Indian Idol fans wreck Nepal’s Kumari chariot – Times of India (March 5, 2009) – [read more]
KATHMANDU: Would the organisers of Indian Idol be permitted to hold the grand finale, watched by millions of frenzied fans, in front of the Taj Mahal? Or the hallowed Kali temple in Kolkata? Or even the Qutub Minar? Saturday’s late-night show …

Nepal plans to import more power from India – Xinhua News Agency (March 5, 2009) – [read more]
KATHMANDU, March 5 (Xinhua) — Nepal plans to negotiate with India on importing additional 50 MW power to cope with the daily 16-hour power outage, local media reported on Thursday. Water Resources Secretary Shanker Prasad Koirala has said Nepal …

Bangkok’s Alternative Arts Scene – Wall Street Journal (March 5, 2009) – [read more]
Chumpon Apisuk is rubbing salt in his wounds — literally. Before a crowd of young people in a concrete antechamber of this city’s recently opened Art and Culture Centre, he walks around a table covered in heaps of salt, pausing repeatedly to roll …

Beijing warns Kathmandu against pro-Tibet rallies in Nepal – AsiaNews.IT (February 27, 2009) – [read more]
Mgr Li Shan, who was ordained the capital’s bishop with the approval of the Holy See, now apparently backs an independent Church. This is dividing the faithful and causing embarrassment to the Vatican. For more than a year now the Communist Party …

Indian tourists flock to Nepal’s palace museum – Thaindian.com (February 27, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, Feb 27 (IANS) Within minutes of Nepal’s former royal palace opening to public as a national museum Friday, hordes of Indian tourists flocked to the capital’s best-known landmark for a curious peek into how the former royal family of …

Nepal, China hope to sign new peace pact this year – Thaindian.com (February 26, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, Feb 26 (IANS) While seeking to scrap a controversial peace and friendship treaty it signed with its southern neighbour India almost six decades ago, Nepal’s ruling Maoist party is now planning to ink a new peace and friendship pact with …

Nepal to probe 2001 royal massacre for ‘inside story’: Prachanda – Zee News (February 26, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, Feb 26: Accusing former king Gyanendra of ‘destroying the proofs’ of the infamous 2001 royal massacre, Premier Prachanda on Thursday said the Nepal government is ready to probe the entire episode to unearth the ‘inside story’. “Being the …

Indian minister to visit Nepal for Dalit rights campaign – Freshnews (February 26, 2009) – [read more]
India’s Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers and Steel Ram Vilas Paswan is arriving in Nepal next week on a one-day visit. However, Paswan, who belongs to the Lok Jan Shakti Party, will be visiting Nepal not on the invitation of the Maoist …

Nepali Times

New papers merge (March 5, 2009) – [read more]
The publishers of two new newspaper groups decided on Wednesday to merge even before they were to begin publication next

Rajapaksa cuts visit short (March 3, 2009) – [read more]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday cut short his visit to Nepal and returned home after receiving news of the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in which six players were injured and five Pakistani policemen

Sri Lankan President arrives (March 2, 2009) – [read more]
President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived on a three-day state visit to Nepal on

We’re the best (March 1, 2009) – [read more]
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal asserts that in the present situation, a better government is

JN wins (February 24, 2009) – [read more]
Jhala Nath Khanal has been elected chairman of the CPN (UML) at the party’s general convention in Butwal on 24 February. Khanal beat his rival KP Oli by 128 votes, managing to secure 942 votes from the assembly.

Counting begins (February 23, 2009) – [read more]
UML awaits results as the ballot counting process takes place at Butwal on Monday. The voting for the party’s new office bearers concluded a day before.

Ballot wait (February 22, 2009) – [read more]
The election for UML leadership at the party’s eight convention in Butwal gets delayed as cadidates start withdrawing their

The Army’s ideas (February 14, 2009) – [read more]
Even as Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal try to stare each other down, the Nepal Army has been the first government body to come up with suggestions for the new

Nepal News

Nepal minister in sex scandal (March 5, 2009) – [read more]

KATHMANDU: Is he a Maoist, communist or Madhesi? That’s the question on everyone’s lips in Kathmandu as police and the five-party government remain tight-lipped about the identity of a mystery minister who …

Govt enforces code of conduct for police personnel (March 5, 2009) – [read more]

KATHMANDU, March 4 : Home Ministry on Wednesday enforced a Code of Conduct for Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel.

Reversal of Role: Is China playing a Nepal Card now? (March 5, 2009) – [read more]

In a meeting with a visiting Chinese delegation led by Assistant Chinese Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi in his office last week, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said he wanted to make his upcoming China visit “a …

Ignored Tarai (March 5, 2009) – [read more]

GHANASHYAM OJHA One of my colleagues working in the human rights sector recently told me that these days he has to think twice before visiting a Tarai district on any mission.

Day in pictures (March 4, 2009) – [read more]

A Tibetan woman looks on as Buddhist monks pray for world peace in Kathmandu, Nepal. About 300 monks from India, Nepal and Tibet are staging a four-day prayer session.

Nepal’s Maoist guerrillas revolt against own party, government (March 4, 2009) – [read more]

Nepal’s dreaded Maoist guerrillas, who in the past fought a 10-year war against the state and toppled the royal dynasty of god-kings, are now locked in a fresh battle against their own party and government.

Eleven people killed in two road accidents (March 4, 2009) – [read more]

According to Radio Nepal, nine people died and seven others were injured when a jeep met with an accident in Rukum on Tuesday.

SC divided over army recruitment issue (March 4, 2009) – [read more]

Latest News: Indian general elections to be Iran will not agree to talks o New York crude oil prices plun Storm kills three in eastern U “; SC divided over army recruitment issue Wednesday, March 04,2009 …

United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal

BAD: PLA’s Reaction to Nepal Army Recruitment (March 5, 2009) – [read more]
By Lilu Thapa
Following the lines of the Nepal Army’s recruitment, the PLA also has started its own recruitment process for the “vacant posts”. How sane is that decision by the Maoist leadership or what will be the extent and effect of this new development is yet to be seen. However, if this new recruitment from [...]

The Recruitment that Threatens to Derail the Peace Process (March 4, 2009) – [read more]
For the record: Maoist People’s Liberation Army (PLA) cantonments have started recruiting new soldiers apparently in response to the ongoing recruitment in Nepal Army (NA). Though the Maoist party itself has yet to officially comment on the recruitment, key political parties have come out strongly against the drive saying it violates past pacts, most notably [...]

Soldiers Mutiny in Bangladesh: Lessons for Nepal (March 2, 2009) – [read more]
The incident in Bangladesh should cause a serious concern to the policy makers and the senior officers of the uniformed forces in Nepal as well.
By Lilu Thapa
The recent mutiny of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Soldiers in Bangladesh has raised a lot of questions in the security arena. It practically seems to have spread to Bangladesh [...]

A Life Ordinary: Story of a Nepali Chowkidar in Delhi (February 14, 2009) – [read more]
By Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared in the paper. Extended version of this story was published in Nepali in today's Kantipur Koseli. See it here as it appeared in Koseli. Plus, here is my take on India's Valentines [...]

And the Last Press Briefing by Ian Martin (February 2, 2009) – [read more]
Ian Martin, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal, addressed reporters at Reporters’ Club in Kathmandu today. Here is the Q and A, as provided by United Nations Mission in Nepal. Here is Ian’s last briefing to UNSC.
Rishi [Dhamala, the Chair of the Club], Thank you very much indeed for inviting me to come to [...]

