Accident & Health Insurance

insurance products give you one less thing to worry about, should the unthinkable happen. There are various options in our Accident & Health Insurance Plan “Life Shield”, you can choose to get the ideal combination of benefits for you and your family which are as follows:

1.     Life Shield ( Lump sum Package ) : with lump sum benefits  in case of ND ,AD, D & PTD , AMR ,IH-A, AWI

2.     Life Shield (Life Time Income Package) : with benefits ND and per month benefit in case of AD,D & PTD

3.     Life Shield ( Combined Package ) : with benefits in case of ND ,AD, D & PTD , AMR ,IH-A, AWI

4.     Life Shield ( Accident & Sickness In – Hospital Income Package ) : with benefits in case of ND ,AD, D & PTD , AMR ,IH-A & S, A & S In – Hospital surgical expense
Benefits Details:
Natural Death (ND):
This benefit ensures that your family gets the basic income protection in the event of death.

Accidental Death, Dismemberment and Permanent Total Disability (AD, D & PTD) – LUMP SUM
Accidents are the leading causes of death and disability. Serious disabilities also cost the family more in terms of strain on finances. This Benefit provides a lump sum payment of cash to protect your family against this serious and potentially devastating risk.

Accidental Medical Reimbursement (AMR):
Accidents happen and happen frequently. Fortunately most are minor and can be treated at a clinic. This Benefit provides protection even against the most minor of injuries. We will pay for your medical bills, should you require them treated at any medical center.

Accident & Sickness In-Hospital Income up to 52 Weeks (IH – A & S): 
The last thing you need to worry about if you have to have a stay in the hospital is who will look after the children, the pets, or even the house. This Benefit provides you the added finances to cover whatever you feel is important during your stay so you can concentrate on getting well. You can use it for childcare, travel expenses, a private room or even help at home if you need it.

Accident Weekly Income (AWI):
Other injuries may prevent you from going to work. We recognize this and will replace part of this loss income with a cash compensation for your temporary disability.

Accidental Death, Dismemberment and Permanent Total Disability (AD, D & PTD) - LIFE TIME INCOME
Death and serious disabilities also cost the family more in terms of strain on finances. This benefit replaces this loss of income by providing monthly Income for life time, with a minimum guarantee of 20 years.

Accident & Sickness In-Hospital Surgical Expenses (A & S In-Hospital Surgical Expenses):
Some Injuries & Sickness at Hospital requires surgical procedure.  This benefit provides cash compensation for surgical expenses as per surgical schedule.

Overview

Covered under this plan
This plan covers Death, Disability, Accidental Medical Expenses and In – Hospital Income due to Accident & Sickness that commence or occur after the effective date of the Policy.

Key Features
•    If you have Life Shield you can go to the best Doctor / Hospital for even minor injuries as MetLife Alico will reimburse your Bills.
•    Anyone can afford it, for Rs. 3 to 4 per day you get protection against financial burden caused by unforeseen event like   accident.
•    It compensates your Income when you are unable to work or if you are hospitalized due to disability or sickness.
•    24 hours – World Wide Coverage.

Eligible: This plan is available to all applicants with the ages of 18 to 59 years.

Medical Examination: Not required.

Coverage of the plan: This plan provides 24 hours a day and 365 days world wide Protection at home, at work or during travelling

 Critical Care

Critical Care is designed to provide you and your family with the necessary financial protection if you are diagnosed and proved as suffering from any of following 31 illnesses : Stroke, Major Cancers, First Heart Attack, Serious Coronary Artery disease, Heart Valve Surgery, Fulminant Hepatitis, End Stage Liver Failure, Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, End Stage Lung diseases, Kidney Failure, Major Organ/ Bone Marrow Transplantation, Aplastic Anaemia, Loss of hearing(deafness), loss of speech, Muscular Dystrophy, Alzheimer’s disease / Sever Dementia, Motor Neurone disease, Parkinson’s disease, Benign Brain Tumour, Major Head Trauma, Bacterial Meningitis, Blindness ( loss of sight), Coma, Major burns, Multiple Sclerosis, Paralysis, Poliomyelitis, Encephalitis, Apallic Syndrome, Progressive Scleroderma, Systemic Lupus Erythematous with Lupus Nephritis.

