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Gaijatra festival observed

Gaijatra festival was was observed Sunday in Kathmandu Valley in memory of those who died this year, including King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and other members of the royal family.

The procession in memory of the royal family members started from Hanuman Dhoka Palace, went around the city to Narayanhiti Royal Palace and dispersed at Hanuman Dhoka.

Crown Prince Dipendra, Princess Shruti and Prince Nirajan, the children of the royal couple, were also killed in the June 1 shoot-out; altogether 14 royals and relatives were killed or injured in the carnage.

Large crowds at squares in Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and the capital intently listened to a group that sang ballads praising the King and Queen. nepalnews.com br Aug.5

Laboratory testing units to be set up at Raxaul, Gorakhpur

India has agreed to establish laboratory testing units at Raxaul and Gorakhpur to determine the quality of Nepali food exports to India.

The two countries came to an agreement Sunday after extended secretary level talks to discuss bilateral trade and transit issues, an announcement said. India has also agreed to waive premium on leased property at Kolkata port.

India and Nepal agreed to improve physical facilities and infrastructure at border towns and provide security to Indian joint ventures in Nepal, a press release of the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies said. India will consider waiving excise duty on fuel for Nepali aircraft in India.

Nepali Commerce Secretary Bhanu Prasad Acharya and his Indian counterpart Prabir Sengupta signed minutes of 25 agenda items discussed at the Kathmandu meet since Wednesday at joint secretary and secretary levels. Talks will be resumed later in India.

The two countries failed to resolve the issue of five Nepali exports including vegetable ghee on which New Delhi seeks restrictions; India says Nepal is flooding India with these goods as New Delhi pressed for quantitative restrictions.

Nepal and India will continue discussions to start a direct rail link between the Birgunj dry port and Kolkata port besides the approval for certification of Nepal Bureau of Standards for Nepali exports. nepalnews.com br Aug.5

CPN-UML approves political report

The on-going central committee meeting of the main opposition CPN-UML today approved the political report presented by general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal. The General secretary Nepal had presented the political report Saturday.

Central committee members comprehensively discussed the political report and approved it with some suggestions, said Bhim Acharya, secretary at the CPN-UML central office. The political report contained, among others, current political situation in the country, international context, Maoist insurgency and communist unity.

The meeting decided to go ahead with communist unity in the country especially unity between CPN-UML and CPN-ML. A central committee member said that the meeting hailed the recent developments regarding peace talks between the government and Maoist insurgents. 

However, CPN-UML would move ahead with cautiously, the CPN-UML source said.
nepalnews.com yl Aug.5

Two sherpas climb virgin peak in Mongolia

Two Nepali guides of Mount Everest fame climbed an unnamed virgin peak in Mongolia with four Mongolians, including two women, on July 23 and later named the peak Tenzing Norgay Sherpa peak, the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) said Sunday.

Appa Sherpa and Iman Gurung climbed the peak with their four Mongolian colleagues, the NMA said. The decision to launch a joint expedition was made January 6 during the state visit to Nepal of Mongolian President N. Bagabandi.

The two Nepali climbers returned home Friday. nepalnews.com br Aug.5

NEPSE index dips 5.53 points

The NEPSE index dipped 5.53 points at the end of five-day trading Friday. Trading opened at 322.45 points Monday and closed at 316.92 points Friday.

Altogether 995,924 shares of 31 companies valued at Rs.132 million shares were traded through 953 transactions whereas Rs.21.2 million worth of shares exchanged hands in 985 transactions the previous week.

Soaltee Hotel Ltd. lead the market last week when 920,947 shares were sold for Rs.107 million. nepalnews.com br Aug.5

CPN-UML central committee meeting begins

The central committee meeting of the main opposition CPN-UML began in Kathmandu today.

According to secretary of the central office of the party Bhim Acharya, the meeting was called to discuss the present political situation of the country and the party’s future strategy.

In today’s meeting, general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal presented the political report covering changes of leadership of the government, present political scenario and the Maoist problem. The discussion on the general secretary’s political report would begin from tomorrow, said Acharya.

