Ambassador of Nepal to the United Kingdom, Murari Raj Sharma, presented his Letters of Credence to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace amidst a ceremony on Tuesday.

Ambassador Sharma was accompanied by his wife Nila Adhikari, Deputy Chief of Mission Jhabindra P. Aryal, Military Attache’ Col. Himalaya Thapa as well as Attaches’ Ganesh Adhikari and Lawa Subedi. Present on the occasion were Permanent Under Secretary Peter Ricketts, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Sir Anthony Figgis and other Royal and Foreign Office protocol officials.

At the Buckingham Palace, the Queen received them all in audience after ambassador Sharma presented his credentials, a press statement issued by the embassy said.

During the audience, ambassador Sharma conveyed the best wishes of Prime Minister G P Koirala to Her majesty and exchanged views on the matters of bilateral interests.

Earlier, ambassador Sharma, Mrs Sharma and Nepali officials were taken to the Buckingham Palace from the embassy of Nepal at 12 A Kensington Palace Gardens in two special horse-driven carriages escorted by the Vice-Marshal and returned to the embassy in the same manner, escorted by the Marshal, on completion of credential ceremony.

“It was a life time experience to visit the Buckingham Palace in horse-driven carriages on a shiny winter day,” said a Nepali member of the delegation. “Our journey took around half-an-hour and we enjoyed it thoroughly,” he added.

Ambassador Sharma hosted a reception at the embassy later in the evening inviting the heads of diplomatic missions based in London, representatives of various Nepali organizations based in UK, British organizations helping Nepal and the officials of Royal protocol, Foreign and Commonwealth Office as well as Defense Ministry and other friends of Nepal.

UK is a leading bilateral donor of Nepal assisting in the government’s poverty reduction programme, strengthening of democracy and supporting the on-going peace process in the country. Nepal established diplomatic relations with Britain in 1816. Relations between the two countries have been characterized by friendship, mutual understanding and respect for each other’s national interests and aspirations. The Treaty of Sugauli (1816) provided for the exchange of accredited Ministers to each other’s court. A new Treaty of Friendship between Great Britain and Nepal was signed and the status of British Representative in Kathmandu was upgraded to an Envoy.

In 1934 Nepal established a legation in London. In 1947, the status of these representatives was promoted to the level of Ambassadors, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, according to the Foreign Ministry of Nepal.

Born on 21 April 1926, Queen Elizabeth II is the world’s second-longest serving monarch alive, after Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej. She has outlasted 11 prime ministers and is the first to have a prime minister, Tony Blair, born during her reign.

A popular institution rooted in history and usually referred to as a symbol of national unity, British monarchy costs only 62p per year for the British taxpayers, reports said. nepalnews.com Feb 13 08

Twenty two Nepali students were rendered homeless in chilling winter season in Danish capital Copenhagen after fire gutted the house they were staying in Friday night, destroying most of their important documents, clothes and essential food stocks, Kantipur daily reported. However, there were no reports of any casualty or injuries.

One student told the daily that they were compelled to rummage around the streets of the city searching for accommodation and food.

Yesterday night the [Nepali] embassy here gave us some food,” Niraj Pandey who hails from Narayangadh said by phone, “After that we haven’t eaten anything.”

He said that it was still not clear what caused the building to catch fire. “I was in deep sleep when it happened. When I woke up I saw the whole building engulfed in fire.” According to him, the 4-storey building made out of brick and wood housed 22 Nepalis.

Niraj said that the fire incident has rendered them homeless. “Even in this chilling cold I spent three nights wearing only a shirt. On Saturday and Sunday the Danish government had allowed them to spend the night in the guest house built by local youths and the municipality.”

He told the daily that the students problems doesn’t end here only, as they fear that the Danish government might take action against them if they are unable to present their documents and credentials which has now been burnt along with the house.

I don’t know where all my friends have gone, Niraj said.

Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the daily that they had already been notified about the incident and the distress the students are in by the Nepalis embassy there. We would make all the necessary documents for the students and they don’t have to pay anything for it, he said, and for this I request all of them to contact the Nepalis embassy. nepalnews.com ag Feb 13 08

A young man who forced himself into a 15-year-old girl and then kept her in his house for 4 days intending to marry her against her will in Sindhupalchowk district is to be kept in police remand for further investigations, reports said.

