US CALLS FOR PEACEFUL SESOLUTION Kathmandu, 31 May: The United States on Tuesday called for Nepal to resolve its political crisis peacefully after the major parties failed to agree on a new constitution, spelling crisis for the country. AFP reports from Washington. “We continue to call for this process to be peaceful. It has been peaceful, so far. “That’s what‘s important as they continue to talk to each other about a foundational document that will meet the needs of all Nepalese,’ the agency quoted State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland as saying. nnnn OUDATED PALM OIL FOUND IN KFC DUBAR MARK OUTLET Kathmandu, 31 May: International food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) was using date-expired palm oil in its outlet in Durbar Marg Wednesday during an inspection conducted by officials of Department of Commerce (DoC). Nanglo Bakery Café, another popular café, was discovered using out-dated spce and tempura flour. “During the inspection, the team found that KFC, run by Devyani International Nepal, was using date-expired palm oil while Nanglo Bakery Café was using date-expired chana masala and tempura flour,” Prem Prasad Paudel, Director of DoC said. The materials were destroyed by the inspection team. Nnnn NEPALI RUPEE DEVALUATION AGAINST US DOLLAR CONTINUES Kathmandu, 31 May: The exchange rate Thursday of the Nepali rupee against the dollar was fixed at Rs.90.04 by Nepal Rashtra Bank (NRB) as the value of the Nepali legaltender against the greenback continued to slip. The rupee slipped by 13 paise in one day. The Nepali rupee is floated against convertible currencies while the exchange rate in fixed with the Indian rupee which has also slipped against the dollar. Nepal devalued its currency to maintain a cross-country exchange with the Indian currency; Nepal maintains an open border with India. Nnnn PRESIDENT CAN’T CALL FOR UNITY GOVT. Kathmandu, 31 May: Despite repeated and strong calls by the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and a section of fringe parties, President Ram Baran Yadav cannot call to form a national unity government willfully, his office has said, Anil Giri writes in The Kathmandu Post. "Constitutionally and politically, the President will not or cannot call political parties to form a national unity government willfully. It is the job of the political parties and the Prime Minister to decide on this issue," Rajendra Dahal, an aide to the President, said on Wednesday. In an absence of the parliament, the President cannot call to form a national government, Dahal added. "On what basis or on what legal and constitutional ground, can he take such an initiative? "It is the responsibility of the Prime Minister and the political parties to arrive at a consensus. The President has not constitutional and political rights to either call to form a national government or to appoint someone as PM," Dahal told the Post. Dahal's comments come amid a subtle turf war between the Prime Minister's office and the President office in the wake of the CA dissolution on Sunday midnight. The perceived power-tussle between the head of the state and the government took a new turn on Tuesday when President Yadav termed Bhattarai's government caretaker. Two different but divergent opinions are offered about the government's caretaker status. Some have seen the caretaker status of the government as "Bhattarai's continuity as head of the government", and some opined it as "cut in his size." If the PM resigns or parties have a common candidate for the PM, the president may urge him to call for a national unity government, as head of the state, he said. He also made it clear that the President will neither uphold PM Baburam Bhattarai's call for fresh elections come November. Although the President is taking advice from various quarters about the contested issue of elections' constitutionality, it is unlikely that he will pass judgment on this issue anytime soon. "Who knows the Bhattarai-led government could itself translate into a national government? So why should the President reject the PM's bid for elections?" said Dahal. On Tuesday, sixteen political parties, including the Congress and the CPN-UML had submitted a memorandum to the President asking him to use his constitutional prerogative to form a national unity government. "Without formation of a national unity government no elections is possible and in this regard, the incumbent PM should step down," the memorandum read. nnnn