30 PILGRIMS INJURED IN VEHICULAR ACCIDENT

30, MAINLY PILGRIMS, INJURED

Kathmandu, 1 Aug.:Thirty, mainly Bolbum pilgrims, were injured, three seriously, when a vehicle slipped off a steep road en route from Krisnanagar in Kapilvasthu to a temple in Butwal.
Thousands of pilgrims offered pure water offering at Shiva temples nation-wide of the third Monday of Shwawan
Thousands of pilgrims from home and India made offerings at
Pashupatinath temple.
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NEPAL BRAZIL SIGNING THREE ACCORDS

MAIN CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE MEETS

Kathmandu, 1 Aug.: Main constitution drafting committee chaired by Nilambar Acharya met Monday after a month-long recess and one month before a deadline to complete a constitution draft.
Very little progress has been recorded as parties are embroiled in a dispute over power-sharing.
The committee began discussing a constitution draft Monday.
It also reviewed progress work of a dispute resolution sub-committee chaired by Chairman Prachanda.
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FOREIGN MINISTER LEAVES FOR BRAZIL

Kathmandu, 1 Aug.: Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav flew for Brazil Sunday
Nepal and Brazil are signing three bilateral accords during the week-long visit.
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SACKED PADT OFFICIALS REINSTATED
Kathmandu, 1 Aug.: Supreme court Sunday reinstated office bearers of Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) sacled by a personal decision of new Culture Minister Khagedra Prasad Parsai.
The court called the ministerial decision illegal.
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200 TRAVEL PAPERS MISSING FROM FOREIGN MINISTRY

Kathmandu, 1 Aug.: Around 200 travel documents, considered as emergency passports, have been found missing from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) for the last two years. The officials came to know about it only last week when they started probing into some reported passport forgery cases, The Kathmandu Post reports.
On the recommendation of Home Ministry, MoFA issues travel documents to refugees, adopted children and stranded Nepalis.
As soon as the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police brought a notice that a racket has been involved in forging Nepali passports and obtaining travel documents in collusion with government employees, MoFA officials found that around 200 travel documents were missing from the ministry for the last two years. The ministry's record shows that among them some travel documents were sent to Nepali missions in Cairo and Bangkok, which were later found hoax. “Among the missing serial numbers, we came to know that some travel documents were issued from Kathmandu. How were the missing documents issued again from MoFA?” questioned an official. “So we have formed a committee to look into the matter,” said Foreign Secretary Madan Kumar Bhattarai. Following media reports that some Tibetans managed to obtain genuine Nepali passports and hundreds of travel documents had gone missing, MoFA on Friday formed a five-member panel to investigate passport misuse cases.
“We will cooperate with the Nepal Police's to probe the issue and will improve the system to check such irregularities. We can provide details of the pictures only after the probe committee submits its report,” MoFA spokesperson Durga Bhattarai said. MoFA officials were clueless whether it was due to administrative and procedural shortcomings or handiwork of racketeers in collusion with its officials. The police have collected required details from the ministry and investigating the issue independently.
CIB on Tuesday night caught two Tibetan refugees bound to the US in possession of passports issued by the ministry while the police earlier caught three Tibetans who were about to board a plane to Turkey with Nepali passports from the Tribhuvan International Airport.
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DEUBA CAMP CLAIMS MAJORITYAGAINST RAM CHANDRA PAUDEL IN PARLIAMENTARY PARTY LEADERSHIP

Kathmandu, 1 Aug,: The Sher Bahadur Deuba faction of the Nepali Congress (NC) has claimed to have collected signatures of a majority of its 114 lawmakers in a bid to change the parliamentary party leader, The Kathmandu Post reports
Leaders in the Deuba camp said 60 lawmakers have expressed their support in writing and that they would hold serious talks with party President Sushil Koirala and Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel before registering a no-confidence motion against Poudel.
"If the party president does not keep his end of the promise, we will start the processes of changing the parliamentary party leader as per the party's statute," NC leader Bal Krishna Khand said. "We would like to settle this on a consensus basis before the next Central Working Committee meeting [slated for Aug 5]."
Deuba supporters hope that Koirala will sort out the issue through consensus by the next CWC. In a sudden decision on Sunday evening, Koirala postponed a meeting of the CWC from Monday to Friday, which party insiders said, was an effort to resolve the row over the PP leader.
NC leaders close to Koirala said the party leadership could come up with a solution to avoid any possible confrontation. "Be assured that there will be a compromise at last. All the contentious issues will be resolved on consensus," NC leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula told the Post. He, however, did not say what the compromise would be like.
Leaders close to Koirala said one of the compromise formulae they have been mulling over is nominating Deuba as the party's candidate from the CWC by keeping Poudel intact. However, the Deuba faction is unlikely to accept it. "We will not be cajoled by anything, including the PM candidacy. Since we have already secured a majority vote, we will change the PP leader," said a leader, who is busy meeting witnesses of the April 23 six-point gentlemen's agreement between Koirala and Deuba.
Koirala has, however, rubbished the six-point secret agreement and is saying that there has not been any deal. "The rumour about the secret agreement is just a ploy to divide the party. The president is not for changing the PP leader now," said one of Koirala's close aides.
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NC CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEET RESCHEDULED

NC CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEET RESCHEDULED

Kathmandu, 1 Aug.: Main opposition NC central committee has been rescheduled.
The meeting that was to be conducted Monday will now be held Friday.
The committee is discussing a party statute amendment.
President Sushil Koirala amid opposition is seeking additional powers in an amended party statute.
The presidential system is being replaced by a collective leadership.
Girija Prasad Koirala conducted party affairs unilaterally taking important decisions without discussion in the policy-making central committee,
Successor and cousin does not have Girija’s stature to run affairs single-handed
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DEPT. REGISTERS RECORD OUTSOURCING FRAUD

Kathmandu, 1 Aug.: Department of Foreign Employment recorded around 1,204 frauds in the year while the number was only 722 a fiscal year ago. The second half of the fiscal year witnessed a sharp rise in fraud following instability in the regulatory authorities – Ministry of Labour and Transport Management and the department, The Himalayan Times reports.

Frequent changes in the department and government policies are behind the sharp rise in fraud in the second half of the last fiscal year, said a source at the ministry.

The bureaucratic and policy instability provided ground for outsourcing agencies and their agents for more frauds, he added.

The department has started changes in the Foreign Employment Act following outsourcers rejection to register their agents. Of the 875 outsourcing agencies, only four had registered their agents in the department in the first half of the the fiscal year. Following the failure, the department banned outsourcing agencies to open branches.

However, outsourcing agencies have not been obeying the ban. The staff in outsourcing agencies’ branches are working also as agents without legal reorganisation, which is the major cause of sharp rise in frauds in the second half of the fiscal year,” said director general of the department Narendra Prasad Sharma.

“Outsourcing agencies themselves are promoting fraud in the sector,” he said, adding that the department probe shows that most of individual frauds have close link to outsourcing agencies and their agents.

“Despite knowing the fact, we can’’t take legal action because it is hard to prove the connection in the court,” Sharma said.

The department has registered 721 individual and 483 institutional fraud cases worth Rs 641.39 million in the last fiscal year. Of 1,204 fraud cases, some 657 cases were solved in the department in mutual understanding and 97 cases worth Rs 211.66 were forwarded to Foreign Employment Tribunal — a semi-judicial body established in February 2010 to look after the foreign employment fraud cases.

About 447 cases were withdrawn from the department following settlement of cases outside the department. “We solved 267 cases related to outsourcing agencies,” said president of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies Som Lal Bataju.

According to him, the association mediated with the responsible outsourcing agencies in solving the cases.

However, bataju blamed the government for rise in outsourcing sector. “Weak monitoring of the department and rising individual contracts are keys,” he said, adding that the government must scrap individual contract and strengthen monitoring mechanism.
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NEW DFID CHIEF TAKES OVER MONDAY

NEW DFID CHIEF

Kathmandu, 1 Aug.: Dominic O’Neill has been appointed head of Britain’s Department of International Development (DFID).
He assumes responsibilities Monday.
DFID has set 331 British pound sterling for Nepal.
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CABINET RESHUFFLE LIKELY MONDAY AMID GIVE AND TAKE IN UML ,MAOISTS

Kathmandu, 1 Aug After a week-long bickering over cabinet reshuffle, the prime minister´s positive response on the issue of inducting minister nominees from the largest coalition partner UCPN (Maoist) has finally brought a thaw the relations between the two major coalition partners, CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist), Republica reports.

Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal is likely to induct the minister nominees from the UCPN (Maoist) on Monday.

The prime minister agreed to reshuffle the cabinet after the Maoist leaders agreed to reduce the number of new ministers and to expedite the twin tasks of concluding the peace process and statute drafting in the remaining one-month of the Constituent Assembly (CA) term.

Khanal said he had not been able to reshuffle the cabinet earlier because the list of ministers was long and time inappropriate. “It was difficult to reshuffle the cabinet as the Maoists had submitted a long list of 24 minister-nominees and we were expected to move ahead on the basis of consensus,” the prime minister said at a press meet on Sunday.

Khanal informed that he would induct only 11 cabinet ministers. Maoists had suggested to the prime minister to accommodate 12 ministers and 12 state ministers in the cabinet. Though the Maoists have staked claim to the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, Khanal´s aides in Baluwatar said the issue is yet to be finalized as the portfolio was earlier allocated to another coalition partner Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF). This issue needs to be settled through consensus between Prime Minister Khanal, Dahal and the MPRF chairman.

The prime minister said the renewed commitment by Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has turned the situation in his favor. “I learnt that the Maoist chairman a little while ago has promised that his party is ready to set the standards for the integration, fix the number of combatants to be integrated into the security agencies, settle the issue of rank harmonization and rehabilitation package, among other things,” Khanal told media persons. “He is also ready to categorize the Maoist combatants depending on whether they want to join security forces or opt for rehabilitation.”

Khanal informed that Dahal has also pledged to prepare the first integrated draft of the new constitution before the extended CA term expires on August 31.

“I further request the Maoists to create a situation favorable for cabinet reshuffle by withdrawing the resignation of incumbent Maoist ministers,” he said. On Saturday, Dahal handed over a joint resignation of all Maoist ministers to the prime minister for not inducting the new team into the cabinet. The Maoist leaders had also threatened to withdraw the party´s support to the government.

Asked about the probability of inducting new Maoist ministers in the cabinet on Monday, the prime minister´s press advisor Surya Thapa said the prime minister and the Maoist chairman are yet to sort out some issues.

