Deepa Bangdael
kumaripati,lalitpur
With the government’s drive to send away Nepali migrant workers from strife-torn Libya picking up speed, more migrant workers from other Libyan cities, apart from Darnah, have started to return Nepal.
On Sunday, 84 workers were airlifted to Kathmandu from Tripoli, the capital city of Libya that has become the epicenter of the ongoing unrest in the North African country, via Istanbul of Turkey. According to Hansa Raj Wagle, vice president of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA), 84 Nepali workers were first airlifted to Istanbul, along with migrant workers from other countries, and then to Kathmandu via Doha, Delhi and Bahrain. Of the total 119 workers who had reached Tripoli through Peace International Manpower Company of Kathmandu about a year ago, 35 Nepali workers are expected to return Nepal on Monday.
“As the streets in Tripoli turned into battlegrounds, we stopped our work a week ago,” Jagat Gurung, 33, a resident of Tangsing in Kaski, after landing in Kathmandu. “We had been staying inside our camps since last Monday. Our company arranged for our return flights, stating that it was not safe to work in Tripoli.”According to Jagat, though 90 workers were expected to board planes on Sunday, six had to stay back in Turkey due to problems in obtaining visas. “I hope all of my friends will return by Monday,” he said.
150 workers reach China
Of the total 600 Nepali workers stranded in Ghat, a south western city of Libya, 150 workers were airlifted to Beijing and Shanghai of China on Sunday. They had reached Libya to work in a construction project run by a Shino hydro company. “They are expected to return Nepal from China within a few days,” Wagle said.Similarly, Ramco Trading and Contracting, a Qatar-based construction company, has informed that it will take some 200 workers to Qatar. “The Qatari company has already obtained permission from our government for this purpose,” Wagle said.
According to Dhan Bahadur Oli, Deputy Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), 30 Nepali workers have left Benghazi, the second largest city of Libya, for Sallum, an Egyptian border town. “They will go to Alexandria, an Egyptian city, by bus,” Oli said. “And, they will then fly back home from there.”
According to Tirtha Aryal, the first secretary at the Nepali Embassy in Egypt, a group of about 20 Nepali workers had entered into Tunisia from Zuwarah, a port city in North West Libya. “However, they had to return to Libya,” Aryal told. “I do not exactly know why they had to return to Libya. I guess they did not obtain transit visa in Tunisia.”
Monday, February 28
ALBATROSS: Flying a new high or low
Pratima Giri
kumaripati, lalitpur
Since their inception in 1999, Albatross throughout the times have had some drastic changes to their lineup, which subsequently has had a lot of influence on their music.And with their transition from a musically heavy band of ‘Hi:Fly,’ to alternative-rockers of ‘Jo Jus Sanga Sambandhit Chha,’ the band has progressed to new heights. The new album, ‘Atti Bho,’ has had a great deal of expectation surrounding it, and in a sense was much anticipated. For those of us who still refuse to take in Albatross’s alternative sounds and swear via their first album – ‘Hi:Fly,’ it is time to abandon those notions.
The band has never looked back after ‘Jo Jus Sanga Sambandhit Chha,’ and to further their stance on the same direction is the new album. Consisting of eight tracks, the album has a dense appeal to the alternative rock-loving youths of our country that are in throngs.
The sound throughout the album has been cleanly produced, and separation of instruments is well worth mentioning. However, the constant sounding acoustic guitar on almost all the tracks wears you down.
‘Shriti ra Dristi,’ which has already become quite famous from their playing in concerts, is probably the most notable song in the album. The heavy distortion from the start of the song gives a sound alike to “Hi:Fly,” and without a doubt catches the attention of the listener. ‘Janatama appeal’ is all about the political turmoil the country has been facing for quite some time now. Though the vocals, which sounds as if from a megaphone, is not pleasing at first, you get used to it in time, and the double entendre of the lyrics are pretty interesting to listen to.
As the album progresses, you get the feeling that a monotonous routine rises in the tracks that follow. ‘Jhariko Raat,’ is a loneliness-themed track and is depressingly familiar.Though musically the song is almost neutral in a sense, the lyrics let it down, however. The all to similarity between songs about loneliness does not grab at you, like it used to in the old days.
The uncompromising and unique vocals on ‘Nischal’ is well worth complementing, as well the as the bass line. The slow start of ‘Abhiman’ is well pitched, and altogether the song is formed and complete. This is perhaps the only slow song of the album that really takes your attention.‘Kahile Kahi’ with the wah-wah pedals and heavy distortion somehow does not click. The elongated and loud vocals are not clear enough, creating an irritating effect.
Though ‘Atti Bho’ will strike a chord with lots of alternate lovers, the general effect of the whole album on a usual listener is not altogether pleasing.
kumaripati, lalitpur
Since their inception in 1999, Albatross throughout the times have had some drastic changes to their lineup, which subsequently has had a lot of influence on their music.And with their transition from a musically heavy band of ‘Hi:Fly,’ to alternative-rockers of ‘Jo Jus Sanga Sambandhit Chha,’ the band has progressed to new heights. The new album, ‘Atti Bho,’ has had a great deal of expectation surrounding it, and in a sense was much anticipated. For those of us who still refuse to take in Albatross’s alternative sounds and swear via their first album – ‘Hi:Fly,’ it is time to abandon those notions.
The band has never looked back after ‘Jo Jus Sanga Sambandhit Chha,’ and to further their stance on the same direction is the new album. Consisting of eight tracks, the album has a dense appeal to the alternative rock-loving youths of our country that are in throngs.
The sound throughout the album has been cleanly produced, and separation of instruments is well worth mentioning. However, the constant sounding acoustic guitar on almost all the tracks wears you down.
‘Shriti ra Dristi,’ which has already become quite famous from their playing in concerts, is probably the most notable song in the album. The heavy distortion from the start of the song gives a sound alike to “Hi:Fly,” and without a doubt catches the attention of the listener. ‘Janatama appeal’ is all about the political turmoil the country has been facing for quite some time now. Though the vocals, which sounds as if from a megaphone, is not pleasing at first, you get used to it in time, and the double entendre of the lyrics are pretty interesting to listen to.
