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Compared to previous year, handicraft exports in the last 11 months has slipped by seven percent, the latest data prepared by Handicraft Association Nepal disclosed.

The slump is mainly attributed to the export of leather goods and pashmina, which decreased by 33 and 30 percent respectively. 

Ceramic products recorded the highest export increment of 63 percent. nepalnews.com mr June 18

No proof in Lauda deal, says CIAA

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has admitted its failure in acquiring necessary evidence against the culprits of the infamous Lauda Air scam, Annapurna Post reported Wednesday. 

In a letter sent to Special Court, the CIAA cited procedural hurdles for not being able to collect proofs from Austria in the two-year-old corruption case.

CIAA said the bank accounts of the air company could not be examined unless Nepal’s court asked the concerned Austrian court for such permission.

The Special Court has already issued direct public warrants against two owners of the air company.  The court, on February 11, ordered the CIAA to examine the suspicious payment of US $ 10.5 million by Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation to the Austria-based air company for leasing an aircraft. 

The then tourism minister Tarini Dutta Chataut and nine other RNAC officials are the accused in the case. nepalnews.com mr June 18

King’s birthday celebration

To celebrate King Gyanendra’s 57th birthday from July 6 to 8, a 247-member committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, RSS reported Wednesday.

The committee, in its first meeting Tuesday, decided to organize various programs during the event. PM Thapa presided the meeting. nepalnews.com mr June 18

NC (D) for new Constitution

In a special meeting Tuesday, Nepali Congress (Democratic) led by former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, stressed replacement of the present 1990 Constitution by a new one, party said.

The party will make public its decision in detail on June 20. nepalnews.com mr June 18

Rape cases on the rise

The incidents of rape are gradually increasing in Nepal. In the last 11 months, altogether 143 women fell victim to the shameful crime compared to 131 during the previous year, Nepal Samacharpatra reported Wednesday.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Geeta Uprety, who is chief at the Women’s Cell of Police Headquarters, things are worsening as the trend of rape has been recorded most common among adolescent girls.

“In particular, number of gang-rape victims is the highest,” said Police Inspector Ranju Sigdel from the same Cell.

Most of the rapists could not be brought to the book, due to lack of evidence, which are lost because of unawareness of the victims. nepalnews.com mr June 18

SAARC special meeting in Nepal

To discuss date-finalization for the 12th SAARC summit in Pakistan this year, Nepal is to host a special meeting of the SAARC Standing Committee on July 9-10, published reports said Wednesday.

Foreign Secretary Madhu Raman Acharya said Tuesday the next summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) would possibly be held in December this year.

"However, Pakistan has not officially proposed any date so far," he said. The earlier date for the summit was scheduled for January 2003, but it could not be held due to growing differences between India and Pakistan, two nuclear rivals of South Asia.

Nepal is the current chair of the SAARC. Other members are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka. Standing Committee comprises foreign secretaries of the seven member nations. 
nepalnews.com mr June 18

Nepal bill withdrawn from US Senate

A United States Senator, Dianne Feinstein, has officially back-tracked a Nepal-related bill, that aimed at providing quota and duty free penetration of Nepali garments in the US market, The Kathmandu Post reported Wednesday.

A personal website of the senator said, Nepal's act of extraditing 18 Tibetans back to China on May 31 was the prime cause behind the bill's withdrawal from the US Congress.

Nepal said illegal entrance of the eighteen to its territory was the reason behind their deportation. In reaction, Premier Surya Bahadur Thapa on Monday urged Feinstein not to withdraw the proposed legislation.

The bill had suggested duty free access to Nepali garments for a period of two years starting October 1, 2003. nepalnews.com mr June 18

Five opposition parties Tuesday decided to continue anti-King protests to be followed by the fifth phase of the demonstration, stated a post-joint-meeting announcement.

As decided, the next round of meeting will be held at Nepali Congress party office, Teku, Thursday. The Teku meet will declare the details and schedules of the protest.

The meeting will also come up with a forward-looking political outlet, the declaration added.

Earlier on Monday, the meeting ended inconclusively due to a lack of consensus upon amendment to the existing Constitution or opting for Constituent Assembly.

Two major parties NC and CPN-UML stood for constitutional amendment, whereas, three fringe parties Nepal Laborer and Peasants’ Party, People’s Front, Nepal, and Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi) opted for Constituent Assembly.

NSP (Anandi Devi) hosted today’s meeting. nepalnews.com mr June 17

After two rounds of inconclusive talks with the government, the student organizations, in a meeting Tuesday, have decided to stage a weeklong educational strike from June 21 to 29, an announcement said.

They also warned all schools not to collect fees from students, and urged guardians and students not to pay any school fees.

