Nepal PM to press India for exchange of Rs 950 crore banned notes Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, during his visit to India this week, will press India to exchange demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1000 Indian bank notes worth Rs 950 crore held in Nepal. “The Indian demonetisation has hurt Nepali nationals. I will raise this in my meetings with Indian leaders and request them to resolve the issue,” Oli told the Nepal parliament late on Tuesday. The Indian currency is widely used by businesses and individuals in Nepal as India is Nepal’s largest trade partner and the supplier of the bulk of consumer goods. Central Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) officials informed the media that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) verbally agreed to allow every Nepali national to exchange up to 4,500 rupees worth of scrapped Indian bank notes in a meeting in March last year. “But nothing has been communicated to us formally so far,” NRB Deputy Governor Chinta Mani Shivakoti told News agency Reuters. _____...

Bihar Communal violence spreads to 10 districts, Police on high alert Communal violence was reported in at least 8 districts of Bihar after members of two communities clashed following rumors of a deity’s idol being vandalized by unknown persons in Nawada area. The incident comes a day after clashes were reported in Bhagalpur district following Ram Navami celebrations. So far 10 districts — Bhagalpur, Siwan, Aurangabad, Gaya, Munger, Kaimur, Samastipur, Nalanda, Jamui, Sheikhpura — have been hit by communal violence in the state. Two BJP leaders in Samastipur district were taken into custody in connection with the incidents after which hundreds of BJP supporters held a protest against the police action terming it as ‘one-sided’. Speaking about these arrests, BJP state spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan said that if any worker or leader has done anything wrong, he’ll be given the same punishment as an ordinary man. At least 57 persons have been detained from different parts of th...

Russia expels 60 American diplomats, UN warns of Cold War-like situations Russia’s government on Thursday announced it's decision to expel 60 US officials and closing its Consulate in St Petersburg, in retaliation to America’s similar move. According to some media reports, President Vladimir Putin’s government also ordered sacking diplomats from the European Union, adding the numbers up to 150. Russia’s tough move comes after the US and EU on Monday expelled 60 of Moscow diplomats, backing the United Kingdom decision of cornering Russia over the poisoning and attempted assassination of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Assessing the situation the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of a return to Cold War-like tensions between the US and Russia. _______________ BJP puts ‘land scam’ charges on Congress' Kapil Sibal The BJP on Thursday charged fresh allegations on Congress leader Kapil Sibal for purchasing a property in Delhi...