As the album progresses, you get the feeling that a monotonous routine rises in the tracks that follow. ‘Jhariko Raat,’ is a loneliness-themed track and is depressingly familiar.Though musically the song is almost neutral in a sense, the lyrics let it down, however. The all to similarity between songs about loneliness does not grab at you, like it used to in the old days.
The uncompromising and unique vocals on ‘Nischal’ is well worth complementing, as well the as the bass line. The slow start of ‘Abhiman’ is well pitched, and altogether the song is formed and complete. This is perhaps the only slow song of the album that really takes your attention.‘Kahile Kahi’ with the wah-wah pedals and heavy distortion somehow does not click. The elongated and loud vocals are not clear enough, creating an irritating effect.
Though ‘Atti Bho’ will strike a chord with lots of alternate lovers, the general effect of the whole album on a usual listener is not altogether pleasing.
London selling, breast milk ice cream
Sadichhya Shakya
lagan tole,kathmandu
Ice cream made with breast milk has proved a big hit in a London restaurant, with the first batch sold out within days of going on sale, its makers said on Friday. The ice cream, called Baby Gaga, is made with milk expressed by 15 women who replied to an advertisement posted on an online mothers´ forum. Each serving of Baby Gaga at the Icecreamists cafe in trendy Covent Garden costs £14 ($22.5, 16 euros).
One of the milk donors, Victoria Hiley, 35, said that if adults realized how tasty breast milk was then more new mothers would feel happier about breastfeeding.She expressed the milk at the cafe and it was pasteurized before lemon taste and vanilla pods were added during the churning process. Hiley, who is paid £15 for every 10 ounces of milk she donates to the company, told the BBC: "What’s the harm in using my assets for a bit of extra cash?"
The founder of Icecreamists, Matt O’Connor, said he could not understand people being squeamish about the product."If it’s good enough for our children, it’s good enough for the rest of us," he said."Some people will hear about it and go yuck -- but actually its pure organic, free-range and totally natural."A spokeswoman for Icecreamists said that despite the success of Baby Gaga there were currently no plans to market the breast milk ice cream more widely."This was launched this week and already the ice cream has sold out," she told AFP.
lagan tole,kathmandu
Ice cream made with breast milk has proved a big hit in a London restaurant, with the first batch sold out within days of going on sale, its makers said on Friday. The ice cream, called Baby Gaga, is made with milk expressed by 15 women who replied to an advertisement posted on an online mothers´ forum. Each serving of Baby Gaga at the Icecreamists cafe in trendy Covent Garden costs £14 ($22.5, 16 euros).
One of the milk donors, Victoria Hiley, 35, said that if adults realized how tasty breast milk was then more new mothers would feel happier about breastfeeding.She expressed the milk at the cafe and it was pasteurized before lemon taste and vanilla pods were added during the churning process. Hiley, who is paid £15 for every 10 ounces of milk she donates to the company, told the BBC: "What’s the harm in using my assets for a bit of extra cash?"
The founder of Icecreamists, Matt O’Connor, said he could not understand people being squeamish about the product."If it’s good enough for our children, it’s good enough for the rest of us," he said."Some people will hear about it and go yuck -- but actually its pure organic, free-range and totally natural."A spokeswoman for Icecreamists said that despite the success of Baby Gaga there were currently no plans to market the breast milk ice cream more widely."This was launched this week and already the ice cream has sold out," she told AFP.
Friday, February 18
Maoists Option Out Of Government
Pratima Giri
kumaripati,lalitpur
Maoists have decided to stay out of the government after the crucial CPN-UML standing committee meeting refused to give them the home ministry portfolio.
The Maoists stating that Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal had failed to translate the so-called seven-point agreement said they would opt out of the government until the deal is implemented.
kumaripati,lalitpur
Maoists have decided to stay out of the government after the crucial CPN-UML standing committee meeting refused to give them the home ministry portfolio.
The Maoists stating that Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal had failed to translate the so-called seven-point agreement said they would opt out of the government until the deal is implemented.
School embezzles scholarship amount
sadichhya shakya
lagan Tole,Kathmandu
The scholarship fund of Rs. 2, 97,000 has been embezzled in a school of Raku Village Development Committee (VDC) next to the district headquarters.
School head master Ratna Bahadur Nepali and school management committee chairperson Prem Prasad Subedi are supposedly involved in misappropriating the fund allocated for scholarship, snacks, building and furniture in Ambika primary school, Lusakot.
Though an assembly of guardians sacked both the chairperson and head master from their posts forcing them to deposit the amount, they have not yet returned the embezzlement fund even after six months, said current head master Pancha Kumar Subedi.
The authority concerned is not sensitive enough to control the growing trend of corruption in educational sector, according to the school students. Some 256 children are pursuing their study in the school
lagan Tole,Kathmandu
The scholarship fund of Rs. 2, 97,000 has been embezzled in a school of Raku Village Development Committee (VDC) next to the district headquarters.
School head master Ratna Bahadur Nepali and school management committee chairperson Prem Prasad Subedi are supposedly involved in misappropriating the fund allocated for scholarship, snacks, building and furniture in Ambika primary school, Lusakot.
Though an assembly of guardians sacked both the chairperson and head master from their posts forcing them to deposit the amount, they have not yet returned the embezzlement fund even after six months, said current head master Pancha Kumar Subedi.
The authority concerned is not sensitive enough to control the growing trend of corruption in educational sector, according to the school students. Some 256 children are pursuing their study in the school
Tuesday, February 15
One held for bid to supply drugs in jail
Sandhya Rai
Kumaripati, Lalitpur
15th Feb, 2011
Police arrested Basudev Gurung (23) of Siddharthanagar Municipality-13, who dared to supply a samosa filled with a gram of brown sugar to his friend in police custody today.
On suspicion, police asked him to taste the samosa before handing it over to his friend. Gurung revealed that he had brought the smuggled goods from Sunauli of India.
