers advised President Yadav to discuss the issues in good faith with the leaders of the major political parties.

According to Nagarik daily, the President expressed dissatisfaction over a proposal made by Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) to the Unified CPN (Maoist), which indirectly accepts that the President had taken a wrong move on the army chief case.

I have not taken any decision at my discretion and outside the perimeter of the Interim Constitution; all I had done was to suggest the erstwhile Prime Minister to correct the decision on the recommendation of 18 political parties. I am hurt by NC- UML's proposal which shows me wrong; a lawyer quoted the President as saying.

NC and UML have proposed the Maoists to table a motion at the legislative parliament with the wordings, 'the legislative parliament directs the government to table bill(s) for amendment of statutes to clarify the confusion seen about the President's jurisdiction at times.'

China visit was important, says Prachanda

2009-10-20T01:41:00.000-07:00

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” said his weeklong visit to China was important in improving relations between the two countries.

“It was an important visit in many ways strengthening two parties’ relation[s] as well as the relation[s] of the two countries,” said Mr. Dahal on Monday. He went there on a Communist Party of China’s invitation last week.

Mr. Dahal met Chinese President Hu Jintao, leaders of the party and government officials and discussed Nepal’s peace process and the process of constitution writing among other issues.

Mr. Dahal said China was ready to help Nepal in these processes.

The Chinese side, he said, had security concerns about Tibet. The Tibetan refugees living in Nepal carry out frequent protests in Kathmandu demanding a free Tibet. Nepal maintains One-China policy and controls any anti-China activity that takes place here.

Meanwhile to a question about India’s reported dissatisfaction about his visit, the Maoist Chairman said India need not take the visit negatively as his party adopts the policy of maintaining “equidistance” with both China and India.

“If India invites us [Maoists] to discuss our peace process and the constitution-drafting task, we will certainly take it positively,” he said.

UML tea reception underway

2009-10-04T00:31:00.000-07:00

The main ruling party CPN (UML) is organising a tea reception to exchange greetings on the occasion of Dashain and Tihar festivals, Sunday afternoon. Leaders of different parties including Prime Minister and UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala are to attend the tea party at UML central office, Balkhu.

Also invited at the function are heads of foreign diplomatic missions, representatives of Nepal-based international agencies, imminent figures of the civil society and artists. The UML had also invited President Dr Ram Baran Yadav to the reception, but he expressed his inability to participate, as it would not be possible for him to attend functions organised by the parties.

Nepali Congress had organised a tea party on Saturday. Top leaders attending the NC tea party said they were hopeful of early breakthrough on the political stalemate.
republicanepal.blogspot.com

2009-09-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who returned from Hong Kong after a five-day trip Thursday, has hinted that his party is not ready to budge on its demand that the President's 'unconstitutional' move be rectified.

Speaking to reporters at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Dahal said the issue raised by his party could be addressed through an amendment in the interim constitution to define the role and authority of the President.

"What we have been demanding is parliamentary debate on the President's move, but we are ready to move a step ahead," he said, adding that the Maoist party was ready to call off its protest movement if the parties agreed to amend the constitution in a way that addresses the Maoist demand.

He said his party would devise new strategy as the month-long protest programmes are going to be going to be over soon.

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is expected to meet Dahal in a bid to convince him to end the obstruction in the legislation parliament. Leaders of the three parties had met Tuesday and Wednesday, but failed to reach an agreement.

Meanwhile, Dahal has claimed that he did not hold formal discussion with high-ranking Chinese officials during his stay in Hong Kong. "There were just courtesy meetings with some Chinese officials."

He further said his party firmly upholds 'one China policy' and that no activities against the northern neighbour should be allowed from Nepali soil.

During the trip he was accompanied by his wife Sita, party's foreign department chief Krishna Bahadur Mahara and member of the foreign department Manoj Thapa.

Sindhupalchowk bus accident toll hits 20; over dozen still missing

2009-09-10T08:11:00.001-07:00

At least 20 dead bodies have been recovered so far from the bus accident site at Bhainse in Sindhupalchok district, along the Arniko highway, while more than a dozen others are still missing.A packed passenger bus with the number plate Na-2-Kha 6228 on its way to Kathmandu from Jalbire, Sindhupalchowk, plunged into the Sunkoshi River at around 9:30 a.m. Thursday.The number of passengers travelling in the ill-fated bus remains sketchy, but reports said there were at least 35 passengers. Identities of 17 out of 20 deceased have been confirmed.Some passengers are believed to have been trapped inside the bus while a few were swept away by the swelling river. Three rescued passengers have been brought to Kathmandu for treatment.Local fishermen and officials from Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force are involved in rescue works, but they have not been able to pull those trapped inside the bus.Most of the missing passengers are feared dead. Reports quoting the rescued passengers said the excessive speed was the main cause of the accident.

SC crossed its jurisdiction: VP Jha

2009-08-24T03:29:00.000-07:00

Vice President Parmananda Jha has said the Supreme Court acted out of jurisdiction when it ordered him to retake oath of office, in Nepali. He said the court ruling has only created unnecessary controversy. Kantipur F.M quoted VP Jha as saying that the constitutional provisions (Article 26 Jha 2) have it the Vice President's post becomes vacant only in case of death, resignation or after being impeached by the parliament. He further said that Sunday's SC ruling that the VP could not continue in office if he didn't retake oath within seven days was issued out of the court jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, Minister for Law and Justice Prem Bahadur Singh has said the government would implement the Supreme Court order regarding the VP's oath. Speaking at the Reporters Club, Singh also said that by retaking oath, as ordered by the SC, VP Jha could make his position more dignified. "I hope the VP will retake oath." Speaking at the same programme, president of Nepal Bar Association Bishwokanta Mainali said the VP must abide by the court order and take oath in Nepali. He said Nepali people are not compelled to regard Jha as their Vice President if he refuses follow court order.

India pledges Rs 32 billion development aid to Nepal

2009-08-20T04:08:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal met Indian Union Minister for Finance Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday morning and was assured of 'all kinds of necessary financial assistance' from India, including a massive Rs 32 billion aid package for the economic development of Nepal. During the meeting, Minister Mukherjee assured PM Nepal that India will continue to provide financial assistance to Nepal and pledged the new aid package for Nepal to enhance its flagging economy. Although the Indian side didn't disclose any concrete projects for which the aid was specifically meant for, but going by past Indian assurances, the aids may go into building more highways, postal roads, railway link, creation of special economic zones, establishing police booths, among others. India currently provides an annual grant aid of somewhere around Rs 16 billion to Nepal, which is directly distributed to various schools, hospitals, road construction and other development projects under the discretion of the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. Increasing trade between the two countries, Indian investments in Nepal including other economic issues also featured highly during the meeting, PM Nepal's press advisor told a local FM radio station. PM Nepal also held talks with Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram on border security and encroachment. On the occasion, Indian Home Minister Chidambaram said India is committed to make security tight in the border areas and control criminal activities there.The two leaders also agreed on the need for more cooperation between the security forces of the two countries to jointly tackle the rise in criminal activities along the Nepal-India border in a strong manner. PM Nepal is later scheduled to meet with other Indian ministers, leaders, top government officials and dignitaries including former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral. Earlier in an interaction with senior journalists and intellectuals at Hotel Oberoi in New Delhi., PM Nepal said that his government has been entrusted with the responsibility of drafting the new constitution within the stipulated time and taking the peace process to a logical conclusion and that it will fulfill it as per the aspiration of the Nepalese people. PM Nepal said that he will also ensure that the Maoist will join the government and accept the responsibility of being the largest party in the Constituent Assembly.The prime minister also said that Nepal will never tolerate any anti-Indian activities from Nepali soil and has taken every measures to ensure that Indian interests in Nepal are protected. PM Nepal, who is in New Delhi for a five-day official visit of India, met his Indian counterpart Man Mohan Singh on Wednesday.

