NRB issues rules for deals made with cards

KATHMANDU, AUG 29 - Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has fixed the pre-requisites for settlement of transactions made between Nepal and Bhutan through debit or credit cards in Indian currency as the monetary policy for the current fiscal year has allowed such dealings.

According to the latest circular of the central bank, such adjustment of transactions can only be carried out on the basis of written agreements between the concerned banks and financial institutions (BFIs) of the two countries.

“It is necessary to put up a bank guarantee or other security in the amount of the possible transactions as guided by the agreement between the two sides,” stated NRB’s circular.

Bhutanese BFIs can open nostro accounts (accounts in foreign banks) in Nepal as per their needs for this purpose.

“If the transactions have been made in other foreign currencies instead of Nepali or Indian currency, the settlement should be in US dollars,” stated the NRB circular.

A senior NRB official said that the move had been taken to ease transactions based on cards, especially for people of the two countries. “Given the limited volume of trade between the two sides, travellers will be the main beneficiaries of this provision,” the official said.

BFIs here have to conduct transactions as per the merchant agreement signed with the card companies and submit a copy of the agreement.

Details of the transactions should be saved for at least 18 months so that they can be submitted to the card companies if required. If claims are made on the transactions made through cards and money should be withdrawn or taken, it should be settled as per the rules of the card company.

The BFIs will have to send the details of the transactions whose settlement could not take place or the amount paid for the claims made should be sent to NRB within a month of the closing of the half-yearly and annual transactions.

They are also required to abide by the Anti-Money Laundering Act while doing such transactions.
source : ekantipur

Finance minister to be Japan's next prime minister

AP

TOKYO, AUG 29 -

Japan's ruling party elected Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda as its new chief Monday, paving the way for him to be the next prime minister and inherit the daunting task of recovering from the huge tsunami and nuclear crisis.

Noda, 54, is known as a fiscal conservative and has lately been battling a sluggish economy, bulging national debt and the yen's record surge, which hurts Japan's exporters by making their products more expensive overseas.

As prime minister — Japan's sixth in five years — he will have to broaden his scope to deal with the continuing reconstruction from the March 11 quake and tsunami along the northeastern coast and the 100,000 people who remain dislocated because of radiation leaking from a tsunami-damaged nuclear plant.

"Let us sweat together for the sake of the people," he said after the vote. "This is my heartfelt wish."

Noda replaces Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who resigned after nearly 15 months in office plagued by public discontent over political infighting and his administration's handling of the disasters.

Noda defeated Trade Minister Banri Kaieda — who was backed by an influential behind-the-scenes party kingpin — in a run-off election 215-177 among ruling party members of parliament after none of the initial five candidates won a majority in the first round. Noda will go on to become prime minister because the Democrats control the more powerful lower house of parliament.

After the vote, Noda said the three most pressing challenges facing the nations are recovering from the tsunami, bringing to a close the nuclear crisis and dealing with the strengthening of the yen and the deflationary pressure it has put on Japan's economy.

Noda came from behind to win the run-off, getting 102 votes in the first round to Kaieda's 143. The result could be seen as a slap against Ichizo Ozawa, a scandal-tainted party powerbroker who threw his support behind Kaieda.

Ozawa, a 69-year-old veteran who began in the long-ruling and now opposition Liberal Democratic Party, is known for savvily engineering elections, sending novices to parliament, as well as dooming candidates to defeat. His is embroiled in a political funding scandal but his presence has hung like a shadow over the party leadership campaign.

Noda is a staunch supporter of the Japan-U.S. security alliance, which he has called "essential for Japan's security and prosperity." And while praising China's economic development, he has cited concerns about their growing military strength.

As finance minister since June 2010, Noda has been contending with budgets and a strong yen, which hit a post-World War II high against the dollar earlier this month.

Noda must also deal with a divided parliament, which has increased gridlock, after the opposition won control of the upper house last summer.

Japan has been plagued by rapid turnover in political leadership that has undermined its ability to tackle serious problems. The past five prime ministers lasting about a year each; Kan lasted the longest at nearly 15 months.

Kaieda is the third Democratic leader since the party surged to a landslide victory two years ago, dumping the long-ruling conservatives, amid widespread hope for change.

Those hopes have been largely dashed amid public disappointment over scandals, persistent political infighting — in parliament and within the ruling party — and a perceived lack of decisive leadership.

Noda is not from an elite background like many Japanese politicians. He began honing his political skills at a postgraduate institute designed to groom a new generation of progressive leaders.

Before he took on a ministerial post, he was known for standing at train stations in his district in Chiba, just east of Tokyo, every morning to greet commuters personally.

PM Bhattarai, DPM Gachhadhar sworn-in

KATHMANDU, AUG 29 -

Newly elected Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai took oath of office and secrecy at the Presidents office in Shital Niwas on Monday.

President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav administered the oath of office and secrecy to PM Bhattarai this afternoon.

Meanwhile, Bhattarai administered the oath to Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhadhar amid the same ceremony.

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala, outgoing Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, , chiefs of diplomatic missions, security council and officials of government offices, were present at the ceremony.

Bhattarai was elected the 35th prime minister on Sunday.

Bhattarai defeated his only rival Nepali Congress candidate Ram Chandra Poudel by margin of 105 votes.

Bhattarai was supported by the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM)—an alliance of five Madhes-based parties with 66 lawmakers in the Parliament—and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and other fringe parties.

source : ekantipur

I will be the next PM’

MAKAR SHRESTHA 8 KATHMANDU, AUG 27 - UCPN (Maoist) Vice Chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has claimed that he would become the next prime minister of the nation.

Talking to the reporters after a meeting with Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party Chairman Narayan Man Bijukchhe at the latter’s residence in Kamal Binayak, Bhaktapur on Saturday, the Maoist vice chair and a prime ministerial candidate said that he would win the Sunday’s prime ministerial elections.

He expressed his belief that the Madhes-based parties and the fringe parties would vote for him—which gives his party enough votes to win the elections.

The Maoists, with 236 votes, will be able to form a government if the Madhesi Morcha (66 votes) supports Bhattarai. The Nepali Congress, on the other hand, with only 114 votes will need a combined support of the CPN-UML, Morcha and fringe parties. source: ekantipur.com

 

British police out in force as violence subsides

AP

LONDON, AUG 11 - Britain's cities were largely quiet early Thursday after days of rioting and looting that drew thousands of extra police officers onto the streets and a stern warning from Prime Minister David Cameron that order would be restored by whatever means necessary.

Tensions remained high even in the absence of any major incidents, and Cameron has recalled Parliament from its summer recess for an emergency debate on the riots later Thursday. He will face mounting pressure to reconsider planned police budget cuts, which critics claim will strain an already overstretched force.

