Maoists 'positive' on SRC report
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: At a time when major parties including United Democratic Madhesi Front are opposing the State Restructuring Commission Report, UCPN- Maoist had positive comments ...

Farewell process for PLA fighters begins in all seven cantonments
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE DAMAK/PARASI: The process of bidding adieu to Maoist combatants opting for voluntary retirement began today in all seven PLA cantonments. Injured and physically challenged ...

Big III under pressure to build consensus
ARJUN BHANDARI KATHMANDU: All fringe parties represented in the Constituent Assembly (CA) and CA Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang today urged the three major parties - UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress ...

Evicted encroachers seize Pashupati land
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: About 150 vendors, driven away from the Pashupatinath area in mid-January 18, have again encroached upon the land that boasts of the Pashupatinath temple, a UNESCO ...

Feb being marked as Iodine Month
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) is observing February as ‘Iodine Month’ with the objective of increasing the people’s access to ...

Minister launches folk media website
RASTRIYA SAMACHAR SAMITI KATHMANDU: Minister for Culture Sushama Sharma today launched a website - www.loksanchar.org.np - dedicated to folk art, culture and music. At the programme organised to ...

Paradesh Yatra ends in Changu
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE BHAKTAPUR; Devotees, who have been observing a monthlong fast as part of Swasthani brata at the Sankhu-based Salinadi in Kathmandu, completed their Paradesh Yatra in Changu ...

23 DDCs dare to defy directives
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE LALITPUR: Twenty-three district development committees have ignored the warning issued by the Ministry of Local Development. The MoLD warned 34 DDCs for their involvement in ...

Sunsari folk in grip of bird flu scare
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE ITAHARI: The death of a large number of chickens due to an unknown disease at Khanar-based Pathivara Poultry Firm and Itahari-based PK Poultry Firm has unleashed terror among ...

Congress settles dispute over sister wings
PRAKASH ACHARYA KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress today settled the five-month long dispute over its sister wings with the formation of central level ad-hoc committees in seven of it sister bodies through ...

10 hurt in clashes as demolition drive rolls on
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: Tension gripped Lazimpat throughout the day after the Kathmandu Valley Town Development Enforcement Committee, with backing from riot police, started bulldozing ...

Govt to get tough on tobacco consumption
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: The country observed the World Cancer Day today by organising various awareness programmes with the slogan ‘together it is possible’. Dr Praveen ...

Elephantiasis drug scares folk
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE BIRATNAGAR: More than 50 persons have taken ill in Morang after they consumed anti-elephantiasis drug, named albendazol. Barely five hours after the Morang District Public ...

Policy to prioritise technical education
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: A policy paper under discussion at the Ministry of Education has proposed that general and technical education should be the two pillars of country’s ...

NC gen secy asks party activists to roll up sleeves for street protests
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE BIRATNAGAR: Nepali Congress General Secretary Prakash Man Singh today urged the party rank and file to be ready to hit the streets to press for early conclusion of the peace ...

MJF-N chief smells plot to part Madhesi people
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE SARLAHI: Chairman of the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal Upendra Yadav today accused the Unified CPN-Maoist of hatching a plot to bring a rift among Madhesi people. Speaking ...

Far west folk rise against SRC reports
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE DIPAYAL: Thousand of people, including representatives of various political parties, civil society and professional organisations, businessmen and commoners, staged a ...

Pun sees no alternative to govt under Bhattarai leadership
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE GORKHA: Finance Minister Barshaman Pun has said there is no option to a national government under the leadership of the incumbent Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai at least ...

Combatants discuss future plans as they shed camouflage uniforms
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE CHULACHULI: As Maoist fighters shed their camouflage uniforms, with process to release them under the voluntary retirement scheme under way, they share what they want to do ...

Couples see a promising life ahead
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE SHAKTIKHOR: Female fighters, who were all set to leave Shaktikhor camp which they called home for the last five years, today said the ‘newfound freedom’ would ...

