 |
| |
VOL. 28, NO. 09, Nov 14 , 2008 (Kartik 29 2065 B.S.)
|
|
THE FESTIVAL OF CHHATH WAS CELEBRATED on Tuesday (Nov 4) with much fanfare. The festival is a major occasion especially for the people of Terai region. During this festival, people worship the setting and rising Sun in river banks and lakes. The festival was celebrated amid zeal and enthusiasm in terai cities like Birgunj and Janakpur. In Kathmandu also, a large number of people gathered in Ranipokhari to observe the festival. In his message on the occasion of the festival, President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav has wished for peace, prosperity and social and cultural harmony for the people of Nepal . Various other political leaders have also issued statements expressing best wishes on the occasion of the festival.
THE CABINET MEETING, WEDNESDAY (Nov 5), decided to change the name of three municipalities, which were earlier named after former Kings. As such, the Prithvi Narayan municipality has become Gorkha municipality, Tribhuwan municipality of Dang district has become Ghorahi municipality and Mahendra Nagar municipality of Kanchanpur district has become Bhim Dutta municipality. The cabinet decided to appoint Uttar Kumar Shrestha as the general manager of Nepal Electricity Authority while Sugat Ratna Kansakar has been named as managing director of Nepal Airlines Corporation. The government has also picked six members for the National Planning Commission including Yogendra Yadav, Ram Mani Pokharel, Sunil Babu Shrestha, Ayo Devi Yami, Prem Kunwar, and Ram Dev Singh. The cabinet also decided to promote Bimala Thapa and Parbati Thapa as Deputy Inspector Generals of Police.
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER OF INDIA, PRANAB MUKHERJEE, is arriving in Kathmandu for a two-day visit later this month, Press Trust of India (PTI) said. Mukherjee, accompanied by a high-level delegation including Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu on November 24, PTI quoted Indian Embassy sources as saying. This will be the first high-level Indian delegation to visit Nepal after the declaration of republic in Nepal . Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal is expected to pay his second visit to India from November 12 to attend the BIMSTEC meeting being organized in Delhi . Former Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu on November 17 at the invitation of Kathmandu University . Kalam will address its convocation ceremony on November 18.
A BRITISH GURKHA SOLDIER HAS BEEN KILLED in Taliban attack in the Afghan province of Helmand . Rifleman Yubraj Rai, 28, of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, died from wounds sustained during an operation south of Musa Qala in the southern province of Helmand on November 4. He is the 122nd British soldier and the first Gurkha killed in Afghanistan since the 2001 US-led invasion to oust the Taliban government. "It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Rifleman Yubaraj Rai, of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles," British Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Thursday, adding, "While working alongside a fellow Gurkha, Rifleman Rai received a gunshot wound from enemy fire. He received medical treatment at the scene but died a short time later from his wounds." Rai was taking part in a joint operation by NATO and Afghan troops against enemy forces to the south of Musa Qala. Lieutenant Colonel Chris Darby, Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Gurkha Rifles, said, "Yubraj Rai was an extraordinary character and a hard professional soldier with a proven operational record. Having served his time as a driving force in 5 Platoon, he moved to a supporting role in Musa Qala, but it was typical of the man that he volunteered for a place on the operation in Dagyan when another member of his Company fell ill, and a measure of his professionalism that he did it so seamlessly." Likewise, Paula Rowe, spokeswoman for Task Force Helmand told AFP, "The death of this soldier has left us all deeply saddened." "Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things to go through, and the thoughts of everyone in Task Force Helmand are with this soldier's family, friends and comrades at this very difficult time," she added. Around 3,500 Gurkhas from Nepal currently serve in the British Army, including in Iraq and Afghanistan . Some 200,000 fought in World War I and World War II and more than 45,000 in total have died serving Britain.
THE HOME AFFAIRS COMMITTEE of House of Commons of United Kingdom (UK) on Wednesday (Nov 5) directed its Home Ministry to immediately initiate the process of providing residential rights to British Gurkhas living in the UK . A statement issued by British Gurkha Ex-servicemen's Organization (GAESO) on Wednesday said the committee on Tuesday sent a letter to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, directing the latter to start working for the residential rights of the British Gurkha at the earliest. The House committee has drawn four conclusions related to residential rights of British Gurkhas after collecting different evidences pertaining to the subject. The committee has made four separate conclusions including the government of UK to be grateful for the bravery and sincerity demonstrated by the British Gurkha towards the British government and its people. Similarly, the committee has also concluded that the Home Ministry should immediately coordinate with the Ministry of Defense to grant the provision of residential rights to British Gurkhas residing in UK , said Gurung.