In addition, it provides lump sum cash in case of death before any illness is diagnosed.

 Key Facts:

What are the possible consequences you may face if a Critical Illness is diagnosed?

•       May stop your current income

•       Financial burden on your family

Critical Care Policy will provide you lump sum cash for the treatment to protect you from financial crisis in such event.

• Eligible Age :18- 59 years
• Term : 1 year ( renewable up to 5 years )

Credit Care

It covers the Life of Insured Borrower. Credit Care pays to Financial Institution the Loan amount if Insured Borrower dies ( or becomes Permanent Total Disability ) before the payment of Loan amount.

•                  Eligible Age (of borrower): 18 to 59 Years                                                                                                                         

•                 Insurance term : as per term of loan

•                Premium mode : Annually

 

Micro Insurance

It covers the life of borrower of microfinance institutions. It pays to microfinance Institution the Loan amount if Insured Borrower dies before the payment of Loan amount.

CAR of class 'A'‚ 'B' and 'C' institutions satisfactory

KATHMANDU: The central bank has claimed that banks have sound financial health.

“The stress test results of commercial banks as of mid-July 2012 on credit, liquidity and market shocks revealed their ability to withstand high shocks,” according to Nepal Rastra Bank’s Financial Stability Report.

Among the 32 existing commercial banks, a standard credit shock would push capital below the regulatory minimum in 22 banks, and two commercial banks would be under-capitalised, it said, adding sustained deposit withdrawals over five consecutive days would render five banks illiquid, and liquidity ratios of 17 banks would fall below 20 per cent in the event of sudden large withdrawals by institutional depositors. “Given the amount and nature of exposure, commercial banks are relatively less vulnerable to market shock.”

While the resilience of the commercial banks to credit and market shocks have improved over time, the liquidity scenario analysis shows some potential risk, it added, though the soundness of financial institutions was maintained with adequate capital, liquidity and profitability buffers and improvement in asset quality.

The banking sector is adequately capitalised with the overall industry average capital ratio of 18.2 per cent. The Capital Adequacy Ratio of class ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ institutions stood at 11.5 per cent, 20.5 per cent and 23.1 per cent, respectively, in mid-July 2012, which is well above the minimum regulatory requirement. 

Likewise, the asset quality of commercial banks has shown some signs of improvement with the reduction of non-performing loan (NPL) ratio from 3.2 per cent in mid-July 2011 to 2.6 per cent in mid-July 2012. The average NPL ratio of banks and financial institutions stood at 6.1 per cent with finance companies having the highest ratio of 10.7 per cent followed by development banks with 4.9 per cent, according to the report.

CAR of class 'A'‚ 'B' and 'C' institutions satisfactory

KATHMANDU: The central bank has claimed that banks have sound financial health.

“The stress test results of commercial banks as of mid-July 2012 on credit, liquidity and market shocks revealed their ability to withstand high shocks,” according to Nepal Rastra Bank’s Financial Stability Report.

Among the 32 existing commercial banks, a standard credit shock would push capital below the regulatory minimum in 22 banks, and two commercial banks would be under-capitalised, it said, adding sustained deposit withdrawals over five consecutive days would render five banks illiquid, and liquidity ratios of 17 banks would fall below 20 per cent in the event of sudden large withdrawals by institutional depositors. “Given the amount and nature of exposure, commercial banks are relatively less vulnerable to market shock.”

While the resilience of the commercial banks to credit and market shocks have improved over time, the liquidity scenario analysis shows some potential risk, it added, though the soundness of financial institutions was maintained with adequate capital, liquidity and profitability buffers and improvement in asset quality.

The banking sector is adequately capitalised with the overall industry average capital ratio of 18.2 per cent. The Capital Adequacy Ratio of class ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ institutions stood at 11.5 per cent, 20.5 per cent and 23.1 per cent, respectively, in mid-July 2012, which is well above the minimum regulatory requirement. 