Maoists express commitment to peace process

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal earlier in the afternoon said that his party is committed to the peace process and that the cabinet reshuffle would not hinder the process of forming a national consensus government.

“The process of categorizing the combatants could be completed by August 31 if the parties agree on rehabilitation packages,” said Dahal addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Paris Danda on Sunday.

Dahal reiterated that his party is also ready to strike a deal on all issues of integration and prepare a draft of the constitution, but added that other political parties should also share “equal responsibility” for the peace process to come to fruition.

Dahal argued that the cabinet reshuffle would not impede the formation of a national consensus government. “We are ready to take initiatives for the formation of a new government within 24 hours of cabinet reshuffle,” said Dahal.

He said his party decided to continue to support the government after being assured by the prime minister that the minister nominees from the party would be sworn in.

Maoists had set Sunday as the deadline for Khanal to administer oath of office and secrecy to the party´s minister nominees, saying that they would otherwise withdraw their support to the government.

Published on 2011-08-01 00:00:01
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NEPAL MEETS BANGLADESH IN U-16 OPENER
Kathmandu, 1 Aug.:Nepal will play its first SAFF U-16 Championship Football Tournament match against Bangladesh on Thursday at Dasharath Stadium, Republica reports.

Nepal has been placed in group B in the six-team contest, which has Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as other teams in the group, in the first edition of event scheduled to kick off on Monday at Dasharath Stadium. In other group match, home team will play against Sri Lanka on Saturday.
In curtain raiser, India will play against Pakistan in the group A match on Monday. Maldives is the other team in group A.

Top two among three teams from each group will qualify for the semifinal stage after round robin group matches. Only one match will be played on each day until group stage which ends on August 10. All matches will be placed at Dasharath Stadium.

Squad

Nepal has finalized the names of 23-member squad for the event under the captainship of Heman Gurung.

Goalkeepers: Birendra Chand, Brijesh Singh and Alan Neupane; Defenders: Sanjay Rajbahak, Aaditya Chaudhary, Bishwas Shrestha, Bibek Basnet, Anjan Lakhaju and Nabin Gurung; Midfielders: Heman Gurung, Rungri Hang Rai, Sagar Lama, Firon Magrati, Shikharmani Kafle, Umesh Thapa, Pramal Thapamagar and Yugal Pandey; Forwards: Rishi Thapamagar, Anil Gurung, Krishnaraj Lama, Suraj Hamal, Suman Lama and Suraj Kumar Rai.

Preparations complete

The organizers, All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), on Monday said it has completed all the preparations for the SAFF U-16 Championship.

At a press conference in the capital on Monday, ANFA General Secretary Dhirendra Pradhan said the ticket price for each match is Rs 100 and Rs 300 for open and VIP stands respectively.

ANFA has banned taking any materials other than raincoat in the stadium due to security reasons. As host, ANFA will get $6,000 each from five participating teams. The expected cost of the event is Rs 3 million.

Tough time in getting Challenge Cup

Speaking at the same press meet, ANFA President Ganesh Thapa said that Nepal had a tough time securing the chance to host the final round of AFC Challenge Cup scheduled for April 2012. Along with Nepal, Maldives and Palestine, which boast of better infrastructure than Nepal, had also filed their bids to host the final round of tournament.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) executive committee meeting in Malaysia on Friday had decided to allow Nepal to host the final round. However, AFC had set some conditions for organizing the event in Nepal.

"AFC has asked us to upgrade the physical infrastructure and conditions of ground to host the final round," Thapa said. "But ANFA cannot do this single-handedly and we need support of all sides including the government, Ministry of Youth and Sports and National Sports Council."

Awards to be announced in a month

Thapa on the same occasion hinted of declaring the name of winner of Rupak Memorial Award and the Best Footballer of 2067 BS in a month. ANFA has announced to provide a flat to the Best Footballer of 2067 BS. But ANFA has yet to name the best player.

Similarly, ANFA has not announced the name of Rupak Memorial Award winners since 2064 BS though the award is supposed to be given every year.

"Awarding player is not a big deal. We were busy in bigger projects than awarding players. We will let you know about awards within a month. All the winners of Rupak Memorial will be announced at once," Thapa India meets Pakisatn Monday.
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NEPAL DEFEATS KENYA IN WORLD CUP CRICKET QUALIFIER

NEPAL DEFEATS KENYA IN WORLD CUP CRICKET QUALIFIER

Kathmandu, 31 July: Nepal defeated Kenya by six wickets in Ireland Sunday in a ICC U-19 World Cup qualifying match.
Nepal chased a target of 105 runs.
Nepal lost a match to Scotland and defeated Afghanistan in a opening match of the tournament.
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HOTELIER PYUSH BAHADUR AMATYA ARRESTED

Kathmandu, 31 July: Chairman Pyush Bahadur Amatya of Fulbari Resort Hotel in Pokhara was arrested from the capital Sunday.
Creditors charged Amatya for not repaying Rs 44 million, a television report said.
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THREE TOP FORMER POLICE OFFICERS JAILED
Kathmandu, 31 July: Former (AIG) Shyam Singh Thapa, SSP Shiva Lamichhane and SP Niraj Bahadur Shahi were jailed Sunday for involvement in a Rs 280 million Sudan scam for supply of faulty armoured personnel carriers of Nepali Police peacekeepers with UN mission
They failed to post bails of Rs.13 million, Rs 6 million and Rs.2.5 million respectively.
They were charged by CIAA.
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NO THREATENED MAOIST EXTREME STEP

NO THREATENED MAOIST DECISION TO TAKE ‘EXTREME’ STEP IF28 MINISTERS NOT INSTALLED IN GOVT.

Kathamandu, 31 July: A threatened Maoist public announcement to take an extreme decision Sunday of 24 Maoists ministers aren’t t installed in government wasn’t taken .
Maoist standing committee threatened to take a decision.
Instead, Chairman Prachanda said a decision was deferred until Monday.
He held two rounds of talks with Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal Sunday,
Both attempted to make conciliatory statements Sunday separately,
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NC AGAIN OBSTRUCTED PARLIAMENT PROCEEDINGS

NC AGAIN OBSTRUCTS PARLIAMENT SESSION

Kathmandu, 31 July: Main opposition NC Sunday again obstructed parliament session as expected.
Speaker Subash Nemwang adjourned the session until Tuesday.
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PM KHANAL MEETS PRACHANDA FOR CRUCIAL MEET

PM KHANAL MEETS MAOIST CHAIRMAN PRACHANDA UPDATE

Kathmandu, 31 July: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal immediately held separate discussions with Maoist Chairman Prachanda following a dialogue with main opposition NC President Sushil Koirala Sunday.
Koirala asked Khanal not to reshuffle the government as demanded by Maoists.
UCPN (Maoist) has threatened extreme action if a new team of 24 ministers isn’t installed Sunday by the premier.
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FLIGHTS TO SIX HILL DISTRICTS IM EAST DISRUPTED

Kathmandu, 31 July: Internal flights to the eastern region have been disrupted for the last six days because of continuous downpour .
Airports are under thick cloud cover in six hill districts disrupting landings, Buratnagar airport said
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SUNDAY IS DAY TO EAT KHIR

Kathmandu, 31 July: Sunday or 15 Shrawan is the day to eat khir.
According to culture and tradition, fmilies eat beaten rice and curd following the end of the paddy transplanting season 15 Ashad.
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PRACHANDA-LED SUB-COMMITTEE MEETS

PRACHANDA-LED SUB-COMMITTEE ON DISPUTE REOLUTION MEETS

Kathmandu, 31 July: Bodies attempting to promulgate a constitution in the remaining one month suddenly spurt into action Sunday morning.
They were in a deep one-month slumber.
The Prachanda-led sub-committee discussed state restructuring.
It decided to hold discussions with the five-party United Democratic Madesh Front to discuss its demands for a new state structure, NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel, who is sub-committee member said.
The meeting will beheld later Sunday.
Meanwhile, the main constitution draftingheaded by NilanbarAcharya will also be held Monday.
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NC CALLS SUNSARI BANDH


Kathmandu, 31 July: NC Sunday called a Sunsari bandh charging police for excesses when its student activist Sanu Yadav died while while undergoing treatment at Itahari Saturday while undergoing treatment for wounds sustained in a firing
The party demanded action and compensation for victims of the firing.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“It’s a fact the problem seen in Maoists has obstructed the peace process, That’s why they are holding discussions to resolve the differences and come forward.”

(PM Khanal, Kantipur, 31 July)

“The main basis [formation of government of understanding] is the five-point agreement. But the prime minister neither efforts formation of a national government nor resigns How can an environment becreated?”

(NC General Secretary Prakash Man Singh, Kantipur, 31 July)

“With only month remaining for the tenure to end, demand to reconstitute the government is like marriage before death.”

(Madhav Kumar Nepal, Gorkhapatra, 31 July)
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COLLAPSE FEAR CLOUDS PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE

Kathmandu, 31 July: Lord Shiva forbid, if disaster fell upon the temple of Pashupatinath, will the holy Hindu shrine be able to save itself from collapse?,Ankit Adhikari writes in The Kathmandu Post.

At a time when speculations are rife that the Valley is in danger of natural calamities like land subsidence and earthquake, experts claim the abode of lord Shiva, which is already on the verge of collapse, could crumple if a disaster hammers it.

If the potential collapse occurs before the temple sees any renovation, the biggest tragedy that experts fear is that the sanctuary will never be able to see the revival of its original structure.

As there are no inventories of what the temple actually looks like from inside, the original inner structure of the temple will remain a mystery forever if the temple collapses.

Since none except the senior priests are allowed into the main temple, the inventory formation of the inner structure and documentation of temple’s make-up from inside have been impossible so far.

Nevertheless, a committee formed to look into the problems of Pashupatinath has proposed to the Ministry of Culture (MoC) that the work of documentation and inventory keeping of the temple’s minute inner structures be carried out at the earliest. The committee—Shree Pashupati Adhyayan Byawasthapan Swatantra Adhikar Sampanna Samiti—was formed under the MoC as per a Supreme Court ruling last year.

The preliminary report submitted by it on July 21, which puts prime emphasis on “elaborate” renovation of the temple, also states that the inventory keeping of the temple’s internal structure should be conducted before starting renovation.

“There is neither any photograph nor drawing or structural inventory of the temple’s inner structures,” said committee Spokesman Ram Prasad Dahal. “If the temple collapses in the near future, nothing will be left to us to erect it again. Documentation of the structure can largely help in preserving the existence of temple.”

