BHATTARAI DEVELOPING AIDES TEAM

LAST-MINUTE APPOINTMENTS IN NAC BEFORE MINISTER QUITS

Kathmandu, 30 Aug.: Outgoing Maoist Tourism Minister Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma appointed two members to the board of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) before quitting.
Former air traffic controller Shib Shanker Neupane and Binod Chemjung were nominated though a ministerial decision.
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BHATTARAI AIDES

Kathmandu, 30 Aug.: Ganga Shrestha,a Maoist leader, was picked the personal secretary to the PM on Monday, The Kathmandu Post reports.
..Devendra Poudel and Hemanta Prakash Oli, both close to Bhattarai, are likely to become the Chief Political Advisors.
Politburo member Ram Karki, Hira Bahadur Thapa, former foreign relations advisor to former PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal, former ambassador Bhek Bahadur Thapa and former ambassador Bishn Hari Nepal are emerging as foreign relations advisors.
Mana Rishi Dhital and Hari Adhikari are likely to become press advisers.
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CHINA READY TO INVEST $1.6 BILLION IN WEST SETI

Kathmandu, 30 Aug.; China has agreed to provide loan worth $1.6 billion for the much talked about West Seti Hydropower Project, The Kathmandu Post reports.
The northern neighbour is investing in Nepal’s hydro power sector for the second time after Upper Trishuli 3A.
We could have signed a memorandum of understanding with China Exim Bank for the project had our government stayed a bit longer,” said outgoing Energy Minister Gokarna Bista.
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