Teachers close down schools nationwide

Kathmandu, 24 Dec.: Teachers Thursday forced the closure of schools nation-wide pressing several demands.
They are demanding increased salary and perks.
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Maoist standing committee meet begins

Kathmandu, 24 Dec.: Maoist standing committee began Thursday to review result of the just concluded third phase of their anti-government and
anti-president protests.
They are discussing details of the fourth phase of their national month-long awareness and exposure campaign beginning Friday.
Maoists have threatened a continuous indefinite strike from 24 January of their demands, including the formation of a national government under its leadership isn’t formed.
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Maoists end parliament obstruction

Kathmandu, 24 Dec.: Maoists won’t disrupt parliamentary proceedings when it meets Thursday.
Maoists ended their seven-month disruption Wednesday and allowed the unanimous passage of a motion to mourn the death of Congress leader Durga Dutta Joshi.
“We are yet workout what form of struggle we will launch from the house,” Deputy Parliamentary Party leader Narayan Kazi Shrestha said.
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UNMIN mandate to be extended

Kathmandu, 24 Dec.: The cabinet meets later Thursday to again extend a UNMIN mandate that ends 23 January.
Ten of 18 parties of the ruling parties Wednesday authorized the government to extend the mandate.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Wednesday discussed the extension with ambassadors of USA, UK, China, France and Russia–five permanent members of the UN security council.
The mandate has been extended four times six months at the time.
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CA schedules changed for eight time

Kathmandu, 24 Dec: The constituent assembly (CA) Wednesday changed the schedule for 11 subject committees to submit recommendations for articles to be incorporated in a constitution by the 28 May 2010 deadline.
Three committees that failed to submit recommendations have to submit their recommendations by 21 January.
The last deadline was 15 December.
There is no unanimity between political in recommendations of eight subject committees.
The CA hasn’t been meeting regularly in thee absence of an agenda.
It’s doubtful if a constitution will be promulgated in the next five months.
The tenure of the CA, mandated to draft a constitution, also ends in May 2010.
An imminent crisis is looming.
Maoists say government is planning to slap presidential rule.
But others say, if a constitution isn’t promulgated by 28 May 2010, the president, government and parliament will also go.
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No Talks with India on internal issue: Narayan Kazi Shrestha

Kathmandu, 24 Dec.: Narayan Kazi Shrestha Prakash, Maoist deputy leader of the parliamentary party, said Thursday there’ll be no talk with India on internal issues.
He said this one day after Chairman Prachanda told thousands of supporters in the capital at a rally talks to end a prolonged stalemate will be held only with India saying the government was only a puppet of foreigners.
‘Dialogue with India on internal matters should be taken as a satire. There’ll be no talks with India to end a political stalemate,” Shrestha said.
Talks to break a prolonged deadlock will be held in India, he added.
“I said talks should be held with India satirically after political parties here were not serious for talks. The matter of talks with India is just political joke,” Prachanda reportedly told leaders of top three political parties and Chairman Subash Nemwang, according to Rajdhani quoting an unnamed leader present at the meet Wednesday.
According to Nemwang, Prachanda asked leaders not to take his calls for talks with India seriously, Rajdhani said.
Political parties came down heavily on Prachanda for demanding talks with India to discuss internal political issues.
The Maoist chairman hanged his public stance within 24 hours.
India didn’t respond to the call for a dialogue.
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India tightens visa rules

Kathmandu, 24 Dec: India has tightened its rules for long-term tourist visas, officials said today [Wednesday] in a move that is causing confusion for travelers and will affect thousands of foreigners in the country, AFP reports from New Delhi.
Under previous rules, tourists on five or 10-year visas were required to leave the country for 180 days. But they would simply go to a neighbouring country such as Nepal for a brief stay before returning.
Now they will still face the same 180-day deadline, but will have to stay out of the country for two months before they can re-enter.
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