News

31 killed in Dailekh bus mishap

Puskar Thapa — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:05:49 +0545

PIPALKOT: At least 31 persons were killed and 12 injured when a commuter bus en route to Surkhet from Kalikot skidded off
the road and plunged some 200 metres into Karnali River in
Pipalkot along the Karnali
Highway in Dailekh district
this morning.
According to DSP Min Bahadur Ghale of Kalikot district police office, the bus belonging to Kankre Bihar Yat ...

Maoists explore unity govt possibility

Himalayan News Service — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:04:59 +0545

KATHMANDU: The main opposition party, Unified CPN-Maoist, today convened a meeting of
11 parties represented in the Constituent Assembly to explore the possibility
of forming a national
unity government under its leadership.
The Maoists have been saying the national unity government was indispensable to bring the peace process to a logical conclusion and to adopt ...

Donation terror grips Sunsari, Jhapa VDCs

Somnath/Ratna Prasad/Gobinda — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:04:18 +0545

SUNSARI/JHAPA: Underground armed outfits and certain political parties, including Unified CPN-Maoist and CPN-Maoist, have spread donation terror in Jhapa and Sunsari.
Kirat Janabadi Workers" Party, Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha and UCPN-M and Matrika Yadav-led CPN-M have intensified donation drive.
Writing threatening letters to the VDC secretaries in Sunsari, thes ...

Gorkha reconstruction tender put off

Himalayan News Service — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:03:07 +0545

KATHMANDU: Following the publication of a news about the Young Communist League intervention into the bidding process, the National Alert Centre under the Government of Nepal has decided to postpone the controversial
tender called by the Office of
Urban Development and Building Construction Division, Gorkha, to construct infrastructure damaged during the
Maoist insurgenc ...

Maoist cadres asked to quit party

HNS — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:02:25 +0545

TERATHUM: The UCPN-Maoist has decided to take action against those cadres who joined the movement of Brahmin and Khas Chhetri communities.
A meeting of the Limbuwan State Committee secretariat office decided to take action against such cadres. It said that the movement of those groups was against federalism.
According to Dharmachandra Lawati, in-charge of the Maoist Limbuwan Sta ...

Language course for workers going to Japan

Himalayan News Service — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:01:40 +0545

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Labour and Transport Management (MoLT) has prescribed language curriculum for workers seeking employment in Japan.
According to Pramod Bhattarai, information officer at the Migrant Resource Centre under the Foreign Employment Promotion Board of the MoLT, Japanese Language Teachers" Associations Nepal (JALTAN) will coordinate the language instruction and t ...

Donation terror in Sindhuli hampers government work

Min Kumar Dahal — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:01:00 +0545

SINDHULI: Government employees in the district are a terrified lot owing to rampant donation drive, of late.
Cadres of he UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress, and the CPN-UML have been demanding donations in government offices citing various reasons.
Bal Bahadur Karki, a staffer at the District Education Office, said that at least two groups come to the office daily demanding donation. ...

Nepal, Israel sign pact

Himalayan News Service — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:15 +0545

Kathmandu: Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Israel Shalom Simhon have signed an agreement on cooperation in the agricultural sector, in Jerusalem.
"The signatory parties agree to cooperate in an attempt to contribute to the national goals on agricultural development," a statement rel ...

Nepal Brief

HNS — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:59:30 +0545

PM"s commitment
Kathmandu: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said he would find out the status of those disappeared by the state during the Maoist insurgency. PM Nepal made such commitment while receiving a memorandum from the Society of Families of Disappeared Fighters by the state in Singhadurbar on Thursday . "We will form a commission to search the disappeared and take ac ...

Dailekh survivors recount fatal mishap

Damodar Bhandari — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:58:32 +0545

KOHALPUR: Rohinilal Choudhari of Malakheti, Kailali, has been lying on the bed of Kohalpur Teaching Hospital. Seriously injured in the bus accident in Dailekh today, it was a double whammy for him.
He was going home as his mother had passed away. "If possible please take me to my home immediately; I want to see my mother for the last time," he sobbed. "I have b ...

UK report slams rights abuses in Nepal

Himalayan News Service — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:57:48 +0545

KATHMANDU: The United Kingdom"s 12th Annual Report on Human Rights has expressed concerns over human rights abuses in Nepal.
The report, released in London today, said: "In 2009, freedom of expression continued to come under attack in Nepal".
"Impunity continued unabated in 2009 despite commitments made by the Nepalese government to protect human rights,&r ...

Police told to produce lesbian cop in SC

Himalayan News Service — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:56:51 +0545

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court today directed to the police authorities to produce a detained traffic policewoman before it to examine whether her detention is lawful or not.
A single bench of Justice Bala Ram KC told the Metropolitan Police Range Hanumandhoka, the Metropolitan Police Sector Sorakhutte and the Kathmandu District Court to produce Ramina Husain before the apex court on Sund ...

