PM KHANAL LEAVING FOR TURKEY

PM KHANAL LEAVES FOR TURKEY FRIDAY

Kathmandu, 6 May: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal leaves Friday for Istanbul, Turkey, to lead a 30-member delegation to the fourth UN-sponsored conference of least development countries (LDCs) from 8 to 13 May.
Newly appointed Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav is accompanying Khanal.
Nepal is chairman of the bureau global coordination of the LDCs.
The trip is Khanal’s first foreign tour after assuming office 3 February; he’s going abroad in the midst of the budget session.
Chief Secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimere and Foreign Secretary Madan Kumar Bhattarai are accompanying the premier.
Lawmakers and leaders of civil society and business are included in the team.
nnnn


ACCHAM BUS ACCIDENT DEATH TOLL INCREASES TO 17

Kathmandu, 6 May: Raju Chaudhary, who was injured in Wednesday’s bus accident at Accham, died Thursday while undergoing treatment at hospital.
The death toll has increased to 17.
Nnnn

INDIAN NATIONAL KILLED IN EXPLOSION

Kathmandu, 6 May: An unnamed Indian national from across the border in Naughad and aged around 50 years died Wednesday night in an explosion at Manpakadi VDC-7, Rupendhaehi.
Police suspected he was assembling a device that exploded and killed him.
nnnn


MORE DETAILS OF OHCHR-N OBJECTION TO APPOINTMENT OF MINISTER AGNI SAPKOTA

Kathmandu, 6 May: Appointment of Agni Sapkota this week from the Maoist quota as communications minister reinforces the culture of impunity, said the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights- Nepal (OCHCHR-N).
“The decision contradicts Nepal’s commitments, as expressed during the Universal Periodic Review process, towards accountability for serious human rights violations and abuses committed during the conflict, and reinforces the culture of impunity in Nepal,
“Lack of accountability in cases of alleged human rights violations not only sends a message that there are no consequences for perpetrators of such violations, but further adds to the suffering of the victims and their families who have been awaiting justice for many years,” the statement said.
nnnn

TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

GULF AIR INCREASES FLIGHTS TO KATHMANDU

Kathmandu, 6 May: Gulf Air has increased frequency of weekly flights to Kathmand to 12 from 11, the airline said.
The airlines uses A320 on the route.
nnnn

ASSETS AND BANK ACCOUNT OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTION CHIEF FROZEN

Kathmandu, 6 May: The assets and bank accounts of Yogendra Prasad Shrestha, executive chairman of Nepal Share Markets and Finance (NSMF) was frozen Thursday by Nepal Rashtra Bank (NRB).
The central bank issued a circular to all banks and financial institutions Thursday to freeze Shrestha’s accounts.
The central bank is investigating irregularities while issuing loans totaling nearly one billion rupees.
The institution’s health is good, NRB said.
nnnn