Darjeeling Today: Talks of the State of Gorkhaland (January 31, 2009) – [read more]
Nepali Indians-Gorkhas-Want Their Own State Under the Union of India
By Swaroop Chetry
A routine day in Darjeeling begins with cabbies waiting for tourist to clamber on to their seats and rush to Tiger Hill to see the majestic Kanchanjunga change colour as the Sun rises from the far [...]

Hail the Republic: How Indians Wrote the Constitution (January 27, 2009) – [read more]
Republic Day is both a day of celebration and introspection for India
Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared on the paper.]
On the 26th day of every January a grand ceremony is held on Rajpath (formerly King’s Way), a wide road [...]

The Last Briefing by Ian Martin (January 17, 2009) – [read more]
Ian Martin, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Nepal speaks at the Meeting of the Security Council on 16 January 2009
The request of Nepal for United Nations assistance in support of its peace process
Mr President,
This is the tenth and last time I am briefing the Council on the assistance [...]

Nepal’s first regional TV channel launched – Indian Television (March 4, 2009) – [read more]
MUMBAI: Terai Media Network has launched ‘Terai Television’, the first regional broadcaster in Nepal. Headquartered at Birgunj, Nepal, the channel will relay news in four languages – Nepali, Hindi, Marathi and Bhojpuri. Besides news, the channel will …

Nepal SC split over Army recruitment – New Kerala (March 4, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, Mar 4 : The Supreme Court (SC) of Nepal has decided to send the case of new recruitment in Nepal Army to the full court for final verdict after the justices were divided in their opinion. The two-member division bench was divided on the …

Nepal Maoists ‘recruit thousands’ – BBC News (March 4, 2009) – [read more]
The Maoist former rebel group in Nepal, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), says it has begun recruiting thousands of young people. The announcement comes just days after the army said it had filled 3,000 vacancies, a move that has been condemned by …

Connect Asia – Radio Australia (March 4, 2009) – [read more]
Select your country from the drop down to find out when this program is on. – Select Timezone – Afghanistan (Kabul) American Samoa Australia (Canberra) Bangladesh (Dhaka) Bhutan Brunei Burma Cambodia Canada (Ottawa) China (Beijing) Cook Islands …

UML Chairperson’s first priority is Nepal unity – Newstrack India (February 25, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, Feb 25 (ANI): Newly elected Chairperson of the CPN (UML) Jhala Nath Khanal today said that his first priority is to form a Government with national unity. Speaking to mediapersons in Butwal, Khanal said his first responsibility would be to …

Nepal, China hope to sign new peace pact this year – Thaindian.com (February 26, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, Feb 26 (IANS) While seeking to scrap a controversial peace and friendship treaty it signed with its southern neighbour India almost six decades ago, Nepal’s ruling Maoist party is now planning to ink a new peace and friendship pact with …

Nepal to probe 2001 royal massacre for ‘inside story’: Prachanda – Zee News (February 26, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, Feb 26: Accusing former king Gyanendra of ‘destroying the proofs’ of the infamous 2001 royal massacre, Premier Prachanda on Thursday said the Nepal government is ready to probe the entire episode to unearth the ‘inside story’. “Being the …

PM pledges fresh probe into Nepal palace massacre (Lead) – Thaindian.com (February 26, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, Feb 26 (IANS) Eight years after the beloved king of Nepal, Birendra, and his entire family were wiped out in a midnight massacre in the tightly guarded royal palace in Kathmandu, the new Maoist government Thursday pledged a fresh probe …

Nepali Times

Rajapaksa cuts visit short (March 3, 2009) – [read more]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday cut short his visit to Nepal and returned home after receiving news of the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in which six players were injured and five Pakistani policemen

Sri Lankan President arrives (March 2, 2009) – [read more]
President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived on a three-day state visit to Nepal on

We’re the best (March 1, 2009) – [read more]
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal asserts that in the present situation, a better government is

JN wins (February 24, 2009) – [read more]
Jhala Nath Khanal has been elected chairman of the CPN (UML) at the party’s general convention in Butwal on 24 February. Khanal beat his rival KP Oli by 128 votes, managing to secure 942 votes from the assembly.

Counting begins (February 23, 2009) – [read more]
UML awaits results as the ballot counting process takes place at Butwal on Monday. The voting for the party’s new office bearers concluded a day before.

Ballot wait (February 22, 2009) – [read more]
The election for UML leadership at the party’s eight convention in Butwal gets delayed as cadidates start withdrawing their

The Army’s ideas (February 14, 2009) – [read more]
Even as Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal try to stare each other down, the Nepal Army has been the first government body to come up with suggestions for the new

Yadab splits (February 11, 2009) – [read more]
As the Maoists prepare to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the People’s War, Matrika Yadab formally announces that he is no longer a part of the

Nepal News

Nepal’s Maoist guerrillas revolt against own party, government (March 4, 2009) – [read more]

Nepal’s dreaded Maoist guerrillas, who in the past fought a 10-year war against the state and toppled the royal dynasty of god-kings, are now locked in a fresh battle against their own party and government.

Eleven people killed in two road accidents (March 4, 2009) – [read more]

According to Radio Nepal, nine people died and seven others were injured when a jeep met with an accident in Rukum on Tuesday.

SC divided over army recruitment issue (March 4, 2009) – [read more]

Latest News: Indian general elections to be Iran will not agree to talks o New York crude oil prices plun Storm kills three in eastern U “; SC divided over army recruitment issue Wednesday, March 04,2009 …

Nepal Government slashes transport fares (March 4, 2009) – [read more]

The government has set rates for different areas on the basis of quality of roads and geographical location of routes.

Sri Lanka signs two agreements with Nepal (March 4, 2009) – [read more]

Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 16:39 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka. Mar 03, Kathmandu: Sri Lanka today signed two agreements with the Nepali government to establish air service from Kathmandu to Colombo and to …

Nepal’s ex-princess takes up pen again (March 3, 2009) – [read more]

For more than two centuries, Nepal’s royal family endured its joy and grief in the privacy of its mansions.

Forest fire kills five in Nepal (March 3, 2009) – [read more]

At least five people were killed by wildfires in western Nepal believed to have been deliberately started by poachers, police said yesterday.

Qatar most sought-after destination for Nepal Workers (March 2, 2009) – [read more]

MORE than 50% of the Nepalese workers who came to Qatar last year had their visa documents attested at the embassy prior to their arrival in the country.

United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal

The Recruitment that Threatens to Derail the Peace Process (March 4, 2009) – [read more]
For the record: Maoist People’s Liberation Army (PLA) cantonments have started recruiting new soldiers apparently in response to the ongoing recruitment in Nepal Army (NA). Though the Maoist party itself has yet to officially comment on the recruitment, key political parties have come out strongly against the drive saying it violates past pacts, most notably [...]

Soldiers Mutiny in Bangladesh: Lessons for Nepal (March 2, 2009) – [read more]
The incident in Bangladesh should cause a serious concern to the policy makers and the senior officers of the uniformed forces in Nepal as well.
By Lilu Thapa
The recent mutiny of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Soldiers in Bangladesh has raised a lot of questions in the security arena. It practically seems to have spread to Bangladesh [...]