A single bench of justice Mahesh Prasad Pudasaini of Sindhupalchowk district court on Tuesday issued this order against one Maila Nagarkoti, 19, of Thangpalkote-2.

Nagarkoti is alleged to have abducted the girl studying at local Chilaune Secondary School while she was returning home and took her to his home.

In her complaint, the girl said the very next day after abducting her Nagarkoti raped her and kept her in his house against her will putting pressure on her for marriage.

The girl was rescued only after 4 days by her school teachers and fellow students.

The girl’s school teacher Anish Lama said that Nagarkoti’s parents tried to settle the case by telling them that they would accept the girl as their daughter-in-law. But they decided to lodge a complaint against Nagarkoti and fight a legal battle instead. According to the law, a woman should be above 18 years of age and a man should be above 21 in order to marry.

Lama said that the when they along with the victimised girl reached the local police station to register the rape case the police tried to force an out-of-court settlement so as not to let the matter go out of the village apparently to save Nagarkoti from facing legal trouble. After they faced the same problem at the Area Police office in Melamchi, they went straight to District Police Office where their complaint was finally registered.

Medical examinations done after the victim filed her complaint has also confirmed that the girl had been raped. On this basis the public prosecutor had registered a case against Nagarkoti in the court on charges of raping a minor girl.

If convicted of the charge Nagarkoti would face upto 10 years in jail . nepalnews.com ag Feb 13 08

We are not here to save the King… the problem facing Nepal should be resolved by the Nepalis people themselves, General Secretary of Congress (I) Digvijaya Singh who heads the high-level delegation of the India’s ruling party on Wednesday, is reported to have said at a meeting with Nepali Congress leaders.

The former chief-minister of Madhya Pradesh was said to have made this remark during his meeting with party’s acting-president Sushil Koirala where they discussed the Terai unrest, preparation being made for the upcoming election to Constituent Assembly and the ongoing peace process, among other issues, Nepali Congress spokesperson Arjun Narsingh K.C said.

It was not immediately clear as to in what context Singh made this succinct remark.

The four-member team is meeting CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, CPN-Maoist Chairman Prachanda and leaders of two monarchist parties –Rastriya Janashakti Party chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa and Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairpeson Pashupati Sumshere Rana including the leaders of the agitating Madhesi parties later Wednesday.

Immediately after its arrival in Kathmandu Tuesday afternoon, the four-member delegation of India’s ruling Congress (I) had started parleys with key political leaders.

In separate meetings with Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel and Minister for Home Krishna Prasad Sitaula, the delegation emphasized timely constituent Assembly election in Nepal.

Emerging from his meeting with Poudel yesterday, Singh had said CA poll is indispensable to ensure lasting peace and democracy in Nepal. He also stressed that Nepal government should hold “peaceful negotiations” with Madhesi leaders. nepalnews.com ag Feb 13 08

The strike called by various ethnic groups has hit the general life in eastern hills and terai districts on Wednesday.

The recently formed United Madhesi Democratic Front (UMDF) called indefinite general strike beginning from Wednesday in terai districts to put pressure on the government to meet its demands.

Schools, private offices and businesses remain closed while the highways and inner roads are deserted with no vehicles plying since early morning.

The organisers termed this strike as their ‘final battle’ to get their demands met before the constituent assembly election scheduled for April 10.

The eastern hilly districts are also hit by abrupt strike called by Limbuwan National Council Lingden faction from Wednesday.

The agitating ethnic groups are demanding changes in electoral system, their justifiable representation in government services including in the army, one Madhes one province in federal Nepal and peace talks with armed groups in terai, among others.

Continued strike in terai has affected the regular supply of foodstuffs and petroleum products to hilly districts including capital Kathmandu. As a result, the consumer prices have gone up sharply and streets in capital saw relatively fewer vehicles. nepalnews.com ia Feb 13 08

Nepal Telecom has slashed tariff on its mobile phones by about 13 percent effective Wednesday.

According to the new tariff, calling through post-paid mobile will cost Rs 2.40 per minute, down from Rs 3 per minute between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., while it will be Re 1 per minute, down from Rs 1.50 per minute between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. on working days. The call tariff will be Rs 1 throughout on Saturdays.

Similarly, new call tariff on pre-paid mobiles has been reduced to Rs 3.20 per minute from Rs 3.50 per minute between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and Rs 2 from Rs 3 per minute between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. and on Saturdays.