Gurung was also arrested on September 18, 2010 while dealing in drugs, said SP Sher Bahadur Basnet. He was released on bail on January 16. In a separate incident today, police arrested Bhola Musalman of Siddharthanagar-4 with eight litres of Phensidyl, a cough syrup used as recreational narcotic. Anil Agrahari of Nautanawa Maharjung of India was also held with hashish and brown sugar today.
Ashik Khan of Butwal-4 was nabbed with 4.5 gram brown sugar today itself.
Kumaripati, Lalitpur
15th Feb, 2011
Police arrested Basudev Gurung (23) of Siddharthanagar Municipality-13, who dared to supply a samosa filled with a gram of brown sugar to his friend in police custody today.
On suspicion, police asked him to taste the samosa before handing it over to his friend. Gurung revealed that he had brought the smuggled goods from Sunauli of India.
Gurung was also arrested on September 18, 2010 while dealing in drugs, said SP Sher Bahadur Basnet. He was released on bail on January 16. In a separate incident today, police arrested Bhola Musalman of Siddharthanagar-4 with eight litres of Phensidyl, a cough syrup used as recreational narcotic. Anil Agrahari of Nautanawa Maharjung of India was also held with hashish and brown sugar today.
Ashik Khan of Butwal-4 was nabbed with 4.5 gram brown sugar today itself.
Christian communities demand Khanal’s Resignation
Hrishita Deo
Kumaripati, Lalitpur
15th Feb, 2011
Christian communities have demanded for Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal’s resignation as the present government did not provide the burial land for them.
C B Gahatraj, General Secretary of Christian Advising Committee for the New Constitution (CACNC) said that they would ask Prime Minister Khanal to resign if he fails to provide burial land across the country. “We are going to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister, the government, local bodies of all 75 districts and human rights organizations to draw their attention,” he added.
Christian communities have been demanding that land for burial since the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) restricted non-Hindu burials at Shleshmantak forest.
About 180 representatives of Christian communities from 63 districts gathered today in Kathmandu and formed a 125-member Graveyard Management Struggle Committee headed by Dr Sundar Thapa, president of CACNC.
However, the government is not interested in providing public land for different communities to bury bodies. “This is against international tradition and system,” said government sources. “They should buy land for their burial sites,” they said.
The Hindus bury or cremate bodies on the banks of rivers as per their tradition. If non-Hindus want to bury or cremate their bodies on river banks, they can, said government authorities.
Gahatraj said the government should provide land on charitable grounds. “We are Nepalese and the government can’t intervene in our tradition by presenting international instances,” he said. All Christian members of political parties will resign, said Gahatraj. “Neither the PM nor political parties have responded to us. We will therefore ask them to resign from the parties,” he said.
Kumaripati, Lalitpur
15th Feb, 2011
Christian communities have demanded for Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal’s resignation as the present government did not provide the burial land for them.
C B Gahatraj, General Secretary of Christian Advising Committee for the New Constitution (CACNC) said that they would ask Prime Minister Khanal to resign if he fails to provide burial land across the country. “We are going to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister, the government, local bodies of all 75 districts and human rights organizations to draw their attention,” he added.
Christian communities have been demanding that land for burial since the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) restricted non-Hindu burials at Shleshmantak forest.
About 180 representatives of Christian communities from 63 districts gathered today in Kathmandu and formed a 125-member Graveyard Management Struggle Committee headed by Dr Sundar Thapa, president of CACNC.
However, the government is not interested in providing public land for different communities to bury bodies. “This is against international tradition and system,” said government sources. “They should buy land for their burial sites,” they said.
The Hindus bury or cremate bodies on the banks of rivers as per their tradition. If non-Hindus want to bury or cremate their bodies on river banks, they can, said government authorities.
Gahatraj said the government should provide land on charitable grounds. “We are Nepalese and the government can’t intervene in our tradition by presenting international instances,” he said. All Christian members of political parties will resign, said Gahatraj. “Neither the PM nor political parties have responded to us. We will therefore ask them to resign from the parties,” he said.
Sunday, February 13
Car bomb injures eight in Thai south
Hrishita Deo
Kalimati, Kathmandu
04:15pm; 13th Feb, 2011
A car bomb exploded outside a bank in Thailand's insurgency-plagued far south, leaving eight people injured, police said.
The blast occurred at 9.30 am on Sunday in Yala, one of three provinces near the Malaysian border that have been under emergency rule since 2005.
"There was a bomb hidden in a fire extinguisher in a pick-up truck parked in front of a grocery shop near Siam City Bank," a local police officer said. "It caused a fire in a nearby shop and injured about eight people."
Shadowy Islamic insurgents have waged a violent campaign in Thailand's southernmost region since early 2004, leaving more than 4,400 people dead, including both Muslims and Buddhists, in near-daily attacks.
Violence appears to have intensified recently: a bomb attack in Yala province killed nine villagers last month and an unusually bold attack by militants a week earlier on a military base left at least four soldiers dead.
On Thursday three people, including a teacher, were shot dead and their bodies burned in neighbouring Pattani province, in one of a series of gun attacks in the region last week.
Kalimati, Kathmandu
04:15pm; 13th Feb, 2011
A car bomb exploded outside a bank in Thailand's insurgency-plagued far south, leaving eight people injured, police said.
The blast occurred at 9.30 am on Sunday in Yala, one of three provinces near the Malaysian border that have been under emergency rule since 2005.
"There was a bomb hidden in a fire extinguisher in a pick-up truck parked in front of a grocery shop near Siam City Bank," a local police officer said. "It caused a fire in a nearby shop and injured about eight people."
Shadowy Islamic insurgents have waged a violent campaign in Thailand's southernmost region since early 2004, leaving more than 4,400 people dead, including both Muslims and Buddhists, in near-daily attacks.
Violence appears to have intensified recently: a bomb attack in Yala province killed nine villagers last month and an unusually bold attack by militants a week earlier on a military base left at least four soldiers dead.
On Thursday three people, including a teacher, were shot dead and their bodies burned in neighbouring Pattani province, in one of a series of gun attacks in the region last week.
