CA Meeting postponed indefinitely

Kathmandu, 23 March: A meeting of the constituent which met to pass a condolence message to condole on the death of Girija Prasad Koirala Monday was adjourned indefinitely after passing a condolence message.
Only 66 days remain for the promulgation of a constitution.
The assembly meeting was adjourned without voting on recommendations of nine subject committees for articles to be included in a proposed constitution.
The CA recommendations had to be sent a main constitution drafting committee headed by Nilambar Acharya for preparing a preliminary draft to institutionalize a republic by promulgating a constitution by 28 May.
Failure to announce a constitution by that date will trigger a crisis with the dissolution of the CA and parliament.
With the end of royal rule, Girija Prasad Koirala had recommended continuing with the 1990 constitution by abolishing articles that restricted powers of the king.
But in a television interview aired Monday, Koirala revealed ‘revolutionaries’ pressed for an ‘interim constitution’.
Koirala said: “Had they agreed, we wouldn’t be in the mess that we are in today.”
UML leader Bamdeb Gautam said a ‘brief constitution’ has already been prepared and the CA will work on a constitution for one year after 28 May.
Nnnn

No emergency services at TU Teaching Hospital

Kathmandu, 23 March: Doctors Tuesday stopped even emergency services at the Teaching Hospital.
Nearly 1,200 patients visit the hospital every day.
Doctors and students have been on strike for 10 days protesting leaks in examination papers for doctors in the premier teaching hospital established with Japanese assistance.
nnnn
.
Load-shedding to be reduced from first week of Baishak

Kathmandu, 23 March: Twelve-hour daily load-shedding will be reduced from the first week of Baiskak or in another three weeks.
Spokesman of the Energy Ministry Anum Man Upadhaya said this Tuesday.
He said with the snowmelt water level in rivers have risen.
nnnn

Chaitae dasain

Kathmandu, 23 March: Hindus are celebrating Chaitae dasain Tuesday.
Devotees visited Bhabati temples to offer sacrifices and worship.
nnnn

Dr Yubaraj Khitawada assumed office

Kathmandu, 23 March: Dr Yubaraj Khitawada Monday assumed office as the 15th governor of Nepal Rashtra Bank.
He was Vice-Chairman of National Planning Commission.
He was a UML nominee.
The appointment was delayed for two months with Nepali Congress pressing a package demanding appointments of its nominees in other vacant constitutional bodies.
The country is without an election commissioner, CIAA chief and chairman of the Public Service Commission.
Nnnn

President in home district, former king also visiting Janakpur

Kathmandu, 23 March: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav Monday went to his village at Sapahi in Dhanusha.
He is offering worship at the Janaki Mandir on Ram Nawami Wednesday.
Former King Gyanendra is also expected to visit Janakpur Wednesday to offer prayers at the temple.
Nnnn

Defence minister leaves for China

Kathmandu, 23 March: Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari left for China Monday night of a week-long China visit.
She’s accompanied by Defence Secretary Nabin Kumar Chand and Maj Gen
Nepal Bhusan Chand.
She’ll discuss Chinese getting military assistance.
Nnnn

Supreme court orders of three detained Tibetans

Kathmandu, 23 March: A two-man bench of the supreme court Monday ordered the release of three Tibetans detailed for anti-China activities.
They were arrested during anti-China demonstrations in the capital 10 March on the 51st first anniversary of the uprising in Tibet against China.
Nnnn

PM being summoned by public accounts committee

Kathmandu, 23 March: Parliament’s public accounts committee is summoning Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal after government decided to award a contract to an Indian government security printing press to print machine readable passports.
The cabinet last week endorsed a foreign ministry proposal pushed by Depuy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala.
The cabinet disregarded a recommendation of the public affairs committee to award the contract to the lowest bidder through international tender.
Machine readable passports have to replace hand-written passports from 1 April on ICAO instructions.
But ICAO is considering extension of its deadline after difficulties faced by Nepal and other countries to meet the deadline.
Nnnn

Tiger population has probably increased in Chitwan National Park

Kathmandu,23 March: The population of the endangered tiger has probably increased in the Chitwan National Park, Rajdhani reports.
A census ended Sunday and the final count will be available in a few days.
It’s estimated the tiger population has increased after tigers were found in the Chure range as well outside the park.
nnnn



MEDIA GOOGLE

‘What do the Maoists think they can gain by getting backing” A national government won’t let them off the hook.”

(Maila Baje, People’s Review, 23 March)

‘He has left behind an impression in Indian leaders he’s the only reliable democratic Madeshi leader who has the confidence of the hill people.”

(Dinesh Wagle, Kantipur, 23 March)

“Nepal will soon be declared a Hindu state. I’ve discussed this with all I met.”

(Former BJP Chief Rajnath Singh, Annapurna Post, 23 March)