PM DISCUSSES GOVT. EXPANSION WITH MAOISTS

PM KHANAL, PRACHANDA MEET

Kathmandu, 6 March: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal and Maoist Tuesday morning mainly discussed delayed expansion of government 12 hours after the government appointed Bishnu Paudel and Gangalal Tuladhar defence and education ministers respectively.
Khanal said Monday differences between his UML party and Maoists have delayed government expansion.
Maoists are demanding control over the home ministry described as a security-related ministry amid opposition from the premier’s own party and other parties in the opposition,’ including NC until the completion of the peace process.
UML has previously selected its government team and sent Paudel as its nominee for home minister; Khanal was ready to award home to Maoists as a placating exercise.
An inconclusive UML standing committee Monday again discussed the thorny home ministry issue before Paudel’s and Tuladhar’s appointments rs to Paudel and Tuladhar.
Khanal said the month-long delay in expanding government will be completed ‘soon-in a day or two’.
UML has to select four more members of to government while Maoists have to appoint seven ministers.
Meanwhile, NSP led by Rajendra Mahoto won’t join the Khanal government, Mahoto said; the terai party wasi n a coalition led by UML’s Madhav Kumar Nepal.
The previous government was a coalition of democrats, Madeshbadi and communist parties; UML and Maoists now have formed a government with majority support in parliament.
Nnnn


ALTOGETHER 500,005 STUDENTS TO APEAR FOR SLC EXAMS

Kathmandu, 8 March: Altogether 500,005 students will sit for this year’s SLC examinations that will be conducted from 24 March to 1 April, office of the Controller of Examinations said.
Students will sit for examinations at 1,675 centers.
Questions papers have been printed for the fist time at home
Nnnn

SURYA BAHADUR THAPA MEETS INDIAN LEADERS

Kathmandu, 8 March: Surya Bahadur Thapa, known for his close contacts with Indian leaders, held top-level separate discussions Monday in New Delhi with Congress-I President Sonia Gandhi. BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani. And Foreign Minister SM Krishna.
He also held discussions with Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao.
The former prime minister and Chairman of Rashtriya Janashakti Party (RJP) is scheduled to continue dialogue with BHP leader Sushma Swaraj and Congress-I leader Karan Singh Tuesday.
“Rao stressed the process of PLA integration too must be concluded at the earliest,” Nagarik quoted sources as saying in the Indian capital.
Sources close to Thapa informed that the Indian leaders have expressed ‘deep concern’ about the delay in concluding the peace process and constitution writing process, the newspaper reported.
“They [Indian leaders] underscored the need for completing the unfinished business of constitution writing and taking the peace process to its conclusion within the stipulated time,” The Kathmandu Post reported an unidentified Thapa aide as saying after the meeting.
The RJP chief is accompanied by his,Sunil,.
“The tenure of the constituent assembly was already extended by a year, If the peace process and constitution drafting processes are not completed within the given deadline, people my run out of patience,: Gandhi told Surya Bahadur, according to Mahesh Acharya reporting for The Kathmandu Post from New Delhi.
nnnn


1,277 NEPALI WORKRS AIRLIFTED HOME FROM LIBYA

Kathmandu, 8 March: Altogether 1,277 Nepali workers from Libya have been airlifted home until Monday night, foreign ministry said.7 sino Hydro most of them
A group of 250persons working for a Chinese company flew back Monday.
A foreign ministry official is in Tunisia helping stranded workers return home.
Nepal embassy in Cairo is also helping in the airlift operation.
Several among 3,064 Nepalis are still stranded in Libya where forces loyal to government have launched massive aerial strikes against rebels.
Nnnn

.
TRADE COMMERCE, ECONOMY

NEPAL TIBET TRADE $ 60 MILLION

Kathmandu, 8 March: Nepal’s trade with Tibet, the autonomous region of China, increased by over 90 percent in January this year, RSS reports from Beijing.
The trade between the two counties in January reached some $60 million , said Tibet Customs Office.
Tibet’s entire foreign trade in the same period has been recorded $87.6 million.
Nepal is Tibet’s largest international trade partner for the last decade, mentioned the Chinese media quoting the Tibet Customs Office.
Nnnn

RECORD GOLD, SILVER PRICES

Kathmandu, 8 March: Prices of gold and silver touched a record high Monday.
Gold laws sold for Rs 40,695 per tola (11.664 grams)—gaining Rs 100 since last Thursday while silver was sold for Rs.. 1,000.10 per tola.
Sales dropped with the jump in prices.
Gold rose to near a record high and silver jumped to its highest in more than three decades Monday on inflation worries triggered by rising oil prices as widening clashes in Libya strengthened fears the country was on the brink of civil war, Reuters reported from London
nnnn