EVACUATION FROM LIBYA PRIORITIZED

GOVT. DECIDES TO EVACUATE REMAINING WORKERS FROM LIBYA ON PRIORITY BASIS

Kathmandu, 9 March: Government Wednesday decided to evacuate remaining a least 73 Nepali workers still stranded in Libya from the border with Tunisia where they are moving from Tripoli, government SPoksman and education Minister Gangalal Tuladhat said..
The cabinet Wednesday prioritized their evacuation.
Altogether 1,565 workers have been successfully evacuated home so far, he said after a cabinet meeting Wednesday.
Nnnn

351 MILLION BRITISH POUND ASSISTANCE ANNOUNCED

Kathmandu, 9 March: Visiting British Minister of State for International Development Alan Duncan Wednesday announced a 351 million British pound assistance—doubling assistance in the next four years.
The assistance was doubled with good results in investments in rural areas.
The assistance will be invested for peace institutionalization, development of infrastructure, including a network of new roads, education, health and other sectors.
British has shown interest in minimizing destruction by natural disasters, including earthquakes.
The doubled assistance will benefit mainly women and children.
The visiting minister on a four-day visit- his second in 10 months, held separate discussions with Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal and NC President Sushil Koirala and was to meet Maoist Chairman Prachanda as well before concluding his visit.
Nnnn

NEPAL ACCEPTS JAPANESE FOOD ASSISTANCE

Kathmandu, 9 March: Government Wednesday decided to accepted a Rs 877 million food assistance from Japan.
The cabinet decided to accept the assistance, Spokesman Gangalal Tuladhar said.
Nnnn

30 OF 75 CONTETIOUS ISSUES RESOLVED

Kathmandu, 9 March: A sub-committee headed by Chairman Prachanda under the main constitution drafting committee to narrow down or resolve differences on 75 contentious Wednesday agreed on 30 contentious issues to be included in a proposed constitution that has to be promulgated by 28 May, assembly members said.
Agreement was reached on 30 contentions points related to parliament.
There was no agreement of the number of members for a bicameral legislature at the center, NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel said.
The size of parliament will be decided after the number of provinces in a federal structure in decided.
MJFN Chairman Upendra said there was agreement not to reinstate a dissolved parliament is elections can’t be held.
Girija Prasad Koirala pushed and succeeded in reinstating a dead parliament by forcing King Gyanendra to take a ‘political’ or illegal decision; Koirala and NC then ousted the king through that parliament with foreign assistance.
Nnnn

MASSIVE DEFECTION TO RPP-NEPAL

Kathmandu, 9 March: Nearly 700 workers defected Wednesday from RPP to RPP-Nepal, a party that believes in constitutional monarchy and a Hindu state.
Bikram, RPP district leader from Kathmandu, led the defection to the party headed by Kamal Thapa.
The defection is a boost for RPP-Nepal and a blow to RPP of Pashupati Shumshere Rana following the defection of top leaders.

SHAMBHU SHRESTHA RESIGNS AS GORKHAPATRA CORPORATION CHAIRMAN

Kathmandu, 9 March: Sambhu Shrestha resigned Wednesday as chairman of state-owned Gorkhapatra Corporation that publshes Gorkhapatra—the country’s oldest newspaper.
Shrestha is a UML appointee and the communication ministry has been taken over by Maoists from UML.
A tradition has been established to appoint party supporters to state-owned media organizations.
Kundan Aryal, also of UMLm resigned as Chairman of government-owned Nepall Television.
Nnnn

MEDIA GOOGLE

‘ An era has gone. Nepal has lost a statesman [Krishna Prasad Bhattarai], a leader, but in his absence, living pygmies in politics will feel much taller without a moral guardian….”

(Yavaraj Ghimere, The Reporter, 9 March)
nnnn