The meeting is expected to define its role in the possible peace talks between government and Maoist leadership to end the armed insurgency. Today’s meeting was postponed until Sunday morning. nepalnews.com yl Aug.4

Ganga, Jamuna could return for Dasain

Ganga and Jamuna, Siamese twins joined at the head, could return home to celebrate Dasain that begins October 1, agency reports from Singapore said.

The 14-month-old twin sisters were separated in a successful and rare operation at the Singapore General Hospital in the island republic in April. Singaporeans and Nepalese working in the island paid for the treatment while 20 doctors offered their services free.

Bhusan K.C. and Sandhya Shrestha are receiving training at the Hospital to take care of their daughter independently. Sandhya gave birth to the twins at Prashuti Griha at Thapathali in the capital. nepalnews.com br Aug.4

Tourists to be charged atHanuman Dhoka

Tourists visiting the Hanuman Dhoka, the old royal palace, will be charged from August17, the Kathmandu Municipal Corporation said. 

Visitors from the SAARC region will be charged Rs.25 while tourists from other nations will be billed Rs.200 each. Proceeds will be used for the upkeep of the heritage site. nepalnews.com br Aug.4

ALICO permitted to operate in Nepal

American Life and Insurance Company (ALICO) has received to permission to operate in Nepal becoming the first foreign insurance company to sell life insurance policies in Nepal, the Rashtriya Samachar Samiti said.

Sixteen insurance companies are now operating in Nepal. Sections opposed entry of foreign companies in the life insurance sector. nepalnews.com br Aug.4

Nepal, Bhutan talks in August

Nepal and Bhutan will hold three-day ministerial level talks in Thimpu from August 20 to resolve the issue of 100,000 Bhutanese refugees living in UNHCR administered camps in east Nepal, a Foreign Ministry source said.

Finance Minister Dr.Ram Sharan Mahat will lead the Nepali team since Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba holds the Foreign Ministry portfolio. Foreign Ministers of the two nations had been heading the negotiations to repatriate the refugees home. 

Nepal will press for speeding up the verification process of the refugees that started for the first time in February after nearly 10 years of procrastination. Verification was necessary because Bhutan claimed the refugees were illegal Nepali immigrants.

Nepal says they are Bhutanese forcibly evicted from their homes in Bhutan. The process will take a decade to complete at the current rate of progress. nepalnews.com br Aug.4

RNAC to suspend flights to Singapore also

Royal Nepal Airlines (RNAC) will suspend its Singapore operations from September 2 as well, an aviation source said. The board of directors of the state airlines took the decision Friday.

RNAC will suspend flights to Dubai, Frankfurt, Paris and London from September 2 at the beginning of the peak tourist season amid protests of the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN).

 RNAC has only two aircraft to operate its remaining international flights after the premature abrogation of a lease with China Southwest Airlines this week to hire an aircraft. nepalnews.com br Aug.4

Ruling party supports Deuba in negotiations with Maoists

The central committee of the ruling Nepali Congress party Friday extended its unanimous support to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to negotiate a peaceful end to a Maoist insurgency that has claimed at least 1,800 lives in nearly six years.

The central committee gave Deuba a mandate to negotiate with the rebels and find a peaceful solution  to the communist insurgency within " a constitutional framework." an announcement said.

The party appreciated Deuba's efforts to broker a peace. Government and the Maoists announced a cease-fire soon after Deuba's installation as Prime MInister to succeed Girija Prasad Koirala last month. 

The cease-fire has been universally acclaimed. The central committee is meeting again Monday. The support of the ruling party for Deuba paves the way for an all party meet to give  the Prime Minister endorsement to negotiate with the rebels to end hostilities. nepalnews.com br Aug. 4.

Nepal, India continue trade talks

Nepal and India continued secretary level talks for the second day Friday to review a bilateral trade treaty that is up for renewal later this year.

Nepal's Commerce Secretary  Bhanu Prasad Acharya and Indian Commerce Secretary Prabir Sen Gupta lead the respective delegations. Talks are expected to end Saturday. India has been accusing Nepal for allegedly dumping processed goods in the Indian market.

Nepal has been pressing India to start a direct railroad service linking a dry dock at Birgunj and the Indian port city of Calcutta besides getting for the Nepal Standard for its exports. Bilateral trade balance is in India's favour. nepalnews.com br Aug. 4.