Hrishita Deo
Kalimati, Kathmandu
06:32pm:6th Feb, 2011
An anti-corruption tribunal of the International Cricket Council Saturday banned former Pakistan captain Salman Butt for ten years, Mohammad Asif for seven years and Mohammad Aamer for five years for their role in a spot-fixing betting scam.
A statement read out at the tribunal said: "The tribunal heard the charges as Aamer agreed to bowl no-balls, and did bowl no-balls and Butt was party to the bowling of those deliberate balls, and the tribunal impsoe the following sanctions.
"On Butt ten years ineligibility, five years of which are suspended on the condition that he doesn't commit further breaches of the code, and that he participates under the auspices Pakistan Cricket Board in a programme of anti-corruption education.
"On Asif, a sanction of seven years of ineligibility, two years of which are suspended on the condition that he commits no further breach of the code and also participates in an anti-corruption programme.
"On Aamer a sanction of five years ineligibility. No further sanctions are imposed on any player."
The decisions came after a lengthy nine-hour hearing at the Qatar Financial Center, and following much argument after the players' lawyers requested the verdict be adjourned as it could affect the criminal case against the players in London.
The charges relate to alleged incidents during a Test match against England at Lord's last year, when Britain's News of the World newspaper claimed the players were willing to deliberately bowl no-balls.
The newspaper alleged the players, who are currently provisionally suspended from international cricket, had colluded in a spot-fixing betting scam organised by British-based agent Mazhar Majeed.
The members of the tribunal, headed by Michael Beloff, heard the case for six days last month before deferring the announcement on the request of players' lawyers.
Last month Beloff revealed that while Asif and Aamer were absolved of the charges relating to another match, the third Test at The Oval (played before the Lord's match) one charge against Butt remained under investigation.
In a separate development on Friday, British prosecutors charged the three players as well as their agent with corruption offences and summoned them in court on March 17.
The Pakistan trio have repeatedly denied wrongdoing and had shown confidence of resuming their careers.
The bans on Pakistan players have come just a fortnight before the tenth World Cup starts in the sub-continent, highlighting the difficult times the game of cricket is facing against corruption.
Cricket was badly hit by the menace of match-fixing in 2000, resulting in life bans on Pakistan's Salim Malik and Ata-ur Rehman, India's Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Sharma and South Africa's Hansie Cronje.
Butt, Aamer and Asif became the first players banned in spot-fixing, the latest innovation in which players obey specific orders during the game pre-arranged with bookmakers.
The players have 21 days to appeal against the sanctions in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, based in Switzerland.
Sunday, February 6
Action against 70 schools: Higher secondary boarding school
Sadichhya Shakya
thapathali,kathmandu
The Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) has started taking action against 70 higher secondary schools being operated not in constant with the rules of HSEB.
Action against the higher secondary schools which have been run in different areas than they were stated while acquiring affiliation for the operation has been initiated, said HSEB Member-Secretary Bhim Prasad Gurung.
The schools that have opened their branches against the rule and appointed unqualified teachers are also under the ambit of action, he added. After getting information that higher secondary schools are operated in different areas than specific in the affiliation paper, the HSEB started monitoring and taking action against the higher secondary schools operating against rule, Gurung asserted.
The HSEB will prevent such higher secondary schools from enrolling students from coming educational year and will go to the extent of withdrawing the affiliation of the schools defying the directives of HSEB, Gurung further said.
thapathali,kathmandu
The Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) has started taking action against 70 higher secondary schools being operated not in constant with the rules of HSEB.
Action against the higher secondary schools which have been run in different areas than they were stated while acquiring affiliation for the operation has been initiated, said HSEB Member-Secretary Bhim Prasad Gurung.
The schools that have opened their branches against the rule and appointed unqualified teachers are also under the ambit of action, he added. After getting information that higher secondary schools are operated in different areas than specific in the affiliation paper, the HSEB started monitoring and taking action against the higher secondary schools operating against rule, Gurung asserted.
The HSEB will prevent such higher secondary schools from enrolling students from coming educational year and will go to the extent of withdrawing the affiliation of the schools defying the directives of HSEB, Gurung further said.
Saturday, February 5
Oath-taking ceremony programmed for tomorrow
Hrishita Deo
Kalimati, Kathmandu
10:43am; 5th Feb, 2011
The Office of the President has scheduled Prime Minister-elect Jhala Nath Khanal’s oath-taking ceremony for Sunday at 3 pm. “I’ve scheduled the swearing-in ceremony for Sunday,” said President Dr Ram Baran Yadav’s personal assistant Lalit Bahadur Basnet.
President Dr. Yadav, who is on a 10-day state visit to India, is returning home today. Meanwhile, names of the leaders likely to join Prime Minister-elect Jhala Nath Khanal’s cabinet have slowly started to come to the front. “Some of the names of the ministers will be decided by tomorrow,” said CPN-UML Central Committee member Yogesh Bhattarai.
Tarai Madhes Democratic Party-Nepal led by Mahendra Yadav has almost decided to join the new government.
A source close to Khanal said Khanal is likely to choose Bharat Mohan Adhikary, Ashok Rai, Ghanashyam Bhushal and Bishnu Paudel of his own party. Khanal is yet to get names from the UCPN-M.
“The Maoists are yet to decide. However, the Maoists have suggested to Khanal some names,” said the source, adding, “It’s likely that Barshaman Pun and Netra Bikram Chand may join the government.”
The source added that Khanal would set the finance and home ministries aside for his party. “Adhikary may hold the finance portfolio, Rai homer and Bhushal-minister for information and communications,” he added.
Maoist Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha, however, said nothing was decided yet. The leaders selected for the would-be cabinet would swear-in on Sunday.
Kalimati, Kathmandu
10:43am; 5th Feb, 2011
The Office of the President has scheduled Prime Minister-elect Jhala Nath Khanal’s oath-taking ceremony for Sunday at 3 pm. “I’ve scheduled the swearing-in ceremony for Sunday,” said President Dr Ram Baran Yadav’s personal assistant Lalit Bahadur Basnet.
President Dr. Yadav, who is on a 10-day state visit to India, is returning home today. Meanwhile, names of the leaders likely to join Prime Minister-elect Jhala Nath Khanal’s cabinet have slowly started to come to the front. “Some of the names of the ministers will be decided by tomorrow,” said CPN-UML Central Committee member Yogesh Bhattarai.
Tarai Madhes Democratic Party-Nepal led by Mahendra Yadav has almost decided to join the new government.
A source close to Khanal said Khanal is likely to choose Bharat Mohan Adhikary, Ashok Rai, Ghanashyam Bhushal and Bishnu Paudel of his own party. Khanal is yet to get names from the UCPN-M.
“The Maoists are yet to decide. However, the Maoists have suggested to Khanal some names,” said the source, adding, “It’s likely that Barshaman Pun and Netra Bikram Chand may join the government.”
The source added that Khanal would set the finance and home ministries aside for his party. “Adhikary may hold the finance portfolio, Rai homer and Bhushal-minister for information and communications,” he added.
Maoist Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha, however, said nothing was decided yet. The leaders selected for the would-be cabinet would swear-in on Sunday.
700,000 ultrathin condoms lost in transit
Hrishita Deo
Kalimati, Kathmandu
10:46am, 5th Feb, 2011
More than 700,000 condoms have been stolen in transit between Malaysia and Japan, a major Japanese rubber manufacturer said Thursday.
About 726,000 polyurethane condoms were loaded into a container at a factory in Malaysia, said Sagami Rubber Industries, founded in 1934 as the first condom maker in Japan.
But the shipment was empty when it arrived at the company's main plant in suburban Tokyo last week, company spokesman Norinari Wakui said, adding that the lock on the container had been replaced before it left port in Malaysia.
The items, which are 14 percent thinner than conventional products at 0.02 millimeters, are worth 120 million yen (1.5 million dollars) at Japanese retail prices, he said.
"This has never happened to us before and we are very perplexed," Wakui told AFP. "We are not certain if it was of a premeditated nature."
Kalimati, Kathmandu
10:46am, 5th Feb, 2011
More than 700,000 condoms have been stolen in transit between Malaysia and Japan, a major Japanese rubber manufacturer said Thursday.
