President to launch 5th national games Monday

Kathmandu, 6 April: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav will Monday launch the 5th national games in the capital.
Altogether 3, 173 athletes are competing in the games held being held after 10 years.
Thirty-two events are being staged.
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No need to extend mandate on OHCHR

Kathmandu, 6 April: Member of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) KB Rokaya said Sunday there’s no need extend the mandate of the Nepal Office of UN High Commission for Human Rights when it expired in June.
The situation when it was first invited then is not the same anymore, he said.
“The situation now is different. There’s civil society to speak against events curtailment of rights and The NHRC is constitutional. I don’t think under such a situation it is necessary to extend the mandate of OHCHR,” he said.
Rokaya said this amid a request from OHCHR for an extension for anoher three years.
Pressure is being put of Nepal to permit a regional office as well.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

Spice Nepal to invest $250 million

Kathmandu, 6 April: Spice Nepal, operator of Mero Mobile, will invest $250 million in the next two years to upgrade and improve service in Nepal, an official announcement said.
“Our aim is to be the number one mobile operator in Nepal. We want to provide the best network quality to Nepali consumers,” Lars Nyberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of TeliaSonera said.
The company will not enter the fixed line sector.
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Two million to be affected by drought

Kathmandu, 6 April: World Food Programme (WFP) predicted Sunday winter drought will affect two million people in the hills and mountain regions with crop loss estimated between 30 to 70 percent.
“This worrying outlook for the crop situation in the hill and mountain zones will have the most serious implication of household with low food stock,” WFP said.
WFP said loss of winter crop will be 70 in areas of Bhajang, Baitadi, Accham and Rolpa.
Fifty to 70 percent crop will be lost in hill and mountain districts of the far and mid-West.
Food insecurity will begin April and last until September.
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Tibet to provide 3 million yuan assistance

Kathmandu, 6 April: The government of the Tibet Autonomous region of China has announced to provide annual financial assistance worth 3 million to Nepal, RSS reports.
Champa Phuntshok, Chairman of Tibet Autonomous Region, announced this on Saturday evening after his meeting with Nepali Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav, who is on a China trip, in Lhasa.
The assistance will be used to raise the living standard of people living in Nepali areas adjoined with the Chinese border.
Saying that the bordering Nepali areas were backward due to the lack of road connectivity, Phuntsok said Tibet will provide food and other essentials after consultations with Nepal.
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