Dasain ends Tuesday; former king to visit temple at Bhaktapur

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 14 Oct: Badadasain 2008 ends Tuesday on kojagarath purnima when Goddess Laxmi is worshipped..
President Dr Ram Baran Yadav is scheduled to receive prasad from priests at he Nabadurga temple in Bhaktapur.
Former King Gyanendra is also visiting the temple to receive Prasad, Nepal Samacharpatra reports.
Thousands of people waited in two queues for two hours to receive tika from the former king on badadasain Thursday at Nirmal Niwas.
But only 600 persons, including Deputy Prime Minister Bamdeb Gautam, visited the president at his home to receive tika.
The huge crowd at Nirmal Niwas demonstrated the former king’s popularity even after the declaration of a republic.
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Dollar gains new high

Kathmandu, 14 Oct: The Nepali rupee hit an all time low in four years and was selling at Rs 77.40 to one dollar Tuesday.
The greenback has been relentlessly gaining strength in Nepal for four months.
Dollar is also gaining against the Indian rupee against which the Nepali rupee is begged.
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Sushil Koirala continues to attack UNMIN

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 14 Oct: Nepali Congress Acting President Sushil Koirala continues his
his criticism of UNMIN charging it for impartiality while favouring Maoists.
.”If the UNMIN cam speak about rights of the Maoist PLA why does it remain silent on the plight of Maoist victims,” Koirala asked Monday while talking to reporters.
Koirala charged UNMIN hasn’t spoken on abuses of YCL; he said UNMIN
hasn’t commented on the continued seizure of assets of citizens.
“We wanted UNMIN to come to Nepal even when all and sundry were opposed to it. But it has proved tobe loyal supporter of the Maoists. It’s unethical. The opposition also needs to be heard,” Koirala said, according to The Himalayan Times.
Koirala’s Nepali Congress abandoned the pre-condition for the seizure of assets for the 10 April CA election which it lost to Maoists.
Congress has revived the condition after losing the vote and state power.
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Formal letters for talks sent to two tarai groups

Kathmandu, 14 Oct: Formal letters for talks have been sent to two tarai rebel groups, Peace Minister Janardhan Sharma Prabhakar said.
Letters have been sent to Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha Jwala Singh group and Ranavir Singh group.
Two ministers of tarai-origin are in the south trying to establish contact with nearly two dozen groups.
Government has formed a three-member talks team committee headed by Sharma.
Reaction to the offer has been lukewarm.
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Danish foreign minister coming

Kathmandu, 14 Oct: Danish Foreign Minister Per Stin Moller is arriving 24 November for continued bilateral talks, The Kathmandu Post reports quoting the foreign ministry.
Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav visited Denmark en route to New York to attend the current UN general assembly session.
He had talks with US officials in Washington as well.
Yadav is now in South Korea.
Mollar cut short his visit in October 2007 after snap elections were announced.
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