Likewise, the asset quality of commercial banks has shown some signs of improvement with the reduction of non-performing loan (NPL) ratio from 3.2 per cent in mid-July 2011 to 2.6 per cent in mid-July 2012. The average NPL ratio of banks and financial institutions stood at 6.1 per cent with finance companies having the highest ratio of 10.7 per cent followed by development banks with 4.9 per cent, according to the report.

CAR of class 'A'‚ 'B' and 'C' institutions satisfactory

KATHMANDU: The central bank has claimed that banks have sound financial health.

“The stress test results of commercial banks as of mid-July 2012 on credit, liquidity and market shocks revealed their ability to withstand high shocks,” according to Nepal Rastra Bank’s Financial Stability Report.

Among the 32 existing commercial banks, a standard credit shock would push capital below the regulatory minimum in 22 banks, and two commercial banks would be under-capitalised, it said, adding sustained deposit withdrawals over five consecutive days would render five banks illiquid, and liquidity ratios of 17 banks would fall below 20 per cent in the event of sudden large withdrawals by institutional depositors. “Given the amount and nature of exposure, commercial banks are relatively less vulnerable to market shock.”

While the resilience of the commercial banks to credit and market shocks have improved over time, the liquidity scenario analysis shows some potential risk, it added, though the soundness of financial institutions was maintained with adequate capital, liquidity and profitability buffers and improvement in asset quality.

The banking sector is adequately capitalised with the overall industry average capital ratio of 18.2 per cent. The Capital Adequacy Ratio of class ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ institutions stood at 11.5 per cent, 20.5 per cent and 23.1 per cent, respectively, in mid-July 2012, which is well above the minimum regulatory requirement. 

Likewise, the asset quality of commercial banks has shown some signs of improvement with the reduction of non-performing loan (NPL) ratio from 3.2 per cent in mid-July 2011 to 2.6 per cent in mid-July 2012. The average NPL ratio of banks and financial institutions stood at 6.1 per cent with finance companies having the highest ratio of 10.7 per cent followed by development banks with 4.9 per cent, according to the report.

Integrated Mobile camp in Chepang community

CHITWAN: The Integrated Mobile Administrative Service Camp is being run at Thakaltar of Korak VDC, a remote VDC of Chitwan district, with the objective of providing government services in villages.

According to the Officiating Chief District Officer Shivaram Gelal, the camp is being run in Thakaltar targeting people of Chepang community in Korak and Lothar VDCs. 

Gelal inaugurated the two-day camp on Monday by providing a citizenship certificate to Chandra Bahadur Chepang, a local. 

The government teams in the camp have been providing different services related to citizenship certificates, voter identity cards, agriculture, public health, education and livestock in the camp.

Integrated Mobile camp in Chepang community

CHITWAN: The Integrated Mobile Administrative Service Camp is being run at Thakaltar of Korak VDC, a remote VDC of Chitwan district, with the objective of providing government services in villages.

According to the Officiating Chief District Officer Shivaram Gelal, the camp is being run in Thakaltar targeting people of Chepang community in Korak and Lothar VDCs. 

Gelal inaugurated the two-day camp on Monday by providing a citizenship certificate to Chandra Bahadur Chepang, a local. 

The government teams in the camp have been providing different services related to citizenship certificates, voter identity cards, agriculture, public health, education and livestock in the camp.

Integrated Mobile camp in Chepang community

CHITWAN: The Integrated Mobile Administrative Service Camp is being run at Thakaltar of Korak VDC, a remote VDC of Chitwan district, with the objective of providing government services in villages.

According to the Officiating Chief District Officer Shivaram Gelal, the camp is being run in Thakaltar targeting people of Chepang community in Korak and Lothar VDCs. 

Gelal inaugurated the two-day camp on Monday by providing a citizenship certificate to Chandra Bahadur Chepang, a local. 

The government teams in the camp have been providing different services related to citizenship certificates, voter identity cards, agriculture, public health, education and livestock in the camp.

Integrated Mobile camp in Chepang community

CHITWAN: The Integrated Mobile Administrative Service Camp is being run at Thakaltar of Korak VDC, a remote VDC of Chitwan district, with the objective of providing government services in villages.