About 726,000 polyurethane condoms were loaded into a container at a factory in Malaysia, said Sagami Rubber Industries, founded in 1934 as the first condom maker in Japan.
But the shipment was empty when it arrived at the company's main plant in suburban Tokyo last week, company spokesman Norinari Wakui said, adding that the lock on the container had been replaced before it left port in Malaysia.
The items, which are 14 percent thinner than conventional products at 0.02 millimeters, are worth 120 million yen (1.5 million dollars) at Japanese retail prices, he said.
"This has never happened to us before and we are very perplexed," Wakui told AFP. "We are not certain if it was of a premeditated nature."
Friday, February 4
Jhalanath Khanal elected PM
Sadichhya Shakya
Thapatali.kathmandu
Ending seven months of impasse, the parliament on Thursday elected Jhalanath Khanal as the prime minister after UCPN Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, in a surprising move, withdrew his candidacy and his party voted for Khanal.
The 34th prime minister of Nepal, Khanal secured 368 votes against 122 of his nearest rival Ram Chandra Paudel. Another candidate Bijaya Gachchhadar bagged 67 votes. Khanal, 61, is the third leader from the CPN-UML to reach to the top executive post of the country. Late Manmohan Adhikari was the first prime minister from the party while outgoing Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal was the second.
Earlier, the parliament had failed to elect a new prime minister despite 16 rounds of votes since the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government stepped down on June 30 last year.
As he saw no possibility of him being elected, Dahal withdrew his candidacy following a decision of the Maoist standing committee held just ahead of the election. "I sensed I am not going to win this election," said Dahal while announcing his withdrawal, adding that he took the decision to sacrifice to the nation.
"There was a situation that the election could bring no result again. I analyzed the situation seriously throughout last night and foresaw a danger of this election also bringing no result," said Dahal in an address to the parliament. "People have started slapping leaders. And if a prime minister is not elected even today, people will throw shoes at us," Dahal said justifying his withdrawal from the race.
sadichhya shkaya
Thapathali,kathmandu
In his lengthy speech in the parliament, Dahal further added that his decision would lay foundation for forwarding the peace process and constitution-writing. "This will set the peace process and constitution-writing on motion," Dahal said. Addressing the parliament before his election, Khanal urged all parties to support him.
Ram Chandra Paudel in his speech at parliament criticized Dahal and Khanal without pronouncing their names. "The word consensus has been misused to serve one’s vested interest," said Paudel, adding, "This [UML-Maoist] dramatic alliance cannot reflect the spirit of consensus."
Paudel´s statement was a reference to Khanal and Dahal who had repeatedly emphasized on formation of a consensus government before the Nepal-led majority government stepped down.
Gachchhadar, for his part, questioned the Khanal-Dahal alliance. "If your were going to forge this alliance now, why did you not do it six months ago instead of orchestrating his long drawn-out drama?" he said.
Thapatali.kathmandu
Ending seven months of impasse, the parliament on Thursday elected Jhalanath Khanal as the prime minister after UCPN Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, in a surprising move, withdrew his candidacy and his party voted for Khanal.
The 34th prime minister of Nepal, Khanal secured 368 votes against 122 of his nearest rival Ram Chandra Paudel. Another candidate Bijaya Gachchhadar bagged 67 votes. Khanal, 61, is the third leader from the CPN-UML to reach to the top executive post of the country. Late Manmohan Adhikari was the first prime minister from the party while outgoing Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal was the second.
Earlier, the parliament had failed to elect a new prime minister despite 16 rounds of votes since the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government stepped down on June 30 last year.
As he saw no possibility of him being elected, Dahal withdrew his candidacy following a decision of the Maoist standing committee held just ahead of the election. "I sensed I am not going to win this election," said Dahal while announcing his withdrawal, adding that he took the decision to sacrifice to the nation.
"There was a situation that the election could bring no result again. I analyzed the situation seriously throughout last night and foresaw a danger of this election also bringing no result," said Dahal in an address to the parliament. "People have started slapping leaders. And if a prime minister is not elected even today, people will throw shoes at us," Dahal said justifying his withdrawal from the race.
sadichhya shkaya
Thapathali,kathmandu
In his lengthy speech in the parliament, Dahal further added that his decision would lay foundation for forwarding the peace process and constitution-writing. "This will set the peace process and constitution-writing on motion," Dahal said. Addressing the parliament before his election, Khanal urged all parties to support him.
Ram Chandra Paudel in his speech at parliament criticized Dahal and Khanal without pronouncing their names. "The word consensus has been misused to serve one’s vested interest," said Paudel, adding, "This [UML-Maoist] dramatic alliance cannot reflect the spirit of consensus."
Paudel´s statement was a reference to Khanal and Dahal who had repeatedly emphasized on formation of a consensus government before the Nepal-led majority government stepped down.
Gachchhadar, for his part, questioned the Khanal-Dahal alliance. "If your were going to forge this alliance now, why did you not do it six months ago instead of orchestrating his long drawn-out drama?" he said.
Aamir will play negative role in Dhoom 3
Hrishita Deo
Kalimati, Kathmandu
11:37am; 4th Feb, 2011
Bollywood actor Aamir Khan’s fans have reasons to feel good about. The perfectionist of Bollywood has admitted that he will play a negative role in Dhoom 3.
Versatile actor Khan is known for being extremely choosy about the roles he accepts. The actor has admitted this development and said that he will be seen in a negative role in the movie.
The film will be directed by Tashan director Vijay Krishna Acharya also known as Victor.
The actor said, “I had never thought I would fit into it, but I loved Victor’s script and look forward to being one up on Jai and Ali.”
Kalimati, Kathmandu
11:37am; 4th Feb, 2011
Bollywood actor Aamir Khan’s fans have reasons to feel good about. The perfectionist of Bollywood has admitted that he will play a negative role in Dhoom 3.
Versatile actor Khan is known for being extremely choosy about the roles he accepts. The actor has admitted this development and said that he will be seen in a negative role in the movie.
The film will be directed by Tashan director Vijay Krishna Acharya also known as Victor.
The actor said, “I had never thought I would fit into it, but I loved Victor’s script and look forward to being one up on Jai and Ali.”
Dozens of reporters beaten, arrested in Egypt
Hrishita Deo
New Baneshwor, Kathmandu
11:00pm, 4th Feb, 2011
Threatening gangs supporting President Hosni Mubarak attacked journalists and human rights activists Thursday in an ugly turn in Egypt's crisis as government opponents pushed supporters out of Cairo's main square in a second day of battles. Organizers called for protesters trying to overthrow the regime to fill every square in the capital on Friday.
The new vice-president widely considered the first successor Mubarak has ever designated, fueled anti-foreign sentiment by going on state television and blaming outsiders for fomenting unrest. The government has accused media outlets of being sympathetic to protesters who want the president to quit now rather than serve out his term, as he has vowed to do.
Mubarak, 82, told in an interview that he was fed up and wants to resign. But he said he can't, because of the fear that the country would sink into chaos. He said he was very unhappy about the two days of clashes in central Tahrir Square.
"I do not want to see Egyptians fighting each other," he was quoted as saying.
The violence that had been concentrated in Tahrir spread around the city of 18 million, with a new wave of arson and looting.
Soldiers, mainly protecting government buildings and important institutions, remained passive as they have since replacing police on the streets almost a week ago. Few uniformed police have been seen around the city in that time, and protesters claim some of them have stripped off their uniforms and mixed in with the gangs of looting thugs.
"When there are demonstrations of this size, there will be foreigners who come and take advantage and they have an agenda to raise the energy of the protesters," Vice President Omar Suleiman said on state television.
Pro-government mobs beat foreign journalists with sticks and fists Thursday. The Committee to Protect Journalists said 24 reporters were detained in 24 hours, including representatives of The Washington Post and The New York Times. Twenty-one journalists were assaulted, including two with Fox News.
One Greek journalist was stabbed in the leg with a screwdriver, and a photographer was punched in the face, his equipment smashed. The Arabic news network Al-Arabiya pleaded for the army to protect its offices and journalists, and Al-Jazeera said four of its journalists were attacked. The BBC's foreign editor said security forces had seized the network's equipment in a hotel to stop it broadcasting.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs denounced reports of "systematic targeting" of journalists and the State Department described it as a "concerted campaign to intimidate."