A Life Ordinary: Story of a Nepali Chowkidar in Delhi (February 14, 2009) – [read more]
By Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared in the paper. Extended version of this story was published in Nepali in today's Kantipur Koseli. See it here as it appeared in Koseli. Plus, here is my take on India's Valentines [...]

And the Last Press Briefing by Ian Martin (February 2, 2009) – [read more]
Ian Martin, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal, addressed reporters at Reporters’ Club in Kathmandu today. Here is the Q and A, as provided by United Nations Mission in Nepal. Here is Ian’s last briefing to UNSC.
Rishi [Dhamala, the Chair of the Club], Thank you very much indeed for inviting me to come to [...]

Darjeeling Today: Talks of the State of Gorkhaland (January 31, 2009) – [read more]
Nepali Indians-Gorkhas-Want Their Own State Under the Union of India
By Swaroop Chetry
A routine day in Darjeeling begins with cabbies waiting for tourist to clamber on to their seats and rush to Tiger Hill to see the majestic Kanchanjunga change colour as the Sun rises from the far [...]

Hail the Republic: How Indians Wrote the Constitution (January 27, 2009) – [read more]
Republic Day is both a day of celebration and introspection for India
Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared on the paper.]
On the 26th day of every January a grand ceremony is held on Rajpath (formerly King’s Way), a wide road [...]

The Last Briefing by Ian Martin (January 17, 2009) – [read more]
Ian Martin, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Nepal speaks at the Meeting of the Security Council on 16 January 2009
The request of Nepal for United Nations assistance in support of its peace process
Mr President,
This is the tenth and last time I am briefing the Council on the assistance [...]

Burning Effigies [in the Name of Lord Shiva] (January 10, 2009) – [read more]
Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared on the paper.]

Indian Hindu Rightwing Fundamentalists Demonstrate In Agra, India Against Nepal Government Decision To Apointment Nepali Priest in Pashupatinath Temmple
The other day I came across a Reuters video on an AOL web [...]

Rajapaksa cuts short Nepal trip – Hindustan Times (March 3, 2009) – [read more]
In the wake of terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore on Tuesday, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa abridged his Nepal visit. Rajapaksa arrived in Kathmandu on Monday on a three-day state visit on the invitation of his Nepali …

Rajapaksa cuts short Nepal visit after attack on cricket team – Hindustan Times (March 3, 2009) – [read more]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa cut short his three-day state visit to Nepal on Tuesday and is returning home due to security considerations after gunmen fired at the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan. Rajapaksa flies out of Kathmandu on …

Lankan president cuts short Nepal visit – Times of India (March 3, 2009) – [read more]
KATHNANDU: The attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket team in Pakistan’s Lahore city Tuesday morning, in which gunmen killed at least five policemen and injured six cricketers, had repercussions at the top-most level of the island nation with Lankan …

Rajapaksa cuts short Nepal visit, sends minister to Pakistan (Second … – Thaindian.com (March 3, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, March 3 (IANS) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa cut short his three-day state visit to Nepal Tuesday after the attack on Sri Lankan cricket ers in Lahore and asked his Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama to proceed to Pakistan …

Rajapaksa shortens Nepal visit over attack on Lankan cricket team at … – New Kerala (March 3, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, Mar 3 : SKathmandu, Mar 3 : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has cut short his stay in Nepal in wake of attack on Lankan cricket team at Lahore in Pakistan on Tuesday. Rajapaksa has cancelled his trip to Lumbini. He had arrived Nepal …

Nepal peace at risk as Maoists plan hiring fighters – Reuters AlertNet (March 3, 2009) – [read more]
KATHMANDU, March 3 (Reuters) – A former Maoist rebel commander said on Tuesday the group plans to recruit thousands of fighters, a move seen as a blow to peace and underlined serious tensions between Nepal’s army and the Maoists. Nanda Kishore Pun …

Rajapaksa cuts Nepal visit, Lankan players airlifted – MSN India (March 3, 2009) – [read more]
Colombo: The terror attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Pakistan’s Lahore city Tuesday led to outrage in the island nation, with President Mahinda Rajapaksa instructing that the players be airlifted. The players have since being airlifted from …

SL Prez Rajapaksa to Cut Short Nepal Visit – Himalayan Times (March 2, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, March 3 – Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa has cut short his Nepal visit by a day and will return to Sri Lanka this evening. Foreign ministry officials on condition of anonimity said that his visit to Lumbini today has been cancelled …

Nepali Times

Sri Lankan President arrives (March 2, 2009) – [read more]
President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived on a three-day state visit to Nepal on

We’re the best (March 1, 2009) – [read more]
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal asserts that in the present situation, a better government is

JN wins (February 24, 2009) – [read more]
Jhala Nath Khanal has been elected chairman of the CPN (UML) at the party’s general convention in Butwal on 24 February. Khanal beat his rival KP Oli by 128 votes, managing to secure 942 votes from the assembly.

Counting begins (February 23, 2009) – [read more]
UML awaits results as the ballot counting process takes place at Butwal on Monday. The voting for the party’s new office bearers concluded a day before.

Ballot wait (February 22, 2009) – [read more]
The election for UML leadership at the party’s eight convention in Butwal gets delayed as cadidates start withdrawing their

The Army’s ideas (February 14, 2009) – [read more]
Even as Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal try to stare each other down, the Nepal Army has been the first government body to come up with suggestions for the new

Yadab splits (February 11, 2009) – [read more]
As the Maoists prepare to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the People’s War, Matrika Yadab formally announces that he is no longer a part of the

Ordnance to ordinance (February 10, 2009) – [read more]
President Ram Baran Yadab on Tuesday ratified three ordinances just a day after 18 of the 25 parties represented in the CA had agreed to ask Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to call the parliamentary session.

Nepal News

Qatar most sought-after destination for Nepal Workers (March 2, 2009) – [read more]

MORE than 50% of the Nepalese workers who came to Qatar last year had their visa documents attested at the embassy prior to their arrival in the country.

Nitish asks Pranab to take up Kosi issue with Nepal (March 2, 2009) – [read more]

Expressing concern over disruption in repairing of the Kosi river embankment on the Nepal side, Bihar Government has sought the intervention of the External Affairs Ministry to secure immediate commencement of …

India Police: Nepal a meeting point for Lashkar (March 2, 2009) – [read more]

Mumbai: Maps of target locations of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai attacks were handed over to Lashkar-e-Taiba commanders in Nepal, according to the charge sheet filed by the Mumbai police last Wednesday.

Asia Pacific Conference of World Scout kicks off (March 2, 2009) – [read more]

The sixth Asia-Pacific Conference of the World Scouts has kicked off in Kathmandu on Monday.

World News Quick Take: Nepal Fire (March 2, 2009) – [read more]

The unprecedented move comes after criticism that warnings ahead of the devastating blazes that hit on Feb.

Sri Lankan president visits Nepal under tight security (March 2, 2009) – [read more]

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday arrived in Kathmandu for a three-day visit to Nepal.

Lanka president begins Nepal visit (March 2, 2009) – [read more]

KATHMANDU: Amidst unprecedented security, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Monday began his three-day state visit to Nepal, the highest-level visit ever to the Himalayan republic by a foreign government …

Sourabhee crowned Indian Idol (March 1, 2009) – [read more]

REPUBLICA KATHMANDU, March 2 : The petite Sourabhee Debbarma won the grand finale of the fourth edition of the TV program in Mumbai Sunday night, according to agency reports.

