Nepal

Indian foreign minister says visit strengthened bilateral ties

Kathmandu- Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee Wednesday ended his three-day official visit with a promise of continued support for Nepal's peace process.

The visit was the first by an Indian foreign minister to Nepal since the abolition of monarchy in May this year.

While in Kathmandu, he held talks with Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav and other influential politicians.

Speaking to reporters before his return, Mukherjee said there was a strong desire among Nepalese politicians to strengthen relations between the two countries.

Nepal President invited to visit India

Kathmandu, Nov 26 : Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee handed over the invitation by President Pratibha Patil to Nepal President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav to visit India.

Mukherjee had called on President Yadav on Tuesday.

Earlier, he met Prime Minister Prachanda at the latter''s residence in Baluwater and discussed issues of bilateral concerns. The meeting dwelt on making the bilateral relationship between both countries more strong.

During his stay here, Mukherjee reportedly discussed Nepal''s political situation, the peace process and the army integration with Maoists.

Police strike in southern Nepal over alleged assault by politician

Nepal, kathmanduKathmandu - Police officers in south-eastern Nepal went on strike accusing a politician and his supporters of assaulting and attempting to abduct their colleagues, media reports said Monday.

Officers stopped work across Dhanusa district, about 250 kilometres south-east of Kathmandu, as part of their protests, the independent Kantipur Televison said.

The report said two police officers were assaulted on Sunday night after they stopped Sanjaya Kumar Saha, local leader of ethnic Madhesi People's Rights Forum, for a routine check in the town of Janakpur.

Indian foreign minister in Nepal to discuss bilateral relations

Pranab MukherjeeKathmandu - Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee Monday arrived in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu at the start of a three-day official visit to the Himalayan nation.

The visit is the first by an Indian foreign minister since the Maoist-led government took power in August.

Talks between the Indian foreign Minister and his Nepalese counterpart Upendra Yadav will focus on a wide range of bilateral issues and Indian financial assistance to Nepal.

Police report alarming rise in Nepal's suicide rate

Police report alarming rise in Nepal's suicide rate Kathmandu - Nepal's suicide rate has nearly doubled in the past four years, blamed mostly on growing depression among youth, a media report said Saturday.

The Kathmandu Post newspaper said the number of suicides reported by police rose by 40 per cent in the past four years.

Official statistics showed 2,789 suicides in 2007, up from 1,992 in 2004.

The newspaper said 659 cases were reported during the first three months of 2008, keeping pace with the record 2007 total.

Six killed after bus plunges off mountain highway in Nepal

Six killed after bus plunges off mountain highway in Nepal Kathmandu  - At least six people were killed and more than 20 others injured when a passenger bus plunged off a mountain highway in central Nepal, police said Saturday.

Police said the driver lost control of the bus trying to avoid a truck coming from the opposite direction. It dropped into Trishuli River near the town of Mugling, about 90 kilometres west of Kathmandu Friday night.

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