"I think we need to be clear that the world is watching the actions that are taking place right now in Egypt," Gibbs said.
Human rights activists were also targeted. “Military police stormed the offices of an Egyptian rights group as activists were meeting, and arrested at least 30, including two from the London-based Amnesty International,” Amnesty spokesman Tom Mackey said. New York-based Human Rights Watch said one of its activists was also among those arrested.
Amnesty's secretary-general Salil Shetty demanded their immediate release saying they should be allowed "to monitor the human rights situation in Egypt at this crucial time without fear of harassment or detention."
Mubarak's top supporter, the United States, has pressed him to quickly transition to a democratic government but has said his earlier gestures, including forming a new government, were insufficient.
The crisis that began on Jan. 25 when protesters launched the biggest challenge ever to Mubarak's 30-year rule has grown death-defying. The day after Mubarak went on television late Tuesday and refused to step down, thousands of his supporters attacked anti-government protesters in Tahrir Square, where they had held a peaceful vigil for days.
The Mubarak supporters started fierce battles with firebombs, machetes and chunks of pavement that lasted throughout the night and all day Thursday.
After nightfall, the fighting died down with protesters' hold on the square and nearby streets unbroken. Nearly 10,000 remained, some dancing and singing in victory as others — worn out and bandaged — lay down exhausted to sleep or drank tea in the center of the rubble-strewn roundabout. Throughout the day, they gained in numbers and got supplies of food and medicine.
"Thank God, we managed to protect the whole area," said Abdul-Rahman, a taxi driver who was amongst thousands who stayed in the square through the night, hunkered down against the thousands besieging the entrances. "We prevented the pro-Mubarak people from storming the streets leading to the square." He refused to give his full name.
At least eight people have been killed and about 900 injured in the two days of fighting around Tahrir.
Many of the square's defenders had cotton padding and grubby bandages hanging from their faces, arms and legs. Others had chunks of rock stuck to their hair and clumps of dust in their beards. Many had the trimmed beards of Muslim conservatives, a sign of the Muslim Brotherhood's role in the fight. The Brotherhood is the country's largest opposition group but secular groups have led the protests.
Under a battering of international condemnation for Wednesday's assault on protesters by pro-Mubarak rioters, the government offered more concessions to the protesters, but that did nothing to calm the fury.
The anti-Mubarak movement has vowed to intensify protests to force the president out by Friday. The Facebook page that started the protest movement said supporters should gather at noon Friday on all Egyptian squares "so that we can put the last nail in the regime's coffin, and declare the victory of the Jan. 25 revolution." Friday is the weekend in Egypt and millions attend prayers at noon in thousands of mosques across the city.
Last Friday, there were fierce clashes between protesters and police after prayers. The hated police largely disappeared from the streets of Cairo after the clashes for reasons that remain mysterious. Mubarak, his new vice president and prime minister, all promised to get to the bottom of their disappearance.
The attorney-general indicated that the former interior minister, Habib el-Adly, who was in charge of the police force when they left the streets, is a suspect in the investigation. He ordered an asset freeze and travel ban against el-Adly and the former housing and tourism ministers, who were among the unpopular millionaire businessmen who dominated the government Mubarak dissolved early Saturday.
In the capital on Thursday, a new wave of looting and arson began, after easing since the weekend. A fire raged in a major supermarket outside Sheikh Zayed, a suburb of the capital, and looters ransacked the building. A residential building neighboring a 5-star hotel on the Nile River corniche burned blocks away from Tahrir. Other fires erupted in the Cairo district of Shubra, north of the center, security officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
The military and the security forces appeared to be doing little to stop the looting or the Tahrir clashes. In the interview, Suleiman said without elaborating that the police had "lost some of its capabilities" and that the army was struggling to fill the void.
Protesters accuse the regime and the ruling party of organizing a force of paid thugs and police in civilian clothes to attack them Wednesday afternoon, sparking the violence that raged until Thursday night.
The prime minister apologized for Wednesday's assault and acknowledged it may have been organized, though he said he didn't know by whom. Suleiman promised that Mubarak's son Gamal would not run in presidential elections in September. Before the protests, Mubarak was widely expected to try to pass his power to his son in a hereditary succession, despite significant public opposition.
Suleiman also offered to hold negotiations on the country's future even with the regime's biggest domestic enemy, the Muslim Brotherhood. But he also accused the Brotherhood of inciting the violence.
Mubarak's regime has long rejected any talks with the Brotherhood, which calls for an Islamic state in Egypt, and has arrested thousands of its members in the past. The Brotherhood is among the many disparate anti-Mubarak groups organizing the protests, though secular activists have so far dominated the movement. All have rejected any dialogue with the government before Mubarak steps down.
The government's latest concessions would have been stunning just two weeks ago. But on Thursday they were drowned out by the chaos.
"Hosni Mubarak's every breath is a lie," said Assem Moussa, a 40-year-old businessman among the protesters. "All the promises and the concessions are part of the lies. He is trying to deceive the people."
Moussa pulled a white cloth out of his pocket, saying, "This is my funeral shroud. If I die here, I will die for our freedom."
During Thursday's fighting, bands of Mubarak supporters moved through side streets around Tahrir, trading volleys of stone-throwing with the protesters and attacking cars to stop supplies from reaching the protest camp. One band stopped a car, ripped open the trunk and found boxes of juice, water and food, which they took before forcing the driver to flee.
Fighting centered on and below a highway overpass 500 yards (meters) north of Tahrir's center that regime supporters had used as high ground to pelt the crowds. Protesters swept over the bridge in stone-throwing battles.
At one point, a police truck barreled wildly through the crowds under the bridge, mowing down several people in its path, according to footage aired on Al-Jazeera. Heavy barrages of gunfire were heard from time to time.
The morning saw a brief attempt by the military to stop the fighting — its first since the melee started Wednesday. But the troops stood aside when clashes resumed in the afternoon, moving inside their tanks and armored vehicles without intervening.
The Mubarak backers seethed with anger at a protest movement that state TV and media have depicted as causing the chaos and paralyzing businesses and livelihoods.
"You in Tahrir are the reason we can't live a normal life," one screamed as he threw stones in a side street.
The anti-Mubarak youths posted sentries on the roofs and balconies of buildings around the square to raise the alert of any approaching attackers and rain stones on them. Other lookouts in the streets banged metal poles against pedestrian barriers alarm when they sighted incoming Mubarak backers.
One sentry waved his arms in the air like an airport runway traffic controller, directing defenders carrying piles of stones as ammunition to a side street to fend off an assault. But then another sentry waved a hand across his chest horizontally in a new signal. The crowd understood: false alarm, and they melted back into the square.
An exodus of foreigners, meanwhile, continued for another day with the U.N. evacuating much of its staff. The vice president said 1 million foreign tourists have fled the country, costing $1 billion in lost revenues from one of Egypt's most important industries.
New Baneshwor, Kathmandu
11:00pm, 4th Feb, 2011
Threatening gangs supporting President Hosni Mubarak attacked journalists and human rights activists Thursday in an ugly turn in Egypt's crisis as government opponents pushed supporters out of Cairo's main square in a second day of battles. Organizers called for protesters trying to overthrow the regime to fill every square in the capital on Friday.
The new vice-president widely considered the first successor Mubarak has ever designated, fueled anti-foreign sentiment by going on state television and blaming outsiders for fomenting unrest. The government has accused media outlets of being sympathetic to protesters who want the president to quit now rather than serve out his term, as he has vowed to do.
Mubarak, 82, told in an interview that he was fed up and wants to resign. But he said he can't, because of the fear that the country would sink into chaos. He said he was very unhappy about the two days of clashes in central Tahrir Square.
"I do not want to see Egyptians fighting each other," he was quoted as saying.
The violence that had been concentrated in Tahrir spread around the city of 18 million, with a new wave of arson and looting.
Soldiers, mainly protecting government buildings and important institutions, remained passive as they have since replacing police on the streets almost a week ago. Few uniformed police have been seen around the city in that time, and protesters claim some of them have stripped off their uniforms and mixed in with the gangs of looting thugs.