PM invites Indian business leaders to invest in post-conflict Nepal

2009-08-19T18:56:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has asked the Indian business leaders for investment in a number of sectors such as hydropower, roads, bridges, infrastructure, construction materials, tourism, health, education and financial institutions in Nepal. Addressing the gathering of Indian businessmen in Delhi on Wednesday, PM Nepal said since Nepal government has concentrated its attention for massive investment in reconstruction to recover the losses incurred during the decade-long insurgency, Nepal has bright prospects for investments.

He said the government is ever ready to protect the interest of the investors and provide security for them, adding Nepal is seeking enhanced foreign investment at this time. He further said, government will ensures swift decision on big projects and provide necessary facilities for such projects. To facilitate this, the government will shortly announce the establishment of an Investment Board under the leadership of prime minister.

Mentioning that conflict-hit Nepali have expected relief, PM Nepal underlined the priorities of his government as successful conclusion of the peace process, writing the constitution on time and providing a peace dividend to the general people. He mentioned that Nepal is making progress in the peace process, adding rapid economic growth and inclusive social advancement can only make a peace process stable. While talking on continued imbalanced bilateral trade between Nepal and India, PM Nepal said trade liberalisation, removal of custom restrictions and increasing investment in Nepal would downsize the trade imbalance.

Cabinet finalises team, approves agenda for PM's India visit

2009-08-17T18:59:00.000-07:00

The cabinet has finalised a 64-member team to accompany Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal during his five-day official tour to India beginning Tuesday. A cabinet meeting held at the PM's office Singha Durbar, Monday morning also approved the agenda of the visit. According to information minister Shankar Pokharel, the visiting team includes PM Nepal's spouse Gayatri Nepal, foreign minister Sujata Koirala, tourism and civil aviation minister Sharat Singh Bhandari, energy minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, commerce and supplies minister Rajendra Mahato, finance minister Surendra Pande, industry minister Mahendra Prasad Yadav and vice-chairman of National Planning Commission (NPC) Yuvraj Khatiwada.

With the ministers, PM Nepal's aides and security officers, bureaucrats, businessmen and journalists, the official team will be 64-member strong, one of the largest teams during a PM's foreign visit in the history of Nepal. In addition, more than a dozen businessmen and some journalists will accompany PM Nepal to New Delhi in their personal expenditure. Likewise, the agenda of the visit includes informing India on the progress of peace and constitution drafting process, signing a bilateral trade and commerce treaty, and discussing bilateral issues including water resources, border and environment. lthough Pancheshwar multi-purpose project will be discussed during the visit, no specific agreement will be signed on this.

The main opposition Unified CPN (Maoist) had warned the government not to sign any agreement on Pancheshwar without their consensus

Bomb explosion at NC headquarters, NDA pamphlets found

2009-08-11T04:55:00.000-07:00

A bomb believed to be an improvised explosive device exploded at the Nepali Congress (NC) central office in Sanepa, Lalitpur Tuesday afternoon. No casualty was reported in the explosion that took place at the headquarters of the oldest political party of the country. However, the explosion has caused minor damage to the office, police said. Reports quoted police as saying that a man on a bicycle lobbed the bomb at around 3 pm.

Police said pamphlets belonging to Nepal Defence Army, an underground outfit which has carried out various bombings in the capital city, has been recovered from the incident site. The office has been cordoned off by the police. The outfit claims to be fighting to re-declare Nepal as a Hindu state and restore monarchy.

Army chief Katawal on leave from Monday

2009-08-07T18:44:00.000-07:00

The Defense Ministry on Friday accepted the leave letter forwarded by Chief-of-Army-Staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal. In the letter, CoAS Katawal informed the government that he will stay on leave starting Monday. Katawal also informed that he has entrusted Lt. General Chhatra Man Singh Gurung, the second-in-command, with the responsibility of Acting Army chief of Nepal Army from the same day.

As per the tradition in the Nepal Army, the Army chief stays on leave one month prior to his retirement. Katawal is retiring as the Army chief from Sept 9.

Car runs over pedestrians; six killed

2009-08-04T18:43:00.000-07:00

Six persons have been killed when a speeding car ran over them in Bhotahity, Kathmandu Tuesday night. A car numbered Ba 4 Chha 8030 registered in the name of Shantiman Singh of Khichapokhari knocked down a group of people returning from Bir Hospital at about 12.45 am Wednesday, police said.

The deceased have been identified as Bina Singh, Madan Kumar Gupta, Dharma Nath Singh, Krishna Devi Gupta, Sanjeev Gupta of Sitamadhi district, Uttar Pradesh, India. One deceased is yet to be identified. Deepak Bista, has been injured in the accident, is undergoing treatment at Institute of Neurological Sciences, Golfutar. The driver of the vehicle is absconding. Locals staged demonstrations and obstructed traffic in Bhotahity area briefly Wednesday morning following the accident. Details to follow.

PM discusses Maoist ultimatum with President

2009-08-03T18:11:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal met President Dr Ram Baran Yadav at the latter's office, Shital Niwas, Monday afternoon, discussing the Maoist ultimatum to the government to address the issue of 'civilian supremacy', among other things. The hour-long meeting dwelled mainly on the Maoist demands and the controversy over the Supreme Court verdict against Vice President Parmananda Jha's oath in Hindi.

According to PM's political advisor Raghuji Panta, the PM and the President concluded that no parliamentary debate can take place on the President's move, as demanded by the Maoists. On the Vice President's oath dispute, PM Nepal told the President that the government would find a 'legal solution' to it. The diarrhea epidemic in mid and far western district also figured during the meeting, it is learnt.

