Agreement to form local bodies

Kathmandu, 4 Feb: A task force of five political parties, including Nepali Congress, Tuesday agreed to form local bodies on the basis of results of elections to the CA 10 April through proportional representation results.
Maoists had earlier demanded formation of local bodies on results mixed elections.
On the basis of the results, Maoists will administer 23 districts, CPN-UML and Nepali Congress 16 districts each, MJF five and RPP two districts each.
Local bodies are being administered by government officials.
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President holds consultations on ordinances

Kathmandu, 4 Feb: President Dr Ram BaranYadav Tuesday held consultations with Vice-President Paramanda Jha on three ordinances issued by the Maoist-led government and opposed by main opposition Nepali Congress.
Jha is a retired supreme court justice.
Amnesty International and International Judicial Council also criticized the government for promulgating the ordinances by bypassing the legislature.
The president also held discussions Tuesday with legal exterts.
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Five killed, 13 sick after drinking spurious liquor

Kathmandu, 4 Feb: Five persons were killed and 13 others fell sick Sunday in the capital and Rautahat after drinking spurious liquor.
Four persons died at Gambariya Birta VDC in Rautahat.
Gokul Ghimere died overnight in the capital where he was undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Many of the sick have lost their eyesight.
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Rishi Dhamala accused of links with Ranabir Sena

Kathmandu, 4 Feb: Rishi Dhamala was picked up by police Tuesday evening from Reporters’ Club of which he is chief.
He has been accused of links with Ranabir Sena.
Dhamala is being detained at Hanuman Dhoka.
Sena had claimed responsibility for a bombing in the capital.
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Can’t believe claim of Maoists: Lawmakers

Kathmandu, 4 Feb: Maoists have returned seized assets of former prime ministers Lokendra Bahadur Chand and Surya Bahadur Thapa.
Maoists have also returned seized CPN-UML leader Amrit Kumar Bohara and former Chief of the Army Staff Gen Sachit SJB Rana.
This was reported by Chief Secretary Bhoj Raj Ghimere to a special parliamentary panel Tuesday.
The panel was formed to oversee a commitment of Prime Minister Prachanda 7 January to return seized assets in three months.
Assets have been returned in 35 districts.
However, some members of the committee said the furnished details weren’t accurate.
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Defence and home ministries summoned

Kathmandu, 4 Feb: Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal has been summoned by parliament’s state affairs committee on 11 February.
The committee summoned Badal to discuss the controversial issue of integration of PLA in Nepal Army as demanded by Maoists and opposed by other major political parties.
The committee has taken an initiative to resolve a dispute between the defence ministry and Nepal Army which has refused to stop the recruitment to fill in of 2,800 vacancies on order of the ministry.
The committee also decided to summon Home Minister Bamdeb Gautam currently undergoing medical treatment in Bangkok.
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Foreign ministry seeks clarification from ambassador to Myanmar

Kathmandu, 4 Feb: The foreign ministry has sought clarification from ambassador to Myanmar Dr Gunalaxmi Bishwakarma.
The clarification was sought after allegation the ambassador collected donations for CPN-UML’s coming general convention in Butwal.
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Narahari Dhakal to lead Nepal Bank Ltd

Kathmandu, 4 Feb: Economist Narahari Dhakal has been appointed coordinator of Nepal Bank Ltd by Nepal Rashtra Bank.
Nepal’s oldest commercial bank is managed by the central bank.
Dhakal replaces Bharat Bahadur Karki.
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Ramesh Sippy apologizes

Kathmandu. 4 Feb: Producer of Chadani Chowk to Beijing
Ramesh Sippy has apologized for portraying the birth of Lord Buddha in India in the film, according to PTI.
The movie has been banned in Nepal where The Buddha was born following protests.
Sippy apologize on behalf of actors and producers.
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Foreign ministry directs embassies in Gulf to prevent conversions

Kathmandu,4 Feb: Foreign ministry has directed embassies in Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia to suggest and find out ways to stop conversions in those countries after an alert from the home ministry, Kantipur reports.
The foreign ministry made the move through letters.
Conversion of Nepali workers through enticements has created a serious situation.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“The party leading government should have prioritized drafting of the constitution and the peace process; if this situation continues, the constitution won’t be drafted within the deadline.”

(CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli, Annapurna Post, 4 Feb.)