CHAIRMAN KHANAL UML CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER (DEVELOPING STORY)

Kathmandu, 1 Feb.: Chairman Jhalanath Khanal is the UML candidate for Thursday’s election for prime minister.
The party central committee took the decision Tuesday.
The party stopped his bid to get elected in the first of 16 rounds of protracted elections last year demanding he collect two-third majority in the 599-member parliament.
The election will be held by majority vote.
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JANAKPUR CLOSED DOWN

Kathmandu, 1 Feb. The Rajan group of Janatantrik Mujti Morcha closed down Janakpur Tuesday.
They were protesting killing of student leader Debenda Jha in a shootout with police in the town five days ago.
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NEPAL DEFEATS UAE

Kathmandu, 1 Feb.: Three-time champion Tuesday Nepal defeated UAE in the first round of the U-19 Elite Cup championship in Bangkok .
UAE was bowled out for 87runs in 47.2 overs in the allotted 50 overs.
Nepal scored 88 runs in 15.3 overs with the loss on one wicket.
Nepal will play Oman Wednesday.
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NEW EFFORT TO IMRPOVE MAIZE PRODUCTION

Kathmandu, 1 Feb.: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Monday announced the official launch of their co-funded, four-year effort to improve food security and increase income of at least 35,000 rural families, particularly poor and disadvantaged farmers, in 20 remote hill districts of Nepal, US embassy announcement said.
With the support of the Government of Nepal, this $5.63 million effort implemented by International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) is designed to meet at least 30 % of the national maize seed requirement in the hills, support implementation of national seed act and policies, and develop new maize varieties and technologies.

The Government of Switzerland signed an agreement with the Government of Nepal (GON) Monday at the Ministry of Finance to finalize funding for this project entitled, Hill Maize Research Project, Phase IV.
USAID’s support falls under the Assistance Agreement previously signed with the Government of Nepal.

SDC has supported the Hill Maize Research Project since 1999, and its support to phase IV amounts to $3.65 million. USAID is co-funding phase IV with a $2 million grant, bringing the total project assistance to $5.65 million.

Mr. Rameshore Prasad Khanal, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, expressed his appreciation to the Government of Switzerland and United States for the assistance and for the keen interest and continued support demonstrated by both the governments for the socio-economic development of Nepal.

Thomas Gass, Ambassador of Switzerland in Nepal remarked, “Since, agriculture is at the core of food security and livelihoods of many poor and disadvantaged groups in the remote areas of Nepal, Switzerland has always given high priority to this sector in its cooperation with Nepal. This engagement has substantially enhanced the competence of public institutions like the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) and the Department of Agriculture (DoA) to develop varieties and promote and make them accessible through its decentralized extension services. Also, the private sectors including NGOs are increasingly able to take part in participatory research and development for the benefit of the poor and disadvantaged”.

Jed Meline, Acting Mission Director of USAID/Nepal remarked, “Agricultural development and research continues to be an integral part of USAID’s strategy for addressing poverty, enhancing food security, and improving economic growth. We are pleased to co-fund this program with the Swiss government, building on their investments to take to wide scale enhanced maize production techniques and improved seed in the hill districts throughout Nepal.”

CIMMYT will implement the project in districts where maize is a primary staple crop are Okhaldhunga, Khotang, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Sindupalchowk, Kavre, Dhading, Syangja, Palpa, Baglung, Gulmi, Jajarkot, Surkhet, Dailekh, Kalikot, Achham, Doti, Dadeldhura, Bajhang and Baitadi.
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STOCK MARKET REOPENS

Kathmandu, 1 Feb.: Trading continues for the second day Tuesday after a four-day closure last week.
Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) resumed trading Monday following a strike by employees better pay and perks.
They charged management for ignoring past agreements to implement past accords.
Management refused to negotiate with strikers as they forced the closure of the only stock exchange.
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PL SINGH TO STAY WITH KISHUNJI

Kathmandu, 1 Feb.: PL Singh will stay with Former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai at his ashram in Lalitpur after his release from Norvic Hospital, Punarjagaran reports.
Bhattarai has been visiting Singh at the hospital every day.
Singh was admitted for observation and treatment after he was ht by a vehicle and started walking wobbly following the hit.
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DIRECTIVE TO CLOSE DOWN EMBASSY IF NEED BE

Kathmandu, 1 Feb.: Foreign ministry has directed the Nepal embassy to close down the embassy if necessary, Kantipur reports.
Other foreign embassies have started closing down in Cairo as anti-Mubarak protests surge.
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