BIG THREE, MADESHBADI SUMMIT SUNDAY

BIG THREE, MADESHBADI PARTIES DISCUSS NATIONAL
GOVT. SUNDAY

Kathmandu, 4 Dec.: A summit of the Big Three and Madeshbai parties in government is being held at Gokarna Resort Sunday.
The parties, in the most recent six-point agreement, had agreed to
meet once every week to review implementation of a 7-point
agreement.
The parties, including parties in the government and two top opposition parties—NC and UML.
The parties have agreed to form a national government by 15
December in the six-point agreement.
The ruling coalition is urging the incumbent government of Prime
Minister Baburam Bhattarai should assume a national character
while the opposition parties are demanding change in government leadership with NC staking a claim.
The ruling and opposition parties as Maoists
demand increase in quota of 6,500 former PML fighters to 9,000 for integration in Nepal Army as more than 9,000 plus former combatants have expressed interest in joining state security agencies from among 19,000 plus former guerrillas.
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JEWELRY SHOPS CLOSED IN CAPITAL TO PROTEST MURDER

Kathmandu, 4 Dec.: All jewelry shops in the capital downed shutters Sunday.
Traders were protesting the suspected murder Saturday of Jujubhai Bajracharya in Pulchowk, Lalipur, Saturday.
No progress has been reported so far to probe the killing.
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NC LEADER PRAKASH MAN SINGH DEMANDS RETURN FROM MAOISTS OF MONTHLY STIPENDS FROM NON-EXISTING FIGHTERS
Kathmandu, 4 Dec.: Nepali Congress General Secretary Prakash Man Singh has said that the amount misused in the name of absent combatants in the Maoist cantonments should be returned, RSS reports from Banepa.

Speaking at the 12 th annual general assembly of the Jyoti Multiple Cooperatives, he said there will no confidence of the people on the Maoist leadership if the money misused from the state coffers is not returned.

The constitution making was delayed because of the stances of other political parties in the Constituent Assembly, Singh said.

He also said cooperatives have proved to be milestones in making alternate income generation.

Former MP Shiva Prasad Humagain said the cooperatives have made contribution for the impoverished people.

On the occasion, students excelling in SLC from institutional schools and community schools in the district and four share members over 75 years of age were honoured.
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NEPAL PLAYS BANGLADESH IN SAFF CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY

Kathmandu, 4 Dec.: Nepal plays Bangladesh Sunday in Group B of
SAFF Championship football tournament in New Delhi.
Nepal played a 1-1 draw with Maldives in its opening match.
Nepal will meet UAE in the ACC Twenty20 cricket tournament in
the capital Sunday after beatng Hong Kong in the last ball Saturday.
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CHALLENGING SUPREME COUT VERDICT A MISTAKE SAYS MADHAV KUMAR NEPAL

Kathmandu, 4 Dec.: Former Prime Minister and senior leader of CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal said that challenging the Supreme Court ruling on the Constitution Assembly term extension by some leaders was a mistake, The Himalayan Times reports.

Addressing the inaugural of Youth Association Nepal (YAN)'s Kathmandu Constituency No. 2 convention at Mulpani, Nepal expressed concern over the statements against the apex court verdict, and said that the CA term cannot be extended for long.

Nepal claimed that the new constitution can be drafted within six months with strong will power. Even three more years will not be enough if political parties are devoid of will power, he said.

Saying the SC breached it jurisdiction for objectively saying the CA's life cannot be prolonged beyond the fourth extension, some UML leaders have been criticising the November 25 ruling that new elections of Constituent Assembly or referendum should be carried out if the CA failed to promulgate new constitution within the fourth
term.
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INCREASED INDIAN ACTIVITY AS CHINESE PM WEN JIABAO
ARRIVED END OF DEC.; CALL FOR BROAD-BASED INDIAN COOPERATION
Kathmandu, 4 Dec.: Nepali and Indian intelligentsia have stressed the need for a broad-based Indian cooperation for Nepal’s economic
Development, The Himalayan Times reports.

Commerce Minister Lekhraj Bhatta, inaugurating the FICCI-MEA Foreign Policy Conclave, said Indian cooperation in areas of bilateral trade, investment and technology is a must for economic development of Nepal.

Underlining the need for regular and vibrant brainstorming on issues of mutual interest, Bhatta said such an exercise will help draft a clear roadmap for increased cooperation in the areas of trade, investment and hydropower.

The meet is the first such gathering of economic-diplomatic intelligentsia from Nepal and India after the signing of Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement and Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between the two countries in October and November.

Bhatta said BIPPA and DTAA will go a long way in attracting attracting Indian investment in Nepal and giving bilateral trade a boost.

Industry Minister Anil Jha urged the Indian business community to invest in education, health, infrastructure development, water resources and tourism in Nepal. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Jayant Prasad said he has been encouraging the business community in his country to invest in Nepal.

Former Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee suggested that Nepal think of ways to reap benefits from the booming economies of India and China. Prof SD Muni of the pointed that closure of Indian companies in Nepal will not affect India much, but the same will cause much harm to Nepal’s industrial sector.

Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, additional secretary at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, which organised the conference together with the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said India has given high priority to relations with Nepal.
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