RAPED MINOR GIVES BIRTH Kathmandu, 29 May: An 11-year-old girl from Khudunabari of Jhapa, who was raped by a 40 year-old man, gave birth to a baby boy this morning, RSS reports from Morang. . The girl with Bishwakarma surname was raped by one Surendra Bishwakarma, who is her sister´s husband by relation. The girl was under the protection of ABC Nepal after her pregnancy was noticed a few days ago. She gave birth to the child at the Biratnagar-based Koshi Zonal Hospital at seven months of pregnancy. The victim is a third grader at the local school in Jhapa and from a poor family. She was brought to the hospital after she complained of labour pain last night. Her condition is normal. However, the condition of the premature baby is sensitive and is being cared for by keeping at the Neonate Intensive Care Unit, the hospital administration said. Nnnn DETAILS OF CELEBRATIONS MARKING EVEREST CONQUEST Kathmandu, 29 May: The diamond jubilee of the first ascent to the Mount Everest (Sagarmatha), the highest peak in the world, was marked by organizing a civic felicitation programme here today [Wednesday], RSS reports.. During the programme held at the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) at the final day of diamond jubilee celebrations, noted mountaineers from home and abroad were honoured. The government decided to observe the Sagarmatha Diamond Jubilee, commemorating the day when a New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal who in 1953 first scaled the summit of Mount Everest. On the occasion, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ram Kumar Shrestha offered garlands on the portraits of Sherpa and Hillary. After this, a civic felicitation procession that was originated from Bhrikutimandap converged into a formal programme reaching Basantapur. Mountaineers from home and abroad were put on a horse- wagon and taken around by playing traditional music. Various organizations and commoners enthusiastically joined the celebrations. Various journalists were honoured on the same occasion by the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) in recognition of their contribution to the promotion of tourism through the means of journalism. Those awarded are Ballav Mani Dahal ( Rising Nepal), Eliza Tuladhar ( Himalayan Times Daily), Diwakar Panta ( Kantipur Television), Shiva Adhikari ( Gantabya Nepal), Shiva Shrestha (Mountain Television ), Devi Panta ( Sunrise Nepal) and photographer Mekh Paija. They received Rs. 25,000 each. Similarly, journalist and coordinator of Seven Summit Shailee Basnet and other members were honoured with letters of appreciation. Likewise, prizes were distributed to winners of marathon organised by the TAAN. The first, second and third in the competition received Rs. 25,000, Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 10,000, respectively. On the occasion, Minister Shrestha said the day May 29 sixty years ago which is a special day in history has an important contribution to make the country popular in the world. The government has doubled general insurance amount and medical expense for the people of the expedition teams and to be deputed for the rescue works. The government was committed to systematizing tourism sector and promoting mountaineering, controlling irregularity seen during the Sagarmatha expeditions, he said. Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sushil Ghimire, Sagarmatha Diamond Jubilee Main Organising Committee coordinator Purna Chandra Bhattarai, Nepal Tourism Board Executive Director Subhash Niroula, grandson of Tenzing, Tashi Tenzing, Vice Chairman of Nepal Mountaineering Association Nima Norbu Sherpa, Chairman of Sagarmatha Climbers' Association Wangchu Sherpa and TAAN Chairman Mahendra Singh Thapa joined the celebration. On the occasion, a souvenir published by TAAN was launched. A special programme is going to be organised at the Narayanhiti Palace turned museum this evening to present the Diamond Jubilee Awards. nnnn NORWEGIAN AMBASSADOR, MADHAV KUPAR TALKS Kathmandu, 29 May: Norwegian Ambassador to Nepal, Arne Ramslien, today, met senior leader of the CPN (UML), Madhav Kumar Nepal, RSS reports.. The meeting held at the former Prime Minister Nepal´s private residence, Koteshwor, the two held talks on the consensus efforts made among the political parties and contemporary political situation. At the occasion, Norwegian Ambassador Ramslien discussed upon the effects on the overall election process due to delay on forging consensus for the election laws. In response, senior UML leader Nepal informed the Norwegian Ambassador over the efforts made among the political parties regarding the election laws. They also held talks regarding local bodies´ election and bilateral ties between Nepal and Norway, according to leader Nepal´s private secretariat. Nnnn