SUMMER'S FIRST CHOLERA CASE CONFIRMED IN CAPITAL

NO COMPLETE CONSTITUTION BY 28 MAY

Kathmandu, 30 April: Maoist Chairman Prachanda reiterated time is too short to complete a complete constitution by28 May.
But he called for an integrated constitution draft by the second deadline in Chitwan Saturday.
Party office bearers earlier in the capital decided to launch a dialogue with UML, NC and other parties to complete the peace process and write a constitution.
Former Prime Mionster Madhav Kumar Nepal continued his public criticism of Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal Saturday in Kanchanpur.
Nepal accused his successor in government and party for failure to form a national unity government and called for inclusion of main opposition NC and Madeshbadi parties in government.
NC has refused to join the UML/Maoist government.
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FIRST CHOLERA CASE IN CAPITALTHIS SUMMER RECORDED

Kathmandu, 30 April: The first cholera case in the capital this summer was confirmed Friday by the Sukraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital at Teku.
The cholera was found in a woman at the beginning of the rainy season.
The fifty-six year woman from Banepa is a longtime resident of the capital.
A heavy pre-monsoon was recorded in the capital Saturday.
Farmers will be happy as they prepare fields for transplanting paddy.
Hopefully, the crippling 14-hour load-shedding will be reduced with the approaching monsoon.
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SANIMA DEVELOPMENT BANK PROFIT UP

Kathmandu, 30 April: Sanima Development Bank earned a Rs. 95.3 million net profit in Q3 of the current fiscal year ending 13 April.
The profit rose 57.87 percent compared to the corresponding quarter the previous year.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“If I fail, UML will fail. Believe me to prevent it.”

(PM Jhalanath Khanal, Gorkhapatra, 30 April)
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KRISHNA PRASAD BHATTARAI’S LIFESTYLE

By Bhola B. Rana

Kathmandu, 30 April: Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, who died nearly two months ago, took something from very few persons.
Amita Giri Kapali said this in an article entitled: My Guru Kishunji. In Nagarik Saturday.
Kapali said she served Kishunji for two decades.
“He took something from very few people. He wouldn’t take things from anybody. In his lifetime, he took something from Capt. Shriram Sharma, Maiyadebi Shrestha and several others,” former activist of Nepal Student’s Union revealed.
‘He was like a child. Innocent.”
She added: While in the party or as prime minister, he used to keep money in two pockets—one pocket for personal money and the other of the party. He was always conscious the money would be mixed.”
She recalls how persons close to him voided Kishinji after NC under Girija Prasad Koirala adopted a republican agenda.
“After a republican agenda was adopted five years ago, Kishinji was probably the only leader in democratic parties who went against the current. He didn’t support a republic even until his dying day.
“I thought some people close to Kishunji would support him. But they didn’t. I was extremely angry.
”Those who hovered around him and took maximum benefits and did whatever he said didn’t back him, Kapali wrote.
“ At that time Kishunji would remind me: ””Nani! What do you expect from others? Nobody is here for you and me. I would shout and he would say: “” Nani! Leave it. Don’t shout. How much are you going to shout?”
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NEPAL THREATENED WITH BLACKLISTING

Kathmandu, 30 April: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF)—a global anti-money laundering body formed by G-20—may blacklist Nepal if it fails to meet its commitment regarding anti money laundering and terrorist financing by June 23 when FATF’s holds its annual meeting, Phanindra Dahal reports in The Kathmandu Post..

This is the warning issued by Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) Executive Secretary Gordon Hook during his meeting with Speaker Subas Nembang on Friday. APF is an anti-money laundering body that monitors this region on compliance of anti-money laundering measures. Nepal is an APG member.

As per Nepal’s commitments, it will have to get two international UN conventions—Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and International Convention of the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism—endorsed by Parliament. The Parliament should also pass laws including Anti-Money Laundering Act (First Amendment), Extradition Bill and Bill on Organised Crimes.

Except the Extradition Bill, the other bills have reached Parliament. The Cabinet is yet to endorse the Extradition Bill. FATF has also repeatedly asked Nepal to meet its commitments.

During his meeting with the speaker, Hook said Nepal should pass two bills at least—Mutual Legal Assistance and Anti-Money Laundering Act (First Amendment)—to avoid the possibility of being blacklisted.

According to a government official, who was present at the meeting with the speaker, Hook admitted that he was worried about the possibility of Nepal being blacklisted like North Korea and Iran.

Officials said in case of getting blacklisted, Nepal will find it difficult to get foreign aid from international organisations like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Foreign banks may not trust the letters of credit (LC) issued by Nepali banks. This in turn will create difficulties for Nepali businessmen at the international trade level. Businessmen here may have to face harassment at foreign customs offices, with those authorities not allowing Nepali goods to go through the green channel. Nepali nationals may also face hassles while undergoing immigration procedures in other countries. Nepal itself has issued a circular to Nepali banks to be overly cautious while doing business with citizens and agencies of North Korea and Iran.

Nepal had assured both APG and FATF that it would fulfil its commitment within December 2010, but it failed. Speaker Nembang told Hook that Nepal is still unable to endorse the bills and conventions due to political stalemate. He added that he would draw the attention of Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and top political leaders towards the matter.

Hook, who arrived here Thursday, also met Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari and expressed concerns over Nepal’s failure to comply with international norms on money laundering. During the meeting, Adhikari assured Hook that he would do his bit to bring all parties together on this issue.

Last year, FATF had categorised Nepal among 20 countries as seriously deficient in combating money laundering and terrorist financing, alleging that Nepal was posing a risk to the international financial system.
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GOVT. DRAWS FLAK OVER CANCER HOSPITAL CLOSURE





Kathmandu, 30 April: Bharatpur Cancer Hospital doctors and officials Friday blamed that the government was ignoring the problem of the hospital, which has halted its services following disputes over appointment of its executive director, The Rising Nepal reports.
They blamed that the government was not serious about the plight of cancer patients.
Around 40 physicians and administrative employees from BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Bharatpur, had come here to talk with the top level officials to solve the problem Thursday.
The Health Minister met with chairman Dr. Rameshwor Shrestha and other physicians to find a way out.
According to Dr. Anjani Kumar Jha, the Health Minister said that he was unable to offer any solution and he would discuss this with other top officials.
The doctors also had a schedule to meet the Prime Minister today. "However, the PM refused to meet us," Dr. Jha said.
No any concrete solution was found from the talks with the Health Minister and the Health Secretary, chairman Shrestha said.
All services except emergency have been closed at the BPKMCH from Thursday.
Due to the disputes over the executive director appointment, the hospital administration has been closed for two months. Employees have not received salary for two months.
Around 400 cancer patients visit the hospital daily.




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