The meeting between the PM and the President came hours after the Unified CPN (Maoist) decided to wage a month-long protest movement if the Prime Minister failed to fulfill his commitment to address the issues raised by the party.The Maoist party also decided to boycott public functions attended by the Prime Minister and the President

Maoist CC meet concludes; Dahal is PLA 'supreme commander' again; general convention in January

2009-08-01T19:17:00.000-07:00

The three-week long Maoist central committee meeting concluded on Saturday, taking some policy decisions and dividing organisational responsibilities to the central leaders.The central committee has designated party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal as the 'supreme commander' of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Dahal had quit the post after he became Prime Minister of the erstwhile Maoist-led coalition government.Likewise, the Maoist party has decided to hold its general convention in January next year. The venue and the closing date of the general convention, which will begin on January 29, are yet to be fixed.The CC meeting held at the party's central office in Koteshwor also decided to go for multi-post leadership, with Dahal as party chairman, three vice-chairmen, a general secretary and two secretaries. Three senior leaders Mohan Baidya, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Narayan Kaji Shrestha have been appointed vice-chairmen while Ram Bahadur Thapa has been appointed general secretary. The two secretaries are C.P Gajurel and Post Bahadur Bogati.According to party spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma, the CC has also passed a 15-point code of ethics for the party leaders and cadres. As per the codes, the private properties of central leaders will be kept under the party's ownership.The CC meeting, which passed the party chairman's political report few days earlier, has adopted "people's federal republic" as a slogan. This will also be the immediate political goal of the party.The party also decided to go for direct election of the President of the Federal Republic.Sharma said the CC meeting decided to carry on with the protest movement in the streets and the parliament in favour of 'civilian supremacy'. According to him, the party will not join the proposed high-level political mechanism of the major parties unless the President's 'unconstitutional' move is rectified.Earlier, speaking at the end of the CC meeting, chairman Dahal described the meeting as a historic one and vowed to "keep intact the people's trust shown to the party". He also declared that the Unified-Maoist would not compromise on the issue of civilian supremacy. Dahal will hold a press conference at the party office on Sunday to publicise the decisions of the meeting.

Ban urges tougher steps to end widespread sexual violence in armed conflict

2009-07-31T05:36:00.000-07:00

He systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon, mainly against , is rife in armed conflicts in and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned in his latest report on the scourge, calling for States to strengthen prevention and protection measures against the. "In a number of contemporary conflicts, sexual violence has taken on particularly brutal dimensions, sometimes as means of pursuing and economic objectives

NC, UML initiate formation of political mechanism

2009-07-31T05:23:00.000-07:00

fter getting positive nod from UCPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, top leaders of Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) have initiated formation of the high level political mechanism.Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala and UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal held informal talks Friday morning for formation of such a mechanism. Maoist chairman Dahal, in his recent consultation with Koirala, had hinted at joining the mechanism if it is not meant for advising government of daily administration or taking important decisions but for broader objectives like peace process and writing constitution.

PM Nepal and chairman Khanal had reached Koirala's residence in Maharajgunj to discuss the issue. The leaders have agreed for a joint meeting of the top leaders of three big parties at the earliest to give impetus to formation of the mechanism, which is likely to be led by Koirala.

Gachhadar registers new party

2009-07-29T18:33:00.001-07:00

Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar on Wednesday registered a new party with the name Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (Loktantrik) in the Election Commission. The party will have Gachhadar as the chairman and 19 members in its central committee. Mohammad Nasir Siddiqui and Rameshwar Raya were appointed as the vice chairmen with Sarad Singh Bhandari as senior leader. Similarly, Jitendra Narayan Dev has been appointed as the general secretary, Rabindra Thakur as the Secretary and Asha Chaturvedi as the treasurer.

No arms deal with India: PM

2009-07-28T05:43:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said the government has not reached to any agreement with the government of India for purchasing arms during the visit of Defense Minister Bidhya Bhandari. Addressing the parliament session Tuesday after the Unified CPN (Maoist) demanded clarification from prime minister on the reported arms deal with India, PM Nepal said defense minister’s visit was for strengthening bilateral relations and personal medication. He said the government is committed to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed between the then government and CPN (Maoist) which bars any arms purchase until the peace process ends. PM Nepal also informed the House that government is using all its resources to control the cholera breakout in mid and far western hilly districts. According to the details he gave, 188 have died of the epidemic so far and 22,415 have been infected by the disease. He said government has invested over Rs 17 million to control the epidemic. He further said Rs 10,000 will be given to each family losing its member, and those losing parents will get additional Rs 5,000 as immediate compensation from the government. “Government will take responsibilities for shelter and education of the orphaned children,” Nepal announced. He mentioned unhygienic habits and contaminated water as the main cause of cholera breakout and announced that programme for supplying chlorinated water and construction of toilets in all villages will start. In another context, PM Nepal said Laxman Lal Yadav, central member of the YCL from Rautahat, was killed by the Terai based armed outfit Terai Mukti Morcha and that investigations are underway to catch the culprit. However, Nepal did not mention anything about the murder of a Tarun Dal member. Following his address to the parliament, the Maoists allowed normal business to resume at the House from today
source:Nepalnews.com

Baban Singh joins TMLP

2009-07-25T20:47:00.001-07:00

Independent lawmaker Baban Singh who was elected from Rautahat district has formally joined the Terai-Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) Saturday. TMLP chairman Mahantha Thakur welcomed Singh during a special function held at party's central office in the capital. Speaking on his entry into party politics, Singh said he believed that TMLP would stay in the government and fight against all anti-Madhes policies. He also described the TMLP as the party that represents the suppressed voice of Terai.

TMLP said a rally in Gaur, the headquarters of Rautahar, would be organised to mark his entry into TMLP.Singh, who faces murder and rape charges and had been wanted by the police, had remained underground for some weeks even after being elected to the Constituent Assembly. Police had also linked him in the bomb explosions in Kathmandu in 2007.

sourcr:Nepalnews.com

Top leaders agree not to hinder constitution making process

2009-07-23T17:50:00.000-07:00

Top leaders of the three large parties in the constituent assembly have reiterated their commitments not to hinder the constitution writing process due to political differences.
In a joint meeting called by Constituent Assembly Chairman Subash Nemwang Thursday, UCPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel expressed commitments that they would expedite constitution making process. They also expressed commitments to take the peace process to a logical end.
Nemwang called the meeting after the CA committee failed to meet the deadlines to submit preliminary drafts of the constitution due to political differences, due to which the constitution making calendar has been amended five times. It is learnt that Maoist chairman Dahal suggested electing Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai as the chairman of the Constitutional Committee, which has remained vacant since Madhav Kumar Nepal was elected Prime Minister.

People in Asia have seen the longest total solar eclipse this century, with large areas of India and China plunged into darkness.

2009-07-22T05:06:00.000-07:00

Amateur stargazers and scientists travelled far to see the eclipse, which lasted six minutes and 39 seconds at its maximum point. The eclipse could first be seen early on Wednesday in eastern India. It then moved east across India, Nepal, Burma, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Japan and the Pacific. The eclipse first became total over India at 0053GMT, and was last visible from land at Nikumaroro Island in the South Pacific nation of Kiribati. It ended at 0418GMT. Elsewhere, a partial eclipse was visible across much of Asia. Mixed blessing In India, millions gathered in open spaces from the west coast to the northern plains, with clouds parting in some cities at dawn - just before the total eclipse.

