up-to-date news

http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/

cut and paste the above link for a nepalese news website that's updated remarkably fast. things are certainly moving here. the general of the army was sacked and one of the parties in the government has walked out. major protests took to the streets, but so far nothing has been terribly violent or military assisted. there are rumors of a 'curfew' imposed, but as of 8:30 sunday evening, that has not happened. i haven't heard anything from school either, so fully expect to be business as usual tomorrow. apparently, there will be more rallies at the central ratna park around 4, so we possibly may have another early dismissal. as you can tell by the articles, tires were burned in the streets and people were marching and gathering, but from our balcony, we could still hear wedding bands playing in the streets, so unless you're right in and around the demonstrations, life was still going on largely untouched. christy and i were out walking around doing some shopping, but kept a close tab on things with our friend audra who works on the media side of a peace building and civil society branch of usaid. she lives for this stuff and has her finger on the pulse of things with all of her inside sources. she was texting us throughout the afternoon and we walked up to her apartment (she lives 2 floors above us) and got the low down this evening. we shall see how things unfold...

other articles are as follows: (sorry about having to cut and paste...i don't know how to make them links. anyone know how??)

Nepal Communists Quit in Protests--BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8031622.stm

Key Party Quits Nepal's Coalition Government--New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/05/03/world/AP-AS-Nepal-Army.html?hp

peace and love, j