Warrant for Musharraf over Bhutto murder
Hrishita Deo
Kalimati, Kathmandu
03:11pm; 13th Feb, 2011
A Pakistani anti-terrorism court today issued an arrest warrant for former president Pervez Musharraf over the assassination of ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto, a public prosecutor said.
Musharraf, who was president when Bhutto was killed in December 2007 in a gun and suicide bomb attack, is in self-imposed exile in London. He will not go to Pakistan for any court hearing, his spokesman said.
Musharraf is suspected to have been part of a “broad conspiracy” to have his political rival killed before elections.
“Judge Rana Nisar Ahmad has issued non-bailable warrant for Musharraf and directed him to appear before court on February 19,” special prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali said, adding that a joint investigation report had said “Musharraf was involved in the case and was equally responsible”. The report said it was a broad conspiracy involving Musharraf, two police officials and terrorists,according to Ali.
When asked what would happen if Musharraf did not appear in court, Ali said: “We will see when the time comes.”
But Musharraf’s spokesman in London said the former president would not abide by with the warrant. “No, he won’t go for this hearing,” Fawad Chaudhry said, adding that the warrant was “totally ridiculous”. He ridiculed Pakistani accusations that Musharraf failed to provide adequate security for Bhutto. He, however said Musharraf planned to go back to Pakistan to contest elections.
In December, police arrested two senior police officers, Saud Aziz and Khurram Shahzad, for assumed disregard of duty over the assassination of Bhutto. Aziz, who was city police chief at the time of the killing; and Shahzad, another senior policeman in Rawalpindi, had been arrested for their “failure” to protect Bhutto.
In April, a UN panel accused the government of failing to provide Bhutto with adequate protection and said investigations were hampered by intelligence agencies and other officials.
At the time of Bhutto’s death, Musharraf’s government blamed the assassination on Pakistan’s Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who denied any involvement.
Secretary General of Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League party Muhammad Ali Saif accused the government of not following legal procedures. “I call it unilateral, as the arrest warrant was issued without hearing Pervez Musharraf,” Saif said. He added: “No list of questions had been sent to Musharraf, The government is trying to deflect public opinion from its own incompetency and failure by wrongly implicating Musharraf in the case.
Kalimati, Kathmandu
03:11pm; 13th Feb, 2011
A Pakistani anti-terrorism court today issued an arrest warrant for former president Pervez Musharraf over the assassination of ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto, a public prosecutor said.
Musharraf, who was president when Bhutto was killed in December 2007 in a gun and suicide bomb attack, is in self-imposed exile in London. He will not go to Pakistan for any court hearing, his spokesman said.
Musharraf is suspected to have been part of a “broad conspiracy” to have his political rival killed before elections.
“Judge Rana Nisar Ahmad has issued non-bailable warrant for Musharraf and directed him to appear before court on February 19,” special prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali said, adding that a joint investigation report had said “Musharraf was involved in the case and was equally responsible”. The report said it was a broad conspiracy involving Musharraf, two police officials and terrorists,according to Ali.
When asked what would happen if Musharraf did not appear in court, Ali said: “We will see when the time comes.”
But Musharraf’s spokesman in London said the former president would not abide by with the warrant. “No, he won’t go for this hearing,” Fawad Chaudhry said, adding that the warrant was “totally ridiculous”. He ridiculed Pakistani accusations that Musharraf failed to provide adequate security for Bhutto. He, however said Musharraf planned to go back to Pakistan to contest elections.
In December, police arrested two senior police officers, Saud Aziz and Khurram Shahzad, for assumed disregard of duty over the assassination of Bhutto. Aziz, who was city police chief at the time of the killing; and Shahzad, another senior policeman in Rawalpindi, had been arrested for their “failure” to protect Bhutto.
In April, a UN panel accused the government of failing to provide Bhutto with adequate protection and said investigations were hampered by intelligence agencies and other officials.
At the time of Bhutto’s death, Musharraf’s government blamed the assassination on Pakistan’s Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who denied any involvement.
Secretary General of Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League party Muhammad Ali Saif accused the government of not following legal procedures. “I call it unilateral, as the arrest warrant was issued without hearing Pervez Musharraf,” Saif said. He added: “No list of questions had been sent to Musharraf, The government is trying to deflect public opinion from its own incompetency and failure by wrongly implicating Musharraf in the case.
Wednesday, February 9
Nepal Fix Final Date With Afghanistan
Nepal beat Qatar by six wickets on Tuesday to enter the final of the ACC U-19 Elite Cup cricket tournament and qualify for the ICC World Cup qualifiers.
In the match held at the AIT Ground, Nepal won the toss and invited Qatar to bat. Nepal restricted Qatar to a total of 113 runs in 47 overs, and reached the target of 114 runs in 20 overs losing four wickets.
In the match held at the AIT Ground, Nepal won the toss and invited Qatar to bat. Nepal restricted Qatar to a total of 113 runs in 47 overs, and reached the target of 114 runs in 20 overs losing four wickets.
Tuesday, February 8
Muslims burn Indonesian churches
Hrishita Deo
Kalimati, Kathmandu
11:44pm; 8th Feb, 2011
Indonesian Muslims burned churches and battled police today as the world’s most crowded Muslim-majority nation struggled with a wave of religious violence.
Two days after a Muslim assassinate gang killed three members of a minority Islamic sect, crowds of furious Muslims set two churches alight and ransacked a third in the Central Java town of Temanggung, police said. They were demanding the death penalty for Antonius Bawengan, 58, a Christian man who was sentenced to maximum five years in jail for distributing leaflets insulting Islam.
“Today was the climax of the trial... The mob shouted that he should receive the death sentence or be handed over to the public,” Central Java province police spokesman Djihartono told AFP. The protesters chanted “kill, kill” outside the court and “burn, burn” as they set upon the churches, in an area of Java where Muslims and Christians normally mix peacefully.
Kalimati, Kathmandu
11:44pm; 8th Feb, 2011
Indonesian Muslims burned churches and battled police today as the world’s most crowded Muslim-majority nation struggled with a wave of religious violence.