"When there are demonstrations of this size, there will be foreigners who come and take advantage and they have an agenda to raise the energy of the protesters," Vice President Omar Suleiman said on state television.
Pro-government mobs beat foreign journalists with sticks and fists Thursday. The Committee to Protect Journalists said 24 reporters were detained in 24 hours, including representatives of The Washington Post and The New York Times. Twenty-one journalists were assaulted, including two with Fox News.
One Greek journalist was stabbed in the leg with a screwdriver, and a photographer was punched in the face, his equipment smashed. The Arabic news network Al-Arabiya pleaded for the army to protect its offices and journalists, and Al-Jazeera said four of its journalists were attacked. The BBC's foreign editor said security forces had seized the network's equipment in a hotel to stop it broadcasting.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs denounced reports of "systematic targeting" of journalists and the State Department described it as a "concerted campaign to intimidate."
"I think we need to be clear that the world is watching the actions that are taking place right now in Egypt," Gibbs said.
Human rights activists were also targeted. “Military police stormed the offices of an Egyptian rights group as activists were meeting, and arrested at least 30, including two from the London-based Amnesty International,” Amnesty spokesman Tom Mackey said. New York-based Human Rights Watch said one of its activists was also among those arrested.
Amnesty's secretary-general Salil Shetty demanded their immediate release saying they should be allowed "to monitor the human rights situation in Egypt at this crucial time without fear of harassment or detention."
Mubarak's top supporter, the United States, has pressed him to quickly transition to a democratic government but has said his earlier gestures, including forming a new government, were insufficient.
The crisis that began on Jan. 25 when protesters launched the biggest challenge ever to Mubarak's 30-year rule has grown death-defying. The day after Mubarak went on television late Tuesday and refused to step down, thousands of his supporters attacked anti-government protesters in Tahrir Square, where they had held a peaceful vigil for days.
The Mubarak supporters started fierce battles with firebombs, machetes and chunks of pavement that lasted throughout the night and all day Thursday.
After nightfall, the fighting died down with protesters' hold on the square and nearby streets unbroken. Nearly 10,000 remained, some dancing and singing in victory as others — worn out and bandaged — lay down exhausted to sleep or drank tea in the center of the rubble-strewn roundabout. Throughout the day, they gained in numbers and got supplies of food and medicine.
"Thank God, we managed to protect the whole area," said Abdul-Rahman, a taxi driver who was amongst thousands who stayed in the square through the night, hunkered down against the thousands besieging the entrances. "We prevented the pro-Mubarak people from storming the streets leading to the square." He refused to give his full name.
At least eight people have been killed and about 900 injured in the two days of fighting around Tahrir.
Many of the square's defenders had cotton padding and grubby bandages hanging from their faces, arms and legs. Others had chunks of rock stuck to their hair and clumps of dust in their beards. Many had the trimmed beards of Muslim conservatives, a sign of the Muslim Brotherhood's role in the fight. The Brotherhood is the country's largest opposition group but secular groups have led the protests.
Under a battering of international condemnation for Wednesday's assault on protesters by pro-Mubarak rioters, the government offered more concessions to the protesters, but that did nothing to calm the fury.
The anti-Mubarak movement has vowed to intensify protests to force the president out by Friday. The Facebook page that started the protest movement said supporters should gather at noon Friday on all Egyptian squares "so that we can put the last nail in the regime's coffin, and declare the victory of the Jan. 25 revolution." Friday is the weekend in Egypt and millions attend prayers at noon in thousands of mosques across the city.
Last Friday, there were fierce clashes between protesters and police after prayers. The hated police largely disappeared from the streets of Cairo after the clashes for reasons that remain mysterious. Mubarak, his new vice president and prime minister, all promised to get to the bottom of their disappearance.
The attorney-general indicated that the former interior minister, Habib el-Adly, who was in charge of the police force when they left the streets, is a suspect in the investigation. He ordered an asset freeze and travel ban against el-Adly and the former housing and tourism ministers, who were among the unpopular millionaire businessmen who dominated the government Mubarak dissolved early Saturday.
In the capital on Thursday, a new wave of looting and arson began, after easing since the weekend. A fire raged in a major supermarket outside Sheikh Zayed, a suburb of the capital, and looters ransacked the building. A residential building neighboring a 5-star hotel on the Nile River corniche burned blocks away from Tahrir. Other fires erupted in the Cairo district of Shubra, north of the center, security officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
The military and the security forces appeared to be doing little to stop the looting or the Tahrir clashes. In the interview, Suleiman said without elaborating that the police had "lost some of its capabilities" and that the army was struggling to fill the void.
Protesters accuse the regime and the ruling party of organizing a force of paid thugs and police in civilian clothes to attack them Wednesday afternoon, sparking the violence that raged until Thursday night.
The prime minister apologized for Wednesday's assault and acknowledged it may have been organized, though he said he didn't know by whom. Suleiman promised that Mubarak's son Gamal would not run in presidential elections in September. Before the protests, Mubarak was widely expected to try to pass his power to his son in a hereditary succession, despite significant public opposition.
Suleiman also offered to hold negotiations on the country's future even with the regime's biggest domestic enemy, the Muslim Brotherhood. But he also accused the Brotherhood of inciting the violence.
Mubarak's regime has long rejected any talks with the Brotherhood, which calls for an Islamic state in Egypt, and has arrested thousands of its members in the past. The Brotherhood is among the many disparate anti-Mubarak groups organizing the protests, though secular activists have so far dominated the movement. All have rejected any dialogue with the government before Mubarak steps down.
The government's latest concessions would have been stunning just two weeks ago. But on Thursday they were drowned out by the chaos.
"Hosni Mubarak's every breath is a lie," said Assem Moussa, a 40-year-old businessman among the protesters. "All the promises and the concessions are part of the lies. He is trying to deceive the people."
Moussa pulled a white cloth out of his pocket, saying, "This is my funeral shroud. If I die here, I will die for our freedom."
During Thursday's fighting, bands of Mubarak supporters moved through side streets around Tahrir, trading volleys of stone-throwing with the protesters and attacking cars to stop supplies from reaching the protest camp. One band stopped a car, ripped open the trunk and found boxes of juice, water and food, which they took before forcing the driver to flee.
Fighting centered on and below a highway overpass 500 yards (meters) north of Tahrir's center that regime supporters had used as high ground to pelt the crowds. Protesters swept over the bridge in stone-throwing battles.
At one point, a police truck barreled wildly through the crowds under the bridge, mowing down several people in its path, according to footage aired on Al-Jazeera. Heavy barrages of gunfire were heard from time to time.
The morning saw a brief attempt by the military to stop the fighting — its first since the melee started Wednesday. But the troops stood aside when clashes resumed in the afternoon, moving inside their tanks and armored vehicles without intervening.
The Mubarak backers seethed with anger at a protest movement that state TV and media have depicted as causing the chaos and paralyzing businesses and livelihoods.
"You in Tahrir are the reason we can't live a normal life," one screamed as he threw stones in a side street.
The anti-Mubarak youths posted sentries on the roofs and balconies of buildings around the square to raise the alert of any approaching attackers and rain stones on them. Other lookouts in the streets banged metal poles against pedestrian barriers alarm when they sighted incoming Mubarak backers.
One sentry waved his arms in the air like an airport runway traffic controller, directing defenders carrying piles of stones as ammunition to a side street to fend off an assault. But then another sentry waved a hand across his chest horizontally in a new signal. The crowd understood: false alarm, and they melted back into the square.
An exodus of foreigners, meanwhile, continued for another day with the U.N. evacuating much of its staff. The vice president said 1 million foreign tourists have fled the country, costing $1 billion in lost revenues from one of Egypt's most important industries.
Thursday, February 3
Katrina spends night with Ranbir
Hrishita Deo
Kalimati, Kathmandu
08:10pm, 3rd Feb, 2011
Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor's secret affair is finally out in the open, thereby establishing the lady's fall out with Salman Khan.
Katrina and Ranbir were amongst the guests who attended Karan Johar's party at Hotel Four Season's in Mumbai on Tuesday night. The party got over late but for Ranbir and Kat it continued till the wee hours of morning.