Indian envoy inaugurates school building in Kaski
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: Indian Ambassador Jayant Prasad today inaugurated a school building of Shree Ratan Pandey Secondary School constructed with the assistance of the government of ...

Nabil Mutual Fund in offing
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: Nabil Bank has registered Nabil Mutual Fund with the capital market regulator based on Mutual Fund Regulation 2067. The bank’s merchant banking subsidiary - ...

ECC to change cash management
KUVERA CHALISE KATHMANDU: A receiver of a cheque will benefit from now onwards when transferring a cheque from another bank, whereas the payee will, unlike earlier days, not gain as the cheques ...

Iran asks OPEC not to raise oil output
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE TEHRAN: Iran has asked members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) not to raise oil production to compensate for a European Union embargo against the ...

Investors in wait-and-watch mood
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: The market remained lacklustre and motionless as investors remained in a ‘wait-and-watch’ mode throughout the week - January 23 to February 2. The ...

Let our children be!
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE n I think such preparation classes are a waste of time and money. Children will study everything later on, then why are they compelled to study things which are beyond their ...

Fasting for a good life
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: Most of the Hindu households in Nepal must be continuously listening to stories of Goddess Swasthani every day. If you are one such listener, then you must have ...

Blues beginning to Black History Month
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: The bluesy tune of Red House by Jimi Hendrix opened the celebration of the Black History Month on February 3 at The House of Music, Thamel. The whole sound of the ...

Filmmaker Raj Kanwar dead
IANS MUMBAI: Producer-director Raj Kanwar, known for hits like Deewana and Andaaz, passed away on February 3 in Singapore. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan tweeted, "My friend Raj Kanwarji ...

Imran's tipsfor good interview
IANS MUMBAI: First acting, then photography and now journalism: Bollywood’s talented actor Imran Khan seems to have a knack for everything. Offering a few tips for today’s journalists, ...

Dirt jumpers wow with daring stunts
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: Young bike riders were enthusiastically displaying their tricks and styles. And all of them seemed to work hard to win the Little Devil Dirt Jump Competition held ...

Syria army mows down over 200 civilians in Homs
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE DAMASCUS: Syrian forces bombarded the protest city of Homs today, killing more than 200 civilians in a horrific massacre, activists said, as Russia again cast doubt on a UN ...

Egypt clashes on as death toll mounts
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE CAIRO: Police fired tear gas and birdshot at protesters today in a third day of deadly clashes in Cairo, as anger at Egypt’s ruling military boiled over after 74 people ...

UN team to head to Maldives for talks
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE CPLOMBO: The United Nations is sending a delegation to the Maldives for talks after the government asked for international help to end a crippling stand off with the judiciary, ...

Released cricketer Aamer faces uncertain future
Teenage Pakistan paceman Mohammad Aamer (pictured in 2011) faces an uncertain future following his release from jail this week after serving half of a six-month-sentence for his role in a ...

State election has big implications for all India
ASSOCIATED PRESS SITAPUR: One of India's most powerful and controversial politicians rises from a throne-like armchair, a clutch of candidates standing deferentially behind her and two large ...

FIFA chief slams Egypt 'political interference'
FIFA president Sepp Blatter, seen here in October 2011, has slammed "political interference" in Egyptian football, in the wake of the death of 74 fans in riots following a midweek domestic ...

Man found dead in Bhaktapur temple
THT ONLINE KATHMANDU: An old man was found dead at the premises of Mahakali Temple in Bhaktapur Municipality-5 on Saturday. Police said the man appeared to be in his 70s and that he had been ...

One held for black marketing petrol
THT ONLINE KATHMANDU: Police on Saturday impounded a man from Bhaktapur on the charge of selling the petrol in excessive price. Police arrested Bharat Khadka (52) of Changunarayan-9 of Bhaktapur ...