According to Dahal, the collapse of the temple, if it occurs, is also likely to damage priceless objects that are said to be inside the temple. The report proposes that highly expensive materials inside the temple including idols and jewellery of pearls, gold and diamonds be put on exhibition by setting up a separate museum on the Pashupati premises.

The proposal also includes the exhibition of other “priceless” objects like Nagmani, Gajmani, Naramani (jewellery worn by serpentine gods) and the one-faceted Rudraksha among others that are reported to be inside the main temple since times immemorial.

MoC Secretary Mod Raj Dotel, meanwhile, said the ministry is preparing to immediately form an administrative body under the ministry itself to study the report in detail. “Renovation of the temple and minute inventory formation of the inner architecture of the temple are important issues of public concern mentioned in the report,” Dotel said. “Once the administrative wing completes its study, we will move forth with what should be implemented. The committee that is due to be formed at the earliest will first differentiate issues that are to be immediately addressed against those that can be looked into later.”
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»
TIA RUNWAY FALLS APARTFIFTH TIME IN TWO MONTHS

Kathmandu, 31 July: Once again, the runway of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) has fallen apart, forcing domestic and international flights to circle over the airport for more than two hours.

A TIA source said the runway was affected two times on Saturday morning. The runway, which was repaired early in the morning, was again dented at 9 am and 10:10 am. The problem occurred at the runway’s Inter Sections 5, The Kathmandu Post reports.

According to Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, TIA’s general manager, the problem occurred when an aircraft landed on the section where a chemical called ‘premix’ was applied for repair. The chemical was applied at around 5 am. “However, before the chemical dried, the aircraft landed on the section at around 9 am, damaging it. The section was again repaired,” said Suman.

According to the TIA source, the problem forced four international flights to divert, while two domestic aircraft scheduled for Janakpur and Biratnagar sector were delayed. Suman admitted that some flights were not allowed to land and that they circled over the airport, but international flights were not diverted. The runway came to full operation at 11:30 am.

This is the fifth time that the TIA runway has disintegrated in two months. Following repeated problems, the parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on June 29 had summoned the director general of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the tourism secretary, TIA general manager and consultants and contractors. PAC members even inspected the runway and the helipad amid growing concern over the status of the country’s only international airport.

On June 21, flights at TIA were halted for more than three hours after a portion of the runway caved in at Intersections 3 and 4. With repeated occurrence of potholes in the TIA, four different committees-high level prove committee of the government, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, Independent investigation committee and a committee formed by the CAAN-have been formed to probe the issues.

PAC took up the issue after the runway caved in following which the international flights had to be cancelled. “However, none of the committees have submitted their reports until now,” said a CAAN source. The 3,048 m long runway was repaired in February this year after 13 years at a cost of Rs 240 million.
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AML DEPT.STARTS OPERATIONS



Kathmandu, 31 July: Starting from yesterday [Friday], newly established Anti-Money Laundering Department has initiated investigation of at least 131 cases related to money laundering in the first phase, The Himalayan Times reports.

The cases like Unity Life Assurance and bank balance without clear source of income and property owned by don will also come under the Anti-Money Laundering Department, according to director general at Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) Shanta Bahadur Shrestha. These cases were being investigated by the Department of Revenue Investigation after Finance Ministry formed two separate divisions — Anti Money Laundering Division and Revenue Investigation Division — under the department.

However, the Anti Money Laundering Division has been upgraded to a separate department to look after the money laundering cases taking the Anti Money Laundering cases seriously by the government according to its international commitment.

“Department of Revenue Investigation has forwarded cases related to money laundering to the newly established department that got its chief yesterday,” he added.

The government on Friday has appointed Khum Raj Punjali as the director general in the Anti-Money Laundering Department. After the appointment of new director general, the department will take all the responsibilities as mandated by the Anti Money Laundering Act.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Money Laundering Department is preparing to launch public awareness campaign.

“The public awareness activities are essential since the

department is new and public has yet to be informed on its

duties and responsibilities,” Punjali said, adding that the department will carry out its activities officially within a week, though the department was formed more than a month

ago on June 15.

The government has also appointed three directors, four section officers and some supporting staff in the department that will gradually take shape.

Earlier, the finance ministry aiming at curbing money laundering activities decided to rename Department of Revenue Investigation to Revenue Investigation and Money Laundering Control Department after the Legislature Parliament had unanimously endorsed the Anti-Money Laundering Act (First amendment) on May 24.

The amended Anti-Money Laundering Act has widened the definition of money laundering and terrorist financing. It has also strengthened the

national coordination committee on Anti Money Laundering, Financial Information Unit (FIU) under central bank and other regulatory bodies giving them more teeth.
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EMBATTLED PM HOLDS TALKS WITH SUSHIL KOIRALA

EMBATTLED PM KHANAL, SUSHIL KOIRALA HOLD DIALOGUE

Kathmandu, 31 July: Embattled Prime Minister Jha;anath Khanal, who is also UML chairman, held a dialogue with main opposition NC President Suhil Koirala at the latter’s residence Sunday morning.
Khanal drove to the Koirala residence for the meeting.
They discussed en masse resignations of Maoist ministers delivered to the government chief by Chairman Prachanda Saturday evening.
Maoists have threatened further ‘extreme’ action if a new team 24 ministers and state ministers isn’t installed by a reluctant premier Sunday.
NC has called for Khanal’s resignation charging he hasn’t paved the way for forming a national government as envisaged din a five-point tripartite agreement between Maoists, UML and NC.
A section of Khanal’s own UMl is demanding his resignation.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“There’s a plan to form a rightist caretaker government, prolong its life and dissolve constituent assembly. An environment is developing for the desire of the Indian establishment “

(Maoist Spokesman Dinanath Sharma quoting
Maoist standing committee member Nanda Kishore Chand, Nagarik, 31 July)
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ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL IN JULY

NORE THAN NORMAL RAINFALL IN JULY

Kathmandu, 31 July: The capital recorded
412.6mm,rainfall until 30 July, Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD) said.
Normal rainfall in the wettest month is 356.6mm.
The highest rainfall in the month was 177mm 23 July.
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SHARE PRICES STABLE

Kathmandu, 31 July: Nepse index slipped 2.28 points and closed at 363.14 points at the end of five-day weekly trading Thursday.
Hydropower sector shares fell 36.18 points.
Insurance companies, commercial banks and financial institution shares slipped 5.47,3.15 and 3.03 points respectively.
Total transactions fell 87.01 percent to Rs 122.9 million in 257 deals.
Index dropped to 292.32 points 15 June.
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SPORTS

NEPAL PLAYS KENYA IN WORLD CUP QUALIFIER

Kathmandu, 31 July: Nepal plays Kenya in a ICC-U 19 Qualifier in Ireland Sunday.
Nepal won the first match against Afghanistan and lost its second outing against Scotland.
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UMDF, UANSF FOR COMMON STATCE ON KEY ISSUES

Kathmandu, 31 July: The United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), an alliance of five Madhes-based political parties and United Alliance for National Self-rule and Federalism (UANSF), an alliance of eight indigenous parties and organizations have reached an agreement to forge a common stance on federal structure and other common issues,Gani Ansari reports in Republica.
A two-day meeting of the two alliances held in the capital on Friday also formed a four-member taskforce to recommend their respective leaderships about terms of references of the partnership, according to leaders.
The taskforce comprises Rajkishore Yadav of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Republican (MPRF-R), Jitendra Dev of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D), Suresh Ale Magar of Adibasi Jatiya Chhetriya Mahasangh Nepal and Khagendra Makhim of Federal Democratic National Forum.

“The taskforce will forge a common understating on issues like federalism, autonomy of provinces and inclusion,” said Yadav.

The taskforce will recommend future strategy to safeguard achievements of past movements, according to Magar, another member of the taskforce. “We will urge the leadership to adopt a strategy to combat anti-federalism forces,” Magar told Republica.

Yadav said the taskforce would start working from Sunday and would submit its report within the next three to four days.

MPRF-R Chairman Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta said they would exert pressure on the state to address the concerns raised by Madhesi and indigenous nationalities.
The meeting concluded that centralized structure and unitary system of government are the major obstacles in ensuring the rights of Madhesi and indigenous nationalities.

UDMF comprises MPRF-R, MPRF-D, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP), TMDP-Nepal and Sadbhawana Party whereas UANSF comprises Nepa Rastriya Party, Federal Democratic National Forum, Rastriya Janamukti Party, Tamsaling Nepal Rashtriya Dal, Janamukti Party Nepal, Aadibasi Jatiya Chhetriya Mahasangh Nepal, Akhil Nepal Aadibasi Janajati Mahasangh (Ekikrit) and Aadibasi Janajati Mahasangh (Samajbadi).

Earlier, UDMF had reached an agreement with various Tharu organizations to collaborate on issues of state restructuring.
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PRACHANDA SUBMITS RESIGNATIONS OF MAOIST GOVT.TEAM TO PM

PRACHANDA SUBMITS MASS RESIGNATIONS OF MAOIST GOVT. TEAM TO PM UPDATE

Kathmandu, 30 July: Maoist Chairman Prachanda Saturday submitted mass resignations of Maoist ministers in government to Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal
The Maoist chief submitted the resignations submitted to him by the party team in government.
Senior most Maoist Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya earlier held discussions with Khanal.
Embattled Khanal, who is also UML chairman, is also facing calls for resignation from top UML party leaders.
Former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal renewed the call Saturday.
Education Minister Ganga Lal Tuladhar, close to Khanal said government is being circled from all quarters.
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MAOISTS RECALL ALL ITS TEAM FROM GOVT.