Two days after a Muslim assassinate gang killed three members of a minority Islamic sect, crowds of furious Muslims set two churches alight and ransacked a third in the Central Java town of Temanggung, police said. They were demanding the death penalty for Antonius Bawengan, 58, a Christian man who was sentenced to maximum five years in jail for distributing leaflets insulting Islam.
“Today was the climax of the trial... The mob shouted that he should receive the death sentence or be handed over to the public,” Central Java province police spokesman Djihartono told AFP. The protesters chanted “kill, kill” outside the court and “burn, burn” as they set upon the churches, in an area of Java where Muslims and Christians normally mix peacefully.
Monday, February 7
Youth dies in accident
Hrishita Deo
Kalimati, Kathmandu
03:00pm; 7th Feb, 2011
A youth died in an accident in Mahottari on Monday morning.
According to the District Police Office, the deceased has been identified as Pashupati Giri, 18, of Sonmai in the district.
The accident took place when the tractor (Na 1 Ta 6850) carrying sugarcane ran over Giri who was sleeping beneath the parked tractor.
According to Police Inspector Basu Dev Pathak of Area Police Office, Gaushala, the tractor driver has been absconding and police have impounded the tractor.
Kalimati, Kathmandu
03:00pm; 7th Feb, 2011
A youth died in an accident in Mahottari on Monday morning.
According to the District Police Office, the deceased has been identified as Pashupati Giri, 18, of Sonmai in the district.
The accident took place when the tractor (Na 1 Ta 6850) carrying sugarcane ran over Giri who was sleeping beneath the parked tractor.
According to Police Inspector Basu Dev Pathak of Area Police Office, Gaushala, the tractor driver has been absconding and police have impounded the tractor.
Record foreigners in criminal activities
Deepa Bangdel
Kumaripati,lalitpur
Nepal’s criminal records show cases of involvement of foreigners in criminal activities have spiked in recent years. Even a limited amount of processed data indicates the alarming trend. In 2010 alone, the Department of Immigration (DoI) deported 70 foreign nationals. The year saw cases of deportations increase by 60 percent than the previous year, which saw 43 deportations.
The figure partly covers the number of foreign nationals who committed crimes during the same year. According to Immigration Law 2049 BS, the DoI can deport foreign nationals who violate local laws after the latter serve punishment imposed by the judicial authorities or the DoI itself.
The trend of foreign nationals getting arrested in connection with different crimes has reached a new high in the first two months of this year.
The Metropolitan Police Range Kathmandu (MPRK) alone has 18 foreign nationals including 10 Indian nationals currently in its custody. Except for a British national being prosecuted on a rape charge and an Indian accused of murder, all are accused of involvement in drug trafficking. The Narcotic Drug Control Law Enforcement Unit (NCDLEU) has filed cases against 11 of them.
“This is a remarkable increase. Most noticeable is the variety of crimes the deportees are charged with,” said DOI Director General Narayan Sanjel.
Foreign nationals deported in 2010 were from 22 different countries. There were 26 deportees who served punishments on drugs smuggling charges and among them some had also overstayed their visas.
Along with the increase in the number of deportations, their crimes were also varied. Among the 13 Bangladeshis deported in 2010 were also those arrested for operating illegal VOIP (voice over Internet protocol) call by-pass rackets, which caused losses worth millions of rupees to the telecom service providers. The Bangladeshis had used fake passports to operate their covert activities in Nepal.
In drugs smuggling cases, Pakistani nationals were quite ahead than others. Thirteen Pakistanis followed by five Chinese were deported in 2010. Europeans were also among those deported last year on the charge of drugs trafficking and overstaying visas.
Kumaripati,lalitpur
Nepal’s criminal records show cases of involvement of foreigners in criminal activities have spiked in recent years. Even a limited amount of processed data indicates the alarming trend. In 2010 alone, the Department of Immigration (DoI) deported 70 foreign nationals. The year saw cases of deportations increase by 60 percent than the previous year, which saw 43 deportations.
The figure partly covers the number of foreign nationals who committed crimes during the same year. According to Immigration Law 2049 BS, the DoI can deport foreign nationals who violate local laws after the latter serve punishment imposed by the judicial authorities or the DoI itself.
The trend of foreign nationals getting arrested in connection with different crimes has reached a new high in the first two months of this year.
The Metropolitan Police Range Kathmandu (MPRK) alone has 18 foreign nationals including 10 Indian nationals currently in its custody. Except for a British national being prosecuted on a rape charge and an Indian accused of murder, all are accused of involvement in drug trafficking. The Narcotic Drug Control Law Enforcement Unit (NCDLEU) has filed cases against 11 of them.
“This is a remarkable increase. Most noticeable is the variety of crimes the deportees are charged with,” said DOI Director General Narayan Sanjel.
Foreign nationals deported in 2010 were from 22 different countries. There were 26 deportees who served punishments on drugs smuggling charges and among them some had also overstayed their visas.
Along with the increase in the number of deportations, their crimes were also varied. Among the 13 Bangladeshis deported in 2010 were also those arrested for operating illegal VOIP (voice over Internet protocol) call by-pass rackets, which caused losses worth millions of rupees to the telecom service providers. The Bangladeshis had used fake passports to operate their covert activities in Nepal.
In drugs smuggling cases, Pakistani nationals were quite ahead than others. Thirteen Pakistanis followed by five Chinese were deported in 2010. Europeans were also among those deported last year on the charge of drugs trafficking and overstaying visas.
Mubarak still in power as government, opposition talk
Pratima Giri
kumaripati,lalitpur
Egypt´s vice president met with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and other opposition groups for the first time Sunday and offered sweeping concessions, including granting press freedom and rolling back police powers in the government’s latest attempt to try to end nearly two weeks of disturbance.
But the opposition leaders held firm to a demand the government rejects: that President Hosni Mubarak step down immediately. And the source of the opposition’s sudden power — the youthful protesters filling Cairo´s main square — said they weren’t even represented at the talks and won’t negotiate until Mubarak is gone.
"None of those who attended represent us," said Khaled Abdul-Hamid, one leader of a new union representing at least five youth movements that organized the 13-day-old protests. "We are determined to press on until our number one demand is met" — the ouster of Mubarak.
