MAOISTS PROPOSE COTINUED UN PRESENCE EVEN AFTER 15 JANUARY

Kathmandu, 2 Jan.: Maoists have proposed a UN unit should continue its presence in Nepal as UNMIN prepares to quit the Himalayan state by 15 January after a failed three-year mission.
UNMIN Chief Karin Landgren flew for New York Saturday night to attend probably the last security council meeting at UN headquarters Wednesday.
Maoist Prachanda charged Saturday the UN political arm was being sent back unilaterally.
UNMIN should continue until the completion of the peace process, he said.
“The sky won’t fall with UNMIN’s return,’ Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said Saturday.
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MAOISTS BOYCOTT KRISHNA PRASAD BHATTARAI BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Kathmandu, 2 Jan.: Maoists were conspicuously absent Saturday at the 87th birthday celebrations of two-time former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai’s at his ashram in ..Saturday.
The prime minister, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, other leaders
of political parties, including the NC, greeted Bhattarai.
Top NC leaders, including Sushil Koirala, greeted Bhattarai, even
though Bhattarai quit the party when it adopted a republican line abandoning constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy.
‘If God wills, I’ll live to be 100 years,” Bhattarai told hundreds
of well-wishers from all sections of society.
Former King Gyanendra sent his best wishes through his secretary Pashupati Bhakta Maharjan.
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UN WOMEN


Kathmandu, 2 Jan. UN Women, a new agency to promote gender equality and women empowerment, began operations Saturday.
UN Women was launched July 2010.
It will support inter-governmental bodies to formulate polities, establaish global standards and norms.
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COLD SPELL CONTINUES

Kathmandu, 2 Jan.: Simikot, Humla, received one foot snow since Friday and normal life has been disrupted.
Flights to the remote far-West hill district have been disrupted.
Heavy snowfall and rain have been recorded mainly in the hill districts.
The first winter shower was recorded in the capital Friday night.
The cold killed one person in the far-West.
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NEPAL TOURISM YEAR 2011 TAKES OFF

Kathmandu, 2 Jan.: Nepal Tourism Year 2011 took off Saturday.
But it will be officially launched from Dasrath Ranghashala only on 14 January.
The country hopes to attract one million tourists in 2011.
Tourists were welcomed Saturday at the TAI with garlands and Nepali caps.
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EVEREST BASE BAMP TOP DESTINATION

Kathmandu, 2 Jan.: CNN has selected Everest base camp as the
world’s top adventure destination.
The US television network put Everest base camp as the world’s
a top adventure tourism destination on its online edition.
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