The two stars left from the venue in their respective cars but reached the same destination - Ranbir's Bandra residence. The THT photographer, who was following both the cars, saw Kat's car parked in Ranbir's garage. We also hear that Kat didn't leave till as late at 7am in the morning.
Just a few days back, there were reports floating about Ranbir spending the night at Katrina's residence very often. It was also reported that Ranbir was at Kat's house the night before the IT raid took place. Unlike Shahid, who was present at Priyanka's house the same day during the raids, Ranbir was just lucky enough to leave Kat's house before officials knocked on the door.
Kalimati, Kathmandu
08:10pm, 3rd Feb, 2011
Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor's secret affair is finally out in the open, thereby establishing the lady's fall out with Salman Khan.
Katrina and Ranbir were amongst the guests who attended Karan Johar's party at Hotel Four Season's in Mumbai on Tuesday night. The party got over late but for Ranbir and Kat it continued till the wee hours of morning.
The two stars left from the venue in their respective cars but reached the same destination - Ranbir's Bandra residence. The THT photographer, who was following both the cars, saw Kat's car parked in Ranbir's garage. We also hear that Kat didn't leave till as late at 7am in the morning.
Just a few days back, there were reports floating about Ranbir spending the night at Katrina's residence very often. It was also reported that Ranbir was at Kat's house the night before the IT raid took place. Unlike Shahid, who was present at Priyanka's house the same day during the raids, Ranbir was just lucky enough to leave Kat's house before officials knocked on the door.
Tourist arrival up in January
Hrishita Deo
Kalimati, Kathmandu
08:00pm, 3rd Feb, 2011
Tourist arrivals via air increased by 26.2 percent this month compared to the same period last year, according to Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
Quoting Tribhuvan International Immigration Office, NTB said the number of tourists visiting Nepal in January reached 32,914 from last year's 26,071.
Of the total arrivals in last month, 9,813 tourists visited Nepal from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Similarly, arrivals from China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand increased by 366 percent, reaching 9,416 from 6,895 according to NTB.
Likewise, arrivals from 16 European countries, including Denmark, the UK, Austria, Belgium, France, Czech Republic, Germany, Israel and Italy, saw an increase by 14.6 percent and reached 6,434.
NTB said that 1,196 tourists came from Australia and New Zealand and 3,098 from USA and Canada. The remaining 2,957 tourists visited Nepal from other countries, it said.
Kalimati, Kathmandu
08:00pm, 3rd Feb, 2011
Tourist arrivals via air increased by 26.2 percent this month compared to the same period last year, according to Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
Quoting Tribhuvan International Immigration Office, NTB said the number of tourists visiting Nepal in January reached 32,914 from last year's 26,071.
Of the total arrivals in last month, 9,813 tourists visited Nepal from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Similarly, arrivals from China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand increased by 366 percent, reaching 9,416 from 6,895 according to NTB.
Likewise, arrivals from 16 European countries, including Denmark, the UK, Austria, Belgium, France, Czech Republic, Germany, Israel and Italy, saw an increase by 14.6 percent and reached 6,434.
NTB said that 1,196 tourists came from Australia and New Zealand and 3,098 from USA and Canada. The remaining 2,957 tourists visited Nepal from other countries, it said.
Teen kills leopard, saves mother
Hrishita Deo
Kalimati, Lalitpur
07:40pm, 3rd Feb, 2011
Phurba Tamang (14) of Chaurikharka-8 today killed a leopard and saved the life of her mother, Sommaya.
Recounting her experience, the girl said she hit the animal, which was in the pen, on its head with a chop of firewood after it attacked her mother.
“I hit the animal on its head till it stopped attacking my my mother. And when it fell on the ground, I hit it with the firewood till it died,” said Phurba.
After killing the animal, Phurba called the neighbours to rush her mother to hospital. Sommaya is receiving treatment at Lukla Hospital. The dead adult leopard was handed over to Sagarmatha National Park officials. Game scout of the park, Padam Rai, said the leopard was buried in the presence of police and locals. Rai said no action will be taken against Tamang as she had killed the animal in self-defence.
Kalimati, Lalitpur
07:40pm, 3rd Feb, 2011
Phurba Tamang (14) of Chaurikharka-8 today killed a leopard and saved the life of her mother, Sommaya.
Recounting her experience, the girl said she hit the animal, which was in the pen, on its head with a chop of firewood after it attacked her mother.
“I hit the animal on its head till it stopped attacking my my mother. And when it fell on the ground, I hit it with the firewood till it died,” said Phurba.
After killing the animal, Phurba called the neighbours to rush her mother to hospital. Sommaya is receiving treatment at Lukla Hospital. The dead adult leopard was handed over to Sagarmatha National Park officials. Game scout of the park, Padam Rai, said the leopard was buried in the presence of police and locals. Rai said no action will be taken against Tamang as she had killed the animal in self-defence.
1,500-year-old church found in Israel
Hrishita Deo
Kalimati, Kathmandu
07:25pm, 3rd Feb, 2011
Israeli archaeologists presented a newly uncovered 1,500-year-old church in the Judean hills on Wednesday, including an unusually well-preserved mosaic floor with images of lions, foxes, fish and peacocks.
The intricate church located southwest of Jerusalem, excavated over the last two months, will be visible only for another week before archaeologists cover it again with soil for its own protection.
The small cathedral with a delicately decorated floor was active between the fifth and seventh centuries A.D., said the dig's leader, Amir Ganor of the Israel Antiquities Authority. He said the floor was "one of the most beautiful mosaics to be uncovered in Israel in recent years."
"It is unique in its craftsmanship and level of preservation," he said.
Archaeologists began digging at the site, known as Hirbet Madras, in December. The Antiquities Authority discovered several months earlier that antiquities thieves had begun preying the ruins, which sit on an uninhabited hill not far from an Israeli farming community.
Though an initial survey suggested the building was a synagogue, the excavation revealed stones carved with crosses, identifying it as a church. The building had been built atop another structure around 500 years older, dating to Roman times, when scholars believe the settlement was inhabited by Jews.
Hewn into the rock underneath that structure is a network of tunnels that archaeologists believe were used by Jewish rebels fighting Roman armies in the second century A.D.
Stone steps lead down from the floor of church to a small burial cave, which scholars suggest might have been venerated as the burial place of the Old Testament prophet Zecharia.
Ganor said the church would remain covered until funding was obtained to open it as a tourist site.
Israel boasts an exceptionally high concentration of archaeological sites, including Crusader, Islamic, Byzantine, Roman, ancient Jewish and prehistoric ruins.
Kalimati, Kathmandu
07:25pm, 3rd Feb, 2011
Israeli archaeologists presented a newly uncovered 1,500-year-old church in the Judean hills on Wednesday, including an unusually well-preserved mosaic floor with images of lions, foxes, fish and peacocks.
The intricate church located southwest of Jerusalem, excavated over the last two months, will be visible only for another week before archaeologists cover it again with soil for its own protection.
The small cathedral with a delicately decorated floor was active between the fifth and seventh centuries A.D., said the dig's leader, Amir Ganor of the Israel Antiquities Authority. He said the floor was "one of the most beautiful mosaics to be uncovered in Israel in recent years."
"It is unique in its craftsmanship and level of preservation," he said.
Archaeologists began digging at the site, known as Hirbet Madras, in December. The Antiquities Authority discovered several months earlier that antiquities thieves had begun preying the ruins, which sit on an uninhabited hill not far from an Israeli farming community.
Though an initial survey suggested the building was a synagogue, the excavation revealed stones carved with crosses, identifying it as a church. The building had been built atop another structure around 500 years older, dating to Roman times, when scholars believe the settlement was inhabited by Jews.
Hewn into the rock underneath that structure is a network of tunnels that archaeologists believe were used by Jewish rebels fighting Roman armies in the second century A.D.
Stone steps lead down from the floor of church to a small burial cave, which scholars suggest might have been venerated as the burial place of the Old Testament prophet Zecharia.
Ganor said the church would remain covered until funding was obtained to open it as a tourist site.
Israel boasts an exceptionally high concentration of archaeological sites, including Crusader, Islamic, Byzantine, Roman, ancient Jewish and prehistoric ruins.