An eerie calm prevailed over most of London overnight, with a highly visible police presence watching over the capital. Metropolitan Police said objects had been thrown at officers in south London's Eltham neighborhood but that the incident had been "dealt with" and a group was dispersed.

Other cities where looters had wreaked havoc earlier this week also came through the night largely unscathed, though for the first time minor disturbances were reported in Wales.

Police continued to make arrests linked to the disturbances, with the number of arrests in London alone climbing to 820. Courts were staffing around the clock to process alleged looters, vandals and thieves — including one as young as 11.

Even as Cameron promised Wednesday not to let a "culture of fear" take hold, tensions flared in Birmingham, where a murder probe was opened after three men were killed in a hit-and-run incident as they took to the streets to defend shops from looting.

"We needed a fightback and a fightback is under way," Cameron said in a somber televised statement outside his Downing Street office after a meeting of the nation's crisis committee. As if to indicate his resolve, he underlined "nothing is off the table" — including water cannon, commonly used in Northern Ireland but never deployed in Britain.

Outside the capital, in England's second largest city of Birmingham, police launched a murder investigation into the deaths of the three men hit by a car. Residents said the victims, aged 21 to 31, were members of Birmingham's South Asian communities who had been patrolling their neighborhood to keep it safe from looters.

"They lost their lives for other people, doing the job of the police," said witness Mohammed Shakiel, 34. "They weren't standing outside a mosque, a temple, a synagogue or a church — they were standing outside shops where everybody goes. They were protecting the community."

Tariq Jahan, whose 21-year-old son Haroon was killed, stood in a Birmingham street and pleaded with the South Asian community not to seek revenge against the car's occupants, reported to be black.

"Today we stand here to plead with all the youth to remain calm, for our community to stand united," he said. "This is not a race issue. The family has received messages of sympathy and support from all parts of the community — all races, all faiths and backgrounds."

He remonstrated with angry young men, urging them to "grow up" and go home.

Chris Sims, chief constable of West Midlands Police, said a man had been arrested on suspicion of murder.

"The information we have at the moment would support the idea that the car was deliberately driven," he said, appealing for calm. "My concern would be that that single incident doesn't lead to a much wider level of distress and even violence between different communities."

The violence has revived debate about the Conservative-led government's austerity measures, which will slash 80 billion pounds ($130 billion) from public spending by 2015 to reduce the country's swollen budget deficit.

Cameron's government has slashed police budgets as part of the cuts. A report last month said the cuts will mean 16,000 fewer police officers by 2015.

London Mayor Boris Johnson — like Cameron, a Conservative — broke with the government to say such cuts are wrong.

"That case was always pretty frail and it has been substantially weakened," he told BBC radio. "This is not a time to think about making substantial cuts in police numbers."

Scenes of ransacked stores, torched cars and blackened buildings have frightened and outraged Britons just a year before their country is to host next summer's Olympic Games, bringing demands for a tougher response from law enforcement. Police across the country have made almost 1,200 arrests — including the more than 800 in London — since the violence broke out in the capital on Saturday.

Britain's soccer authorities were talking with police Wednesday to see whether this weekend's season-opening matches of the Premier League could still go ahead in London. A Wednesday match between England and the Netherlands at London's Wembley stadium was canceled.

Britain's riots began Saturday when an initially peaceful protest over a police shooting in London's Tottenham neighborhood turned violent. That clash has morphed into general lawlessness in London and several other cities that police have struggled to halt.

While the rioters have run off with goods every teen wants — new sneakers, bikes, electronics and leather goods — they also have torched stores apparently just to see something burn. They were left virtually unchallenged in several neighborhoods, and when police did arrive they often were able to flee quickly and regroup.

Some residents stood guard to protect their neighborhoods — Sikhs protected their temple in Southall, west London, and some 1,000 far-right members reportedly took to the streets to deter rioters.

@ e kantipur

Another twist in Chand’s transfer saga

KATHMANDU, AUG 12 - The Nepali defender has attracted interest from English fifth division side Kettering Town FC who play in the Blue Square League.

Chand, 19, is set to travel to England this or next week to play some matches for Kettering, a club based in Northamptonshire.

Unlike last time when he was rumoured to be in the transfer radar of English premiership sides Arsenal and Tottenham, he confirmed the reports. He said the visa works are going on and

he will travel to England anytime soon.

“This is a great opportunity. My dreams to play in England are slowly materalising. I will give my best to please them,” said Chand.

Chand will be playing at least four matches with Kettering but his performance is said to be monitored by various English and French clubs. English side Tottenham and French top flight club Rennes are said to be the key observers.

Nepal coach Graham Roberts said he was working hard to get Rohit to the UK. Goalnepal.com quoted Roberts as saying: “I just got information from my agent that French side Rennes has also shown interest in him”, Roberts said. “But Rohit will go to UK first and will train with KTFC for a week. The scouts from Arsenal, Tottenham and other clubs will watch him in the matches that KTFC play. He will also play against Tottenham. Rohit needs to prove his worth. He needs to perform 150% on the pitch during the trial period”.

According to bluesqfootball.com, Chand’s agent, Jonathan Hope, said the Nepali defender could turn down interest from English top division sides Arsenal and Tottenham.

@ e kantipur

PAC directs NEA to submit report on Chameliya Project

KATHMANDU, AUG 12 -

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Legislature-Parliament has directed the concerned authorities to update the committee regarding the developments made so far in Chameliya Hydropower Project (CHP) on Friday.

The PAC meeting held in Singhadurbar this morning directed the Energy Ministry and Nepal Electricity Authority to submit the report on working strategy and procedure of the CHP to the committee within three days.

The CHP 30MW project is located in Darchula district. The development work is underway since 2007. However, only 52 percent of the project has been completed so far. The project of estimated US $ 45 million is expected to complete by 2012.
@ kantipur

Promise’s there: Time to Act!

AUG 06 - Many cricket fans, those who favour game’s global expansion, would be delighted to see Zimbabwe’s re-entry into the Test arena after almost half a decade. The cricket world, especially the non-Test playing countries, must be looking at it with the same interest as they did 19 years ago, when Dave Houghton’s amateurs took to the field against India.

This is exactly the moment when Zimbabwe batsman, Tatenda Taibu - who had been in self imposed exile after controversially resigning from the captaincy in 2005 - took the opportunity to tell the world that all is still not well with Zimbabwe Cricket. He said, he spoke out ‘as a senior member in the side’.

Tatenda Taibu is one name Nepali cricketers and fans alike, would never forget. He was the one who had stopped our boys’ dream run at U-19 Cricket World Cup in 2002, beating Nepal in the final of Plate Championship.