But thick clouds and an overcast sky obscured the view at the Indian village of Taregna, "epicentre" of the eclipse, says our correspondent in the area. Many of the thousands of people who gathered there to watch the eclipse left the village disappointed. We were apprehensive of this cloudy weather but it was still a unique experience with morning turning into night for more than three minutes," scientist Amitabh Pande told the Associated Press news agency. Some enthusiasts in India were on board a special chartered flight for a close-up view of the eclipse. The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder, who was on the flight, said that from a vantage point of 41,000ft (12,500m), it was a celestial spectacle like few others. Among the passengers were a man who was witnessing it for the eighth time, scientists, amateur astronomers and children. In India and Nepal, where it is considered auspicious to watch the eclipse while immersed in holy water, crowds gathered at rivers or ponds, including tens of thousands of people at Varanasi on the Ganges.

We have come here because our elders told us this is the best time to improve our afterlife," said Bhailal Sharma, a villager who had travelled to Varanasi from central India. The event in Varanasi was marred, however, when a woman was killed and several others injured in a stampede on the river banks, police said. For others, the eclipse was seen to be a bad omen. In Nepal, authorities shut all schools for the day to avoid exposing students to any ill-effects, says the BBC's Joanna Jolly in Kathmandu. Some parents in Delhi kept their children from attending school at breakfast because of a Hindu belief that it is inauspicious to prepare food during an eclipse, while pregnant women were advised to stay inside due to a belief that the eclipse could harm a foetus.

"My mother and aunts have called and told me stay in a darkened room with the curtains closed, lie in bed and chant prayers," said Krati Jain, a software worker in Delhi who is expecting her first child. Authorities in China, where an eclipse was a bad omen in ancient culture, reassured the public that services would run normally. In the east of the country, heavy cloud or rain obscured it. Pollution was also a barrier, with thick smog in Beijing blotting out the sky. 'Special opportunity' The last total eclipse, in August 2008, lasted two minutes and 27 seconds. Alphonse Sterling, a Nasa astrophysicist who followed the latest eclipse from China, said scientists were hoping data from it would help explain solar flares and other structures of the sun and why they erupt. "We'll have to wait a few hundred years for another opportunity to observe a solar eclipse that lasts this long, so it's a very special opportunity," Shao Zhenyi, an astronomer at the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory in China told the Associated Press. Solar eclipses allow scientists to see the gases surrounding the sun, or its corona.

Solar scientist Lucie Green, from University College London, was aboard an American cruise ship heading for the point near the Japanese island of Iwo Jima, where the axis of the Moon's shadow passed closest to Earth. "The [Sun's] corona has a temperature of 2 million degrees but we don't know why it is so hot," she said."What we are going to look for are waves in the corona. "The waves might be producing the energy that heats the corona. That would mean we understand another piece of the science of the Sun." The next total solar eclipse will occur on 11 July, 2010. It will be visible in a narrow corridor over the southern hemisphere, from the southern Pacific Ocean to Argentina.

Nepalis killed in Afghan chopper crash identified

2009-07-21T00:44:00.000-07:00

Four Nepalis who were killed in a helicopter crash in NATO's base in Afghanistan on Sunday have been identified. According to reports, Janak Pokharel and Bishnu Malla of Pokhara and Navaraj Khadka and Sunil Lamichane of Hetauda were killed when the helicopter burst into flames shortly after take off. The report, however, didn't mention their ages. Two other Nepalis who managed to jump off before the chopper crashed have been identified as Ramesh G.C, 25, of Malepatan, Pokhara-5 and Abhisekh Adhikari, 23, of Syangja district. They were later admitted to a local hospital for minor injuries and are said to be doing well.

The six Nepali had reached war-torn Afghanistan just 4 days ago to work for Supreme Groups, a multinational company which offers food supplies and other logistics for US military and other multinational forces based in Afghanistan. The company is known for providing these kinds of services in very hostile environments. The four Nepalis were among the 16 killed in the chopper crash in the hostile Kandahar region. The helicopter was ferrying the Nepalis along with civilian contractors and supplies to a military outpost.

Thousands of Nepalis have flown to Afghanistan in search of work, often paying hefty amounts to agents back home, despite a government ban on the country as a working destination for Nepalis. Hundreds of Nepalis men are said to be literally living in the streets of the country's capital Kabul after not being able to find any jobs. This has raised deep concern for their security in a very hostile country which sees regular abduction of foreigners and targeted bombings.

Govt hikes civil servants' pay

2009-07-19T19:35:00.000-07:00

The government has decided to increase the salary of civil servants by six per cent for non-gazetted staff and four per cent for gazetted officers and provide a dearness allowance of Rs 1200 to employees of all level, Sunday. A late night cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar decided on the ratio of the increment. Earlier, the cabinet had, in principle, agreed to hike the pay of civil servants. Civil servants, under the leadership of unions affiliated to various political parties, have been agitating since the announcement of budget for fiscal year 2009/2010 demanding a substantial pay-hike. Whether they will agree with the meager pay hike is not known yet.

The cabinet has also decided to provide public welfare advertisements to electronic media too and double the amount earmarked for the purpose to Rs 160 million. Earlier, such advertisements were provided only to print media. Today's cabinet meeting also decided to set up a Journalist Welfare Fund of Rs 10 million to support needy senior journalists and handicapped journalists.

source:nepalnews.com

Partial solar eclipse to be seen July 22

2009-07-17T18:31:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines—Avoid using x-ray films, sunglasses and basins filled with water when viewing the partial solar eclipse on July 22. According to astronomy and weather experts, looking at the partial eclipse through these methods would only ruin your eyes. The experts advised the public on Thursday to use the proper equipment in watching the moon partially obscure the sun.

Professor Frederick Gabriana, of the Astronomy Philippines and an instructor of the Rizal Technological University Department of Astronomy, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that water had a five percent rating of reflectivity. “That is, it reflects five percent of sunlight while allowing 95 percent to pass through. While this seems small, it is still 5,000 times bigger than the 0.00001 considered to be safe for solar observation,” he said. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said “enthusiasm and excitement” may lead observers to view the eclipse without the proper gear, that could lead to damage to the retina. Even the use of smoked glass and photographic films and negatives would be dangerous, the agency said on its website.

Pagasa said the safest method would be “indirect viewing” through a “pinhole camera” or projecting the image of the sun onto a white piece of paper or a card using a pair of binoculars (with one of the lenses covered), a telescope, or another piece of cardboard with a small hole of about one millimeter in diameter. The agency has also suggested the use of safe and certified solar filters, provided the instructions are followed. If the weather in Metro Manila is clear, the moon can be seen covering the sun by as much as half, or 49.5 percent, by Gabriana’s calculations.

