Road show on Nepal’s tourism held in China

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) in association with Air China and five Nepali travel agents recently organized a road show in Beijing and Chengdu.

According to a press statement released by the NTB, “The road show was a part of NTB’s regional tourism promotion campaign.”

Major Chinese tour operators, retail agents and journalists participated in the road show, which was organised from June 08-12. nepalnews.com pd June 15 04

Four arrested with 185 kg hashish

Four people have been arrested with 185kg of hashish in Parsa district.

According to RSS, the hashish which was hidden in a truck en route to the capital, was discovered by the police during a security check. The four smugglers have been identified as Kumar Lama, Bel Bahadur Lama, Prabin Lama and Kedar Man Shrestha from Makwanpur.
nepalnews.com pd June 15 04

Related News
- Police seize hashish

Two girls escape from trafficker

Two schoolgirls from Gulmi district, managed to escape from a girl-trafficker who intended to take them to India.

According to reports, Parbati Thapa and Radhika Thapa were selling vegetable in the Baswari marketplace when an unidentified man approached the two and threatened to kill them if they didn’t come with him.

The two chose to disobey him and went to a police station in Palpa to
make a report. nepalnews.com pd June 15 04

Related News
- Girl trafficker held in Sunsari

Maoists abduct 38 students in Taplejung

Maoist rebels have abducted 38 students from Mayam Secondary School in Furunbu VDC of Taplejung district.

According to reports, Maoists abducted the students during school hours on Monday and the security forces have confirmed the abductions. nepalnews.com pd June 14 04

Related News
- Maoists abduct 50 businessmen in Sindhuli 

IVF procedure for the first time in Nepal

Om Hospital and Research center, has selected 17 women for In Vitro Fertilization(IVF), a daily said Tuesday. The hospital is the first in Nepal to establish an IVF center.

According to the Rising Nepal, the hospital has set up an ultra-modern lab to provide the IVF services for women who fail to conceive naturally.

Dr. Bhola Rijal, gynecologist and chairman of the hospital, says that the ova will be fertilized outside the body of the women and about 48 hours later, the embroyo will be transferred inside the women. From that point onwards, natural development will take place.

A total of 48 women were selected for a screening test in April and out of them, 17 have been selected for the IVF procedure and each one of them is expected to pay Rs. 200,000 in advance to undergo the procedure. nepalnews.com pd June 14 04

Task team holds talks with rebel students

A task team comprising members of the civil society Monday held talks with the leaders of the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal National Independent Students Union (Revolutionary) that has been carrying out indefinite strikes in schools since the last week. 

During the meeting held at an unidentified location in Kathmandu, the Maoist students reiterated their demand that the government revoke the terrorist tag labeled on their organization and free the detained student leaders. 

Although the members of the team could not be reached for comment, various news reports mentioned the talks were moving towards a positive direction. 

ANNISU-R negotiators have reportedly said they would present the issues discussed during the meeting to their leadership and see how the problems can be settled. The identities of the ANNISU-R representatives have been kept secret. 

Padma Ratna Tuladhar, a human rights activist, led the task team. 

Meanwhile, the team met minister for Education and Sports Bimalendra Nidhi this evening and reported the matters discussed at the meeting. The team members reiterated that the government should come forward with the utmost flexibility regarding the demands of the rebel students. 

It is leant that the minister assured them that the government was ready to fulfill most of the demands, but not all of them. nepalnews.com mbk June 14 04

Related News
- Panel urges minister to start talks with ANNISU-R 

UML unveils 51-point agenda; gives nod to constituent assembly 

The CPN-UML made public its 51-point agenda outlining the measures to solve the problems facing the country Monday.

Publicizing the agendas at a press conference organized at the party headquarters, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said the party has brought forth its agendas aimed at ending the political conflict and restoring peace in the country. 

Some of key issues the UML has proposal include the resumption of peace process with the Maoists, a roundtable conference, an interim government and, if necessary, the election of a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution. 

As per the conditions for its participation in the Deuba government, the party has said the Government’s Work Performance Ordinance should be revoked instantly to restore executive powers in the Council of Ministers. It is also demanded that the local bodies be brought back. 

The UML’s new position on the Maoist demand of constituent assembly is seen as a major switchover. Explaining the same, Nepal said, “The 7th general convention of the party had kept open all the democratic options for the resolution of the conflict. We had not ruled out the constituent assembly.” 

He added, “If constituent assembly is a democratic option, the UML is ready for it.”

The UML has also said the party would not join the government without their key demands being met. nepalnews.com mbk June 14 04

Related News
- UML sets conditions before they join government

22 security men killed in Maoist ambush

The latest reports have said at least 22 security officials were killed in the blast carried out by Maoists at Khairikhola, Banke Monday morning.

Among the victims, 21 are Armed Police Force (APF) personnel  including inspector Sher Bahadur Khadka and one civil policeman. Among 16 security men injured in the blast, 13 have been brought to Kathmandu for treatment.

Two trucks carrying APF personnel ran over an ambush planted by the Maoists at Khairikhola at around 8.45 am. Two other trucks carrying army personnel that were right behind the APF trucks however escaped the blast. Altogether 150 security personnel were traveling on four vehicles, reports said.

The Maoists had opened fire at the security forces from nearby jungles and the both the sides traded fire for nearly an hour. Casualties on the rebel side are not known but, according to reports, forces have recovered a few 303 guns from the site.  nepalnews.com mbk June 14 04

Related News
- 18 APF men killed in Maoist ambush in Banke

18 APF men killed in Maoist ambush in Banke

Eighteen Armed Police Force (APF) personnel, including an inspector, were killed when the Maoists ambushed their truck at Khairikhola of Banke this morning. 13 others were injured in the blast.

The latest reports said the explosion occurred when the security team was on its way to Agaura to dispose a bomb the Maoists had planted on the Mahendra Highway. The APF personnel were posted at the Bageshwori Training Center of the APF.

11 of the 13 injured have been airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment. Following the incident, backup forces have launched a search operation in the area. More details of the incident are yet to come. nepalnews.com mbk June 14 04

Related News
- 15 injured in Maoist ambush

Maoists abduct 50 businessmen in Sindhuli 

The Maoists Sunday evening abducted 50 businessmen from Dudhauli bazaar, radio reports said Monday afternoon. According to the reports, Dudhauli bazaar has remained closed after their abduction.

The businessmen were taken to an unknown destination in tractors, reports said. The Maoists reportedly said that they would release all abducted after the completion of a brief ‘interaction program’. 

It is the first time that Maoists abducted businessmen in the district. nepalnews.com pd June 14 04

Related News
- Maoists abduct 38 teachers in Dhankuta