Nepal launched three nationwide anti-polio vaccination campaigns to give oral vaccination to children under 5. Minister Yadav said the success of government’s nationwide vaccination campaign was due to growing health awareness among people.
Prior to the polio vaccination programme, thousands of Nepalese children used to get disabled every year because of polio disease. Nepal has pledged to eradicate polio within a couple years.

All political parties stress early solution to Maoist problem

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Oct 9:
All political parties agreed that efforts should be made to bring about early solution to the present problem created by Maoist insurgency.

In an interaction programme organized by Reporters’ Club in Kathmandu today, leaders of different political parties said that multi-pronged approach had to be taken to solve the more than 4 years-long problem created by Maoist insurgency.

Minister for Education Yog Prasad Upadhyay, who is also looking after the portfolios of Prime Minister, said that the Maoist problem is not as complicated and serious as media has portrayed it. However, he accepted that Maoist insurgency is growing in the country and said that it has to be controlled to protect the life and property of the people.

Upadhyay hinted that the problem was created because of the aberrations and distortion in our political system and among politicians. “ The activities of leaders are partly responsible of the Maoist problem,” he said.

“ Leaders speak sweet and popular things when they deliver speech but fail to accomplish what they say in public”, he said. “ This is the reason for the growing problems of the country,” said Minister Upadhyay.

He also urged Maoists to come into the political mainstream of the country.

Madhav Kumar Nepal of CPN-UML and Pashupati Sumsher Rana of RPP claimed that the problem was created because of the inaction of the government and said that multi-pronged approach had to be applied to solve the Maoist problem.

Narayan Man Bijukchhe of Nepal Majdoor Kishan Party, Lila Mani Pokhrel of United People’s Front, Pari Thapa of National People’s Front and Radha Krishna Mainali of CPN-ML described the Maoist insurgency as a political problem and asked the government to solve the issue politically.

Bhattarai congratulates Vajpayee

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, October 9:
Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai congratulated Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for the victory of his party in the recent parliamentary election in India.

ajpayee’s Bharatiya Janta Party ( BJP or Indian People’s Party) led coalition won the comfortable majority in the recently held Indian parliamentary election. In a message to Vajpayee, Prime Minister Bhattarai said, “ I and people of Nepal are extremely happy on the victory of BJP-led National Democratic Front led by Mr Vajpayee in the parliamentary election”. “ For this, I, on behalf of myself, government and people of Nepal, congratulate you ( Vajpayee)”, Prime Minister Bhattarai said in the
message. He also hoped that relations between Nepal and India would be further
strengthened in the future”.

Japan provides over Rs 1.3 billion grant to Nepal for two projects

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, October 8:
The government of Japan provided Rs 1, 33,07,00,000 (about 2,00,00,000 US dollars) as a grant to Nepal to implement two separate projects concerning civil aviation and education. Of the total amount, Rs 80,64,00,000 would be spent for the modernization of Tribhuvan International Airport, while Rs 52,43,00,000 would be utilized for the construction of school buildings and resource centers in different districts under Basic and Primary Education project, according to Ministry of Finance.

Two separate agreements concerning the Japanese assistance for these two projects were signed today in the Ministry of Finance.

PM Bhattarai meets with Tony Blair, discuss Nepal-Britain ties and cooperation

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, October 8:
Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London today, Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated. During the meeting, Prime Minister raised issue of pension and facilities of British Gurkha and asked the British Prime Minister to review the pension and other facilities of the Gurkha soldiers serving in British army, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair also assured Prime Minsiter Bhattarai that British government was positively thinking to review the facilities and pension of British Gurkha, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

In the meeting, Prime Minister Bhattarai hailed British assistance for the development of Nepal and sought more investment in Nepal from British private sector.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Ram Sharan Mahat had accompanied the Prime during the meeting of British Prime Minister. Prime Minister is currently in London on way to Nepal from New York after taking part in the 54th General Assembly of the United Nations.

