SEARCH CONTINUES FOR SHERPA WHO SCALED EVEREST 19 TIMES

Kathmandu, 25 Oct. Search continues Monday for Chhewang Nima Sherpa,43, who climbed Mount Everest 19 times, two days after he went missing below the summit of the 7,129meters high Baruntse.
He went missing Saturday at 7045 meters after an avalanche in which six British and one American climber survived.
Chhewamg was attempting to break Appa Sherpa’s world record of 20 ascents of the 8848 meters high Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak, in spring 2011 by trying to scale the twice in a single season.
Chhewamg climbed Everest twice this spring and he has also climbed the peak astride Nepal-Tibet border from the north as well as the south.
He has also scaled Cho Oyu and Shisha Pangma—two other 8,000 meter high peaks.
He first climbed Everest in 1994 with an American team.
“It is unlikely he survived the massive avalanche,” Jeewan Ghimere, the expedition’s trekking agent in the capital said.
The missing climber couldn’t be traced after a helicopter search Sunday.
An avalanche on the 8167 meters high Dhaulagiri this autumn killed three Japanese and their Sherpa guide.
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NEMWANG SAYS HE HAS NO SPECIAL POWET TO END DEADDLOCK FOR PM ELECTION

Kathmandu, 25 Oct.: Constituent assembly (CA) Chairman Subash Nemwang said Monday he has no ‘special power’ to intervene to stopthe election process for the prime minister for a solution.
He said this after returning from Canada where he had gone to study the country’s federal structure.
Some parties have been demanding the chairman intervene and use special powers to end the deadlock in electing a successor of caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel is the only candidate in the race after Chairman Prachanda withdrew from the contest.
Paudel has refused to withdraw from the race to find an outlet arguing he hasn’t been defeated.
Nemwang said he’ll consult Finance Minister Surendra Pandey and officials Monday as government, amid Maoist protests, plans to present a complete budget in parliament to avoid a financial crisis.
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THREE BORDER PILLARS SWEPT AWAY

Kathmandu, 25 Oct.: Three border pillars have been swept away by a flooded river in Kailali
Two dozen houses were destroyed overnight at a village in Kailali by s herd of 30/35 wild elephants while paddy crop over 30 bighas was destroyed
The herd has been terrorizing people there for two months.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

NRB DRIVE TO WITHDRAW DIRTY AND CURENCY NOTES WITH FORMER KINGS’ PORTRAITS

Kathmandu, 25 Oct. Nepal Rashtra Bank (NRB) has renewed a drive to withdraw dirty and currency notes with portraits of former kings from circulation.
The central bank has issued a circular to all financial institutions to collect and deposit such currency at the NRB by 14 March 2011.
NRB estimates Rs 60 billion currency notes with portraits of former kings are currently in circulation.
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NEPSE INDEX GAINS 5.21 POINTS

Kathmandu, 25 Oct.: Nepse index Sunday gained 5.21 points when the market opened for trading of the first day of five-day weekly trading closing at 426.33 points.
The index fell marginally by 0.95 points Thursday on the last day of two-day trading after Dasain.
Commercial bank, hydro power companies and insurance company shares gained in the surge.
Altogether 52,121 shares worth Rs. 19.7 million were traded in 997 transactions.
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NRB TO AUCTION GOLD, SILVER

Kathmandu, 25 Oct. Nepal Rashtra Bank (NRB) will auction 100 kg gold and 1,000 kg silver at the central bank premises in Baluwatar Tuesday, the central bank announced.
Only registered gold and silver trading institutions can participate in the auction.
Price will be posted at the bank’s notice board or its website at 11 in the morning Tuesday.
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NTY 2011 PROMOTED IN SINGAPORE

Kathmandu, 25 Oct.: Nepal Tourism Board along with four Nepalese travel trade companies promoted Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) 2011 among the international travel trade and media during the three days travel trade meeting ITB Asia- 2010 held from 20-22 October, 2010 at Suntec City International Convention Center, Singapore, Nepal Tourism Board said.. ITB Asia meeting provides a platform for new avenues to spread business and networking further.
It was organised by Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. and supported by the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau. The event featured hundreds of exhibiting companies from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East, covering not only the leisure market, but also corporate and MICE travel. ITB Asia 2010 included exhibition pavilions and tabletop presence for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) providing travel services.

