Kathmandu, Oct.22: Despite an official ban, nine left parties Sunday afternoon took out a torch procession in the capital to protest a 17 to 100 percent hike in the prices of petroleum products last Saturday. About 200 persons chanted slogans against the government and called it anti-people and called for its resignation.

Shopkeepers downed shutters in New Road as police unsuccessfully attempted to stop the protestors from entering Ason and Indrachowk crowded with holiday Divali shoppers who ran into by-lanes fearing clashes. The situation in New Road was tense for nearly 30 minutes.

Protests are daily occurrences nation-wide after the hike in prices. Demonstrations were also held ind Kirtipur in Kathmandu Valley. nepalnews.com br

Central Committee Meets Amid Protests

Kathmandu, Oct.22: The central committee of the ruling Nepali Congress met at the official residence of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala Sunday morning amid protests from his opposition.

About 3000 protestors, some chained, held a candle light vigil outside Baluwatar amid tight security. Prakash Man Singh, who has not been given active membership, led the demonstrators. Party spokesman Narahari Acharya said the central committee discussed the issue of active membership and discussions will continue in the second session at 4 PM.

Legislator Singh said a protest was delivered at the meeting. Critics said Koirala and his coterie are trying to influence party elections in January by giving active membership to unqualified persons or
deleting names of opponents.

Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has declared his candidacy for the party's presidency against Koirala. The venue of the meet was changed from the central office to the Prime Minister's residence. nepalnews.com br

Hemp Seized in Mohottari

Kathmandu, Oct.21: Police seized nearly 30 quintals and 61 kilograms of hemp from different houses located at  Ankaar  and  Bhatauliya villages of Mahottari district recently, police said.  Police arrested 19 men and five women, including senior local politicians, with the hemp and five processing machines. 

Action is being taken against those arrested under the anti drugs control act. nepalnews.com br

Princess Shruti Gives Birth to Second Daughter

Kathmandu, Oct.21: Princess Shruti, the only daughter of King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya, gave birth to a daughter Saturday at the Prasuti Griha in the capital, an announcement said. She is the second daughter of the Princess and her husband, Gorakh SJB Rana. The mother and the child weighing 2.55 kgs are doing well.

The King and Queen and other members of the royal family visited the Princess at the hospital. Well-wishers can sign a visitor's book at the Hospital from Sunday between 10 AM to 5 PM. nepalnews.com br

NEPSE Index Increases

Kathmandu, Oct.22: The NEPSE index increased by 37.20 points at the end of five-day trading Friday.

The index was 433.92 points on the opening day of trading Monday and closed at 571.12 points on the closing day Friday.

The NEPSE index of commercial banks shot up to 567.13 from 505.43 points.

Shares worth Rs.74.73 million were traded  during the week in 977 transactions. nepalnews.com br

American Arrested with Hashish

Kathmandu, Oct.22: An American national was arrested Friday with 300 grams of hashish before boarding a Royal Nepal Airlines flight bound for Bangkok, police said.

He was identified as Gregory Roberts Sender.

Police searched him after suspicion and recovered the concealed drug. nepalnews.com br

Suspected Maoist Killed

Kathmandu, Oct.22: A suspected Maoist was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police in Chawang village in Rukum district Saturday, police said.

Police identified the rebel as Sete Oli.

Police also arrested three women insurgents Kudari village in Jumla recently. nepalnews.com br

Deuba Launches Tirade against PM Koirala

Kathmandu, Oct.21: Sher Bahadur Deuba, an aspirant for the presidency of the Nepali Congress , Friday launched a vitriolic tirade against Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and called for new leadership to guide the ruling party in the new millennium.

" The Nepali Congress party is developing a slavish mentality. I will give a voice to the opposition and give the party self- respect," the former Prime Minister told a rally in Chitwan. Deuba was implying that Koirala was stifling opposition inside the party. 

Deuba declared his candidacy for the party's top post for which elections will be held in January. Koirala who is also the party president has not said whether he will seek re-election but calls have been made in his home district Morang for him to stand against Deuba.