MAOISTS DECIDE TO RECALL ALL MiNISTERS FROM GOVT. DEVELOPING STORY

Kathmandu, 30 July: Maoist standing committee Saturday decided to recall all its team members from government, Spokesman Dinanath Sharma said.
Party support government will continue so far, he added.
The party decided to adopt a ‘wait and see’ decision until Sunday.
if Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanaal will swear-in all 24 members of its new government team.
Sharma said party will take an ‘extreme decision’ Sunday if proposed ministers aren’t installed.
Its form will be decided by the party meeting Sunday, he added.
Maoists and UML formed the government February.
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NC PRESSES PM TO IMPLEMENT FIVE-POINT AGREEMENT

TOP NC DELEGATION MEETS PM KHANAL TO PRESS IMPLEMENTATION OF FIVE-POINT AGREEMENT

Kathmandu, 30 July: A top delegation of main opposition NC met Jhalanath Khanal as pressure tactics Saturday and asked him to implement a tripartite five-point agreement between ruling parties Maoists, UML and NC
President Sushil Koirala headed the delegation with accompanied by Ram Chadra Paudel and Sher Bahadur Deuba.
The agreement pushes formation of a national government and completion of peace process along with promulgation a constitution in the remaining one month.
Khanal assured government won’t be reshuffled to obstruct the formation of a national government.
The premier is under pressure from coalition partner Maoists to swear-in a new Maoist team in government by Saturday afternoon or bear consequences for any delay.
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POLICE SEIZE SEALED LETTERS ON US EMBASSY FROM TIBETAN REFUGEES, US EMBASSY DOES NOT COOPERATE IN INVESTIGATION OF PASSPORT MISUSE

FLOOD WATER ENTERS HOUSES IN ALL 22 WARDS OF BIRATNAGAR

Kathmandu, 30 July: Flood waters have entered hundreds of houses in all 22 wards of Biratnagar municipality following heavy overnight rain.
People are wading streets in knee-deep water Saturday, Radio Nepal reports.
Without drains and outlets for water, the problem has been compounded.
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US EMBASSY ASKS POLICE NOT TO OPEN EMBASSY LETTERS SEIZED FROM TIBETAN REFUGEES GOING TO US ON ILLEGALLY ACQUIRED NEPALI PASSPORTS

Kathmandu, 30 July: Officials of US embassy haven’t allowed police to open letters seized from two Tibetan refugees Tuesday night flying for USA, Rabi Dhami and Chandra Shekhar report in Annapurna Post.
The letters were written by US embassy were seized from them.
Cases have been filed by police for misuse of passport and letters as proof.
Other materials seized from them have been opened and studied. Police didn’t open the letters saying they were ‘diplomatic’ material.
Hanuman Dhoka metropolitan police has summoned the officials Friday to open the sealed envelop.
The officials asked the sealed letters be returned.
Police replied the letters had already been mentioned in an on-the spot report and couldn’t be returned
The officials returned asking the letters shouldn’t be opened.
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FOREIGN MINISTRY PROBING PASSPORT MISUSE AFTER MISUSE BY FIVE TIBETAN REFUGEES

Kathmandu, 30 July: A five-member probe committee headed by Joint Secretary Dhananjaya Jha was formed Friday to investigate possible involvement of ministry staff in issuing valid Nepali passports to non-nationals
The probe was formed after five Tibetan refugees traveled on such documents.
Tapas Adhikari, Dhan Bahadur Oli, Tirtha Raj Wagle and Toya Adhikari, are members.
The body will report in one month.
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CHINA ASSIST TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY

Kathmandu, 30 July: To strengthen cooperation with the Nepali security establishment, China will provide Rs 100 million (10 million RMB) through the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Chinese offer came on Thursday at a meeting of Joint Secretary to the Ministry of Home Sudhir Shah and his visiting Chinese counterpart Wang Chaun Qi, head of International Cooperation, Ministry of Public Security Affairs, Anil Giri writes in The Kathmandu Post.
In March during the visit of Chinese Army Chief Gen. Chen Bingde, Beijing had signed a bilateral agreement with the Nepal Army pledging assistance worth Rs. 1.42 billion (130 million RMB).
"We discussed areas of mutual cooperation for the benefit of both sides. The meeting mostly dwelt on how to extend cooperation between law enforcement agencies of both countries. Also, we discussed how to enhance the capacity of our security and civil officers," said Shah.
Last July, Nepal and China established a joint secretary level mechanism to share intelligence for containing anti-China activities in Nepal and the Chinese side had assured full support to enhance capacity building and training of Nepali security personnel to be deployed along the northern border, while seeking Nepal's commitment on information sharing on anti-China activities with an effective law enforcement mechanism to contain such activities.
The visiting four-member Chinese delegation, which is still in town, has sought a proposal from the Nepali side on the Chinese government's allocation of Rs 100 million (10 million RMB) to assist and enhance the capacity of Nepali security officials during 2011. "Of the Rs. 100 million offer, four million RMB (Rs 40 million) will be spent on training, workshop, language training (Chinese and Tibetan) to Nepali security and civil officials and the rest six million RMB (Rs 60 million) will be spent on upgradation of infrastructure of security agencies. This includes constructing buildings and other logistics," Shah said. More than a dozen security and civil officials from the Home ministry will visit China shortly for training. "The assistance fulfils our needs and requirements," said Shah.
The Home Ministry is forwarding a proposal in this respect very soon as Nepal needs to secure the assistance by the end of September. If it fails to submit a detailed proposal by then, the allocation is likely to be frozen and will automatically be transferred to next year.
Both sides also exchanged views on border security issues including curbing anti-China activities on Nepali soil. "We reaffirmed our one-China policy," said Shah. China has listed Nepal as one of the aid priority countries and committed that it will increase bilateral aid gradually.

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PLAN TO CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL FOREIGN WORKERS


Department of Labour discussed with a dozen of government agencies today seeking their support in cracking illegal foreign workers, The Himalayan Times reports.
About 40,000 foreigners are believed to be working in Nepal but only 3,500 have taken work permit from the department.

“We discussed possible intervention measures strategy and cooperation among different government agencies in the meeting,” said director general of the department Dr Man Bahadur BK.

“We all agreed to make Nepal an illegal foreign worker free country within a year,” he described.

Officials of foreign affairs, home affairs, industry, education, labour and transport, physical planning and works, women, children and social welfare, energy ministries and Department of Immigration, Social Welfare Council and Nepal Police attended the meeting.

“We are dedicated to abolish illegal foreign workers in the country,” he said, adding that the stakeholders have committed to support the drive.

The department has asked over 100 diplomatic missions, donors and international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) about the status of illegal foreign workers in their respective institutions.

The department has written to them last week and Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with the diplomatic missions and donor agencies.

Likewise, Social Welfare Council is coordinating with the International non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

“Diplomatic missions and donor agencies are sincerely cooperating in the issue,” BK said, adding that the department is now looking into schools, colleges and private sector

industries.

Detail plans to explore illegal foreign workers in those institutions has also been developed, he said.

The Department of Labour has estimated over 20,000 foreigners illegally working in schools and colleges across the country. at present.

According to the department, over 10,000 foreigners are working in hydropower, real estate and housing, banks, telecommunication, tourism and aviation sectors in the country.

“We are mobilising concerned ministries and departments in exploring foreign workers’ status in those sectors. Legal action will be taken to those violating laws in hiring foreign workers,” he said.

Labour laws of the country bars public and private sector institutions to hire foreign workers without approval from the Department of Labour.

But the law has given exemption to hire foreign workers when the specific work forces are not available in Nepali market.

The Department of Labour grants permission to employers to engage a non-Nepali at work for a maximum period of five years and the term could be extended up to seven years.
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NO INTEREST NRB LOANS TO COMMERCIAL, DEVELOPMENT BANKS TO ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT IN RURAL AREAS ATTRACTS

Kathmandu, 30 July: The central bank’s interest free loans to commercial and development banks to venture into remote areas have garnered quite an interest from financial institutions, Dikshya Singh reports in the Himalayan Times..

“About 12 banks and financial institutions obtained the loan to open branches in remote areas,” spokesperson for the central bank Bhaskar Mani Gyawali said, adding that most of the loans were meant for branches outside the district headquarters.

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has provided interest free loans worth Rs 115 million in the last fiscal year to open branches in designated remote districts, according to the Monetary Policy for the current fiscal year.

However, the central bank itself is not sure about its effectiveness. “The NRB will review the decision after conducting a thorough study of the benefits,” he informed.

The central bank had — last December — introduced zero per cent interest loan to class ‘A’ and ‘B’ financial institutions to start a branch is any

of the 22 remote districts by

the government.

According to the regulation, any banks and financial institution is entitled to zero interest loan up to Rs 5 million to open a branch in the district headquarter, whereas the amount is double for those that want to open branch outside headquarters.

The measure was introduced as an incentive to venture into rural areas after the central bank decreed that banks and financial institutions will be allowed to open branch in Kathmandu valley only after opening two branches outside the valley.

Due to the central bank’s efforts, the number of districts with only one commercial bank branch has reduced to nine by the end of the third quarter of the lat fiscal year from 18 in the beginning of the fiscal year, according to the Economic Survey.

The mandatory provision, on one hand has increased the access to formal banking in the remote areas, but on the other hand, has increased the financial burden as without commercial viability the banks and financial institutions could not be interested to open branches.

“On the current scenario, it is not prudent decision for the finance companies to start a branch in remote areas as it is an expensive affair,” said president of Nepal Finance Companies Association Rajendra Man Shakya pointing out the absence of financial assistance from central bank to open branches in rural areas to class ‘C’ financial institutions.

The central bank governor

Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada has also admitted that it has not been successful in increasing banking access despite all its efforts.

Lately, the central bank is also shifting its focus on promoting micro-finance institutions to increase banking access of the rural populace instead of coaxing the urban-centred commercial banks to go into remote areas.

“The emphasis will now be given to micro-finance institutions by providing interest free loans up to Rs 1.5 million to set up branch in nine districts — Manang, Humla, Dopla, Kalikot, Mugu, Jajarkot,Bajhang, Bajura and Darchula — that have limited access to finance,” Gyawali added.
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MAOISTS ISSUE THREAT

AMID THREATS, MAOISTS HOLDING LAST STANDING COMMITTEE SATURDAY

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 30 July: Amidst threat of severe consequences, Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha said his party’s standing committee Saturday afternoon will be the last if a 24-member new government team isn’t accepted by Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal and sworn-in.
Maoists said the ministers should be sworn-in Saturday.
Shrestha issued threat angrily after a party meeting of office bearers Friday
UCPN (Maoist)l has selected a team led by Shrestha to replace the current team in February led by Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who is deputy prime minister and home minister.
He said the reconstitution of a government team was the party’s right and ‘a conspiracy was being hatched’ to prevent a new government from being installed.
Shrestha, who is team leader as deputy prime minister and home minister, reminded Khanal and UML his party was the biggest ruling coalition partner.
Khanal with the backing of his party—UML—refused to install the new Maoist team
A faction in the NML led by former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Sharma Oli opposes the installation saying formation of a national government envisaged in a tripartite five-point agreement between the two ruling parties and main opposition NC will be stalled
Nepal has said a new Maoist team can be accepted with only NC concurrence.
Ruling coalition partners normally choose their own ministerial candidates without bilateral consultations.
Less than one month remains for promulgating a constitution to institutionalize a republic with a three-month extension of the constituent assembly after 28 May.
With hardly any progress recorded in two months on constitution drafting, Maoist Chairman Prachanda has admitted publicly a constitution won’t be promulgated.
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AIG SHAILENDRA KUMAR SHRESTHA NEW APF IGP

