US EMBASSY PUTTING STRIKE ORGANIZERS ON VISA WATCH LIST

TWO BREAKAWAY TERAI PARTIES JOINING THREE-PARTY FRONT

Kathmandu, 27 May: Two breakaway terai parties are joining the three-party Loktantrik Madeshi Morcha to Democratic Madeshi Front which will have 71 members in parliament, Nagarik reports.
MJFN Republican of Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta which split this week from MJFN and TMLP Nepal led by Mahendra Raya Yadav which broke away from TMLP four month are joining the front.
The two parties are Friday joining the front which had MJFK, TMLP and NSP as original members.
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US PUTTING STRIKE ORGANIZERS ON ITS VISA WATCH LIST

Kathmandu, 27 May: In a change of strategy, US embassy in Kathmandu is putting organizers of its visa watch list as daily strikes are being held almost every day to push various causes, including promulgation of a constitution by 28 May—a deadline which will be missed for the second time in one year.
“We believe that while peaceful protests and demonstrations are the hallmark of a democratic society, using violence—or the threat of violence—to force people to participate in political activities is wrong.
‘Being on the visa watch list would make it very difficult for a person to obtain a US visa,” embassy spokesperson Heather Steil was quoted as saying in Republica Friday.
The US move comes after Great Britain’s DFID suspended its previous unannounced funding of activities of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (Nefin) which has been launching recent round of strikes.
The discouragement of strikes now comes after they were encouraged during anti-king before monarchy was toppled with UN human rights monitors coming out on the capital’s streets in droves to monitor whether strikes were peaceful.
Strikes now have been peaceful compared to violence during anti-establishment protests then.
Foreign embassies have been encouraging parties to be ‘flexible’ to extend the constituent assembly tenure beyond Saturday even as a supreme court special bench ruled this week term can be extended only for six months by giving valid reasons of necessity to extend the tenure.
No visitor from India or some EU member states have flown into Kathmandu this time around to offer suggestions at a political crisis swells.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

ROAD PAVED FOR NEPAL,BHUTAN TRADE TREATY

Kathmandu, 27 May” Road has been paved for a trade agreement between the Himalayan states of Nepal and Bhutan during bilateral trade talks in Bhutan this week.
‘Both sides have identified entry and exit points such as Nepal’s Birgunj and Kakadvitta and Bhutan’s Phutsoling for bilateral trade. However, we have to request India for the transit route involving these points.
“In addition to this, both sides also held discussions on draft of protocol and RoO under the proposed bilateral trade agreement,” anofficial statement issued after the talks said,
Joint Secretary Toya Narayan Geywali at commerce and supplies ministry led the Nepali delegation to the second two-day joint secretary level talks.
The Himalayan states reviewed the progress in implementation
of agreements during talks in Kathmandu March 2010.
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GOLD PRICE REACHES RECORD Rs. 43,155 PER TOLD

Kathmandu, 27 May: Gold price Thursday recorded a record price of
Rs. 43,155 per tola equivalent to 11.554 grams in the local market because of the increase in the price of the yellow metal in the international market.
Silver price increased to Rs. 11,107 per tola Thursday.
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NRB ISSUING DEVELOPMENT BONDS

Kathmandu, 27 May:Nepal Rashtra Bank (NRB) is issuing Development Bond 2071 Ga for individuals and institutions through tender to raise Rs 5 billion from 2 June at 9.50 percentinterest, the central bank said in an announcement.
Interest is payable every six months.
Bonds will mature 19 Jesth 2071.
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SPORTS

NEPAL TO PLAY BOTH QUALIFYING MATCHES AGAINST TIMOR-LESTE FOR 2014 WORLD CUP AT HOME

Kathmandu, 27 May: Nepal will play both qualifying matches against Timor-Leste for the 2014 Brazil World Cup at home in Dashtarath Rangashala 29 June and 3 July.
Both countries have agreed to play the at home and away matches in Kathmandu.
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