Iranian climber injured, being rescued

Kathmandu, 3 Nov: A rescue team is being sent by helicopter to the 7134 meters high Tilicho in west Nepal Wednesday to rescue an unidentified injured Iranian climber who fell off the peak, climbing sources said.
A helicopter is being sent to the peak in the Annapurna range from the capital with a group of experienced rescuers.
The doctor was climbing he team wiha group of Iranian climbers.
The climber fell from above the second camp after suffering hypothermia.
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CPN-UML activist abducted and killed in Banke

Kathmandu, 3 Nov: A CPN-UML activist was abducted and killed Tuesday by the Jwala Singh group of the TJMM in Banke.
Pushkar Rayamajhi was killed by the Singh group which is the most violent of nearly two dozen groups operating in the terai.
Violence continues unabated even as government invited the rebels to join a dialogue to discuss southern demands.
Government said it will talks with ‘political’ groups refusing to negotiate with what it calls ‘criminal’ outfits.
Education Minister Renu Yadav said Tuesday talks will start with rebels after chat festival this week following progress in initial contacts.
Yadav is also a member of a three-member government dialogue team headed by Peace Minister Janardhan Sharma Prabhakar.
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Maoists threaten to opt for referendum to decide integration

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 3 Nov: Maoist Peace Minister Janardhan Sharma Prabhakar has threatened to put the issue of integration of the PLA in Nepal Army (NA) to a vote in a referendum if main opposition Nepali Congress continues its opposition.
“The only alternative is to go for a referendum when the Nepali Congress refuses to join the special committee which has been formed with the mandate of the CA,” Sharma said.
The integration issue has been caught in a violent storm with major parties siding with the main opposition to oppose mass integration.
Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba reiterated his party’s opposition because Maoists formed a unilateral integration committee without consultation.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during a weekend Nepal visit urged integration to complete the peace process launched in April 2005.
He even assured former combatants enlisted in a national army are eligible to participate in UN peacekeeping operations.
The issue of integration is unlikely to be resolved by 23 January 23 2009 when the UNMIN extended mandate ends.
Opposition to group integration of the PLA in the NA is swelling.
A new twist has been added with the demand by Terai Madesh Loktanrik Party chairman Mahanata Thakur also demanding enlistment of tarai youth in the NA.
Thakur also demanded mass recruitment of terai youth in the NA as he said rebel groups have an agreement with the government.
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Tourist October arrivals surge
Kathmandu, 3 Nov: Tourist arrivals in October surged 16.3% to 50,567 compared to the same month in 2007---the , the highest in a single month since 2000, Immigration department said.
Total visitors till October 2008 have reached 3,07,748—a four percent jump compared to the same period last year. India, the largest tourist generating market for Nepal, maintained a steady growth of 14% in October also. Arrivals from the USA and Canada increased in October in comparison to the same month last year. However, Italy and Spain have registered decrease in arrival figures by 13.2% and 7.5% respectively.
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