Honorary Consul General of Nepal in Singapore Mr. M. N. Swami highlighted the tourism attractions of Nepal during a press conference on 21st October 2010. Nepal Tourism Board officials and NTB PRR in Singapore Mr. Narayan Bahadur Shrestha briefed the international media about the national campaign Nepal Tourism Year 2011 and its rationale. Media and international operators appreciated the slogan ‘Together for Tourism’ and praised the commitment made by all the stakeholders in Nepal toward the success of national campaign.

During the meeting with the international buyers, most of them inquired about the NTY 2011 and its preparations. Buyers from Australia, Middle East, Philippines, Indonesia are enthusiastic to operate the tour in Nepal. The Nepalese Travel Trade participants briefed the buyers about the special attractions of Nepal's adventure activities, eco-tourism, homestays and pilgrimage tours.

Dharma Adventures, Kopan Homestay, Kathmandu Travel & Tours and Mountain Adventure Trekking from Nepal participated in the event
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UNMIN EXIT WON’T AFFECT PEACE PROCESS; PRACHANDA
Kathmandu, 25 Oct.:: Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said on Sunday that the country would not slide into any violent conflict even after the term of the United Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) ends on January 15, 2011m Puran Basnet reports in Republica from Shanghai.

Dahal, who is here in China on a five-day visit, said his party would not object to a new government led by the Nepali Congress (NC) or the CPN-UML, but added that it would be against the demoacratic norms and values to think the peace process would reach its logical conclusion without his party at the helm.

"It would be questioning the competence of Nepali leaders and intelligentsia to argue that Nepal would slide into another conflict without the presence of UNMIN," said Dahal in his interview to Republica here in Shanghai. He came to China to participate in the concluding session of the Shanghai Expo.

He said that the peace process would continue as long as the political parties are committed to peace agreements and constitution-drafting through Constituent Assembly (CA) and think that peace and stability are the demand of the time.

The former rebel leader argued that the new government led by the Maoist party alone would be natural and democratic, and called for the NC and the UML to accept this fact.

"Since the Maoist party is the largest, no other party will have the same level of ease as the Maoists when it comes to concluding the peace process," he said.

Dahal, who is accompanied by party foreign department chief Krishna Bahadur Mahara, among others, said the parties don´t have any option other than seeking consensus on peace process and constitution-drafting immediately after Dashain as the country might see more confusion after the UNMIN packs up.

He said the parties are slowly realizing the need for consensus. "The major parties have agreed to discuss the issues in a package and reach an agreement. We have initiated talks at various levels. The process would take a momentum after I return," he said.

The Maoist leader said he is scheduled to meet some Chinese officials, but added that no high level meetings have been arranged. Dahal refuted the allegations that Maoist foreign policy is tilted toward China, and said that his party is against excessive dependence on India.

There was a kind of dependence on India. But it would be against the country´s national interest to depend on one country economically, politically, culturally and other spheres," he said.

The Maoist chairman said that his party is studying the economic liberalization and reforms implemented by Deng Xiaoping. It may be recalled that the Maoist party has so far condemned the economic reform of China and termed it as a deviation from communist ideology.

"We want to learn from the positive aspects of Deng´s policy," he said.
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A PRELUDE TO A STATE VISIT
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Kathmandu, 25 Oct.: Two days after Vice President Parmananda Jha returned from China after attending a trade fair, President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav heads to China on Tuesday for the closing ceremony of the Shanghai Expo, The Kathmandu Post reports.

Embarking on the first visit to the northern neighbour, the president will attend the closing ceremony of the expo on Oct. 31 and will meet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao the same day in Shanghai.

The meeting, according to Nepal’s Ambassador to China, Tanka Karki, holds high “significance” as it “opens up new avenues of political relations between the two countries.” The 17-member Nepali delegation will be back on Nov. 1 after visiting major cities like Lhasa, Guangzhou and Xian.

As expected, the president’s visit could not be given state honours, but officials said it could be used as groundwork for the upcoming state visit, which is expected to take place in February-March next year.