Kathmandu, 30 July: After promotion, AIG Shailendra Kumar Shrestha will be the next APF IGP.
Cabinet selected him Friday.
Shrestha succeeds his predecessor who was superannuated.
Dipendra Nath Sharma was appointed executive director of Nepal Electricity Authority.
Sharma’s appointment was recommended by a high-level committee headed by former CIAA chief Surya Nath Upadhaya; five names were recommended.
Sharma is a joint secretary at ministry of peace and reconstruction.
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FAR-WEST PROTEST CALL OFF SATURDAY

Kathmandu, 30 July: Students Saturday called off a 11-day violent protest demanding establishment of the far-West
The protest caused millions of rupees in loss and damage as dozens of police ad students were injured in clashes.
Kanchanpur district markets were re-opened and transport services resumed.
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PADT HAS NEW TEAM

Kathmandu, 30 July: Laxmi Prasad Parsain has been appointed member secretary of Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), RSS reports.
Mohan Prasad Dhakal, has been appointed treasure and Mukti Chalise, Nanda Kishore Ghariya,Manju Kumar Singh Malla, Ram Prasad Dahal and Krishna Prasad Acharya members effective from 27 July.
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SPORTS

AFC CHALLENGE CUP FINAL IN NEPAL

Kathmandu, 30 July: Nepal will for the first time host the AFC Challenge Cup final in 2012.
AFC executive meeting Friday in Malaysia took thedecision.2012.
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NEPAL LOSE TO SCOTLAND N WORLD CUP QUALIFYING MATCH

Kathmandu, 30 July: After defeating Afghanistan one day earlier in its first outing in Dublin, Ireland, Nepal lost to Scotland Friday by 57 runs in ICC U-19 World Cup qualifier.
Scotland scored 214 runs in 49 overs losing all wickets.
Scotland bowled out Nepal for 157 runs in 45.3 overs.
Captain Prithu Baskota was Nepal’s highest hitting 67 runs in 117 balls.
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ROW OVER PRESIDENTIAL POWER PUTS OFF NC CWC MEET


Kathmandu, 29 July: The ongoing Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the Nepali Congress was put off till Monday after CWC members became sharply divided over whether to curtail the powers of the party president, Republica reports..

Party President Sushil Koirala proposed to put off the meeting for three days to settle differences amicably. “There are no towering personalities in the party now. The party leadership has come upon second generation leaders. There is no alternative to moving by consensus,” a CWC member quoted Koirala as saying.
“Let us endorse the regulations in consensus through debate and discussion, avoiding any kind of division,” the CWC member also quoted Koirala as saying.

While CWC members close to the establishment faction want to increase the president´s powers, those close to Sher Bahadur Deuba want to give the CWC more say in the formation of various departments and appointment of their chiefs.

A five-member committee headed by Arjun Narsingh KC had presented draft regulations for the party at the CWC meeting Thursday. Disputes then arose as CWC members Ananda Dhungana and Nabindra Raj Joshi wrote a note of dissent arguing that the regulations aim at curtailing the president´s powers.

Though Articles 22.5 and 37 of the party statute give the CWC powers to form the central departments of the party and nominate their coordinators and members, Article 24.8 gives this authority to the president. The NC has altogether 29 departments.

KC, who is coordinator of the Regulations Draft Committee, said the regulations seek a balance between the CWC and the president in the power to form and nominate coordinators and members of party central departments.

KC, on behalf of the committee, proposed that the party president first nominate a coordinator while forming the central departments. The coordinator will nominate other members in consultation with the president.

The proposal was criticized by CWC members deemed close to the party president as being an attempt to curtail the president´s powers.

CWC members Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, Arjun Narsingh KC, Gopal Raj Pahadi, Bal Krishna Khand, Deep Kumar Upadhyaya, Farmullah Mansur, Padam Narayan Chaudhary, Bhisma Raj Angdambe, Ram Kumar Chaudhary and Kamala Panta had put forth their views at Friday´s meeting. Ajaya Kumar Chaudhary, Dipak Giri, Dhana Raj Gurung, Mahendra Yadav, Ratna Sherchan, Gagan Kumar Thapa, Sujata Koirala, Keshav Kumar Budhathoki, Ram Chandra Chaudhary, Laxmi Rai and Meena Subba also stated their views.

NC to protest varsity nominations

The CWC meeting Friday also slammed the nomination of university vice chancellors as reported by media.

According to CWC member Badri Pandey, the CWC meeting decided to protest any such ´unilateral´ decision by the government.

"The appointment of university office bearers was made in the past through consensus. We will protest such unilateral decisions," he said.

Likewise, the meeting reiterated that formation of the State Restructuring Commission (SRC) is a must for delienating federal states. The meeting decided not to agree to the proposal of other parties to form a committee of experts for delienating states.
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MENDIES SETTLES DEBT WITH BORIS
Kathmandu, 30 July Charles William Mendies, a key power broker in Nepali politics for two decades, is almost sure to be released on a bail of Rs 10,000 within a few days as he has managed to settle a dispute over Rs 9.6 million with Alexander Boris while under custody at Hanumandhoka, officials said, Sundar Khanal reports in Republica.
The 55-year-old Nepali national born to foreign parents made his peace with Boris, once a close business ally, and paid him his dues within a week of his apprehension.
He landed up in custody at Hanumandhoka on two counts of fraud on July 19 following long-drawn-out bickerings with Boris. Three checks issued by him bounced three months ago and let to his arrest and arraignment.

Having gotten back his money, Boris on Thursday made a request to Metropolitan Police Range Kathmandu (MPRK) to ease off in the case against Mendies. Following this, MPRK submitted its file to the District Attorney Office Friday. MPRK officials said the Attorney Office would submit the case to Kathmandu District Court in a couple of days.

As the feud behind the case has been practically resolved, the fraud charge as per the Muluki Aain Section 5, which lays down a jail term of up to five years along with reimbursement of the defrauded amount, will not be pressed. "He will be released on bail of Rs 10,000 as per a banking default charge," said a litigation officer at MPRK.

The arrest of Mendies brought to police notice a good many informal reports regarding his dodgy record in financial matters, but none of them was formally lodged.

"He must have paid off the amount because the case had come out, and after settling it he wants to resume his power-brokering," said a businessman whom Mendies owes more than RS 5 million. "I could now think of following Boris´ footsteps."

MPRK chief Kedar Rijal said that despite payment of his dues to Boris, the litigation would resume as per the law. "The payment might certainly ease the case against him," he added.
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CORRECTION ON BAIL DEMAND FROM BHARATI

CORRECTION ON BAIL DEMANDED FROM SHAMBHU BHARATI

Kathmandu, 29 July: A Rs. 150 million bail was demanded from Shambhu Bharati by CIAA and not the figure reported earlier. Rubel Chanduary has already left the country with his Nepali wife The error is regretted. Thanks and regards Bhola Rana..
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MINISTERIAL INTERVENTION IN PASHUPATI TRUST CREATES MESS

Kathmandu, 29 July:The Pashupati Area Development Trust, a body instituted to look after the hallowed Pashupatinath shrine, has not remained as sacred, thanks to the political parties and their leaders who have time and again profaned it to fulfil their partisan or personal interests, The Himalayan Times reports.

In the latest irreverent act, Culture Minister Khagendra Prasad Prasai has sacked the existing body of PADT and appointed his nephew as the new member secretary of the trust.

According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs, Constituent Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture, Laxmi Prasad Prasai has been appointed new member secretary of the trust. The ministry scrapped the Sushil Nahata-led PADT body accusing it of failing to rein in corruption.

Nahata and other PADT officials, however, said they would move the apex court tomorrow against the minister’s decision to oust them in the midst of their tenure. The Nahata-led PADT body was appointed for four years by former culture minister Minendra Rijal two years ago.

Prasai in capacity of the culture minister heads PADT as its chairman. He represents CP Mainali-led CPN-ML in the government.

The sacked PADT officials blamed Minister Prasai for politicising the religious shrine. “The minister appointed his nephew Laxmi as new PADT member secretary at around 9:30pm yesterday. He didn’t event consult other ministry officials before taking the decision,” said Nahata. “It’s height of flippancy that a land broker has been appointed PADT member secretary.”

The ministry officials admitted that the minister took the decision without consulting them. When contacted, Minister Prasai’s personal aide Narayan Pokharel refused to speak but suggested that ministry Spokesperson Jala Krishna Shrestha ‘might know the details’. When Shrestha was approached, he said he came to know about the new appointment only today after he received a letter from the ministry. Nahata accused Minister Prasai of violating the Supreme Court’s last Tuesday’s stay order. “I had filed a writ petition on July 21 and the apex court had issued a stay order on July 26,” said Nahata.

Sacked PADT Treasurer Narottam Vaidya said he learned about his dismissal today only.

The Hindu holy shrine was dragged to the court a few months ago following a government decision to make public its treasury. In 2008, the it was dragged into controversy after the then Maoist-led government made a failed attempt to sack the priests.
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Rs. 110 MILLION BAIL DEMANDED FROM SHAMBHU BHARATI

Rs.110 MILLION BAIL DEMANDED FROM SHAMBHU BHARATI

Kathmandu, 29 July: Special court Friday demanded a Rs. 110 bail from Shambhu Bharati , the agent of a London-based firm that supplied faulty armoured personnel carriers (APCs) to Nepal Police for its peacekeepers with the UN mission in Sudan.
CIAA charged Bharati for misconduct in supplying the APCs.
He implicated Bangladesh son-in-law Rubel Chaudhary of Sujata Koirala, only daughter of Girija Prasad Koirala.
He is one of two contractors charged by CIAA in a scam estimated at Rs. 280 million.
A Rs 150 million was demanded from Retired IGP Om Bihram Rana.
The deal was signed during his tenure.
Thirty-four senior police officers have been charged.
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MONTH-LONG BAN OF MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE ACROSS NEPAL-TIBET BORDER LIFTED

INFLATION DOWN TO 8/8 PERCENT

Kathmandu, 29 July: Year-to-year inflation in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year fell to 8.8 percent from 9.6 percent in mid-May, Nepal Rashtra Bank said
But vegetable prices soared to 46.6 percent compared to 13.4 percent in the same period the previous year.
Price of fruits and sugar increased to 28.2 percent and 23.4 percent in the review period.
For the first time in two years, balance of payment (BoP) recorded a surplus of Rs. 249.1 million because of increased foreign grants, fall in trade deficit and remittances
Remittances increased 10.1 percent to Rs.229.52 billion.
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NEPAL BEATS AFGHANISTAN IN WORLD CUP CRICKET

Kathmandu, 29 July: Nepal beat Afghanistan Thursday in the U-19 World Cup Qualifying match by 42 runs in Dublim, Ireland, in an opening match of the cricket tournament.
Nepal scored 154 runs in 44.3 after it was sent to bat first after losing the toss.
Nepal bowled out Afghanistan for 112 runs in 37.5 overs.
Subash Khakurel scored 55 ruus off 95 balls and was declared man of the match.
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BAN ON CROSS-MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE BETWEEN NEPAL,TIBET LIFTED WEDNESDAYS


Kathmandu, Ban of cross-movement of people between Nepal and Tibet was lifted Wednesday, Nagarik report from the bordering district of Sinhupalchowk.
The month-long ban to observe the founding of Chinese Communist Party.
The travel ban ended Monday.
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PM, UML SEEK TANGIBLE MOVES FROM MAOISTS FOR RESHUFFLE
Kathmandu, 28 July:Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal and his party CPN-UML have sought immediate and tangible progress in the peace process from the major coalition partner UCPN (Maoist) as a precondition for induction of the latter´s ministers into the cabinet, Tirtha Lal Bhusal reports in Republica.