NC Bajura veep who fell sick during party work dies
THT ONLINE KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) has expressed sorrow over the death of its Bajura district leader Rajendra Bahadur Shahi on Saturday. Vice president of the party’s district ...

Tens of thousands rally against Putin
Russian billionaire and presidential candidate Mikhail Prokhorov, center, walks among demonstrators gathered for a massive protest against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's rule in Moscow, ...

India cricket team lose chief sponsor
Indian captain Virender Sehwag leads his team on to the oval for the national anthems prior to the start of play on day 3 of the fourth cricket Test match against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar ...

Afghan officials try to open Kabul airport
ASSOCIATED PRESS KABUL: Afghan officials say they are hopeful that the country's largest airport will reopen after being closed due to heavy snowfall. Transportation Ministry spokesman ...

Taliban deny their leader sent letter to Obama
ASSOCIATED PRESS KABUL: The Afghan Taliban on Saturday denied that their leader Mullah Omar had written to President Barack Obama last July. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said reports that ...

US‚ Europe must do more against tyrants
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, talks to U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta at the Security Conference on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012 in Munich, ...

Prosecutors won't charge cyclist Lance Armstrong
ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES: Lance Armstrong is used to winning, but his most recent victory was unlike any he had experienced before. Federal prosecutors dropped their investigation of the ...

Youth dies in Kanchanpur road mishap
RSS KANCHANPUR: A youth died after an Indian vehicle knocked him in Chauraha of Kanchanpur district along the East-West Highway. Khadka Bahadur Bista of Patan from Baitadi district, died when the ...

Farewell begins at Chulachuli camp
RSS BHADRAPUR: The task of bidding farewell to the combatants opting for voluntary retirement has started in the First Division of the PLA combatants in Chulachuli, Ilam on Saturday. Member of the ...

Australia flood crisis set to last days
An aerial photo taken from a helicopter shows an extensively flooded area in the New South Wales town of Moree. Australia's flood crisis deepened on Saturday as authorities braced for waters to ...

Pakistan PM to visit Qatar to talk Afghan peace
Pakistani rescue workers look for survivors after a bomb blast destroyed the building in Peshawar, Pakistan, on Friday, Feb 3, 2012. A car bomb exploded outside the residence of a tribal elder Haji ...

Sri Lanka frees 1‚400 prisoners on freedom day
This file photo shows prisoners being released from a jail in Colombo, in 2009. Sri Lanka freed 1,414 convicts on Saturday to mark the country's 64th anniversary of independence from Britain, ...

Popular character actor Ben Gazzara dies in NY
ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK: Ben Gazzara, whose powerful dramatic performances brought an intensity to a variety of roles and made him a memorable presence in such iconic productions over the decades ...

Romania rescues children as Europe's freeze deepens
REUTERS BUCHAREST: Nine Romanian children were taken into care after a baby died in an unheated house, joining at least 189 others killed by a Siberian front which strengthened its hold over ...

Num Bahadur yet to get relief
RSS PYUTHAN: A conflict-hit child of Liwang; Pyuthan has not got any relief from the government so far. Num Bahadur Ghartimagar, a resident to Liwang-1 was injured while playing with a bomb found ...

Nepal Maoists all set to enter civilian life
peace deal in 2006. "Our friends were given cheques and they will leave on February 11 following an official send off," said one of commanders, Dhan Bahadur Maskey, from a camp in Chitwan. ...

A sobering look at Facebook
REUTERS SAN FRANCISCO: It's the year's hottest initial public offering, but some wealth managers find themselves having a hard time recommending Facebook to their clients. The ...

In Lebanon‚ a refuge for Syria's wounded
ASSOCIATED PRESS TRIPOLI: Abu Hamza was in a crowd of thousands in the Syrian border town of Qusair, shouting for President Bashar Assad to leave power, when a sniper's bullet tore through his ...

