SEVENTH DEADLINE TO SEEN NATIONAL GOVT. WILL BE MISSED Kathmandu, 3 Jan.: Barring a miracle, the seventh presidential deadline asking parties to select a national government to replace incumbent Dr. Baburam Bhattarai by Friday will again be missed. No serious discussions were held this time after President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav asked three parties and a Madeshi front n government Sunday. Maoist Chairman Prachanda left for Bangkok the the medical reatment of his wife, Sita, and returned overnight. Maoist moss aid discussions will be held Thursday to discuss the presidential request. Dr. Yadav didn’t ask small parties after expanding the political dialogue Sunday in the dissolved parliament to join talks for an outlet that has now been unresolved for more than five weeks after presidential intervention. People have lost interest in the process of government formation with repeated extension of the deadline indicating government is just interested in clinging on to power. nnnn TEAM LEAVES FOR INDIA TO BUY POWER Kathjmandu, 3 Jan.: A team left for India to negotiate the purchase of 70MW electricity as the country faces acute power shortage at the height of winter. The team is led by Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority Rameshwor Yadav. India had agreed to sell power during the just concluded India visit of President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav. nnnn PROTESTS TARGETING WOMEN IN ASSAULTS CONTINUE Kathmandu, 3 Jan, Protests against abuses targeting women entered its second week Thursday. Two girls have been burnt allegedly by relatives and a woman returning from Saudi Arabia traveling on a forged passport was raped at TAI by immigration officials. Sit-ins have been staged in front of the official residence of the prime minister whose wife Hishila has jointed street protests against the government. The cabinet is discussing the issue of violence against women at a regular meeting Thursday: The cabinet is discussing legal ways to crb the crime. Main opposition NC belatedly is coming out against the violence Thursday. The party’s women cell is sending protests to government through CDOs in all 75 districts. nnnn QUAKE HITS FAR-WEST Kathmandu, 3 Jan.: An earthquake measuring 4.10 on the Richter scale hit the far-West with its epicenter at bordering Bhajang and Doti at 11.27 PM. No report od damage in the moderate qyake has been reported so far. nnnn: