Girija loses control over party

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, Oct 9: For the first time there are indications ailing octogenarian Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala is losing his grip over the party.
The party central committee Friday rejected his pressure to postpone the meeting of the patty general congress in Birgunj from 1 November.
The three-day meet will instead be held in the capital.
Girija was trying to postpone the meet to impose daughter Sujata in the party leadership without facing the party mass.
Girija had been imposing his decisions on the party without discussion, including taking the country on a republican path.
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PM Nepal challenges Maoists to prove how majority

Kathmandu, 9 Oct: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Friday asked Maoists to prove their majority in parliament with 301 votes in the 601-member parliament.
Nepal issued the challenge after he was greeted with black flags by Maoists in the resort town of Pokhara and earlier in Dhulikhel.
Maoists Friday resumed their public protests against the prime minister after a suspension during dasain
Maoists are demanding a joint national government under their leadership to end a four-month political deadlock.
Several persons were injure in Pokhara during black flag demonstrations.
Maoists Friday decided to continue their protests on the street and parliament where proceedings were again disrupted.
Parliament was adjourned until Sunday,
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No budget without ordinance; Nemwang

Kathmandu, 9 Oct: Chairman of parliament Subash Nemwang Friday ruled out approving the annual budget 2009/10 through the ordinance.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal made the suggestion after Maoists have obstruction of parliamentary proceedings for four months.
Only the vote of accounts has been passed to enable the government to conduct daily administrative duties.
The entire budget has to be passed by parliament by 1 Novemnber.
The government is facing an imminent financial and political crisis.
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IBM to run Information Technology Park


Kathmandu, 9 Oct: IBM of USA has been given responsibility to operate the Chinese-aided Information Technology Park at Dhilikhel.
The facility was completed five years ago.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal was greeted with Maoist black flags as he launched the park.
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At least 65 killed in floods and landslides

Kathmandu, 9 Oct: At least 65 persons have been killed by floods and landslides by a retreating monsoon in the mid and far-West, officials said.
Home Minister Bhin Rawal was on an inspection visit of the area amid complaints relief measures hadn’t reached.
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Nepal lose 3-0 to Iran

Kathmandu, 9 Oct: Nepal lost to 3-0 to Iran in the AFC U-16 soccr tournament in the capital in a Group B match Friday.
Nepal earlier lost to Lebanon.
Nepal has to win two fixtures to qualify for the next round.
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Indian arrested

Kathmandu, 9 Oct: Indian national Ravi Kumar Kethandapatti was arrested at the capital’s airport Thursday as he was transiting to Indonesia with 19kg of heroin worth Rs 3000 million.
This was described as one of the biggest drug hauls in the country.
Nepal is emerging as a transit point for drug smuggling.
The drug was smuggled into Nepal from India.
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Etihad to start daily flights

Kathmandu, 9 Oct: Etihad will start daily flights between Abu Dhabi and the Kathmandu from January.
The airlines now operates four flights a week between Kathmandu and Abu Dhabi.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“What a correct decision. Would the dead in the far-West have roiven from their graves with your visit [after PM Nepal and five ministers went on a sudden tour of the capital in a tourist bus]? Now the potholes of the capital’s roads will be fixed with your visit.”

(Cartoon in Annapurna Post, 9 Oct.)
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