NEPAL RESCUE TEAM TO JAPAN HELD UP

NEPALIS EVACUATED FROM FUKUSHIMA, SENDAI

Kathmandu, 17 March: Forty Nepalis around Fukushima where a nuclear reactor exploded Tuesday sending dangerous radioactive material in the atmosphere were evacuated to Tokyo Wednesday by the Nepali embassy, the embassy said.
Another group of 52 Nepalis were evacuated from Sendai in the northeast hit by a powerful earthquake and then a tsunami triggered by trembler.
An earthquake and tsunami affected Nepalis support committee has been formed.
Nepali expatriates Japan have donated 1.62 million yen to the fund, the embassy said.
Japanese embassy Wednesday asked authorities to put of hold the dispatch of a 15-member token rescue squad of Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, Milan Tuladhar, Foreign Relations Advisor of the prime minister said.
The triple disaster is Japan’s worst after World War II.
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NEPALIS IN BAHRAIN SAFE

Kathmandu, 17 March: All Nepalis are safe in Bahrain, where
an estimated 30,000 work.
“All are learnt to be safe there,” Deputy Chief of the Nepali
embassy in Saudi Arabia said.
The embassy in Saudi Arabia llooks after Nepali interests in the
oil rich emirates.
At least five people have been killed and dozens injured as anti-protests swelled at Pearl Square in Manama.
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APC REPORT SENT TO CIAA

Kathmandu, 17 March: The cabinet Wednesday sent two reports on irregularities in the purchase of armed personnel carriers (APCs) for the Nepal Police peacekeepers with the UN n Darfur,Sudan, for legal
action against those involved.
The sub-standard APCs have not only endangered the lives of peacekeepers but the future of the entire mission.
Former Home Minister Krishna Prasad Shitaula and present and
former IGPs have been dragged into a controversy over the scam.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

REVENUE COLLECTION UP 16.5 PERCENT

Kathmandu, 17March: Government collected Rs. 123.03 billion
in the first eight months of the current fiscal year 2010/11—up16.5 percent compared to the same period the previous year, finance ministry said.
Rs.40.21 billion was collected in VAT, Rs, 23.43 billion as
customs duty, Rs.22.70 billion income tax and Rs. 17.29 billion
excise duty.
Another Rs. 19.40 billion was raised through registration fee, vehicle tax and other non-tax revenue sources.
The collection didn’t meet the target though.
Government hops to collect Rs. 216.64 billion in revenue by the
end of the current fiscal year in four months.
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NEW NICCI TEAM

Kathmandu, 17 March: Sanjiv Kesawa managing director of Surya
Nepal, was unanimously elected to lead the Nepal-India Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (NICCI) by a 16th general meeting Thursday.
Sashi Raj Pandey and Shyam Kumar Lohiya were elected
vice-presidents; Baijanti Khare and Rajendra Man Serchan were elected treasurer and general secretary.
Ananda Bagaria, Cabinet Shestha, Kamran Bakar, Saurya Rana, SashiKant Agrawal and Shekhar Gorkha are members.
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$20 MILLION ADB GRANT

Kathmandu, 17March: Asian Development Bank ((ADB)
Wednesday pledged a $201 billion grant to implement a project to
raise income of small and medium farmers in 10 districts on the mid and far-West.
The grant will be invested in programmes thati will increase productionof high value commodities.
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VISHNU KUMAR AGARWAL APPOINTED HONOURARY CONSUL GENERAL OF CZECH REPUBLIC

Kathmandu, 17 March” Vishnu Kumar Agarwal has been appointed honourary consul general of the Czech Republic.
Agarwal is Chief Executive of Morang Auto Works.
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