PM meets Prachanda

Himalayan News Service — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:56:07 +0545

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Maoist chairman Prachanda met at the PM"s Koteshwor residence today. The PM said he asked Prachanda to cooperate with the government on the integration process and distribution of monthly allowances to Maoist fighters. The PM also asked the Maoist boss to provide exact number of the UNMIN-verified combatants.
The government has aske ...

Govt honours Everest Cabinet meet helpers

Himalayan News Service — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:55:28 +0545

KATHMANDU: The government today felicitated persons who contributed in conducting the Everest Base Camp Cabinet meeting on December 4.
Unveiling an inscription on the Everest Base Camp Cabinet Meeting on the premises of Narayanhiti Museum today, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal applauded the helping hands for the conduction of the programme.
"We were able to raise the voi ...

Khanal for unity government to draft new constitution

Himalayan News Service — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:54:49 +0545

KATHMANDU: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has intensified his political dialogue at a time when the constitution making process is being delayed.
The President held talks with the chairman of the ruling CPN-UML Jhala Nath Khanal and Vice
President Paramananda Jha
and expressed concerns over the delay in the constitution making and peace processes.
In a meeting with ...

Traders demand security

Himalayan News Service — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:54:12 +0545

JHAPA: Participants at an interaction held here
today demanded that the government
end donation drive, insecurity, loan
crisis and other problems being faced by the industrial sector.
Speaking at the programme organised by the Office of Cottage and Small Scale Industries, the participants said that the industrial sector is discouraged due to the rampant donation ...

Rizal blames Maoists for statute delay

Himalayan News Service — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:53:33 +0545

KATHMANDU: Federalism, Constituent Assembly Affairs and Culture Minister Minendra Rizal
today blamed the
UCPN-Maoist for the delay in the constitution drafting process.
"The UCPN-Maoist has delayed the army integration process that was meant to be completed within
six months after the CA
elections. How can the constitution be drafted on time?" ...

National Briefs

HNS — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:52:52 +0545

Youths leaving villages
Khotang: Youths are hardly seen in most of the villages in the district these days as most of them have left the country in search of greener pastures abroad. Youths are compelled to go for foreign employment as the country lacks employment opportunities. Major destinations of the youths include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates. One Laxmi ...

KMC bucks up to maintain meat quality

Bishnu Prasad Aryal — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:32:39 +0545

KATHMANDU: Following frequent failures to regulate meat shops in the city, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has come up with another effort to control the shops. There are about 4 million people in the Kathmandu Valley and a majority of them are non-vegetarian.
Ganesh Rai, acting executive chief at the KMC, said meat inspectors will be appointed within a month and monitoring teams l ...

ADB mission here, another coming

Himalayan News Service — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:31:49 +0545

KATHMANDU: An Asian Development Bank mission is in the capital for the final study of the Small Town Urban Environment Improvement Project, which is to be carried out at a cost of 97 million US dollars. Norio Saito leads the mission, which will finalise the preliminary engineering design, cost estimation and financing arrangement to be presented to the ADB board in June, according to Kamal Raj ...

Mediapersons security plan implemented

Trishna RL Rana Thapa — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:30:38 +0545

KATHMANDU: Nepal Police have implemented Special Security Plan for mediapersons and entrepreneurs on the direction of Chief District Office, Kathmandu.
This SSP has been especially prepared keeping in view the threats, pressure and difficulties mediapersons and entrepreneurs had been facing of late, with rise in the number of murders, shootouts, threats and cases of extortion against med ...

Assault victim dies

Himalayan News Service — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:29:38 +0545

KATHMANDU: Twenty-three-year-old Dawa Chhiring Sherpa of Palte-6 in Okhaldhunga, who was attacked by an unidentified group of persons yesterday, succumbed to injuries today. He had been undergoing treatment in Bir Hospital.
The gang had attacked him with a khukuri and a knife in Maligaun, Kathmandu, yesterday. "Sherpa sustained serious injuries in the abdomen, hands and head,&rdquo ...

Criminals misusing ICT, financing terror, say cops

Himalayan News Service — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:27:20 +0545

KATHMANDU: The police have written to all the 22 Internet Service Provider (IPS) companies seeking details of their subscribers through the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, the regulating body of telecom service.
The move comes in the wake of intelligence reports that suggest that criminals may be financing terrorism of various forms, especially in the Kathmandu Valley.
SSP Ra ...

Judicial custody for fraudster

Himalayan News Service — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:26:26 +0545

KATHMANDU: The Patan Appellate Court today remanded a man in judicial custody for fleecing Rs 30 million from an Azerbaijani citizen.
The court was hearing the forgery case as per the Banking Offence Act.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Lal Mani Acharya, in-charge of the Prosecution Section at the Metropolitan Police Range, said Bishnu Ghimire, alias "Dhruba", hailing ...

