SLC examinations begin

Kathmandu, 25 March: Altogether 412,081 students appeared for the SLC examinations this year beginning Wednesday from 1,405 centers— 45,040 more students than the previous year.
PLA combatants in 28 cantonments and satellite camps awaiting integration in Nepal Army or reintegration in society are also sitting for the examinations.
Altogether 27,684 students appeared for compulsory English Wednesday from Kathmandu while 56 sat for the examination in Manang.
A Korean student is sitting for the examination from St Mary’s High School.
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Another shooting death in Bara

Kathmandu, 25 March: As violence continues in terai, a Pahadi was shot dead in Bara overnight.
Arjun Subedi Khadka was shot dead at assailants barraged into his home and pumped two bullets into his stomach.
Khadka died while being rushed to Birgunj hospital for treatment.
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CPN-UML central committee meets Wednesday

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 25 March: Elected members of the CPN-UML will meet for the first time Wednesday after the party’s eighth general convention in Butwal one month ago.
The committee is expected to nominate members to the committee besides reviewing the work of the party in the Maoist-led government.
The powerful committee will also discuss future programme and work responsibilities of leaders.
The committee will also discuss the party’s relationship with Maoists amid continuing clashes between activists of the two communist parties.
The party may appoint former general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal ‘senior leaders’ for which there is a provision in the party statute.
“We’re trying to establish a precedent for appointing retired party chief to a respectable place,” incumbent general Secretary Jhalanath Khanal told Kantipur.
A group is the party is also pushing for KP Oli’s appointment, the newspaper reported.
Oli lost the chairmanship of the party to Khanal at the convention.
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Party leaders summoned to constitution drafting committee for suggestions

Kathmandu, 25 March: Prime Minister Prachanda Wednesday presented the Unified CPN (Maoist) draft of a proposed constitution to the constitution drafting committee Wednesday after summons.
The committee is headed by Madhav Kumar Nepal.
The committee decided Tuesday to invite leaders of all political parties for suggestions; 26 parties are represented in parliament and constituent assembly.
MJF Chairman and Foreign Minister Upendra has been summoned Thursday while Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala has been invited on 31 March.
Parliamentary teams that had fanned out to the districts to collect public opinion on a constitution returned to the capital this week.
Public response was poor, team members said.
People couldn’t understand complex worded questions, members said.
Sub-committees are expected to begin drafting the constitution after suggestions are collected.
May 2010 is the deadline to complete the draft of the constitution.
Most likely, the constitution will be drafted on the recommendation of political parties.
Maoists have suggested a presidential system while Nepali Congress has proposed a prime ministerial parliamentary system of government.
Maoists oppose a parliamentary system of government with a role for the opposition.
Maoists have also proposed on what they call ‘fedual and imperialist parties’.
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Former king, queen return from India Wednesday

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 25 March: Former King Gyanendra and Queen Komal return home Wednesday after a three-week India tour—their first after monarchy was toppled.
The former king met top central leaders in New Delhi, including Congress I President Sonia Gandhi and BJP leader LK Advani, the next prime minister should main opposition BJP win Indian parliamentary elections in April.
The former king held discussions with BJP Chairman Rajnath Singh and former BJP Foreign Minister Jashwant Singh in the Indian capital Tuesday.
“The former king didn’t mention anything negative about the present government of Nepal. He, however, said the monarchy was not that wrong as being portrayed in domestic politics, The Himalayan Times reports quoting an unidentified source after the meeting.
During the meeting, the BJP chief expressed his apprehension about the Maoist-led government for meddling with cultural rights in Nepal, particularly the change of priests at the Pashupatinath temple, the newspaper reported in its Wednesday editions.
The couple first attended a royal wedding in Madhaya Pradesh and holidayed in Gujarat.
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Kerosene discovered in Kapilvasthu

Kathmandu, 25 March: Kerosene was discovered Tuesday along Badnganga river bank at Kopawa-4 in Kapilvasthu, Annapurna Post reports.
Kerosene started oozing out from a ditch was it was being dug.
There was 50 percent kerosene content in the water.
A large crowd immediately gathered to collect the kerosene.
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CPN (Maoist), KJWP forge working unity

Kathmandu, 25 March: CPN (Maoist) launched by Matrika Yadav and Kirat Janabadi Workers’ Party (KJWP) Tuesday forged working unity against what they called ‘reactionary forces’.
A seven-member committee has been formed to push cooperation.
[Note: It was wrongly reported Tuesday the agreement was between KJWP and the party led by PM Prachanda. The error is regretted.]
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Cricket at the foot of Mount Everest

Kathmandu, 25 March: A group of Londoners are leaving for Nepal on April 9 to play the world’s highest game of cricket on a plateau on Mount Everest, agencies report from London.
They will stage a full match of Twenty20 cricket 16,945 feet up in the Himalayas which will be beamed to Lords.
The party of 50 includes 22 players, eight reserves, medics and groundsmen as well as supporters who will prepare a cricket tea complete with cucumber sandwiches.
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