NT also reduced call tariff for CDMA and pre-paid Skyphone to Rs 2.70 per minute between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and Rs 2 in between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. and Saturdays.

The charges are exclusive of 13 percent VAT and 12.5 percent telecom service charge.

The charges have been reduced according to the order given by parliamentary committee some months ago. nepalnews.com ia Feb 13 08

Immediately after its arrival in Kathmandu Tuesday afternoon, the four-member delegation of India’s ruling Congress (I) has started parleys with key political leaders.

The team led by general secretary of All India Congress Committee Digvijaya Singh met home minister Krishna Prasad Situala at the Home Ministry and discussed the latest developments in Nepal, especially the security situation in Terai region, it is learnt.

Situala told reporters that the Indian leaders expressed their belief that Nepal would successfully manage the peace process and hold the constituent assembly polls on time.

The Congress (I) delegation also met peace and reconstruction minister and government’s talks convenor, Ram Chandra Poudel, at Singha Durbar and discussed the dialogue process with agitating Terai groups.

On arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Singh said that the CA election should take place on the scheduled date, April 10, as there is no alternative to the polls to make successful the peace process.

During the three-day stay here, the delegation will hold a series of meetings with leaders of the seven-party alliance including Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and Maoist chairman Prachanda. It is also expected to meet the leaders of agitating Madhesi parties to persuade them to participate in the polls. nepalnews.com mk Feb 12 08

A four-member delegation of India’s ruling Congress (I) has arrived for a 3-day visit in Kathmandu to help the seven-party alliance find solution to the problems ailing Nepal ahead of the crucial constituent assembly polls.

During its stay here the Congress (I) delegation, which is led by general secretary of All India Congress Committee Digvijaya Singh, will hold meetings with leaders of the seven-party alliance and the disgruntled groups in Terai to persuade them to let the polls take place in a peaceful environment.

The delegation arrived here on the invitation of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

The Congress (I) delegation is to meet Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula and thereafter Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel shortly.

The delegation will also hold formal meetings with Prime Minister Koirala, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and Maoist chairman Prachanda and a number of high-ranking government officials over the next three days. nepalnews.com ia/ag Feb 12 08

Public transport has been hit hard by deepening fuel crunch in Kathmandu Valley and elsewhere around the country.

Demanding that the government immediately normalise the supply of petroleum products, transportation workers staged protest at various places in Kathmandu by placing vehicles on the road.

The protest blocked traffic at Ratna Park, Baneshwor and Koteshwor areas. Irate motorists gheraoed the Nepal Army’s gas station at Bhadrakali after they could not get petrol and diesel even after staying in queue for hours.

The number of passenger vehicles plying on Kathmandu’s roads is getting lower due to the fuel crunch.

Most of the petrol pumps have already been closed due to erratic supply of petroleum products while serpentine queues of four-wheelers could be seen today in front of a few stations that opened.

Meanwhile, reports say locals of Dhading today took under control five patrol tankers citing the petroleum crisis there.

Officials at Nepal Oil Corporation (NoC) said that frequent shutdown strikes in Terai have hampered the smooth supply of petroleum products.

As promised during negotiations with transporters on Feb 2, the NOC was supposed to normalise the supply of petroleum products by Feb 6. The agreement had come in the wake of the transporters’ warning to launch an indefinite strike if the government didn’t resolve the fuel crunch. nepalnews.com mk Feb 12 08

A four-member delegation of the Congress (I) is scheduled to visit Kathmandu from Tuesday to help the seven party alliance find solution to the problems being faced by Nepal ahead of the constituent assembly polls.

The delegation, led by general secretary of All India Congress Committee Digbijaya Singh, will hold meeting with leaders of the alliance and the agitating groups in Terai to urge them to hold the polls in peaceful and fair environment.

The three-day political visit is arriving on the invitation of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

According to reports, at a meeting of the party held before the departure of the delegation, it was decided to express solidarity to the decision of the political parties to declare Nepal a democratic republic after the visit.

The delegation will hold formal meetings with PM Koirala, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and Maoist chairman Prachanda among others.

The visit of the Congress (I) delegation to Nepal at the onset of the constituent assembly elections is expected to pave positive wave among the agitating groups to withdraw their agitation and participate in the polls. nepalnews.com ia Feb 12 08