"The regime is retreating," Abdul-Hamid told The Associated Press. "It is making more concessions every day."
At the same time, there were signs that the paralysis gripping the country since the crisis began was easing Sunday, the first day of Egypt’s work week. Some schools reopened for the first time in more than a week, and so did banks — though for only three hours, with long lines outside. A night curfew remains, and tanks continue to ring the city’s central square and guard government buildings, embassies and other important institutions.
Since protests began Jan. 25, the 82-year-old Mubarak has pledged not to seek another term in elections to be held in September. The government promised that his son Gamal, who had widely been expected to succeed him, will not do so. Mubarak appointed a vice president — Omar Suleiman — for the first time since he took office three decades ago. He sacked his Cabinet, named a new one and promised reforms. And on Saturday, the top leaders of the ruling party, including Gamal Mubarak, were purged.
Sunday brought another concession that would have been unbelievable just a month ago in this tightly controlled country: Suleiman´s meeting with opposition groups including the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood, which has been outlawed since 1954 but is the ruling party’s largest rival.
Egypt’s opposition — essentially banned by the government for decades — has long been hampered by a lack of cohesiveness. Sunday´s talks could be a sign the government is trying to divide and conquer as it tries to placate protesters without giving in to their chief demand.
Mubarak is insisting he cannot stand down now or it would only deepen the chaos in his country. The protesters, skeptical of a regime they blame for repression, corruption and widespread poverty, vow to maintain their pressure until Mubarak leaves.
The United States gave key backing to the regime´s gradual changes on Saturday, after President Barack Obama signaled more strongly that it was time for Mubarak to leave. On Sunday, speaking to Fox News ahead of the Super Bowl football broadcast, Obama said he would not be drawn into predicting when Mubarak would leave office."Only he knows what he’s going to do," Obama said. Obama said he hopes to see a representative government emerge and played down concerns that Egypt could become hostile to U.S. interests if the Muslim Brotherhood becomes the dominant political force.” I think that the Muslim Brotherhood is one faction in Egypt," Obama said. "They don’t have majority support.” The Brotherhood and another group that attended Sunday’s talks said afterward that they were only a first step in a dialogue which has yet to meet their central demand for Mubarak´s immediate ouster.” I think Mubarak will have to stop being mulish by the end of this week because the country cannot take more million strong protests," said Brotherhood representative Essam el-Erian.
Suleiman, who is leading the government´s management of the crisis, offered a series of new concessions, saying the government would no longer hamper freedom of press and won’t interfere with text messaging or the Internet.
He proposed setting up a committee of judiciary and political figures to study proposed constitutional reforms that would allow more candidates to run for president and impose term limits on the presidency, the state news agency reported. The committee was given until the first week of March to finish the tasks.
The offer included a pledge not to worry those participating in anti-government protests, which have drawn hundreds of thousands at the biggest rallies.
One of the biggest fears of protesters is that if Mubarak or his close confidant Suleiman remains in power, they will exact revenge for the humiliating demonstrations by rounding up protesters and torturing them. Many protesters have reported seeing undercover security forces in the crowds every day, photographing the demonstrators with cell phone cameras.
Suleiman´s offer to eventually lift emergency laws with a major caveat — when security permits — would fulfill a longtime demand by the opposition. The laws were imposed by Mubarak when he took office in 1981 and they have been in force ever since. They give police far-reaching powers for detention and suppression of civil and human rights.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry hailed the talks with opposition groups and the promise to remove the emergency law as "frankly quite extraordinary." Kerry called on Mubarak to lay out a timetable for transition and new elections.
"He must step aside gracefully, and begin the process of transition to a caretaker government. I believe that is happening right now," Kerry told NBC´s Meet the Press. "What’s needed now is clarity in this process."
Suleiman also offered to open an office that would field complaints about political prisoners, according to the state news agency. He promised measures to fight corruption and to prosecute those responsible for the unexplained disappearance of police from Cairo´s streets more than a week ago. And the government agreed to set up a committee including independent figures and members of the youth movement to monitor the "honest implementation" of all the new agreements.
Some prominent figures from Egypt´s elite have suggested that there is a deliberate attempt by the regime to cling to power by offering just enough to satisfy some established opposition groups like the Brotherhood.
Abouel Ela Madi, an ex-Brotherhood member, said the regime hopes to draw the group away from the other protesters.
"If the regime manages to influence the Brotherhood, it will have a shattering effect. A bulk of the protesters belong to the Brotherhood and thus their talks might play a negative role in foiling the completion of the revolution," he said. "I hope they don´t make this mistake."
Of all the opposition groups that met with Suleiman, the Brotherhood stands to gain the most. There have been no known discussions between the group and the regime at this level since Mubarak took power in 1981.
The Brotherhood won 20 percent of parliament´s seats in 2005 by fielding candidates as independents, but thousands of its members were arrested in crackdowns over the past decade and it failed to win a single seat last year in elections that were marred by fraud.
The Brotherhood´s potential rise is a key concern of the U.S. and Israel, countries that have depended on Mubarak as an ally in the Arab world. The Brotherhood aims to create an Islamic state in Egypt but insists it would not rescind Egypt´s 1979 peace treaty with Israel and would not take hardline measures such as forcing women to cover up in public.
The Brotherhood did not organize or lead the protests currently under way. It ordered its supporters to take part a few days after they began, sensing that the protesters, mostly young men and women using social networks on the Internet to mobilize, were able to sustain their momentum. Now the Brotherhood´s followers appear to be growing in Cairo´s Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the uprising.
Suleiman and Mubarak have both blamed the Brotherhood for fomenting the unrest, which turned violent for a time early last week when Mubarak supporters tried to push protesters out of the square. But opening talks with the Brotherhood is a tacit recognition by the regime of its role in the ongoing protests as well as its wide popular base.
Along with the Muslim Brotherhood, a number of smaller leftist, liberal groups also attended, according to footage shown on state television. Most are little-known groups that were around before the protests began.
