Nepalis arrested in Malaysia

Twenty-four Nepalis and Bangladeshis were arrested in Malaysia following a dispute between them, agencies reported. The dispute broke out during deepawali. nepalnews.com br Oct.30

Two Maoists killed

Two Maoists were killed at Baluwa in an encounter with a security patrol in Rautahat Thursday morning, a radio report said.

The rebels were killed in return firing, the report said. Security personnel recovered two pistols, bullets and grenades from the insurgents. nepalnews.com br Oct.30.

Nepali police official deposes in Indian court

A Nepali police official deposed before a court in Patiala in India Tuesday in connection with the 1999 Christmas eve hijacking of an Indian Airlines Airbus shortly after takeoff from Kathmandu for New Delhi, the Hindusthan Times said.

Police Officer Padam Raj Joshi appeared before the court, the newspaper said. It was not known if he deposed with the government's permission. nepalnews.com br Oct.30

Three civilians killed, nine injured

Three civilians were killed, including an Indian national, and nine others were injured in a Maoist attack in Tulsipur, Dang, overnight, Radio Nepal said.

One security personnel died and three others were seriously injured in a rebel ambush in Udaipur, the Radio said. They were injured when their motor vehicle was ambushed. nepalnews.com br Oct.30

Transparency in Nepal-India water resources talks demanded

CPN (UML) has demanded the government maintain transparency in the ongoing water resources talks between Nepali and Indian officials. 

"It is condemnable to sign agreements which are detrimental for the coming generation," the party said in a statement Wednesday. "Therefore, all aspects of the talks must be made public." 

Currently, some Indian officials are in Nepal to carry out a feasibility study of the Budhi Gandaki hydro electricity project. The government, so far, has not made any public comments regarding the visit and bilateral talks. 

In the statement, UML has further demanded with the government to make its position clear on India's controversial river-linking project. nepalnews.com mr Oct 30

Suicide due to Maoists' demands

A local of Taplejung district has committed suicide following his failure to provide certain donations asked by the Maoists, Space Time reported Thursday. 

Siloke Sangraula of Niguradin-8 committed suicide when the Maoists demanded donation more than his capacity, the report said quoting family sources. 

"Maoists demanded 15,000 rupees from Sangruala. He said he can't give more than 5,000 rupees, but the Maoists did not listen to him." 

According to locals, Maoists have been demanding 5,000 to 8,000 donations per family. "Maoists have asked me to donate Rs.20,000 to them, which I cannot," said a local Tara Sangraula. nepalnews.com mr Oct 30

CDO's certificate fake

The Special Court, Kathmandu on Wednesday decided to fine a former chief district officer (CDO) Chandra Bahadur Karki Rs.4,000 for presenting fake educational certificate for promotion.

According to the court officials, Karki presented a Masters Level certificate in Political Science at his office for promotion. He acquired the certificate from Lal Narayan Mithila University, Darbhanga, Bihar. nepalnews.com mr Oct 30

Kathmandu mayor to donate his salary to senior citizens

Kathmandu mayor Keshav Sthapit announced Wednesday he will donate his full salary to the senior citizens of the society and in particular, to Nepal Elderly People's Society, Baneshwor.

According to a statement, he is donating his salary to help the senior citizens live respectful lives. nepalnews.com mr Oct 30

Nepali team taking part in Boao Forum meet 

Former Prime Minister Kirti Nidhi Bista is leaving for Hainan, China on Thursday leading a Nepali delegation to the second international non-formal conference of the Boao Forum, The Rising Nepal said.

"The conference will discuss economic cooperation and development activities in the Asian region that also includes countries like Australia," Bista, who is Nepal's permanent chief representative to the Boao Forum, said. 

Foreign affairs expert Dr. Mohan Prasad Lohani is also accompanying Bista. "The conference will discuss the overall Asian economic development growth and other crucial issues raised after the Cancun conference rather than raising individual issues of a country," Dr. Lohani said.

