JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER HOLDING TALKS IN PM BHATTARAI Kathmandu, 29 April: Japanese Foreign Minister Koichi Gemba will hold separate talks with Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kazi Shrestha Sunday after arriving for a 20-hour visit overnight. Gemba is the first Japanese foreign minister to visit Nepal in 35 years. Bilateral agreement s are being signed—including an agreement on food assisrance. nnnn BIG THREE, MADESHBADI PARTIES MAKING ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCE ON CONSITUTION Kathmandu, 29 April: Leaders of the Big Three and Madeshbadi parties in government and opposition make another attempt Sunday to resolve differences on articles to be incorporated in a proposed constitution and form of government after inconclusive two rounds of talks Saturday. The leaders assemble ahead of a meeting of the main Nilambar Acharya main constitution drafting committee and the constituent assembly (CA) session. The Acharya committee hasn’t been able to start stat work to draft a basis law as a Prachanda sub-committee on resolution of thematic differences on a proposed couldn’t complete its work in the extended two-day Friday as well. The Acharya committee has to decide whether to ask CA’s business advisory committee for another deadline extension to resolve differences by consensus to go for a longer progress of vote in the 601-member CA to adopt articles in a constitution. Nine far-West districts are shutting down poorest region of the country for the third day protesting Maoist plan to divide the region. Sherpas said they will shut down Solokhumbu—their homeland where the 8848 meters high Mount Everest is located—if the community that shot into international prominence with the ascent of world’s highest peak by Tenzing Sherpa with Edmund Hillary—isn’t doesn’t get Solokhumbu the status of province. Group and regions have come put on street protests demanding provinces and inclusion as only 28 days remain to promulgate a constitution. Nnnn CLASS 11, 12 EXAMINATIONS FROM SUNDAY Kathmandu, 29 April: Class 11 and 12 examinations begin Sunday. Tests are being nation-wide after SLC examinations for the year were held last month. nnnn