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His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras has turned 33 today (Tuesday). The 33rd birthday celebrations of the heir to the throne are being observed throughout the country today, the Rising Nepal said.

The Crown Prince was born on December 30, 1971 in Kathmandu. He received his early education at St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling, India and Buddanilkantha School, Kathmandu.

He is an undergraduate in Business Administration from Schiller International University in the UK. He was declared Crown Prince of Nepal on October 26, 2001.

He was married to Crown Princess Himani Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah on January 25, 2000. They have a son and two daughters.

Earlier on December 29, or Paush 14 2060 B.S., the nation observed the 59th birthday of late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. nepalnews.com mr Dec 30

Cold wave's initial impact: Five dead

The winter this year has started to show its impact with the first reporting of five persons' death due to the cold wave in various parts of the country until Tuesday.

According to RSS, four persons, including a woman, died in the Terai district of Dhanusha on Monday.

They were Pulakit Saha, 71, Ram Prasad Saha, 59 and Jibnath Mandal, 73. Name of the dead woman, aged 68, could not be known, the agency said.

Pulakit Saha and the woman were from Bindi VDC-1, whereas, Ram Prasad Saha and Mandal were from Poudeshor-3 and Tarapat-2 VDCs respectively.

Meanwhile, other reports said, a 65-year-old, Saryug Khatuwey also died of cold wave on Monday. He was a resident of Mattihani-6 in another Terai district of Mahottari. nepalnews.com mr Dec 30

Related News
- Cold wave strikes far west Nepal

Exports boom by over 9 pc: NRB

Nepal's trade deficit has widened by 11.2 percent, or Rs.5.8 billion, but the exports has rose up by 9.1 percent, or Rs.11.7 billion, during the first three months of the fiscal year 2003-04, a statement from Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central bank, said Monday.

Last year, Nepal's exports had declined by 29.1 percent, according to the central bank statistics.

The exports to India witnessed an increase of 12.1 percent, or Rs.6.2 billion in contrast to the decline of 29.7 percent during the same period last year, NRB said. "Exports to other countries which had declined by 3.2 percent last year, increased by 5.8 percent, or Rs.5.5 billion."

The total exports to the third countries increased on account of the improved exports of pulses, metal, handicraft goods, tanned skin, Nepali paper and woolen carpets, the statement said.

"In contrary, the total import increased by 19.3 percent, or Rs.32.3 billion against the decline of 0.1 percent last year. Indian imports increased by 12.3 percent, while the third countries import went up by 29 percent," said the statement.

Similarly, foreign grants increased substantially to Rs.621.9 million in contrast to the inflow amounting to Rs.120.7 million last year, according to the statement. nepalnews.com mr Dec 30

MoU on trolley bus

A memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed Monday between the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and Kathmandu Electric Vehicle Alliance (KEVA) for the institutional set up of the Kathmandu-Bhaktapur trolley bus service, reports said.

Keshav Sthapit, mayor of KMC and Bibek Chapagain, in-country coordinator of KEVA, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations, the reports said.

The purpose of the agreement is to make the only trolley bus service of the country a profit making public partnership business venture, a statement said.

As per the MoU, KMC has been requested to develop a business plan for the trolley bus system, which will be based on a study commissioned by Winrock International that was prepared immediately after the closure of the trolley bus service in December 2001, the reports said.

KEVA, a public-private business venture, has been supporting for the reactivation and expansion of the trolley bus service in Kathmandu, according to the reports. nepalnews.com mr Dec 30

Related News
- Trolley bus rolls again

Nepal bags a top post in UN Force

The United Nations has appointed Major General of Royal Nepal Army (RNA), Balananda Sharma as the Commander of Golan Heights-based UN Forces, the Kathmandu Post said Tuesday. "The post is equivalent to assistant general secretary of the UN."

Sharma will be the third RNA officer to hold the post as Krishna Narayan Singh Thapa and Victory Rana have served in similar post in the past, the daily said.

Sharma, currently chief of the RNA's west divisional headquarters in Nepalgunj, will be replaced by Rukumangad Katuwal, deputy coordinator of the National Defence Council's secretariat, the daily said.

Golan-Heights are the controversial hilly areas in the Middle East, currently under the control of Israel.

With prompt service in maintaining peace and order in the world, Nepal has earned fame as one of the top ten UN peacekeepers.

In this connection, Nepal, for a sustained role of Nepali peace troops abroad, is vying for a non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for 2007-08 term, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry. nepalnews.com mr Dec 30

Parties plan more protests

A meeting of the five agitating parties' task force on Monday finalised more "anti-regressive" protests in and outside Kathmandu starting January 1, an announcement said.

