Two killed in Saptari firing (BREAKING NEWS)

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 29 Dec: Two persons were killed Monday morning in retaliatory firing by police at a village in Saptari.
Police returned fire after a patrol was attacked as violence continues in the south.
Four bombers escaped and explosives were recovered from suspected rebels.
Five persons were injured, including three children of one family in a bomb blast in neighbouring Sarlahi overnight.
The children were aged between five and 10.
Nitesh Kumar Thakur, 12, and Prabachan Thakur, 16, are in serious condition—one has head injuries.
Saptari and Sarlahi are districts worst affected by the terai insurgency.
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Higher secondary schools reopen

Kathmandu, 29 Dec: Higher secondary schools reopened Monday throughout the nation after a forced closure by teachers demanding permanent status and perks.
Government Sunday evening agreed to consider teacher demands.
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12-hour load-shedding starts

Kathmandu, 29 Dec: Increased 12-hour load-shedding was enforced nationwide Monday morning in the midst of winter.
Government for the first time also announced a power emergency.
Critics say government plans to install expensive thermal plants to meet shortage isn’t a practical solution.
Load-shedding has been increased for the third time in one month.
Noisy thermal plans will take months to install as critics charged thermal mafia is pushing purchase of machinery.
One practical solution that will have immediate impact is to launch a national campaign to save energy by installing energy-saving replace electricity bulbs.
Prime Minister Prachanda said load-shedding will be increased to 18 hours every day in early 2009.
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Congress likely to boycott CA session for sixth time Monday

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 29 Dec: Main opposition Nepali Congress is likely to again boycott Monday’s afternoon session of the constituent assembly (CA) for the sixth time.
Congress is now demanding Prime Minister Prachanda announced a deadline to meet nine demands, including dissolution of YCL and return of seized assets during the insurgency.
Prachanda said the opposition demand is already a government programme and argued there was no need to announced a fixed deadline.
Maoists are facing opposition from within the party to meet opposition demands; top leaders of the party leading government even say CPN (Maoist) hasn’t seized property.
Dissolution of YCL and return of seized assets were Congress pre-conditions to hold the April elections won by Maoists; but Congress abandoned the now resurrected demands to hold hasty elections to declare the country a republic.
Congress that was ruling also ignored seizure of government assets in the capital even though the party controlled the home minister under Krishna Prasad Shitaula charged for protecting Maoists just to conduct elections.
Congress has disrupted assembly proceedings for nearly one month now even as committees meet to discuss drafting a constitution by May 2010.
Chairmen of the 14 committees are yet to be elected though.
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Nepali priests appointed in Pashupati (BREAKING NEWS)

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 29 Dec: Two Nepali priests have been appointed for the first time Sunday to conduct puja at Pashupatinath temple complex, the country’s holiest shrine, Pashupatinath Development Trust (PDT) said.
PDP has appointed Dr Bishnu Prasad Dahal and Basuki Salikram Dhakal to conduct pujas at Pashupatinath and Bsuki temple in the temple complex.
Three Indian priests called bhattas resigned and the PDT accepted their resignations.
Bhattas had been offering worship at Nepal’s holiest Hindu shrine from the Malla period.
The Trust appointed the Nepali priests and not the government to break a tradition.
There had been demands to past governments to appoint Nepalis and make transparent the temple income.
Three bhattas had submitted their resignations to government more the government this month.
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Supreme court to decide on Charles Shobraj 13 January

Kathmandu, 29dec: Supreme court is scheduled to five its verdict on the murder charge against notorious international French serial killer Charles Shobraj 13 January, the court said.
A Kathmandu district court has already convicted him for the murder of American national Connie Zo Bronzich in 1975 in the capital during the hippie movement.
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