Jhalanath Khanal supports Maoist demand

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 12 Aug: CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal has supported a Maoist demand to bring register a censure motion against President Dr Ram Baran Yadav in parliament—a demand oppose by other ruling parties and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Maoists have been demanding a discussion to end a current political stalemate; Maoists charge the president acted unconstitutionally to retain Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal sacked by the ousted Maoist-led government of Prachanda.
“The censure motion can be discussed but the procedure must be discussed,” Khanal said in Nepalgunj Tuesday.
“Maoist help and understanding is necessary; without Maoists
a two-third majority cannot be attained in the constituent assembly.
It’ll be suicidal to insolate anyone. The constitution cannot be drafted by isolating Maoists,” Khanal said.
Meanwhile, differences have surfaced between the prime minister and the president on the cabinet appointment of Acting Nepal Army Chief Lt Gen Chatraman Singh Gurung as well.
Acting Chief of Army Staff Chatraman Singh Gurung has yet to receive an official letter appointing his to the post, as of Tuesday, thanks to ambiguity over jurisdiction of the president and the prime minister, The Kathmandu Post reports.
The Prime Minister’s Office and the President’s Office are busy negotiating a way out ‘within the constitutional provision’ after the outgoing Army chief handed over his responsibility to Gurung on Sunday following Gurung’s appointment by the cabinet.
The President’s Office is said to be seeking a role on the cabinet decision to appoint Gurung as the acting chief.
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Bomb explosion kills one person

Kathmandu, 12 Aug: An abandoned bomb explosion in Dandeldhura killed one person and injured three others Wednesday morning.
The bomb might have been abandoned the Maoist people’s war.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

China Eastern Airlines to fly between Kathmandu, Kunming

Kathmandu, 12 Aug: China Eastern Airlines (CEA) will start direct thrice weekly flights between Kunming and Kathmandu from the first week of September using Boeing 737-700.
CEA will be the third Chinese airline to operate between China and Nepal.
Air China operates seven weekly flights between the capitals of the two countries while China Southern Airlines operated three weekly flights between Guangzhou and Kathmandu.
Altogether 14,426 Chinese visited Nepal in 2008.
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ADB to promote Nepal’s international trade

Kathmandu, 12 Aug: To facilitate Nepal’s international trade, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Tuesday signed an agreement with eight commercial banks under a Trade Financing Facilitating Programme (TFFP).
ADB signed the agreement with Bank of Kathmandu, Everest Bank, Himalayan Bank, Kumari Bank, Nabil Bank, Nepal SBI Bank, Nepal Industrial and Commercial Bank and Nepal Investment Bank.
The programme guarantees finance for export and import covering 100 percent risk for three years.
“Boosting trade is critical to helping Nepal overcome the current global crisis that has hurt export and may slow down growth in remittance,” ADB country director Barry Hitchcock said.
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EBL records Rs624 million profit

Kathmandu, 12Aug: Everest Bank Ltd (ABL) recorded a Rs 624 million net profit in fiscal year 2008/09—up 38 percent compared to the previous year.
Laxmi Bank recorded a Rs 186.1 million profit the same year ending mid-July.
Meanwhile, Nepal Credit and Commerce (NCC) Bank and Doha Bank on remittance.
The agreement will help Nepalis remit money to Nepal through 40 branches of the Doha Bank.
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