Leaders close to Khanal are hopeful that the prime minister may administer oath of office and secrecy to the minister nominees from the UCPN (Maoist) on Friday.
“We are hopeful that the prime minister will get an assurance from the Maoists tomorrow (Friday) on advancing the peace process. He will subsequently induct the new ministers,” Minister for PMO and Council of Ministers Ghanshyam Bhusal, who was closely involved in the bilateral talks, told Republica.

The prime minister held two rounds of talks with top Maoists leaders on Thursday.

PM Khanal, Bamdev Gautam, Surendra Pandey and Bhusal from the UML and Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Vice-chairmen Mohan Baidya, Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Narayankaji Shrestha, General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa and Secretary Posta Bahadur Bogati from the UCPN (Maoist) were present during the talks. Bhusal had reached Dahal´s residence at Nayabazaar in the morning to prepare grounds for the talks.

During the talks, the Maoists had strongly pressed Khanal to induct the new ministers without any delay saying it was the party´s official decision.

The prime minister urged the Maoist leaders to appreciate his constraints. “Personally I respect your (Maoists´) right to change ministers from the party but I just wanted to be cautious that the move does not hinder the politics of consensus,” Bhusal quoted the prime minister as saying, “I am more conscious in this matter since we have agreed to follow the course of consensus mainly after the five-point deal.”

Maoist Vice-Chairman Shrestha said they told the prime minister that the cabinet should get a full shape and given continuity until the new national consensus government is formed,” Narayankaji Shrestha told Republica. “In reply, the prime minister told us he would think over the matter and settle it.”

The UML leaders at the meeting had argued that the prime minister was caught in a fix because the Maoists had officially taken the decision while the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has been continuously obstructing the parliament proceedings against the ruling coalition´s decision to reshuffle the cabinet.

According to UML leaders, Khanal urged Maoists to come up with a concrete action plan to make immediate progress in the peace process as there hasn´t been any progress in the peace process for months and the coalition had no time to wait any longer.

Earlier in the afternoon, a standing committee meeting of CPN-UML decided to uphold its previous decision that instructed the prime minister to not reshuffle the cabinet in contravention with the spirit of the five-point deal.

The UML meeting on Thursday suggested to the prime minister that he should give priority to forging consensus among the major three political parties before taking any move.

“The party has suggested to the prime minister to take a decision only after winning the confidence of other parties. He can reshuffle the cabinet after the Maoists are ready to make tangible progress in the peace process and convince the main opposition,” said UML Vice-Chairman Ashok Rai.

UML Secretary Shankar Pokharel, who is believed to be from the Khanal´s rival faction led by Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Oli, said the prime minister can reshuffle the cabinet if he can convince the NC.

“But our party´s main priority and suggestion to the prime minister is to create an environment conducive to formation of a national consensus government," said Pokharel.
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NEW INDIAN AMBASSADOR TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITIES IN THREE WEEKS





Kathmandu, 29 July:Newly appointed Indian Ambassador to Nepal Jayant Prasad is expected to assume his office in three weeks, Ajaya Rana/Pramod Jaiswal report in The Rising Nepal from New Delhi.
The senior Indian diplomat, who has been appointed the new ambassador to Nepal, hinted at this at an informal meeting with a delegation of senior editors from Nepal.
Prasad, who was delighted to meet the team of 14 senior editors, sought cooperation from them for strengthening the Indo-Nepal ties.
The delegates also had an interaction on Indo-Nepal relations at great length on Thursday morning at the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses (IDSA), India’s leading think-tank.
Krishna Jwala Devkota, editor of Naya Patrika, stated that India had been influencing Nepali politics both positively as well as negatively since historical times. He also said that there was a perception in Nepal that India was hindering the peace process, if it failed to reach a logical conclusion.
Sudhir Sharma, Akhilesh Upadhyay, Sitaram Agrahari and other senior editors also suggested that India needed to review its Nepal policy for better relations in future and expressed hope that the new ambassador would certainly bring about some improvements.
Highlighting the historical and cultural ties between two nations, a senior researcher from IDSA said, "A lot of importance is attributed to Nepal because of the unique relationship between the two nations".
He also expressed the view that India would not rise beyond a certain level if it did not take its neighbours along.
"Destinies of both the countries are intertwined and, in this context, both Nepal and India should join hands and solve their differences, rather than indulge in finger pointing at each other," he further added.
Another Indian scholar, who intimately knows Nepalese affairs, said that it was not the Indian intervention that was increasing in Nepal, but Indian concerns over the prolonged instability in Nepal.
"Even the Chinese presence has increased in Nepal because of the growing security concerns of China," he said.
The delegation, which is on a week long visit to India, also met the Election Commissioner of India in the afternoon. The Commissioner shared his experience of managing free, fair and violence free elections in India that strengthened the Indian democracy.
The team of journalists is scheduled to return to Kathmandu Sunday after spending two days of tour to IT City, Ramoji Film City and other places in Hyderabad. They have already visited the Indian Parliament and had a meeting with Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, Chief of Nepal-Bhutan Desk Akhilesh Mishra and other Indian officials.
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NC PRESIDENT SEEKS MORE POWER OVER PARTY RELUCTANCE
Kathmandu, 29 July: A debate of sorts over the power of the party president has flared up in Nepali Congress (NC).
The debate came to fore on Thursday when the party's Central Working Committee (CWC) opened up a discussion over a draft regulation that allegedly renders him a 'rubber stamp' -- at least when it comes to appointments in the party's departments and committees, Kamal Raj Regmi reports in The Kathmandu Post.
The 37-page draft regulation--prepared to implement the concept of "collective leadership" recommended by the party's 12th General Convention--proposes major reforms, including curtailing some of the key powers of the president on the one hand, and empowering the CWC on the other. Among the proposed rules, the most contentious is the provision to appoint heads and members of the party's internal departments and committees through the CWC. The president, according to the rule, can only propose possible names for mandatory CWC approval.
Most of the leaders supporting the establishment faction led by party President Sushil Koirala argue that such a provision in the regulation would further weaken the president and spawn anarchy in the party. However, those in the Sher Bahadur Deuba faction believe that the proposed rules would make the party stronger, promote the culture of consensus, strengthen internal democracy and guide the party towards "collective leadership" as envisaged by the 12th General Convention.
The draft was prepared by a five-member panel led by Arjun Narsingh KC, an ardent critic of the party leadership and the way it is operating. KC faced notes of dissent from some of his own panel members over issues concerning the party president's power.
On the very first day that the party started discussion, the regulations drew flak, including an amendment proposal from some of the leaders who took serious exception to the document's intention to 'limit' the party head's power. The leaders demanded that the president should have the sole authority to appoint heads and members in the Parliamentary Board, Central Execution Committee, Disciplinary Committee and other departments.
Ananda Prasad Dhungana, a member of the drafting panel, proposed amending the provision that scraps the president's power to appoint heads and members in the party's internal departments and committees. He urged that the president retain that power. Leaders including Dilendra Prasad Badu and Nabindra Raj Joshi supported Dhungana's amendment proposal.
"That it took over seven months for the party to nominate office bearers should serve as a lesson. The president and not the CWC, should make the decisions on appointments," Badu told the CWC. Under the party's current statute, the NC president can appoint only around 20 percent of the total 85 CWC members. NC leader Surya Man Gurung claimed if the current regulation is endorsed, it would promote further indiscipline in the party. "Are we for a rubber stamp president?" questioned Gurung. "We need a stringent law to discipline the party."
Leaders from the Deuba camp argue the regulation is in line with the recommendation of the 12th General Convention and that it will not weaken the president. "The draft does not intend to weaken the party president. Instead, it will help keep the party president away from controversies," said Bal Krishna Khand.
The regulation, according to the drafting committee, is expected to systematize the process of internal appointments, promote transparency and discipline the party and its leaders and members. Some of the important features of the regulations include arrangements to implement the concept of "collective leadership", role of CWC and the president, regular and compulsory financial audit by district and central offices, code of conduct for partymen and establishment of a separate professional institute to develop the party's policies and conduct necessary training.
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NEPAL JORDAN WORLD CUP MATCH A DRAW

NEPAL DRAWS RETURN MATCH WITH JORDAN UPDATE
Kathmandu, 28 July: A return match at home with Jordan for the 2014 World Cup at Dashrath Ranghashala Thursday ended in a 1-1 draw.
Nepal lost to Jordan
in an away match 9-0
Substitute Bharat Khawas scored the solitary goal.for Nepal.
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THRE SENIOR POLICEMEN AND CONTRACTOR SENT TO JAIL
Kathmandu, 28 July:Shambhu Bharati, director of Bhagwati Traders and agent of London-based supplier of defective armed personnel carries(APCs) to Nepal Police was again remanded to judicial custody by a special court Thursday.
Recording of his statement in a Rs. 289 million Sudan scam wasn’t completed Thursday.
Statements of Suspended SSP Shiva Lamichhane, another suspended police officer Niraj Shahi and former AIG Shyam Singh Thapa-- allegedly involved in the Sudan scam, were completed Thursday and a hearing will be held Friday.
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KAMAL THAPA HOSPITALIZED

Kathmandu, 28 July: RPP Nepal-Chairman Kamal Thapa was hospitalized at Norvic Hospital Thursday.
He’s suffering typhoid,high fever and chest pain, an aide said.
Thapa’s condition is normal.
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NC AGAIN DISRUPTS HOUSE PROCEEDINGS
Kathmandu, 28 July::The main opposition party, Nepali Congress (NC), obstructed the proceedings of the Legislature-Parliament on Thursday also, calling for the implementation of the five-point agreement reached among the three main political parties on May 28 for extending the term of the Constituent Assembly, RSS reports.

