100 Chepangs fall ill

HETAUDA: More than 100 Chepangs have been suffering from dysentery in their settlement in Ghattekhola of Sarikhet VDC-4 in Makawanpur district. The disease gripped the Chepangs due to consumption of contaminated water and defecation in the open, said the District Public Health Office. The DPHO sent a team of health workers to the dysentery-hit area on Friday. —HNS

Nobel dispute

Biratnagar: The dispute at Nobel Medical College and Research Centre seems to have found a way out after a new group took over the college management on Friday. The new group led by Sunil Sharma and Dr Gyanendraman Singh Karki took over the management. The college will resume classes from Sunday. — HNS

Media ignored: FNJ

Pokhara: The third meeting of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) ended on Friday, concluding that the republican government had overlooked the media in its policies, programmes and budget. At a press meet held here on Friday after the conclusion of the meeting, the FNJ said the government had ignored the contribution of media in bringing about a republic. Stating that cases of the violation of press freedom have continued, the FNJ demanded that the government abide by its pledges. — HNS

Govt to last: Khanal

JHAPA: CPN-UML general secretary Jhala Nath Khanal said at a programme on Friday the CPN-Maoist would split soon if the Young Communist League was not dissolved. Addressing training for UML cadres in Birtamod, he said the policies and programmes of the Maoist-led government were no different from the policy document of the UML-led government of the 1990’s. He termed rumours regarding toppling of the government baseless. — HNS

Gautam’s pledge

DHANGADHI: Deputy Prime Minister Bam Dev Gautam said on Friday the government was releasing Rs 50.5 million as immediate aid to flood victims in Kailali and Kanchanpur. He said this while talking to mediapersons at the Dhangadhi airport before heading to the capital after inspecting five flood-affected hilly districts in the far west. As details of damages have not come, the assistance is just for temporary relief, he said. — HNS