700-year-old relics found in Dang
Sadichhya Shakya
kumaripati,lalitpur
About 700-year-ancient structures have been found while undertaking primary dig of relics of the palace of Tharu King Dangisharan.
The Department of Archeology has been carrying out investigation into the King Dangisharan´s palace in Urahari Village Development Committee (VDC)-9, Sukauri of Dang.
A team of the Department headed by Chief Archeology Officer Uddab Acharya has started digging in the area from last Saturday.
Around 700-year-old building structures and other materials are found in the course of primary excavation, informed the persons involved in the investigation.
According to archeologist Acharya, mud-made pots and traditional structure constructed with the use of brick have been found from the palace of King Dangisharan.
Though the archeologists involved in the investigation speculate that the structures found are that of 700 years ancient, it takes some days to verify this.
kumaripati,lalitpur
About 700-year-ancient structures have been found while undertaking primary dig of relics of the palace of Tharu King Dangisharan.
The Department of Archeology has been carrying out investigation into the King Dangisharan´s palace in Urahari Village Development Committee (VDC)-9, Sukauri of Dang.
A team of the Department headed by Chief Archeology Officer Uddab Acharya has started digging in the area from last Saturday.
Around 700-year-old building structures and other materials are found in the course of primary excavation, informed the persons involved in the investigation.
According to archeologist Acharya, mud-made pots and traditional structure constructed with the use of brick have been found from the palace of King Dangisharan.
Though the archeologists involved in the investigation speculate that the structures found are that of 700 years ancient, it takes some days to verify this.
Wednesday, February 2
Foreigners leave Egypt in the middle of mass protests
Hrishita Deo
Kalimati, Kathmandu
10:35pm, 2nd Feb, 2011
Foreign governments pulled their nationals from Egypt in the middle of massive anti-government protests shaking the Arab nation as Washington ordered non-essential embassy staff there to leave.
In London, Foreign Secretary William Hague announced Britain was sending chartered aircraft to Cairo on Wednesday to bring back citizens who wished to leave. Hague told parliament, “I’ll send further flights too, if we see a need to do so.”
Hague later said that while there were a sufficient number of commercial flights between Egypt and Britain, he wanted to give the estimated 2,000 British nationals in Cairo every opportunity to leave if they wished.
Meanwhile, British tour operators offered a series of promotions on holidays in Egypt's Red Sea resorts which reportedly remain relatively calm and popular with holidaymakers despite unrest elsewhere in the country. But Germany widened its travel warning to include all of Egypt including the Red Sea tourist resorts.
Germany's foreign ministry "urgently warns against travelling to anywhere in Egypt in view of recent developments and the unstable situation," a statement said. The statement further says, "This advice also applies to the tourist resorts of the Red Sea, even if the situation is calm there at present."
Following the announcement, Germany's DRV travel federation announced that tour operators were cancelling their trips to Egypt until mid-February.
In Athens, the Greek foreign ministry said it had evacuated by air, 155 nationals living in the Egyptian seaside city of Alexandria. “The first of three chartered flights carrying Greek expatriates landed at Athens international airport around 1500 GMT, followed by two others,” said the foreign ministry.
Austria also started evacuating hundreds of its citizens from Egypt overnight, the foreign ministry said. An Austrian Airlines flight commissioned by the ministry landed shortly after midnight in Vienna with 138 passengers on board. A plane from the Austrian army followed Tuesday morning with 66 travelers, the ministry said.
Algeria said it would begin to send back its nationals on Wednesday. “Two Air Algeria flights would be accommodated for those wanting to leave on Wednesday and Thursday,” the Algerian Foreign Ministry said.
The jitters stretched as far as Asia, where Taiwan announced it had chartered a plane to evacuate 129 people from Egypt, and Hong Kong security officials said they were working on getting their own tourists home as soon as possible.
"The government is working closely with the (Chinese) embassy on a suitable and safe arrangement for their departure from Egypt as soon as possible," Lai Tung-kwok, Hong Kong's undersecretary for security, said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the United States ordered the departure of all non-emergency US government staff from Egypt. "The Department of State will continue to facilitate the evacuation of US citizens who require assistance," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said in announcing the move. He said the departure of all non-emergency US government personnel was ordered "in light of recent events."
Rabat also said it would send back some 300 Moroccans aboard two flights. The pullouts come as hundreds of thousands of protesters in Cairo and Alexandria demanded the expulsion of longtime Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Kalimati, Kathmandu
10:35pm, 2nd Feb, 2011
Foreign governments pulled their nationals from Egypt in the middle of massive anti-government protests shaking the Arab nation as Washington ordered non-essential embassy staff there to leave.
In London, Foreign Secretary William Hague announced Britain was sending chartered aircraft to Cairo on Wednesday to bring back citizens who wished to leave. Hague told parliament, “I’ll send further flights too, if we see a need to do so.”
Hague later said that while there were a sufficient number of commercial flights between Egypt and Britain, he wanted to give the estimated 2,000 British nationals in Cairo every opportunity to leave if they wished.
Meanwhile, British tour operators offered a series of promotions on holidays in Egypt's Red Sea resorts which reportedly remain relatively calm and popular with holidaymakers despite unrest elsewhere in the country. But Germany widened its travel warning to include all of Egypt including the Red Sea tourist resorts.
Germany's foreign ministry "urgently warns against travelling to anywhere in Egypt in view of recent developments and the unstable situation," a statement said. The statement further says, "This advice also applies to the tourist resorts of the Red Sea, even if the situation is calm there at present."
Following the announcement, Germany's DRV travel federation announced that tour operators were cancelling their trips to Egypt until mid-February.
In Athens, the Greek foreign ministry said it had evacuated by air, 155 nationals living in the Egyptian seaside city of Alexandria. “The first of three chartered flights carrying Greek expatriates landed at Athens international airport around 1500 GMT, followed by two others,” said the foreign ministry.
Austria also started evacuating hundreds of its citizens from Egypt overnight, the foreign ministry said. An Austrian Airlines flight commissioned by the ministry landed shortly after midnight in Vienna with 138 passengers on board. A plane from the Austrian army followed Tuesday morning with 66 travelers, the ministry said.
Algeria said it would begin to send back its nationals on Wednesday. “Two Air Algeria flights would be accommodated for those wanting to leave on Wednesday and Thursday,” the Algerian Foreign Ministry said.
The jitters stretched as far as Asia, where Taiwan announced it had chartered a plane to evacuate 129 people from Egypt, and Hong Kong security officials said they were working on getting their own tourists home as soon as possible.
"The government is working closely with the (Chinese) embassy on a suitable and safe arrangement for their departure from Egypt as soon as possible," Lai Tung-kwok, Hong Kong's undersecretary for security, said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the United States ordered the departure of all non-emergency US government staff from Egypt. "The Department of State will continue to facilitate the evacuation of US citizens who require assistance," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said in announcing the move. He said the departure of all non-emergency US government personnel was ordered "in light of recent events."
Rabat also said it would send back some 300 Moroccans aboard two flights. The pullouts come as hundreds of thousands of protesters in Cairo and Alexandria demanded the expulsion of longtime Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Five hurt in accident
Sadichhya Shakya
Kumaripati, Lalitpur
Five people were injured in an accident at Makaibari of Dolakha district along Lamosanghu-Jiri road section this morning.
The accident took place when the car (Ba 2 Kha 8095) heading towards Boch VDC from Charikot and the bus (Ba 2 Kha 5780) bound to Dhobi from Katmandu collided with each other. All five people traveling by the car were injured in the accident.
The injured are Phurba Tamang, Dawa Yongel and Dorje Lama of Bhimeshor Municipality-10, Tulasa Lama of Bhimeshor Municipality-1 and Kumar Yonjan. Among the injured, Phurba, Kumar and Dawa are in critical condition.They are being treated at Dolakha Community Hospital in Charikot. Police arrested the bus driver and impound the bus.
Kumaripati, Lalitpur
Five people were injured in an accident at Makaibari of Dolakha district along Lamosanghu-Jiri road section this morning.
The accident took place when the car (Ba 2 Kha 8095) heading towards Boch VDC from Charikot and the bus (Ba 2 Kha 5780) bound to Dhobi from Katmandu collided with each other. All five people traveling by the car were injured in the accident.
