WINTER SESSION OF PARLIAMENT BEGINS, PM ELECTION ON AGENDA

Kathmandu, 9 Jan.: A winter session of parliament begins Sunday at four in the afternoon with the election of a prime minister to replace Madhav Kumar Nepal as a top agenda item.
Election will be held 12 January.
Sunday’s parliament session will be adjourned until 12 January after passing a resolution condoling the death of UML lawmaker Dambar Bahadur Khadka in a vehicular accident.
Vice-president and parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel is the only remaining candidate for prime minister.
Speaker Subash Nemwang said a new process will be adopted if the 17th round of election for government is again inconclusive.
UML has decided to vote this time against the candidacy of Paudel.
Parliament meets as 14 parties, including NC, pushed for a left-democratic alliance to stop a Maoist-led government from replacing Nepal who continues as caretaker even more than six months after resigning 30 June 2010 on Maoist pressure.
Fourteen parties Saturday formed a three-member talks team with the UML to assemble a left-democratic alliance.
NC is also for a new government under its own leadership replacing the UML-led government.
The winter session has to endorse an ordinance enforced a delayed annual budget of 2010/11.
Two dozen bills will be considered by the legislature.
A luncheon reception of President Dr Ram Baran Yadav Saturday ahead of the winter session for legislators was cancelled.
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UML CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Kathmandu, 9 Jan. The 6th UML central committee begins Sunday amid a deep ideological in the party that is leading the government.
A faction led by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Sharma OLi are pressing for a democratic alliance against Maoists while
Chairman Jhalanath Khanal issuing a government with Maoists.
The central committee coincides with the winter session of parliament.
Khanal is pushing a government under its own leadership.
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BIRD COUNT BEGINS

Kathmandu, 9 Jan. A week-long mid-winter count of birds began Saturday.
A bird census has been held for the last 25 years.
Teams will visit the country’s wetlands to keep a count of migratory
and native birds nation-wide.
An estimated 867 bird species are found in Nepal.
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CHIWAN FESTIVAL SUNDAY

Kathmandu, 9 Jan.: Chitwan festival will be inaugurated Sunday by Finance Minister Surenda Pandey.
Dairy products will be on display.
The festival expects to draw 300,000 visitors.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Nobody can form a government here without New Delhi’s
blessings. Those who say South Block was an obstruction need
its help. Extreme critics have now gone to seek its blessings.”

(Rashtrya Janamorcha Nepal Chairman Chitra Bahadur KC, Nagarik, 9 Jan.)
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