PARTIES TO REGISTER FOR ELECTIONS SUNDAY Kathmandu, 26 April: Registration of political parties for the second constituent assembly elections is being opened Sunday. Already registered parties have to register again at the election commission for the vote. Nnnn PRACHANDA BEGINS INDIA VISIT SATURDAY Kathmandu, 27 April: Maoist Chairman, who does not hold any official government position, leaves later Saturday for discussions with Indian government leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. But the Maoist chief is member of a high-level political bodies of four parties supporting the government of Chairman of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi. The Maoist chief is scheduled to leve for New Delhi at 4:15 pm Saturday. Prachanda is leaving for India immediately after a week-long China visit when talks were held new Chinese President Xi. Beijing expressed concerned with efforts to split the present nitary state into a federal structure. Wife Sita Dahal, aide Shiva Khakurel and UCPN-Maoist leader, Krishna Bahadur Mahara are accompanying Prachanda to Delhi.. RSS says The Maoist boss will call on President of India, Pranab Mukharjee, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Foreign Minister Salman Khursid, opposition leader Sushma Sworaj, Chairperson of UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Sonia Gandhi and industrialists in course of his India visit. He will also visit the special economic zones and hydropower projects of India. RS President Dr.. Ram Baran Yadav and the Maoist leader discussed the visit overnight. nnnn BRITISH ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILY PLANNING Kathmandu, 26 April: The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) of Great Britain has agreed to provide a financial aid and technical co-operation of 15.2 million pound sterling (equivalent to approximately Rs. 2.02 billion) to Nepal for the implementation of family planning services for excluded and vulnerable groups, RSS reports.. The memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed and exchanged between the two governments at the Ministry of Finance in Kathmandu, today [Friday]. The outputs of this Project will be to increase access to family planning services, especially for those women who are deprived from these services, and meeting increasing demand where the use of the contraceptive method available to excluded and vulnerable women and understanding determinants of non-use, market and supply chains, and to demonstrate the impact. This additional support to family planning will complement the ongoing support that the British Government has been providing to Nepal's health sector programme. The project will be implemented within a period of four years from September 2013 to October 2017, and it will be implemented in 12 districts--- Terhathum, Bhojpur, Udaypur, Ramechhap, Parbat, Arghakhanchi, Rukum, Kalikot, Jajarkot, Bajhang, Achham, and Doti. In these districts, the projects will focus on those women and young girls who are poor, uneducated, socially excluded and living in the remote areas. Both department of the health services and the Department for International Development (DFID) will be the implementing agencies for the project on behalf of the government of Nepal and the government of UK of Great Britain, respectively. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Mr. Madhu Kumar Marasini, Joint secretary, Ministry of Finance, and Mr. Dominic O'Neill, head of DFID to Nepal on behalf of their respective governments. Nepal has expressed its sincere appreciation to the people and the government of the UK for this financial aid and technical co-operation, and also for their continued support in the socio-economic development of Nepal. nnnn TREASURE TROVES IN HANUMAN DHOKA TO BE OPENED IN 10 DAYS Kathmandu, 27 April: The remaining treasure troves of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Museum (HDPM) are being opened within 10 days, The Rising Nepal reports. The Department of Archeology (DoA) is preparing to open the locked treasure troves of Bhandarkhal. The government team had opened age old Malla era treasure lockers of Bhandarkhal on April 4 for the fist time. A meeting of the DoA on Thursday had decided to open the remaining treasure troves within seven to ten days. Bhesh Narayan Dahal, director general of the Department of Archeology (DoA) said that the locked treasure stores will be opened after completing procedural works. The (DoA) started the process to open the treasure houses citing that the structure of the houses were too dilapidated. There are many lockers and chests of different sizes inside the store house which are covered with dust. The team needs to set up close circuit camera, build toilet for staffs and prepare inventory before opening the treasure troves. Dahal said that seven to ten days will be required for completing the preparatory works. A 23-member committee has been formed under the coordination of Bhesh Narayan Dahal to carry out the unlocking of ancient treasures. Representatives from Nepali Army personnel, DoA, Kathmandu District Administration Office, Nepal Police, Federation of Nepali Journalists, Nepal Gold and Silver Entrepreneurs Association, the chief of HDPM, Guthi Sansthan, Finance Minister, the priest of Taleju Temple, Nepal Rastra Bank, Defense Minister and Kausitoskhana are the members of committee. A total 48 silver bricks and 90 silver items, among others historical objects, were found during the April 4 unlocking. nnnn