Kathmandu, July 30 : Nepal’s Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat today said that the economic agenda will be given emphasis at the 15th South Asian Association Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit on August 2.

Addressing an interaction programme here, Dr Mahat said Nepal would table a special proposal on measures to meet the increasing demand of energy, not only in Nepal but also the South Asian region.

He further said rising prices of petroleum products have put pressure alternative energy sources like hydropower in Nepal

Kathmandu, July 30 : The CPN-Maoist and the CPN-UML today agreed on the 35-member Nepali delegation team led by caretaker Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to attend the 15th South Asian Association Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit on August 2.

During the meeting of top leaders of the four parties including the Nepali Congress (NC), the UML, the Maoists and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), it was agreed to let Prime Minister Koirala to head the 35-member strong Nepali delegation.

Kathmandu - Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav has asked the Maoists, as the biggest party in the constituent assembly, to form the new government, official reports said Wednesday.

A statement issued by the president's office asked the Maoists to forge a political consensus for formation of the government and appointment of a prime minister, the official Rastriya Samachar Samiti news agency said.

Kathmandu, July 29 : Nepal’s Vice President Parmananda Jha on Tuesday clarified that his taking oath in Hindi language was not meant to hurt sentiments of any Nepali citizen.

According to Nepalnews, in a statement issued on Tuesday, Jha said he chose Hindi language bearing in mind that it is understandable to all residents in Terai districts, who speak different languages.

He also has expressed his commitment to respect all languages spoken in Nepal equally.

Kathmandu, July 29 : The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) today decided to pay Rs 500 million to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the sole supplier of petroleum products to Nepal, in a bid to end a worsening fuel crisis.

Out of the Rs. one billion to be paid as per the previous announcement, the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation is set to pay 50 per cent to the Indian Oil Corporation.

The remaining fifty percent of the amount would be submitted by the first week of August, Kantipur quoted Director at NOC Digamber Jha, as saying.

Kathmandu, July 29 : Senior UML leader Iswor Pokharel has said that CPN-UML won’t join the next government under Maoist leadership unless the Nepali Congress 
(NC) is a part of it.

"We can never trust the Maoists as they showed dishonesty by changing their decision overnight and refusing to back our Presidential candidate," Kantipur quoted Pokharel as, saying.

“The UML will join the Nepal Government under Maoist leadership only if the Nepali Congress is on board,” he added.

He also said a majority of UML leaders are against forging any kind of alliance with Maoists.