As Nepal U-19 team, led by Prithu Baskota, plays the U-19 World Cup 2012 qualifiers, the memories of Taibu’s conquest over our team and our boys’ performance in 2002 in New Zealand comes back flashing.

It’s because that tournament was a special one for Nepali cricketers and fans. A little less than a decade ago, in that tournament, Nepali Colts, led by Binod Das, announced themselves to the world - as former Sri Lankan Test batsman Roy Dias took the team to New Zealand. Nepali boys had a close loss against English boys then, and were able to beat Pakistan, ranked better than Nepal on any day. This had made Nepali boys a rage in New Zealand, who only knew this country because their favorite son Edmund Hillary was one of the firsts to have climbed Mt Everest.

“How do you play in the mountains,” they would ask. “What are you doing in Nepal,” then Coach Roy Dias used to be ask.

The questions had helped Nepal being recognized as a cricket country. Perhaps no other non-British colony showed as much promise in cricket. Beating a Test country like Pakistan cannot be a fluke.

Taibu was player of the tournament then, as current Australia batsman Cameron White was the leading run-scorer.

Fast forward a decade later, Taibu is a ‘senior’ batsman for Zimbabwe, and Cameron White is an essential in Australian limited over plans. And our boys, who played alongside them are waiting, for yet another opportunity. 9 years ago, nobody was questioning the talent Binod Das & Co. had. They looked destined to rise and shine. But, despite being on the launch pad, we lost the plot. Maybe we took it too easy, we ignored the essentials, we forgot we had a road to take. Somewhere, we needed cricket administration to be ‘smarter’ than they showed.

Similar promise has been shown by the team led by Prithu Baskota in the U-19 World Cup Qualifiers this time. How else do you describe a figure of 10 overs, 6 maidens, 9 runs for two wickets, by Bhuvan Karki, followed by overhauling the target with 30 overs to spare, as our boys beat Kenya. It’s not only the

win, but the way team is playing should give us hope. Despite losses - which have been against the team that have better cricket infrastructure - the wins have been emphatic. The fight has been spot on.

But then, we should not sit on the laurels we get while being termed as promising. For every dream that you see, you have to wake up to realize it. Promises would remain only that, if cricket administration does not remain alert. Boys are doing their bit on the field, authority needs to do theirs. Engaging them in cricket round the year would be important.

In 2006, we won the Plate championship at the U-19 World Cup, our best performance in terms of title so far. Then, Ireland was captained by Eoin Morgan and Sri Lanka was led by Angelo Mathews. Now, Morgan is a vital part of English team and Matthews has shown his worth for Sri Lanka. Our captain in that episode was Kanishka Chaugain. He now lives in US...

@ e kantipur

London rioters battle police after shooting protest

LONDON, AUG 07 - Rioters throwing petrol bombs battled police in north London overnight, setting patrol cars, buildings and a double-decker bus on fire in some of the worst disorder seen in the British capital in recent years.

About 200 people rained missiles and bottles on riot officers near Tottenham police station after a protest at the fatal shooting of a man by armed officers earlier in the week turned violent.

Mounted police and riot officers on foot in turn charged the troublemakers, to push them back.

Eight officers were taken to hospital, one with head injuries, as rioters attacked buildings including banks, shops and a supermarket and torched three police cars in the main road near the local police base.

Television pictures showed a blazing bus surrounded by rioters and hooded youths pelting an abandoned police car with rocks and missiles.

While the bulk of the disturbance had been brought under control early on Sunday, pockets of trouble were still erupting nearby.

"These are very distressing scenes for Londoners in general and the local community in particular," said Commander Stephen Watson.

"It's important we emphasize that the safety of the public is of paramount importance to us. Our intention at this time is to bring things to as swift a conclusion as we can. Our absolute aim is to restore normality."

The trouble broke out on Saturday night following a peaceful demonstration over the shooting of 29-year-old Mark Duggan, who was killed after an exchange of gunfire with police on Thursday.

Duggan had been in a taxi when it was stopped by armed officers as part of a pre-planned operation. One police officer escaped unhurt after a bullet struck his radio. Duggan's death is being investigated by the independent police watchdog.

Although there have been riots in other European countries linked to austerity measures to tackle large national debts, police and local community leaders said the shooting was the cause of the riot.

"We already have one grieving family in our community and further violence will not heal that pain. True justice can only follow a thorough investigation of the facts," said local member of parliament David Lammy.

"The Tottenham community and Mark Duggan's family and friends need to understand what happened on Thursday evening when Mark lost his life. To understand those facts, we must have calm."

Watson said they had been aware of the increased tensions but added there had been no indication matters would deteriorate as they had.

"We did not have warnings that we were going to see the kind of disorder being witnessed tonight," he said.

"We are aware of raised tensions in the community, which are understandable following the tragic death of Mark Duggan."

NEAR SCENE OF NOTORIOUS RIOT

The area where the disorder occurred was very close to the scene of one of Britain's most notorious riots just over 25 years ago.

Police officer Keith Blakelock was hacked to death on a rundown housing estate in Tottenham during the rioting in October 1985 when around 500 mainly black youths rampaged through the streets, attacking police, looting and setting fires.

More recently, London saw riots at the end of last year when protests against government plans to raise tuition fees for university students turned violent with police and government buildings attacked.

During the most serious disturbances last December, rioters targeted the limousine belonging to heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, kicking its doors, cracking a window and reportedly jabbing Camilla with a stick.

