PM Nepal starts construction of Malemchi tunnel

Kathmandu, 3 Aug: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Monday launched work at Sundarijal to construct a 26 km tunnel to divert water from Malemchi river to the capital.
The construction work has been awarded to a Chinese company.
Water from the river is being diverted meet drinking water shortage in the Valley.
Manila-based ADB is leading a consortium to finance the multi-million dollar.
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Cholera claims three more lives in Dailekh

Kathmandu, 3 Aug: Cholera Monday claimed three more lives in Dailekh where 15 persons have so far died in an epidemic.
The epidemic has also spread to the far-West from the mid-West.
More than 300 persons have died in three months.
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Umesh Mainali resigns

Kathmandu, 3 Aug: Secretary Umesh Mainali resigned Monday.,
He submitted his resignation to rival Madhav Ghimere who was appointed cabinet secretary.
Mainlai was appointed special secretary at the president’s office.
Mainali said he never received the transfer orders.
Promotion of 22 secretaries have created controversies with complaints of politicking by ruling parties in appointment of senior officials.
Earlier Secretary Janak Raj Joshi resigned.
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Counter intelligence wing to watch foreigners to be launched

Kathmandu, 3 Aug: A counter intelligence wing to watch the activities of foreign powers is being formed, Kantipur reports.
It will report to the prime minister.
Cabinet’s political committee approved a proposal recently.
Budget is being allocated for it as well.
Minister of State for Home Mohammad Rijwan Ansari said ,” The counter intelligence wing is necessary for national interest in the international context,”
The autonomous wing under the National Investigation Department will have 350 personnel.
“An intelligence wing to watch foreign affairs will also be formed. There’s no such mechanism now,” a Home ministry source said.
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Prachanda heads PLA again

Kathmandu, 3 Aug: In a development that will have far reaching consequences in the almost jeopardized peace and constitution making process besides the political stability of the country, Pushpa Kamal Daha; Prachanda has taken back the position of the Supreme Commander of the PLA almost a year after he relinquished it following his taking over as the prime minister last year, newsfront reports.
The central committee of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists that saw Prachanda’s support base and popularity clearly on the wane handed him the most powerful position back on insistence from his side.
In addition, the party is also contemplating to review the ‘military commission’ that it did wind up dafter joining the peace process and interim parliament three years ago.
“This is dangerous, and indicates that the Maoist party believes in supremacy of the combatants within their party,” Ram Chandra Paudel, leader of the Congress parliamentary party told newsfront.
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Nepal’s Maoists back counterparts in India, supports LTTE

Kathmandu, 3 Aug: Chairman Prachanda said [Sunday] Unified CPN (Maoist) opposes the repression by the government there of Indian Communist Party (Maoist) that is launching a struggle, Rajdhani reports.
He said Maoists also the repression of LTTE in Sri Lanka and the massacre of Tamils.
“The party opposes the recent military operation in Lalghad, India and the repression of the freedom struggle of Tamils in Sri Lanka
Maoists have concluded the repression of Tamils is a crime against humanity.
Maoists have decided to develop new relations with RIM and COMPOSA.
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Joanna Lumley appointed goodwill ambassador

Kathmandu, 3 Aug: British actress Joanna Lumley has been appointed goodwill ambassador of Maiti Nepal.
She returned after a six-day Nepal visit receiving praise for here support for Gurkhas fighting for equal treatment in Great Britain.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“I was never power crazy as I have been shown as. I will readily hand-over power to the political parties. But Please do not blame me if Maoists take-over Nepal after that.”

(Last official message of King Gyanendra to India, newsfront, 3 Aug.)

“Madhav Kumar Nepal is not a person to be assessed.”

(MJF Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav, Jana Bhavana, 3 Aug.)
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