" The old leadership and mentality cannot give the country political stability, economic development and social change, " Deuba said. An intense power struggle is brewing inside the party ahead of  a national convention in January. Opponents allege that Koirala and his coterie are attempting to rig the January vote. nepalnews.com br

NOC to Distribute Kerosene Coupons

Kathmandu, Oct.21: The Nepal Oil Corporation coupons for consessisonal kerosene will reach most districts by today.

The NOC says 3.6 of the four million concessional coupons  have already reached the districts.
Each family is entitled to three litres of kerosene at subsidized prices per month. Government amid protests hiked the price of kerosene 100 percent this month. nepalnews.com br

ANFA Office Handed Over

Kathmandu, Oct.21: The process of handing over the office of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) to Mrs. Gita Rana  President of an ad hoc ANFA committee continued Saturday at the National Sports Council complex in Lalitpur, sports officials said.

The locks of the building and individual rooms were opened Thursday in the presence of the Chief District Officer, police, officials of the National Sports Council, Nepal's apex sports organization, lawyers and the ward chairman. The building was padlocked after a dispute between rival Associations Monday. But office papers are under seal in cupboards, sources close to Mrs Rana, the first woman president of ANFA said.

Ganesh Thapa was elected Monday  president of the rival ANFA; a representative of FIFA and AFC observed the vote. The ANFA building is located within the Council complex built with Chinese government assistance. Rana's Association is close to the government, the Council and the Nepal Olympic Committee.

Nepali sports will suffer temporarily until FIFA , soccer's world governing body, decided on the dispute amid threats that international funding for Nepal's most popular sport will be withdrawn.
FIFA will discuss the split in October. nepalnews.com br

New Vehicles Banned In Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Oct.21: Government has banned the registration of three-wheeler tempos and minibuses within the Ring Road in Kathmandu Valley with immediate effect, an announcement said.
The ban does not affect vehicles for which import facilities formalities have been completed. The ban has been imposed to relieve pressure on roads and limit inconveniences.

The previous decision not to register new meter taxis continues. Five-year old buses and minibuses have also been banned from Kathmandu Valley. Government had formed a work force to make recommendations five months ago. nepalnews.com br

Seoul, Kathmandu Air Link

Kathmandu, Oct.21: Nepal and South Korea are top sign an aviation accord to begin the first direct flights between the two countries soon, daily newspaper The Rising Nepal said Saturday quoting South Korean Ambassador Ryoo See Ya.

" Apart from the aviation agreement we also look forward to sign an agreement to avoid double taxation between Nepal and Korea," he was quoted as saying. Ryoo said he will also try to negotiate a cultural agreement between the two countries  during his tenure. nepalnews.com br

Public Transport fares Increased

Kathmandu, Oct.21: Government has increased public transport fares by seven percent effective Saturday following a 17 to 100 percent hike in the  prices of petroleum products seven days ago, an announcement said.

But the new fares for petrol taxis and tempos will be effective only after metres are sealed. Transporters had earlier threatened to hike prices by nearly 50 percent if the government did not rescind its decision to increase prices.

Daily protests have been a regular feature nation-wide after the increase in prices of petroleum products. nepalnews.com br

Kathmandu, Oct.21: For the fifth year, polio drops will be again administered to 3.85 million children upto the age of five years on December 9 and January 20 under an intensified polio immunization programme to eradicate the  crippling disease from the kingdom.

The World Health Organization plans to eradicate the disease from the world by the year 2002. Several cases of the disease have been reported from Nepal despite past campaigns. Volunteers will visit homes and administer the drops the following day to the children  who miss out on December 9 or January 20. Smallpox was eradicated from Nepal and indeed the world after such a campaign. nepalnews.com br

Rs.31.6 Million Japanese Grant for Museum

Kathmandu, Oct.21: Japan will give a Rs.31.6 million grant to the National Museum to procure exhibition equipment under a cultural grant programme, the Finance Ministry said. Japan had given such grants to the Royal Nepal Academy, the National Sports Council and the National Library in the past.

