Maoists kill army man, political activist 

The Maoists have killed a junior army officer and a Nepali Congress cadre in Kaski and Gorkha districts.

The rebels killed Narendra Bahadur Basnet, a junior army officer, after abducting him from his home at Begnas, Lekhnath Municipality of Kaski on Friday. 

Reports said two armed Maoists took him away at around 9:00 PM on the pretense of some urgent work with him. He was found shot dead a few hours later. His body was found around 3 kilometers away from his home. Basnet was also an assistant FIFA referee. 

In the same manner, the militants killed a Nepali Congress cadre named Ishwor Lal Tamang, 60, in Kharibot in Gorkha district. He too was shot dead after being abducted from home at around 7:00  PM on Friday. nepalnews.com mbk July 31 04 

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Internationalize refugee issue: Rijal 

Bhutani human rights leader Tek Nath Rijal Saturday said Nepal should help internationalize the refugee crisis to find an outlet at the earliest. 

“I have been saying from the very beginning that Nepal should help internationalize the refugee issue. That is the only way to end the impasse,” Rijal said while speaking at a program organized in the capital to mark the 12th death anniversary of human rights activist Prakash Kafle. 

Rijal further said the entire refugee matter should be handed over to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) because bilateral efforts have already proven a failure. 

The Bhutani rights leader was of the view that the problem would hardly come to an end without holding direct talks with the Bhutani monarch. 

Rijal also expressed concern over the scary human rights situation in Bhutan. “Hundreds of Nepali-speaking Bhutani have been languishing in jails in severe physical condition. There is no record how many of them have been killed,” he said. 

He at the same time expressed worries that some refugees were being given Nepali citizenship certificates with direct involvement of local bureaucrats. 

“This is objectionable because it can complicate the repatriation prospects,” he said. nepalnews.com mbk July 31 04 

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UK grants 20m pound for maternal health

The British under-secretary of State for International Development, Gareth Thomas, Friday, pledged to provide 20 million pounds to help Nepal reduce maternal deaths.

Issuing a press statement, the Department for International Development (DFID) said that commitment to this effect was made on the final day of the visit of the British under-secretary on Friday.

The assistance will be utilized in the implementation of Safe Motherhood National Projects in Nepal, DFID release added. nepalnews.com pd July 31 04

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Maoists abduct over 100 teachers in Panchthar

Maoists have abducted over 100 teachers in Panchthar district.

A Nepal Samacharpatra report Saturday said the rebels abducted the teachers from Nagin, Naritar and Lungrupa VDCs on Thursday and took them to unknown destinations to involve them in trainings.

The rebels reportedly had pressurized the teachers to change the names of their schools and practice 'progressive' curriculums. The whereabouts of the abducted remain unknown.

Meanwhile, 14 schools in Bajhang have been closed down for an indefinite period following the abduction of some 300 teachers from various schools on Wednesday. nepalnews.com pd July 31 04

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Crown prince and princess to visit China

Crown Prince Paras and Crown Princess Himani will pay an official visit to the People’s Republic of China from August 7 to 18 at the invitation of the Chinese government.

This was stated in a notice issued by the royal palace secretariat said Friday. nepalnews.com pd July 31 04 

PM received in audience

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and other BIMST-EC countries leaders were received in audience by the Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Klai Kangwol Palace in Hua Hin on Friday.

The Klai Kangwol palace is situated 160 kilometres south west of Bangkok. 

PM Deuba had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Thailand Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra at the government house. Issues of mutual interest, bilateral cooperation and BIMST-EC cooperation were discussed on the occasion.

Meanwhile, foreign ministers and secretaries of BIMST-EC member states met Friday to prepare for the summit of heads of states Saturday.

PM Deuba reportedly is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with BIMST-EC counterparts today (Saturday). 
nepalnews.com pd July 31 04

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SC notices on Wagle case

The Supreme Court on Friday issuing show cause notices to the Home Ministry, Police Headquarters and former minister Wagle asking them why Wagle was not arrested even after the special Court convicted him of corruption. The apex court has asked them to furnish written replies within 15 days.

A single bench of Justice Ram Nagina Singh issued the order in response to a petition filed by advocate Nandu Raj Acharya seeking an immediate arrest of Wagle as per the verdict of the Special Court. 

Meanwhile, the Special Court on Friday issued a clean chit to former minister Jaya Prakash Gupta, and MD of Kantipur Television, Kailash Sirohiya, in the case filed against them by the CIAA regarding broadcasting license. nepalnews.com pd July 31 04

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India grants Rs 21.3m

India has agreed to provide grant assistance of Rs 21.3 million for the construction of physical infrastructure of two more schools in Sarlahi district.

The grant will be made available for the construction of Balara Lower Secondary School and Gadhahiya Secondary School.

Earlier, India had provided Rs 21.1 million, Rs 5.6 million and Rs 12.5 million to Babargunj, Karmaiya and Hajariya Secondary schools in Sarlahi. nepalnews.com pd July 31 04

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