The eclipse can be viewed by residents in the metropolis from 8:32 a.m. to 11:01 a.m. In Laoag City, 61.4 percent of the sun will be covered, 59.2 percent in Vigan City, 55.4 percent in Baguio City, 45.4 percent in Sorsogon, 36.6 percent in Cebu and 27.7 percent in Davao, according to Gabriana. The path of the moon’s umbral shadow will pass through areas in eastern Asia and the Pacific Ocean, particularly India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, regions in Central China including Shanghai, the Pacific Ocean, Ryukyu, Marshall Islands and Kiribati.

Agitating employees, govt fail to reach agreement on salary demands

2009-07-17T05:06:00.000-07:00

Failing to reach an agreement, the talks between the government and the agitating government employees have been postponed until Saturday. The talks held at the Ministry of Finance this afternoon could not arrive at a conclusion with both sides not budging on their respective stances.

The ministerial team led by Finance Minister Surendra Pandey reiterated the government version that Rs 5.20 billion allocated for allowances would cover the salary increment as demanded by the agitating government employees while employees stuck to the demand for Rs 5000 raise. Both the sides agreed to sit for more talks on Saturday and expressed hope to find a solution.The government and the civil servants' unions had sat for talks Thursday as well. The cabinet has already given nod to increase salary, giving the responsibility to determine the rate of increment to Finance Minister Pandey.
source:nepalnews.com

Govt nod to pay hike; agitating civil servants boycott talks after arrests

2009-07-16T05:00:00.000-07:00

In the wake of continuous demonstrations and blockade inside Singha Durbar, the government on Thursday agreed to raise the salary of the government employees. A cabinet meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, who is working as the acting PM, agreed to hike the salary. The Ministry of Finance has been asked to determine the ratio of increase after negotiation with the representatives of the agitating government employees. The Ministry also decided to strongly deal with the government employees' protest inside Singha Durbar, which has hampered administrative works. Meanwhile, the agitating civil servants have refused to sit for talks called by the Finance Minister this afternoon, protesting the arrest of their colleagues from a demonstration earlier today. Police arrested nearly 200 protesters after they obstructed vehicular movement in and out of Singha Durbar.

Employees in different government-owned corporations also started protests from today. On Wednesday, works at different ministries inside Singha Durbar were affected due to the protest of government employees. The government employees had launched protests from Tuesday, a day after the Finance Minister presented the budget for the fiscal year 2009/10. The Finance Minister didn't announce any pay hike but he said the dearness allowances for the government employees had been increased.

Honduran leader 'could step down'

2009-07-15T19:17:00.000-07:00

Mr Micheletti told reporters he would be prepared to make the move for "peace and tranquility" in Honduras. He took over at the head of a military-backed interim Honduran government after Mr Zelaya was bundled out of the country on 28 June. Mediators have called a further round of talks in Costa Rica on Saturday. Mr Micheletti's latest comments to reporters in the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, came as supporters of the ousted Mr Zelaya threatened to call strikes in protest at his overthrow. On Wednesday, Mr Zelaya - who is internationally recognised as the legitimate president - said his supporters had "the right to insurrection" in their bid to see him reinstated.

Mr Zelaya, a leftist, was forced out of office amid a row with the country's Congress and the courts over plans to hold a referendum on abolishing the current one-term restriction on presidents. Such a move could have seen Mr Zelaya run for a second term. The chief mediator, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, has called the rival factions to a new round of talks on Saturday. Previous talks have failed to produce a breakthrough, but Mr Arias - a Nobel prize laureate - is urging both sides to be patient.

source: bbc.co.uk

Govt employees picket Finance Ministry; FM Pandey hints at salary review

2009-07-15T19:15:00.000-07:00

Government employees, who had staged demonstration in Singha Durbar yesterday demanding salary hike, picketed the Finance Ministry on Wednesday.
The agitating government employees barred vehicles from moving in and out of Singha Durbar for over three hours. Works at different ministries were affected due to the protest.Organsing a corner meeting after a rally inside Singha Durbar, representatives of the unions said protests would be intensified if the government does not consider their demands.

Unions of civil servants affiliated with different political parties have criticised the government for not increasing the salary. Different unions have suggested Rs 5000 to 6000 increase in the salary.Meanwhile, answering the queries of lawmakers in the parliament today, Finance Minister Surendra Pandey said the government was serious about the demand of the government employees for a salary review. He said 'necessary steps' would be taken for a review, informing that negotiations would start on the demand today itself. In the annual budget unveiled on Monday, the Finance Minister didn't announce any pay hike he said the dearness allowances for the government employees had been increased.

Nepal plunges into politics of languages

2009-07-14T19:51:00.000-07:00

The issue of official language(s) has never been as sensitive in Nepal as it is now. While the interim statute maintains the continuity of Nepal, in Devnagari script, as the language of official communication, some members of the 601-strong Constituent Assembly want to add 11 more languages to the list, giving them the same status, while others are advocating for the addition of Hindi . Otherwise, the members will resort to writing "notes of dissent", unwittingly...

Finance Minister unveils Rs 285.93b budget

2009-07-13T17:46:00.000-07:00

Finance Minister Surendra Pandey presented Rs 285.93 billion budget for the fiscal year 2009-10 at the legislature-parliament on Monday. Of the total expenditure, the government has proposed Rs.135.58 billion (47.42 percent) for general administration and Rs. 150 billion and 347.5 million (52.58 percent) for development related expenses. Out of the estimated sources of financing, Rs. 161 billion 73.6 million will be borne from the current source of revenue. Out of the total foreign assistance of Rs. 78 billion 516.2 million, Rs. 56 billion 955.6 million will be borne by foreign grants and Rs.21 billion 560.06 million by foreign loans. The budget deficit has been estimated to be around Rs. 46.34 billion even after mobilising these sources.

The budget projects 5.5 percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the end of the fiscal year 2009/10. The growth rate in agriculture sector is expected to be at 3.3 percent and the non-agriculture sector at 6.6 percent. Estimating that the price level will gradually improve and the government aims to reduce the inflation rate to 7 percent. The inflation rate crossed 13 in the current fiscal year. The government has allocated Rs 46.5 billion to education sector and Rs 18.67 billion to health sector for the fiscal year 2009/10.

Similarly, Rs 25.24 billion has been set aside for local development whereas agriculture and irrigation have received Rs 8.06 billion and Rs 7.95 billion respectively. On the other hand, transportation sector (both road and air) has received 19.75 billion. Likewise, Rs 15.3 billion has been earmarked for defense while Rs 14.55 billion has been allocated for the police forces.

The government has earmarked Rs. 2.11 billion for post-conflict development and reconstruction. Under this programme, construction of 260 kilometers of road and construction of 40 bridges will be started; 96 suspension bridges and 104 small infrastructures will be constructed; and 80 drinking water projects will be completed. Likewise, Rs. 1.3 billion will be spent for relief, land development and rehabilitation of the victims of the floods in Koshi and Far and Middle West; and for immediate relief and protection programmes to operate immediately after natural disasters.