“Areas of cooperation like hydro projects, road constructions and Chinese investments in Nepal will be discussed during the visit and formal announcements will be made,” a highly-placed government source told the Post on Sunday.

“Exchange of views and preparations for his state visit are the major agenda of the current visit. We also expect more high-level visits from the Chinese side next year,” Karki said. Kari added that the president’s meeting with the Chinese premier will be “substantive” but the Chinese side has not disclosed the agenda yet. Meanwhile, former Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey met the president at his residence on Sunday and shared his ideas on the China visit.

Asked to comment on his meeting with the president, Pandey said: “There has been a shift in global politics, a shift away from Europe towards Asia. China and India are now emerging as major players. That was the major thrust of my ideas that I conveyed to him.” On his return from China, the president will attend a convocation ceremony in Kolkota (January-end) and will subsequently visit New Delhi.
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UN BODY DISTRIBUTING DEAD WHEAT SEEDS’
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Kathmandu, 25 Oct.: The wheat seed being distributed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to farmers of Baitadi district will not germinate, warn agriculture experts, DR Pant and Khagendra Awasthi report in The Kaathmanddu Post from Daldeldhura..

They say the strain of wheat named “Gautami” that the UN body is distributing to Baitadi farmers is not suitable for the climate of hilly region.

According to the District Agriculture Development Office, Baitadi, it had recommended a different strain of wheat, but FAO came up with a different species of wheat, claiming that its yield will be double.

“We had approved W1204 and Annapurna seeds for Baitadi, but a different strain was distributed later,” said Ram Lakhan Mandal, a senior agriculture officer.

“Our recommendation was not considered as FAO invites tender from the centre to purchase the seeds in bulk,” he said.

The UN agency has already distributed “Gautami” seed to farmers of Siddeshwor, Siddhapur, Basuling, Rauleshwor and Sigas VDCs.

It is planning to give out the same strain of wheat to farmers of other 32 VDCs in the district. Many farmers have already

sowed the FAO-provided seed, while others like Dhan Bahadur Chand of Basuling VDC decided not to. “The paddy seed provided by the Food and Agriculture Organisation also did no yield crop, so all the people in my village decided not to sow the wheat seed,” he said. It is said that the “high-yielding” strain of paddy distributed by FAO to farmers of 37 VDCs in Baitadi had not germinated.

When asked, FAO representatives in the district declined to comment on the matter.
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SEVEN NC AGENDAS FOR CWC MEET
Kathmandu, 25 Oct.: Nepali Congress has set seven agendas for its first Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting slated for Thursday.

The new CWC, elected from the 12th National General Convention (NGC) one month ago, is yet to get its complete shape as the party president is yet to nominate 21 members and turn it into an 85-member team.

The president is mandated to propose one vice president, one general secretary and one joint general secretary for nomination from among the 60 elected members.

The proposal, however, will have to be approved by the elected body. Party President Sushil Koirala-led faction has 55 per cent members in the CWC, while his rival Sher Bahadur Deuba faction has 45 per cent.

“If the president nominates the members unilaterally, the CWC may not approve the nominations; we will have to go for a voting process,” said a senior member of the Sher Bahadur Deuba camp.

Although the agendas do not include the issue of nomination, the party sources said the nomination issue might figure in the meeting.

“Party president is working on the issue of nomination,” said General Secretary Prakash Man Singh. He, however, could not confirm if the CWC would get a full shape during its first meeting.

The set agendas for the first CWC meeting include thanking all who helped make the NGC success, NGC financial report presentation, revision of the party’s policies and programmes in line with the suggestions received at the NGC, among others.

The party headquarters today forwarded the agendas to its CWC members and office bearers.

Sources close to Koirala said the party president was holding consultations with his supporters regarding the nomination.

Ram Chandra Paudel and Sujata Koirala are claiming the vice president’s post, while Arjun Narsingh KC, Dr Ram Sharan Mahat and Krishna Prasad Sitaula are claiming the post of general secretary.

On the other hand, the Deuba camp is claiming either the vice president or the general secretary and equal number of CWC members while making nomination.

