A meeting of top leaders of the big three parties of Nepal — the Unified CPN-Maoists, the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML — once again failed to strike an amicable solution to end the existing political deadlock that surfaced in the absence of a legitimate government.

Leaders of three parties who met on Monday, however, have agreed to forge an understanding by January 26 to form the government.

Although the meeting was scheduled to discuss the government formation, constitution writing and peace process, the parties could not take any concrete decision as they remained divided on power-sharing in the new government, including its leadership.

CPN-UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikar said prior to holding a tri-party meeting on Wednesday, the parties would discuss the issue bilaterally on Tuesday and try to narrow down their differences.

Maoist Vice-Chairman Narayankaji Shrestha claimed that the parties were positive about forming a consensus government.

After the political parties failed to meet the deadline by forming a consensus government by January 21, the President, Dr Ram Baran Yadav, on Friday had extended the deadline by five days asking the parties to form consensus government by January 26.

Meanwhile, the major political parties have agreed on the proposal to amend the parliamentary regulations, particularly over the method of protracted prime ministerial election.

Immediately after the agreement, a parliamentary panel led by the Maoist lawmaker Ek Raj Bhandari today tabled the amendment proposal in Parliament for further deliberations.

Once Parliament endorses the amendment proposal, the House will opt for certain procedures to elect the PM. As per the proposal, even if there was a single candidate, he/she has to earn simple majority of votes to become the PM.

If there are two or more candidates, the voting will be conducted at the same time. In case of more than two candidates and if no one emerges winner in the first round, all candidates will remain for the second round.

The parties also agreed that if the second round also fails to elect the PM, the third round of voting will be only between the top two candidates of the second round where the lawmakers can vote in favour of any one candidate. The procedure will be scrapped and restarted afresh if none of the contenders secures majority even after the third round of voting.

The Nepali Congress (NC) had earlier insisted that only two candidates should make it to the second round while Unified CPN-Maoists and the CPN-UML were for giving all candidates a second chance.

Dubai, January 24
The world’s highest restaurant situated 442 metres up in the sky on the 122nd floor of the world’s tallest building Burj Khalifa here has opened its doors to the public. ‘At.mosphere’, located on the 122nd floor of 828-metre high Burj Khalifa, was opened yesterday. However, dining at this height comes for a price.

The restaurant, which is reached by its own private elevator from the tower’s corporate suites lobby, can accommodate 210 people over a lounge and grill and offers an unparalleled view of the emirate’s skyline.

Those wanting to book the luxury restaurant’s private dining area will be expected to fork out at least $176.9 per guest, while afternoon tea comes in at nearly $100. For drinks and snacks in the lounge area, guests must spend $54.45 per head.

Diners keen to get a booking at the world’s highest restaurant may need to save up after the Burj Khalifa eatery revealed patrons will be charged a minimum of $122 a head.

Marc Dardenne, CEO of Emaar Hospitality Group and Emaar Hotels & Resorts said the glass-walled restaurant raised the bar for Dubai’s hospitality industry.

“I think it’s going to set new standards for Dubai and maybe the world and even give people the opportunity to see something different when they stay in Dubai,” Dardenne said, adding that the feedback has been tremendous as a lot of people insisted on being there for the first night.

The restaurant is said to be booked out for its first two days of opening. The restaurant, spread over an area of 1,030 sq m, is 92 metre taller than the world’s second highest eatery, the revolving 360 Restaurant in Toronto’s CN Tower. — PTI

The Supreme Court has directed the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Salman Siddiqui, to take action against those involved in drain of billions of rupees in taxes. The swindling, allegedly, was in connivance with customs officials, by hijacking containers transporting goods to the NATO forces in Afghanistan.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, is hearing a suo motu case on the “missing” NATO containers.

The court has also asked for a list of the names of officials who served between January 1, 2007, and December 24, 2010. The list includes members customs, FBR chairman, collectors, secretaries of trade and finance, directors-general of customs intelligence and directors-general of the National Logistics Cell (NLC) run by the military.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, the Federal Tax Ombudsman presented a report to the bench. The report confirmed a story by Dunya TV on smuggling liquor and arms in official containers. The containers are designated to transport food and other essential items for the NATO and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) stationed in Afghanistan by land through Pakistan.

“According to this report, the national exchequer lost Rs 37 billion. Since 11,000 NATO containers have gone missing, it is possible that the loss is more than estimated,” the Chief Justice observed.

The country is flooded with smuggled goods, which is destroying the economy, he remarked. The report reveals the names of persons for whom the containers were booked and points to those responsible.

“We expect Salman to take prompt action,” the Chief Justice remarked. The case has been adjourned till January 27. Notices have been issued to officials of Customs Intelligence, Karachi Port and Port Qasim Authority, among others.

The FBR has submitted a list of its 34 officers, including an FBR chairman and collector customs, posted from January 1, 2007, to December 24, 2010, in connection with the case of 7,000 containers’ disappearance as ordered by the Supreme Court.

The Federal Tax Ombudsman’s report on the containers’ scam highlights the gross inefficiency and corruption within the notorious Customs Department of the FBR.

The report stresses that although its focus was on the ISAF containers’ scam, the real issue is the ongoing plunder in the garb of Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) agreement.