The decision came as the second round of talks between student leaders of seven unions affiliated with opposition parties and the government ended without reaching any agreement Monday. 

In particular, the two sides could not agree on free education up to secondary level in community schools. Fee ceiling in private schools was another demand put forth by the students. 

Joint Secretary at the Education Ministry Laba Prasad Tripathi, who led the government negotiating team, told journalists Tuesday, the government was not in a position to bear the expenses of nearly 2 billion if the education would be freed up to secondary level. nepalnews.com mr June 17

Speed climber's row under consideration

To confirm a controversial speed record of ascending Mount Everest, the Tourism Ministry has asked Lakpa Ghelu Sherpa to present necessary evidence of speed climbing by Thursday, published reports said.

The Ministry's initiative is in response to a written complaint by summiteer Pemba Dorje Sherpa who raised questions over Lakpa's claims that the latter climbed the 8,848 meters high world's tallest peak last month in 10 hours and 56 minutes, a world record.

Earlier, the Ministry of Tourism said Lakpa shattered Pemba's ascent of Everest in 12 hours and 45 minutes, which, too, was a world record. nepalnews.com mr June 16

50 percent culprits escape law

Of the total culprits committing crime in the capital, only 40 to 50 percent are punished, and the rest escape law, The Himalayan Times reported Tuesday.

The report, quoting Kuber Singh Rana, Superintendent of Police at Kathmandu Valley Police Office, said, the trend is, however, satisfactory in urban areas of the valley. “In other cities, still less percentage of culprits are brought to the book.” 

According to Rana, Kathmandu youths are gradually developing “gang” behaviors, this way or other. “It is because of growing population and lack of job opportunities,” he said. nepalnews.com mr June 17

Chepangs have no citizenship

Maybe termed as ridiculous, one of Nepal's minority community, Chepangs, do not have citizenship certificates in Makwanpur district, a major residential area of the indigenous group since time immemorial.

According to a report by the Kathmandu Post, they even don't have land ownership certificates, without which, they still live in caves like beasts.

"Despite several efforts, I am not being able to have those certificates," said a Chepang, adding, "they (government officials) say I do not have the necessary evidence to obtain those certificates." Chepangs mostly depend upon food and berries they collect from jungle. nepalnews.com mr June 17

Extradition talks to be held

The second round of Nepal-India talks on renewing the five-decade old Extradition Treaty will be held in second week of July in New Delhi, Indian Embassy has been quoted as saying in some media reports Tuesday.

"We sent the proposal of the talks' schedule to the Foreign Ministry, after reaching a verbal agreement with the concerned officials," Sanjay Verma, Indian Embassy spokesman, said in Space Time daily.

The first round of talks was held four months back in Kathmandu, in which it was agreed that the next round of discussions would be held in the Indian capital.

The talks' date floated by India, is, however, yet to be verified by Shital Niwas, Nepal's Foreign Ministry.

India has been demanding extradition of third country nationals from Nepal, whereas, Nepal is for signing an Extradition Treaty in accordance with the United Nation's model. 
nepalnews.com mr June 17

Security and vehicle privileges reinstated

The government, through a cabinet decision Monday, has decided to re-provide security arrangements and vehicular facilities to former prime ministers and home ministers for their personal security, officials said.

Earlier, the Lokendra Bahadur Chand government had annulled a seven year old decision taken during Sher Bahadur Deuba's premiership.

With the decision to be be effective from Tuesday, former PMs Girija Prasad Koirala, Deuba and Chand will receive the facilities. Former PM K.P. Bhattarai has been using those facilities continuously for the last seven years.

The facilities mainly include a personal security official, communication set, vehicle and armed
security men. nepalnews.com mr June 17

The second round of talks between student leaders of seven unions affiliated with opposition parties and the government was inconclusive Monday, students said. 

The two sides could not agree on free education up to middle school in community schools, students said. Students have threatened another round of protests if a demand for free education is not met within a week. 

Students are also demanding a fee ceiling in private schools. Students and government negotiated a 13 point settlement last week; students are pressing 68 demands. 

Strikes and protests have vitiated the atmosphere in educational institutions from schools to the university for more than two months. Joint Secretary at the Education Ministry Laba Prasad Tripathi led the government negotiating team that discussed demands relating to schools. 

Campuses affiliated with the Tribhuvan University (TU) resumed classes Sunday after the TU met major demands of the seven unions. Maoists are conducting independent protests. 

Protests at schools gained momentum coinciding with the beginning of the new academic session while TU protests were ignited by the postponement twice of union elections at the behest of Maoists in the first quarter of the year. 

TU union elections have been sidelined in the agreement between the students and the University. nepalnews.com br June 16