According to the Finance Minister, the government will give priority to the implementation of the agreements with various groups including the Madhesis and Janajatis. He stated that poverty alleviation programme currently operational targeting at the socially and economically backward community and households below poverty line would be expanded to all the districts. Rs. 2.72 billion has been allocated for this programme.

Similarly, the budget aims at promoting private sector investment and make the market competitive. A high-level Investment Board headed by the Prime Minister would be formed to attract national and foreign private investment on major infrastructure projects. The Finance Minister said the government would not make it mandatory to reveal income source for manufacturing industries using more than 50 percent indigenous raw materials, employing more than 300 national workers or those of national importance such as hydro electricity projects, international airports, tunnel ways, road ways or railways until mid April, 2019. Likewise, excise duty on items produced by using more than 90 percent domestic scraps has been waived. In the budget, arrangement has been made for compulsory collection of VAT on the construction of buildings, apartments or shopping complexes for commercial purposes exceeding the value of Rs. 5 million. The local development tax has been annulled.

Likewise, income tax ceiling for individuals has been raised to Rs. 160,000 from Rs. 115,000 and Rs. 200000 for married couples from the current Rs. 140,000. Capital gain tax is has been reduced from 15 percent to 10 percent while eighty percent duty on milk tanker has been exempted while the prevailing customs duty has been reduced to 30 percent from 40 percent.

Rs. 7.83 billion has been earmarked as the grant to Village Development Committees on the basis of their respective population, cost and geographical area.Rs 2.11 billion has been earmarked for the construction of 6.5 kilometer of main works out of 26.50 kilometer tunnel construction under Melamchi Drinking Water Project being implemented to provide easy access to the supply of drinking water in Kathmandu Valley.

In order to facilitate electricity generation, the government has given continuity to the arrangements of waivers of license for up to 3 MW and waivers of detailed environment impact assessment for up to 50 MW. Similarly, waivers on environment impact license will be provided for the construction of extension lines under the action plan of National Energy Crisis Mitigation. Similarly, no environment impact assessment will be required for the construction of extension line that occupies less than 5 hector of forest area. A total of Rs. 1 billion 570 million has been earmarked for community and rural electrification programme. Self Employment Scheme introduced by the previous Maoist-led government has been given continuity by the new government. Unemployed youths undertaking activities in commercial agriculture, agro-industries or service sectors, will be provided with non-collateral loan up to Rs. 200,000 from the banks.

The Finance Minister also proposed to distribute bio-metric smart card to all Nepali citizens as a national identity card, which can also be used for election purpose. This card will be arranged for drawing social security allowances, including elderly allowance, from any bank. A separate entity will be created at central level for managing implementation of this system, registering and archiving the records of personal events, and for execution of social security programmes.
Source: Nepalnews.com

Parliament begins discussion on govt's policies and programmes; Maoists boycott

2009-07-12T05:27:00.000-07:00

Earlier, the House called for 8 am Sunday could not start throughout the day yesterday due to the intra-party feud in MJF. The leaders had a hectic day on Saturday persuading the Yadav-led faction of the MJF to the agreement. The legislature parliament is scheduled to discuss the government's policies and programmes for the next fiscal year in today's meeting.
The time allocated for the discussion has been reduced to 11 hours after the parliament could not meet yesterday. The Unified CPN (Maoist) has boycotted the point-wise discussion on the policies and programmes of the government accusing the present government of being unconstitutional. Speaking at the House soon after it convened Sunday morning senior Maoist leader Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai said policies and programmes of the government had nothing new in it and his party had deemed its participation not necessary as it was a programme brought by an unconstitutional government. Maoist lawmakers walked out of the House as soon as Dr Bhattarai concluded his speech. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal will answer queries of the lawmakers before the parliament endorses the government policies and programmes. Eight amendment proposals to the policies and programmes have been filed.
source: nepalnews.com

Rhino numbers pushed to extinction

2009-07-09T18:36:00.000-07:00

By Robert Evans Geneva Poachers seeking horn for traditional medicines are driving once thriving populations of rhinos in Africa and Asia towards extinction, global nature protection groups said on Thursday. In a report issued in Geneva, they said illegal slaughter of the already endangered animals is rising fast, with rates hitting a 15-year high amid stepped-up activities by Asian-based criminal gangs feeding the demand for horn....

Ethnic tension sparks fresh riots in China

2009-07-08T05:53:00.000-07:00

China – Sobbing Muslim women scuffled with riot police, and Chinese men wielding steel pipes, meat cleavers and sticks rampaged through the streets Tuesday as ethnic tensions worsened in China’s oil-rich Xinjiang territory, forcing officials to declare a curfew.The new violence in Xinjiang’s capital erupted only a few hours after the city’s top officials told reporters the streets in Urumqi were returning to normal following a riot that killed 156 people Sunday. The officials also said more than 1,000 suspects had been rounded up since the rash of attacks by Muslim Uighurs against Han Chinese, the ethnic majority.

The chaos returned when hundreds of young Han men seeking revenge began gathering on sidewalks with kitchen knives, clubs, shovels and wooden poles. They spent most of the afternoon marching through the streets, smashing windows of Muslim restaurants and trying to push past police cordons protecting minority neighborhoods. Riot police successfully fought them back with volleys of tear gas and a massive show of force.After the crowds thinned out, a curfew was announced from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. Police cars cruised the streets in the evening, telling people to go home, and they complied. The ugly scenes earlier in the day highlighted how far away the Communist Party was from one of its top goals: creating a “harmonious society.”Many Uighurs believe the Han Chinese, who have been flooding into the region in recent years, are trying to crowd them out. They often accuse the Han of prejudice and waging campaigns to restrict their religion and culture.

The Han Chinese allege the Uighurs are backward and ungrateful for all the economic development the Han have brought to Xinjiang. They also complain that the Uighurs’ religion – a moderate form of Sunni Islam – keeps them from blending into Chinese society, which is officially communist and largely secular.The authorities have been trying to control the unrest by blocking the Internet and limiting access to texting services on cell phones. At the same time, police have generally been allowing foreign media to cover the tensions.On Tuesday, officials arranged a tour for journalists of sites that were attacked by Uighur rioters on Sunday. But the public relations event backfired spectacularly during the tour’s first stop – a car dealership in southern Urumqi where several autos were burned by rioters.

After interviewing people at the business, the journalists crossed the road to a Uighur market, where angry women in traditional, brightly colored headscarves began to gather.One woman who gave her name as Aynir said police arrived Monday evening and arrested about 300 men. The authorities were looking for men with fresh wounds or other signs they joined the rioting.“My husband was detained at gunpoint. They were hitting people. They were stripping people naked,” Aynir said. “He had nothing to do with the riots.”The crowd of women swelled to about 200 and they began marching in the street, chanting, “Freedom!” and “Release our children!” They were quickly sandwiched by hundreds of police on both ends of the road, along with trucks with water cannons. The crowd dispersed after a standoff that lasted 90 minutes.

