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The CPN-UML has formed a team under the coordination of Vice Chairperson Bishnu Prasad Poudel to conduct a probe into the leaders and cadres who were involved in defeating their own party candidates in the May 13 local level elections.

The probe team will also recommend the leadership for actions against such cadres and leaders.

The members of the probe team are- chief of party organization department, Khagaraj Adhikari, and chief of election department, Bishnu Rimal. The secretariat meeting of the UML took this decision, according to chief of the central publicity department, Prithvi Subba Gurung.

The party had complaints against various leaders and cadres, arguing that they were involved in defeating their own party candidates.

Gurung further informed that the secretariat meeting also held discussion on making thorough review of the local level election, analyzing existing balance of power, making publicity of good works done by UML-led government, and exposing present government's activities that have negative effects on people.

Some nominations are also made in party departments and new departments formed.

Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota and Deputy Speaker of Malaysia Mohd Rashid Hasnon held a courtesy meeting today.

They held a meeting on Saturday evening on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network's conference in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, Speaker Sapkota's personal secretary Govinda Pathak said.

On the occasion, Speaker Sapkota said that Nepal and Malaysia have been enjoying close and cordial relations ever since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1960. He added that both countries believed in the NAM policy and were committed to the ideals of the United Nations.

Speaker Sapkota thanked Malaysia for providing employment to a large number of Nepalis, recognizing Nepal as the source country for migrant labourers since the beginning of 2001.

He also described Malaysia as a major business partner of Nepal, stressing on the need of promoting tourism between the two countries. As he said, the direct flight between Nepal and Malaysia started from March 2003 has helped bring the peoples of the two countries even closer.

The Malaysian Deputy Speaker Hasnon said that Nepal is a good friend of Nepal and expressed his happiness at the opportunity to meet with Speaker Sapkota and the Nepali delegation.

Pushpa Bhusal Gautam and Ram Chandra Rai among the members of the Nepali delegation were present in the meeting.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that preparations are being made for Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's US visit.

Speaking at a press conference organized on Sunday, Ministry's spokesperson Sewa Lamsal said that the visit and was expected and preparations are going on for the same.

"The Prime Minister's visit to the United States is being discussed. Preparations are being made. We will provide more information after the date is announced," she said.

Prime Minister Deuba is visiting at the official invitation of the United States.

Foreign Minister to leave for China

During the press conference, spokesperson Lamsal said that preparations are also being made for Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka's China visit.

"Preparations are bring made for the Foreign Minister's China visit. This is a regular visit. Agendas are yet to be fixed. As China is out important neighbour, exchange is visits is in our program," she said, adding, "China's Foreign Minister visited Nepal a few months ago. In that way, our Foreign Minister's will also have an appropriate time. We will inform about it later."

Prior to the visit, Foreign Minister Khadka held a virtual meeting with the International Laison Department Chief of the Chinese Communist Party on Thursday.

During the meeting, the duo discussed issues of bilateral ties, upcoming visit and border among others, Lamsal said.

Government intensifies efforts to address demands of ex-Gurkhas

Spokesperson Lamsal said that the government is committed to address the genuine demands of the ex-Gurkhas.

Saying that the Nepali ambassador to the UK and a talks team of the UK held a preliminary meeting, she said that the Nepali Embassy is in regular consultation with the Defense Ministry of the UK.

9 ambassadors appointed, 11 in process

Lamsal said that out of 20 ambassadors recommended by the Cabinet on April 7, nine have been appointed.

She said that the remaining 11 ambassadors will be appointed soon.

During the conference, she said Nepal has established diplomatic relations with 177 countries.

Meanwhile, Lamsal said that the government has distributed 416, 200 electronic passports so far.

According to the Ministry, the government has collected Rs 3.17 billion in revenue till mid-June.

Trade talks with Bhutan

Lamsal Sid that bilateral talks were held with Bhutan on trade.

She also said that the government has been continuously raising the issue of Bhutanese refugees with Bhutan.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has completed the preparation of drafts of various six bills related to education including the Federal Education Bill.

The long-awaited Education Bill has landed in the Ministry of Finance for advices after its draft amendment, it has been said.

Other bills of which drafts have been prepared include the umbrella bill related to higher education, technical education bill, integrated health sciences academy bill and the bill related to national qualification framework.

Collection of suggestions and feedback for the bills is underway and they are expected to be tabled in the federal parliament soon, said the Ministry’s spokesperson Dipak Sharma.

Meanwhile, the Education and Health Committee under the House of Representatives earlier directed presentation of the Federal Education Bill in the parliament soon.