According to the Officiating Chief District Officer Shivaram Gelal, the camp is being run in Thakaltar targeting people of Chepang community in Korak and Lothar VDCs. 

Gelal inaugurated the two-day camp on Monday by providing a citizenship certificate to Chandra Bahadur Chepang, a local. 

The government teams in the camp have been providing different services related to citizenship certificates, voter identity cards, agriculture, public health, education and livestock in the camp.

Integrated Mobile camp in Chepang community

CHITWAN: The Integrated Mobile Administrative Service Camp is being run at Thakaltar of Korak VDC, a remote VDC of Chitwan district, with the objective of providing government services in villages.

According to the Officiating Chief District Officer Shivaram Gelal, the camp is being run in Thakaltar targeting people of Chepang community in Korak and Lothar VDCs. 

Gelal inaugurated the two-day camp on Monday by providing a citizenship certificate to Chandra Bahadur Chepang, a local. 

The government teams in the camp have been providing different services related to citizenship certificates, voter identity cards, agriculture, public health, education and livestock in the camp.

Don't suscpect EC: Nilkantha Upreti

POKHARA: Chief Election Commissioner Nilkantha Upreti today urged all political parties to move ahead towards the Constituent Assembly election to create a conducive environment in villages of the country. 

Speaking in an interaction with stakeholders organised by the District Election Office, Kaski, here today, Upreti urged all not to suspect the fairness of the Election Commission (EC) as it is a constitutional body. 

He said around 15.4 million voters will cast votes in the CA election. Stating that EC was committed to bring a result by holding free and fair election, Upreti urged all political parties, voters, employees and security personnel to participate in the election. He also requested all political parties to support the teams sent by the EC to collect voters’ list in villages. 

He said the government will declare the election date within a few days.

Integrated Mobile camp in Chepang community

CHITWAN: The Integrated Mobile Administrative Service Camp is being run at Thakaltar of Korak VDC, a remote VDC of Chitwan district, with the objective of providing government services in villages.

According to the Officiating Chief District Officer Shivaram Gelal, the camp is being run in Thakaltar targeting people of Chepang community in Korak and Lothar VDCs. 

Gelal inaugurated the two-day camp on Monday by providing a citizenship certificate to Chandra Bahadur Chepang, a local. 

The government teams in the camp have been providing different services related to citizenship certificates, voter identity cards, agriculture, public health, education and livestock in the camp.

Integrated Mobile camp in Chepang community

CHITWAN: The Integrated Mobile Administrative Service Camp is being run at Thakaltar of Korak VDC, a remote VDC of Chitwan district, with the objective of providing government services in villages.

According to the Officiating Chief District Officer Shivaram Gelal, the camp is being run in Thakaltar targeting people of Chepang community in Korak and Lothar VDCs. 

Gelal inaugurated the two-day camp on Monday by providing a citizenship certificate to Chandra Bahadur Chepang, a local. 

The government teams in the camp have been providing different services related to citizenship certificates, voter identity cards, agriculture, public health, education and livestock in the camp.

Don't suscpect EC: Nilkantha Upreti

POKHARA: Chief Election Commissioner Nilkantha Upreti today urged all political parties to move ahead towards the Constituent Assembly election to create a conducive environment in villages of the country. 

Speaking in an interaction with stakeholders organised by the District Election Office, Kaski, here today, Upreti urged all not to suspect the fairness of the Election Commission (EC) as it is a constitutional body. 

He said around 15.4 million voters will cast votes in the CA election. Stating that EC was committed to bring a result by holding free and fair election, Upreti urged all political parties, voters, employees and security personnel to participate in the election. He also requested all political parties to support the teams sent by the EC to collect voters’ list in villages. 

He said the government will declare the election date within a few days.

Don't suscpect EC: Nilkantha Upreti

POKHARA: Chief Election Commissioner Nilkantha Upreti today urged all political parties to move ahead towards the Constituent Assembly election to create a conducive environment in villages of the country. 

Speaking in an interaction with stakeholders organised by the District Election Office, Kaski, here today, Upreti urged all not to suspect the fairness of the Election Commission (EC) as it is a constitutional body. 

