Djokovic dodges disaster at tennis Paribas Open

AFP — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:17:44 +0545

INDIAN WELLS: Second-seeded Novak Djokovic has survived a scare, but it was smooth sailing for defending champion Rafael Nadal as both moved into the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open.

Serbia's Djokovic saved three match points en route to a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7/3) victory over Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber on Monday and said he'd have to do better to add a second Indian Wells title to ...

Euro nations pursue Greek rescue planning

AFP — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:54:35 +0545

BRUSSELS: European finance ministers will on Tuesday be given the fine-print of a eurozone plan to rescue Greece with billions of euros in crisis loans if budget surgery hits complications.

The money, to be released on high interest rates by all 15 of Greece's partners in the euro currency area if so ordered by leaders of the 27 European Union nations, is designed to buffer the currency ...

Jackson estate in record deal worth up to $250 mln

AP — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:29:11 +0545

LOS ANGELES: The estate of Michael Jackson has landed the late King of Pop the biggest recording deal in history: a $200 million guaranteed contract with Sony Music Entertainment for 10 projects over seven years, according to a person familiar with the deal.

The record-breaking contract through 2017 could be worth up to $250 million if certain conditions are met. One of the albums will ...

3 tigers very ill at Chinese zoo where 11 starved

AP — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:27:26 +0545

BEIJING: Zookeepers are scrambling to save three seriously ill Siberian tigers at a cash-strapped zoo in northeastern China where 11 of the big cats starved to death recently.
The three tigers were shedding fur, had lost their appetites and were listless, the official Xinhua News Agency reported late Monday.
Eleven of the 30 Siberian tigers at the Shenyang Forest Wild Animal Zoo ...

25 dead in China coal mine fire

AFP — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:25:48 +0545

BEIJING: Twenty-five people have been killed in a coal mine fire in central China, local authorities said Tuesday, the latest deadly incident in the country's hazardous mining industry.

The city government said the blaze in a mine in Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, was sparked when cables caught fire late Monday in one of the main pits.

Six miners were saved, but the r ...

Lehman administrator files record bankruptcy plan

AFP — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:23:59 +0545

NEW YORK: The administrator for failed Wall Street giant Lehman Brothers has filed plans to end the largest bankruptcy in US history, opening the way for the creation of a new company.
"The proposed plan represents a fair economic resolution for all Lehman creditors and will accelerate recoveries to creditors," said Bryan Marsal, chief executive and chief restructuring officer ...

Simpson will find happiness with short guy

Agencies — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:21:25 +0545

LOS ANGLES: Jessica Simpson fears she's destined to settle down with a short guy after a fortune teller told her she'd find love with a man her own height.
The singer was in the Far East taping footage for her new TV show The Price of Beauty when she decided to seek out a little love advice after a string of failed romances with the likes of ex-husband Nick Lachey, John Mayer and U.S. sp ...

Iraq PM's bloc gaining strength: early results

AFP — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:20:16 +0545

BAGHDAD: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's bloc looked likely to form parliament's single largest grouping Tuesday, after results showed the incumbent had strengthened his hold on key Baghdad province.
His success in the capital, which accounts for more than twice as many seats as any other province, builds on his lead in seven provinces overall, and is a major boost for his bid to ...

Fanning Was Destined To Play Currie

Agencies — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:16:35 +0545

LONDON: Actress Dakota Fanning is convinced she was born to play the runaways lead singer Cherie Currie - because she had a fake cherry tattoo on her arm the day she received the script for the band's biopic.
Fanning teamed up with Kristen Stewart in the upcoming movie, which chronicles the band's rise to superstardom, and told the real Currie she was destined to portray her on film.

Beckham blow no World Cup blow-out for England

AFP — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:11:04 +0545

LONDON: David Beckham's ruptured Achilles may mean the 'end of the world' for him but it is by no means the end of England's dreams of World Cup triumph in South Africa later this year.
When Beckham was at Manchester United and at the peak of his football powers, Old Trafford great George Best delivered a damning assessment of the midfielder's ability.
"He cannot kick with h ...

Only Manang locals can collect Yarsagumba : ACAP

Ramji Rana — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:46:06 +0545

LAMJUNG: The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) has decided to prohibit people not belonging to Manang district from collecting any kind of medicinal herbs including Yarsagumba in the district with effect from this year.
People from various districts including Lamjung, Gorkha, Dhading and Tanahun used to go Manang to collect medicinal herbs including Yarsagumba and Banlashun.

NCs review on agenda continues

Himalayan News Service — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:45:07 +0545

KATHMANDU: Central leaders of the Nepali Congress (NC) have intensified internal discussions in a bid to come up with a unanimous and authentic view on various contentious issues of the peace and the constitution-drafting processes. The discussions that started yesterday are still on.
NC spokesperson Arjun Narsingh KC said, "We began discussions yesterday at the party"s parl ...

