UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress to contest chairmanship of council chairmanship

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 28 Aug: A direct contest will be held Friday between candidates of main opposition UCPN (Maoist) and ruling Nepali Congress for the chairmanship of the main constitutional council vacated more than three months ago by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Maoists are fielding Junior Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha Prakash while Nilambar Acharya is the NC candidate.
The two parties and CPN-UML failed to find a consensus candidate amongst deep and fundamental political differences between the major political players.
Senior Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai withdrew his candidature at the last moment Thursday in favour of Prakash.
Acharya is supported by 22 ruling parties while Maoists are supported by several fringe parties.
“My candidacy is for writing a constitution for the federal republic of Nepal not or a people’s republic. We are not mandated to translate into practice any particular party’s programme,” Acharya said.
Parties are divided on fundamentals for a proposed constitution raising fears whether the basic law of the land to replace the interim constitution will be drafted within the mid-May 2010 deadline.
Most immediately, differences have surfaced on the form of the jiicialy.
Maoists, to opposition of other parties, have proposed a judicial system in which parliament has the final to review the validity of a law in case of dispute.
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Bhojraj Ghimere confirmed

Kathmandu, 28 Aug: The appointment of Bhojraj Ghimere as ambassador to Canada was confirmed by the parliamentary hearing special committee Thursday.
Brazil has agreed to Nepal’s proposal to open an embassy in the largest South American state.
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Probe in army promotion

Kathmandu, 28 Aug: A three-member committee chaired by Secretary in the PMO’s Office Ramchandra Man Singh has been formed to probe the promotion of Maj.Gen Toran Bahadur Singh, Nagarik reports.
Singh will be promoted to Lt Gen on the recommendation of the committee.
Singh’s promotion was recommended after the retirement of Lt Gen Kul Bahadur Khadka.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

Etihad Air to introduce daily flights

Kathmandu, 28 Aug: Etihad Air will commence daily flights between Kathmandu and Abu Dhabi from this winter, an announcement said.
The airline was operating four weekly flights.
Seat capacity will be now increased 75 percent to 1839 seats per week while cargo capacity will also be increase.
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International flights disrupted after cracks at TIA

Kathmandu, 28 Aug: International flights were disrupted for three hours Thursday after the runway at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) developed cracks.
In-coming flights were diverted.
Flights resumed 2.30 in the afternoon.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“The existing political development shows that pro-people constitution will not be drafted within the stipulated time. Out party is also leaning towards righting Nepali Congress which will not strive for a progressive constitution.”

(CPN-UML leader Bamdeb Gautam, The Rising Nepal, 28 Aug.)
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