United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal

Soldiers Mutiny in Bangladesh: Lessons for Nepal (March 2, 2009) – [read more]
The incident in Bangladesh should cause a serious concern to the policy makers and the senior officers of the uniformed forces in Nepal as well.
By Lilu Thapa
The recent mutiny of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Soldiers in Bangladesh has raised a lot of questions in the security arena. It practically seems to have spread to Bangladesh [...]

A Life Ordinary: Story of a Nepali Chowkidar in Delhi (February 14, 2009) – [read more]
By Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared in the paper. Extended version of this story was published in Nepali in today's Kantipur Koseli. See it here as it appeared in Koseli. Plus, here is my take on India's Valentines [...]

And the Last Press Briefing by Ian Martin (February 2, 2009) – [read more]
Ian Martin, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal, addressed reporters at Reporters’ Club in Kathmandu today. Here is the Q and A, as provided by United Nations Mission in Nepal. Here is Ian’s last briefing to UNSC.
Rishi [Dhamala, the Chair of the Club], Thank you very much indeed for inviting me to come to [...]

Darjeeling Today: Talks of the State of Gorkhaland (January 31, 2009) – [read more]
Nepali Indians-Gorkhas-Want Their Own State Under the Union of India
By Swaroop Chetry
A routine day in Darjeeling begins with cabbies waiting for tourist to clamber on to their seats and rush to Tiger Hill to see the majestic Kanchanjunga change colour as the Sun rises from the far [...]

Hail the Republic: How Indians Wrote the Constitution (January 27, 2009) – [read more]
Republic Day is both a day of celebration and introspection for India
Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared on the paper.]
On the 26th day of every January a grand ceremony is held on Rajpath (formerly King’s Way), a wide road [...]

The Last Briefing by Ian Martin (January 17, 2009) – [read more]
Ian Martin, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Nepal speaks at the Meeting of the Security Council on 16 January 2009
The request of Nepal for United Nations assistance in support of its peace process
Mr President,
This is the tenth and last time I am briefing the Council on the assistance [...]

Burning Effigies [in the Name of Lord Shiva] (January 10, 2009) – [read more]
Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared on the paper.]

Indian Hindu Rightwing Fundamentalists Demonstrate In Agra, India Against Nepal Government Decision To Apointment Nepali Priest in Pashupatinath Temmple
The other day I came across a Reuters video on an AOL web [...]

Is Nepal Going to Fail? (January 8, 2009) – [read more]
It is really hard to believe that Nepal has a democratic government.
By Krishna Giri
Instead of mocking Nepali leaders, this time my thoughts were going towards the country and countrymen. Bulldozed by the political and leadership changes; besieged by living and security conditions; aggravated by the false hope for water and electricity, people are going through [...]

Rajapaksa cuts short Nepal trip – Hindustan Times (March 3, 2009) – [read more]
In the wake of terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore on Tuesday, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa abridged his Nepal visit. Rajapaksa arrived in Kathmandu on Monday on a three-day state visit on the invitation of his Nepali …

Rajapaksa cuts short Nepal visit after attack on cricket team – Hindustan Times (March 3, 2009) – [read more]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa cut short his three-day state visit to Nepal on Tuesday and is returning home due to security considerations after gunmen fired at the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan. Rajapaksa flies out of Kathmandu on …

Lankan president cuts short Nepal visit – Times of India (March 3, 2009) – [read more]
KATHNANDU: The attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket team in Pakistan’s Lahore city Tuesday morning, in which gunmen killed at least five policemen and injured six cricketers, had repercussions at the top-most level of the island nation with Lankan …

Rajapaksa cuts short Nepal visit, sends minister to Pakistan (Second … – Thaindian.com (March 3, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, March 3 (IANS) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa cut short his three-day state visit to Nepal Tuesday after the attack on Sri Lankan cricket ers in Lahore and asked his Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama to proceed to Pakistan …

Rajapaksa shortens Nepal visit over attack on Lankan cricket team at … – Newstrack India (March 3, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, Mar 3 (ANI): SKathmandu, Mar 3 (ANI): Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has cut short his stay in Nepal in wake of attack on Lankan cricket team at Lahore in Pakistan on Tuesday. Rajapaksa has cancelled his trip to Lumbini. He had …

Rajapaksa shortens his Nepal visit – New Kerala (March 3, 2009) – [read more]
Mr Rajapaksa, who arrived here yesterday on a three-day state visit on the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Ram Baran Yadav, has cancelled his trip to Lumbini and is set to leave Kathmandu this afternoon. His visit to Lumbini, the birth place of …

International Media mission call to Nepal to ensure press freedom – Newstrack India (March 3, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, Mar 3 (ANI): The international media mission has urged the Nepal Government to ensure press freedom by shielding journalists and media houses from attacks. The mission headed by President of the Asia Journalists’ Association (AJA) Sang-Ki …

Sri Lankan president cuts short Nepal visit – Earthtimes (March 3, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa cut short his three-day official visit to Nepal Tuesday after an attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket team in Pakistan, official reports said. The Sri Lankan president and his delegation were now scheduled …

Nepali Times

Sri Lankan President arrives (March 2, 2009) – [read more]
President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived on a three-day state visit to Nepal on

We’re the best (March 1, 2009) – [read more]
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal asserts that in the present situation, a better government is

JN wins (February 24, 2009) – [read more]
Jhala Nath Khanal has been elected chairman of the CPN (UML) at the party’s general convention in Butwal on 24 February. Khanal beat his rival KP Oli by 128 votes, managing to secure 942 votes from the assembly.

Counting begins (February 23, 2009) – [read more]
UML awaits results as the ballot counting process takes place at Butwal on Monday. The voting for the party’s new office bearers concluded a day before.

Ballot wait (February 22, 2009) – [read more]
The election for UML leadership at the party’s eight convention in Butwal gets delayed as cadidates start withdrawing their

The Army’s ideas (February 14, 2009) – [read more]
Even as Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal try to stare each other down, the Nepal Army has been the first government body to come up with suggestions for the new

Yadab splits (February 11, 2009) – [read more]
As the Maoists prepare to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the People’s War, Matrika Yadab formally announces that he is no longer a part of the

Ordnance to ordinance (February 10, 2009) – [read more]
President Ram Baran Yadab on Tuesday ratified three ordinances just a day after 18 of the 25 parties represented in the CA had agreed to ask Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to call the parliamentary session.

Nepal News

Qatar most sought-after destination for Nepal Workers (March 2, 2009) – [read more]

MORE than 50% of the Nepalese workers who came to Qatar last year had their visa documents attested at the embassy prior to their arrival in the country.

Nitish asks Pranab to take up Kosi issue with Nepal (March 2, 2009) – [read more]

Expressing concern over disruption in repairing of the Kosi river embankment on the Nepal side, Bihar Government has sought the intervention of the External Affairs Ministry to secure immediate commencement of …

India Police: Nepal a meeting point for Lashkar (March 2, 2009) – [read more]

Mumbai: Maps of target locations of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai attacks were handed over to Lashkar-e-Taiba commanders in Nepal, according to the charge sheet filed by the Mumbai police last Wednesday.

Asia Pacific Conference of World Scout kicks off (March 2, 2009) – [read more]

The sixth Asia-Pacific Conference of the World Scouts has kicked off in Kathmandu on Monday.

