UN official’s visit

KATHMANDU: A visiting United Nations high-ranking official on Friday met Dr Suresh Chalise, the Prime Minister’s foreign advisor. The official, identified as Andrean, talked about peace and mainstreaming the Maoists. The visit took place after UN Secretary General Kofi Annan received the government’s letter. Norwegian ambassador Tore Toreng also met Chalise. Another UN official to meet Chalise was Sean Dley. — HNS

Journos’ union

DANG: The Maoist-affiliated journalists formed an All Nepal Revolutionary Journalists’ Union (Rukum) on Thursday. A gathering of local journalists in Khalanga named nine members of the committee in coordination with the correspondent of Janadesh Weekly, Dhruba Budhathoki. Bhupendra Oli, Dhan Kumari BM, Satbar Budha, Nipuna Bidrohi, Binit GM, Kamala Rokka and Krishna Rokaya are the members. — HNS

Kalyanpur shut

SIRAHA: Locals on Friday shut down Kalyanpur bazaar in Siraha district to protest against the beating of a civilian by the armed Maoist cadres on Thursday. Maoist cadres beat up one Ram Kumar Shah, a resident of Kalyanpur VDC, blaming him of misbehaving with a lady Maoist cadre who was returning from Mirchaiya bazaar on Thursday. Dozens of Maoist cadres beat up Shah and took his motorbike. — HNS

Maoist cadre killed

PHIDIM: A Maoist cadre died on Thursday after sustaining injuries when a socket bomb exploded in Panchthar on Tuesday. Sources said the bomb went off while transporting weapons. Maoist cadre Khambu Singh (50), a resident of Angna VDC-4, was critically injured in the explosion and died on way to hospital, sources said. Maoist in-charge of Area no- 7 and 8, Itihas, said the body has been handed over to his kin. — HNS

Six fall sick

LAHAN: Six people fell sick after consuming poisonous mushroom at Asanpur VDC-5 in Siraha on Thursday. Kale Tamang, Maiti Maya Tamang, Dipa Lama, Maya Lama, Narghima Lama and Jharu Bishwokarma are undergoing treatment at Lahan hospital. — HNS

Bikal honoured

KATHMANDU: Suryodaya School on Friday honoured litterateur Ramesh Bikal with the Suryodaya Honour 2006. The honour carries a purse of Rs 10,001 and a commendation letter. The school honoured litterateur Bikal for his contribution to progressive literature, a press statement issued by the principal of the school, Lachhya Bahadur KC, said. — HNS

TB outbreak

GAJURI: More than 25 people here have victim of tuberculosis which has broken out in Majhigaun of Goganpani VDC-3 of south of Dhanding district. According to Nathu Shah of Goganpani Sub-health Post, five members of the same family have fallen sick of tuberculosis. — RSS

‘Slow progress on CA’

Kathmandu: The nation wants a constituent assembly but the slow progress on this front has raised doubts on the intention of the MPs, deputy Speaker, Chitra Lekha Yadav, said on Friday, stressing the need to strengthen the youth of the country to empower the people. — HNS