NTC man jailed for graft

Himalayan News Service — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:25:28 +0545

KATHMANDU: The Lalitpur District Court (LDC) today sent a fine defaulter to jail. The court was implementing a verdict of the Special Court in a corruption case.
Sadhu Ram Thapa, former storekeeper of Nepal Telecom was sent to Nakkhu Jail in Lalitpur after he refused to pay the fine imposed on him by the Special Court. The Special Court had slapped a four-year jail sentence on him and im ...

Progress of development programmes to be assessed

Himalayan News Service — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:24:37 +0545

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Local Development (MoLD) is beginning to map the progress of different development programmes that have been implemented to reduce poverty and their impact on poverty-ridden people in the districts.
Despite various programmes and development activities carried out in the districts, the government is yet to map the progress and the impact the activities have had ...

Capital Briefs

HNS — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:23:53 +0545

Dance bars raided
KATHMANDU: Police raided three dance bars in the capital on Wednesday night and detained 74 persons for indulging in immoral activities. According to the police, 53 were arrested from X-Bar in Sundhara, 10 from Beer Bar and 11 from Taaj Mahal Restaurant in Thamel. "We acted on a tip-off that the bars were a breeding ground for immoral activities," said DSP P ...

Sahukhala runs riot over hapless Friends Club

Himalayan News Service — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:21:39 +0545

KATHMANDU: Santosh Sahukhala ran riot as Nabil Three Star Club hammered NIB Friends Club 4-0 while an Umesh Upretti stunner helped New Road Team (NRT) to a 1-0 win over Tribhuvan Army Club in the Martyrs Memorial San Miguel A Division League here today.
The results meant Three Star climbed up to fourth from seventh position with 14 points from eight matches. Friends dropped one spot down ...

Masters return will put Tiger to the test

Agence France Presse — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:20:44 +0545

PHILADELPHIA: Tiger Woods" return at the Masters after
four months of self-imposed exile, will create
a circus atmosphere that will test his ability
to perform under maximum pressure, PGA Tour players said.
"We have all put him up on such a pedestal, not only in the golf, but we took for granted
the personal side, too," golfer Steve Stric ...

Top amateur Rupak outshines pros, maintains five-shot lead

Himalayan News Service — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:19:33 +0545

KATHMANDU: Amateur golfer Rupak Acharya maintained a five-stroke lead after the third round of the Surya Nepal Central Open here at the Gokarna Golf Course today.
Nepal"s top amateur golfer Rupak carded three-under 69 on the third round for a total
of five-under 211, while Pokhara pro Deepak Neupane - who also shot three-under 69 - held the second position with ...

Players set to depart

HNS — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:18:33 +0545

KATHMANDU: A seven-member Nepal Muitai Association team is set to leave for Bangkok on Friday to participate in the Muitai World Championship scheduled for March 18-26. The team includes four players - Ganesh Kakchhyapati (67kg), Deepak Godar (71kg), Nawaraj Bhandari (77kg) and Nirmal Pahari (81kg) - a coach (Umesh Khadka), referee (Sudip Pandit Chhetri) and an official (Uvaraj Kh ...

SA Games medallists feted

Himalayan News Service — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:17:25 +0545

KATHMANDU: Nepal Taekwondo Association (NTA), on behalf of the former national taekwondo stars and coaches residing in the US, felicitated the 11th South Asian Games medallists here today.
Bidhan Lama, Narayan Gurung, Sabita Raj Bhandari, Kishore Shrestha, Kamal Bahadur Chhetri, Koshish Khadka, Jagan Lal Shrestha, Simi Dhami, Basanta Pandey, Padma Gurung, Bima Rai, Kumar Karki among othe ...

Ljubicic ousts Djokovic, Nadal enters quarters

Agence France Presse — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:15:58 +0545

INDIA WELLS; Croatian Ivan Ljubicic ousted a weary World No 2 Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-3 on Wednesday as defending champion Rafael Nadal booked his quarter-final berth at the BNP Paribas Open.
While third-seeded Nadal advanced with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 win over big-serving American John Isner, Djokovic couldn"t keep pace with the blistering serves and clean groundstrokes of Ljubicic, a for ...

Fear of surge in Internet crime ahead of WC

Agence France Presse — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:15:03 +0545

JOHANNESBURG: Football fans making plans for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will likely face a surge in Internet crime targeting online ticket and hotel shoppers, security experts warned.
Internet security analysts with Symantec anti-virus company said they have discovered a botnet - an illicit network of computers hijacked by Internet hackers - set up to snag personal de ...

Messi leads Barca to quarters; Bordeaux through

Agence France Presse — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:13:18 +0545

MADRID: Two-goal Lionel Messi turned in another sparkling display as defending champions Barcelona marched into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 4-0 victory over Stuttgart at Camp Nou while while Bordeaux squeezed through after a tense 2-1 victory over Olympiakos on Wednesday.
Messi, 22, followed up his hat-trick against Valencia on Sunday with a brace either side of the ...