World News Quick Take: Nepal Fire (March 2, 2009) – [read more]

The unprecedented move comes after criticism that warnings ahead of the devastating blazes that hit on Feb.

Sri Lankan president visits Nepal under tight security (March 2, 2009) – [read more]

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday arrived in Kathmandu for a three-day visit to Nepal.

Lanka president begins Nepal visit (March 2, 2009) – [read more]

KATHMANDU: Amidst unprecedented security, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Monday began his three-day state visit to Nepal, the highest-level visit ever to the Himalayan republic by a foreign government …

Sourabhee crowned Indian Idol (March 1, 2009) – [read more]

REPUBLICA KATHMANDU, March 2 : The petite Sourabhee Debbarma won the grand finale of the fourth edition of the TV program in Mumbai Sunday night, according to agency reports.

United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal

Soldiers Mutiny in Bangladesh: Lessons for Nepal (March 2, 2009) – [read more]
The incident in Bangladesh should cause a serious concern to the policy makers and the senior officers of the uniformed forces in Nepal as well.
By Lilu Thapa
The recent mutiny of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Soldiers in Bangladesh has raised a lot of questions in the security arena. It practically seems to have spread to Bangladesh [...]

A Life Ordinary: Story of a Nepali Chowkidar in Delhi (February 14, 2009) – [read more]
By Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared in the paper. Extended version of this story was published in Nepali in today's Kantipur Koseli. See it here as it appeared in Koseli. Plus, here is my take on India's Valentines [...]

And the Last Press Briefing by Ian Martin (February 2, 2009) – [read more]
Ian Martin, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal, addressed reporters at Reporters’ Club in Kathmandu today. Here is the Q and A, as provided by United Nations Mission in Nepal. Here is Ian’s last briefing to UNSC.
Rishi [Dhamala, the Chair of the Club], Thank you very much indeed for inviting me to come to [...]

Darjeeling Today: Talks of the State of Gorkhaland (January 31, 2009) – [read more]
Nepali Indians-Gorkhas-Want Their Own State Under the Union of India
By Swaroop Chetry
A routine day in Darjeeling begins with cabbies waiting for tourist to clamber on to their seats and rush to Tiger Hill to see the majestic Kanchanjunga change colour as the Sun rises from the far [...]

Hail the Republic: How Indians Wrote the Constitution (January 27, 2009) – [read more]
Republic Day is both a day of celebration and introspection for India
Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared on the paper.]
On the 26th day of every January a grand ceremony is held on Rajpath (formerly King’s Way), a wide road [...]

The Last Briefing by Ian Martin (January 17, 2009) – [read more]
Ian Martin, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Nepal speaks at the Meeting of the Security Council on 16 January 2009
The request of Nepal for United Nations assistance in support of its peace process
Mr President,
This is the tenth and last time I am briefing the Council on the assistance [...]

Burning Effigies [in the Name of Lord Shiva] (January 10, 2009) – [read more]
Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared on the paper.]

Indian Hindu Rightwing Fundamentalists Demonstrate In Agra, India Against Nepal Government Decision To Apointment Nepali Priest in Pashupatinath Temmple
The other day I came across a Reuters video on an AOL web [...]

Is Nepal Going to Fail? (January 8, 2009) – [read more]
It is really hard to believe that Nepal has a democratic government.
By Krishna Giri
Instead of mocking Nepali leaders, this time my thoughts were going towards the country and countrymen. Bulldozed by the political and leadership changes; besieged by living and security conditions; aggravated by the false hope for water and electricity, people are going through [...]

Security tightened in Kathmandu as Sri Lankan president visits – Monsters and Critics (March 2, 2009) – [read more]
The visit is the first by a head of state to Nepal since the Maoist-led government took over following elections victory in April last year. Rajapaksa, who is in the Himalayan nation on the invitation of Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav, is …

Girls faint en masse in Nepali school, teaching halted – Xinhua News Agency (March 2, 2009) – [read more]
KATHMANDU, March 2 (Xinhua) — Teaching and learning activities have been halted in a hilly district of western Nepal after several girls started falling unconscious daily. It is already a couple of months since the problem started, at the Lokaraj …

Nepali coalition party chief says to reject army integration – Focus Infomation (February 23, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu. Minister for Foreign Affairs and chairman of a coalition party, Upendra Yadav Monday said the People ‘s Liberation Army (PLA) combatants of the ruling party, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (UCPN-M), should not be merged into …

Mid-west Nepal on high alert of bird flu virus – Xinhua News Agency (February 23, 2009) – [read more]
KATHMANDU, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) — After the bird flu virus (H5N1) was confirmed again in eastern Nepal, Nepali districts bordering India have been put on high alert, Nepali national news agency RSS reported on Monday. Districts of mid-western region are …

Trekking tips for travellers to Nepal – Earthtimes (February 23, 2009) – [read more]
Munich/Kathmandu – Eighteen people including 14 European tourists aboard a small aircraft were killed last October when it crashed at Nepal’s Lukla airport. The incident sparked concerns about air travel in the kingdom, but figures show that Nepal …

Nepal, China hope to sign new peace pact this year – Thaindian.com (February 26, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, Feb 26 (IANS) While seeking to scrap a controversial peace and friendship treaty it signed with its southern neighbour India almost six decades ago, Nepal’s ruling Maoist party is now planning to ink a new peace and friendship pact with …

Indian unveils ‘biggest Shiva idol’ in Nepal – Times of India (February 23, 2009) – [read more]
KATHMANDU: “When I first came to Nepal nearly 20 years ago, I immediately felt a special rapport with Pashupatinath,” says Kamal Jain, who left the family home and business in Siliguri to make a fresh start in the Himalayan nation. “Living in …

Nepal Police arrest 7 more Tibetans fleeing Tibet – Phayul (February 26, 2009) – [read more]
Dharamsala, Feb 26: Nepal Police have arrested seven Tibetan nationals, including two women, who entered the country through Nepal-Tibet border at Tatopani and handed them over to the authorities in Kathmandu, according to a media report. They were …

Nepali Times

We’re the best (March 1, 2009) – [read more]
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal asserts that in the present situation, a better government is

JN wins (February 24, 2009) – [read more]
Jhala Nath Khanal has been elected chairman of the CPN (UML) at the party’s general convention in Butwal on 24 February. Khanal beat his rival KP Oli by 128 votes, managing to secure 942 votes from the assembly.

Counting begins (February 23, 2009) – [read more]
UML awaits results as the ballot counting process takes place at Butwal on Monday. The voting for the party’s new office bearers concluded a day before.

Ballot wait (February 22, 2009) – [read more]
The election for UML leadership at the party’s eight convention in Butwal gets delayed as cadidates start withdrawing their

The Army’s ideas (February 14, 2009) – [read more]
Even as Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal try to stare each other down, the Nepal Army has been the first government body to come up with suggestions for the new

Yadab splits (February 11, 2009) – [read more]
As the Maoists prepare to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the People’s War, Matrika Yadab formally announces that he is no longer a part of the

Ordnance to ordinance (February 10, 2009) – [read more]
President Ram Baran Yadab on Tuesday ratified three ordinances just a day after 18 of the 25 parties represented in the CA had agreed to ask Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to call the parliamentary session.

Endangered freedom (February 8, 2009) – [read more]
A high-level delegation of international media watchdog groups has concluded a four-day inspection visit of Nepal and has said that press freedom is in danger in Nepal.