The meeting of the Legislature-Parliament has remained obstructed since four days without taking up the agenda due to the obstruction by the NC.

The main opposition party has continued obstructing the House after the Central Working Committee of the party directed its parliamentary party to build up pressure for the implementation of the five-point agreement.

NC has been upping strong protests in the parliament, alleging that rather than to resign from his post for paving the way for the formation of a government of national consensus, Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal was preparing to reconstitute the Council of Ministers.

As soon as Speaker Subas Nembang announced that the meeting of the Parliament has begun, legislators from the NC protested by getting up from their respective seats.

Following this, NC leader and CA member Dr. Minendra Rijal accused the government and the UCPN-Maoist of coming forward with a policy of attrition rather than that of consensus. He said important topics like the peace and constitution have been neglected due to this attitude of the two major ruling parties.

He called on the government and the Maoist party to pave the way for peace and consensus and give up the culture of pushing the country towards a state of utter mismanagement.

Chief whip of the NC Parliamentary Party Laxman Prasad Ghimire said the Prime Minister has an important role in the implementation of the five-point agreement on which he himself has put down his signature.

After this, Speaker Nembang announced that the agenda scheduled for the meeting today have been removed as the situation was not conducive for continuing the meeting.
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MADHAV KUMAR NEPAL AND NEW CHINESE ENVOLY HOLD DISCUSSIONS

Kathmandu, 28 July: New Chinese Ambassador Yang Houlan held discussions with former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal who is also a senior UML leader Thursday .
Discussions were held one day after Yang held similar discussions on bilateral ties and political situation with NC President Sushil Koirala.
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UML MAOIST STANDNG COMMITTEES TO DISCUSS REMOVAL IN GOVT. RESHUFFLE

UML MAOIST STANDING COMMITTEES DISCUSS TO MAOIST CHANGE IN GOVT. TEAM UPDATE

Kathmandu, 28 July: Maoists standing committee meets later Thursday to discuss a proposal only to swear-in 12 proposed cabinet ministers immediately , fresh reports said.
The official installment of 12 state ministers will be put on hold for sometime, according to a proposal that will be discussed by Maoists Thursday.
The development came after an hour-long meeting between Premier Khanal and Maoist Chairman Prachanda
UML standing committee also meets later Thursday to discuss Maoist decision to change its government team to by led by Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha.
Maoists and UML formed the communist majority government in February this year. standing committee
UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal leads the government.
UML standing committee has rejected the Maoist proposal for a team change putting Khanal in a quandary with his party opposing the Maoist move which is also opposed by main opposition NC.
Khanal Wednesday proposed only inclusion of cabinet ministers and not 12 state ministers also proposed by UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Prachanda was under pressure from his party to make its government team more representative by including more women, regions and ethnic groups.
NC and faction in UML opposed to Khanal argue a team change will hider formation of a national government.
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LANDSLIDES BLOCK TRAFFIC BETWEEN NEPAL,TIBET

Kathmandu, 28 July: Landslides along 26 km section of Arniko Highway linking Tibet with Nepal have obstructed movement of traffic.
Hundreds of vehicles have been stranded on the only highway linking Nepal and Tibet from Bahrabishe in Nepal to Tatopani border.
Continuous heavy rainfall has hindered restoration of the highway as sections of the highway have also collapsed
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FORMER SSP RANA, DIG SHAH SENT TO JAIL

Kathmandu, 28 July: The statement of Shambhu Bharati, Director of Bhagwati Traders, representative of London-based company that supplied armoured personnel carriers (APCs) for Nepal Police is being recorded at the special court Thursday.
He was sent to judicial custody Wednesday after the process of recording wasn’t completed Wednesday.
Former SSP Ravi Pratap Rana and DIG Ramesh Bikram Shah were sent to jail Wednesday by a special court after they failed to settle Rs.12.5 million and Rs 70 million bails respectively.
They were charged by CIAA in a Rs.280 million Darfur, Sudan, scam for the purchase of faulty APCs for Nepal Police peacekeepers with UN in the African state
Thirty-four senior police officers have been charged.
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.COLONELS PROMOTED TO BRIGADIERS

Kathmandu, 28 July: Colonels Shumshere Thakuri, Purna Bahadur Silwal and Sarad Jumar Giri were promoted to brigadiers of Nepal Army by the cabinet Wednesday.
The recommendations of army headquarter for promotion of Brigadiers Ramesh Bista,Victor Rana and Mohan Bikram Shah to major general s were approved by the cabinet
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NT TO EXPABD INTERCONNECTION TIES WITH FIVE MORE COUNTRIES

Kathmandu, 28 July: Nepal Telecommunications (NT) will develop direct interconnection links with five more countries this fiscal year, Managing Director Vishwanath Goel said.
Direct links are in the offing with Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong and UAE.
Expatriate Nepalis there will benefit with better and cheaper services.
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GOVT. IN DARK ON PROPOSED $3 BILLION INVESTMENT TO DEVELOP LUMBINI
Kathmandu, 28 July: Top officials, including those of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture, on Wednesday professed ignorance of the US $3 billion Lumbini Development Project deal between United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and China backed Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation Foundation (APECF) in the third week of June. The project aims to develop Lumbini as a ‘special development zone, AnillGiriwrites in The Kathmandu Post.
Ministry officials cast doubt over the modality of ‘Memorandum of Understanding in Support for the Lumbini Special Cultural Zone and Assistance Project for the Framework Design of Lumbini (Birthplace of Buddha) Special Development Zone (Nepal)’ and claimed Nepal government would not comply with a decision clinched without its consent.
Hong Kong-based NGO APECF promotes economic, social-cultural exchanges and cooperation worldwide. Chairman of UCPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal and former crown prince Paras Shah are its vice-chairmen.
The Ministry of Culture, through the Lumbini Development Trust, oversees Lumbini related projects. Any agreement with a foreign connection must be cleared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). However, this nonce both ministries are in the dark. “We are direct stakeholders in Lumbini’s development, but we got to know through the media that an MoU was clinched in Beijing,” said Culture Secretary Modraj Dotel.
He added, “The agreement is not in standard format and I guess the highest UN bodies in Geneva and New York were also not informed. The MoU lacks transparency.” He said the MoU mentions Nepal’s Ministry of Tourism just once. “It does not say anything about the consent of Nepal government and concerned agencies.” Dotel said they would say ‘no’ if UNIDO and APECF come here to implement the deal.
A MoFA meeting on Wednesday concluded that Nepal government has nothing to do with a deal that ignores the host country, said ministry spokesman Durga Bhattarai. He added that the deal should have been a tripartie one.
Meanwhile, after the MoU signing, head of UNIDO’s China investment and technology promotion office Hu Yuandong said that the Lumbini project was in compliance with UNIDO’s principles of ‘economy, environment and employment’.
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OPINION
A LANDING AS SAFE AS IT COULD BE


Kathmandu, 28 July: The leaders of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) seem to have settled their internal rifts with remarkable geniality – for now. The central committee meeting of the party Monday passed chairman Pushpa
Kamal Dahal’s political paper dividing organizational duties among the key protagonists flexing their muscles, Maile Baje writes in Nepali Netbook.
While the latest rejigging might not be enough to allow the party to focus on peace and the constitution – which Dahal’s document has called its main agenda – Maila Baje thinks it does allow the Maoists to deflect some of the blame for missing the next crucial national deadline on August 28.
According to Dahal’s proposal, senior vice-chairman Mohan Baidya will head the party’s organization department along with the disciplinary body while vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai will chair the parliamentary board and will be the prime minister candidate for the future government. Similarly, another vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha will lead the party’s team in the current government complete with home portfolio until Bhattarai can take the top job at some unspecified future date. General secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa will oversee the military commission.
In the end, the much-ballyhooed Bhattarai-Baidya alliance, which saw Shrestha and Badal jump into the fray from their own vantage points, has ended up with Dahal staying put. Appearing to deconcentrate authority, he has in fact created an opportunity to play each rival off against the others.
Dahal knew his gambit would rile Prime Minister Jhal Nath Khanal and the Nepali Congress even before he got his rivals’ nods over the weekend. Both have not taken kindly to the Maoists’ effort at invoking extraterritorialism especially vis-à-vis the council of ministers.
Still, the settlement suits the other Maoist leaders just fine. Baidya and Bhattarai could rise above their ideological differences to challenge Dahal because they had other overriding imperatives. Baidya, in light of the all-round mockery Dahal’s pronouncements seem to be evoking within the nation, perceived the Chinese as being no less miffed.
Ever the man to publicly shun responsibility outside the party, Baidya sought to project Bhattarai as an alternative to Dahal. But only after ensuring a monumental geopolitical transformation behind the scenes. Baidya, we are told, has been instrumental in Bhattarai’s growing contacts with the Chinese. (Whether our hardest-line Maoist had any role in conferring the ‘Nepalese Deng Xiaoping’ title from a visiting Chinese dignitary remains unclear, though.)
Bhattarai, on the other hand, has grown disenchanted by how his gulf with Baidya has served to strengthen Dahal. Regardless of the genuineness of a Bhattarai tilt northward, the posture itself, Baidya knows, would be enough to rattle Dahal and sow a few seeds of distrust in Delhi. Baidya, unsure of the depths of Bhattarai’s southern grounding, was, however, happy to see him named prime ministerial candidate only to be checked by Dahal, who continues as leader of the parliamentary party.
Shrestha’s 11th hour posturing must have been viewed with some suspicious by both Baidya and Bhattarai, perhaps even as something sponsored by the wily Dahal. Badal’s movements may have been aimed at maintaining his own relevance in the affair, but it did have the added effect of diluting the opposition to Dahal. So the protagonists realized the folly of continued brinkmanship and sought a safe landing.
Given the goings-on in the other political parties left, right and center, the Maoists’ landing was the safest it could have been. So does it really matter whether the affair was a ruse all along or was for real?
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THE REPUBLIC OF INSANITY

