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Poudel to head security-development package

Kathmandu, April 18: The government has formed a five member political sub-committee under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel to implement an integrated security and development package in districts most affected by the Maoist insurgency. Other members of the sub-committee include: Minister for Local Development Govinda Raj Joshi, Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola, Defence Minister Mahesh Acharya and Minister for Law and Justice Mahanta Thakur.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala announced the formation of the sub-committee Monday in an address to the nation. The sub-committee will seek a consensus with the opposition to implement the package whose details have not been announced as yet. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Doctor arrested on malpractice charge

Kathmandu, April 18: Police arrested a doctor on medical malpractice charges after a complaint filed by the husband of a patient who suffered complications after cosmetic surgery involving liposuction in a Kathmandu hospital Monday. The doctor carried out the operation in Glamour Hospital in Kalimati. The patient, Usha is currently undergoing treatment at another hospital in Lalitpur. Investigations as to whether the doctor had a fake medical certificate is ongoing.

Last year, the head of the Nepal Medical Council, Bhoj Raj Joshi, was sacked after taking part in operations with an Indian quack named AS Rana after which several patients died. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Rupee falls to record low against Dollar

Kathmandu, April 18: The Nepali rupee fell to a record low Tuesday plunging below the Rs 75 mark to the dollar. The Nepali currency fell by 25 paisa to Rs 75.10 to the greenback. The depreciation coincides with the fall in the value of the Indian rupee against the dollar. Nepal has a floating exchange rate with convertible currencies and a fixed exchange rate with the Indian rupee. The rate of the dollar has to be altered to maintain the cross exchange rate. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Left parties take out torch procession

Kathmandu, April 17: Defying the government’s ban, left parties took out torch processions in different parts of the capital demanding Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s resignation and protesting the arrest of some leftist leaders during the protest programmes on Monday and Tuesday. Protestors marched the street holding burning torches Tuesday evening but the march was later intervened by the police. 
 
According to protesters, police arrested their leaders and workers during the protest programme. They claimed that despite the government's intervention, the torch procession was taken out successfully. Police said, those who had been arrested were immediately released. Earlier in the morning, workers of five leftist parties including main opposition CPN-UML clashed with police as the law enforcers intervened in their protest programme in Kathmandu today.

A press statement issued by the main opposition CPN-UML said that police arrested more than 100 persons including opposition leader Madhav Nepal, lawmakers Lila Mani Pokhrel, Chitra Bahadur KC, Subash Nemwang and Nava Raj Subedi. However according to police sources, all leaders were released within a few hours.

Five left parties-CPN-UML, United People’s Front, National People’s Front, Nepal Majdoor and Kisaan Party, issued a joint press statement today in which they condemned the government's move to prevent them from carrying out what they termed “peaceful protests.” The statement says police charged with batons at the protesting leaders and workers in which several leaders and workers including members of Parliament Lila Mani Pokhrel of United People's Front and Buddhi Bahadur Gosai of Nepal Majdoor and Kisan Party were seriously injured. Left parties are protesting to force Prime Minister Koirala to step down. Nepalnews.com/br/yl/at

Police and protestors clash

Kathmandu, April 17: Workers of five leftist parties including main opposition CPN-UML clashed with law enforcers as police intervened in their protest programme in Kathmandu today. A press statement issued by CPN-UML said more than 100 persons including opposition leader Madhav Nepal, lawmakers Lila Mani Pokhrel, Chitra Bahadur KC, Subash Nembang and Nava Raj Subedi, were arrested. However, according to police sources, all leaders were released a few hours after detention.

Five left parties CPN-UML, United People’s Front, National People’s Front, Nepal Majdoor Kisaan Party, issued a joint press statement today in which they condemned the government’s act of preventing them from carrying out a peaceful protest. The statement says that police charged with batons at the protestors and several leaders and workers including Member of Parliament from United People's Front Lila Mani Pokhrel and Buddhi Bahadur Gosai of Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party were seriously injured. Left parties are protesting to force Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to step down. Nepalnews.com/yl/at

Nepal, China tourism cooperation agreement signed

Kathmandu, April 17: Nepal and China signed a tourism cooperation agreement in Beijing to promote tourism between the two countries, an official announcement said Monday. Nepal is the first South Asian nation approved by China as a tourist destination for its nationals under a memorandum of understanding. 

The two countries have also agreed to open non-commercial and non-profit tourism offices as well as encourage third country tourists to visit each other’s country. Minister for Tourism Omkar Shrestha and chairman of China National Tourism Administration He Guangwei signed the memorandum. Chinese and Nepali officials discussed beginning direct air flights between the capitals of the two countries and expanding routes, frequencies and capacity of existing flights. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Queen opens children's home

Kathmandu, April 17: Queen Aishwarya Monday opened the Rs 15.2 million Shaligram Balgriha building at Lubhu in Lalitpur district. The Balgriha which currently houses 18 children was constructed by Help for Children Beilngries, Kathmandu, with the financial cooperation of Nepal Hilphe Beilngries, Germany. The Queen handed over Rs 2.1 million for a revolving fund presented by institution president Gautam Das Shrestha to treasurer Kathak Bahadur Shrestha. 
Nepalnews.com/br/at

Ganga, Jamuna undergo second operation

Kathmandu, April 17: Eleven-month-old Nepali Siamese twins Ganga and Jamuna Shrestha underwent a second five hour operation in Singapore Monday to inspect post surgery wounds and skin grafts on their heads and to remove any build-up of fluid under their skin, reports from the island republic said. They have fever and high blood cell counts indicating infections, a doctor said. 

