PRACHANDA IN RETREAT

PM. PRESIDENT MEET

Kathmandu, 19 April: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal held discussions with President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav Tuesday and discussed among other issues, the delay in government expansion.
They also discussed delay in constitution drafting and completion of the peace process.
The president is holding discussions with political party leaders as well.
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DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RETURNS

Kathmandu, 19April: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari returned home from USA Tuesday.
He signed a trade agreement with USA replacing a treaty signed more than six decades ago during the Rana regime.
Adhikari arrived ahead of Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna’s visit beginning Wednesday.
In the absence of a foreign minister, Adhikari will host Krishna and conduct officials talks with the visitor.
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RATO MACHINDRANATH FESTIVAL BEGINS WITH RITUAL BATHING

Kathmandu, 19 April: Rato Machindranath will be bathed according tantric rites Tuesday by preists and the 15-day construction of a chariot to pull the idol through Patan to Jawalakhhel will start simultaneously.
The construction starts at Pulchown in Lalitpur.
The Rato Machindranath festival is the country’s longest.
The festival started as the Seto Machidranath festival concluded in the capital and Bisket jatra in Bhaktapur.
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PM, UN OFFICIAL MEET

Kathmandu, 19April: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal is holding discussions later Tuesday with visiting UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Kyung-wha Kang who is seeking a two-year extension of body’s tenure that ends June.
Government is likely to extend the term by six months only.
The deputy high commissioner arrived Monday for a three-day visit to review the rights situation as well.
UNHCHR is seeking another tenure of term extension until the completion of the delayed peace process.
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PRACHANDA IN RETREAT

Kathmandu, 19 April: Maoist Chairman Prachanda went into retreat at Pateleban Resort in neighbouring Dhading district Monday to prepare an agenda and political report for Wednesday’s crucial politburo meeting to nominate remaining members of the party government meet.
The party convened the meeting after lower bodies failed to select the remaining members after three top leaders pushed candidacies of their supporters.
The politburo will also decide party strategy to be adopted in a constitution isn’t adopted by the second 28 May deadline.
The politburo meets the same day Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna arrives for a four-day visit as the party’s relations with the southern neighbour has deteriorated amid revelation the Maoist chief sought an invitation to visit India to discuss UCPN (Maoist) policy with top Indian government leaders.
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KATHMANDU SP REPLACED

Kathmandu, 19 April: Amid deteriorating law and order situation in the capital with latest the failed attempted murder of a Pakistan embassy official by a hired Indian serial killer last week, Kathmandu SP Pushkar Karki was replaced Monday.
Karki was appointed only in mid-January and has been sent to headquarters.
He’s been replaced by SP Kedar Rijal.
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THAI NATIONAL ARRESTED WITH HUGE CACHE IN FAKE INDIAN CURRENCY NOTES

Kathmandu, 19 April: Thai national Anubhat Sahib was arrested Monday from a hotel in the capital with Rs.4.57 million fake Indian currency notes of Rs. 1,000 and Rs 500 denominations.
Nepali nationals Ishwor Prasad Sah and Arjun Sah.
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THREE CHINESE JAILED

Kathmandu, 19 April: A single bench of Kathmandu district court Monday sent three Chinese nationals to jail until a final verdict for involvement in illegally diverting international telephone causing millions of rupees in losses to Nepal Telecom.
The court jailed Wu Hao, Jianan Bin and Jiaxi Pan who were arrested during a police raid in the capital for conducting illegal diversion of international telephone calls.
The arrests were the first involving Chinese nationals; Bangladeshis were previously deeply involved.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

MEGA BANK LAUNCHES 12 BRANCHES

Kathmandu, 19 April: Mega Bank Monday inaugurated 12 branches Monday.
Branches were opened at Kapan, New Road and Baneshwor in the capital, Jawalakhel in Lalitpur, Chautara in Sindhupalchowk, Harwan in Sarlahi, Syafubesi in Rasuwa, Pokhara, Biratnagar, Butwal and Birgunj.
Chairman Madan Kumar Dahal launched the outlets; the bank started operations in 2010.
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SPORTS

NEPAL HOSTING SAFF U-16

Kathmandu, 19 April: Nepal is hosting the South Asian Football Federation
(SAFF) U-16 football tournament in July, ANFA President Ganesh Thapa said.
SAFF meeting in India decided to conduct the tournament.
Teams from Nepal, India, Bangladesh Sri Lanka and Pakistan have confirmed participation.
Thapa said Nepal has applied to host AFC Challenge Cup final.
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