He said around 15.4 million voters will cast votes in the CA election. Stating that EC was committed to bring a result by holding free and fair election, Upreti urged all political parties, voters, employees and security personnel to participate in the election. He also requested all political parties to support the teams sent by the EC to collect voters’ list in villages. 

He said the government will declare the election date within a few days.

Don't suscpect EC: Nilkantha Upreti

POKHARA: Chief Election Commissioner Nilkantha Upreti today urged all political parties to move ahead towards the Constituent Assembly election to create a conducive environment in villages of the country. 

Speaking in an interaction with stakeholders organised by the District Election Office, Kaski, here today, Upreti urged all not to suspect the fairness of the Election Commission (EC) as it is a constitutional body. 

He said around 15.4 million voters will cast votes in the CA election. Stating that EC was committed to bring a result by holding free and fair election, Upreti urged all political parties, voters, employees and security personnel to participate in the election. He also requested all political parties to support the teams sent by the EC to collect voters’ list in villages. 

He said the government will declare the election date within a few days.

Don't suscpect EC: Nilkantha Upreti

POKHARA: Chief Election Commissioner Nilkantha Upreti today urged all political parties to move ahead towards the Constituent Assembly election to create a conducive environment in villages of the country. 

Speaking in an interaction with stakeholders organised by the District Election Office, Kaski, here today, Upreti urged all not to suspect the fairness of the Election Commission (EC) as it is a constitutional body. 

He said around 15.4 million voters will cast votes in the CA election. Stating that EC was committed to bring a result by holding free and fair election, Upreti urged all political parties, voters, employees and security personnel to participate in the election. He also requested all political parties to support the teams sent by the EC to collect voters’ list in villages. 

He said the government will declare the election date within a few days.

Two die in accident

GORKHA: Buddhi Bahadur Gurung, 32, of Ghyalchowk, Gorkha and 18-year-old Pasang Tamang of Sindhupalchowk, died on the spot after a dozer met with an accident on a road construction site in Ghyalchowk on Tuesday. Buddhi and Pasang, the dozer helper, were watching the dozer work when the part of the road it was operating on sank resulting in the accident. Two other persons were injured when the construction vehicle fell below the road. A seriously injured Chandra Bahadur Gurung has been taken to Kathmandu for treatment as he could not be treated at the local health facility. The dozer driver is at large. 

Minor held for rape 

ACHHAM: Police arrested Shiva Saud, 15, of Sokat VDC in Achham district on Tuesday on the charge of raping a five-year-old girl of the same VDC. The family of the victim had filed a case against Shiva at the Chaurpati police post on Monday. The girl could not be checked as the hospital is far away from the village. 

Koirala taken ill

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala is suffering from fever and cold and has been advised four to five days bed-rest, said Koirala’s personal secretary Laxman Dhakal.

Bhandari hopeful about election

DHADING: CPN-UML Vice-chairperson Bidhyadevi Bhandari today said the party’s registration process would create conducive environment for election to the Constituent Assembly.

She called on all the parties to shed their partisan interest and participate in the upcoming election to offer a way out to the country.

Coming down heavily on the UCPN-Maoist, Bhandari charged that the former rebels had tried to obstruct the party’s registration process under one pretext or the other.

Talking to mediapersons at a press meet organised by Press Chautari Nepal, Dhading, in Baireni, she expressed confidence that her party would emerge as the largest political force in the upcoming polls.

She directed the party rank and file to proactively participate in the election to garner majority votes.

Stating that FSU elections, CA polls and local elections were going to be held within the current Nepali year, Bhandari went on to say that this year would be momentous for democratic exercise in the country.

On the 33 fringe parties and the CPN-Maoist protest against CA polls, Bhandari called the parties protesting against the election anti-democratic and anti-national.

Bhandari hopeful about election

DHADING: CPN-UML Vice-chairperson Bidhyadevi Bhandari today said the party’s registration process would create conducive environment for election to the Constituent Assembly.

She called on all the parties to shed their partisan interest and participate in the upcoming election to offer a way out to the country.