NSU motorcycle rally for statute

Himalayan News Service — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:44:19 +0545

JHAPA: Nepal Students" Union (NSU), a sister organisation of the Nepali Congress kicked off Mechi-Mahakali motorcycle rally to press for timely statute today.
According to Pradeep Poudel, president, NSU, they embarked on the rally from Kakarbhitta in the east and Gaddachouki in Kanchanpur in the west simultaneously. We have initiated rally from both the east and west of the countr ...

Ghode Jatra observed in valley

Himalayan News Service — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:28:12 +0545

KATHMANDU: Horse races, parades, acrobatic performances and other activities by the Nepali Army cavalry team at Tundikhel in Kathmandu marked the Ghode Jatra, a traditional festival, today.
The Nepali Army cavalry team performed different artistic stunts while riding on their horses.
A symbolic Ghode Jatra was organised in Lalitpur.
President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Mi ...

Police seize fake Indian notes from TIA

Himalayan News Service — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:27:17 +0545

KATHMANDU; The Nepal Police today seized an amount of Rs 30 Lakh Indian counterfeit currencies from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at around 4: 30 PM. The seized notes included 5000 pieces of Rs 500 fake indian notes that amounted to Rs 2,500,000 and 500 pieces of Rs 1000 fake indian notes that amounted to Rs 500,000.
The Police detained these fake notes from a 65-year-old Pakista ...

Former king attends Barha Barse Jatra

Himalayan News Service — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:26:00 +0545

KATHMANDU; Former king Gyanendra Shah paid homage to Shwetkali Temple at Naradevi in Kathmandu during the Bahra Barse Jatra, which occurred after 30 years. The festival is observed wishing security and protection of people from evil elements.
According to the tradition, the head of the state receives Prasad after ritual dance of 12 goddesses. President Dr Ram Baran Yadav as head of the n ...

TUTH concerns

HNS — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:24:49 +0545

KATHMANDU: The Office of the Dean, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, has expressed concerns over the reports of its officials' involvement in irregularities and
accepting bribes while conducting the entrance examination for medical courses. Issuing a press statement on Monday, the office of the Dean maintained that the examination board had prepared the questions only ...

World Bank, NEA to survey transmission line

Himalayan News Service — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:21:46 +0545

KATHMANDU: A team of experts from World Bank is all set to start a field survey of the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur high-tension transmission line starting tomorrow.
The team led by the World Bank's advisor Raghubir Sharma along with a team of Nepal Electricity Authority will conduct the field study for a week.
"The team is all set to start the work from tomorrow and will end up th ...

Maoists to go for revolt: Prachanda

Himalayan News Service — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:20:38 +0545

KATHMANDU: Unified CPN Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' today said that millions of rupees have been invested to split his party.
"Various national and international reactionary forces have been trying their best to compel us to give up. Big newspapers have been 'vomiting poison' against us with false information," he said while inaugurating the fourth unity conv ...

Separate constitutional bench sought in apex court

Himalayan News Service — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:19:32 +0545

KATHMANDU: A panel headed by Justice Bala Ram KC has suggested the Supreme Court (SC) to set up a separate constitutional bench at the SC for settling constitutional disputes.
After two and a half month long study, the panel suggested the apex court to set up the constitutional bench to settle serious constitutional issues appear before it. "Constitutional bench is essential in prov ...

Nepali Army delays investigation on Major Basnets case

Himalayan News Service — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:18:37 +0545

KATHMANDU: The Nepali Army (NA) has delayed the process of investigating the case of Major Niranjan Basnet's expulsion from the UN peacekeeping mission in Chad on the charges of his involvement in human rights violation in the country.
Major Basnet was expelled from the peacekeeping mission on December 12 for his alleged involvement in the murder of Maina Sunar, 15, of Kavrepalnchowk dis ...

Stalemate on statute continues

Arjun Bhandari — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:15:28 +0545

KATHMANDU: An informal meeting of the three major parties - the Unified CPN-Maoist, the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML - today dwelt on disputed issues related to the new constitution but failed to make any headway.
The Constituent Assembly has not been able to sort out major differences on the key constitutional issues such as the forms of governance, restructuring of the s ...

GPK shows signs of improvement

Himalayan News Service — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:14:30 +0545

KATHMANDU; The health of Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala showed signs of improvement today.
He was admitted to Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre in Bansbari last evening after his health deteriorated.
Koirala, 87, is undergoing treatment to maintain an adequate level of haemoglobin, hospital sources said. Koirala, who is suffering fr ...

A for army, B for bomb; janabadi schools are back

Janardan Ghimire/ Shakti Kumar Pun — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:13:39 +0545

GULMI/RUKUM: UCPN-Maoist has announced to launch communist education system, termed janabadi education, in Gulmi. The party has already put in place similar education system in Rukum and Rolpa of mid-western region.
Raju Gautam, Gulmi district secretary of the All Nepal Teachers" Organisation affiliated
to the Maoists, told this daily that the party had decided to launch j ...