The 12th NGC has shown the door to a few influential leaders — Govinda Raj Joshi, Chiranjibi Wagle, Tara Nath Ranabhat, Chakra Prasad Bastola, Binay Dhoj Chand, Ramesh Lekhak, Laxman Ghimire, Amar Raj Kaini, Jip Tshring Lama, Ram Krishna Tamrakar, Uma Adhikari Regmi and Suprabha Ghimire.

Sher Bahadur Deuba, Bhim Bahadur Tamang, Bimalendra Nidhi and Narahari Acharya are other senior leaders, who lost in the polls.

However, a majority of nominated CWC members are expected to be old hands.
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Dengue fever spreads in Butwal areas





Kathmandu, 25 Oct. – A 27 year-old man of Butwal died of dengue fever Friday. Harilal BK who was suffering from dengue for the past four-five days died at Teku Hospital of Katmandu, The Rising Nepal reports..
He was suffering from dengue shock syndrome, said Dr. Basudev Pandey, national focal person of dengue.
BK died by pulmonary edema due to over fluid in abdomen and lungs, Dr. Pandey said.
He had arrived in Teku Hospital after Butwal Hospital referred to Bharatpur Hospital which further referred to Kathmandu.
He died five hours after his arrival in Teku Hospital, Dr. Pandey informed.
After Chitwan, the disease has spread in Butwal.
According to Dr. Pandey, around 22 dengue patients were admitted in Teku Hospital on Sunday and most of them were from Butwal.
According to District Public Health Office, around 43 people have been found suffering from dengue virus in Butwal.
Presently, a team from Kathmandu had been deployed in Butwal to control the spread of dengue.
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MAOISTS OBSTRUCT RAILWAY SURVEY BY INDIA

Kathmandu, 25 Oct.: Locals of Mohottari have obstructed the survey work of Janakpur-Jayanagar Railway, the only railway service of Nepal that had begun with the purpose of its expansion and converting it into a broad gauge, RSS reports from Gaushala.
East Control Railway India has stared the survey for the 67.7 km long railway service from Jayanagar of India to Bardiwas of Mohottari.
A team led by Unified CPN-Maoist Bardibas In-charge Dev Narayan Mahato obstructed the survey work arguing that extension of the railway service would displace 250 households of Badelkhadi tole in Bardiwas-4.
They also threw away the survey pillar at Bardiwas bazzar, saying that the company did not collect feedback of the locals before carryng out the survey.
Of the total, 67.7 km work, survey for about 60 km has already been completed. Currently, railway service only in 29 km from Janakpur to Jayanagar is in operation.
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CITIZENSHIP COMPULSORY FOR VOTER REGISTRATION

Kathmandu, 25 Oct.:: Despite serious objections from Madhes-based parties, the Election Commission (EC) has expedited the new voters´ registration process in all the municipalities of the country in its bid to remove fake voters from electoral rolls, Republica reports.

The EC has completed the first phase of registration campaign in municipalities and is expected to complete the second phase by mid-November.

The EC will then move to Village Development Committees (VDCs) and mountainous regions for registration. “We plan to complete the program by mid-June next year,” said EC spokesperson Shyam Sundar Sharma. According to him, of the 1.7 million estimated voters, the EC has already registered 800,000 in the first phase.

The EC has come under fire from Madhes-based parties in some Tarai municipalities where the registration campaign has been stalled. The Madhes-based parties have been opposing the provision of compulsory citizenship for registration, saying thousands of people in the region have been left without citizenships and that would deprive them of voting rights.

The registration campaign has been stalled in many Tarai districts including Banke, Nawalparasi, Kapilvastu, Sunsari and Mahottari districts.

According to Sharma, the EC may launch the registration program in the municipalities where it has been stalled after reaching an understanding with the Madhes-based parties, or people may directly register their name with the EC district offices later.

The Madhes-based parties have demanded that the EC should accept the existing voters´ list as one of the basis for registration. After much pressure from the Madhes-based parties, the EC officials and the Madhes-based parties had even reached an understating to accept the existing voters´ list as a basis for registration.

But the agreement was not signed. “It was an understanding at the bureaucratic level only and was not formally signed by the EC,” said EC spokesperson Sharma. He said the EC would move ahead with the provision of compulsory citizenship for registration in the voters´ lists.
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