Nepal-India border talks

KATHMANDU: The two-day meeting of the Nepal-India border management joint task foce begun here on Friday. The present meeting is concentrating on enhancing cooperation between the officials of the two countries assigned at borders. "It will also hammer out ways to control criminal activities in the border areas," said Gopendra Bahadur Pandey, spokesperson at the home ministry.

Elephants on a rampage

SARLAHI: A herd of wild elephants has destroyed 21 houses at the Ghurkauli and Haripur VDCs of the district and consumed some 50 quintals of paddy stored in the houses. The herd of around 40 pachyderms also destroyed coriander, lentil, wheat, potato, sugarcane and other winter crops in about 120 bigha of land in the area. Locals stay awake at night to keep the herd away. RSS

S Asian documentary fest

DHARAN: The South Asian documentary festival 2003 kicked off here on Thursday. The 18 best documentaries of the region will be screened at the three-day festival at the auditorium of the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences. It is being organised by the alternative film movement. Mayor of Dharan, Kumar Bahadur Karki, inaugurated the festival. RSS

Training on sculpture

ITAHARI: The Cottage and Small Industry office and Itahari municipality with support from Kabyabatika organised a day-long sculpture art workshop here on Thursday. Altogether 25 artists from various parts of the country took part in the workshop organised in the premises of the Kabyabatika. The workshop was organised with the objective of enhancing and upgrading the skills and knowledge of people involved in the sector. RSS

Meet on Madhesis

KATHMANDU: A symposium was organised by the Madhesh Studies and Development Society Nepal here on Friday. Speakers said the Madhesis have been facing various problems due to the absence of unity among the Madhesi communities, mistrust and lack of education among them. Inaugurating the programme, national assembly vice-chairman Ramprit Paswan stressed the need for all Madhises to move ahead unitedly. RSS

Teacher dies in mishap

JANAKPURDHAM: Upendra Thakur, a teacher at the Janata high school of Natktajhin VDC, Dhanusha, and resident of the same village, died on Thursday night when he met with an accident along the Mahendra Highway at Karajana village of Siraha. He was returning from Dhandgadhi to Janakpurdham in his motorcycle. Kameshwar Shah, the pillion rider, sustained minor injuries. RSS

Cough and cold outbreak

KALIKOT: A cough and cold outbreak in Kalikot district over the last two weeks has claimed 18 lives and affected 1,500 people. The malady which is believed ot have started from Bharta VDC has spread to Sukatiya, Magraha, Pakha, Daha and Manma. A medical team along with necessary drugs has already been despatched to the affected areas, the District Health Office said. RSS

Diary saves man

JANAKPURDHAM: Active worker of the Nepali Congress Garamu Yadav was saved by a diary in his pocket on Friday. A group of Maoists shot at Yadav from point blank range after overpowering him in front of his house. Luckily, a diary which he had been carrying in his breast pocket, stopped the bullet. He was hurt by the impact of the bullet and is undergoing treatment at a nursing home. RSS

One killed in mishap

BHADRAPUR: One person was killed and 12 injured when a micro-van, on its way from Kakarbhitta to Birtamod, met with an accident at Purano Bhansar on Friday. Handyman of the bus Amit Chaudhari of Mechinagar municipality died on the spot. RSS