The injured are Phurba Tamang, Dawa Yongel and Dorje Lama of Bhimeshor Municipality-10, Tulasa Lama of Bhimeshor Municipality-1 and Kumar Yonjan. Among the injured, Phurba, Kumar and Dawa are in critical condition.They are being treated at Dolakha Community Hospital in Charikot. Police arrested the bus driver and impound the bus.
Khanal files candidacy, NC picks Poudel
Sadichhya shakya
Kumaripati,lalitpur
CPN-UML chairman Jhalanath Khanal has filled his candidacy for prime ministerial election at the parliament secretariat on Wednesday afternoon as Nepali Congress central committee voted in favor of parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel.
Khanal´s candidacy was proposed by Bhim Acharya and seconded by Ram Chandra Jha. "We will still try for national government," Khanal said after filing his candidacy.
Nepali Congress Central Committee on Wednesday voted for parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel as the prime ministerial candidate. "Poudel was proposed by chairman Sushil Koirala, and the committee selected him based on majority votes," Bimalendra Nidhi said after the meeting.
Leaders close to senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba had advocated for re-thinking of the candidate at the meeting held at the party’s central office."This is continuity of NC´s(Nepal congress) earlier decision," Poudel said.
Just before the beginning of the meeting, president Sushil Koirala, parliamentary party leader Ram Chandar Poudel and senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba held a meeting. Poudel failed to get the majority in 16 rounds of PM election in parliament. The nomination for PM election is set for Wednesday. UCPN (Maoist) and CPN-UML announced their chairmen Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Jhalanath Khanal respectively as their PM candidate on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary party meeting of CPN-UML on Wednesday morning issued a whip to all lawmakers to vote for Khanal in the PM election slated for Thursday.
Kumaripati,lalitpur
CPN-UML chairman Jhalanath Khanal has filled his candidacy for prime ministerial election at the parliament secretariat on Wednesday afternoon as Nepali Congress central committee voted in favor of parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel.
Khanal´s candidacy was proposed by Bhim Acharya and seconded by Ram Chandra Jha. "We will still try for national government," Khanal said after filing his candidacy.
Nepali Congress Central Committee on Wednesday voted for parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel as the prime ministerial candidate. "Poudel was proposed by chairman Sushil Koirala, and the committee selected him based on majority votes," Bimalendra Nidhi said after the meeting.
Leaders close to senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba had advocated for re-thinking of the candidate at the meeting held at the party’s central office."This is continuity of NC´s(Nepal congress) earlier decision," Poudel said.
Just before the beginning of the meeting, president Sushil Koirala, parliamentary party leader Ram Chandar Poudel and senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba held a meeting. Poudel failed to get the majority in 16 rounds of PM election in parliament. The nomination for PM election is set for Wednesday. UCPN (Maoist) and CPN-UML announced their chairmen Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Jhalanath Khanal respectively as their PM candidate on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary party meeting of CPN-UML on Wednesday morning issued a whip to all lawmakers to vote for Khanal in the PM election slated for Thursday.
Fuel Crisis to Ease
Pratima Giri
Kumaripati, Lalitpur
Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has said that the supply of petroleum products will be normal within two days.
Shortage of petroleum products has been felt in Kathmandu valley after Indian Oil Corporation decreased its exports as Nepal failed to clear the dues on time.
“The capital will see a smooth supply of petroleum products within two days as the government has provided Rs 1.2 billion loan for clearing the dues “ said NOC ‘s Thankot depot chief Bhuwaneshwori Rajbhandari.
Kumaripati, Lalitpur
Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has said that the supply of petroleum products will be normal within two days.
Shortage of petroleum products has been felt in Kathmandu valley after Indian Oil Corporation decreased its exports as Nepal failed to clear the dues on time.
“The capital will see a smooth supply of petroleum products within two days as the government has provided Rs 1.2 billion loan for clearing the dues “ said NOC ‘s Thankot depot chief Bhuwaneshwori Rajbhandari.
Thursday, January 27
Suicide turns out to be a case of murder
Hrishita Deo
Kumaripati, Lalitpur
05:29pm, 27 Jan, 2011
A cop’s death on Saturday, which initially looked like a suicide, now, with new findings, investigating officials say has slightly tilted towards what they call ‘a case of murder’.
DSP Kanchan Thapa was found dead in Basundhara with a wound in his right temple. The police had recovered a Germany-made revolver loaded with nine rounds of bullets.
An investigating official today said it didn’t look like a wound caused by the revolver. “A revolver bullet hole though is small at the entry point, it leaves a sizable opening at the exit point due to the spin while passing through the body parts,” said the official. “Had the revolver been used, there would have been a cone-shaped wound.”
What is more baffling is no bullet shell was found. “It seems a homemade gun was used, as a bullet fired from a homemade gun travels straight,” added the official, arguing that one bullet ‘might have been fired randomly or removed from Thapa’s revolver to give the incident a colour of suicide’.
The police have also found a handkerchief pressed under the revolver, which the official said, was used to avoid fingerprints. “DSP Thapa would not do so if he shot himself.”
The police have arrested seven persons, including Khop Kumari Adhikari also known as Shweta (25) of Rasuwa and Phurba Lama (37) of Sindhupalchowk, for questioning. The third floor of the house, where the police officer was found dead, was rented by Shweta. Thapa was living together with her for the last 15 months.
“We have found that Shweta and three others owed Thapa Rs 5 million. They might have plotted the murder to skirt payment,” said the official.
Though Shweta argued that she was married to DSP Thapa, she failed to produce ample evidences to corroborate the claim. “She looks pretty normal; it does not even look like the DSP’s death has grieved her,” added the official.
Kumaripati, Lalitpur
05:29pm, 27 Jan, 2011
A cop’s death on Saturday, which initially looked like a suicide, now, with new findings, investigating officials say has slightly tilted towards what they call ‘a case of murder’.
DSP Kanchan Thapa was found dead in Basundhara with a wound in his right temple. The police had recovered a Germany-made revolver loaded with nine rounds of bullets.
An investigating official today said it didn’t look like a wound caused by the revolver. “A revolver bullet hole though is small at the entry point, it leaves a sizable opening at the exit point due to the spin while passing through the body parts,” said the official. “Had the revolver been used, there would have been a cone-shaped wound.”
What is more baffling is no bullet shell was found. “It seems a homemade gun was used, as a bullet fired from a homemade gun travels straight,” added the official, arguing that one bullet ‘might have been fired randomly or removed from Thapa’s revolver to give the incident a colour of suicide’.
The police have also found a handkerchief pressed under the revolver, which the official said, was used to avoid fingerprints. “DSP Thapa would not do so if he shot himself.”
The police have arrested seven persons, including Khop Kumari Adhikari also known as Shweta (25) of Rasuwa and Phurba Lama (37) of Sindhupalchowk, for questioning. The third floor of the house, where the police officer was found dead, was rented by Shweta. Thapa was living together with her for the last 15 months.
“We have found that Shweta and three others owed Thapa Rs 5 million. They might have plotted the murder to skirt payment,” said the official.
Though Shweta argued that she was married to DSP Thapa, she failed to produce ample evidences to corroborate the claim. “She looks pretty normal; it does not even look like the DSP’s death has grieved her,” added the official.
College girl stabbed to death, 3 injured in police fight
Hrishita Deo
Kumaripati, Lalitpur
A Plus Two college girl was stabbed to death by her classmate in Siraha early Thursday morning, spurring a protest in which at least three persons were injured after police intervened in a bid to bring the situation under control.
Punam Kumari Singh, an eleventh grader of Janata Higher Secondary School, of Chandra Udayapur-2 of the district was stabbed to death by her classmate Santosh Chaudhary at around 7 am today, while she was cycling to the school. She was attacked just in front of the school gate.
Singh died on the spot after she received multiple knife injuries on various parts of her body. Attacker Chaudhary, who also hails from the same locality, however managed to escape the scene. Singh’s body has been taken to Lahan, the district headquarters, for autopsy.
Following the incident, the students, locals and Singh’s relatives halted the East-West Highway protesting the murder, leaving thousands of passengers stranded on the road. The protesters vandalised eight vehicles in course of the protest.
