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VOL. 28, NO. 03, Sept 05 , 2008 (Bhadra 20 2065 B.S.)
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Ambassador of the People's Republic of China Mr. Zheng Xianglin visited China Study Center-Nepal (CSC-Nepal) Saturday morning. Mr. Zheng was accompanied by senior diplomats of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal.
At the Center Ambassador Zheng was received by Chairman of the Center Mr. Madan Regmi and other senior officials. Underlining "the Center was unique and had its own characteristics," Ambassador Zheng appreciated role of Center in promoting people-to-people contacts between China and Nepal.
Ambassador Zheng joined a review and interaction program with the members of the Center on further strengthening China-Nepal cooperation. He emphasized on intensifying communication between the Chinese and Nepali sides to increase understanding about the correct current situation. The Center considered Ambassador Zheng's remarks very important and meaningful. The program was followed by a luncheon.
PRIME MINISTER PUSHPA KAMAL DAHAL 'Prachanda' has shifted to his official residence in Baluwatar on Wednesday (Aug 27), nine days after being elected to the top executive position. Hours after returning from a four-day visit to China, Dahal went to Baluwatar at around 5:00 pm accompanied by some members of his cabinet. He had been living at a rented house in Naya Bazaar. Meanwhile, Nepal Army and Nepal Police are to take charge of the Prime Minister's security. The army will be in the front ring of his security, assisted by the police. Earlier, Armed Police Force (APF) and People's Liberation Army (PLA) were also involved in his security. The decision to involve the PLA in the Prime Minister's security had courted controversy with political parties including the ruling coalition members raising serious objection.
NEPAL ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY (NEA) is all set to increase the existing four hours of power cuts to 16 hours a week, even though it usually reports increased electricity generations during monsoons. Now the consumers in Kathmandu valley and much of country would have to face load-shedding all seven days of the week. Earlier, consumers used to face two hours of load shedding twice a week. NEA is effecting the change from Wednesday. Officials said NEA was compelled to add load shedding hours as the floods in the Saptakoshi river has destroyed the Katahaiya-Duhabi transmission line that brings 50 MW electricity to Nepal from India. Issuing a statement, NEA said that the water level in reservoirs were also far below expectation, causing low production of electricity. However, it said that load shedding hours would be shortened once the line is up and running again.
AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION HAS INITIATED efforts to provide special protection to children in the flood affected region. Because the children are particularly affected during disasters due to their physical, psychological and social vulnerabilities, Save the Children has recognized the immediate action required to provide children within the flood affected region with protection from potential forms of exploitation. "Save the Children has started the process of establishing and managing 30 Child Friendly Safe Spaces throughout a number of the camps. The main purpose of the Child Friendly Safe Spaces is to create both a safe environment where children can continue learning, and an environment where they can participate in recreational activities," says a press release issued by the organization. "Within each of these spaces there will be two facilitators and 30 children, providing protection to almost 1000 children in total. The facilitators mainly consist of teachers, victims of the floods, and Early Childhood Development (ECD) professionals." The press release adds that the World Vision and Plan are going to create and manage an additional 10 Child Friendly Safe Spaces with the assistance of technical support from Save the Children. All 40 of these spaces will run with the close coordination of the District Education Office. 10 of these 40 spaces are anticipated to be in operation as of this Monday. "In addition to mobilizing 5 million rupees for the relief support in Sunsari, Save the Children Alliance has now mobilized more than thirty staff (including members of partner NGOs) to distribute relief packages containing nutritious food (sarbottam litto, biscuits) and clothes.
THE GOVERNMENT IS BRINGING THE budget before mid-September, said the newly appointed finance minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai. "The aim of the budget will be to bridge the gap between rich and poor," he said while addressing a team of Nepal Chambers of Commerce on Tuesday. He also assured the business community that the new government will help build confidence of the business community. "We will continue the programs of the previous government based on their usefulness," he assured the NCC team led by its president Surendra Bir Malakar. The business community urged to bring a public oriented budget. "Public private partnership (PPP) will be one of our major modus operandi," he said answering them. NCC president Surendra Bir Malakar said, "There are many potentials in agriculture, water resource, tourism, herbs and minerals in Nepal." "The government should provide subsidy for the agriculture sector to boost it," he said adding that effective implementation of Common Minimum Program will help solve many problems. However, Bhattarai said "Without peace development is not possible and now with new government people will try to maintain peace and provide security." Complaining about the regular strikes, banda and syndicate system, Malakar said that the business community is hopeful that they do not have to face any more of such hassles. "Business and industrial areas should be declared politics free area," he suggested.
THE HOLD OF BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS at Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) seems to have been loosened with the entry of Nepal Telecom (NT). Earlier, even minor changes in the share prices of banks and FIs would create big quakes in the overall Nepse index. Not anymore since the entry of huge amount o NT shares. For instance, on Tuesday, the Nepse indices related with banks and FIs such as banking index, sensitive index, insurance and development bank group – all registered a decline. However, the Nepse index gained 19.63 points pulled by 110 points rise in index of other groups (which includes NT). Around 150 million shares of NT have entered the Nepse since Sunday. On Tuesday, the per share price of NT increased by Rs 94 to reach Rs 1034.