Coming down heavily on the UCPN-Maoist, Bhandari charged that the former rebels had tried to obstruct the party’s registration process under one pretext or the other.

Talking to mediapersons at a press meet organised by Press Chautari Nepal, Dhading, in Baireni, she expressed confidence that her party would emerge as the largest political force in the upcoming polls.

She directed the party rank and file to proactively participate in the election to garner majority votes.

Stating that FSU elections, CA polls and local elections were going to be held within the current Nepali year, Bhandari went on to say that this year would be momentous for democratic exercise in the country.

On the 33 fringe parties and the CPN-Maoist protest against CA polls, Bhandari called the parties protesting against the election anti-democratic and anti-national.

Musharraf from office for life

 Lawyers say a Pakistani court has banned former military ruler Pervez Musharraf from running for public office for the rest of his life.

One of Musharraf's lawyers, Saad Shibli, says he plans to challenge Tuesday's ruling in the Supreme Court.

Judges had already barred Musharraf from running in the May 11 parliamentary election because of his actions while in power.

The Peshawar High Court handed down the lifetime ban Tuesday after hearing an appeal by Musharraf's lawyers to allow him to run in the upcoming election.

Musharraf returned to Pakistan last month from self-imposed exile to make a political comeback, but his fortunes have gone from bad to worse.

He is currently under house arrest in connection with a case involving his decision to fire senior judges while in power.

10 nepalese political parties apply for registration

KATHMANDU: Ten political parties applied for party registration at the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday for the purpose of taking part in the forthcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) election.

The political parties applying for the registration are CPN-UML, UCPN-Maoist, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal, Nepali Congress, CPN-ML, Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party, Sadbhawana Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Nepal-Democratic, and Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch (Tharuhat).

According to the EC, 34 political parties have already taken the application form for the party registration.

Earlier, 33 political parties were represented in the first Constituent Assembly. As per the legal provision, the political parties except these 33 will require the signatures of at least 10,000 voters to be eligible for registration at the Commission for the upcoming elections.

A total of 54 political parties had taken part in the first 2008 CA election. Currently, the number of political parties registered at the EC is 119.

The Commission will remain open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm for the party registration every day. The EC has said that atmosphere conducive for the election was created with the beginning of the party registration process.

2 unattended houses robbed

Police have said that two incidents of robberies were witnessed in the capital on Monday.

Gold ornaments and others valuables worth around Rs.4, 30,000 was stolen from the room of Ganesh Prasad Timilsina of Setiopamarga on Monday.

According to a complaint lodged with police, unidentified persons sneaked into the room of Timilsina after breaking the bolt of the main door and fled with gold ornaments weighing five tolas.

Police said that the room was unattended when the incident occurred.

Similarly, property worth over Rs.3, 21,000 was robbed from the house of Shashi Chalise at Geetanjali, Chandole on Monday.

Police said that unidentified persons barged into the house after breaking the padlock of the main door of the second floor and robbed of Rs.30, 000 in cash, gold ornaments weighing five tolas before fleeing from the scene.

It is learnt that the incident was premeditated as the house was unattended when the incident occurred and the robbers cunningly succeeded in their attempts.

Raped 5 girl dies in central India

 An official says a 5-year-old girl has died after being raped in central India.

District official Bharat Yadav says the girl suffered cardiac arrest late Monday at a hospital in Nagpur city where she was being treated for injuries from the assault.

He says the girl was allegedly raped by a friend of her parents and dumped at a farm near their home.

Yadav says two men have been arrested.

India has seen a recent sharp rise in numbers of rapes and sexual crimes against women and children. Officials say the spike has resulted from more people reporting the crimes.

The attack came four months after the fatal gang rape of a woman on a New Delhi bus sparked outrage across India about the treatment of women in the country.

Dahal calls on Indian PM Singh

Chairman of the UCPN-Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal who is on a visit to India held talks with Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday.

During the meeting held at the Indian Prime Minister's residence at 7 Race Course Road, Dahal urged the Government of India to support political stability and economic development of Nepal.