Mohammed Mursi, a member of the Brotherhood who attended the talks, said a second round of talks is expected within a few days.
Some of the youthful supporters of Mohamed ElBaradei, a Nobel Peace laureate and one of the country´s leading democracy advocates, were among those who participated. However, ElBaradei himself was not invited and his brother said the statement by those who did attend does not represent his personal view. ElBaradei is among those refusing to talk to representatives of Mubarak until he steps down.
"The process is opaque," ElBaradei told NBC´s Meet the Press. "Nobody knows who is talking to whom at this stage."
Protesters in Tahrir Square numbered in the thousands Sunday morning and swelled steadily to tens of thousands by the late afternoon. Many were exhausted and wounded from fighting to stand their ground for more than a week.
Hundreds performed the noon prayers and later offered a prayer for the souls of protesters killed in clashes with security forces. Later, Christians held a Sunday Mass and thousands of Muslims joined in.
Some of the worshippers broke down and cried as the congregation sang: "Bless our country, listen to the screams of our hearts."
"In the name of Jesus and Muhammad we unify our ranks," Father Ihab al-Kharat said in his sermon. "We will keep protesting until the fall of the tyranny."
Elsewhere in this city of some 18 million people, life took a few steps toward normalcy. Traffic was close to regular levels and more stores reopened, including some on the streets leading to Tahrir Square. Protesters greeted some store owners and people returning to work with flowers.
kumaripati,lalitpur
Egypt´s vice president met with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and other opposition groups for the first time Sunday and offered sweeping concessions, including granting press freedom and rolling back police powers in the government’s latest attempt to try to end nearly two weeks of disturbance.
But the opposition leaders held firm to a demand the government rejects: that President Hosni Mubarak step down immediately. And the source of the opposition’s sudden power — the youthful protesters filling Cairo´s main square — said they weren’t even represented at the talks and won’t negotiate until Mubarak is gone.
"None of those who attended represent us," said Khaled Abdul-Hamid, one leader of a new union representing at least five youth movements that organized the 13-day-old protests. "We are determined to press on until our number one demand is met" — the ouster of Mubarak.
"The regime is retreating," Abdul-Hamid told The Associated Press. "It is making more concessions every day."
At the same time, there were signs that the paralysis gripping the country since the crisis began was easing Sunday, the first day of Egypt’s work week. Some schools reopened for the first time in more than a week, and so did banks — though for only three hours, with long lines outside. A night curfew remains, and tanks continue to ring the city’s central square and guard government buildings, embassies and other important institutions.
Since protests began Jan. 25, the 82-year-old Mubarak has pledged not to seek another term in elections to be held in September. The government promised that his son Gamal, who had widely been expected to succeed him, will not do so. Mubarak appointed a vice president — Omar Suleiman — for the first time since he took office three decades ago. He sacked his Cabinet, named a new one and promised reforms. And on Saturday, the top leaders of the ruling party, including Gamal Mubarak, were purged.
Sunday brought another concession that would have been unbelievable just a month ago in this tightly controlled country: Suleiman´s meeting with opposition groups including the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood, which has been outlawed since 1954 but is the ruling party’s largest rival.
Egypt’s opposition — essentially banned by the government for decades — has long been hampered by a lack of cohesiveness. Sunday´s talks could be a sign the government is trying to divide and conquer as it tries to placate protesters without giving in to their chief demand.
Mubarak is insisting he cannot stand down now or it would only deepen the chaos in his country. The protesters, skeptical of a regime they blame for repression, corruption and widespread poverty, vow to maintain their pressure until Mubarak leaves.
The United States gave key backing to the regime´s gradual changes on Saturday, after President Barack Obama signaled more strongly that it was time for Mubarak to leave. On Sunday, speaking to Fox News ahead of the Super Bowl football broadcast, Obama said he would not be drawn into predicting when Mubarak would leave office."Only he knows what he’s going to do," Obama said. Obama said he hopes to see a representative government emerge and played down concerns that Egypt could become hostile to U.S. interests if the Muslim Brotherhood becomes the dominant political force.” I think that the Muslim Brotherhood is one faction in Egypt," Obama said. "They don’t have majority support.” The Brotherhood and another group that attended Sunday’s talks said afterward that they were only a first step in a dialogue which has yet to meet their central demand for Mubarak´s immediate ouster.” I think Mubarak will have to stop being mulish by the end of this week because the country cannot take more million strong protests," said Brotherhood representative Essam el-Erian.
Suleiman, who is leading the government´s management of the crisis, offered a series of new concessions, saying the government would no longer hamper freedom of press and won’t interfere with text messaging or the Internet.
He proposed setting up a committee of judiciary and political figures to study proposed constitutional reforms that would allow more candidates to run for president and impose term limits on the presidency, the state news agency reported. The committee was given until the first week of March to finish the tasks.
The offer included a pledge not to worry those participating in anti-government protests, which have drawn hundreds of thousands at the biggest rallies.
One of the biggest fears of protesters is that if Mubarak or his close confidant Suleiman remains in power, they will exact revenge for the humiliating demonstrations by rounding up protesters and torturing them. Many protesters have reported seeing undercover security forces in the crowds every day, photographing the demonstrators with cell phone cameras.
Suleiman´s offer to eventually lift emergency laws with a major caveat — when security permits — would fulfill a longtime demand by the opposition. The laws were imposed by Mubarak when he took office in 1981 and they have been in force ever since. They give police far-reaching powers for detention and suppression of civil and human rights.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry hailed the talks with opposition groups and the promise to remove the emergency law as "frankly quite extraordinary." Kerry called on Mubarak to lay out a timetable for transition and new elections.
"He must step aside gracefully, and begin the process of transition to a caretaker government. I believe that is happening right now," Kerry told NBC´s Meet the Press. "What’s needed now is clarity in this process."
Suleiman also offered to open an office that would field complaints about political prisoners, according to the state news agency. He promised measures to fight corruption and to prosecute those responsible for the unexplained disappearance of police from Cairo´s streets more than a week ago. And the government agreed to set up a committee including independent figures and members of the youth movement to monitor the "honest implementation" of all the new agreements.
