18 killed, many missing in Dailekh bus accident

Kathmandu, 18 March: At least 18 persons died when a bus veered off a road and fell 150 meters into Karnali river at Piplabot in Dailekh and many others are missing.
Five persons jumped to safety from the top of the overcrowded bus.
Thirty-three passengers boarded the bus at Kalikot; it was heading for Surkhet.
Search and rescue teams of the army and police have rushed to the accident site.
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Prachanda, PM Nepal meet

Kathmandu, 18 March: One day after Chairman Prachanda held discussions with President Dr Ram Baran Yadan, he held 45-minute consultation with Madhav Kumar Nepal at the prime minister’s residence in Koteshor not the official residence at Baluwatar.
They discussed the prolonged deadlock, peace cprocess and drafting of the constitution.
The prime minister reminded Prachanda a congenial environment should be created and a difficult will arise if a constitution isn’t promulgated within the 28 May deadline.
Prachanda agreed the deadlock should end.
Maoists Thursday also sought the help of small parties in parliament to form a national government under its leadership toppling he Madhav Kumar Nepal government.
Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai said the prime minister should resign to pave the way for ending a prolonged deadlock.
Maoists could table a no-confidence motion against the government during a winter session that begins 4 April.
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15 trucks detained in Jhapa

Kathmandu, 18 March: Police overnight detained 15 trucks suspected of carrying weapons in village in Jhapa bordering the Indianstate of West Bengal.
The trucks transporting coal have been detained at a coal depot for inspection.
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Manohar Prasad Bhattarai appointed

Kathmandu, 18 March: Manohar Prasad has been appointed general secretary of parliament by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav.
He was promoted from acting secretary general.
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UNMIN objects defence minister’s charge

Kathmandu, 18March: Special Representative of the UN Secretary General Karin Landgren has taken strong exception to recent remarks by Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari against UNMIN and asked Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to officially retract Bhandari’s remarks, Republica reports.
Landgren sent a letter to the prime minister Wednesday to protest remarks that accused UNMIN of being the ‘Maoist party’s tail and of keeping the government in the dark’.
The defence minister has also accused UNMIN of provoking the Maoists to carry out violent activity.
‘The statement is untrue and defames the United Nations and its founding principles,” the letter undersigned by Landgren reads.” Such allegations place UNMIN staff at increased risk in our efforts to support Nepal’s peace process.
“I would be grateful for a formal retraction of Bhandari’s remarks by your government,” the letter said.
(Note: Bhandari’s statement is forthright and comes from a minister. But others, including ruling parties have leveled the same charge . Only Maoists have been praised. Chairman Prachanda has even said UNMIN is helping Maoists. Bhandari’s statements at a time when relations have clloedl between UNMIN and the host country and it will be difficult for it to continue its work at a time when its mandate ends 15 Mary.)
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Nepali honoured by Mongolia

Kathmandu, 18 March: Mongolia has honoured a Nepali national with a highly prestigious award given to professionals working in the field of food and agriculture, The Kathmandu Post reports.
Rajendra Aryal, senior regional emergency coordinator of the Food and Agriculture Organization in Bangkok, is the winner of ‘Leader Worker in Food and Agriculture Sector Award’.
The Vice-minister of Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia handed over the award to Aryal on Wednesday.
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Village development fund to construct Maoist FM radio station

Kathmandu, 18 March: Development fund set aside for VDCs in Udaipur has been diverted for the development of a Maoist FM radio network, Annapurna Post reports from Gaighat.
The money has been diverted to construct a radio tower following Maoist pressure.
“We requested the money for assistance,” said Maoist district leader Yuda Dhakal.
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Bird flu detected in Nawalparasi

Kathmandu, 18 March: Bid flu has been detected at Deurali VDC 6 Jhyalbas in Nawalparasi.
Culling has started after declaring an emergency.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Why doesn’t UNMIN give details of Maoist combatants? This leads to fears it wants to prolong the peace process.”

(Government spokesman and Communication Minister Shanker Pokhrel, Annapurna Post, 18 March)
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