PM to attend BIMST-EC summit

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is leaving for Bangkok to attend the first summit of the BIMST-EC Thursday afternoon. He is heading an 18-member Nepali delegation to the Thai capital.

The BIMST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri-Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation) is motivated by the need for a free and fair multilateral trading system and the importance of regional cooperation. Nepal was granted membership last year.

Deuba will return home on August 4. nepalnews.com pd July 29 04

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British under secretary meets with PM

British under-secretary of State for International Development, Gareth Thomas, met Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at the latter's office in Singha Durbar.

During the meeting, matters related to bilateral development cooperation and other matters of mutual interests were discussed. Keith George Bloomfield, the British Ambassador, was also present during the meeting.

According to reports, Thomas will sign a commitment paper of assistance worth 20 million pounds for the Safe Motherhood Program. Gareth Thomas is still scheduled to meet the king and will return home on Friday.  nepalnews.com pd July 29 04

Navayubraj Hridayendra turns three

Navayuvraj Hridayandra Bir Bikram Shah Dev turned three years old this Thursday. He was born at the Narayanhiti palace on July 30, 2002. According to RSS, Rajparishad Standing Committee prayed national lord Pashupatinath for the Navayuvraj's good health and long life on the occasion.

The Nepalnews family extends best wishes for good health, happiness and a long life of the Navayuvraj. nepalnews.com July 29 04

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No room for ‘outsiders’ in CMP monitoring body: Nepal 

UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal Wednesday said no leader other than from the four ruling parties could have any place in the proposed committee to monitor the activities of the government.

Talking to reporters at the Tribhuwan International Airport this afternoon upon his arrival from South Korea, Nepal said: “Since the four parties drafted the common minimum program, there is no point in appointing any other person in the committee from outside.”

The UML general secretary’s comment comes in response to the proposal of prime minister Deuba during a meeting of the political committee of the Council of Ministers last week to rope in Information and Communication minister Dr Mohammad Mohsin to the committee. Mohsin represents the Royal Palace in the Deuba government.

Nepal further said, “If the agreement is violated, it will create problems in the functioning of the government.” While saying so he did not however take Mohsin’s name.

The ruling four parties had agreed to set up a mechanism comprising top party leaders to monitor the activities of the government.

Nepal who had gone to Seoul last Wednesday to attend an international convention on world peace said he discussed issues of Nepal’s interest with Korean leaders during his stay. He added that there was no discussion on the controversial issues of labor quotas to Nepalis in South Korea. nepalnews.com mbk July 28 04

Two Nepalis arrested in Poland

Two Nepalis have been arrested in Poland while trying to enter the country without visa. They were arrested along with 17 other nationals at the Polish-German border on Tuesday, agency reports said.

The Nepalis whose identity is not known as yet were traveling in a truck along with asylum-seekers of other countries. Details of the arrest are still awaited. nepalnews.com mbk July 28 04

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Maoists kill three civilians

Maoists have killed three civilians in Banke and Bara districts.  The rebels charged them of extorting money in Maoist guise.

Reports Wednesday said the militants killed two villagers of Kothapur in Ganapur VDC, Banke district last night. Although there were no clear proofs against the killed villagers, the rebels have claimed they were defaming the Maoist party by carrying out such activities. The identity of the victims is yet to be confirmed. Few other villagers are still in Maoist captivity, reports added.

In another incident, the rebels have killed one Laxman Yadav of Bhodaha-3, Bara district. Accusing Yadav with similar charges, they beheaded him at his home last night.

Reports from Udaypur said three Maoists surrendered to the district administration today. They stayed in custody for some days and later decided to give up the Maoist party. nepalnews.com mbk July 28 04

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SC refuses to register petition to arrest Wagle

The Supreme Court refused to register a petition filed by advocate Nandu Raj Acharya demanding immediate arrest of Chiranjibi Wagle in accordance with the verdict issued by the Special Court.

The apex court denied registering the petition saying that it lacked synopsis of the special court judgment. nepalnews.com pd July 28 04

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Maoists murder civilian

Armed Maoists murdered Laxman Yadav in Ghora village of Bara district on Tuesday evening, radio reports said Wednesday.

Yadav was executed after he was abducted from his residence on the grounds that he was an army spy. nepalnews.com pd July 28 04

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Three-day strike begins

A three-day strike called by the Maoists, has begun today in the Dhading, Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts. The strike was called to protest the killings of Bharat Dhungana and Baikuntha Pokharel, central leaders of the Maoist party.

There has been no vehicle movement within the three districts, especially on the Tribhuwan and Prithvi highways. No shops barring medicine shops and hotels are still running. However there have been no reports of violence so far.

Security forces had reportedly killed Dhungana and Pokharel on June 15 in Gumdi of Dhading district. nepalnews.com pd July 27 04

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Politician Risal passes away

Senior leader of the Nepali Congress Basu Risal passed away Tuesday night at the age of 77.

Risal, who had been suffering from several lung diseases, had been admitted to a hospital in Kathmandu and died during the course of treatment.

During his career he had served as the general secretary of Nepali Congress and also as the minister for water resources.

President of NC, Girija Prasad Koirala, and other political leaders paid their last respects to him in Pashupati Aryaghat on Wednesday morning.

Risal's body is to be cremated on Wednesday afternoon. nepalnews.com pd July 28 04