Kathmandu, 28 July: The year 2005 will go down as the last year of peace in Nepal. The last three and a half years have been even worse, a period of political instability the like of which is not to be found in the whole of other countries in South Asia: three governments in three years with a fourth one to be installed any time. We have had same duck premiers holding on to office for several months. The incumbent cabinet head Jhala Nath Khanal is living on daily wages since two months. Trikal Bastavik writes in Peoples Review.
All but Khanal and his loyalists claim that his is a lame duck cabinet, the latest example being that for the first time in the country’s history the scheduled date for presenting the budget estimates to the House was deferred to the next day. The budget got leaked. With several civil servants’ organisations inspired by different political parties, this was only to be expected in loktantra.
Members of the House raised objections but to no avail as the parliament has “its own procedure,” to quote its Speaker Subahas Nemwang, who has a long shot at the president’s job. Most Nepalis do not know what republic really means. They never heard of its in the Nepali context till the “seven-party leaders” abruptly announced that republic was their goal for the country which always had monarchy in its recorded history.
In the hope of gaining peace, progress and such other rhetoric, the Nepali people were so euphoric that they did not realize what they were losing. Before they could say “secular, federal republic,” the entire country was enveloped in instability wrapped in a culture of impunity without any sign of safety and security to life, limb and property.
In a complex inherent in most Nepalis, no one is willing to bell the cat or say a spade is a spade. The changes practiced since 2006 have failed to provide any relief to the average Nepali. The way the constitution making process has been treated in so cavalier manner is enough indication of the Maoists’ loud promises and highly disappointing practice. Now that they have been undressed, the people have no illusion that these leaders who ordered gun and bomb-totting cadres to action during the insurgency days when more than 15,000 people lost their lives.
As for the others, their statements are nothing but overused and empty. If there is anything new in what they say, it is a shameless lifting of what they manage from the rhetoric churned out by the Maoists who they love to downgrade for creating a situation whereby the Nepali parliament will no longer have any party with a clear majority.
The Republic of Nepal has declared the existence of 108 to 112 underground, armed groups, a development credited to the past half decade. Corruption, likewise, has taken to such level that two prominent bankers privately confided that “some senior leftist leaders” have been seeking their assistance in ways of investing money and getting the best of returns with security guaranteed. “You will be surprised over the amounts of money they seem to possess,” one of them said recently.
This author is not surprised that these politicians accumulated enormous amounts of money whose sources are officially not known. He is surprised, though, that they have not been convinced of the suggestions they would naturally have sought from other business leaders such as the MPs nominated by various parties on the quota of proportional representation.
According to a reliable source in New Delhi, India’s Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, perhaps the most trusted politician for India’s Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi, is learnt to have been entrusted with the task of making “a thorough review” of the situation in Nepal. To visitors he trusts, Mukherjee confides his worry about China coming out “in an aggressive manner” in Nepal.
The Indian government does not find the Maoists reliable. A good section feels that the one-time insurgents have bitten off the hand that fed them for eight and a half years in the outskirts of the Indian capital while the latter’s cadres killed and got killed in the decade-long war that pushed back Nepal’s development drive by at least 20 years.
UML leader K.P. Oli, Nepali Congress leaders Sher Bahadur Deuba and Shekhar Koirala, and, to some extent, Rastriya Janashkti Party’s Surya Bahadur Thapa flaunt their “good relations” with the senior Indian minister who could become the premier in the event of Rahul Gandhi not deciding to take the top job if his party were to become the lead partner in the coalition cabinet to be formed also after the next general elections.
The Republic of Nepal has been reduced to such a state that foreign heads of government are extremely reluctant to visit this country. This is very strange in view of the fact that the Panchayat and the governments thereafter used to receive many heads of state and government. Hardly a year went by without one or two foreign dignitaries visiting the land of the Himalayas and birthplace of the apostle of peace, the Buddha.
New Delhi likes to emphasize the “special relationship” between India and Nepal. But its heads of state or government prefer to visit Bhutan than Nepal. One has only to try figuring out when did an Indian president or a prime minister last paid a visit to Nepal, the policy becomes clear. If our senior leaders limit their aspirations to meeting a Mukherjee at the most, the question of a Sonia Gandhi or Prime Minister Manmohan Singh or President Pratibha Patil paying an official visit is out of the question.
If a Red Label is fine, why bother with a Black Label? And, forget a Blue Label. Queen Elizabeth, also Britain’s head of church, had paid a visit to Nepal weeks after King Mahendra in December 1960 dissolved an elected parliament and sacked the B.P. Koirala Government. A quarter century later, she paid a second state visit to the world’s only Hindu kingdom that was marking the silver jubilee of the partyless system during the rule of King Birendra.
If the current state of progress in religious proselytizing gets a further boost, the Pope might decide to visit Kathmandu for the first time, though King Birendra had paid the Vatican a visit in the 1980s.

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PM. PRACHANDA CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS ON REPLACING MAOIST GOVT. TEAM.

PM. CHAIRMAN PRACHANDA HOLD ANOTHER ROUND OF DISCUSSIONS UPDATE
Kathmandu, 28 July: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal and Maoist Chairman Prachanda began another round of discussions Thursday and discussed the delayed replacement of a Maoist team in government.
They are also discussing completing and delayed peace process and constitution drafting, the premier’s press aide Surya Thapa said.
Major parties are agreed a basic law won’t be promulgated by a three-month extended deadline after 28 May.
Meanwhile, main opposition central committee Thursday began another round of discussions to discuss party regulations and the current political situation, member Narihari Acharya said.
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FIVE JOINT SECRETARIES PROMOTED SECRETARIES

Kathmandu, 28 July: Five joint secretaries were promoted to secretaries by the cabinet Wednesday.
Lalmani Joshi, Madhav Regmi,Tulshi Shitaula, Bishwa Prakash and Suresh Man Shrestha were chosen from 15 recommended candidates.
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A HANDCUFFED PRISONER ESCAPES FROM TOILET OF BIR HOSPITAL
Kathmandu, 28 July: A prisoner service a jail sentence at Central Jail in the capital escaped as he was still handcuffed from Bir Hospital.
Deni Lama, 25, was sentence for robbery and attempted murder.
Two policemen accompanied his to hospital.
Such escapes are frequent because of police negligence.
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BANGLADESH LIKELY TO CALL BACK ENVOY
Kathmandu, 28 July: Bangladesh is considering recalling its ambassador to Nepal, Neem Chandra Bhowmik, amid allegations by a section of Bangladeshi media that he was involved in activities that violate diplomatic decorums, Lekhnath Pandey writes in The HImalayan Times.
According to three different sources, Bhowmik is under consideration for a recall by November, one year before his three-year term expires.

On July 15, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry sent a senior official, Joint-Secretary Mullah Farhadul Islam, to its Nepal mission with the assignment of Deputy Chief of Mission. Islam is said to have been told to take the charge until a new envoy is fixed after Bhowmik's departure. “You will soon see a new face at our embassy,” a senior official of Nepal's foreign ministry told The Himalayan Times quoting Islam as telling him during a recent meeting with him.

Bhowmik, a professor of the Department of Applied Physics, Electronics and Communications Engineering of Dhaka University, was appointed ambassador to Nepal in November 2009.

Bangladeshi media have of late portrayed him as a 'corrupt and inefficient person'. Allegations against him include taking huge sum of money for providing MBBS scholarships to Nepali students, having affairs with Nepali women and taking along non-diplomatic staff while meeting senior Nepali officials.

Ambassador Bhowmik, however, has denied the charges, saying the allegations were part of a conspiracy by those who wanted to belittle his ambassadorial achievements. “Some anti-government and anti-liberal sections are trying to tarnish my image by pressing false charge against me,” the envoy told THT. “I have done much more than any other (envoy) to strengthen relationship between Bangladesh and Nepal.”

Regarding the charges that he was involved in raking in money from students aspiring to do MBBS in Bangladesh, the envoy said the scholarships are decided through an independent committee and that there was no question of wrongdoing. Sources said Bhowmik termed the allegations part of a deliberate plan of the foreign ministry to recall him because 'he is a Hindu and a political appointee'. Bangladesh, in the last 40 years, has mostly sent career diplomats as its envoys to Nepal. Bhowmik, a Hindu, is one of three political appointees since diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in April 1972.

Last week, Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni formed a probe panel to investigate the envoy’s alleged misdemeanours. The panel has been authorised even to recall him if he is found guilty. The panel had called Bhowmik to Dhaka last week to furnish clarifications. The ambassador returned from Dhaka yesterday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, maintained that it was unaware about Bhowmik’s alleged activities in Nepal. “There is no official correspondence from Bangladeshi authority to this effect,” said Foreign Secretary Madan Kumar Bhattarai
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DELHI CONCERNED WITH PROTRACTED STALEMATE
Kathmandu, 28 July: Indian officials here voice deep concern over Nepal’s protracted political transition, which they say continues to pose security challenges for India, as Nepali leaders get caught up in peace and constitutional issues and ongoing instability, Akhilesh Upadhya writes in The Kathmandu Post from New Delhi.
In his crisp 20-minute Q-and-A at North Block with more than a dozen visiting Nepali editors on Wednesday, Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram said Nepal should ensure that it doesn’t become a transit route for Pakistani militants and fake Indian currency rackets.
The Indian minister, however, didn’t fault the Nepali side on its willingness to deal with the thorny security issues. It is more a question of capacity, he said, adding that India had buttressed its security apparatus while Nepal was hamstrung by continued political instability.
“If there was an elected stable government in Nepal that would help build capacity too very quickly,” said the Indian minister. “Unfortunately, Nepal has had virtually a caretaker government for many, many months, which means the attention of the government is largely directed towards solving constitutional issues.”
Security implications of the porous Indo-Nepal border have been the most strongly—and widely—voiced concern in New Delhi in the editor-official meetings over the last few days.
Still, Minister Chidambaram, known for his hardline approach to security, categorically ruled out sealing the 1,800-km border. “I don’t envisage the sealing of the border,” he said, pointing at the difficulty of doing so given its magnitude. His emphasis was on building better checkpoints. “Then, we can concentrate on plugging the loopholes.”
The Indian Home Minister, however, was careful not to load the dice squarely against Nepal, stressing that border management was “a joint responsibility of Nepal and India.” He said the security at the Kathmandu airport had been considerably strengthened in the last two years. Officials here say there has been greater cooperation between security agencies of the two sides during that period.
“Nepal is a preferred route for supplying fake Indian currency,” said the Indian Home Minister, adding there have been a number of fake Indian currency hauls in Kathmandu, including several in recent weeks.
Asked to comment on whether Nepali and Indian Maoists had “a working relationship,” he said, “We are not commenting on the Nepali Maoist part. Anyone helping the CPN-Maoist in India is helping a banned organization.” He said there were individual contacts between the two parties but said there was no “conclusive evidence” to either establish or rule out ties between the two Maoist parties.
“You are going through a political flux and you need to sort it out. We want a close relationship with Nepal. There’s no better friend for Nepal than India,” he said.
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