The five parties also decided to delegate their authorities to the District Committees of People's Movement for organising protests at the local levels, the announcement said.

The five parties' protests include mass rallies, corner speeches, torch rallies and sit-ins protests, among others.

The local committees are required to inform the central committee in advance for organising any protests at the local level, according to a source.

"The district committees also need to prepare reports on human rights abuses and send it to the central committees," the source said.

Nepali Congress leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula and CPN-UML leader Subash Chandra Nembang, among others, took part in the task force meeting, the source said. nepalnews.com mr Dec 29

Five Maoists killed

At least five Maoists were shot dead in four separate security operations on Sunday and Monday, Defence Ministry and radio reports said.

According to a Defence Ministry statement, three Maoists were killed in three encounters with security forces in Sindhuli, Dolakha and Dhading. Socket bombs, explosives and other terrorist equipment were recovered from the incident sites, the Ministry said.

A Maoist killed in Dhading has been identified as Pasang, radio reports said.

Two more Maoists were killed in Rautahat on Monday, according to the reports. The dead have been identified as Lalbabu Paswan and Daman Shah.

Two more Maoists wounded in the incident have been identified as Chhabilal Mahara and Ramraj Mahato, the reports said.

Meanwhile, a security personnel and a bus conductor have been reported injured when a bomb exploded inside a bus plated 5752 in Kailali Monday.

Armed police constable Sahadev Bhatta and conductor Pabitra Malla were injured in the explosion, the reports said.

A report from Sarlahi said an unknown group murdered a civilian, Ram Sagar Pakaudi Sunday evening and fled. Police are investigating the murder, the reports said. nepalnews.com mr Dec 29

Related News
- 13 Maoists killed, other details

Pakistan to seal off Islamabad from Tuesday

Islamabad would be sealed off completely from Tuesday to "ensure foolproof security arrangements during the upcoming SAARC Summit”, AFP quoted a senior Pakistani minister, as saying, on Sunday.

“After reviewing various reports from intelligence agencies, we have decided to seal off Islamabad,” the agency quoted Pak Interior Minister Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat, as saying.

“All entry points to Islamabad from Peshawar, Murree, Azad Kashmir and the motorway will be brought under strict surveillance for 24 hours,” the minister said while addressing a press conference at Parliament House in Islamabad.

Arrangements have also been made for aerial surveillance of Islamabad around the clock, he said.

He further apologized beforehand if any commuters feel an inconvenience because of checking at the entry points and said that all such arrangements were being made to improve Pakistan’s image abroad, according to the agency.

“A slight security lapse can defame the country and the government will not allow it,” he said.

According to him, Islamabad has been divided into three zones for security purposes wherein the area hosting official delegates from Marriott Hotel to Serena Hotel had been declared a red zone.

”Around 4000 police officials under the command of the superintendent of police would be deployed for security purposes.”

“Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee will bring his own security, whereas we will also provide special security arrangements for him,” the agency further quoted the minister, as saying.

Meanwhile, the agency added that units of the Pakistani Army were positioned on the Margalla Hills overlooking Islamabad for the first time on Sunday as part of security efforts ahead of next week’s South Asian Association Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit.

Roads leading to the two hotels where the foreign guests will stay will be barred to ordinary traffic with the route to the Convention Centre, the summit’s imposing venue, the agency said. “No private vehicle will be allowed on the roads during the summit.”

Police armed commandos will guard strategic points in the capital while plain-clothes officers will patrol with sniffer dogs, the agency further quoted a police spokesman, as saying. nepalnews.com mr Dec 29

Sajha Yatayat to purchase 20 new buses

Sajha Yatayat, which resumed operations in 2002 after a long gap, is purchasing 20 new buses in the near future to improve its operational services, the Kathmandu Post said Monday.

The daily, quoting an official, Shambhu KC of the corporation, said, the purchase is being made following pressure and urging from the long route passengers. The cost of the buses would be met by selling plots, which the corporation owns in Birgunj, the daily said.

"Tender bids for the plots have already been called. Our management committee is scrutinising the technical bids for purchase of Indian buses," KC said.

"The service of Sajha Yatayat is reliable as they do not take passengers more than capacity," according to a Baglung-bound passenger, Bam Bahadur Bhandari. "Plus, there is insurance if any untoward incident occurs."

Sajha Yatayat has been in operation for last four decades. nepalnews.com mr Dec 29