Nepal News

Sourabhee crowned Indian Idol (March 1, 2009) – [read more]

REPUBLICA KATHMANDU, March 2 : The petite Sourabhee Debbarma won the grand finale of the fourth edition of the TV program in Mumbai Sunday night, according to agency reports.

Nepal Govt flayed for ignoring freedom (March 1, 2009) – [read more]

Govt flayed for ignoring freedom Monday, March 02,2009 KATHMANDU: The Maoist-led government has exhibited its ignorance towards press freedom by failing to include murdered journalists during the conflict in …

Parshuram Koirala surrounded by his family (March 1, 2009) – [read more]

Thousands of people in Nepal were killed, tortured or caused to disappear during the 10-year civil conflict which ended in 2006.

Curfew in west Nepal after Maoists attacked CA members (March 1, 2009) – [read more]

Curfew was imposed in Nepal’s western Rukum district on Sunday following a clash between the local Maoists and Constituent Assembly members who visited the area to receive suggestions for drafting a new …

Concern over Gyanendra’s India trip (March 1, 2009) – [read more]

KATHMANDU: As the Indian media continued to lavish attention on Nepala s last king Gyanendra even almost a year after he was stripped of his ancestral crown, there was growing suspicion in Nepala s ruling …

Rite of Spring Nepali style (March 1, 2009) – [read more]

It was Friday evening at Sukarmas annual solo concert this year, featuring Mariano from the Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory .

Army integration will complete without hassle: Peace Minister (March 1, 2009) – [read more]

Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Janardan Sharma on Sunday said that “political discussion” has already started on the main issue of federalism, state restructuring and army integration.

Living gods and smoking sadhus (March 1, 2009) – [read more]

The sweet-acrid odour of marijuana and hashish permeates the sprawling Pashupatinath temple complex as tens of thousands of pilgrims gather in Kathmandu to celebrate Maha Shivaratri, the annual festival to …

United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal

A Life Ordinary: Story of a Nepali Chowkidar in Delhi (February 14, 2009) – [read more]
By Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared in the paper. Extended version of this story was published in Nepali in today's Kantipur Koseli. See it here as it appeared in Koseli. Plus, here is my take on India's Valentines [...]

And the Last Press Briefing by Ian Martin (February 2, 2009) – [read more]
Ian Martin, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal, addressed reporters at Reporters’ Club in Kathmandu today. Here is the Q and A, as provided by United Nations Mission in Nepal. Here is Ian’s last briefing to UNSC.
Rishi [Dhamala, the Chair of the Club], Thank you very much indeed for inviting me to come to [...]

Darjeeling Today: Talks of the State of Gorkhaland (January 31, 2009) – [read more]
Nepali Indians-Gorkhas-Want Their Own State Under the Union of India
By Swaroop Chetry
A routine day in Darjeeling begins with cabbies waiting for tourist to clamber on to their seats and rush to Tiger Hill to see the majestic Kanchanjunga change colour as the Sun rises from the far [...]

Hail the Republic: How Indians Wrote the Constitution (January 27, 2009) – [read more]
Republic Day is both a day of celebration and introspection for India
Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared on the paper.]
On the 26th day of every January a grand ceremony is held on Rajpath (formerly King’s Way), a wide road [...]

The Last Briefing by Ian Martin (January 17, 2009) – [read more]
Ian Martin, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Nepal speaks at the Meeting of the Security Council on 16 January 2009
The request of Nepal for United Nations assistance in support of its peace process
Mr President,
This is the tenth and last time I am briefing the Council on the assistance [...]

Burning Effigies [in the Name of Lord Shiva] (January 10, 2009) – [read more]
Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared on the paper.]

Indian Hindu Rightwing Fundamentalists Demonstrate In Agra, India Against Nepal Government Decision To Apointment Nepali Priest in Pashupatinath Temmple
The other day I came across a Reuters video on an AOL web [...]

Is Nepal Going to Fail? (January 8, 2009) – [read more]
It is really hard to believe that Nepal has a democratic government.
By Krishna Giri
Instead of mocking Nepali leaders, this time my thoughts were going towards the country and countrymen. Bulldozed by the political and leadership changes; besieged by living and security conditions; aggravated by the false hope for water and electricity, people are going through [...]

Resham! Nepathya Shares Sorrow and Joy with Sydney (January 4, 2009) – [read more]
Nepal’s Premium Rock/Folk band performs in Australia
“Let me share with you all a real life story,” said Amrit Gurung amidst his debut performance in Sydney on Saturday. “I was talking to a second generation Nepali immigrant residing in Europe. When I asked him if he liked visiting Nepal, he simply answered ‘no’. When asked why, [...]

Slumdog Millionaire’ dashes Nepal director’s hope – Thaindian.com (February 28, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, March 1 (IANS) This year’s wonder film “Slumdog Millionaire”, which won eight Oscars and reopened the world’s eyes to the talent blooming in Bollywood , has however come as a blow to someone in Nepal. A filmmaker from the region …

‘Slumdog Millionaire’ dashes Nepal director’s hope – Deccan Herald (March 1, 2009) – [read more]
Slumdog Millionaire’ dashes Nepal director’s hope Kathmandu, IANS: A filmmaker from the region has had to put off his upcoming project for fear of unfair comparisons to the rags-to-riches story. This year’s wonder film “Slumdog Millionaire”, which …

Police Launch Traffic Week in Kathmandu – Himalayan Times (March 1, 2009) – [read more]
Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, Ramshahpath, on Saturday launched a ‘traffic week’ campaign to make people aware of traffic rules to minimise road accidents. IGP Ramesh Chand Thakuri said awareness programmes would bring positive impact on …

India, Nepal set to construct dam – Times of India (March 1, 2009) – [read more]
NEW DELHI: Thirteen years after signing a treaty, India and Nepal are all set to establish Pancheshwar Development Authority for construction of the ambitious 6000 MW Pancheswar multi-purpose project on the Indo-Nepal border. The project seeks to …

Poultry death sparks bird flu fear in eastern Nepal – Xinhua News Agency (February 28, 2009) – [read more]
KATHMANDU, March 1 (Xinhua) — The death of more than 1,000 chickens in two poultry farms at Halesimarga of Biratnagar in Morang district has triggered a fear of bird flu among the local people. According to Sunday’s The Himalayan Times daily, till …

NC Leader Tells Maoists to Behave – Himalayan Times (March 1, 2009) – [read more]
Acting president of Nepali Congress Shushil Koirala said on Saturday the party could join the government if the government created appropriate environment. Addressing a press meet organised by the Banke chapter of Nepal Press Union in Nepalgunj …

69-year-old on hunger strike for rights in Bhutan jail – Thaindian.com (March 1, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, Mar 1 (IANS) A 69-year-old political activist who has been behind bars in Bhutan since 2000 has begun a fast unto death demanding the release of all political prisoners. N.L. Katwal, a senior leader of the Bhutan Gorkha National Liberation …

Nepali coalition party chief says to reject army integration – Focus Infomation (February 23, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu. Minister for Foreign Affairs and chairman of a coalition party, Upendra Yadav Monday said the People ‘s Liberation Army (PLA) combatants of the ruling party, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (UCPN-M), should not be merged into …

Nepali Times

We’re the best (March 1, 2009) – [read more]
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal asserts that in the present situation, a better government is

JN wins (February 24, 2009) – [read more]
Jhala Nath Khanal has been elected chairman of the CPN (UML) at the party’s general convention in Butwal on 24 February. Khanal beat his rival KP Oli by 128 votes, managing to secure 942 votes from the assembly.