With the protest turning violent, police fired several rounds of shots and tear gas canisters, leaving at least three persons injured. One of the injured, Arun Kumar Mahato, suffered a bullet injury in the leg. He has been receiving treatment at a Lahan hospital. Meanwhile, the situation is gradually returning to normal after the protesters and local administration reached an understanding this afternoon to end the protest.
The transport services on the highway resumed after the local administration agreed to nab the murderer at the earliest, and provide due compensation to the victim’s family. The protesters have also asked for action against the police personnel involved in the firing.
Monday, January 24
Post-slap fame falls into Regmi's lap
Hrishita Deo
Kumaripati, Lalitpur
An insult to any visionary political leader can never be justified. But, by slapping CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal at a party’s program in Itahari on Thursday, Devi Prasad Regmi (55) of Bharoul-5, Sunsari, seems to have attained celebrity status.
Though the existing law has confined Regmi in custody for public offence, a number of people, fed up with the political scenario have started campaigning in his support. Thousands of comments on online news reports are also entirely in his support.
The audiences, who commented on the story, also mentioned interesting facts as to why the government kept silent and did not initiate action against Minister Karima Begam who slapped the then Parsa CDO Durga Prasad Bhandary and Maoist CA members who thrashed Finance Minister Surendra Pandey.
A support link created on Facebook for Devi Prasad Regmi is liked by more than 5,300 people. No one seems to have commented against him. Regmi’s well-wishers have termed him a ‘national hero’ and ‘celebrity’.
An organized group in Kathmandu has hosted a website under the domain of www.deviprasadregmi.info with an appeal to help Regmi, terming him a ‘representative of 30 million Nepalese’. The group has collected more than Rs 14,000 from Regmi’s well-wishers across the world.
Another group in USA also initiated a campaign to release him on bail. Bimal Guragain, a member of Nepal-America Ekta Samaj said they were ready to help Regmi.
“The government that cannot take action against a minister for assaulting a CDO has no moral strength to imprison a common farmer who tried to warn a leader against ruining the nation,” he said.
Nepali Diasporas in Qatar, Belgium, Japan, Britain and other countries also united to support him. Kumar Prasad Regmi, who is coordinating the support campaign from Belgium, told THT Daily that the fund will be used to bail him out and provide him with social security. Kedar Bista and his relatives in Madhubani, Sunsari have announced to donate Rs 28,000 to release him on bail.
Political analyst Prof. Krishna Khanal said the incident indicated the real position of Nepali politicians. “Regmi’s action is punishable by law, but the incident can be taken as an indicator of the existing relationship between leaders and general public,” he added. The incident is a strong lesson for leaders, he said.
Regmi is a poor farmer with a small house and a kathha of land in Bharoul. His son Mahesh said, “We are not worried of his act, but we are affected, as the sole main source of income has been imprisoned.” Regmi’s confinement has added to the woes of his sick mother.
Earlier, Regmi had justified his action, saying Khanal and political leaders like him were to be blamed for promising the moon to people and keeping the country hostage for long.
Though the existing law has confined Regmi in custody for public offence, a number of people, fed up with the political scenario have started campaigning in his support. Thousands of comments on online news reports are also entirely in his support.
The audiences, who commented on the story, also mentioned interesting facts as to why the government kept silent and did not initiate action against Minister Karima Begam who slapped the then Parsa CDO Durga Prasad Bhandary and Maoist CA members who thrashed Finance Minister Surendra Pandey.
A support link created on Facebook for Devi Prasad Regmi is liked by more than 5,300 people. No one seems to have commented against him. Regmi’s well-wishers have termed him a ‘national hero’ and ‘celebrity’.
An organized group in Kathmandu has hosted a website under the domain of www.deviprasadregmi.info with an appeal to help Regmi, terming him a ‘representative of 30 million Nepalese’. The group has collected more than Rs 14,000 from Regmi’s well-wishers across the world.
Another group in USA also initiated a campaign to release him on bail. Bimal Guragain, a member of Nepal-America Ekta Samaj said they were ready to help Regmi.
“The government that cannot take action against a minister for assaulting a CDO has no moral strength to imprison a common farmer who tried to warn a leader against ruining the nation,” he said.
Nepali Diasporas in Qatar, Belgium, Japan, Britain and other countries also united to support him. Kumar Prasad Regmi, who is coordinating the support campaign from Belgium, told THT Daily that the fund will be used to bail him out and provide him with social security. Kedar Bista and his relatives in Madhubani, Sunsari have announced to donate Rs 28,000 to release him on bail.
Political analyst Prof. Krishna Khanal said the incident indicated the real position of Nepali politicians. “Regmi’s action is punishable by law, but the incident can be taken as an indicator of the existing relationship between leaders and general public,” he added. The incident is a strong lesson for leaders, he said.
Regmi is a poor farmer with a small house and a kathha of land in Bharoul. His son Mahesh said, “We are not worried of his act, but we are affected, as the sole main source of income has been imprisoned.” Regmi’s confinement has added to the woes of his sick mother.
Earlier, Regmi had justified his action, saying Khanal and political leaders like him were to be blamed for promising the moon to people and keeping the country hostage for long.
Maoist-led government in five days, says Prachanda
Hrishita Deo
Kumaripati, Lalitpur
Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal today claimed that the country would get a union government under his party leadership within five days.
“The chances of the Maoist-led union government within five days are high. There is sufficient ground for this,” the Maoist chief told media persons at a conference organized by Revolutionary Journalists’ Union in Hetauda today.
The other two major parties, CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress, are positive towards the Maoist-led government, he claimed.
On a different note, the UCPN-M chairman said the transfer of the PLA combatants from the Maoist party to the Prime Minister-led Special Committee had stunned the world.
“The handover of the Maoist combatants to the SC has turned down the allegations that Maoists are against peace and statute-writing processes. Instead, it has paved the way for taking the peace process to a logical conclusion,” added Dahal.
The Maoist boss also made it clear that the PLA personnel were no longer his party combatants.
“As the single largest party in the Constituent Assembly, UCPN-M has democratic and legal rights to stake claim for the government leadership,” asserted Dahal, hoping that new law could be drafted by May 28 if his party got the chance to be at the controls.
In a response to the media query who would be his party’s prime ministerial candidate if the Maoist got a chance to lead the new government, Prachanda said the party had already finalised the candidate.
On the occasion, he glossed over the internal rift in the party pertaining to the PM candidature and said the latest Central Committee meeting had resolved minor ideological differences that had surfaced lately.
“The ideological rift will not split the party; rather, it will further strengthen it,” he claimed.
On his way to Kathmandu from Shaktikhor, Chitwan, Dahal had stayed in Hetauda last night. He met his party cadres from Makwanpur district during the stay.
“The chances of the Maoist-led union government within five days are high. There is sufficient ground for this,” the Maoist chief told media persons at a conference organized by Revolutionary Journalists’ Union in Hetauda today.
The other two major parties, CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress, are positive towards the Maoist-led government, he claimed.
On a different note, the UCPN-M chairman said the transfer of the PLA combatants from the Maoist party to the Prime Minister-led Special Committee had stunned the world.
“The handover of the Maoist combatants to the SC has turned down the allegations that Maoists are against peace and statute-writing processes. Instead, it has paved the way for taking the peace process to a logical conclusion,” added Dahal.
The Maoist boss also made it clear that the PLA personnel were no longer his party combatants.
“As the single largest party in the Constituent Assembly, UCPN-M has democratic and legal rights to stake claim for the government leadership,” asserted Dahal, hoping that new law could be drafted by May 28 if his party got the chance to be at the controls.
In a response to the media query who would be his party’s prime ministerial candidate if the Maoist got a chance to lead the new government, Prachanda said the party had already finalised the candidate.
On the occasion, he glossed over the internal rift in the party pertaining to the PM candidature and said the latest Central Committee meeting had resolved minor ideological differences that had surfaced lately.
“The ideological rift will not split the party; rather, it will further strengthen it,” he claimed.
On his way to Kathmandu from Shaktikhor, Chitwan, Dahal had stayed in Hetauda last night. He met his party cadres from Makwanpur district during the stay.
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