@ e kantipur

Nepal will be a model tourism destination: Tourism Minister

Seven months have elapsed since the start of Nepal Tourism Year-2011. The year is marked to increase the number of tourists, develop and upgrade related infrastructures and thereby make tourism sector a stronger contributor to national economy. Although some success has been made with regard to number of tourists, many other goals are yet to be met. In this context, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma spoke with Nandalal Tiwari of The Rising Nepal on issues ranging from current policies and programmes for making the Tourism Year a great success to overall development of tourism sector in the country. Excerpts: How have you taken the achievements of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY 2011) given some analysis that expected success is far away? First of all, marking of NTY 2011 is a step toward the overall development of tourism sector in the country. The complete or partial success of the Year is interconnected with the government’s vision, national plan and programmes and mass mobilization method. There is nothing to worry much about the success of the Year given the achievement made so far. However, from the standpoint of overall goal, we have had to do greater hard-work. Now, while talking about the overall goal, we have to see it from the angle whether it is fixed by the state’s vision and national planning for development of tourism sector. In this respect, I have found out that our country lacked such a vision and planning in the past. And you can calculate the extent of success of any goal made without the base, that is, vision and planning, and the challenges to meet the target. Despite this, we have already initiated the process at war-footing level to meet the goal of this national tourism campaign. Hence, I am hopeful that we will meet the goal or reach close to it. You raised the issue of national vision and planning for the development of tourism sector and its lacking in the country. Have taken any steps to fill the void? Of course, if there is anything I have tried hard and employed most of my time since I assumed the responsibility, it is for the vision and the plan. Now, we have concluded that there is no country in the world which has as abundant potentials for tourism as ours does. We have also identified the characters of Nepal’s tourism sector, which was lacking in the past, and concluded them as natural, religious and cultural and historical (or war) characters. Focusing on this specialty, which is incomparable and unprecedented, we have made a vision to make Nepal a model tourism destination in 15 years. This is the first thing. Secondly, we thought about the planning to materialize the vision or meet the goal. We reviewed the past and found out that tourism sector had been developed in a spontaneous manner and only the capital city Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan were focused. But if you see our country, it has many places from east to west with profuse tourism potentials, for example, the Arun Valley in the east, Rara Lake and Khaptad area in the west. However, these places have not been developed for tourism as such due to lack of national plan. Keeping all this in view, we have prepared a national plan and included it in the government’s policies and programmes as well as the annual budget. Depending on these possibilities and basing on the aforementioned characters, we have forwarded a concept of 17 tourism zones (TZs) in the country. Thirdly, we have made plans to set up an integrated tourist service centre (ITSC) in all these TZs. Sanitary of the tourist point, service, security and healthcare of the tourists are the focal points of such ITSCs. We are about to operate six of such ITCs in TZs like Khapdat-Dhamerasung, Rara, Rolpa-Jaljala-Dhorpatan, Ruru Resunga, Arun Valley and Mithila. The healthcare facilities in the ITSCs will also serve the common people. We are focusing on development of infrastructures across the country centralising development of these TZs and there have been some allocation of budget for it, for example, eight million rupees have been allotted for building a special government resort in Rara Lake in the budget of current fiscal year. Now, we have redefined the NTY-2011 as the first step of our campaign to develop Nepal as a model tourism country in 15 years. As a campaign, we will have NTY-2012, NTY-2013 and so on for fifteen years and meet our final goal building on the achievement made on yearly basis. Air connectivity and services are no less important for the development of tourism sector. However, our national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), has very few planes to bring in the tourists from abroad. Have you any plans to help NAC buy new planes? Yes, a concrete process has already been started to this end. We understand that tourism sector could have been more developed if we had better and expanded international air services of our own. Although there are other airlines services, our national flag carrier, NAC, is in a pitiful condition. Concerned with this fact, I devoted a large chunk of my time and found out that the NAC was neck dip in corruption and commission and then I concluded that it was my duty to save it by pulling it up catching its hair-tip. As my first and bold step, I dissolved the NAC board, in which there was much tussle, and set up a new one. Now, I suppose the step has circulated a new life in the NAC, a new hope has been infused in the staff there. Keeping aside for the time being the development of policy, structures, manpower and planning of the NAC, we are focused on purchasing new planes for it so that we can expand and advance the air services. I hope a concrete decision of the process initiated will come out within a few days. I have made a study of the barriers in the plane-purchasing process of the past and the related problems. I hope NAC will have new planes before very soon, the end of NTY-2011.  Seen from the point of economic and infrastructure development, Karnali region is backward. As you also represent this region in the government, have you initiated any plans for developing tourism sector there? This is a very significant question for me. Above I only talked about overall development of tourism in the country. When we consider Karnali from its past and present, its economic, social, cultural and mass psychology make-up, the region cannot be limited to five districts rather it incorporates other district like Jajarkot, Dailekh and Surkhet. Hence, a new definition of Karnali is needed for its real development. Even the Karnali as we understand today has incomparable potentials for tourism. Keeping this in mind, we have made plans to make the Rara Lake the centre of tourism development in the region linking it with Surkhet via Julmla and Dailekh, Mansarowar via Humla and Khapdat via Resunga of Achham. We are also stressing on infrastructure development, for this we have forwarded a plan to develop an international airport in Surkhet, immediately upgrade the Talcha airport of Rara and construct a trekking route from Talcha to Rara Lake.  As a minister, what would you like to tell the people around the world who aspire to visit Nepal? We guarantee the security of the tourists. Nepal is safe, naturally beautiful, and culturally rich and profuse in bio-diversity. @ the rising nepal

Bollywood's Chopra signs global album deal

AAP

INDIA, AUG 05 -

Leading Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has signed a deal to record her first music album and will be managed by the man behind US star Lady Gaga, according to music labels.


Universal Music Group and Desi Hits! said in a statement on Friday that they had brokered a worldwide recording agreement with the 29-year-old and she was already writing and recording the English-language pop album.


Her foray into the global music scene -- a first for a Hindi-language film star and a sign of an increasingly outward-looking trend in the industry -- will be overseen by Troy Carter, chief executive of LA-based Atom Factory.


Carter also manages Lady Gaga, the pop culture icon of hits like "Telephone", "Poker Face" and "Born This Way" who is known for her outlandish dress sense.


"It has been a long-cherished dream which is finally coming true. I am truly excited to have an opportunity to present my musical dimension on a world platform," Chopra said.


"This is a fascinating new experience for me and I am thoroughly enjoying the journey".


Desi Hits!, set up in 2007 and with offices in New York, London and Mumbai, is a media and entertainment company that specialises in "east-west fusion" and is currently working on bringing Lady Gaga to India.


The company will release Chopra's album in North America through Interscope Geffen A and M Records, part of the Universal Music Group, and in international markets through Island Records UK, the companies said.


No indication was given of the size of the deal.


Chopra is a former Miss World who switched to acting in 2002 and has established herself as one of Bollywood's leading ladies through hit films such as: "Kaminey" (Bad, 2009), "Fashion" (2008) and "Andaaz" (Method, 2003).


She has a cameo role in the upcoming Shah Rukh Khan sci-fi action adventure: "RA. One".


Chopra has sung in a number of Bollywood films, endorses a number of beauty products and is a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.

Yingluck confirmed as Thailand's first female PM

THAILAND, AUG 05 -

Yingluck Shinawatra became politically turbulent Thailand's first female prime minister after parliament endorsed her crushing election victory.

Political novice Yingluck, the sister of ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, on Friday gained support from 296 members of the lower house out of a potential 500 -- reflecting the majority enjoyed by her party and its allies.

"Miss Yingluck gained more than a simple majority of support in this house, therefore Miss Yingluck was elected prime minister," said house speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont.

Yingluck's Puea Thai party and its partners command a three-fifths parliamentary majority after a resounding victory in the July 3 election over the pro-establishment Democrats.

The country's 28th prime minister can expect royal endorsement within days to formalise her position.