Two accused of kidnapping attempt beaten to death

2009-07-07T20:37:00.000-07:00

Two of the four persons severely beaten up by locals of Chapacho, Bhaktapur, who claimed they were trying to kidnap a child, have died while undergoing treatment at B & B Hospital, Lalitpur.Police have not yet been able to identify the deceased persons. Locals of Chapacho chased and severely ruthlessly beat up four young men at Chapacho area in Bhaktapur Tuesday afternoon alleging them of trying to kidnap four kids of the local Himchuli Boarding School. Of the seven persons chased by the locals, three managed to flee the scene. Police later intervened and rescued the remaining four from the mob fury. The four were taken to B & B Hospital for treatment where two of them succumbed to injuries.

The other two are also said to be in serious condition. The incident was in a series of mob attacks on alleged kidnappers in different parts of the country. Recently, a group of Indian tourists were beaten up by locals in Tahanun district, mistaking them as kidnappers. A number of cases of mob lynching of suspected abductors have occurred in Siraha, Saptari, Rautahat and other Terai districts over the past few weeks.

Source: Nepalnews.com

This is situation of Nepalese

2009-07-06T22:26:00.001-07:00

NSU, ANNFSU cadres clash at Trichandra College

2009-07-05T22:06:00.001-07:00

Trichandra College at Jamal, Kathmandu, turned into a battleground Sunday afternoon with cadres of the Nepali Congress affiliated Nepal Students Union (NSU) and UML's student wing All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) engaging in violent clash over the tender for construction in the campus. Police had to fire four rounds of bullets into the air to control the situation. Both the student groups have blamed each other for provocation.

The clash started after a group of NSU supporters tried to prevent an ANNFSU team from registering the tender for construction new rooms at the Chemistry Building. But, NSU has said ANNFSU students attacked its cadres when they were going to register the tender. The students also torched chief's room and vandalised the office of the Free Students Union (FSU). Eyewitnesses said some students were brandishing swords and knives.

Nepal continues victory march in ACC Women T-20 Champ

2009-07-05T03:23:00.001-07:00

Nepal has continued its victory march in the ACC U-19 Women T-20 championship in Malaysia by winning the third consecutive match on Sunday.

Nepal, which got an easy target of 44 runs, beat Qatar by eight wickets. Qatar chose to bat first after winning the toss. Qatar lost all wickets after securing 43 runs in 17.2 overs. Sonu Khadka and Rekha Rawal took three wickets each.

Ganendra Sha

2009-07-04T20:04:00.000-07:00

UML rejects Maoist proposal for constitution amendment

2009-07-04T19:38:00.000-07:00

A meeting of the top leaders of the ruling CPN (UML) and the main opposition Unified CPN (Maoist) on Saturday could not reach any conclusion on ending the deadlock in the parliament. Sources said the UML leadership rejected the Maoist proposal for an amendment in the Interim Constitution to define the powers of the prime Minister and the President. The Maoist side also repeated its demand that the Prime Minister address the parliament to convince them that the 22-party government is committed to 'civilian supremacy'. Briefly speaking to reporters after the meeting, Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the legislature-parliament would start functioning normally from Sunday so the government could present the 'advance budget'.

Likewise, UML leader and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal's chief political advisor Raghu Pant said the discussion was fruitful even through it could not arrive at a conclusion. The two parties will again meet on Sunday to find a solution, he said. In Friday's meeting, the Unified-Maoist had agreed to allow the legislature-parliament to resume normal business from Sunday, but insisted not to allow the government to present its programmes and policies unless the President's 'unconstitutional' move against the erstwhile government's decision to sack the army chief is rectified.

Source: nepalnews.com

Police reveal more details on Khyati murder

2009-07-04T04:21:00.000-07:00

Police have revealed more details on Khyati murder case after a two-week long investigation.

At a press conference organised on Friday, police said they had concluded Khyati was killed within three hours of abduction. The final post-mortem report has shown that Khyati was hit three times by a rod before she died.

The main accused of the murder Biren Pradhan has confessed he hit Khyati with the rod to make her unconscious after the sleeping pills she had been unknowingly given failed to render her totally unconscious.

His accomplice, Merina Shakya was present during the incident and had tried to prevent Pradhan from hitting Khyati. Pradhan, however, threatened Shakya to kill both her parents and her only brother if she leaked any information about the incident. Police have also refuted any attempts of rape before murder.

Pradhan has revealed he initially had plans to ask Rs 2.5 million in ransom. However, he changed his mind and reduced the ransom amount to Rs 1 million after Khyati accidentally died before collecting the ransom. Police have filed a case against Pradhan on charge of kidnap and murder demanding life-imprisonment and seizure of all his properties. The penalty could be more severe if there is enough pressure from the media and the public, but it is totally up to the court to decide, police said.

PM inducts two more ministers

2009-07-03T05:37:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has expanded his cabinet for the fifth time Friday by inducting two more ministers. Rajendra Mahato from Sadbhawana Party and Prem Bahadur Singh from Samajwadi Prajatantrik Janata Party have been inducted to the cabinet as commerce and supplies minister, and law and justice minister, respectively. Singh represents the fringe parties supporting the government. The cabinet has become 32-membered with the latest expansion. However, the cabinet has not attained its full shape even after the expansion for the fifth time. Madheshi Janadhikar Forum, Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party, Sadbhawana and some fringe parties are yet to recommend names of some ministers and state ministers from their parties.

Two more cases of Swine-flu detected

2009-07-02T21:38:00.000-07:00

he global pandemic Swine Flu Influenza A (H1N1) has been detected in two more persons Thursday raising the flu-toll to five. According to information given by Laxmi Bam of National Center for Health Education and Information, the flu has been detected in two children – one 17 months and the other five years old. They had flown to Kathmandu via Doha on June 21.According to Bam, the 17-month infant had come to Nepal on the same flight with those three people on whom the flu was detected earlier. The five-year old child is relative of that family.Earlier the doctors had said one of the infected persons has already come into contact with more than a hundred persons and that health officials are studying whether the virus has spread to others.

Bam further informed that the virus detection was confirmed only today. The identities of the flu detected children has not been disclosed as per family request and they are undergoing treatment in a hospital and that family members have been instructed to take all possible precautions to prevent further spread.

source:nepalnews.com

12 Nepalis missing after ship capsize off Doha coast

2009-07-01T21:33:00.000-07:00

Twelve Nepali workers are among 29 persons who have gone missing after a ship operated by a UAE based group capsized about two nautical miles off Doha coast early Tuesday morning.

According to reports, Nepal's embassy in Doha has identified the missing Nepalis as Lila Ram Poudel, Mehdi Hussein Miyan, Abbas Ahmed, Ganga Bahadur Gurung, Man Singh Khatri, Shesh Nath Yadav, Rajib Kumar Dutta, Tilak Bahadur Khamja, Shankar mishra, Rishi Prasad Sharma, Jaya Bahadur Pun Magar and Ghanshyam Sarki.The ill-fated ship was bound for Doha of Qatar from Dubai of UAE before it was lost in the sea.

