U.S. drone kills in Pakistan

A suspected U.S. drone strike in northwestern Pakistan has killed at least four people, a Pakistani intelligence source said.

The attack wounded at least five people, according to the source, who asked not to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the news media.

The strike happened in the area of Machi Khel in North Waziristan, a part of northwestern Pakistan that has been the scene of clashes between Taliban militants and the Pakistani military.

The U.S. military is believed to have carried out several drone strikes in the region, as well.

Forex

• Currency Unit Buying(Rs) Selling(Rs)
• Indian Rupee 100 160.00 160.15
• ChineseYuan 1 11.36 11.45
• US Dollar 1 77.61 78.21
  
• Pound Sterling 1 127.11 128.09
• Swiss Franc 1 73.38 73.94
• Australian Dollar 1 66.11 66.62
• Singapore Dollar 1 54.16 54.58
• Qatari Riyal 1 21.31 21.48
• UAE Dirham 1 21.13 21.29
• Japanese Yen 10 8.33 8.39
• Euro 1 111.27 112.13

The Foreign Exchange Rates are fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank.

Today, the last day of Indrajatra

There are so many things happening around the Indrajatra festival. There are lots of values of this festival and lots of customs and traditions are there which just is breathtaking to watch and experience every year. There are so many gods and goddess displayed around the festival. Besides Kumari chariot, the first and my favorite would be Pulukishi. It is considered as an image of Lord Ganesh. A big basket made out of the bamboo is covered with a cloth and a big mask of Ganesh will be put as the head of the Pulukishi. It would mostly look like a elephant toy. This is the main attraction of the festival and throughout the festival it roams around houses and shops asking for the homage and gifts.

Other attractions are the Lakhes demonstrated on this festival. A person wearing a mask of a terrified feature is considered a Lakhe. It is believed that in ancient ages, these Lakhe were in real existence. The main attractive and most happening lakhe is Maipa Lakhe of Maipat. It has the most horrifying mask and considered as one of the most active Lakhe during this festival. Other most popular Lakhe is Shovavaku Lakhe which is often called Jhin-nali-sintang as the Lakhe has a music band in front of it which plays the same tune which sounds like Jhin-nali-sintang.

Other demonstration is Swet Bhairav (White Bhairav). It is situated at Hanuman Dhoka. It is hidden behind the lattice work on the temple wall. The lattice is only opened once a year throughout the Indrajatra.

Lots of other features are there in Indrajatra, and this is one of the most amazing and wonderful festival of the Kathmandu Valley.

Explosion in China

Rescue operations were under way at a mine in eastern China's Henan province, where at least 35 people had died and 44 were missing after an explosion early Tuesday, state-run media reported.

The blast occurred about 1 a.m. (1 p.m. ET Monday) at a township coal mine near Pingdingshan City, the State Administration of Work Safety said on its Web site Tuesday morning, China Daily reported. Fourteen people were known to have survived.

Henan Gov. Guo Gengmao went to the scene to oversee the rescue operation, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Pm Inaugurate South-east Asia regional conference

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal inaugurating the South-east Asia regional conference of health ministers in Kathmandu on Monday.

Prachanda warns of thunder for civil supremacy

Chairman of the UCPN-Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ Monday said the movement his party had started would create thunder to establish civil supremacy, claiming that the roar his party blew in 1996 had resulted in the establishment of republican order in the country.

Addressing a mass meeting here organised by United National People’s Movement-Nepal, the former Prime Minister stated that the mass meetings were means for exchanging suggestions and opinions with the people to constitute the roar for establishing civil supremacy and accomplishing peace and constitution writing processes.

"The other parties which are standing against civil supremacy have compelled us to roar for peace, constitution and state restructuring," the leader of the main opposition said, "This roar will definitely drive away those which are opposing civil supremacy and the people will emerge victorious."

The Maoist chief claimed that his party had given birth to the peace process and the same could only take the process to its logical conclusion as per the mandate of the people. "We gave birth to the peace process, not the CPN-UML and Nepali Congress, and we have the responsibility to conclude it logically."

Prachanda accused the other parties of plotting to abort the peace process and warned of stringent movement to foil the conspiracy.

He also claimed that the present government would collapse at any moment at it had neither ground to hold nor a support to cling to.

The former PM urged the people to raise voice for establishing a university in Surkhet saying the present government was plotting against the decision of the previous government. He said that the state had discriminated the Bheri-Karnali region since long and that it had to pay back with interest.

Meanwhile, Maoist vice-chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai instructed the party cadres to uphold the peace flag firmly and not to deviate from the spirit of the ongoing peace process.

Addressing a cadres’ training in Biratnagar, Dr. Bhattarai said if the government ignored the demands put up by his party, the movement would turn into a mass revolt.

Dr. Bhattarai defended the protests saying that they were for peace, constitution, civil supremacy and national independence.

Maoist black flags greet Prime Minister In Nepal

Maoist cadres waved black flags at Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal when he arrived at Gokarana to attend a public function Monday afternoon.

Maoist cadres lined up on both sides of the road waved black flags as the Prime Minister's convoy passed towards Yagyadol where he laid the foundation stone of Martyr Memorial Park.