She will face the immediate challenge of bringing stability to the kingdom, after five years of political turmoil since her brother Thaksin Shinawatra was thrown out of office in a 2006 army coup backed by Thailand's elites.

"We are still in the middle of a very big conflict in the country with very different ideas about what government should be, and what it should be doing," said Thai political analyst Chris Baker.

Analysts believe a key test for Yingluck will simply be whether she can hang on to power in a country where the removal of leaders is commonplace.

Thailand has seen 18 actual or attempted military coups since it became a constitutional monarchy in 1932 and only one prime minister in that time has served a full four-year term -- Thaksin.

Yingluck, described by her brother as his "clone", surprised observers with her assured campaign style, helping her party to a crushing win in last month's election.

She has since consolidated her parliamentary dominance by forming a six-party coalition that accounts for 300 of the legislature's 500 seats.

The fresh-faced political newcomer replaces Abhisit Vejjajiva, whose establishment-friendly party limped to a distant second in the poll.

Baker said her parliamentary majority -- along with the weakened state of the nationalist and anti-Thaksin "Yellow Shirt" protest movement and a lack of public support for the army -- will give Yingluck "breathing room".

She is however, expected to face pressure from the "Red Shirts", many of whom support Thaksin for his populist policies during his 2001-2006 rule.

The movement, which has key representatives in Yingluck's party, will expect justice over its April and May rallies last year that ended with a military assault and more than 90 people dead.

Yingluck's vote-grabbing promises, such as a minimum wage hike and higher rice prices for farmers, have also come under scrutiny, with the Bank of Thailand warning they could stoke inflation.

Abhisit addressed the nation for the last time as acting prime minister on Thursday evening, defending his economic credentials and expressing hope that the move to a new government can help end political conflict in the country.

@kantipur

Top guns hold discussion with Special Committee members

KATHMANDU, AUG 05 -

Top guns of the major three political parties held discussion with the members of the Special Committee for Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Army on Friday morning.

During the meeting held at the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction in Singhadurbar, the committee members expressed their belief that the integration process will conclude within August 31 if consensus is forged from the political level.

It has been reported that the Technical Committee of the Special Committee submitted the progress report regarding the army integration to the three main parties –UPCN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML--at the meeting today.

Emerging from the meeting, NC Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel said, “Decision regarding army integration issue should be solved from the political level. This meeting was held only to know the view of the technical committee.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal put-forth three proposals at the meeting including withdrawing armies who have been deployed for the security of the Maoist leaders, concluding army integration issue within a month and group division of the armies.

Likewise, -UML leader Bhim Rawal underscored the need of consensus among the political parties on integration, rehabilitation and relief package.
@ kantipur

'Khanal could be stripped of chairmanship'

KATHMANDU, AUG 04 - CPN-UML Advisory Council Chairman Siddhi Lal Singh warned that party Chairman and Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal could be removed from the post of chairman if latter refused to comply with the decision made by the party Central Committee (CC) meeting slated for Aug 6.

Speaking at a program organised by the Reporters Club in the Capital on Thursday, Singh, who is also a member of UML Disciplinary Council, claimed that Khanal breached the party Standing Committee decision by swearing in the Maoist ministers. He further claimed that Khanal will music for violating the party discipline.

“No one is above the party, not even Chairman Khanal,” he said. “Those who breach the party discipline will be penalised.”

He argued that no one can work against the party decision though the prime minister reserves the special right to new induct ministers.

The upcoming CC would intense discussions on breach of party decision by Khanal, Singh said, adding that the party could even call back Khanal from the government.

When asked if the UML CC meet would be put off this time as well, Singh claimed that the CC meet and Parliamentary Party meeting won’t be put off at any cost.
@ kantipur

Nepal, Brazil ink 3-pt deal

KATHMANDU, AUG 04 -

Despite the 35-year-long diplomatic relation between Nepal and Brazil, the two countries have, for the first time signed a deal regarding mutual cooperation on Thursday morning.
The three-point pact basically deals about the issues related to technical support and establishment of counseling department in both the countries. Besides, an agreement has also been reached to establish the single visa system for government employees visiting either of these nations.
The signing of the agreement took place at Brazil between foreign affairs Minister of Nepal Upendra Yadav and Antoniyo De Auguyar, Foreign Minister of Brazil.

According to the information provided by Ambassador for Brazil, Pradhyuman Vikram Shah, the technical assistance will include the support in Agriculture, Health, Education, Environment, Public Security, Social Development, Energy, Urbanization, Planning, Communication sectors. Technical support will be considered as an umbrella commitment to evaluate the support provided between the two nations. Brazilian Cooperation Agency will be taking all this to implementation phase.

Joint Secretary of Minister of Foreign Affairs Dhananjay Jha, lawmwaker Renu Yadav is accompanying Upendra Yadav in a Brazil visit. Discussion to establish a mutual relation between South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and Latin American Cooperation (MARKOSUR) is also going on.
@ KANTIPUR

Sanjay Dutt's niece to make Bollywood debut

AP
Actor Sanjay Dutt has his plate full, however he gets on board his niece, the pretty Nazia Hussain who will soon make her Bollywood debut opposite another fresh face Asad Mirza.

The movie titled 'Say Yes To Love' will be directed by Mahroof Mirza responsible for films such as Mashooq, Yaara Dildar, Misaal & Rama o Rama. Nazia, the grand daughter of Akhtar Hussain (Nargis' elder brother), is confident about her first movie. She tells us, "It's a musical. It's nothing like anything we've seen in the recent past."

Nazia has always wanted to be an actress. She enrolled into acting school and then began giving auditions. Before she knew it, she had bagged the lead role in 'Say Yes to Love'. Set for an August release, Nazia is looking forward to seeing herself on the big screen soon, and is hoping that the audience has some good things to say about her.

10 die in Indonesian helicopter crash

AP

JAKARTA, AUG 04 - A helicopter chartered by an Australian mining company slammed into a mountain in eastern Indonesia, killing all 10 passengers and crew, the head of the search and rescue team said Thursday.

The Bell 412 — carrying two Australians, two South Africans and six Indonesians — lost contact with authorities Wednesday afternoon minutes after takeoff from the city of Manado on Sulawesi island, said Lucky Pondaag, an airport spokesman.

It was heading to Newcrest's Gosowong Mine on the island of Halmahera.

A search and rescue team discovered the wreckage at around 2 a.m., said Ludianto, head of the operations, who goes by only one name.

There was only one survivor at the scene, he said, an Indonesian who later died of his injuries at the hospital. The bodies of the nine others have been transported to Manado.

The helicopter was chartered by PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals, a joint venture between Newcrest Mining Ltd. and PT Aneka Tambang, the Australian company said in a statement.