The political parties of Nepal have moved ahead in the process of taking forward the political process started after the 12-point agreement reached between the then CPN-Maoist and seven political parties, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been formed and the peace process has almost reached close to a logical conclusion, Chairman Dahal said and requested Prime Minister Singh to support it as the stability process of Nepal would move ahead through the election of the Constituent Assembly (CA). 

Emphasizing on the need of cooperation from neighbouring countries for the political stability of Nepal, the UCPN-Maoist Chairman urged the Government of India to support in the CA election and the agenda of economic development, said Dahal's aide Shiva Khakurel. 

On the occasion, Dahal put forth the three-country partnership proposal to Indian Prime Minister Singh.

Taking the proposal put forth by Dahal in a positive way, Prime Minister Singh said that it would be better to forward the proposal after making the bilateral partnership broad and extensive.

The Indian Prime Minister assured of forwarding the proposal in the near future.

Prime Minister Singh said that the Government of India would provide all possible assistance for the stability and 

Cops uncover sandalwood racket‚ arrest 5

The sleuths deployed from Metropolitan Police Range, Hanuman Dhoka have busted a racket of red sandalwood smuggling in the capital on Tuesday morning.

Police said that five people have been arrested and two vehicles hauling the goods have been intercepted recovering 45.5 kg red sandalwood hidden in the two vehicles and a room of the racketeers.

Nurup Sherpa (27) of Sindhupalchowk, Tatopani-4, Lila Shrestha (24) of Guptang-1, Amar Shrestha, aka, Umesh (32) of Barabishe-6, Nima Chhiring (27) of Listi-1, and Padam Shrestha (47) of Jalbire of Sindhupalchowk have been arrested with the cache of the precious wood.

Police said Amar, Nima, and Padam, who all hail from Sindhupalchowk, are currently residing at Mahabaudha, Swoyambu, and Dhalku respectively.

Acting on a tip-off that Toyota vehicles (BA 1 CHA 9283 and BA 1 CHA 5020) were parked in suspicious manner in front of Heaven Mount Guesthouse and Gorkha Hospital in Thamel, the law enforcement unit found the cache of the banned goods hidden in the vehicles and room.

Police recovered 34 kgs of sandalwood from a compartment under a false bottom in the rear of the vehicle and 6 kgs from another vehicle. Similarly, police recovered another 25.5 kgs of the precious wood from a rented room of Amar Shrestha.

Police said they are investigating into the case.

Fringe parties to play spoilsport in poll preps

Some 33 agitating fringe parties led by the CPN-Maoist have once more decided to hinder the poll preparations being held throughout the nation. 

A meeting of the fringe parties held on Tuesday at the central office of the CPN-Maoist, Budhanagar decided to initiate various protest programmes in their bid to obstruct the citizenship issuing campaign and other election related preparations.

The dissident fringe parties also decided not to get themselves registered in the Election Commission (EC) until the annulment of 25-point pact reached among the parties on March 14 to form Chief Justice-led Interim Election Council. 

According to the protest schedule, the parties are said to be organising various campaigns on national sovereignty all over the nation from May 8 to 28. 

Issuing a press statement on behalf of the 33 parties, CPN-Maoist Secretary Dev Gurung termed the government’s citizenship distribution campaign a poly to issue citizenship card to the foreign nationals. 

Leader Gurung informed that they are organising protest programmes in each district to protest the citizenship distribution campaigns. 

The EC has just stared the citizenship distribution campaign throughout the nation aiming to hold the new CA polls by November. 

The parties are also said to be drawing attention of the concerned bodies regarding the purported appointment of former chief secretary at the helm of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

NRT withdrawal case goes into ANFA Disciplinary Committee

The Disciplinary Committee of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) is set to impose sanction on New Road Team (NRT), who decided to stay away from all sporting activities for at least one year on Saturday. 

“We received written information today from NRT of their intent of staying out for the 2013-14 season. The Disciplinary Committee will decide on the nature of penalty to be imposed on the club,” informed ANFA spokesperson and Vice-president Lalit Krishna Shrestha. “Since such incident is totally a strange one, the disciplinary committee has the sole authority to decide on the matter.”

