The UML and Maoists have been at loggerheads over whether to include the prime minister in the High Level Political Mechanism. Despite continued opposition from the Maoists, NC and UML leaders Girija Prasad Koirala and Jhalanath Khanal have decided to make the PM a “permanent-invitee member.” The Himalayan Times reports:

A meeting today beween Khanal and Koirala at the latter’s residence at Maharajganj also decided to give the mechanism a full shape and call the next meeting on Monday.

High profile visits by Maoist leaders to the Nepal-India border and renewed cries of border encroachment seem to have raised eyebrows in South Block. A delegation including External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and Joint Secretary Satish Mehta, will be in Nepal for a three-day visit beginning on Friday. This will be Krishna’s first visit since assuming the post in May. The Kathmandu Post reports:

The visit will deal with a range of bilateral issues but is aimed primarily at giving Nepal-India ties a further boost with a message that Nepal remains a very important partner for India, a senior foreign ministry official said.

It is the first high-level visit by seniormost Indian diplomats since the fall of the Maoist government in May. “Especially interesting will be to see how Indian officials treat the Maoists,” said Hari Rokka, a CA member and analyst with close ties to the UCPN(Maoists). “It will be closely followed how the Indian leadership approaches the border issue raised by the opposition and the current politicla stalemate.”

The government, it seems, is returning the favor. Indian Army Chief Deepak Kapoor will be made an Honorary General of the Nepal Army during a ceremony on 21 January. To date, 19 Indian Army Chiefs have recieved this honor, the last being General NC VIJ, whom ex-king Gyanendra conferred with the title on April 2003.

Dahal spent Rs 60 million from state coffers, most of which went to aides and organisations close to the party, during his 9-month long tenure as prime minister, according toa report prepared by the Office of the Prime Minister. He topped Girija Prasad Koirala, who spent Rs. 32.2 million in 2005, and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, who has so far spent Rs. 35 million and is seeking 2.5 million more. Republica reports:

“Our study has shown that Dahal doled out Rs 58.9 million during his nine-month tenure through his direct orders and cabinet decisions in the name of financial assistance, medical treatment and others,” a cabinet source told Republica, adding, “Most of the amount was released in the name of his close aids and organisations.”

An unusually large number of Nepali migrant workers in the Gulf and elsewhere have suffered heart attacks in recent years. 575 died of cardiac arrest in 2009 alone, according to figures from embassies. Kantipur reports:

According to medical doctors, the main reason for cardiac failure is mental stress. “When they leave the country, they have high expectations. Agencies assure them of good working environment and salaries, so they take loans at high interest rates. But when they reach their destination, their hopes are shattered. They become worried about how to pay their high-interest loans and how to fulfill their family’s expectations,” says Asok Raina, who delivers services to returnees.

Finally, only one NA officer was hurt during the Haiti earthquake. Everyone else in the 1100 strong NA peacekeeping force there is “safe and sound” according an NA press release.