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GOVT.OPPOSITION TALKS FRIDAY
Kathmandu, 16 Aug.: Government iand a 33-partyopposition alliance are holding second round talks Friday on opposition demand to reschedule the November assembly elections.
The alliance led by cPN Maoist has pressed 18 demands.
HPM of four parties behind government is holding talks with Federal
Socialist Party of Ashok Rai.om the same issue.
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SUSHIL KOIRALA TAKES OVER HLPM RESPONSIBILITY
Kathmandu, 16 Aug.: NC President Sushil Koirala takes over leadership of
the  HLPM for the second time for one month Saturday.
Maoist Chairman Prachanda will handover the rotating responsibility for
one month.
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BIRD FLU IN HETAUDA
Kathmandu, 16 Aug.: After Kavre, bird flu has broken out another district next to the Valley in the south adjoining the Valley
Avian flu broke at two farms in Hetauda in Makwaapur.
Culling continues Thursday in Bhaktapur where all chickens, eggs and
feed are being culled and destroyed in the next 10 days by declaring an emergency.
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.BiHLPM AND YADAV LED PARTY SIGH DEAD
Kathmandu, 16 Aug.: The High-level Political Committee ( HLPC ) and the Upendra Yadav-led Federal Democratic Front on Thursday night struck a six-point deal, increasing chances of the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections being held as scheduled on
November 19, Pranab Kharel, Bhadra Sharma write in The Kathmandu Post..
As per the deal, the new CA will have 585 members and not the previously agreed 491.
According to UCPN (Maoist) leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the CA strength would be 585 members, of which 240 will be elected from the first-past-the-post system and 335 from the proportional representation system. Ten members will be nominated by the Cabinet. Shrestha said the cross-party mechanism and the FDF will request both President Ram Baran Yadav and the government to make changes in the Interim Constitution in this regard.
As per the agreement, the government has to forward a bill to President Yadav to amend the constitution by removing the constitutional difficulties.
Both the sides agreed to forge consensus on the basic principles of the new constitution, while also agreeing to request the Election Commission to extend the voter registration period by one more week. The EC has decided to reopen the process for a week beginning Saturday.
“We decided to request the Election Commission to extend the voter registration period in such a way that it will not affect the poll schedule,” Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narsingh KC told reporters after the meeting. According to leaders involved in the cross-party talks, the Yadav-led front will participate in the elections and play an active role in making it a success. The front comprising eight political parties will help conduct free and fair elections, according to the agreement signed by the two sides.
Leaders have also agreed to expand the HLPC and include Yadav and other leaders who are the part of the front.
The front had presented a 13-point charter of demands to the HLPC . They included resignation of the Chairman of the Interim Election Government, Khil Raj Regmi, as the Chief Justice, amending the 25-point agreement and increasing seats under the proportional category.
MJF-N leaders said the alliance was ready to trade off the demands for Regmi’s resignation and increasing the number of constituencies with an increase in the number of PR seats.
“We will adjust the PR seats and this will take care of the constituencies,” Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato said.
 The HLPC is scheduled to hold talks with the Ashok Rai-led Federal Socialist Party-Nepal on Friday.

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