PM Prachanda begins Finland visit Wednesday

Kathmandu, 1 April: Prime Minister Prachanda begins an official visit of Finland Wednesday.
He begins his Finland visit after concluding a four-day Norway visit.
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Foreign minister Upendra Yadav visiting China

Kathmandu, 1 April: Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav begins a China visit 4 April, China’s foreign ministry said.
He will be in China from 4 to 10 April to prepare PM Prachanda’s visit.
Nepal and China may sign a peace agreement during the visit.
Yadav is also visiting North Korea after concluding his China visit.
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Maoists capture Kirtipur campus

Kathmandu, 1 April: Himal Sharma of Maoist- affiliated student union caamtured election of the Kirtipur TU Campus.
Delayed results were announced Tuesday.
CPN-UML affiliated union won elections in Ratna Rajya Laxmi and Law campus in the capital while Nepali Congress affiliated union swept elections in Padma Kanya campus.
Nation-wide, CPN-UML affiliated unions swept free student union elections.
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China to release Nepali detainees

Kathmandu, 1 April: China will release two dozen Nepali prisoners from jails before Prime Minister Prachanda’s China visit, Kantipur reports.
Home ministry has submitted details of prisoners to China.
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Paras wants to enter politics

Kathmandu, 1 April: Former Crown Prince currently living in
Singapore told The New Paper of the island nation Tuesday he intends to enter politics after returning home.
Excerpts of the interview:
“I left Kathmandu because it was not safe then for me. I did not get along with my father at that time.
“I plan to return to my country. It needs me. Crime and violence have spiraled. There are all kinds of shortages—petrol, diesel, kerosene and gas. The people are hungry. They are lucky if they have four hours of electricity daily because of power cuts.
“But I will assume power this time through the ballot. I will form a new party with young people—bankers, professionals, men with vision for the country. But really, all this can only come to pass if the people want me, “Paras said.
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Accusation against US embassy

Kathmandu, 1 April: Relatives of a youth, who was hit by a vehicle belonging to the US embassy on March 9, have accused the embassy and its employees of acting ‘irresponsibly’ towards the victim, The Himalayan Times reports.
Sunny Nakarmi was seriously injured when his motorbike was hit by a vehicle driven by Jennifer L Kar, an employee at the US embassy, at around 9 pm on March 9,near Jaya Nepal Cinema.
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TRADE, ECONOMY

Growth rate at only 3.5 percent: ADB

Kathmandu, 1 April: Asian Development Bank (ADB)
has projected a growth rate of 3.5 percent and inflation at eight percent for Nepal in 2010.
“Short-term challenges for Nepal are not as bleak as perceived for the region,” said the bank’s senior country specialist in Nepal Paolo Spantigati while releasing the Asian development Outlook 2009 Tuesday.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Nepal has accepted Dago Tshering as ambassador[of Bhutan]. He shot Nepali-speaking people. A person who put in a sack is now ambassador.”

(Bhutanese pro-democracy leader Teknath Rijal, Naya P, 1 April)


“Independence of the judiciary is now under fire. Because of weak security, free judgment can’t be given. The state hasn’t considere3d keeping the judiciary independent.”

(Chief justice Kedar Prasad Giri, Naya Patrika, 1 April)

‘The tradition of visiting Delhi seeking help during political change has increased foreign intervention in national affairs.”

(Dr Baburam Bhatarai, The Kathmandu Post, 1 April)
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