Addressing the gathering later, PM Nepal said he was disheartened for being greeted by black flags by the Maoists. "I do not understand why the Maoists see wrongs in everything I do."

The Maoists had greeted him with black flags at New Road on the Indra Jatra last week. He received similar treatment at Pharping on Saturday when he was there to inaugurate the Manamohan Memorial Hospital.

As part of their protest movement for 'civilian supremacy', the Maoists have been boycotting the public functions attended by the Prime Minister and the President.

Sugar shortage ahead of festivals

Every year the country faces a sugar shortage just before Dashain and Tihar and this year has been no exception, reports RSS.

The shortage has dealt another blow to consumers who have been reeling under skyrocketing prices of daily commodities.

Housewives say they visit several shops but find no sugar. Shopkeepers express sadness that they have to send back customers empty-handed. Rama Khanal, a housewife of Maitidevi, said she has been unable to find sugar in the market, though she is ready to pay more.

A grocer of Tahachal, Arjun Adhikari, said his shop is running out of sugar, thus he has been sending back customers visiting his shop to buy sugar.

Consumer forums blame the sugar shortage on hoarding by traders to exert pressure on the government to raise the price and believe that the sugar shortage issue is artificial. "There is sugar in the market, but traders are hoarding it," said Jyoti Baniya, general secretary of the Consumer Rights Protection. Retailers on the other hand say they are also victims of the sugar shortage.

We have been unable to bring in sugar, said chairperson of the Retailers Trade Association Pabitra Bajracharya.

The government has been preparing to import 50,000 tons of sugar from India. "We are hoping that the shortage will ease once the sugar is brought in from India," said joint-secretary at the Ministry of Commerce, Ganesh Prasad Dhakal, assuring the consumers that there would be an adequate supply of sugar.

According to Dhakal, National Trading Limited will distribute the sugar being imported from India at a discounted rate of Rs. 53 per kg

PLA meet draws to a close

The four-day general staff meeting of Maoist combatants concluded here today making several decisions including a directive for the interim management of all seven PLA divisions.
The meeting of the People’s Liberation Army has devised a directive for its members that includes management of holidays and training among others. The meeting also decided to organise a national gathering of lower level commanders in Chitwan after a week so as to seek suggestions from the disqualified combatants. According to PLA spokesperson Chandra Prakash Khanal, some three dozen brigade commanders have been transferred while
nine personnel have been promoted to division vice-commanders. The meeting also decided to probe the alleged involvement of the combatants in illegal activities enabling the Headquarters to take action against those found guilty.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting retires from T20s

Australia captain Ricky Ponting on Monday announced his retirement from international Twenty20 cricket to prolong his Test career as he bids to return the team to world supremacy. Ponting, smarting from the Ashes defeat to England, will remain as Test and one-day captain and will also play Australia's domestic Twenty20 competition and the Indian Premier League. "After much thought and careful consideration I have advised Cricket Australia of my decision to retire from international Twenty20 cricket," he said. "I feel this decision provides me the opportunity to prolong my Australian Test and one-day career, an opportunity I am extremely determined about," he added. Ponting, 34, is targeting revenge in the 2013 Ashes series in England after piloting Australia to a second successive away loss to their bitter rivals. The defeat cost Australia their long-held top Test ranking and saw them plunge to fourth behind South Africa, Sri Lanka and India. Ponting's Australia were also sent crashing out of the World Twenty20 group stages in June after suffering their fifth successive defeat in the high-tempo format. "As I said after the fifth Test in London, I am hoping to continue playing Test cricket for as long as possible and retiring from the Twenty20 format gives me the best chance of doing this," he said. "I will now have set periods of rest throughout the Australian summer and while touring which I feel will be very beneficial." Governing body Cricket Australia backed Ponting's decision and said a new Twenty20 captain would be announced later in the year, with Ponting's deputy Michael Clarke believed to be in the box seat. "Needless to say he will be a huge loss to the Twenty20 side but it does present opportunities for the other players and leaders within Australian cricket to gain further experience," said CEO James Sutherland. "While we have not seen much of Ricky in Australia's Twenty20 matches in recent times, his innings in the first ever Twenty20 International against New Zealand at Auckland was probably the best innings I have ever seen in the Twenty20 form of the game." Ponting survived calls for his sacking after the Ashes loss but said he had considered his future during a break from the England tour as the one-day series gets under way. "The last 10 or 12 days for me have been a lot about reflection, looking back to the Ashes and looking forward to my playing future," he said. "As of today I've decided to retire from international Twenty20 cricket. The decision I've made is all to do with my longevity in the game. He said opting out of Twenty20s would give him an extra four weeks' rest over the next 12 months. Australia's next Twenty20 International is on February 5 against Pakistan in Melbourne. "That will give me an opportunity to get away and make sure that I'm ready to go for both the Test matches and one-day cricket that we have ahead of us in that period of time," Ponting said. "I'm really passionate and committed to being the best player I can be for Australia for as long as possible," he added. Ponting will continue to play for his home state of Tasmania in Australia's Big Bash tournament and will represent Kolkata Knight Riders in the lucrative Indian Premier League.