Kathmandu, 18 June: MJF and two other parties continued intra-party discussions Thursday on their ministerial appointments in the government of Madhv Kumar Nepal.
Terai parties didn’t join the expanded government Wednesday although ministries were allotted.
Besides, the defence and finance ministries led by Bidya Bhandari and Shanker Pandey respectively, CPN-UML leaders Bhim Bahadur Rawal, Shanker Pokhrel, Rabindra Shrestha and RakamChenjung have been appointed home, information and communication, general administration and peace and reconstruction ministers respectively.
Dilli Bahadur Mahat, Jit Bahadur Gautam and Rijwan Ansari have been appointed ministers of state for peace and reconstruction, general administration and home respectively.
From the Nepali Congress, Prakash Sharan Mahat and Bal Krishna Khand energy and irrigation ministers by splitting the water resources ministry.
Purna Kumar Sharma, Minendra Rijal, Mohammad Aftab Alam and Umakant Chaudhary are ministers for local development, federal affairs, labour and transport and health respectively.
Ganesh Bahadur Khadka, Chandra Singh Bhattarai and Khadga Bahadur Bashyal are ministers of state for local development, energy and health respectively.
Dambar Shrestha (CPN-ML) has been appointed land reforms minister.
By the third but the full government now with 22 members hasn’t yet been finalized.
KP SHARMA OLI
Influential CPN-UML leader continued discussions with senior government and opposition leaders Wednesday in the Indian capital where is also undergoing medical examination.
Oli held discussions Wednesday with main opposition BJP Chairman Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Forward Block Chairman Debdutta Bishwas.
He held discussions on bilateral issues with Foreign Minister SM Krishna and main opposition leader in parliament Lal Krishna Advani.
Indian Foreign Secretary Shib Shanker Menon arrives in the capital Saturday for discussions after a partial expansion of one-month government of Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Government formation is still incomplete without the participation of three parties of the Madesh front.
“First, there laws only foreign intervention. Now foreigners are in government. What could be more insulting” Chairman Upendra Yadav of one faction of FMF said after Wednesday’s government expansion.


Adulterated liquor kills five

Kathmandu, 18 June: Adulterated Sofi brand liquor killed five persons in two days in two villages in Sindhupalchowk this week.
Ibnday and Tuesday.
The tainted liquor killed residents of Palchowk and Dubachaur VDCs Monday and Tuesday.
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Maoists continue discussions on new constitution

Kathmandu, 18 June: Maoist politburo continued and concluded discussions for the third day the state structure in a constitution whose drafting schedule has been delayed by difference between major political players.
Political parties disagree fundamentally of a republican form of government.
Dr Baburam Bhattarai has prepared the draft of a presidential-style constitution with an executive president rejecting Westminster-style parliamentary government.
Maoists have proposed a people’s constitution.
Maoists have proposed 15 autonomous federal states; Prachanda has proposed additional ethnic states of lamas and sherpas.
The party is yet to start discussions on a political report presented by Chairman Prachanda to prepare the party’s new strategy after being ousted from government one month ago after only nine months in office.
Maoists are protesting of what has been called a democratic front in parliament and on the street delaying the prorogation of parliament’s winter session to prepare for a budget session.
A faction led by Mohan Baidya Kiran, claiming majority in politburo, is preparing to register an differing political report demanding ‘people’s revolt’ for a people’s republic while terming the Prachanda report a ‘ status quoist’.
Spokesman Dinanath Sharma said discussion on a
Constitution may end Thursday to enable debate in the constituent assembly with party mandate.
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Heat wave kills one person in Parsa

Kathmandu, 18 June: A week-long heat-wave killed Krishna Deb Yadav, 60, is Parsa Wednesday.
Schools have been closed in the hill and terai districts where sick are being rushed to hospitals.
Monsoon, which breaks over Nepal around 10 June, has been delayed with maize and rice crops drying up.
Monsoon is not expected to arrive for still another five days.
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EU envoys collectively hold discussions with Sujata Koirala

Kathmandu, 18 June: Nepali diplomats government is under pressure to extend the mandates of the UNMIN and OHCHR (Nepal).
Envoys of EU countries held collective discussions with Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala Wednesday.
Ambassadors from Finland, Norway, United Kingdom, Germany, France and representatives from The Netherlands and European High Commission held discussions on the extension of the mandate of the UNMIN and OHCHR (Nepal).
The OHCHR (Nepal) mandate has been extended only for three months although a three-year extension was sought.
There’s been dissatisfaction with the work of the UNMIN and the OHCHR (Nepal); UMNIN mandate ends 23 July.
OHCHR (Nepal) Representative Richard Benett tried to pacify critics Wednesday by saying his organization wasn’t competing with National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
“We are not competing with the NHRC or any other organization working from human rights in Nepal: there is enough wok for all of us…” he said.
NHRC is a major critic of OHCHR (Nepal) accused of interfering in the national human right rights organizations work whose capability instead should instead be fortified.
Presence of foreign powers and donors is ensured through the presence of the UN agencies in Nepal.
UN last entered Nepal through OHCHR (Nepal) through international pressure before 2006 by defaming NHRC.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“The abortive ambassadorship to India allowed Shilja’s [Acharya] opponents to strike what they considered the final blow to their demolition drive. The 48-year –old image [of a non-corruptible democrat], it turns out, is too solidly frozen in time.”

(Maila Baje, People’s Review, 18 June.)

“I am confused. According to the Roman calendar, I should be in service until Sunday. I haven’t decided what I’ll do after that. Government hasn’t yet decided to remove my acting status.”

“Lt Gen Kul Bahadur Khadka appointed Acting Army Chief by Maoists, Kantipur, 18 June.)
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