The last season's tournament regulation had the provision of demotion and a fine of Rs 500,000 to any club quitting the league after registering at the ANFA. But since NRT have not registered the club for the new season, it is uncertain what kind of penalty would the governing body impose on the club. 

The Special General Assembly of NRT on Saturday had decided not to take part in any sporting activity for one year and focus on paying back the debts. 

Meanwhile, ANFA spokersperson Shrestha informed all the other 13 top-flight clubs, except for NRT, were registered at the ANFA today. ANFA had set the Sunday deadline for registration. The registered clubs were League champions Three Star, Manang Marshyangdi, Tribhuvan Army, Friends, Ranipokhari Corner Team, Nepal Police, Machhindra FC, Saraswoti Youth, Himalayan Sherpa, Jawalakhel Youth, Nepal APF, Sankata and the newly promoted side Boys Union.

AEG warns of "ugly stuff" in MJ's wrongful death trial

An attorney for the concert promotion company AEG Live warned jurors they would see a very different view of the charismatic Michael Jackson as the company seeks to prove it was not liable for the pop star's death.

Marvin Putnam, making his opening statement in what is expected to be an emotional wrongful death trial, said AEG officials had no idea that Jackson was taking the surgical anesthetic that led to his death.

He said the three-month civil case would bring to light "some ugly stuff" about the singer's private behavior.

"The public Michael Jackson was very different from the private Michael Jackson," Putnam said. "He erected a wall between himself and his family. Even his family wasn't sure what was going on at the house. He kept those who might have been able help him at a distance."

He said Jackson had been using the powerful anesthetic propofol for years to help him sleep "and almost no one knew."

"AEG, like everyone else, was an outsider," Putnam said. "They had no idea. It was going on behind locked doors."

The "Thriller" singer's mother, Katherine, is suing privately held AEG Live, promoters of a never-realized series of comeback concerts by Jackson, for negligence in hiring Dr. Conrad Murray as his personal physician.

Murray, convicted in 2011 for the involuntary manslaughter of Jackson with a propofol overdose, was caring for the singer as he rehearsed in Los Angeles for a series of 50 "This is It" shows in London in 2009.

Brian Panish, representing Jackson's family, said AEG Live ignored red flags when it hired Murray and should have been aware that the singer had addiction problems years before he agreed to perform the concerts.

Jackson, 50, drowning in debt and seeking to rebuild a reputation damaged by his 2005 trial and acquittal on child molestation charges, died in Los Angeles in June 2009.

In his opening argument, Panish said AEG Live failed to do proper background checks on Murray, who asked for $5 million to care for the singer. Background checks would have revealed Murray was in debt and was a cardiologist even though Jackson had no known heart issues, Panish said.

"When a red flag comes up, do you turn away or do you look into it?" Panish said. "AEG ignored the obvious red flags and they hired Dr. Murray."

AEG Live contends that it did not hire or supervise Murray, saying that a proposed contract with him was never executed. The concert promoters also have said they could not have foreseen that Murray posed a danger to Jackson.

"This case is about the choices we make and the personal responsibilities that go with that," Putnam said on Monday.

Katherine Jackson, 82, along with her children Randy and Rebbie, were among family members attending Monday's packed opening of the trial. Jackson's three children, who could be called as witnesses later, were not there.

Panish said Jackson had known problems with prescription drug addiction dating back to use of the painkiller Demerol following a burn injury when he was shooting a Pepsi commercial in 1984.

Jackson in 1993 announced he was canceling a world tour to seek treatment for his painkiller addiction.

In the days before the trial began, Panish denied the Jackson family is seeking $40 billion in damages from AEG Live, as some media had reported this month.

The final amount will be determined by the jury should it hold AEG Live liable for negligence.

A handful of Jackson fans gathered outside the court, saying they were hoping for justice for the "King of Pop."

Jackson fan Julia Thomas, 40, an office worker from Colton, California, said she hoped the trial would demonstrate what she said were the wrongs AEG Live committed against Jackson.

"They're about to be exposed because they bullied Michael, they stressed him into the grave to the point that he needed sedatives to sleep," Thomas told Reuters.