Finance Secretary Dr. Bimal Prasad Koirala and Ambassador Mitsuaki Kojima signed an grant agreement Friday. nepalnews.com br

Kathmandu, Oct.21: A national camp of Nepal Scouts organized by Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur branches of Nepal Scouts began at the premises of St. Xavier's  at Godavari to mark the School's golden jubilee.

Altogether 1,659 scouts, rovers and rangers from 28 districts of Nepal, India, USA, Denmark and Norway are participating in the camp that ends Sunday. St.Xaviers is Nepal's first school run by jesuits.

Raj Parishad Chairman Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi unfurled the flag of the national camp at the School Friday. nepalnews.com br

WHO Help to Curb Leprosy

Kathmandu, Oct.21: The World Health Organization is giving Nepal Rs.70 million to intensify a campaign to eradicate the disease from the kingdom by the end of the year 2003, reports said.
The assistance will be used in analysing the present leprosy situation in Nepal, conduct training for health workers, produce educational materials, launch awareness campaign and supervise programmes to combat the disease.

Netherlands Leprosy Relief will provide Rs.51 million is addition to $50,000 to launch an eradication programme in east Nepal. nepalnews.com br

Suspected Maoists Kill Yadav

Kathmandu, Oct.20: Suspected Maoists killed Sukdev Yadav of Gobargada village in Saptari district Friday morning by slitting his throat, police said.

Rebels also torched and completely destroyed a police post at Chuandada in Tehrathum district Thursday night, police said. There were no casualties as the police post was not occupied when the attack took place.

Meanwhile, an activist of the ruling Nepali Congress was injured Wednesday night in an attack by insurgents in Dailekh district, police said.

A group of about 20 rebels attacked district committee member Dal Bahadur Rana at his home and injured his seriously; Rana is being treated at a hospital in Nepalgunj after evacuation by helicopter. nepalnews.com br

Sugar Supply Adequate

Kathmandu, Oct.20: There is an adequate stock of sugar with dealers of sugar mills and other organizations as the festive Divali season approaches and demand increases, an announcement said.

The supply situation was reviewed this week by representatives of the Ministries of Industry, Commerce and Supplies , sugar industries and organizations dealing with sugar.

Fresh supplies will be available five days after the crushing season starts around November 2. nepalnews.com br

Transporters Threaten Price Hike

Kathmandu, Oct.20: Transporters have threatened to unilaterally hike public transport fares effective Monday if the government does not reverse its decision to increase the price of petroleum products from 17 to 100 percent.

Fares will be increased 15 percent on long distance routes, 25 percent for short distances and between 40 and 50 percent for taxis and tempos. The Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs Federation issued the threat this week after prices of POL  products were hiked Saturday by the government.
Opposition and businesses have criticized the government for the massive price increase that is having an inflationary impact on the economy. Nation-wide protests including the burning of effigies of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala are a daily phenomenon.

Consumers will beat empty pots and pans in the capital in a noisy demonstration Friday to protest price increases, organizers said. Meanwhile, the Nepal Meter Taxi Association in a separate statement also said it will increase fares by 50 percent if the government does not rescind its decision within seven days.

The Association said government should have curbed corruption and leaks in the Nepal Oil Corporation the sole importer of POL products instead of increasing prices. nepalnews.com br

Call for Increased Nepal, Bangladesh Trade

Kathmandu, Oct.20: Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Cyril Sikdar Thursday called for increased trade between Nepal and Bangladesh after upgrading immigration and customs facilities at Banglaband just across the Bangladesh India border.

The trade is routed via Fulbari in West Bengal after India gave transit facilities for bilateral Nepal Bangladesh trade and transit facilities for Nepali imports and exports through Mongla port. Trade and use of transit facilities have been minimal.

" If we can are able  to make optimum use of this transit route, we can enhance the existing trade by at least 100 percent," Sikdar said. The envoy also called for trade in national currencies to expand commerce and asked Nepali traders top use Mongla port as an alternate to Calcutta. Nepal and Bangladesh are negotiating a transport accord, he said. nepalnews.com br

Agreements Signed

Kathmandu, Oct.20: The Tribhuvan University and Osaka Sangiyo University of Japan recently signed an agreement to conduct education research and exchange students and research, The TU Information Section said.

