UML conditional support for national unity govt.; other details

Kathmandu, 1 July: Nepali Congress is awaiting the arrival Friday of Acting President Sushil Koirala from USA and Europe where he had gone for medical check-up and discussions to discuss its strategy following the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Wednesday.
Koirala cut short his visit as new possibilities have appeared on the horizon following Nepal’s resignation.
The party has staked a claim to lead a successor government of PM Nepal.
Nepal’s UML also staked a claim to lead a government.
The party standing committee meeting Thursday decided there can’t be a national consensus government led by Maoists until the party implements past accords and promises.
Bhaktapur-based Nepal Majdoor Kishan Party (NMKP) concluded Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal’s resignation despite a parliamentary majority was ‘political surrender’.
Narayanman Bijukakchaya, chief of the party revealed efforts were underway to form a ‘left unity government’ led by Maoists.
Seventeen small parties Thursday called for a ‘national consensus government of all parties’.
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Bids for printing of MRPs opened

Kathmandu, 1 July: International bids were opened Thursday at the foreign ministry for the printing of machine readable passports (MRPs).presented by France, Singapore, United Kingdom and Indonesia.
France’s quotation was most competitive at $ 5.59 per passport.
The result of the international bid will be announced in one week;
India and China didn’t put on bids.
Cabinet, in a controversial decision, first awarded the contract to an Indian government security printing press.
The cabinet decision was withdrawn amid protests.
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