Rescuers find bodies from Papua New Guinea ferry disaster
REUTERS SYDNEY: Rescuers searching for survivors after a heavily laden ferry sank off Papua New Guinea said on Saturday they had found four bodies and that the search would go on for about 100 ...

Fire victims get relief in Saptari
RSS RAJBIRAJ: Nepali Congress Constituency No. 3 Committee has distributed blankets to fire victims of Madhepura VDC-4 in Saptari district on Friday. The blankets were distributed to 18 victim ...

Amid peace bid‚ U.S. got purported letter from Taliban
REUTERS WASHINGTON: The White House received a letter last year purported to come directly from Mullah Omar, the reclusive leader of the Taliban, asking the United States to deliver militant ...

South Sudan shoot-out kills 37‚ wounds U.N. policeman
REUTERS JUBA: A shoot-out among South Sudanese security forces using truck-mounted machineguns killed 37 people and injured a United Nations policeman Wednesday, U.N. and government officials said ...

Over 200 people killed in Syria as U.N. prepares to vote
REUTERS BEIRUT: More than 200 people were killed in shelling by Syrian forces in the city of Homs, activists said on Saturday, as the U.N. Security Council prepared to vote on a draft resolution ...

Contraception mandate outrages religious groups
FILE - In this Oct. 31, 2011 file photo, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is seen in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. Federal law lays out several criteria for ...

England edge ahead as wickets tumble in third Test
England's Stuart Broad (left) celebrates after dismissing Pakistan's Adnan Akmal during the first day of the third and final Test match between Pakistan and England at the Dubai ...

Jobless rate at 3-year low as payrolls surge
REUTERS WASHINGTON: The United States created jobs at the fastest pace in nine months in January and the unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped to a near three-year low, giving a boost to President ...

Over 280 retired fighters cheque out of camps
CHINTAMANI POUDEL /HARI SHARMA CHITWAN/PARASI: After a hiatus of over two months, farewell of the retiring Maoist PLA combatants began today with the teams of the Special Committee (for ...

Hearing on review petitions next week
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court is likely to conduct initial hearing on the petitions of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Speaker Subas Chandra Nembang seeking a review of ...

Nepal Maoists leave camps, first step to reintegration
SHAKTIKHOR, Nepal (Reuters) - Nepal's Maoist former rebels shed their camouflage uniforms Friday and began leaving their camps to join their families in a first step to their reintegration five ...

Bihar court acquits 11 Nepali Maoist leaders
A Bihar court Friday acquitted 11 Nepali Maoist leaders, including a former minister and six MPs, on a state government petition seeking to withdraw criminal cases against them.The government ...

Diesel‚ LPG shortage threatens to shut schools
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: When Private and Boarding Schools Organisation-Nepal President Rajesh Khadka says most schools in the country will shut down indefinitely, he is not telling tales ...

PHSC okays 10 envoys
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE Kathmandu: All 10 ambassadors named for Nepali missions abroad got unanimous endorsement from the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee on Friday. The Cabinet last month ...

HIV victims against bid to deny generics
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: People living with HIV/AIDS today called on all and sundry to preserve and protect India’s ability to produce and export affordable generic drugs that are ...

Cops held with rhino horn
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: Police arrested four people, including three police personnel stationed at the Metropolitan Police Range, Hanumandhoka, from Machhapokhari, Balaju, with a rhino ...

Four held with red panda skin
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division arrested four wildlife traders - Dinesh Tamang (22), Balchandra Tamang (18), Surendra Ghale (21) and Prakash ...

Lawyers rally for statute
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: Around four hundred lawyers staged a rally today demanding the conclusion of the peace and constitution-writing processes on time. After the rally, they lawyers ...

Road expansion in full swing with razing of illegal houses
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: Work on the expansion of roads in the Kathmandu Valley has gained pace with authorities busy demolishing illegal houses along the city streets. Around 400 km ...

