GOVT. ASKS PARTIES TO HELP IN BUDGET PREPARATION Kathmandu, 2 Nov.: A meeting of office bearers of UCPN Maoist directed the government to prepare for the presenting the annual budget for the Remaining eight months of the current fiscal year by end of Kartik [15 Nov.]. “I have written to parties to send one representative each for the budget preparation,” Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun, wjo is a senior party functionary said Friday. nnnn. HUSBAND AXES WIFE TO DEATH Kathmandu, 2 Nov.: A man axed his wife to death at Taratal in Bardia Friday morning. Ganga Bahadur Pulami was apprehended by locals and handed over to police while fleeing to India. The couple had three sons and a daughter. nnnn NO CASUALTIES IN EXCHANGE OF GUNFIRE BETWEEN SMUGGLERS AND FOREST GUARDS Kathmandu, 2 Nov.: Nobody was injured Friday morning in an exchange of gunfire between wood smugglers and forest rangers at a forest in Rautahat. The smugglers fled after confrontation. Some felled trees were recovered. The clash broke out at five in the morning. nnnn