Nepal Highlights

Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal met Unified CPN (Maoist)chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal at his official residence in Baluwatar Saturdaymorning and requested Dahal to forward names from his party to participate inthe government. PM Khanal requested UCPN (Maoist) to participate in thegovernment despite Maoist Standing Committee's meeting on Friday to abstain fromgovernment. Dahal apprised Khanal of his party's SC decision during themeeting. He also urged Khanal to have his party decide in favour of theseven-point decision. In response Khanal assured Dahal he would take the issue in the party for discussion again. UML Central Committee has interpreted the seven-point deal differently than the UCPN (Maoist). PM Khanal has not been able to expand his cabinet due to the  ongoing row for almost a month now.

Nepal has lost its chance to preside over the 66th General Assembly of United Nations as its candidate Kul Chandra Gautam got defeated by Qatari candidate Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser at a voting in UN headquarters, New York on Friday. The result was almost expected as Nepal had put in very little efforts in lobbying in favour of its candidate Gautam. The number of votes each candidate received was not made public as per the understanding of group nations. Qatari candidate Nasser, also the permanent representative of Qatar to the UN, emerged strong as all countries of the Arab region backed him, it is learnt.  Although Nepal had announced candidacy for the post of president for the 66th UNGA back in 2001, it picked Gautam as the candidate only six months ago. Gautam is a former Under Secretary General at the UN. The delay in announcing the name of the candidate and lack of political instability back home is taken as the major cause of Nepal's defeat. Nepal joined UN in 1955. It ha

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has gone to Kuwait Friday morning at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to attend a special function organised by Kuwait to jointly mark the 50th anniversary of its independence, 20th anniversary of its liberation, and the fifth anniversary of the accession to throne of the present monarch. President Yadav left for Kuwait on a special aircraft sent by the Kuwaiti Emir along with a team of over dozen including his daughter, secretary at the President's office, secretary at the foreign ministry, his personal secretaries and security guards Friday morning. The Kuwaiti Emir has invited over 50 heads of states for the special function on Saturday. Kuwait marks its National Liberation Day every February 26 to commemorate its Liberation from the Iraqi forces on the same day in 1991. It became independent from British colonization in June, 50 years ago. Kuwait has given special importance to the Nepalese head of state as Nepal wa