Mahats tall claims fall flat at NEA

Ramesh Prasad Bhushal — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:12:35 +0545

KATHMANDU: A senior official of Nepal Electricity Authority has claimed that Minister for Energy Prakash Sharan Mahat"s claim that the nation will be free from load shedding 2015 holds no weight.
Director, System Operation Department , NEA, dismissed Mahat"s claim, saying. "There is no indication that the load shedding will end within five years, as the progress in the ...

Maoists unruly acts worsening security: Rawal

Himalayan News Service — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:09:23 +0545

NEPALGUNJ; Home Minister Bhim Rawal today said that unruly activities of the Unified CPN-Maoists to make the incumbent government a failure, have adversely affected peace and security in the country.
Addressing a programme in Nepalgunj, Rawal said maintaining security had become difficult due to the unruly activities of the Maoists but claimed security situation of the country has impro ...

Management of combatants first: Gautam

Himalayan News Service — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:08:33 +0545

NEPALGUNJ; CPN-UML vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam today urged the Unified CPN-Maoist to demonstrate sincerity towards the peace process by doing away with the management of their combatants prior to promulgating the new statute.
Addressing a meeting organised by Yuba Sangh Nepal in Nepalgunj, Gautam blamed the Maoists for not being serious towards the peace process. Stating that statute ca ...

Two cops suspended

HNS — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:07:41 +0545

DHANUSA: The District Police Office, Dhanusa has suspended two policemen for their alleged involvement in helping a detainee flee.
According to the police, Nagendra Yadav, who was arrested on charges of murdering Mahabub Reja, had managed to flee from the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan.
Yadav had allegedly murdered Reja in a recent clash that took place during a ...

Three killed in mishaps

Himalayan News Service — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:05:42 +0545

BIRATNAGAR: Two persons were killed when a motorcycle met with an accident yesterday night in Jhokraha-5 of Sunsari district.
According to Regional Police Office, Biratnagar, 18-year-old Mahesh Shah of Narsingha VDC and 32-year-old Man Kumar Shah of Gautampur VDC in Sunsari succumbed to injuries while being rushed to Inaruwa hospital.
The motorcycle the duo was riding had lost co ...

4 students held for arson

Himalayan News Service — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:04:57 +0545

KHANDBARI: Police detained four students of local Himalaya Higher Secondary School in Sankhuwasabha district for their alleged involvement in vandalising and setting the school headmaster"s office on fire, today.
According to police, the students had vandalised and set alight acting headmaster Bir Bahadur Rai"s office on fire on Friday night.
DSP Shekhar Koirala

Couple shot at

HNS — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:03:32 +0545

DHANGADHI: A couple was injured in a shootout during a looting in Raikawar Bichhawa VDC-5 in Kanchanpur on Sunday. A gang of around 20 persons had shot at them at their home. The gang also looted property worth millions from locals in the area. Prem Chaudhari and his wife Bisni were seriously injured in the shootout. Meanwhile, Ram Bahadur Chand, Sub Inspector of Police, Area Police Off ...

Tourism sector cries for tax relief

Eliza Manandhar — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:39:28 +0545

KATHMANDU: Though the government has announced Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) 2011 as its most ambitious campaign yet, it has not drawn up proper procedures for tourism entrepreneurs so that they get tax facilitation to buy sufficient vehicles for tourists.
According to Dhruba Narayan Shrestha, coordinator of the tourism sector at Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Copmmerce and Industries (F ...

News sites popular but few will pay

Agence France Presse — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:37:38 +0545

WASHINGTON: The good news for traditional US news organisations? Their websites are popular. The bad news? Few news consumers click on ads and hardly any are prepared to pay for news online. These and other findings are contained in a "State of the Media" report released today by the Pew Research Center"s Project for Excellence in Journalism.
The report examines the pot ...

Herb farming

RSS — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:36:38 +0545

ITAHARI: Many farmers in Sunsari district have taken up herb farming as an alternative source of income. The trend of herb farming is rising in Hasposa, Bharaula, Baraha Chhetri, Itahari Municipality, Dumraha VDC, Prakashpur, Singihiya and some other places because of lucrative returns and the prospect of planting other crops that this occupation offers. Among all species of herbs, cham ...

International Biz Briefs

AFP — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:35:35 +0545

Jobless rate
ANKARA: Turkey"s estimated jobless rate fell to 13.5 per cent in the three months to the end of January, down half a percentage point from the same period a year ago, official data showed on Monday. A survey based on interviews with about 94,000 people projected the number of jobless at 3.36 million.
Car sales up
BANGKOK: Vehicle sales in Thailand were ...