It was not clear what caused the crash.

Indonesia, a sprawling archipelagic nation of nearly 240 million, has been plagued by transportation accidents in recent years, from plane and train crashes to ferry sinkings. Overcrowding, aging infrastructure and poor safety standards are often to blame.

The Basic spring collection

KATHMANDU, AUG 04 -
  The store stocks more than 200 varieties of elegant and trendy apparels suitable for professionals to teenagers from Basic, a premium women’s wear brand from Hong Kong. Basic also maintains an outlet at the United World Trade Centre, Tripureshwor

You may want to visit Basic, an exclusive women’s clothing outlet situated at the newly opened Times Square Mall on Durbar Marg, if you are tired of seeing the same old things in the market.
The store stocks more than 200 varieties of elegant and trendy apparels suitable for professionals to teenagers from Basic, a premium women’s wear brand from Hong Kong. Basic also maintains an outlet at the United World Trade Centre (UWTC), Tripureshwor.
Currently, the store has featured Basic’s spring collection 2011 as per the company’s international guidelines. “Customers can see the company’s catalogue and decide which one to buy. All the products launched by the company are available with us and we restock every four months,” said Hanus Shrestha, proprietor of Basic. “In Nepal, Basic is an unfamiliar brand. However, the brand has been picking up very well in the international circuit,” Shrestha added.
The tops available at the store are priced from Rs 2,200 to Rs 5,000. Likewise, dresses cost from Rs 3,500 to Rs 8,800 and coats are priced between Rs 4,200 to Rs 10,000. The store plans to unveil bags and sandals from Basic in the near future. “Brand consciousness among Nepali customers has surged massively in recent days. People have started realising the difference between duplicate and genuine products,” said Shrestha, adding that the store was dedicated to brand-conscious
trendy people.
“Customers cannot judge the products available in the market. Therefore, they pick up fakes thinking they are genuine. This store is directed at shoppers who want genuine brands,” said Shrestha.
There’s another reason for shopping at Basic. The store stocks only four pieces of apparels in a particular design, that too in small, medium, large and extra large sizes so all the apparels available at the store are exclusive. “For women, exclusivity matters a lot. They don’t want to wear something that’s common. Therefore, we have maintained a policy of importing only four pieces of apparels in a particular design,” said Shrestha.
The store at Durbar Marg, which opened a month ago, is currently offering an opening discount of 10 to 15 percent on all the clothes. The scheme will last till August-end.
In today’s edition of Bazaar, The Kathmandu Post features a selected range of products you may want to check out at Basic’s outlet situated on Durbar Marg.

@ kantipur

Bomb blast kills 1, wounds 12 in Philippines

AP,

COTABATO, PHILIPPINES, AUG 03 -

Al-Qaida-linked militants are among the suspects in a powerful bomb blast that killed one person and wounded 12 others in the southern Philippines, the military said Wednesday.

The bomb, made of four 81 mm mortar rounds and detonated by cellphone, went off on a parked motorcycle in front of a gun store in Cotabato City on Tuesday, officials said.

A security guard on his way to work was killed while shrapnel and glass splinters from shattered windowpanes wounded 12 others, including a 7-year-old girl, Cotabato city police chief Superintendent Roberto Badian said.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack but army ordnance experts reported that the bomb design closely resembled those used by suspected Muslim guerrillas and militants belonging to the Southeast Asian terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah in at least three recent attacks, said regional army spokesperson Col. Prudencio Asto.

Police also have no suspects but are looking into reports that the owner of the gun store was involved in a land dispute, said police regional operations chief Felicisimo Khu Jr.

Cotabato City Administrator Cynthia Guiani Sayadi called the bombing "barbaric and un-Islamic" and noted it occurred during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The predominantly Muslim region has been hit by bomb attacks blamed on Muslim guerrillas and extortion gangs.

‘Rampant violence claimed 22 women in 3 months’

Post Report,
KATHMANDU, AUG 04 -

Despite several government and non-government organisations’ claim that have reached the ground level to stop all forms of violence against women, 22 women lost their lives in different cases of violence across the country in the last three months this year.

Of the total—10, five and seven women were killed in Baisakh, Jestha and Asadh, respectively, a report by Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC), a non-government organisation working for women’s rights and social justice said. Data has shown no improvement as only last year eight and nine women were killed in Baisakh and Jestha, respectively.

Most death cases are related to inadequate dowry, witchcraft accusations, rape and domestic and sexual violence, said Durga Karki, media coordinator of WOREC. Most of the cases were recorded in Terai districts where the incidence is comparatively higher than in other parts of the country. For instance, in Rautahat district a total of 12 women were done to death in the last 15 months.

Though there are adequate laws for women’s rights, lack of access to justice and fear of being re-victimised by the family members and society keeps victims away from security agencies, say police.

“The scenario portrays women are most vulnerable to violence by their own family members and neighbourhood,” said Inspector Deepti Karki of the Metropolitan Police Crime Division.

Advocate Meera Dhungana said that for lack of effective law enforcement by local bodies responsible to give justice to the victims, the number of incidents of violence against girls and women is increasing in the country. “The local administration and police fail to register the case filed by victims in districts,” she said.

Thai parliament sets new PM vote for Friday

AFP

AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

BANGKOK: Thai lawmakers are set to vote in the country's first female prime minister on Friday, a parliament official said Wednesday, after she rode to election glory on the coat-tails of her fugitive brother.

Yingluck Shinawatra, whose Puea Thai party and its partners command a three-fifths majority in the lower house, will face a vote days after the parliamentary session was opened, secretary-general Pitoon Pumhiran told AFP.

The political novice tipped as the "clone" of her brother, the former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, faces the challenge of bringing stability to the kingdom after five years of political turmoil since he was removed in a military coup.

Parliament's vote on Friday is considered a formality in the selection of Yingluck, whose party won a thunderous majority in the July 3 election and has enlisted the support of several smaller parties in a coalition.

Yingluck will have to wait for a royal endorsement before she can officially take power.

She will become Thailand's 28th prime minister, replacing outgoing leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, whose Democrat Party limped to a distant second in the election.

Government bans cell phones, junk food in schools

NIRJANA SHARMA -

KATHMANDU, AUG 03 -

It may seem a bit weird to some, but it is official—no cell phones will be allowed up to higher secondary schools across the country.

The Department of Education (DoE) not only banned the use of cell phones in schools but also made it mandatory for parents to send only homemade launch for their children.

DoE has reasoned that pervasive use of cell phones in schools has affected students’ performance and consumption of junk food such as readymade noodles and snacks can adversely affect children’s health.