Dahal now talks peace‚ later revolt
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE BIATNAGAR: Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, it seems, speaks what suits the occasion. A while ago as he talked to mediapersons in Biratnagar today, he showed ...

PM terms price hike Hobson's choice
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE BIRATNAGAR: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai today said the government had no other option but to take an ‘unpleasant’ decision to raise prices of petroleum ...

Madhesis reject SRC reports
HEALTH MINISTER SAYS COUNTRY IS ILL KATHMANDU: Madhes-based parties, including those in the United Democratic Madhesi Front, the coalition partner in the government, have said both the reports ...

India always ready to assist Nepal‚ says Indian envoy
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE LEKHNATH: Indian Ambassador to Nepal Jayant Prasad today said the historic relations between Nepal and India must be kept vibrant and lively. While unveiling the plaque of a ...

No int'l promotional campaigns launched yet
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: It has been weeks since the government officially announced Visit Lumbini Year, but it is yet to launch programmes to promote Lumbini in the international level. ...

Nepali migrants stranded in Saudi
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE ILAM: Seventeen Nepali migrants stranded in Saudi Arabia for two months have called on the government to help them return home. The youth, all from Ilam, have nowhere to go ...

Three burnt to death
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KALIKOT: Three persons, including two children, died when a fire engulfed a house in Manma Bazaar, the district headquarters of Kalikot, on Thursday night. According to DSP ...

Get ready to jump!
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: February 4 will not be a day to sit at home and relax. It will be the day to experience the thrill of Little Devil Dirt Jump Competition to be held at the ...

Ranbir wooing Deepika again
AGENCIES MUMBAI: Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor seems to be on his toes to win back his lady love Deepika Padukone. And, his attempts seemed evident at a recent award function, where he touched ...

Brangelina expecting twins again
AGENCIES LOS ANGELES: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who are already parents to twins Knox and Vivienne, are reportedly expecting double joy yet again. According to OK! Magazine, the Hollywood ...

CC talks pluralism‚ new statute name
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE5 KATHMANDU: The Constitutional Committee - the constitution-drafting body - today discussed the issues of pluralism, right to self-determination and name of the new ...

Forge consensus‚ DeLisi advises NC's Koirala
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: US Ambassador to Nepal Scott H DeLisi today called on Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala at the latter’s residence in Maharajguj and discussed ...

The Award Season Begins With 50/50
DUBBY BHAGAT KATHMANDU: The International Awards, worldwide have kicked off, with the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures founded in 1909 in New York City, just 13 years after the birth of ...

Australian deluge affects thousands
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE SYDNEY: Major flooding hit parts of Australia’s east today, stranding thousands of residents, prompting a military airlift and leaving some communities only accessible by ...

UN mulls diluted resolution on Syria
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE United Nations: UN Security Council members today were considering a draft resolution condemning the bloody Syria crackdown that was amended in a bid to overcome Russian-led ...

Three dead in Egypt clashes
ASSOCIATED PRESS CAIRO: Police in Cairo set off salvos of tear gas and fired birdshot at protesters angry over a deadly football riot as fresh clashes on Egyptian streets killed three people today, ...

Red wine to save simians from cold
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE ALMATY: A zoo in the freezing steppes of Kazakhstan is giving its monkeys red wine to ward off winter colds, its chief animal specialist said today. "We give the monkeys ...

Good harvest increases food security
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: Adequate rainfall coupled with the availability of quality fertilisers and improved seeds have contributed to the bumper harvest of summer crops, improving the ...

Economic non-cooperation hits consumers
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: Increasing trade in South Asia at preferential rates on a range of products that have both high intra-regional trade potential and high prospects for improving ...

Central bank introduces new guidelines for trekking agencies
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: Government representatives during an interaction programme urged trekking agencies to follow rules and regulations for their overall development. The central bank ...

NAC grounds one Boeing
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: A Boeing 757-9N of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has been grounded at Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) since last four days. The aircraft was grounded ...