Nepal Highlights

Pratima Dhakal, Kathmandu Feb 23, Tuesday   Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPP-N) is Gheraoing the country's administrative hub Singha Durbar Tuesday as part of agitation for timely constitution and referendum on some key issues including Hindu nation and constitutional monarchy to be incorporated in the new constitution.   Hundreds of RPP-N cadres and their supporters are sitting on the road leading to Singha Durbar in an attempt to block the entrances. RPP-N chairman Kamal Thapa is leading the demonstration in Bhadrakali, while other leaders are leading demonstrations in front of Padmodaya School, Putalisadak, Anamnagar and Maitighar.   Alhtough, RPP-N had claimed it would mobilize tens of thousands cadres to gherao Singha Durbar, there are only about one or two thousand persons staging demonstrations there.   Most of the people staging demonstrations look like people from the Terai origin. There are unconfirmed reports RPP-N paid upto Rs 300 a day and hired people to stage de

Behrain has got an easy target of 116 runs in a match played against Behrain in Bhaktapur, Tuesday. The Behrain team lost all wickets at 42.5 overs making 116 runs. Nepal had chosen field first after winning the toss. Today's match was reduced to 47 overs each after the match got delayed due to bad weather.

Behrain makes 86 runs with four wickets down in 28 overs

Latest Score in Nepal Vs. Behrain   Behrain -- batting with 53 runs with two wickets down in 15 overs  

A micro-bus coming towards Kathmandu from Rampur, Chitwan has plunged into Trishuli river in Ghoptebhir near Mugling minutes ago. Twelve persons have been rescued from the river in wounded condition, while at least seven are still missing in the river.

Nepal is playing against Behrain Tuesday in the ICC Division Five tournament. Nepal has started fielding after winning the toss. The match has been reduced to 47 overs each as there was a delay in beginning the match due to thick fog here.   Keep logging on to http://www.nepalhighlights.blogspot.com for latest scores.

Police have shot dead two cadres of Jantantrik Terai Mukti Morcha- Jwala Singh faction (JTMM-J) in a shootout in Rautahat, Monday night.   According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Pitambar Adhikari, police deployed from Rautahat district headquarter to Belbichhawa village on a tip-off on the presence of Morcha cadres shot dead Jhaman Yadav and Birendra Yadav in a shoot out. Adhikari said, police opened fire after JTMM-J cadres started shooting at them.    Police opened fire after JTMM-cadres hiding in a culvert in the village started firing at them, he said.   Police have suspected at least three others could have been injured in the shootout. They have recovered a 315 pistol from the site.  Rautahat Police has deployed more security personnel at the site and started a search operation to find the JTMM-cadres.

Nani Chaudhary, Chitwan Feb 23   Minister for Information and Communication and the spokesperson of the government Shankar Pokhrel has said, the government is not obliged to comply with the decisions taken by High Level Political Mechanism without its prior consent.   Speaking at a function organised by Press Chautari in Chitwan Monday, minister Pokhrel said, the decisions of HLPM-which does not have representatives of many parties- has not constitutional/legal standing.   However, minister Pokhrel went on to say, the government is positive on HLPM decisions taken with consent of the government and other political parties.

Suman Joshi, Kathmandu Feb 23   The foreign ministry has urged everyone planning to visit a foreign country in near future to take a passport before March 31.   The foreign ministry urged the public to take the passports as the hand-written passports being issued now cannot be issued after April 1 and will not be valid even if issued as per the provision of UN agency International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).   The public is advised to make the passports, as it is still unclear how long the foreign ministry will take before getting the Machine-Readable Passports.   Hand-written passports issued before March 31 will be valid till 2015, after which they should be replace by MRPs. The validity of passports by Nepal government is 10 years. The foreign ministry has said, it will waive the passport fees on pro rata basis at the time of replacing it with MRPs.   Nepal government currently has a stock of some half million passport books. However, they will be rendered use