The Chinese Prime Minister will inaugurate the three-day conference beginning November 1, the daily said.

His late Majesty Birendra Bir Bikram Shah was the guest of honour at the inaugural conference held in February 2001. nepalnews.com mr Oct 30

Three govt. staff arrested on graft charges

A special CIAA team Tuesday arrested three non-gazetted officers from District Administration Office, Kathmandu, for issuing passport to a non-Nepali citizen on the basis of a fake citizenship certificate, a news report said Thursday.

The three arrested were non-gazetted first grade officers Shiva Prasad Swanr, Lila Prasad Pokhrel and Durga Prasad Baskota, all from the passport section, RSS reported. The CIAA has also filed a corruption case at the Special Court against the three. 

In the charge sheet, CIAA has alleged them of issuing the passport after receiving a bribe of Rs.40,000.  Among the three, Pokhrel was the leader of the racket, the news report added. nepalnews.com mr Oct 30

Experts warn of big earthquake

There is a possibility of an earthquake of 6.6 Richter scale magnitude having a radius of 20 kms with its epicenter at Gosaithan of Banepa, within the next few years, reports quoted experts, as saying on Thursday.

An engineer Surya Narayan Shrestha, working at the Earthquake Technology National Society gave this information during his presentation at a workshop in Banepa, RSS said.

The finding is based on the radius system of prediction. Minor earthquakes have occurred 124 times in the area since the devastating one 70 years ago," other experts said.

Vice Chancellor of Kathmandu University Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma said it is dangerous building tall buildings without technical input. Nepalnews.com mr Oct 30

CJ calls for Right to Information Act soon

Chief Justice Kedar Nath Upadhyay Wednesday urged the government to formulate a Right to Information Act soon to ensure information access to the citizens, a published report said Thursday.

"Such an Act is needed to consolidate democracy," Upadhyay said. "Information is a strong mechanism of democracy, a system where the people rule," the published reports quoted the Chief Justice as saying in a program.

Noteworthy, the National Law Reform Commission has recently forwarded a draft bill on Right to Information to Communications Minister Kamal Thapa. nepalnews.com mr Oct 30

Nepalis sent back from Jordan

Eleven out of thirteen Nepali nationals stranded in Amman, Jordan, without proper residence permits, have been sent back to Nepal, RSS said Thursday.

The departure became possible through the Royal Nepal Embassy in Riyadh and the Royal Nepal Honorary Consul General, Yousef Haider Murad, the news agency said.

The Jordanian government agreed to waive US $ 20,000 after necessary representation made by the embassy, the agency said. Other reports said those Nepalis entered Jordan without valid documents. nepalnews.com mr Oct 30

Five killed in accident

A bus-truck collision at Dhungedhara, Banasthali, Kathmandu Wednesday night killed five passengers injuring 28, reports said Thursday.

The accident occurred when a mini bus plated Ba 1 Kha 5946 hit a parked truck plated Na 1 Kha 1943. The truck was full of sand. 

Four passengers died on the spot and one died en route to hospital, reports said. The injured are out of danger, police said.

The bus, belonging to Duk Garment Factory in Sitapaila, was carrying staff to drop them off at their homes. nepalnews.com mr Oct 30

Two killed in Maoist violence

In two different incidents in Kaski and Dhading on Wednesday, Maoists killed a soldier and a civilian, radio reports said.

The name of soldier killed in the Maoists' ambush in Hadiya village, Kaski could not be known. He died en route to hospital.

The civilian killed in Mulpani village of Dhading has been identified as Raju Biswakarma, 30. Maoists said Biswakarma was involved in money extortion introducing himself as a Maoist.

Meanwhile, the Maoists have released an abducted constable Dhan Bahadur Moktan from Rautahat Wednesday. Moktan was working in a police post in Rasuwa. nepalnews.com mr Oct 29