Some prominent figures from Egypt´s elite have suggested that there is a deliberate attempt by the regime to cling to power by offering just enough to satisfy some established opposition groups like the Brotherhood.
Abouel Ela Madi, an ex-Brotherhood member, said the regime hopes to draw the group away from the other protesters.
"If the regime manages to influence the Brotherhood, it will have a shattering effect. A bulk of the protesters belong to the Brotherhood and thus their talks might play a negative role in foiling the completion of the revolution," he said. "I hope they don´t make this mistake."
Of all the opposition groups that met with Suleiman, the Brotherhood stands to gain the most. There have been no known discussions between the group and the regime at this level since Mubarak took power in 1981.
The Brotherhood won 20 percent of parliament´s seats in 2005 by fielding candidates as independents, but thousands of its members were arrested in crackdowns over the past decade and it failed to win a single seat last year in elections that were marred by fraud.
The Brotherhood´s potential rise is a key concern of the U.S. and Israel, countries that have depended on Mubarak as an ally in the Arab world. The Brotherhood aims to create an Islamic state in Egypt but insists it would not rescind Egypt´s 1979 peace treaty with Israel and would not take hardline measures such as forcing women to cover up in public.
The Brotherhood did not organize or lead the protests currently under way. It ordered its supporters to take part a few days after they began, sensing that the protesters, mostly young men and women using social networks on the Internet to mobilize, were able to sustain their momentum. Now the Brotherhood´s followers appear to be growing in Cairo´s Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the uprising.
Suleiman and Mubarak have both blamed the Brotherhood for fomenting the unrest, which turned violent for a time early last week when Mubarak supporters tried to push protesters out of the square. But opening talks with the Brotherhood is a tacit recognition by the regime of its role in the ongoing protests as well as its wide popular base.
Along with the Muslim Brotherhood, a number of smaller leftist, liberal groups also attended, according to footage shown on state television. Most are little-known groups that were around before the protests began.
Mohammed Mursi, a member of the Brotherhood who attended the talks, said a second round of talks is expected within a few days.
Some of the youthful supporters of Mohamed ElBaradei, a Nobel Peace laureate and one of the country´s leading democracy advocates, were among those who participated. However, ElBaradei himself was not invited and his brother said the statement by those who did attend does not represent his personal view. ElBaradei is among those refusing to talk to representatives of Mubarak until he steps down.
"The process is opaque," ElBaradei told NBC´s Meet the Press. "Nobody knows who is talking to whom at this stage."
Protesters in Tahrir Square numbered in the thousands Sunday morning and swelled steadily to tens of thousands by the late afternoon. Many were exhausted and wounded from fighting to stand their ground for more than a week.
Hundreds performed the noon prayers and later offered a prayer for the souls of protesters killed in clashes with security forces. Later, Christians held a Sunday Mass and thousands of Muslims joined in.
Some of the worshippers broke down and cried as the congregation sang: "Bless our country, listen to the screams of our hearts."
"In the name of Jesus and Muhammad we unify our ranks," Father Ihab al-Kharat said in his sermon. "We will keep protesting until the fall of the tyranny."
Elsewhere in this city of some 18 million people, life took a few steps toward normalcy. Traffic was close to regular levels and more stores reopened, including some on the streets leading to Tahrir Square. Protesters greeted some store owners and people returning to work with flowers.
Maoist, UML discuss power-sharing
Sadichhya Shakya
Thapathali,kathmandu
UCPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday said that the nation would move forward in agreement with the spirit of seven-point agreement.
“The agreement was signed,” Dahal said with Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal standing on his side. “Nation will move forward in agreement with its spirit.”
Dahal said it after a meeting of top leaders of CPN-UML and Maoist held to discuss the power-sharing in the new government at the UML parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar.
The Maoist chairman also refuted reports saying that the ministers didn’t take oath on Sunday due to conflict in power-sharing. “Maoist has already made a big sacrifice to end the political deadlock,” he said. “The party is not the one to bargain in one particular ministry.”
PM Khanal said that although the agreement was between two parties, that didn’t intend to exclude other political parties. "The agreement was signed between two parties," he said. "But we want to include other parties in the government."
PM Khanal, who swear in on Sunday alone, said that the government would be formed ‘as soon as possible’.
Senior UML leader KP Sharma Oli, who participated in the meeting, however, claimed that the seven-point agreement was not discussed during the meeting. “We don’t know about the agreement as it was not discussed,” he said.Maoist vice-chairman Mohan Baidya was also present in the talks.
After election of UML chairman Khanal as the PM on Maoist support, the two parties have not reached the agreement on power-sharing. Due to the fact, Khanal took the oath of office on Sunday alone.
Thapathali,kathmandu
UCPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday said that the nation would move forward in agreement with the spirit of seven-point agreement.
“The agreement was signed,” Dahal said with Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal standing on his side. “Nation will move forward in agreement with its spirit.”
Dahal said it after a meeting of top leaders of CPN-UML and Maoist held to discuss the power-sharing in the new government at the UML parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar.
The Maoist chairman also refuted reports saying that the ministers didn’t take oath on Sunday due to conflict in power-sharing. “Maoist has already made a big sacrifice to end the political deadlock,” he said. “The party is not the one to bargain in one particular ministry.”
PM Khanal said that although the agreement was between two parties, that didn’t intend to exclude other political parties. "The agreement was signed between two parties," he said. "But we want to include other parties in the government."
PM Khanal, who swear in on Sunday alone, said that the government would be formed ‘as soon as possible’.
Senior UML leader KP Sharma Oli, who participated in the meeting, however, claimed that the seven-point agreement was not discussed during the meeting. “We don’t know about the agreement as it was not discussed,” he said.Maoist vice-chairman Mohan Baidya was also present in the talks.
After election of UML chairman Khanal as the PM on Maoist support, the two parties have not reached the agreement on power-sharing. Due to the fact, Khanal took the oath of office on Sunday alone.
Sunday, February 6
3 Pak cricketers banned for 5 to 10 years
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.
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.
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.
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