“The department took the decision two weeks ago and we first focus on convincing students and parents rather than imposing these decisions,” said DoE Director Dilli Rimal. Similarly, some educational institutions have expressed solidarity with DoE to implement the decisions. Some higher secondary schools have already banned the use of mobile phones in schools and adopted tough measures for defiance.

“A number of schools in the Capital and outside have already taken such measures and they have hailed our decisions,” Rimal said. “But avoiding the junk food will take more time at the school level.”

According to Rimal, the government directive is an outcome of a series of discussions held with school operators and parents who themselves complained about such practices.

“The DoE move to ban cell phone on school premises was necessary to maintain order, especially in the secondary and higher secondary levels,” said Bijay Sambahamphe, general secretary of Private and Boarding School Organisation of Nepal (PABSON). “Ban on cell phone does not prevent parents and their wards from communicating with each other before or after school,” he added.

Meanwhile, the move seems to invite some dissension from a section of people who think that the decision is irrelevant and anachronistic.

Nepal’s next challenge is Canada

KATHMANDU, AUG 03 -

Having completed the Dublin leg of the ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifier on top with six points from four matches, Nepal, take on Canada in the second leg at Bready, Ireland on Wednesday.

At Dublin, the players had just started to get used to the playing condition and the crowd consisting of Nepali residing in Dublin had been a huge boost to the players’ morale.

But the team will now head to a different part of the country, where they will again have to get used to the wickets. However, coach Jagat Tamata is not very concerned about the rest of the tournament as he believes his team are getting better with every game.

“ With the progress of the tournament our confidence has slowly risen and now we are not only thinking of qualifying which is just a matter of one more win but clinching the winner’s title as well,” Tamata said, “We have finally gelled in as a team and the batsmen are also finding their form.” He reckons Canada will not be much of a challenge to his boys as Canada have not been phenomenal so far in the tournament. Nepal, despite having equal points as Namibia and host Ireland, take the pole poison on better run rates while Canada are fourth on the table with four points from as many matches.

Tamata’s confidence soared after two key batsmen, Sagar Pun and Naresh Budhayair, who had not been able to perform, clicked in the last match against Vanuatu. Both of them had stroked a half-century each helping Nepal register a comprehensive 159 runs victory over Vanuatu on Monday.

Canada, on the other hand, will look to amend their three wickets defeat against Kenya in their last match, when they play Nepal.

The only concern for the 46-year-old coach against Canada is Nitin Kumar, the player who was a member of the Canadian team that had participated in the 2011 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

“I have been telling the boys a single player cannot make much of a difference if we play as a unit,” Tamata added. Wicket keeper Subash Khakurel, who had missed the last match due to hamstring is unavailable on Wednesday. Pradeep Airee had stood behind the stumps in place of Khakurel in the match against Vanuatu.

Elsewhere, host Ireland play Vanuatu, Afghanistan entertain Namibia, Scotland face USA and Kenya take on Papua New Guinea.

China police shoot dead two suspects in Xinjiang attacks

Reuters -

RUSSIA, AUG 02 - Chinese police have shot dead two suspects being hunted for a deadly attack in the restive western region of Xinjiang, which an exiled regional leader blamed on Beijing's hardline policies toward her people.

The two suspects, Memtieli Tiliwaldi and Turson Hasan, were shot by police late on Monday in corn fields on the outskirts of Kashgar city, where on Sunday assailants stormed a restaurant, killed the owner and a waiter, then hacked four people to death, according to the Khasgar government website.

The attack was the latest burst of violence to rattle Xinjiang, where many of the minority Muslim Uighurs resent the presence of Han Chinese, and the controls imposed by Beijing.

Chinese officials quickly blamed the attack on Uighur Islamic militants campaigning for an independent homeland, and said the ringleaders received training in making firearms and explosives in Pakistan before returning to China.

But Rebiah Kadeer, a prominent exiled leader of the region's Uighur minority, offered a starkly different diagnosis of the tensions in her homeland and said she was skeptical about linking the attacks to international terrorist group.

"I am saddened that Han Chinese and Uighurs have lost their lives. At the same time, I cannot blame the Uighurs who carry out such attacks for they have been pushed to despair by Chinese policies," Kadeer said in an emailed statement.

"I condemn the Chinese government for the incident. The Chinese government has created an environment of hopelessness that means it must take responsibility for civilian deaths and injuries caused by their discriminatory policies," said Kadeer, president of the World Uyghur Congress, which campaigns for self-rule for Uighurs.

STRATEGIC BULWARK

Uyghur is an alternative way of spelling Uighur (pronounced "Wee-gur"), the name for the Turkic-speaking people who now form a minority in Xinjiang.

Kadeer is reviled by China, which jailed her before sending her into exile, and her blaming of government policies for triggering the violence appears sure to rile Beijing.

The governor of Xinjiang, Nur Bekri, visited Kashgar on Monday, and he repeated government vows that those found guilty of such attacks will be punished strictly, according to Xinjiang's official news website (http://www.tianshannet.com).

"We will harshly attack any atrocities that threaten people's lives, defile the dignity of the law, and threaten supreme national interests," Bekri said, according to the report.

China sees Xinjiang as strategic bulwark facing central Asia, and Beijing has shown no sign of loosening its grip on the territory, which accounts for a sixth of the country's land mass and holds deposits of oil and gas.

But the attack in Kashgar was the latest incident laying bare tensions that have brought protests and bursts of violence.

China is a close partner of Pakistan, but Beijing has pressed its neighbor over Uighurs who have fled to Pakistan, where China has said Uighur militants have been recruited and trained by the separatist "East Turkestan Islamic Movement".

Last week, two small blasts hit the city of Kashgar, which is dominated by Uighurs.

Eighteen people including 14 "rioters" were killed in an attack on a police station in Xinjiang on July 18, according to the government.

In July 2009, the regional capital Urumqi was rocked by violence between majority Han Chinese and minority Uighurs that killed nearly 200 people, many of them Han Chinese.

PAC directs NT to scrap bridging project

KATHMANDU, AUG 02 -

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the legislature-parliament on Tuesday directed the Nepal Telecom (NT) to bring all its procurement process through Public Procurement Act.

The PAC meeting held this morning ordered the NT to scrap the bridging project (a stop-gap arrangement) which was initiated without following due tender procedures.

The bridging project has economic irregularities and abuse of authority, PAC sources confirmed.

The NT had planned to procure around 1.1 million GSM mobiles and 0.4 million CDMA lines without calling a tender as per the law.

The PAC has also directed to announce fresh bidding and scrap 1.5 million lines which were due to be purchased without bidding process.