In a rare operation that lasted 92 hours doctors separated the twins joined at the top of their heads. Only two of five such operations succeeded in the past. Doctors believe the twins have a high chance of full recovery after making it through the first crucial week. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Nepal beat Macao 3-0

Kathmandu, April 17: Nepal beat Macao 3-0 on Monday in the Asian Group 6 qualifying round match for the 2002 World Cup soccer currently being played Baghdad, Iraq. Nepal lost to Iraq and Kazakhstan in two previous matches. Iraq heads the group on goal average followed by Kazakhstan. Japan and South Korea are hosting the 2002 World Cup.  Nepalnews.com/br/at

Prime Minister calls on Maoists to surrender

Kathmandu, April 16: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala in an address to the nation Monday evening asked Maoists to surrender all arms, explosives and weapons acquired locally or from foreign sources and assured them general amnesty if they did so. “The government will rehabilitate all those who surrender,” Koirala said in a rare 18-minute address to the nation over Radio Nepal and Nepal Television but added “the government will deal severely with those who do not surrender.”

Koirala accused the Maoists fighting for a communist state in Nepal of ignoring offers for a negotiated settlement to the insurgency that has claimed more than 1,600 lives in more than five years. Koirala also said he will activate a political committee in the government under Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel to resolve the issue. "I want to see an end to the violence. The present emergency must end. The Maoists have demonstrated their criminal character through the treatment of abducted policemen and attacks on children recently," he said.

Koirala however ignored calls for his resignation Monday by six left parties. The conservative
Rashtriya Prajatantra Party that had demanded his resignation in the prorogued session of
Parliament stayed off the streets Monday. "The opposition is both the prosecutor and the judge.
They must adopt parliamentary procedures for toppling me. They are seeking a solution to issues
through street politics," Koirala said in the same speech. "I had visited every opposition leader at
their homes to seek a solution."

The ruling Nepali Congress party issued a statement asking the opposition communists to abandon
protests and adopt constitutional measures and negotiate to end a political stalemate in the
kingdom. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Leftist students torch vehicles

Kathmandu, April 16: Furious leftist workers and students torched 6 motorcycles and a car
belonging to different government offices and corporations in New Road and Chetrapati between 5 and 5:45 PM today. A car was burnt in Chetrapati and motorbikes in New Road, Ason, Indrachock and Bhedasingh areas, eyewitnesses said. Following it, New Road, Chetrapati, Indrachock areas are tense. 

Students and leftist workers have been protesting against the arrest of their leaders and interference of their protest. Police intervened Monday morning as workers of different leftist parties including main opposition CPN-UML tried to prevent Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala from entering into Singha Durbar.Nepalnews.com/br

PM Koirala to address nation today

Kathmandu April 16:Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala will address the nation Monday evening over the state operated Radio Nepal and Nepal Television (NTV), NTV said. The broadcast will be at 7:40pm, NTV said in its 2pm news bulletin.

The streets of Kathmandu were blackened with burnt tires and littered with stones hurled by protestors from the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) after they tried to block the prime minister from entering his office in Singha Durbar Monday morning. At least three vehicles including one that the prime minister was riding in were severely damaged when protestors stoned them. The protestors had put up road blocks in numerous points to stop Koirala from reaching his office but the premier managed to enter the central secretariat through the normal route. At least 134 opposition communist leaders including several Members of Parliament were detained during the protests, a Home Ministry spokesman said. The detained were being held at the Mahendra Police Club.
Nepalnews.com/br/at

Kathmandu, April 16: Iraq trounced Nepal 9-1 in the qualifying matches of the World Cup Group 6 tournament being played in Kazakhstan, Saturday. Iraq is at the top of the standings on the group with 17 goals scored in two matches. Macao and Kazakhstan are the other nations in the grouping. Nirajan Rayamajhi scored the solitary goal for Nepal in the 25th minute after kick-off. Nepal also lost the opening match to Kazakhstan. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Sixth Asian Cross Country Championship on 21 April

Kathmandu, April 16: The sixth Asian Cross Country Championship will be held at the La Meridian Golf Resort on 21 April, the Nepal Amateur Athletic Association (AAAA) said. Sixteen Asian nations are taking part. 

Altogether 300 athletes and officials from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Oman, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Nepal are participating. Two events for men and two events for women are included in the championship.

Two events for men (senior 12 km and junior 8 km) and two events for women (senior 14 km and junior 6 km) are included in the championship.  Nepalnews.com/br/at

Policeman injured in ambush

Kathmandu, April 16: Man Bahadur Khadka, a policeman was seriously injured in an ambush laid by Maoists at Daha village in Jajarkot Sunday, police said. Khadka is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Nepalgunj. 

Maoists also attacked a police post in Jivanpur village in adjoining Dhading district Saturday but there were no casualties, police said. Nepalnews.com/br/at