Counting begins (February 23, 2009) – [read more]
UML awaits results as the ballot counting process takes place at Butwal on Monday. The voting for the party’s new office bearers concluded a day before.

Ballot wait (February 22, 2009) – [read more]
The election for UML leadership at the party’s eight convention in Butwal gets delayed as cadidates start withdrawing their

The Army’s ideas (February 14, 2009) – [read more]
Even as Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal try to stare each other down, the Nepal Army has been the first government body to come up with suggestions for the new

Yadab splits (February 11, 2009) – [read more]
As the Maoists prepare to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the People’s War, Matrika Yadab formally announces that he is no longer a part of the

Ordnance to ordinance (February 10, 2009) – [read more]
President Ram Baran Yadab on Tuesday ratified three ordinances just a day after 18 of the 25 parties represented in the CA had agreed to ask Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to call the parliamentary session.

Endangered freedom (February 8, 2009) – [read more]
A high-level delegation of international media watchdog groups has concluded a four-day inspection visit of Nepal and has said that press freedom is in danger in Nepal.

Nepal News

Gyanendra’s India visit effort to restore monarchy: Bhattarai (March 1, 2009) – [read more]

Kathmandu, Feb 28 : The visit to India by Nepal’s deposed King Gyanendra has sparked a row in the Himalayan nation, with a top Maoist leader accusing the former ruler of visiting New Delhi in an attempt to …

India helps Nepal, Bhutan to set up medical colleges (March 1, 2009) – [read more]

India Gazette Wednesday 25th February, 2009 India has helped Nepal and Bhutan to set up medical colleges, the Lok Sabha was informed Wednesday.

Nepal: Another B2B H5N1 outbreak? (March 1, 2009) – [read more]

Two days after the government completed its culling and killing operation of poultry and poultry products in Sharanamati VDC of Jhapa to control bird-flu detected in the area a week ago, almost 1,000 chickens …

DAO interrogates Dhamala (February 28, 2009) – [read more]

District Administration Office , Kathmandu has interrogated Chairman of Reporters’ Club Nepal and three other accused in the case of arms and ammunition on Thursday.

Nepal’s former king leaves for India (February 28, 2009) – [read more]

Former king Gyanendra Shah of Nepal on Wednesday left for India, starting his first overseas trip after monarchy in the country was removed.

Nepal opens former royal palace to the public (February 28, 2009) – [read more]

KATHMANDU: The palace of Nepal’s ousted king was thrown open to the public as a museum yesterday, giving ordinary people a peek at the lavish lifestyle and murderous past of their former rulers.

‘Info on 26/11 targets reached conspirators through Nepal’ (February 27, 2009) – [read more]

Mumbai, Feb 26 Documents consisting details and maps of targets prepared by alleged LeT operative Fahim Ansari reached conspirators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack via Nepal, said the chargesheet filed by …

3 months more to bring Bhotekoshi hydro project into operation (February 27, 2009) – [read more]

REPUBLICA KATHMANDU, Feb 27 : The 36-megawatt Bhotekoshi hydropower project will take three months more to come into full operation, reported Nepal Samacharpatra daily on Friday.

United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal

A Life Ordinary: Story of a Nepali Chowkidar in Delhi (February 14, 2009) – [read more]
By Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared in the paper. Extended version of this story was published in Nepali in today's Kantipur Koseli. See it here as it appeared in Koseli. Plus, here is my take on India's Valentines [...]

And the Last Press Briefing by Ian Martin (February 2, 2009) – [read more]
Ian Martin, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal, addressed reporters at Reporters’ Club in Kathmandu today. Here is the Q and A, as provided by United Nations Mission in Nepal. Here is Ian’s last briefing to UNSC.
Rishi [Dhamala, the Chair of the Club], Thank you very much indeed for inviting me to come to [...]

Darjeeling Today: Talks of the State of Gorkhaland (January 31, 2009) – [read more]
Nepali Indians-Gorkhas-Want Their Own State Under the Union of India
By Swaroop Chetry
A routine day in Darjeeling begins with cabbies waiting for tourist to clamber on to their seats and rush to Tiger Hill to see the majestic Kanchanjunga change colour as the Sun rises from the far [...]

Hail the Republic: How Indians Wrote the Constitution (January 27, 2009) – [read more]
Republic Day is both a day of celebration and introspection for India
Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared on the paper.]
On the 26th day of every January a grand ceremony is held on Rajpath (formerly King’s Way), a wide road [...]

The Last Briefing by Ian Martin (January 17, 2009) – [read more]
Ian Martin, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Nepal speaks at the Meeting of the Security Council on 16 January 2009
The request of Nepal for United Nations assistance in support of its peace process
Mr President,
This is the tenth and last time I am briefing the Council on the assistance [...]

Burning Effigies [in the Name of Lord Shiva] (January 10, 2009) – [read more]
Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared on the paper.]

Indian Hindu Rightwing Fundamentalists Demonstrate In Agra, India Against Nepal Government Decision To Apointment Nepali Priest in Pashupatinath Temmple
The other day I came across a Reuters video on an AOL web [...]

Is Nepal Going to Fail? (January 8, 2009) – [read more]
It is really hard to believe that Nepal has a democratic government.
By Krishna Giri
Instead of mocking Nepali leaders, this time my thoughts were going towards the country and countrymen. Bulldozed by the political and leadership changes; besieged by living and security conditions; aggravated by the false hope for water and electricity, people are going through [...]

Resham! Nepathya Shares Sorrow and Joy with Sydney (January 4, 2009) – [read more]
Nepal’s Premium Rock/Folk band performs in Australia
“Let me share with you all a real life story,” said Amrit Gurung amidst his debut performance in Sydney on Saturday. “I was talking to a second generation Nepali immigrant residing in Europe. When I asked him if he liked visiting Nepal, he simply answered ‘no’. When asked why, [...]

Police Launch Traffic Week in Kathmandu – Himalayan Times (March 1, 2009) – [read more]
Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, Ramshahpath, on Saturday launched a ‘traffic week’ campaign to make people aware of traffic rules to minimise road accidents. IGP Ramesh Chand Thakuri said awareness programmes would bring positive impact on …

India, Nepal set to construct dam – Times of India (March 1, 2009) – [read more]
NEW DELHI: Thirteen years after signing a treaty, India and Nepal are all set to establish Pancheshwar Development Authority for construction of the ambitious 6000 MW Pancheswar multi-purpose project on the Indo-Nepal border. The project seeks to …

Poultry death sparks bird flu fear in eastern Nepal – Xinhua News Agency (February 28, 2009) – [read more]
KATHMANDU, March 1 (Xinhua) — The death of more than 1,000 chickens in two poultry farms at Halesimarga of Biratnagar in Morang district has triggered a fear of bird flu among the local people. According to Sunday’s The Himalayan Times daily, till …

NC Leader Tells Maoists to Behave – Himalayan Times (March 1, 2009) – [read more]
Acting president of Nepali Congress Shushil Koirala said on Saturday the party could join the government if the government created appropriate environment. Addressing a press meet organised by the Banke chapter of Nepal Press Union in Nepalgunj …