Under the IP CDMA project, NT has targeted to add 2 million CDMA lines with focus on rural areas. It has also planned to set to call a global tender for the 10 million GSM lines, bearing in mind the market demand for up to 2015. - Ekantipur Report

'Cowboys & Aliens,' 'Smurfs' tie for No. 1 spot

ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES, August 1: Little blue Smurfs and not-so-little green men from space are in a photo finish for the No. 1 spot at the weekend box office.

Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford´s science-fiction Western "Cowboys & Aliens" and the family adventure "The Smurfs" both opened with $36.2 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

That leaves Sony´s "Smurfs" and Universal´s "Cowboys & Aliens" tied for the top spot. Figuring out the No. 1 movie will have to wait until final numbers are counted Monday.

"In all my years, I´ve never really seen a race this close," said Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst for box-office tracker Hollywood.com. "Generally, in the world of movie box office, $1 million is a close call, so to have two films in a dollar-to-dollar tie is somewhat unprecedented."

Studios often round off their Sunday numbers, which include Friday and Saturday totals plus an estimate of Sunday business based on how similar movies have done in the past.

So Sunday figures typically are rounded off to the nearest $50,000 or $100,000, with more accurate, to-the-dollar numbers generally coming in Monday´s final tally.



But Universal released an estimate of $36,206,250, which would have put "Cowboys & Aliens" a fraction ahead of "The Smurfs" in Sunday´s rankings. So Sony, which had reported a rounded-off figure of $36.2 million, matched that $36,206,250 estimate for "The Smurfs."

"We´re going with that extra $6,250, because it´s just too close to call," said Rory Bruer, head of distribution at Sony. "It just seems like the most fair thing to do is call it a tie and let Monday sort it out."

Studios jockey for the top box-office spot to earn "No. 1 film in America" bragging rights in advertising for the coming week.

Going into the weekend, "Cowboys & Aliens" seemed to have the edge, with analysts figuring it might top $40 million, while "The Smurfs" might come in around $30 million.

But the two movies met in the middle, "Cowboys & Aliens" doing worse than expected and "The Smurfs" doing better.

"This is truly a photo finish," said Nikki Rocco, head of distribution for Universal. "Nobody can call it. The truth of the matter is, it´s a tie, and with two totally different kinds of films."

"Cowboys & Aliens" stars Craig as an amnesiac wanderer who teams with cattle baron Ford to take on hulking aliens that invade a town in the Old West. "The Smurfs" brings the blue cartoon creatures to the big screen, with a voice and live-action cast that includes Katy Perry, Hank Azaria, George Lopez and Neil Patrick Harris.

Because it opened in fewer theaters, "The Smurfs" did more business on average at cinemas. Playing in 3,395 locations, "The Smurfs" averaged $10,665 a theater, compared to a $9,655 average in 3,750 cinemas for "Cowboys & Aliens."

"The Smurfs" had a ticket-price advantage with 3-D screenings, which cost a few dollars more and accounted for 45 percent of business. But 25 percent of its business came from children under 12, who get in at discount prices, while "Cowboys & Aliens" drew adult crowds paying full admission.

So it´s tough to determine which movie actually sold more tickets.

The weekend´s other new wide release, the Warner Bros. romantic comedy "Crazy, Stupid, Love.," opened modestly at No. 5 with $19.3 million. The movie stars Steve Carell as a one-woman man who learns the art of seduction from a playboy (Ryan Gosling) after his marriage falls apart.

The previous weekend´s top movie, "Captain America: The First Avenger," slipped to No. 3 with $24.9 million and raised its domestic total to $116.8 million.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" pulled in $21.9 million to become the franchise´s top-grossing chapter at $318.5 million domestically.

That tops the previous high of $317.6 million for the 2001 original, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer´s Stone." But factoring in today´s higher ticket prices, "Deathly Hallows: Part 2" so far has sold fewer tickets than "Sorcerer´s Stone."

Also this weekend, the "Harry Potter" finale became the first of the franchise´s eight movies to top $1 billion at the box office worldwide.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1 (tie). "Cowboys & Aliens," $36.2 million.

1 (tie). "The Smurfs," $36.2 million.

3. "Captain America: The First Avenger," $24.9 million ($48.5 million international).

4. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," $21.9 million.

5. "Crazy, Stupid, Love," $19.3 million.

6. "Friends with Benefits," $9.3 million.

7. "Horrible Bosses," $7.1 million.

8. "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," $6 million ($42 million international).

9. "Zookeeper," $4.2 million.

10. "Cars 2," $2.3 million ($30 million international).

India to entertain Pakistan at Dashrath Stadium

Post Report,KATHMANDU, AUG 01 -

The Dashrath Stadium has had a busy calendar for the last couple of months, hosting national and international tournaments. From Monday, the venue will add more event to its portfolio when it host the South Asian U-16 Football Championship.

The event will be a litmus test for the participating six South Asian nations — Nepal, India, Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh — of effectiveness of their respective youth development programmes. Though, age group tournaments have been a regular feature of the Asian Football Confederation calendar, it is the first of its kind in South Asia. Out of the eight South Asian countries, Bhutan and Afghanistan have missed out the events due to their internal problems.

The six participating teams have been divided into two groups — India, Maldives and Pakistan in Group A and Nepal Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Group B. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals to be held on Aug. 8.

India will entertain Pakistan in the opening match on Monday, while Nepal have their first match against Bangladesh on the fourth day on Thursday.

Host Nepal are confident of a good showing. Nepal coach Sunil Shrestha said they have been preparing for the event for the past three months. He believes the team can go a long way due to the home advantage. He however rued the lack of practice matches with local teams.

“The boys are excited for the event and are a talented side. If only we had got a chance to play practice matches, it would have been a lot better,” said Shrestha.

Nepal had a good reputation in age group football tournament until 2009 when they crashed out of the AFC U-16 qualifiers in Kathmandu without scoring a single goal. This event will be a perfect chance to mend their image, believes Mrigendra Mishra, who is assisting Shrestha in coaching the team.

“I am satisfied at the ways the boys have performed in the past couple of months. The home result in the World Cup qualifiers against Jordan has also boosted the confidence of the players,” added Mishra.

Meanwhile, host All Nepal Football Association said it had completed all the necessary preparations for the event. Rs 3 million has been estimated to be spent on the 10-day event.

Nepal squad: GK: Birendra Chand, Brijesh Singh, Alan Neupane. DF: Sanjaya Rajbahak, Aditya Choudhary, Biswas Shrestha, Bibek Basnet, Nabin Gurung, Anjan Lakhya, Kundan Gurung. MF: Heman Gurung, Rungri Rai, Anil Gurung, Sagar Lama, Prabal Thapa, Firan Mangranti, Shikhar Kafle, Umesh Thapa, Yougal Pandey. FW: Suraj Hamal, Rishi Thapa, Suman Lama, Krishna Raj Lama.