MRPs TO BE DISTIBUTED FROM THREE VALLEY DISTRICT HEADQUARTER OFFICES

Kathmandu, 1 Jan. Machine readable passports (MRPs) will be distributed Sunday from three district headquarter offices of the Valley, foreign ministry said.
Only persons will citizenship certificates will get such passports.
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KRISHNA PRASAD BHATTARAI

Kathmandu, 1 Jan.: Former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, the only surviving founder member of NC, celebrates his 87th birthday Saturday.
Bhattarai quit the party after NC abandoned its traditional support for constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy to go for a republic.
Bhattarai is a firm of Girija Prasad Koirala who pushed the republic line without debate with foreign support.
His autobiography ‘Mero Ma’ is being released Saturday.
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ENTRY FEES INTO BHAKTAPUR RAISED

Kathmandu, 1 Jan.: Entry fees for tourists from non-SAARC countries and China has been raised from $10 to $15 effective 1 January 2011 to meet increasing development costs, the municipality of the medieval town east of the capital said.
The raise- the first in 10years- was approved by town’s 18th municipal council meeting.
The town is the best managed among four towns and cities in the Valley.
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NTB APPOINTS MORE GOODWILL AMBASSADORS

Kathmandu, 1 Jan.: Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has appointed nine persons mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records as goodwill ambassadors for Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) 2011.
Pemba Dorje Sherpa, Rohit Timilshina, Mathura Shrestha and Temba Chhiri Sherpa.
Thaneshwor Guragain, Pratishtha Amatya Bista, Neema Gumba Sherpa, Mingma Tshering Sherpa and Nima Temba Sherpa have also been appointed goodwill ambassadors.
Nepal hopes to attract one million tourists in 2011.
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CAR SEIZED FROM MAOIST LAWMAKER ILLEGAL

Kathmandu, 1 Jan.: A car seized by police from former Maoist minister and lawmaker Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma was illegal.
This was confirmed by department of transport management.
Bishwakarma, who was released on assurance he would report to police Friday, didn’t comply with the assurance.
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SUGAT RATNA KANSAKAR CHALLENGES CIAA

Kathmandu, 1 Jan.: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) Chief Sugat Ratna Kansakar and five other senior NAC executives Friday in writ petitions filed at the supreme court challenged charges they misappropriated Rs 57.3 million while placing orders for two Airbuses from the European manufacturer.
Cases were filed by CIAA for the recovery of the advance.
Kansakar said he had the authority to release the fund to acquire the aircraft for the ailing state airline which is also the country’s flag-carrier.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

‘Bhattarai [Dr.Baburam] was victimized for similar reasons in the past as well. Party leadership is planning to take action against for speaking against party leadership. If that is done, we will have no alternative but to retaliate.’

(Maoist politburo member Debendra Paudel, Republica, 1 Jan.)

‘They won’t return to the jungle. That’s why they should enfold the peace process through change.’

(Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nagarik, 1 Jan.)
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