Memorial public meeting for Girija

Kathmandu, 3 April: A memorial public meeting was held Saturday to remember Girija Prasad Koirala at the Open Air Theatre in the capital.
The Nepali Congress units of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur
are organizing the meeting.
Representatives of 25 parties, Socialist International, Indian leaders and diplomats have been invited.
Although such meetings were held in 72 districts of the 13th day of Koirala’s death this week,
The 13th day wasn’t observed in the Valley where daughter Sujata held her own religious and social functions.
nnnn

Fires rage

Kathmandu, 3 April: One more died Saturday while undergoing treatment at a Dharan hospital of burns in a fire at Hale in Dhankuta.
One woman died Friday and five dozen hoses were destroyed when the fire spread from a community forest.
Firefighters are attempting to conrol blazes in Chitwan, Nawalaparasi and Parbat in the midst of summer.
Hundreds of hectares of forest cover has been destroyed.
nnnn
Firesare raginfg.Fires have been reported fromNawalparasi, CHitwaan and Parbat.


Campaign to eradicate polio

Kathmandu, 3 April: Even as the country has been declared polio-free, a national campaign is being launched to administer anti-polio drops to children five years 10 April to 15 May.
The ministry of health is being assisted by WHO,USAID and WHO.
nnnn.

Police escorting premier injured

Kathmandu, 3 April: Nineteen police personnel, including two females, escorting Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to Sankhule in a mini-truck were injured when it skidded and fell into a gorge Friday at Dachi in the Valley.
Seven were seriously injured.
Nnnn

SLC exams conclude

Kathmandu, 3 April: This year’s SLC examinations concluded Thursday.
Altogether 13,000 Maoist combatants sat for the tests.
Widespread irregularities were reported by students and guardians.
nnnn


Maoists from new military unit

Kathmandu, 3 April: UCPN (Maoist) has created a new security unit named “Corridor Arc” in two Sunsari towns and Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor preparing for a popular revolt, Rajdhani reports from Biratanagar.
A knowledgeable source said disqualified combatants from the Chulachulu Division No 1 in Ilam have also been included in the unit.
“The unit has been named Abhiyan for the coming popular revolt and final battle,” a sour said Friday.
More than 100 combatants disqualified by UNMIN are in the unit.
There are three divisions in Corridor Arc.
Nnnn


Fewa tal expanded by 100 ropanis

Kathmandu, 3 April: Fewa tal has been expanded by 100 ropanis in Pokhara as dredging continues, Nepal Samacharpatra reports from the resort town.
Dredging work started from the beginning of February.
Nnnn

TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

NRB restricts foreign exchange facilities


Kathmandu, 3 April: Nepal Rashtra Bank (NRB),the country’s central bank, Friday announced it will extend refinance loans up to Rs 25 billion for the first time to financial institutions against collateral of good loans to meet liquidity crunch—or 80 percent of their good loans.
Investments in unproductive sectors will be discouraged, the bank said while announcing its new monetary policy.
Export, tourism, hydropower, agriculture, small and medium enterprises and manufacturing have been identified as productive sectors.
Other measures were also announced during a mid-term review of the current fiscal year.
In an effort to save foreign exchange, the bank will henceforth
issue only $2,000 per foreign visit twice a year.
Only $500 will be released for those going for foreign employment.
The bank will control gold and silver imports in another bid to save convertible currency.
Import of yellow by individuals has been banned.
Commercial banks can import 10kg gold per day on recommendation of Nepal Bankers’ Association.
Silver importers must deposit 40 percent instead of 10 percent cash margin after imports soared from 2,800kg to 11,000kg per month in mid-February and mid-March.
Refinancing loan will be available for export promotion at a lower 7.5 percent interest.
Class A financial institutions have been permitted to raise resources in the international market to meet a financial crunch.
Inflation was 11.8 percent in the first six months of the current fiscal year compared to 14.14 percent in the corresponding period the previous year but still higher than the projected seven percent increase.
The country’s foreign exchange reserve stood at Rs 185.94 billion at mid-Falgun.
Gopal Kafle, who made public the monetary measures, has been appointed the bank’s spokesman.
Tradition was broken when be announced the measures.
Previously, finance ministers fiscal policies while the governor made public monetary policies.
nnnn



MEDIA GOOGLE

“The activities of the president indicate that he’ll be active after 28 Maty. Otherwise, why should a person without a role speak unnaturally?”

(Former Chairman of Nepal Bar Association Shambu Thapa, Kantipur, 3 April)

‘If we could prepare a preliminary draft of the new constitution and settle major issues, the tenure [of constituent assembly] could be extended to complete other procedural matters.”

(PM Madhav Kumar Nepal, The Himalayan Times, 3 April)

“’The part leaders are busy in trading accusations against each other to cover their failures and weaknesses. It appears that the new constitution many not come on time due to intransigent stances if major parties.”

(Dr Prakash Chandra Lohini, The Himalayan Times, 3 April)

“Lift all restrictions on the army. Otherwise, the nation’s sovereignty could be threatened.’

(Congress leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, Nagarik, 3 April)

“The CPA has not specified that the Maoist fighters will be merged in the army,”

(Krishna Prasad Shitaula, Kantipur, 3 April)
nnnn