13 years after signing treaty, India, Nepal set to construct dam – Mynews India (February 28, 2009) – [read more]
New Delhi : Thirteen years after signing a treaty, India and Nepal are all set to establish Pancheshwar Development Authority for construction of the ambitious 6000 MW Pancheswar multi-purpose project on the Indo-Nepal border. The project seeks to …

Nepali coalition party chief says to reject army integration – Focus Infomation (February 23, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu. Minister for Foreign Affairs and chairman of a coalition party, Upendra Yadav Monday said the People ‘s Liberation Army (PLA) combatants of the ruling party, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (UCPN-M), should not be merged into …

After India, China to send special envoy to Nepal – Thaindian.com (February 22, 2009) – [read more]
Kathmandu, Feb 22 (IANS) A week after Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon visited Nepal to assess the progress of the commitments pledged between India and Nepal, it is now the turn of the Himalayan republic’s northern neighbour China to …

Sherpas to observe Lhosar Festival in Nepali capital – Xinhua News Agency (February 24, 2009) – [read more]
KATHMANDU, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) — Sherpa and different other ethnic groups living in Himalayan region are to observe Lhosar Festival for two days from Wednesday in Nepali capital Kathmandu, Nepali national news agency RSS reported on Tuesday. Lhosar …

Nepali Times

We’re the best (March 1, 2009) – [read more]
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal asserts that in the present situation, a better government is

JN wins (February 24, 2009) – [read more]
Jhala Nath Khanal has been elected chairman of the CPN (UML) at the party’s general convention in Butwal on 24 February. Khanal beat his rival KP Oli by 128 votes, managing to secure 942 votes from the assembly.

Counting begins (February 23, 2009) – [read more]
UML awaits results as the ballot counting process takes place at Butwal on Monday. The voting for the party’s new office bearers concluded a day before.

Ballot wait (February 22, 2009) – [read more]
The election for UML leadership at the party’s eight convention in Butwal gets delayed as cadidates start withdrawing their

The Army’s ideas (February 14, 2009) – [read more]
Even as Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal try to stare each other down, the Nepal Army has been the first government body to come up with suggestions for the new

Yadab splits (February 11, 2009) – [read more]
As the Maoists prepare to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the People’s War, Matrika Yadab formally announces that he is no longer a part of the

Ordnance to ordinance (February 10, 2009) – [read more]
President Ram Baran Yadab on Tuesday ratified three ordinances just a day after 18 of the 25 parties represented in the CA had agreed to ask Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to call the parliamentary session.

Endangered freedom (February 8, 2009) – [read more]
A high-level delegation of international media watchdog groups has concluded a four-day inspection visit of Nepal and has said that press freedom is in danger in Nepal.

Nepal News

Gyanendra’s India visit effort to restore monarchy: Bhattarai (March 1, 2009) – [read more]

Kathmandu, Feb 28 : The visit to India by Nepal’s deposed King Gyanendra has sparked a row in the Himalayan nation, with a top Maoist leader accusing the former ruler of visiting New Delhi in an attempt to …

India helps Nepal, Bhutan to set up medical colleges (March 1, 2009) – [read more]

India Gazette Wednesday 25th February, 2009 India has helped Nepal and Bhutan to set up medical colleges, the Lok Sabha was informed Wednesday.

Nepal: Another B2B H5N1 outbreak? (March 1, 2009) – [read more]

Two days after the government completed its culling and killing operation of poultry and poultry products in Sharanamati VDC of Jhapa to control bird-flu detected in the area a week ago, almost 1,000 chickens …

DAO interrogates Dhamala (February 28, 2009) – [read more]

District Administration Office , Kathmandu has interrogated Chairman of Reporters’ Club Nepal and three other accused in the case of arms and ammunition on Thursday.

Nepal’s former king leaves for India (February 28, 2009) – [read more]

Former king Gyanendra Shah of Nepal on Wednesday left for India, starting his first overseas trip after monarchy in the country was removed.

Nepal opens former royal palace to the public (February 28, 2009) – [read more]

KATHMANDU: The palace of Nepal’s ousted king was thrown open to the public as a museum yesterday, giving ordinary people a peek at the lavish lifestyle and murderous past of their former rulers.

‘Info on 26/11 targets reached conspirators through Nepal’ (February 27, 2009) – [read more]

Mumbai, Feb 26 Documents consisting details and maps of targets prepared by alleged LeT operative Fahim Ansari reached conspirators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack via Nepal, said the chargesheet filed by …

3 months more to bring Bhotekoshi hydro project into operation (February 27, 2009) – [read more]

REPUBLICA KATHMANDU, Feb 27 : The 36-megawatt Bhotekoshi hydropower project will take three months more to come into full operation, reported Nepal Samacharpatra daily on Friday.

United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal

A Life Ordinary: Story of a Nepali Chowkidar in Delhi (February 14, 2009) – [read more]
By Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared in the paper. Extended version of this story was published in Nepali in today's Kantipur Koseli. See it here as it appeared in Koseli. Plus, here is my take on India's Valentines [...]

And the Last Press Briefing by Ian Martin (February 2, 2009) – [read more]
Ian Martin, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal, addressed reporters at Reporters’ Club in Kathmandu today. Here is the Q and A, as provided by United Nations Mission in Nepal. Here is Ian’s last briefing to UNSC.
Rishi [Dhamala, the Chair of the Club], Thank you very much indeed for inviting me to come to [...]

Darjeeling Today: Talks of the State of Gorkhaland (January 31, 2009) – [read more]
Nepali Indians-Gorkhas-Want Their Own State Under the Union of India
By Swaroop Chetry
A routine day in Darjeeling begins with cabbies waiting for tourist to clamber on to their seats and rush to Tiger Hill to see the majestic Kanchanjunga change colour as the Sun rises from the far [...]

Hail the Republic: How Indians Wrote the Constitution (January 27, 2009) – [read more]
Republic Day is both a day of celebration and introspection for India
Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared on the paper.]
On the 26th day of every January a grand ceremony is held on Rajpath (formerly King’s Way), a wide road [...]

The Last Briefing by Ian Martin (January 17, 2009) – [read more]
Ian Martin, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Nepal speaks at the Meeting of the Security Council on 16 January 2009
The request of Nepal for United Nations assistance in support of its peace process
Mr President,
This is the tenth and last time I am briefing the Council on the assistance [...]

Burning Effigies [in the Name of Lord Shiva] (January 10, 2009) – [read more]
Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared on the paper.]

Indian Hindu Rightwing Fundamentalists Demonstrate In Agra, India Against Nepal Government Decision To Apointment Nepali Priest in Pashupatinath Temmple
The other day I came across a Reuters video on an AOL web [...]

Is Nepal Going to Fail? (January 8, 2009) – [read more]
It is really hard to believe that Nepal has a democratic government.
By Krishna Giri
Instead of mocking Nepali leaders, this time my thoughts were going towards the country and countrymen. Bulldozed by the political and leadership changes; besieged by living and security conditions; aggravated by the false hope for water and electricity, people are going through [...]

Resham! Nepathya Shares Sorrow and Joy with Sydney (January 4, 2009) – [read more]
Nepal’s Premium Rock/Folk band performs in Australia
“Let me share with you all a real life story,” said Amrit Gurung amidst his debut performance in Sydney on Saturday. “I was talking to a second generation Nepali immigrant residing in Europe. When I asked him if he liked visiting Nepal, he simply answered ‘no’. When asked why, [...]