Kalpit Parajuli

Parliament failed yesterday for the fifth time to elect a new prime minister. Budget crucial to obtain UN funds that run schools, hospitals and development programs blocked. Economic analyst: "If the political stalemate continues for another month, all economic development projects will fail."

The lamp arrived in China today and will be exposed in the coming days on in the Nepal stand, after touring the main holy places of Buddhism in China. Kathmandu reaffirms that Nepal is the only place of birth of Buddha and increases relations with Beijing. China demands, once again, a halt to the activities of Tibetan Buddhists in exile in Nepal.

The initiative is the brainchild of the Religions for Peace Global Youth Network. Nepal is one of the countries most affected by the illegal weapons trade; the goal in the Himalayan nation is a million signatures. Eventually, all of them will be presented to the United Nations and the world’s governments.

Lifting the ban imposed in 2004 should lift Nepal’s economy, which depends to the tune of 40 per cent on foreign remittances by Nepali workers. Days ago, US Central Command in Baghdad had called for the repatriation of 30,000 Nepali workers.

Nepali workers will have 20 days to go home. The order touches all workers from countries that have a formal ban on travel to Iraq, and that includes Nepal. The goal is to limit illegal human trafficking between South Asia and the Middle East.

Parliament has failed so far to pick a new prime minister, following Kumar Nepal’s resignation. As a protest against the larger parties, small parties have spoilt their vote. Another vote is set for tomorrow but it is likely to fail again.

Protestant and Catholic leaders want more space in institutions in response to political and economic stalemate that has afflicted the country for months. Bishop Sharma in Kathmandu, says: "No leader has displayed a genuine interest in people. It's high time for the Christians in Nepal to engage actively in politics".

The study by an Indian research company reveals the dramatic decline of Himalayan water sources. For researchers, the production of wheat and rice in China and India will decline to 50%. In Nepal, thousands of people have already abandoned their land because of food shortages and flooding caused by melting glaciers.

Madhav Kumar Nepal was in office since May 2009. He blamed his resignation on the Maoist opposition, which was always against him. A big question mark hangs over the country’s future.

Publication of the major newspapers of Nepal halted. The load has been blocked for 30 days in the port of Calcutta. Kathmandu says it violates trade treaties between the two countries. Seizure of unknown reason, justified by the Indian government as a regular customs operation.

Nepalis’ good reputation as workers in Arab countries sees Indians and Bangladeshis forced to change their identity after falling into the hands of human traffickers. Some 1,200 Bangladeshis are stopped trying to emigrate to Arab countries on fake Nepali passports costing to US$ 5,000.

In just three hours, 41 minutes and 20 seconds Phurba Tamang finished the eighth edition of the Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon in the same week in which, for the first time, five cameras are installed on Everest to monitor the melting of glaciers.