The agreement was signed during Vice Chancellor Nabin Prakash Jung Shah's recent visit to Japan.
The Japanese University will set up a revolving fund to establish an information and technology centre, undertake education research and fund exchange of teachers and students.

India's Roorkee University and Pokhara University have also signed an agreement  to exchange scholars and  promote research studies for five years, an announcement said. nepalnews.com br

Kathmandu, Oct.20: Two armed poachers were killed recently in clashes with an army patrol in the Royal Bardia National Park, the National News Agency said quoting Park officials.

The incident occurred at Purnapur Lamidamar. Those killed have been identified as Ramesh Thapa and his nephew from Surkhet. Three guns and ammunition have also been recovered. The Park is home to the endangered and protected Royal Bengal tiger. nepalnews.com br

Managers, Specialists Discuss AIDS, TB Control

Kathmandu, Oct.20: Forty specialists and chief managers from South and South East Asia began a meet Thursday to discuss new plans to control and prevent AIDS and tuberculosis in the regions.
The meet is sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) Asia regional Office.

The officials will also evaluate progress in containing the killer diseases in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand and North Korea.
Director General of the Department of Health Services Dr.D.B. Chataut said difficulties are being faced in controlling the diseases. UN resident Representative Dr. Klaus Wagner said WHO was extending financial and technical co-operation to various countries to control the diseases. nepalnews.com br

Administrator of Guthi Sansthan Arrested

Kathmandu, Oct.20: Administrator of Guthi Sansthan Khunraj Nepal was arrested in the capital Thursday by the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption for allegedly illegally issuing citizenship to a person in Chitwan when he was Chief District Officer, Samacharpatra
said quoting an unnamed Commission official. 

Nepal was then sent to Hetauda Appellate Court under police escort following his arrest outside his office, the newspaper said. Nepal had illegally issued citizenship papers to an unnamed person
who sought to marry a German national. nepalnews.com br

Swede Arrested for Trafficking in Drugs

Kathmandu, Oct. 20: A Swede was arrested Thursday before boarding a Lauda Air flight to Vienna with 6.5 kgs of hashish, police said. 

He was identified as Akherlund Swain. Charges are being prepared against him, police said. nepalnews.com br

Buddha Air Adds Another Aircraft

Kathmandu, Oct.20: Buddha Air has pressed into service another Beach 1900D, the Airline said.
This is the fifth 19-seater American aircraft with the company. 

The new aircraft cost $5 million. nepalnews.com br

Committee Formed to  Control Bird Hits

Kathmandu, Oct.19: Government has formed a high level committee to control the problem of bird hits at Nepal's only international airport after six near fatal accidents in two months, a government source said Thursday.

The committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the Tourism Secretary and consists of representatives  of the Home, Defence Ministries and other government organizations.
A pilot has suggested the black topping of the Tribhuvan International Airport as the only solution to the problem.

Airlines have threatened to pull out of Nepal if the problem is not resolved. nepalnews.com br

Strike to Protest Hike in Petroleum Price

Kathmandu, Oct.19: Nine left parties have called a nation-wide strike on November 16 and 17 to protest a 17 to 100 percent hike in the prices of petroleum products.

The parties called the the strike after a meeting Wednesday. The parties will burn an effigy of Prime Minister Girija Parsed Koirala in the capital Thursday to protest the price hike. nepalnews.com br

Altitude Record Claimed

Kathmandu, Oct.19: A Nepali pilot pilot claimed a record by landing a helicopter at 19,380 feet ( 6000 metres) Wednesday to airlift a dead Greek tourist from Island Peak near Sagarmatha the 8848 metres high world's tallest peak.

Capt. Vidhyananda Sharma of the Karnali Airways recorded the feat flying a French built Ecureuil AS 350 B2 helicopter, the Airlines said in a press release.

Sharma landed on a slope, kept the power on and with the help of another climber the body was put extricated from Island Peak for a flight to Kathmandu.

Sharma, a previous Army pilot, said he landed at -5 degrees Celcius temperature. Nepali pilots have recorded phenomenal achievements on Himalayan mountains plucking injured trekkers to their safety. nepalnews.com br