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VOL. 27, NO. 27, March 14, 2008 (Chaitra 01 2064 B.S.)
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PRIME MINISTER GIRIJA PRASAD KOIRALA visited Pashupatinath temple, in his capacity as the head of state, on the occasion of Shivaratri festival on Thursday (Mar 6) evening. Soon after Prime Minister Koirala returned from the temple, King Gyanendra along with Queen Komal reached the temple. The King has been stripped off not only political but also cultural rights since the change of April, 2006. Security situation was tightened during the visit of Prime Minister and the royal couple. The royal couple spent more than an hour in the temple. Meanwhile, Pashupati Area Development Trust officials have informed that over 300,000 devotees visited the temple on Thursday. Shivaratri is one of the biggest festival of Hindus. Tens of thousands of devotees from Nepal and India visit the temple on this day.
THE WELFARE FUND OF THE NEPALI ARMY has more than Rs 11.17 billion including outstanding amount of more than Rs 1.69 billion. According to information given during a press meet organized on Friday, Nepal Army said 16 roads have been constructed with the investment from the fund. Army officials said 17 more roads are on the cards and that the construction of two of them will start very soon. The army has also said investments have been made on health and education projects in various districts across the country. This is the second time Nepal Army publicized the status of welfare fund after immense pressure from former army personnel and political parties. Spokesperson of the Nepal Army Ramindra Chhetri said on the occasion that Nepal Army must not be politicized in the name of inclusion. He also said people influenced by political ideology will not be included into the armed force. Chhetri further said NA was ready to provide security to keys installments as police personnel have been dispatched for CA polls.
CHINA HAS ASSURED THAT IT WILL PROVIDE soft loan worth US$ 187 million for building two hydropower projects that will sell electricity in the domestic market. The two power projects are 61 MW Upper Trishuli 3 'A' and 44 MW Upper Trishuli 3 'B'. A 9-member Chinese delegation that visited Nepal this week led by Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs He Yafei had told Nepalese authorities that China's Commerce Ministry would be told to provide the soft loan of US$125 million for building the Upper Trishuli 3 'A' and US$ 62 million for Upper Trishuli 3 'B'. The money is part of a US$ 200 million concession credit committed to Nepal by China's state-owned Export-Import Bank in September 2006. The feasibility study for the two power projects has already started, according to NEA officials. The construction work on the projects will start in next financial year and they will start generating electricity from 2011-12.
THE PROBE PANEL FORMED BY THE SEVEN PARTIES to investigate the attack against former minister and Nepali Congress (NC) leader Dilendra Prasad Badu, has found Maoists guilty of the incident. The panel headed by Shankar Pokharel submitted its report to the Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel, on Wednesday (Mar 5). It said that Maoist workers and Young Communist League (YCL) cadres were responsible for the attack against the team of Badu, which had reached Latinath VDC for election campaigning a month ago. Likewise, the panel also found Maoists guilty of incident in Baitadi district. The panel had representatives from seven parties. However, a Maoist member of the panel Narayan Sharma Poudel has expressed dissatisfaction over the panel's conclusion.
CHINA PROVIDED AIR-CARGO INSPECTION system to Nepal. Chinese ambassador to Nepal Zheng Xianglin handed over the assistance to finance secretary Vidyadhar Mallik Monday (Mar 3) in the presence of visiting Chinese assistant foreign minister He Yafei. Mallik and ambassador Xianglin signed the delivery and acceptance letter for PB2028 Air-cargo Inspection System granted by the Chinese government to Nepal. Under the assistance, X-ray machines worth Rs 1.4 million will be installed at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) cargo section that is expected to facilitate safe and smooth customs clearance process. The Chinese side formally delivered the equipment to Nepal after the inspection by officials of both the governments. The officials unanimously stated that the equipment meets the requirements. Issuing a press release, Nepal government has expressed its sincere appreciation to the Chinese government for its assistance and for continued assistance in socio-economic development of Nepal. The letter for assistance that the Chinese government would provide one set of PB2028 air-cargo inspection system to Nepal was signed in August 2006. The Chinese-NEUTECH Company has carried out the project and tested after installation.
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On the occasion of 98th International Women's Day, Women Guidance Association Holds a Big Rally in Basantapu on March 8 |
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