PM STARTS POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS Kathmandu, 1 June: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai started what he called ‘preliminary’ consultations with President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav and political party leaders to discuss a situation following his announcement Sunday of second elections for a constituent assembly (CA) to draft a constitution 22 November. Premier Bhattarai held telephonic discussions with the president and NC President Sushil Koirala and direct negotiations with UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal who told the government chief there’s no alternative to national consensus to resolve a crisis created out of the declaration that automatically dissolved CA without lpromulgting a constitution in four years. Bhattarai is continuing his political dialogue Friday. Discussions were held Friday with NC President Koirala Friday at the latter’s residence. The CA election will now be for four years instead of two years. Party leaders have given themselves an opportunity to prepare a basic law leisurely in eight years. Although the tenure of the first was for two years; it was repeatedly extended for two more years, Nnnn ANOTHER VICTIM OF JANAKPUR BOMBING DIES Kathmandu, 1 June: Shyam Yadam died Thursday while undergoing treatment for bullet injures in the abdomen in Janakpur died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dharan. Nepal Railway Director Suresh Yadav died in a shooting incident over a land dispute this week at Sirsiya in Dhanusha nnnn NEPALI RUPEE SLIPS FURTHER GAIANST DOLLAR Kathmandu, 1 June: The Nepali rupee continued to slide against the US dollar. Nepal Rashtra Bank (NRB) fixed Friday’s Exchange rate at Rs. 90.17 to the greenback. NRB has floated the rupee against convertible currencies but maintains a fixed exchange with the Indian rupee. The devaluation of the Nepali rupee against continued to maintain the cross-country exchange rate as the value of the Indian rupee also continues to slip against the US dollar. Nnnn JAPAN EXPRESS DEEP REGRET Kathmandu, 1 June: Japan Thursday expressed deep regret at the latest political developments that led to the dissolution of the constituent assembly (CA). "The embassy also shares a strong sense of disappointment that has seized the hearts of the Nepali people by this most unexpected unfolding of events. While expressing its deep regret, the embassy sincerely wishes that all political parties, at this critical juncture, recall the age-long aspirations of the people of Nepal and, based on the spirit of compromise and conciliation, make fresh efforts to overcome the historic challenge of writing the Constitution, and thus, launch Nepal into a new era and further towards peace and democracy. “The government and people of Japan are ever ready to assist Nepal's efforts to this end, and are confident that the friendly and cooperative relations that so happily exist between the two countries will be further strengthened in the days ahead,." A statement issued by the Japanese embassy said. nnnn CHINA WATCHING DEVELOPMENTS CLOSELY Kathmandu, 1 June: China is watching developments in Nepal closely and Called for independence , peace, stability and peace. “As a friendly neighbour, China is watching closely the developments in Nepal’s political situation,, “China attaches great importance to developing the friendly cooperative relationship with Nepal, and supports the efforts made by the Nepalese side in safeguarding its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in striving for peace, stability and prosperity,” a statement issued by the Chinese embassy said. nnnn .