Of the 35 people on board, 24 were employees of HBK Power Cleaning. The remaining comprised nine crew members and two employees of a catering company.According to Gulf times, which first broke the news, the tragedy occurred at 6.30am when the ship was carrying out its normal mission at the entrance of the Doha canal. The ship, which was used by HBK Power Cleaning to provide support services to the petroleum industry, has been completely
sunk.Altogether 29 people are still missing after late night search and rescue operation found only 6 survivors. One of the survivors died later. Among the missing, 12 are Nepalis, 11 Indians and one Bangladeshi, according to an HBK official.

The survivors are undergoing treatment at Hamad Hospital for "minor" injuries, according to the Gulf times.

Another Airbus down - Yemen Airways A310 crashes into Indian Ocean

2009-07-01T01:05:00.000-07:00

says, “It regrets to announce" the crash of Flight IY626. The Airbus was on a flight from the Yemeni capital of San’a (SAH) to Moroni (HAH), in the Comoros Islands. The carrier says there were 153 souls on board the A310-300 twinjet – 142 passengers and a crew of 11. Is reporting that 66 of those on board were French.

Reports say--so far--one victim has been pulled from the water alive. The survivor, a young girl, was rushed to a hospital. If she is, indeed, the only survivor of this tragedy it will mark the second time in the recent accident record where one passenger has made it out alive while all around them perished. August 16, 1987. Flight 255 crashed on takeoff from. (DTW). In that instance, a four year-old girl was the only survivor. 156 others died.

Reports the big airbus was attempting to land in bad weather when it went down over the water. The Comoros are located off the southeastern coast of Africa, in the Mozambique Channel. That’s a small section of the vast Indian Ocean.

It is far too early to determine just what went wrong with Flight IY626. Although there are superficial similarities between the June 1 crash of Air France Flight 447 over the South Atlantic, which killed 228, and the June 30 crash of the Yemenia Airbus, there are notable differences. The A330-200 was at cruise altitude, trying to traverse an especially virulent band of thunderstorms. The Yemenia A310-300 was getting ready to land. The lion’s share of aviation accidents occurs during the critical takeoff and landing phases.

There are other differences too. The A310 is an older technology aircraft. The A310-300 first flew in 1985. The A330 was developed in the 1990s. There's a wide technological gulf between the two aircraft. The last large U.S. carrier to fly the A310 in regularly-scheduled passenger service was. Delta inherited the craft when it took over the last vestiges of Pan Am in the early 1990s.

The A310 was the second widebody aircraft type produced by Airbus. The first was the airframe maker's then cutting-edge A300. It was launched in the early 1970s, and represented the first twin-engine widebody foray for the airline industry. Today, there are a scant few transoceanic airliners remaining that have more than two engines. Among them: the 747-400 and the Airbus A340. Both those aircraft have four powerplants.

source: www.examiner.com

3 dead, 63 hurt in central China train collision

2009-06-29T21:56:00.000-07:00

Two passenger trains collided Monday, derailing cars, crushing nearby homes and killing three people, Chinese state media and an official said. The pre-dawn crash, which injured 63, occurred in Hunan province when a train going from the provincial capital Changsha to the southern city of Shenzhen collided with another Shenzhen-bound train, state television said.

The China Central Television newscast showed a tangle of red, white and blue train cars on their sides at the station in Chenzhou, where the collision occurred at 2:34 a.m. (1834 GMT Sunday). Seats were ripped from the floor of the train cars, and the ground around the accident was littered with plastic bottles and scraps of paper.

Swine Flu detected in Nepal

2009-06-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

Three persons of a US-based non-resident Nepali family, who landed in Kathmandu recently, have been detected with H1N1 virus (Swine Flu), which has caused a global pandemic.Organising a press meet Monday, officials at the Avian Influenza Control Project under the Epidemiology and Disease Control Unit (EDCU) said Swine Flu has been detected in the three NRNs who had flown to Kathmandu via Doha on June 21.According to Dr Manas Kumar Banerjee, head of the Avian Influenza Control Project, the infected persons are currently undergoing treatment at one of the hospitals in Kathmandu.

He said one of the infected persons has already come into contact with more than a hundred persons and that health officials are studying whether the virus has spread to others.The three persons were tested positive in a lab test conducted in Britain. The authorities had sent their blood samples for test after they were suspected of having the deadly flu.

Festival of Dahi Chiura Ashar 15

2009-06-29T01:26:00.000-07:00

Ashar 15, popularly called Ashar pandra, the auspicious day for paddy planting in Hindu culture, is being celebrated Monday across the country.Farmers mark the day beginning with paddy plantation followed by feast-like celebration with curd and beaten rice. People in the plantation field play with hilo (mud mixed with water prepared for plantation), which according to belief, cures skin diseases.Ashare bhaka, the traditional Nepali song sung while planting, makes the day more musical and entertaining.

SLC results out

2009-06-28T06:22:00.000-07:00

The Office of the Controller of Exams published the results of the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) exams taken in March. 68.47 percent examines have passed the exam. 234,602 regular students passed S.L.C while 21,887 passed in the exempted category.

Artistes’ exodus to UCPN-M

2009-06-27T18:30:00.000-07:00

Amid a special function as many as 94 film artistes, directors, producers and technicians on Saturday formally entered the UCPN-Maoist.

Those entering to the party among others include producer and director Yubaraj Lama, producer and director K P Pathak, fight directors Rajendra Khadgi, N B Maharjan, senior recordist and musician Dip Ratna Tuladhar, producer and actress Mausami Malla, directors Suvash Gajurel, Shiva Regmi, Jayananda Lama, Dipak Shrestha and Ramji Lamichhane, singers Anju Panta and Puja Sunuwar, and senior technician Jyoti Lal Rana.

Besides producers Chhabi Ojha, Basanta Kumar Shrestha and Hari Baral, actresses Srijana Basnet and Bimala KC, and comedy actor Suleman Shankar have also switched to the party.

Jumanu Scores four in a rout

2009-06-27T18:14:00.000-07:00

Jumanu Rai scored four times as Nepal Police Club routed Nabil Three Star 5-1 to win the Nepatop Kheladi cup at the Dashrath Stadium on Saturday.
Jumanu Scored the first four goals in a rain-soaked match saw NPC theat Nabil Three Star Club like a newbie in the field who were forced to run helplessly around the charged policemen, who showed no mercy scoring two goals in the first half and the remaining three after the interval.

Michael Jackson: A life of talent and trauma

2009-06-27T18:04:00.000-07:00

Rajan Ghimire-

The tragedy of michael KJackson's death at ago 50 reportedly from car-diac arrest plaes in cmparison to the tragdy of his life. to understand all that Jackson had and lost requires wiping away three decades of plastic surgerries that made his name synonymous with the warping powers of fame, and a 2005 trial fpr sexxually abusing a child that, evwn through he was spared of any finding of wrongdoing, made him a pariah to all but the most brain washed of fans.

Arghakhanchi District

2009-06-15T02:43:00.000-07:00