An 11-member Nepalese parliamentary delegation off to Germany

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Oct 8:
An 11-member Nepalese parliamentary delegation headed by Speaker of the House of Representatives Tara Nath Ranabhat left for Germany today to take part in the 102nd conference of Inter-Parliamentary Union from October 10 to October 16 this year.
Other members of the delegation are lawmakers Tek Bahadur Chokhal, Baldev Sharma Majgaiya, Romi Gauchan, Harka Man Tamang, Tham Maya Thapa, Buddhi Man Tamang, and Yagyajit Shah. The delegation also includes secretary of Parliament Surya Kiran Gurung, joint secretary of parliament secretariat Bishnu Dutta Upreti, and Shashi Kala Neupane of Parliament Secretariat.

Chairman of the National Assembly (Upper House of Parliament) Dr Mohammad Mohsin, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tarini Dutta Chataut and Deputy Speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav accorded warm send off to the Speaker and Nepalese delegation in the Tribhuvan International Airport today.

King Birendra opens cancer hospital

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Oct 8:
His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev inaugurated Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital amidst a function today. His Majesty’s Government, Cancer Relief Society and Bhaktapur Cancer Treatment Center jointly constructed the cancer hospital.
The hospital has 20 beds and facilities like cameo therapy and surgical services. It also has the first cancer library in Nepal.

His Majesty the King also gave away best membership to Her Royal Highness Jayanti Shah for her special contribution to the Hospital. His Majesty gave away letters of commendation to 13 different Nepali nationals as well as foreigners, who provided support and made special contribution to construct the cancer hospital. 

EC publishes election programmes in 3 constituencies

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Oct 8:
Election Commission (EC) published election programmes in three constituencies of Jhapa-6, Morang-1 and Rautahat-4. By-elections are being held in these three constituencies on December 9, 1999 as Girija Prasad Koirala of Nepali Congress, Madhav Nepal of CPN-UML and K.P. Sharma Oli of CPN-UML quit the seats of House of Representatives from Morang-1, Rautahat-4 and Jhapa-6 constituencies respectively.

All three leaders had been elected to the House of Representatives from two constituencies and they had to quit one seat as per the constitutional provision.

According to the election programme, candidates have to file their nominations on November 3. Complaints against the candidacy of any one should be registered on the same day. Returning officers will then scrutinize the complaints and publish the names of candidates on 4th of November. Candidates wishing to withdraw their candidacy can do so on 5th of November. Returning officers will publish the final names of candidates on 6th of November and provide the election symbols to the candidates on the same day. Election will be held on November 9, 1999.

PM Bhattarai returns

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Oct 10:
Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai returned to Kathmandu today after taking part in the 54th General Assembly of the United Nations and visiting some European countries.
Bhattarai addressed the UN General Assembly on 30th September 1999. Talking to journalists at Tribhuvan International Airport, Prime Minister Bhattarai said he emphasized poverty alleviation while addressing the UN General Assembly. “ I also raised issue pertaining to consolidation and expansion of  relations among the friendly nations in the world with particular focus on South Asia”, he said. During his stay in the United States and other European countries, Bhattarai asked foreign businessmen to invest in Nepal. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Ram Sharan Mahat also returned to
Kathmandu along with the Prime Minister.

CPN-UML felicitates medal winners in 8th SAF Games

By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Oct 10:
CPN-UML felicitated medal winners in the 8th SAF Games, coaches,officials and some famous retired sports persons in a programme in Kathmandu today.
Felicitating the medal winners in the recently concluded 8th SAF Games,general secretary of CPN-UML and main opposition leader Madhav Kumar Nepal said that players upheld and enhanced the morality of the country and people by showing their best talent and winning medals in the 8th SAF Games.
Nepal also congratulated the medal winners in the 8th SAF Games. Minister for Sports Sarat Singh Bhandari and CPN-UML central leader Pradip Nepal also congratulated the sports persons and pledged their support for the development of Nepalese sport.
Nepal won 31 gold medals in the 8th SAF Games.