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Kathmandu, 11 March: The NEPSE index gained 4.67 points at the end of four-day trading Thursday after a 20 point fall the previous week. Trading opened at 391.95 points Monday and closed at 396.26 points Thursday, as Friday was a holiday. 

The NEPSE index of commercial banks rose from 436.61 to 443.66 points during the week as bank shares continued to be in high demand. Altogether 49835 shares of 30 companies valued at Rs 40.8 million were traded. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Kathmandu, 10 March: At least 132000 persons visited the International Tourism Exchange Fair (ITB) held in Berlin from 3-7 March, the Nepal Tourism Board said. The Board led a delegation of 23 travel trade participants at the fair in the German capital. Nepali officials at the fair said the event has helped to promote German arrivals to Nepal. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Kathmandu, 10 March: United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan is scheduled to arrive in Nepal on Monday evening for a 24 hour Nepal visit. The main issue that the government plans to raise during Annan’s visit will be the issue of involving more Nepali soldiers in international peacekeeping operations, a source said.

Nepal is preparing to send troops to Sierra Leone in East Africa to replace Jordanian and Indian troops although a final government decision has yet to be made. Nepal may also be sending troops to Congo in Africa at the request of the United Nations. There are currently 1300 Nepali peacekeepers in Lebanon and East Timor who repatriate nearly Rs 900 million annually in convertible currency.  

Annan will be the fourth UN Secretary General to visit Nepal. The secretary General is scheduled to meet King Birendra, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola and Defence Minister Mahesh Acharya separately. 

Annan began South Asia tour Saturday with a stopover in Pakistan and will travel to Bangladesh and India from Nepal. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Five drug dealers arrested

Kathmandu, 10 March: In another big haul, police arrested five Nepali nationals for illegal possession of nearly 46 kg of refined cannabis worth several hundred thousand rupees in the outskirts of capital Friday. Those arrested are Gyan Thapa, Bauddha Tusal, Lehk Bahadur Gole and Dwarika Shrestha. All of those arrested are aged around late 20s. The Narcotic Drug Law Enforcement Unit in Naya Baneshwar is conducting an investigation. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Journalist detention continues

Kathmandu, 10 March: Krishna Sen, the editor of Maoist mouthpiece Janadesh Weekly is still being detained at a jail in Rajbiraj despite an order of a seven-member bench of the Supreme Court to release him Thursday. Sen was arrested two years ago under the State Offence Act after
publication of a news on a violent Maoist attack on a police post at Bhattedanda that killed several policemen. Newspapers quoting a local official said the administration needs another Supreme Court order as Sen is being charged with possession of illegal arms. Nepalnews.com/br/at

An Ex-British Gurkha, who lost his leg in war viewing the conference.

Kathmandu, 9 March: Retired British Gurkhas have asked the world community and human rights activists to support their movement for equal pay, pensions and other facilities from the British government. Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen`s Organisation (GAESO) organised an international conference in Kathmandu to discuss the discrimination meted out to them by the British government. GAESO says that British Gurkhas do not get pay and pension at par to other British soldiers.

The four-day international conference titled International Human Rights Conference: Discriminatory Treatment of British Gurkhas that began today aims at informing human rights organisations about the discrimination against British Gurkhas and mobilising international support for their movement.  

GAESO says that British Gurkhas get far less than what the British nationals get for the same work in the British Army. They have put forward four demands before the British government, which include, equal pay, equal pension, compensation to those who were forcibly retired and education for the children of British Gurkhas. 

Human rights activists and others participants from Nepal, Indian, Bangladesh and United Kingdom took part in the conference inaugurated by former Prime Minister Kritinidhi Bista. Speakers at the inaugural said the discrimination of British Gurkhas by the British government is a violation of human rights. Nepalnews.com/yl/at

Fire guts spinning mill

Kathmandu, 9 March: A fire at Reliance Spinning Mill in Itahari, Morang district destroyed goods worth an estimated Rs 5 million, Wednesday night. The fire destroyed about two tons of cotton and machinery. About 500 factory workers, police and fire fighters from Dharan, Itahari and Biratnagar helped put down the blaze. Reports say the fire was caused by short circuit. 

Another fire at Kachauri village in Siraha district destroyed fifty-nine houses and property worth Rs 5 million Tuesday. Police reports say 126 families have been affected by the fire.
Nepalnews.com/br/at

Former king of Bhirkot dead

Kathmandu, 9 March: Former Raja of Bhirkot Tarak Bahadur Shaha died at his home in Kalimati Tuesday. He was 98. Shah held senior government positions, including Chairman of the Public Service Commission. Two sons including former foreign minister Rishikesh Shaha and two daughters survive the late Raja. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Koirala returns from Paris

Kathmandu, 8 March: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala returned to Kathmandu after completing his four-day official visit to France today. Koirala visited France at the invitation of French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. Speaking to journalists at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Koirala said that
his visit to France was fruitful in strengthening friendly relations between Nepal and France. He said the French government and people had sympathy and support towards Nepal and that France was interested to invest in water resources and telecommunication in Nepal.

Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola who returned along with Prime Minister Koirala said
that France had agreed to reconsider re-listing Nepal in the priority list for French assistance in
the future. Bastola said that France agreed to assist to ensure unrestricted access to the market
of European Union for Nepali goods. Nepalnews.com/yl/at

10.9 percent increment for ex-British Gurkhas

Kathmandu, 8 March: The British government announced a 10.9 percent increment in pensions for ex-British Gurkhas as well as for widows of British Gurkhas effective 1 April, the British Embassy said Tuesday. Free or partial concession on treatment for former soldiers or widows at three hospitals in the capital, Dharan and Pokhara has also been announced. Ex-servicemen have been pressing the British government for equal pay and pensions at par with their British counterparts. London says the pay scale of the Nepali soldiers is pegged to Nepali soldiers serving with the Indian
army through a tripartite treaty between Nepal, India and the United Kingdom. “This is part of an annual review of pensions in line with inflation. Last year there was an 11.9 percent increment,” a British Embassy official said. Nepali soldiers in the Indian army receive equal pay and pensions. Nepalnews.com/br/at

House meeting stalled again

Kathmandu, 8 March: Wednesday’s proceedings of the House of Representatives was also disrupted because of continued protests by five opposition parties in the Parliament demanding Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s resignation. Opposition parties including main opposition CPN-UML and RPP have alleged that Koirala was involved in the controversial deal with Lauda Air regarding the leasing of a Boeing jet for Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation for the period of 18 months.

As soon as Speaker Taranath Ranabhat began the meeting of the House opposition as well as
some ruling party lawmakers asked for special time to express their opinion. However, Speaker
Ranabhat said that he would give special time only after the Zero Hour. But opposition lawmakers went near the rostrum and started chanting slogans against premier Koirala demanding his resignation. Speaker Ranabhat then adjourned the meeting of the House until 12 March. Nepalnews.com/yl/at

Prachanda lukewarm about peace talks

Kathmandu, 8 March: Maoist leader Prachanda cast doubts Wednesday on the government’s offer of peace talks to end the People’s War. "The government revealed the whereabouts of only three of the 74 persons missing," Prachanda said. Maoists had asked the government to reveal the whereabouts of political prisoners last year. Prachanda’s statement comes one day after the government said 302 Maoists are in prisons around the country.

Prachanda said the whereabouts of central committee member Dandapani Neupane, Milan Nepal, Kamala Sharma, Rajendra Dhakal, Chitranarayan Shrestha and others have not been confirmed. "Our party is ready for talks. If the government is really sincere about talks, an atmosphere free of conspiracy should be created. The creation of the Armed Police Force and the appointment of the regional administrators does not in any way show the sincerity of the government," the statement said. Prachanda also said the offer of talks was an attempt to divert attention from opposition demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Koirala. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Bhutanese verification team to begin work

Kathmandu, 8 March: A Bhutanese verification team will arrive in Damak, Jhapa district, Saturday to begin the first round of verification of nearly 100,000 Bhutanese refugees living in UNHCR administered camps in Jhapa and Morang, a Foreign Ministry official said. During the tenth round of ministerial level talks in Kathmandu held 24-27 December, Nepal and Bhutan agreed to verify the nationality of the refugees and decide on a process of repatriation. The verification office will be in Damak. Usha Nepal heads the Nepali team while Dr Soman Tenzing heads the Bhutanese team.
Nepalnews.com/br/at

Nepal, France to cooperate

Kathmandu, 7 March: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the Mouvement Des Enterprises De France (MEDEF) signed an agreement in Paris Wednesday to promote bilateral trade, an announcement said. FNCCI President Pradip Kumar Shrestha and MEDEF President Francois Xavier signed the accord in the presence of Prime Minister Koirala.
Koirala returns home Thursday after a four-day official visit of France.

However, reports from Paris say that Koirala’s efforts to have Nepal listed as an aid recipient of France were unsuccessful. Nepalnews.com/br/at

Congress activist killed

Kathmandu, 7 March: Kulman Gurung, a Nepali Congress activist, was shot dead by Maoists at the Congress office in Dikthel, Khotang, Wednesday. Gurung died instantly, and five rebels escaped into a nearby jungle after the incident. Nepalnews.com/br/at