Maoist central committee meets Friday

Kathmandu, 21 May: Maoist central committee meets Friday morning as Chairman Prachanda indicated a constitution may not be promulgated by 28 May Friday when the two-year mandate of the constituent assembly ends.
“The tenure of the CA can be extended only after an understanding between parties for national agreement. Even if there’s no agreement within 28 May,” he said Thursday
“The assembly will be inactive for sometime but it won’t be dissolved.” he said.
He indicated an inactive constitution assembly will be reactivated after an agreement between political parties.
Prachanda is presenting his political report prepared during a two-day retreat in Dhulikhel to the central committee Friday for approval.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal invited Prachanda over telephone Thursday to sit for a dialogue to break a political deadlock.
Government has presented an 8th amendment bill in parliament to extend the two-tenure of the assembly by one year to buy time to draft a constitution.
nnnn

Controversial Norwegian minister arriving Friday

Kathmandu, 21 May: Controversial Norwegian Minister for International Development Erik Solheim arrives for a 12-hour visit Friday for consultations with leaders of three biggest parties as the country heads for a constitutional and political crisis with the failure to promulgate a constitution by the 28 May deadline.
He’s holding talks with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal at the TIA as the government is flying for Rautahat to lay the foundation stone of a bridge.
Solheim will hold separate talks with leaders of NC and UML before flying for home later Friday.
The Norwegian minister with close links with Maoists comes as the main opposition upped the ante for the formation of national government under its leadership.
Solheim kept direct touch with Maoist leadership during the insurgency even as they were declared terrorists by Nepal, India and USA.
nnnn

Surya Bahadur Thapa flying for New Delhi

Kathmandu, 21 May: Surya Bahadur Thapa is flying for New Delhi Friday as the country heads towards a constitutional and political crisis with the failure to promulgate a constitution by the 28May deadline to institutionalize a declared republic.
Thapa, the chairman of Rashtriya Janasakti Party, is a frequent visitor to the Indian capital for consultations during times of crisis.
He’s expected to hold talks with Indian leaders and officials even though the visit has been billed private.
nnnn


Dr Bhaktaman Shestha still missing

Kathmandu, 21 May: The whereabouts of Executive Director Dr Bhaktaman Shrestha of BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Bharatpur is still missing three days after he went missing in Chitwan Tuesday.
His car was found in Pokhara.
Doctors protected what they called government apathy wearing black arms bands for 30 minutes in hospitals.
nnnn

Boarding schools closed

Kathmandu, 21 May: Boarding schools nation-wide remained closed Friday to mourn the death of PABSON Vice-chairman Tikaram Subedi.
Subedi died while being rushed to Lucknow for medical treatment after a motorcycle accident in Banke Thursday.
nnnn

Dr Chalise presents credentials to Queen Elizabeth

Kathmandu, 21 May: Dr Suresh Chandra Chalise presented his credentials to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth at the Buckingham Royal Palace Thursday.
Chalise succeeds Murari Raj Sharma who was unceremoniously removed by the Prachanda government.
Nnnn